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Taskforce #2
The Guardian
When a highly esteemed prisoner-reintegration program falls under suspicion of being a terrorist training ground, the Taskforce sends Special Agent Jackson Maddox undercover to investigate. Going by the name Abdul, Jackson fits right in, until his cover is threatened by a sexy journalist taking his picture. If his mission weren’t so critical, he wouldn’t mind being the object of her fixation. But when he confronts her, the hot-as-hell bombshell denies before slipping through his fingers. To his astonished dismay, she returns the very next day.
Crime journalist Lena Alexandra refuses to be chased away. One of the parolees at Crossroads murdered her sister a decade earlier and got away with it. Determined to send the killer back to jail, Lena secures a job at a nearby convenience store and sets about interviewing parolees for a book she’s allegedly writing. Her objective— to use her astute interviewing skills and stunning sex appeal to get the killer to confess. Dangerous plan? Yes, but not even the gorgeous ex-con named Abdul can derail her, not even when she finds out who he really is.
As the summer nights heat up, Jackson’s probe reveals startling evidence that could endanger the nation’s capital. He can’t battle his desire for Lena and subdue a fanatical leader at the same time. And Lena can’t corner her sister’s killer as long as an undercover FBI agent persists in trying to protect her. As peril looms for both of them, Lena and Jackson must learn to trust each other with their secrets . . . and their lives.
Crime journalist Lena Alexandra refuses to be chased away. One of the parolees at Crossroads murdered her sister a decade earlier and got away with it. Determined to send the killer back to jail, Lena secures a job at a nearby convenience store and sets about interviewing parolees for a book she’s allegedly writing. Her objective— to use her astute interviewing skills and stunning sex appeal to get the killer to confess. Dangerous plan? Yes, but not even the gorgeous ex-con named Abdul can derail her, not even when she finds out who he really is.
As the summer nights heat up, Jackson’s probe reveals startling evidence that could endanger the nation’s capital. He can’t battle his desire for Lena and subdue a fanatical leader at the same time. And Lena can’t corner her sister’s killer as long as an undercover FBI agent persists in trying to protect her. As peril looms for both of them, Lena and Jackson must learn to trust each other with their secrets . . . and their lives.
295 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2012
30 people are currently reading
295 people want to read
About the author
Marliss Melton
54 books531 followersMarliss Melton is the author of over twenty romantic suspense, medieval, and inspirational stories. She relies on her experience as a military spouse and on her many contacts in the Spec Ops and Intelligence communities to pen realistic and heartfelt stories about America's elite warriors and fearless agency heroes. Daughter of a U.S. foreign officer, Melton grew up in various countries overseas. She has taught English, Spanish, ESL, and Linguistics at the College of William and Mary, her alma mater., and to this day she lives in Williamsburg, Virginia. Marliss also writes inspirational romantic suspense as Rebecca Hartt. Be sure to “friend” Marliss on Facebook! Visit www.marlissmelton.com or https://RebeccaHartt.com for more information.
Series:
* SEAL Team 12
Series:
* SEAL Team 12
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
September 3, 2012
I held out reading this book for a long while and that was my mistake, I tend to enjoy books by this author but the last one was a disappointment. The hero of this book is someone we were introduced to in the last book but reading the previous one is not necessary. The hero is a former marine turned FBI agent and he is undercover trying to find out if a place for cons turned to Islam is running a terrorist cell & it is then he sees the heroine, when she catches him on camera, something that is dangerous for his cover.
The heroine is a journalist and she is not there for the hero, she is on a quest, to nail the cop who murdered her teenage sister a decade ago. The heroine is good at her job and after spending years on PI's she is desperate, when the hero makes such a big deal about the picture, her curiosity is aroused and she contacts her boss, a while later she learns who he really is, in the interim the hero tries to make her run.
The hero has been widowed for a while and has a 12 year old daughter and ever since his wife died he has been thinking about how he has always chosen duty. The romance is fast. The hero wants the heroine to trust him and leave but she can't do that, it is her quest. I enjoyed the romance.
