Undercover Marriage

Witness Protection #6

by Terri Reed

THE BABY MISSION 

An illegal adoption ring - using kidnapped babies -
has to be stopped. To gather the necessary evidence, U.S. marshal Serena Summers goes undercover - as a married woman desperate for a baby. Her "husband" is her own partner, U.S. marshal Josh McCall, whom Serena blames for her brother's death. How can she act like a loving wife when she has to constantly fight her feelings for a man she isn't sure she can trust? The closer they get to unraveling the dark web of deceit, though, the more being Josh's undercover wife means putting her life - and future - in his hands. 

Witness Protection: Hiding in plain sight

Genres: Romance, Christian Fiction, Love Inspired, Love Inspired Suspense, Suspense, Christian, Romantic Suspense

219 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

New York Times bestselling author Terri Reed’s romance and romantic suspense novels have appeared on Publishers Weekly top 10 Romance Mass Market Paperback and Publishers Weekly top 10 Religion Fiction, Nielsen’s Bookscan top 50, Amazon #1 Bestseller, featured in USA Today and a Fresh Pick at FreshFiction.com. Her 2016 novel, A Family Under the Christmas Tree, was adapted into the Hallmark movie and retitled Picture a Perfect Christmas.
She resides in the Pacific Northwest with her college-sweetheart husband and when not writing, she enjoys agility with her Australian shepherd.
For updates about Terri and her books sign up for her newsletter https://bit.ly/3Ihz48q
Be sure to follow Terri on BookBub for updates on her new releases
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Reviews

[Paula Legate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic end to the Witness Protection series. Each book could be read as a standalone. I did read the books out of order and was not lost at all.
I am glad Josh and Serena got their own story. They go undercover posing as a rich couple that want to adopt a baby from a baby smuggling ring. It’s really hard on both of them. They both have hard feelings and guilt over the death of Josh’s partner and Serena’s brother. Throughout the story Serena forgives Josh. Only if Josh can find a way to forgive himself even tho it was not his fault. They also have to deal with a leak in the department. I had guessed who the leak was, and I was thankful I was wrong. I loved how this book tied everything together. Loved the action, suspense, and romance. All 6 ladies that wrote this series did an outstanding job! This book series will be added to my list of favorites.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was anxious to get to this story. I liked the premises of Serena & Josh going undercover. And finally we would get to see: who was behind the baby smuggling ring, who the leak was, & who killed Serena's brother.

Serena finally says in words what she's being saying with her attitude, and eyes. Though Josh knows she blames him, it still hurts a little. Airing their anger & pain enables them to start working through it. The extra time together also helps Serena to see how much Josh blames himself. I enjoyed "watching" them work it out, fall in love & solve the mystery. They really do work well together.

Linda was a delight! I really enjoyed her character, a perfect "aunt" & backup to have around. It was neat how things worked out for Lonnie & Baby Kay.

A good conclusion to a good series.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christian suspense. Not the first in a series but that doesn’t matter. There are brief references to other characters from previous books but I just skimmed over that. The suspense is not heart pounding. More like a cozy mystery. Quick read. US Marshals attempt to stop a kidnapper who is trafficking infants.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read. Still have questions though.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good little mystery and a sweet romance, but because I hadn’t read the other books in the series I felt at times like I was missing something.

[Adrienne · Rating 1 out of 5]

UNDERCOVER MARRIAGE
---------------------

"A bullet tore through the cardboard box, nearly taking out Josh's eye..." (p. 13).


This is how my reading experience of this book went:

--"Okay. A little forced, but keep reading..."

--"WHAT?" (above quote) "That's oddly specific. Why his eye, which is rather interior to the head, and not something like, '...nearly hitting him in the head?' or '...nearly grazing his ear'? *sigh* Keep reading."

--"YEESH! SERIOUSLY? Did the writer play this scene out before committing it to paper? On page 21, a car is following two paces behind the protagonists' car. On page 22, the pursuers' vehicle is close enough to shoot out the protagonists' back car window. On the same page (through page 24,) the male love interest suddenly has enough time to:

1.) turn their car around in a parking lot (to face the pursuing vehicle);
2.) stop the car and put it into park;
3.) open the car door;
4.) take out his gun--from a holster "beneath his jacket," no less;
5.) get into a shooting stance behind the now-open door;
6.) fire a shot at the still-oncoming vehicle;
6.) stand around long enough for the female protagonist to scream, "Josh...Move it! Now." (p. 23);
7.) and, shoot a couple more times.

PUH-LEASE."


I suspect that few who read in this genre expect perfection or high-brow reading, and I know that readers in this genre are very forgiving of errors. However, this kind of lack of attention to detail is a deal breaker for me as a reader.


---------------------------------------------
[Pagination for large print edition]

[Merle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This unravels all the mysteries surrounding the baby trafficking ring in St. Louis that has taken so much time and work for the U.S. Marshals. Serena Summers and Josh McCall have worked together, even though she has never forgiven him for being unavailable and allowing her brother to be murdered.
The story concludes with the truth about Daniel's murder at the hands of the ring, as well as the final lessening of tension between the pair. When they let go of the guilt, they realize that they have feelings for each other. Finding the root of the ring is heartbreaking and infuriating all at once. It leaves them, though, able to figure out that they are in love (much as it always happens in these continuities) and a Happy Ending is had by all.

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

The end of a very intense and interesting continuity series.

Josh and Serena go under cover as a couple who want to adopt a baby from the baby smuggling ring. It's extremely hard for both of them though, because there is tension between them due to the guilt they feel over the death of Serena's brother who was Josh's partner when he was murdered.