The heroine is a journalist and she is not there for the hero, she is on a quest, to nail the cop who murdered her teenage sister a decade ago. The heroine is good at her job and after spending years on PI's she is desperate, when the hero makes such a big deal about the picture, her curiosity is aroused and she contacts her boss, a while later she learns who he really is, in the interim the hero tries to make her run.
The hero has been widowed for a while and has a 12 year old daughter and ever since his wife died he has been thinking about how he has always chosen duty. The romance is fast. The hero wants the heroine to trust him and leave but she can't do that, it is her quest. I enjoyed the romance.
December 12, 2016
Although I enjoyed the plot of this one the insta love just didn't work for me at all. They hardly spent anytime alone together and yet were in love within a day or two. The cover is a huge pet peeve for me as this story was an inter racial romance and the author clearly describes the hero as having mocha skin several times so I'm not sure what's with the hero on the cover!
I'm not sure I'll stick with this series.
I'm not sure I'll stick with this series.
January 30, 2016
I never got to like the characters and I couldn't understand why they fell for each other. The only things I could read about in this book were betrayal and personal agendas.
The last third of the story and the action that took place gained one star but I'm mostly deceived of this volume.
I have great expectations on Toby's book.
The last third of the story and the action that took place gained one star but I'm mostly deceived of this volume.
I have great expectations on Toby's book.
December 15, 2018
This is the 2nd book in the series.
This book picks up after the first book with one of the people who helped with the heroine in book 1. However, the prologue starts the story years before the main story begins with a murder of a young girl.
Years later, the girl's sister, our heroine, has spent most of her life learning and tracking what happened to her sister. Now she's a journalist and has taken time off to track the person she thinks is responsible for her sister's death. She tracks him down to a small town which allows ex-cons a way to reintegrate into society. However, upon finding the place where he works and lives, her eye catches the look of another ex-con, who is looking pretty good. She takes some pictures to run through some criminal databases and he notices and doesn't like it.
Our hero notices the new eye candy and wants to keep all the guys around away from her for her own good. However, he now has to get the pictures she took of him back or deleted. He starts to approach her and delete them, but things go wrong. His boss, who is the head of a task force, tells him and his partner to get or delete the pictures. Then stay away from her.
However, they do get some but no all of the pictures. After a bit of back and forth, our heroine finds out he's undercover and needs her to stay away. However, she isn't going to because she needs to find out about her sister's killer. One thing does happen they don't count on and that's them falling in love.
When things blow up and our hero is found out, will good win over evil? Will the heroine's sister's murderer be brought to justice? How about what the hero was sent to find out? Will he or won't he?
Another great read by this author. Once again, you think you know what's going to happen and things don't go the way you think they will. It does keep you reading and enjoying it. I hope the author keeps up the great work.
This book picks up after the first book with one of the people who helped with the heroine in book 1. However, the prologue starts the story years before the main story begins with a murder of a young girl.
Years later, the girl's sister, our heroine, has spent most of her life learning and tracking what happened to her sister. Now she's a journalist and has taken time off to track the person she thinks is responsible for her sister's death. She tracks him down to a small town which allows ex-cons a way to reintegrate into society. However, upon finding the place where he works and lives, her eye catches the look of another ex-con, who is looking pretty good. She takes some pictures to run through some criminal databases and he notices and doesn't like it.
Our hero notices the new eye candy and wants to keep all the guys around away from her for her own good. However, he now has to get the pictures she took of him back or deleted. He starts to approach her and delete them, but things go wrong. His boss, who is the head of a task force, tells him and his partner to get or delete the pictures. Then stay away from her.
However, they do get some but no all of the pictures. After a bit of back and forth, our heroine finds out he's undercover and needs her to stay away. However, she isn't going to because she needs to find out about her sister's killer. One thing does happen they don't count on and that's them falling in love.
When things blow up and our hero is found out, will good win over evil? Will the heroine's sister's murderer be brought to justice? How about what the hero was sent to find out? Will he or won't he?
Another great read by this author. Once again, you think you know what's going to happen and things don't go the way you think they will. It does keep you reading and enjoying it. I hope the author keeps up the great work.
November 15, 2017
Ms Melton writes for young, uncomplicated readers.
My primary problem is the complete unlikelihood of an imam managing to educate and arrange for scores of ex-convicts, prison in-mates and parolees to achieve positions as top executives and positions in government within a couple of decades, as more-or-less depicted in this narrative. One or two, maybe, scores? No. I'm sorry to say that I am stuck with a modicum of reality.
Not only that, but even given the sometimes-vaunted (fanciful?) capability of terrorists to plan decades ahead, I very much doubt that some provincial small-town imam can do anything about raising his believers to high office.
So I'm picking at hairs, these are my comments, you're free to make your own. Two things:
Firstly, this book is written for 60% very young female and 40% very young male readers. The 60% is because of the truly slushy unlikely love scenes; maybe I was a hopeless individual in my younger days, but perfect physical and mental(?) love is something I have never experienced either personally or vicariously. Pity, right? "Them's the breaks", as my father said a few times. The 40% because of the guns 'n things, plus a bit of ruttin' on the side.
Secondly, too many facts, possibilities and details stretch one's belief too far.
So, if you are a young person, of either gender, you will enjoy Ms Melton's books.
Avoid these books if you are older; say, thirty years beyond puberty; and if, being a real reader, you like some reality and like things to gel somewhat, if you get my drift.
My primary problem is the complete unlikelihood of an imam managing to educate and arrange for scores of ex-convicts, prison in-mates and parolees to achieve positions as top executives and positions in government within a couple of decades, as more-or-less depicted in this narrative. One or two, maybe, scores? No. I'm sorry to say that I am stuck with a modicum of reality.
Not only that, but even given the sometimes-vaunted (fanciful?) capability of terrorists to plan decades ahead, I very much doubt that some provincial small-town imam can do anything about raising his believers to high office.
So I'm picking at hairs, these are my comments, you're free to make your own. Two things:
Firstly, this book is written for 60% very young female and 40% very young male readers. The 60% is because of the truly slushy unlikely love scenes; maybe I was a hopeless individual in my younger days, but perfect physical and mental(?) love is something I have never experienced either personally or vicariously. Pity, right? "Them's the breaks", as my father said a few times. The 40% because of the guns 'n things, plus a bit of ruttin' on the side.
Secondly, too many facts, possibilities and details stretch one's belief too far.
So, if you are a young person, of either gender, you will enjoy Ms Melton's books.
Avoid these books if you are older; say, thirty years beyond puberty; and if, being a real reader, you like some reality and like things to gel somewhat, if you get my drift.
October 3, 2014
Check out my other listens at Eargasms Audiobook Reviews
I need to start this review with a touch of housekeeping, this is in no way directed at the author, this is a big WTF to the publishers. See that cover art, it is very nice, usually I would say it has shelf appeal. I have a big issue with that perfectly smexy cover, the hero in this book is black, described several times by the author as mocha skinned. Hmm, that is not what the cover art is saying. This is a big no, no for me as a reader. The cover is meant to be a reflection of what is inside. This cover completely misses the mark or representing the interracial romance of the book.
On to the inside. This is the second book in the trilogy and it follows yummy agent Jackson!! I loved him in the first book and was thrilled he would find a HEA in this one!! His gal is Lena, she is sassy and independent. Perfect to she up Jackson, who has control issues! They have a great dynamic, even when they are pretending to be somebody they are not!!
There are a lot of names to keep track of in this book. It seems everybody has two or more names, it gets a little confusing at times. Thankfully there are not a lot of moments when people are referred to by both names.
I really liked the whole story this time, great detail and a bonus side plot. It isn't a nailbitter but it is a steady tale that progresses at a great pace. I was with it from the beginning to the end. Very current and believable storyline. The general feel was interesting and engaging.