All through the series I was back and forth about who the leak at the Marshal's office was. I was happy to find I was wrong! And in the end the question of who murdered Serena's brother is answered. Very good job done by all 6 ladies involved in this series!

[Cathy Beckett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the final installment in the continuity series Witness Protection. Serena Summers and Josh McCall are U.S. Marshalls undercover to bust an illegal baby adoption ring.
Both of these characters were introduced in the first book in the series, Safe by the Marshall’s Side. Serena and Josh were having problems due to Serena’s brother having been murdered in the line of duty. Josh had been his partner and Serena laid the blame on Josh.
This book was full of her angst and second guessing everything. It was a little weak and hard to finish because of this flaw.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, confession time. These are my junk food books. I read very little Love Inspired and don't highly recommend them. However, they can be a nice fluffy treat occasionally. I've read the first and now the last book in this series. I enjoyed both.

[Rainbow Unicorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was part of a series, but regrettably so stand alone that it did not feel like part of the same series. A decent read nonetheless.

[Liz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Look, I picked this book up knowing it wouldn’t be high quality literature but this was just not good. The plot was paper thin which I can forgive in a romance novel, particularly if the chemistry between the main characters is engaging, but this book failed even in that department.

The characters were boring, the “suspense” plot was laughably bad, and there was barely even any romance besides a couple random kisses that lacked any passion beyond the book just stating the characters were attracted to each other. I genuinely worry about anyone reading this who thinks this is what good romance is.

Finally, there were a weird number of references to Christianity and praying that added absolutely nothing to the book. It genuinely felt at times like the author had a quota to fill or something because it certainly didn’t add any depth to the characters or story.

[UberApril · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ramblings: my suspicion of a death was wrong. Once I started to truly read the book I was able to finish it quickly. I would probably enjoy it more if I knew the other couples that were mentioned from the series. I know it was supposed to pique my interest in getting the other books but all it did was annoy me on how often these couples were brought up in this story. I was disappointed that not once was the NHL team mentioned since the story took place in St. Louis so sad. I did learn that there's a tram that goes up the Gateway Arch. When I return to that city, I'll have to check out the Arch and attend a hockey game. And all the religious talk was not my thing. The questions for discussion at the end made me lol.. as if this was a reading for a book club.

[Finch (KI KI AYY) · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF -they seriously need to fire their editor. There were typos, misspellings and grammatical mistakes all over the place. I like Terri Reeds writing style so I thought I would enjoy this little short story but I ended up pretty bored.

Josh is great I really like him. No inappropriate content as it’s a very plainly Christian novel (characters pray, talk to God, and attend church)

So my only real reason for DNFing this book is the bad editing and lack of thrill. The beginning was exciting then it flattened out to slow and mediocre.

[Jo|Ruth Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really good. I appreciate that the author took the time to make the suspense portion of the story believable. The main characters had both lost someone they loved and it created such tension between them... but I love how we watch as they unravel the death of their loved one and at the same time grow the love for one another.

This is my first time reading a story from this series. I need to read more of them!

[Judine Brey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a satisfying conclusion to the six book series surrounding an illegal adoption ring. The history between Josh and Serena that has been established through the course of the series made them posing as a married couple the logical end to the plot. Josh and Serena's storyline was great, and I loved Linda as a minor character, but some of the writing tying in the other books was clunky.

[Nicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like I missed out a bit having not read the previous books in this series. But I like the idea of law-enforcement agents working undercover as a married couple and falling in love. I just didn’t love this couple that much. But again, if I had known and seeing them in bits and parts throughout the rest of the series, maybe I would’ve felt more of a connection to them.

[Dorie Crouthers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witness Protection 6 book series

This series Witness Protection Sixteen book series was so phenomenal. I would start reading the next one right away. There is tension between characters that changes to harmony, and evil doers who are determined to eliminate any obstacles that prevent their Success.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating tale

This is the wrap up to the Witness Protection series. Finally all was revealed. Josh and Serena are partnered together even though they have some history. In the end they find love and answers to the questions they had been asking.

[Margaret Connelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suspenseful

The book was suspenseful but a little bit predictable. I identified the leak almost immediately. I decided that the leak had caused her brother's death. I was pretty close.

[Jeanette S. Stracner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful novel!

Terri Reed did a great job of these marshals. Marshal Serena Summers was sick over her brother’s death and blamed Josh McCall for his death since he had been off that day. They asked to be spouses. Jeanette Stracner

[Pascale’s*ARC,Unwind,Read,Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Finally this series comes to a conclusion. I skipped a bunch of books in between and I really didn’t miss anything. I just wanted to read the conclusion and not have more characters thrown in and side stories that didn’t advance the plot at all and this book satisfied that purpose.

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple little story..Naturally we have a reason people who love each other have to keep their distance. We all know what happens when they are forced to pretend to be married
Good natured people except for the killers and criminals

[Bonnie Ritchie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a vey good book and went right along with the others written before it. It had a lot of suspense.

[Sandra Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great conclusion to the series!!

[Dorel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book's storyline. This book's storyline was sad 😞. I liked the action in this story. I liked Serena's character. I liked Josh's character. I liked the ending.

[Daisey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good. Clean. Baby smuggling, forgiveness.

[Renee Helton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Story

Great Story and wonderful characters.
Full of action and plot twists.
Looking forward to reading more books by this author.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome read

[LaDonna Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally

Finally the story of the marshalls who kept showing up in each book as they worked through this case. Well told.