The love happens quickly, but sometimes when it is right you just know from the start. I am willing to suspend belief for the romantic element. Oh la, there is a nice bit of steam tucked away here too!! I am talking some serious smexy stuff!!
I listened to the audiobook, once again narrator David Brenin does a bang up job. He has a really delicious voice, that gravely undertone brings naughty thoughts to mind! I like the slight accent on Jackson, it really sets him apart. Wonderful pace, steady but brisk at the same time. Honestly, I could listen to this guy read a phone book!
Overall great read. I loved the mixed narrative, it swapped between the leads POVs and even slipped in a few supporting characters. This was especially nice for getting into the bad guys thoughts. I am totally hooked and ready to jump into the third book!! Ms Melton might have a new stalker...um follower in me thanks to this series!
Disclosure - I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, opinions and ratings are my own.
I need to start this review with a touch of housekeeping, this is in no way directed at the author, this is a big WTF to the publishers. See that cover art, it is very nice, usually I would say it has shelf appeal. I have a big issue with that perfectly smexy cover, the hero in this book is black, described several times by the author as mocha skinned. Hmm, that is not what the cover art is saying. This is a big no, no for me as a reader. The cover is meant to be a reflection of what is inside. This cover completely misses the mark or representing the interracial romance of the book.
On to the inside. This is the second book in the trilogy and it follows yummy agent Jackson!! I loved him in the first book and was thrilled he would find a HEA in this one!! His gal is Lena, she is sassy and independent. Perfect to she up Jackson, who has control issues! They have a great dynamic, even when they are pretending to be somebody they are not!!
There are a lot of names to keep track of in this book. It seems everybody has two or more names, it gets a little confusing at times. Thankfully there are not a lot of moments when people are referred to by both names.
I really liked the whole story this time, great detail and a bonus side plot. It isn't a nailbitter but it is a steady tale that progresses at a great pace. I was with it from the beginning to the end. Very current and believable storyline. The general feel was interesting and engaging.
The love happens quickly, but sometimes when it is right you just know from the start. I am willing to suspend belief for the romantic element. Oh la, there is a nice bit of steam tucked away here too!! I am talking some serious smexy stuff!!
I listened to the audiobook, once again narrator David Brenin does a bang up job. He has a really delicious voice, that gravely undertone brings naughty thoughts to mind! I like the slight accent on Jackson, it really sets him apart. Wonderful pace, steady but brisk at the same time. Honestly, I could listen to this guy read a phone book!
Overall great read. I loved the mixed narrative, it swapped between the leads POVs and even slipped in a few supporting characters. This was especially nice for getting into the bad guys thoughts. I am totally hooked and ready to jump into the third book!! Ms Melton might have a new stalker...um follower in me thanks to this series!
Disclosure - I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, opinions and ratings are my own.
July 21, 2012
Special Agent Jackson Maddox is undercover at a reintegration program for ex-cons called Gateway. All the parolee's at Gateway had to convert to Islam and change their names to an Islamic names. It claims to have a high success rate on the ex-cons going on to living a crime free life and getting good respectable jobs. The taskforce that Jackson works for has reason to believe that Gateway is training terrorists and funding terrorism activity overseas. Lena Alexandra is a journalist for a crime magazine who sister was murdered by a police officer some 15 years before but due to the witness disappearing he got off on that crime but was arrested later for drug trafficking. He is now part of the Gateway program and she is there undercover herself to see if she can get him to confess to the murder.
Marliss at the beginning of the book in a foreward explains that there are racial and religious elements in the book that may make some uncomfortable. I applaud her for saying what she had to say and to also point out that even though these situations do exist in the real world that this book was a work of fiction.
Jackson through out all of his time serving his country and being part of the task force is still a man with conscience. That conscience was a very attractive trait, it's what I feel attracted Lana to him right off the bat even though they were both lying to the other about who they were. Lana in the beginning was on a sole mission to get the killer of her sister no matter the cost. As the story went along she finally got to see what its like being on the other side of a journalist exposing a story at the sake of a story and comes to see things in a different light.
This wasnt always an easy story to read but but it was none the less well written in my opinion and I loved the romance between Jackson and Lana.
October 28, 2012
The Guardian was a fairly good book although The Protector I found much better. Jackson was introduced in The Protector where his character was first getting defined and I liked where Marliss was going with his character in that story. I found the characters in this story lacking a certain element, maturity that didn't seem to make their chemistry mesh. The storyline was fantastic and was well written yet this story lacked that certain finesse that we've come to love about Marliss's writing. To me, the leading characters just didn't measure up for being a hot item. It seemed hormones raged more than common sense. I'm rating this a 3.6 out of 5.
December 29, 2013
After reading The Guardian and The Protector, I was very disappointed. These books were a far cry from the NavySEALs series. I loved all the characters from that series and there was a definite chemistry between the men and women. This series however, lacked that.
Even though there is a disclaimer at the beginning, the book was very offensive. I think that as much as she highlighted the extremist part of the religion, she needed to write about the good and peaceful side too.
Unfortunately, I am not that interested in continuing the series.
Even though there is a disclaimer at the beginning, the book was very offensive. I think that as much as she highlighted the extremist part of the religion, she needed to write about the good and peaceful side too.
Unfortunately, I am not that interested in continuing the series.
January 8, 2014
The second book in the series Taskforce by Marliss Melton. Jackson Maddox is undercover as a Muslim parolee to investigate possible terrorist activities. Lena Alexandra has come to the area to investigate another parolee, Rupert Davis. A man who raped and killed her sister many years before.
An exciting addition to the series. I think the romance suffered a bit due to the storyline and length but it was still worth reading. We are introduced to a new character Tobias Burke who will have his own story. Looking forward to it. I would recommend it.
An exciting addition to the series. I think the romance suffered a bit due to the storyline and length but it was still worth reading. We are introduced to a new character Tobias Burke who will have his own story. Looking forward to it. I would recommend it.
January 18, 2013
Marliss Melton kept me on edge with this book! Great second book in this series, romantic, but not over the top with the thrilling edge! I found the characters to be true to their selves and each other despite them each having their own agendas. I really liked this one and am really looking forward to her next book!
March 20, 2016
A good story, but a little bit slow. The main conflict between the leads in the story due to both being undercover for different reasons. The female lead is an investigative reporter who is looking for evidence to put the man who murdered her sister back in jail for good. The male lead is trying to discover whether or not a halfway house is being used as a recruitment camp for terrorists.
February 22, 2016
Second in The Taskforce series, this is Jackson and Lena's story. Jackson is trying to stop a terrorist attack, but Lena gets in the way trying to get a confession out of the cop turned convict that killed her sister. Will an undercover FBI agent and a reporter find more than they bargained for? A good read. enjoyed it and looking forward to the next in the series.
July 28, 2012
I was really looking forward to this second installment in the series... but it wasn't even close to the delicious beach ready goodness of the first book. This one felt rushed, relied too heavily on high-level character development, and made me drool not at all.
November 12, 2012
I had a hard time believing this was written by the same author who wrote The Protector. The style was off, the characters weren't all that well developed, and the story line took forever to develop . Not my favorite by Melton.
April 9, 2016
I liked the characters, but I think I don't enjoy plots where one or both of the protagonists is undercover very much. I don't enjoy it when they have to keep secrets from each other and out-right lie to each other.
October 6, 2012
This doesn't happen often but I just couldn't finish this despite getting more than half way through it.
December 17, 2014
I typically really like Melton's books, but the storyline of this one bored me. It was ok, the main characters were likable.
March 26, 2014
good read.
January 19, 2013
Good book. Slow at times, but good story.
May 15, 2013
Not that great. Below average read for Marliss.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews