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Ex Ops #1
Secret Maneuvers
Some mistakes from the past haunt us forever… unless fate steps in with a second chance.
One ‘Dear John’ letter haunted Bobby Baker’s every living moment. It was the letter he’d stupidly written to his high school sweetheart, Belle, right after he had left to join the Army. The letter in which he’d told her that he wasn’t so sure they were ready for forever yet. Before he could let her know that the letter, and his second thoughts, were nothing more than a mistake, she disappeared from the small Georgia town they had both been raised in.
Fifteen years after the letter, Belle unknowingly walked back into Bobby’s life when her job as an ATF Agent forced her to work with a group of men secretly headed by the CIA to help her track down whoever was involved in funneling black market weapons to a drug cartel in Mexico.
Bobby planned to use this mission to try to soothe Belle’s hurt feelings while proving to her that their love was meant to be forever. He would use every dirty trick he’d learned since he had joined the Army to maneuver her back into his life for the long haul. Belle was not making it easy, though, as she continued to keep him at arm’s length in the hopes that mistakes of her own would never come to light.
Warning: Mature themes and a secret baby! <- You've been warned.
One ‘Dear John’ letter haunted Bobby Baker’s every living moment. It was the letter he’d stupidly written to his high school sweetheart, Belle, right after he had left to join the Army. The letter in which he’d told her that he wasn’t so sure they were ready for forever yet. Before he could let her know that the letter, and his second thoughts, were nothing more than a mistake, she disappeared from the small Georgia town they had both been raised in.
Fifteen years after the letter, Belle unknowingly walked back into Bobby’s life when her job as an ATF Agent forced her to work with a group of men secretly headed by the CIA to help her track down whoever was involved in funneling black market weapons to a drug cartel in Mexico.
Bobby planned to use this mission to try to soothe Belle’s hurt feelings while proving to her that their love was meant to be forever. He would use every dirty trick he’d learned since he had joined the Army to maneuver her back into his life for the long haul. Belle was not making it easy, though, as she continued to keep him at arm’s length in the hopes that mistakes of her own would never come to light.
Warning: Mature themes and a secret baby! <- You've been warned.
298 pages, ebook
First published June 13, 2013
666 people are currently reading
2742 people want to read
About the author
Jessie Lane
38 books1,178 followersAuthor of Paranormal and Contemporary Romance, as well as, Upper YA Paranormal Romance/Fantasy. An often shy, sometimes snarky chick addicted to books, caffeine & hot fictional men. She lives in Kentucky with her two crazy teenage daughters and her over protective alpha husband that she’s pretty sure is a latent grizzly bear shifter. She has a passionate love for reading and writing naughty romance, cliff hanging suspense, and out-of-this-world characters that demand your attention, or threaten to slap you around until you do pay attention to them.
You can follow Jessie at: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, & her Amazon Author Page
You can follow Jessie at: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, & her Amazon Author Page
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 319 reviews
June 28, 2013
Update!!! Secret Maneuvers is on sale for 99¢, for a LIMITED TIME! This is such a great story!!
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Some mistakes from the past haunt us forever... unless fate steps in with a second chance.
The Story:
Secret Maneuvers is the first book in Jessie Lane’s Ex Ops series. It is, as you would expect from the title, a romantic suspense tale about a team of ex-military or ex-alphabet agency men who, for whatever reason, are no longer working for their original teams. Because of their outstanding, specialized skills, these men have been recruited by Ex Ops – an organization secretly headed by the CIA - to do the jobs Uncle Sam wants to deny having any part of.
What the title doesn’t tell you is what a fantastic, riveting story this is.
Right from the start it grabs hold of your heart and doesn’t let go. The prologue had me shedding a few tears as Belle’s heart is broken by her one true love, the man who promised he’d never hurt her, one of only two people she’s every truly trusted. They were madly in love, but still too young to be making “forever” promises, so when Belle gets Bobby’s letter breaking it off, she does the only thing she can do to protect herself from ever being crushed again. She runs.
It didn’t take long for Bobby to realize what a fool he was, but by the time he’d decided to beg her forgiveness, his Belle was gone. Private Investigators, Internet searches… nothing turned up a single clue about where she might be. He never stopped loving her, never stopped beating himself up for being such a fool, but eventually, he stopped looking for the girl who didn’t want to be found.
Fast forward fifteen years to an operation involving the ATF and Bobby’s Ex Ops team who are working together to track down the people responsible for funneling black market weapons to a drug cartel in Mexico. As the Fates would have it, Belle is the ATF Agent in charge of the operation, and Bobby’s not about to let her go again. She doesn’t want anything to do with him, but Bobby’s made it his mission to change her mind.
My Review:
It's not often I find a book that I can't put down. I mean, seriously can't put down, but Secret Maneuvers is honestly one of the best “second chance” romances I’ve read. It’s fast paced, funny, romantic and more than a little sexy. The world Ms. Lane has created is an exciting one, filled with complex characters who are just screaming for a story of their own. Bobby and Belle are great together, and despite my unhappiness with some of the things Bobby said to her after learning her secret, I couldn’t help but cheer them on as they fought their fears – and each other – and worked towards their happily ever after.
The bottom line: Fans of romantic suspense, you do not want to miss this story, and that’s all you need to know. Trust me on this – just buy the book, sit back and enjoy!
Up next: Riley's story, and it can't come fast enough!!!
My thanks to Jessie Lane for providing me with a copy of this awesome story. Truly, thank you.
July 8, 2013
4 Stars!! Loved it! Great start to this series!
My dual review with Steffi posted at Swept Away By Romance!
What worked
Karla: The whole idea behind the story, ATF agents working with a Special-Ops team to fight the drug cartels. I liked that Bobby and all the other members of his team were ex-military, but I especially loved that Annabelle was one of the ATF agents in charge of the operation and she called the shots!! All those sexy men and one woman…my kind of book!
The alternating points- of-view was the way to go, and it worked very well. Getting into Annabelle’s and Bobby’s heads gave you a better understanding of the characters and what drove each of them.
Steffi: The team and the smoking hot chemistry! The Special-Ops team apparently has a hotness factor entry requirement because all of the guys are smoking. The interactions between Bobby and his team made me curious and I need to know more about them.
Bobby and Annabelle have amazing chemistry. I loved their backstory and the glimpses we got from their past. I thought the pace of the story and the different POVs were very well chosen and they made the story flow easily. The difference between action/suspense and romance was not too harsh but well interwoven into a fluid storyline.
What didn’t work
Karla: Bobby’s constant blame game. I understood his initial shock over Annabelle’s surprise, but I don’t see how he could possibly have felt that she was at fault in any way shape or form. Almost up to the end he was still holding a grudge and sometimes was really mean. At times I wanted to kick his ass! He got on my nerves. I understood his hurt and sense of loss, but it was just too much. He was 100% responsible for their break-up, and I wish the author had toned down his reactions a little; then that part of the story would have been more credible. Other than that, I liked how Annabelle and Bobby worked through the past to create a future.
Steffi: I hate so say it but I was disappointed in the plot. When a plot like this, which has been done to the extreme, is used in a story, there has to be some originality to it and that was lacking for me. Also, I was very excited by the beginning of the book. The suspense and military setting really drew me in. It was unfortunate that it was overshadowed a bit by Annabelle and Bobby’s quarrels until the end of the book. I wanted more excitement.
While I agree with Karla – Bobby could have toned it down a little – I thought he had a right to his feelings, as had Annabelle. In some instances, I actually thought they wouldn’t make it because too much had been said already. But the love between them is stronger, which brings me back to what I loved most about Secret Maneuvers.
Best scenes
Karla: At the football field. I won’t get into it too much, don’t want to ruin it for the readers. In this scene Bobby’s initial reaction was warranted, I thought the whole scene played out very well. It was pretty powerful. You’ll just have to read and find out for yourself.
Steffi: I don’t think I have a favorite scene which stood out to me. I think Karla nails it with hers actually. That was probably the strongest scene with the biggest impact.
Favorite characters
Karla: Annabelle! I absolutely loved her!! She dusted herself off, didn’t wallow in self-pity and made a life for herself.
Teagan! The other kick-ass woman extraordinaire and Annabelle’s loyal friend. She was by her side, through the good times and the bad.
The Sullivan brothers, Declan and Riley. Declan, Bobby’s best friend, was adorable, the voice of reason when necessary and he added an element of fun. I’m curious to see if the sparks will continue to fly with Teagan! Riley was more somber and serious, soft-spoken, but a force to be reckoned with. We know some of his story, but I want more…of both of them! I hope they will be featured in upcoming books.
Steffi: I LOVED Teagan. She is a bit ruthless and cunning but fiercely protective and by far the most interesting character in the book. I cannot wait to read her story. It’s going to blow everyone’s minds, I just know it. I hope she gets her own book…..*fingers-crossed*
I can’t say it often enough, but I loved the Secret Ops team. All of them are funny and interesting in their own rights and I hope each and every one of them will get their own story. They all deserve one and I’m definitely going to read it!
I have one favorite character which I can’t mention here without giving away a major spoiler, but I LOVED him. Can’t say more, you’re going to have to find out for yourselves:)
Overall Thoughts
Karla: I was drawn into the story immediately, touched by the bitter-sweet prologue. Then fast forwarding to the future and seeing Annabelle’s transition from a young naïve girl to a strong, confident woman… I love a resilient heroine and Annabelle was that and so much more. She was every bit one of the boys, but yet she had her feminine side. The writing flowed very well, and the story moved along nicely, and considering this is two authors writing as one, it was cohesive. There were no overly descriptive scenes that bogged the book down, an issue I had with Big Bad Bite. A good blend of character interaction, some witty dialogue, hot intimate scenes, and a second chance at love, made for a great first installment in this series. The secondary characters, in many ways took front and center; they played a big part in the plot, and they will make for some great reading in the series as it moves forward! ~4 stars!
Steffi: All of the characters in Secret Maneuvers are fully developed and layered. I greatly enjoyed all their interactions and would love to see many of them featured in future books. The author manages a lightness and humorous atmosphere, even though the story is highly emotional at the same time. I thought that was very well done and one of the main factors responsible for keeping me interested. Like I mentioned before, the basic plot bored me a little and I was disappointed in the suspense but the ending made up for all of that. Not only does it have bone-melting romance but thrilling action scenes as well. The writing is, as always, engaging and draws you in on page 1. I’m excited to find out who is next in the Ex Ops series! If you haven’t read Jessie Lane yet, what are you waiting for? ~3.5 stars!
*ARC kindly provided by Jessie Lane in exchange for an honest review*
May 24, 2018
Secret Maneuvers was the first book in the Ex Ops series by Jessie Lane. Although I’ve read a collaboration series by Lane with Chelsea Camaron previously, this was my first solo writing by Lane.
This was a second chance romance. And I’m a sucker for second chances. Annabelle “Belle” Smith and Bobby Baker were childhood sweethearts. Bobby was the gorgeous and popular football guy that everyone loved. Although beautiful and feisty, Belle was the trailer park girl that everyone ignored. Belle’s fear was that it was too good to be true....and it was.
Fast forward fifteen years later and they were assigned to the same task force, reuniting again, but under very different circumstances. This time Belle was locked up tight, never one to experience attachments again. Lane took us through the groveling chase alongside a suspenseful plot through their respective employers, ATF and Ex Ops. I enjoyed that Lane didn’t sugarcoat it but portrayed the real hurt and anger that would have most definitely been present as the story began to unfold. It was well written, well developed and entertaining.
Lane also set the stage for the series by introducing the colorful and broken cast of characters that we’ll explore more as the series progresses. Next up is the quiet and heartbroken Riley Sullivan in Stripping her Defenses.
This was a second chance romance. And I’m a sucker for second chances. Annabelle “Belle” Smith and Bobby Baker were childhood sweethearts. Bobby was the gorgeous and popular football guy that everyone loved. Although beautiful and feisty, Belle was the trailer park girl that everyone ignored. Belle’s fear was that it was too good to be true....and it was.
Fast forward fifteen years later and they were assigned to the same task force, reuniting again, but under very different circumstances. This time Belle was locked up tight, never one to experience attachments again. Lane took us through the groveling chase alongside a suspenseful plot through their respective employers, ATF and Ex Ops. I enjoyed that Lane didn’t sugarcoat it but portrayed the real hurt and anger that would have most definitely been present as the story began to unfold. It was well written, well developed and entertaining.
Lane also set the stage for the series by introducing the colorful and broken cast of characters that we’ll explore more as the series progresses. Next up is the quiet and heartbroken Riley Sullivan in Stripping her Defenses.
March 14, 2017
4 Stars
Did I say 4.5 stars before? Oops… I think it should be more like 4 stars
… at least after some of those “fine details” (referred to below) were brought back to my attention 0.o (Thank you Carvanz!) I'll just refer you to her review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Free!!! Amazon Kindle 3/7/17
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DE50XLO/...
with kindness :D
I bought this on 8/30/16 for $3.99, and I remember having no regrets!
I don't remember the fine details exactly, but basically this is a May not be safe for those in the safety gang.
If you loved
as much as I did, you will definitely enjoy
. If I had to choose though, I would pick Gage over Bobby <3 just saying ;)
Did I say 4.5 stars before? Oops… I think it should be more like 4 stars
… at least after some of those “fine details” (referred to below) were brought back to my attention 0.o (Thank you Carvanz!) I'll just refer you to her review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Free!!! Amazon Kindle 3/7/17
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DE50XLO/...
with kindness :DI bought this on 8/30/16 for $3.99, and I remember having no regrets!
I don't remember the fine details exactly, but basically this is a May not be safe for those in the safety gang.
If you loved
as much as I did, you will definitely enjoy
. If I had to choose though, I would pick Gage over Bobby <3 just saying ;)
June 6, 2013
This book...was…I don’t know. This book was awful. And completely awesome. I think I’m speechless. This really was an awesome book. I was hooked from the first page.
Jessie Lane is incredibly talented. And it’s because of that talent that this book was awful for me.
Bobby was hot, alpha, military, and oh, did I mention hot?
I loved him. And…I hated him. With a passion. With a burning Passion. A burning passion that left me wanting to cause him physical harm.
One of my friends said they had a love-hate relationship with Bobby, and I could totally see why. But it went beyond that for me. I was literally beside myself while reading this book.
Bobby was constantly hitting every mark on my Irritable Acts meter. He started in the first chapter with the Dear Jane letter. And that was not an good omen for Bobby. Most of the book was spent with me wanting to alternate between me wanting to Gibbs head slap him
and me wanting to go all Bartok on him.
Then he moved into me wanting to drop kick him
verging on me wanting to go all Queen of Hearts on him. Then he jumped right over that line and stayed in the Queen of Hearts zone for quite a while.
But Bobby was special. He did something no other character has ever done. Quite frankly, I was shocked.
And this is where I became beside myself while reading this. Bobby moved past Queen of Hearts into an unknown zone. I don’t even have a name for it because it’s never happened to me before. But Bobby pushed me over the edge. I sat there in shock at how much of an idiot and jerk he was.
And don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against jerk heroes. They’re actually quite enjoyable to read. I just don’t think I’ve ever encountered one quite like Bobby. I was in shock.
Like I said, Jessie Lane is incredibly talented to leave me stupefied, and having to come up with a new level of irritation for my meter. But (and I’ll only admit this under duress), Bobby did redeem himself in the end. I didn’t think it was possible, but he did it.
Since Bobby annoyed me so bad, I kept wanting someone to call him on this actions.
And I was not disappointed. It’s not often that a character is taken to task (more than once) for their actions, especially when they should be, so I was extremely glad to see more than one person call Bobby on his behavior. I was standing up cheering at those moments.
Moving on from Bobby’s issues, the story was really good. While it had a police/military type of story going on, it wasn’t the main focus. That was the relationship between Annabelle and Bobby. And their chemistry was off the charts!
But they had their sweet moments too.
Overall, this book is pretty much
Jessie Lane is incredibly talented. And it’s because of that talent that this book was awful for me.
Bobby was hot, alpha, military, and oh, did I mention hot?
I loved him. And…I hated him. With a passion. With a burning Passion. A burning passion that left me wanting to cause him physical harm.
One of my friends said they had a love-hate relationship with Bobby, and I could totally see why. But it went beyond that for me. I was literally beside myself while reading this book.
Bobby was constantly hitting every mark on my Irritable Acts meter. He started in the first chapter with the Dear Jane letter. And that was not an good omen for Bobby. Most of the book was spent with me wanting to alternate between me wanting to Gibbs head slap him
and me wanting to go all Bartok on him.
Then he moved into me wanting to drop kick him
verging on me wanting to go all Queen of Hearts on him. Then he jumped right over that line and stayed in the Queen of Hearts zone for quite a while.
But Bobby was special. He did something no other character has ever done. Quite frankly, I was shocked.
And this is where I became beside myself while reading this. Bobby moved past Queen of Hearts into an unknown zone. I don’t even have a name for it because it’s never happened to me before. But Bobby pushed me over the edge. I sat there in shock at how much of an idiot and jerk he was.
And don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against jerk heroes. They’re actually quite enjoyable to read. I just don’t think I’ve ever encountered one quite like Bobby. I was in shock.
Like I said, Jessie Lane is incredibly talented to leave me stupefied, and having to come up with a new level of irritation for my meter. But (and I’ll only admit this under duress), Bobby did redeem himself in the end. I didn’t think it was possible, but he did it.
Since Bobby annoyed me so bad, I kept wanting someone to call him on this actions.
And I was not disappointed. It’s not often that a character is taken to task (more than once) for their actions, especially when they should be, so I was extremely glad to see more than one person call Bobby on his behavior. I was standing up cheering at those moments.
Moving on from Bobby’s issues, the story was really good. While it had a police/military type of story going on, it wasn’t the main focus. That was the relationship between Annabelle and Bobby. And their chemistry was off the charts!
But they had their sweet moments too.
Overall, this book is pretty much
November 28, 2013
Young love...
Bobby Baker told Annabelle "Belle" Smith he would always take care of her. And with an abusive father, it was a miracle she believed in love at all. But when Bobby sent Belle a "Dear Jane" letter from bootcamp, she shut down and disappeared from their small town in Georgia.
Fifteen years later...
Bobby Baker is now a member of a secret government organization called Ex Ops, who go in and do everything the government can't legally do. During a new mission brief, Texas ATF agent Annabelle Roberts walks in. Bobby knows immediately that this is his Belle.
Lies, misunderstandings, danger, kidnapping and critical injuries come between them. They both have to learn to forgive and believe in love again.
I thought this book had a lot of potential. I would have liked more danger. I also felt that Bobby didn't have as much right to be as pissed as he was. I can understand his anger, but thought he held on too long. Even his friends/brothers told him he was being an ass.
Seth was one of my favorite characters. He may be young, but he was wise beyond his years. Teagan also gave Bobby some good what-for.
I wanted to like this more, but it felt lite in a lot of places where it could have had some gravitas and missed a few opportunities to do so. I want a book where Declan and Teagan emotionally duke it out. But I will definitely settle for knowing more about Riley.
Bobby Baker told Annabelle "Belle" Smith he would always take care of her. And with an abusive father, it was a miracle she believed in love at all. But when Bobby sent Belle a "Dear Jane" letter from bootcamp, she shut down and disappeared from their small town in Georgia.
Fifteen years later...
Bobby Baker is now a member of a secret government organization called Ex Ops, who go in and do everything the government can't legally do. During a new mission brief, Texas ATF agent Annabelle Roberts walks in. Bobby knows immediately that this is his Belle.
Lies, misunderstandings, danger, kidnapping and critical injuries come between them. They both have to learn to forgive and believe in love again.
I thought this book had a lot of potential. I would have liked more danger. I also felt that Bobby didn't have as much right to be as pissed as he was. I can understand his anger, but thought he held on too long. Even his friends/brothers told him he was being an ass.
Seth was one of my favorite characters. He may be young, but he was wise beyond his years. Teagan also gave Bobby some good what-for.
I wanted to like this more, but it felt lite in a lot of places where it could have had some gravitas and missed a few opportunities to do so. I want a book where Declan and Teagan emotionally duke it out. But I will definitely settle for knowing more about Riley.
March 14, 2017
This was a great fast paced, action filled romance with an awesome heroine and a strong alpha hero. I knew going in what the secret was because I can’t help but read all spoilers. And for those of you who need it, here it is: . I definitely enjoyed this book with the exception of Bobby’s unwillingness to forgive Belle. Don’t get me wrong, I totally understood it. I just felt like he wasn’t even attempting to let go of the unforgiveness even while he proclaimed she meant everything in the world to him. Then when he did decide to forgive her, I needed to see what had changed in his mind for him to come to that decision. The struggle I had with that is why I rated this book three stars instead of four.
I still really like this book and will read more from this author. I’m curious to see who else gets a story in this series.
POV – dual
Epilogue – a few months later, everything resolved between H/h but the “case” is still ongoing
OW/OM –
Celibate/Cheating -
Abuse -
I still really like this book and will read more from this author. I’m curious to see who else gets a story in this series.
POV – dual
Epilogue – a few months later, everything resolved between H/h but the “case” is still ongoing
OW/OM –
Celibate/Cheating -
Abuse -
June 30, 2013
My first Jessie Lane book was Big Bad Bite and I absolutely loved it. I fell in love with this author's style and knew immediately she (they) were one (two) to look out for. I knew that I would have to read more and soon. When I saw that Secret Maneuvers was released I pounced on it. I had actually planned to read a different book with a friend but this one was literally screaming at me. It doesn't happen often that I come across a book that I just have to read immediately. SM was one that did. So I got it and started it and stayed up until 6 am reading. Alas my poor eyeballs just couldn't keep up so I had to put it down and finish later that day. (you know, at a more reasonable hour! [image error]) What an emotionally (gripping) charged, action packed, sexy, heart-wrenching, gut clenching, edge of your seat, can't put it down book! I seriously loved this book! There is not one bad thing to say about it. Other than I want more, of course! :-) The writing was once again superb! The story was one that reached out and grabbed a hold of me and would not let go. I absolutely loved it. The characters were so well written and developed I felt connected to them! Belle and Bobby had a love that is so sweet and heartwarming it just makes you want to find that for yourself.
Belle endured such a craptastic childhood but was able to find her prince. But then that prince made one monumental mistake that changed their course drastically. There were secrets and lies and heartbreak. There was suspense and drama and steam. Oh my, the steam!
But watching their reunion unfold was amazing. Would they make it work after all? Or would all those secrets and resentments hold them back from each other? There is so much I want to say about this book, but I fear I would start to run off at the mouth er.. keyboard and spoil it for other readers, so I'll leave it short and sweet. I loved everything about this book. The plot was sound, and while Belle's 'big secret' was one I had a strong feeling about from almost the beginning, it wasn't one of those things where you get irritated because it's so obvious. I enjoyed the dialogue immensely! I have to mention that because I've read several books lately that had robot sounding dialogue and that drives me crazy! The way the characters interacted in SM was so realistic it was like a movie in my head. I was very happy about that! The supporting characters were so great that I was instantly interested in stories for them all! I really can't wait for the next in this series and hopefully after that Declan will have his book! I need Decaln's book! LMAO!! Declan and the shop vac!!! <-- One of the funniest scenes I have ever read in any book! No joke.
My review can also be found here with a little something extra! ;)
You're my everything, my fucking essence. I cease to exist unless I'm with you. ~ Bobby
Belle endured such a craptastic childhood but was able to find her prince. But then that prince made one monumental mistake that changed their course drastically. There were secrets and lies and heartbreak. There was suspense and drama and steam. Oh my, the steam!
But watching their reunion unfold was amazing. Would they make it work after all? Or would all those secrets and resentments hold them back from each other? There is so much I want to say about this book, but I fear I would start to run off at the mouth er.. keyboard and spoil it for other readers, so I'll leave it short and sweet. I loved everything about this book. The plot was sound, and while Belle's 'big secret' was one I had a strong feeling about from almost the beginning, it wasn't one of those things where you get irritated because it's so obvious. I enjoyed the dialogue immensely! I have to mention that because I've read several books lately that had robot sounding dialogue and that drives me crazy! The way the characters interacted in SM was so realistic it was like a movie in my head. I was very happy about that! The supporting characters were so great that I was instantly interested in stories for them all! I really can't wait for the next in this series and hopefully after that Declan will have his book! I need Decaln's book! LMAO!! Declan and the shop vac!!! <-- One of the funniest scenes I have ever read in any book! No joke.My review can also be found here with a little something extra! ;)
September 12, 2020
Belle and Bobby are high school sweethearts. Bobby sent Belle a breakup letter right after he left for the army. This broke Belle’s heart and she ran away. Their jobs bring them together 15 years later and Bobby is shocked to find out that he has a son (this is not a spoiler; this info is in the precis).
The beginning as captivating. I felt the heartache of two teenagers in love trying to figure out their life before Bobby left for the Army. The promises, the whispers, the sweet kisses. It was sweet. Then BAM! Belle turns up pregnant and her boyfriend dumped her via a letter.
Then the chance meeting in that conference room with all the other agents around. Priceless.
I struggled with the reconciliation portion of the story. It felt disconnected. I also disliked the child’s role in Belle and Bobby forgiving each other too. To me, the resolution between Belle and Bobby were vital to the story. 15 years is a long time and a surprise baby. That is intense. The resolution should have matched that intensity and it didn’t.
The beginning as captivating. I felt the heartache of two teenagers in love trying to figure out their life before Bobby left for the Army. The promises, the whispers, the sweet kisses. It was sweet. Then BAM! Belle turns up pregnant and her boyfriend dumped her via a letter.
Then the chance meeting in that conference room with all the other agents around. Priceless.
I struggled with the reconciliation portion of the story. It felt disconnected. I also disliked the child’s role in Belle and Bobby forgiving each other too. To me, the resolution between Belle and Bobby were vital to the story. 15 years is a long time and a surprise baby. That is intense. The resolution should have matched that intensity and it didn’t.
July 11, 2013
Bobby Baker was the shining star in his small town in Georgia. When he decided to pursue Annabelle (Belle) Smith, it changed her life forever. Until Bobby entered her life, Belle was an outcast, shunned by most because of her tough girl veneer, which she created to deal with her cruel and abusive father. Bobby's plan was to join the Army, become a Ranger and return home and marry Belle. All of her hopes and dreams were tied to Bobby.
The set up
A few weeks after Bobby left for training, he sends 17-year old Belle a letter, breaking off their relationship. She had just taken the last brutal beating from her father and, with nowhere to go, Belle leaves town for good. Fast forward 15 years and Bobby has retired from active duty because of a knee injury and is working for Ex Ops, a covert paramilitary group. In walks Belle, now an ATF agent in San Antonio, Texas, assigned to work with the Ex Ops team to uncover those selling illegal guns to a Mexican cartel.
The issues
Two weeks after Bobby sent the letter to Belle he realized his mistake and his efforts to find her were unsuccessful. He's never given up the search and in she walks in to his meeting. She was pretty damaged by the experience and created a life for herself in spite of the odds. Belle wants no part of the man who destroyed her emotionally but she's got an even bigger secret in store for him.
What I loved about the story
Belle's story is a tough one and when she got the letter my heart broke right along with hers. She's pretty admirable because she saved herself and created an extraordinary life for herself. While Bobby was apologetic and sincerely sorry for what he had done, he had his work cut out for him and Belle didn't make it easy. His fellow Ex Op team members provided comic relief for the seriously hurting Bobby.
What I found frustrating
Belle's kept a major secret that combusts this relationship, giving Bobby somewhat equal footing in who was done wrong. I didn't agree with that perspective and his high-handed self-righteousness turned him into a jerk, IMO. Even by the end, I was still pretty disappointed in his behavior and he didn't redeem himself in my eyes. Belle genuinely had great reasons for the decisions she made at 17 and Bobby...not so much. And...I'm not too crazy about the book cover. It doesn't seem to have anything to do with the story.
The bottom line
I really enjoyed this story, Bobby's ass-hattedness and all. There's a bit of suspense, truly frightening action in the last 25% of the story, just not enough to move this book into that category. It made for a very exciting ending but Bobby's got to do something in the next book to get me on board. I'm Team Belle all the way and am looking forward to the next story. 3.5 stars
(I received an ARC from the author)
The set up
A few weeks after Bobby left for training, he sends 17-year old Belle a letter, breaking off their relationship. She had just taken the last brutal beating from her father and, with nowhere to go, Belle leaves town for good. Fast forward 15 years and Bobby has retired from active duty because of a knee injury and is working for Ex Ops, a covert paramilitary group. In walks Belle, now an ATF agent in San Antonio, Texas, assigned to work with the Ex Ops team to uncover those selling illegal guns to a Mexican cartel.
The issues
Two weeks after Bobby sent the letter to Belle he realized his mistake and his efforts to find her were unsuccessful. He's never given up the search and in she walks in to his meeting. She was pretty damaged by the experience and created a life for herself in spite of the odds. Belle wants no part of the man who destroyed her emotionally but she's got an even bigger secret in store for him.
What I loved about the story
Belle's story is a tough one and when she got the letter my heart broke right along with hers. She's pretty admirable because she saved herself and created an extraordinary life for herself. While Bobby was apologetic and sincerely sorry for what he had done, he had his work cut out for him and Belle didn't make it easy. His fellow Ex Op team members provided comic relief for the seriously hurting Bobby.
What I found frustrating
Belle's kept a major secret that combusts this relationship, giving Bobby somewhat equal footing in who was done wrong. I didn't agree with that perspective and his high-handed self-righteousness turned him into a jerk, IMO. Even by the end, I was still pretty disappointed in his behavior and he didn't redeem himself in my eyes. Belle genuinely had great reasons for the decisions she made at 17 and Bobby...not so much. And...I'm not too crazy about the book cover. It doesn't seem to have anything to do with the story.
The bottom line
I really enjoyed this story, Bobby's ass-hattedness and all. There's a bit of suspense, truly frightening action in the last 25% of the story, just not enough to move this book into that category. It made for a very exciting ending but Bobby's got to do something in the next book to get me on board. I'm Team Belle all the way and am looking forward to the next story. 3.5 stars
(I received an ARC from the author)
May 16, 2013
You all are going to want to get this one as soon as it releases on June 15th, just sayin'. You are. ;)
April 19, 2015
Where on Earth do I start? Hrmm *taps chin*....OK SO a looong time ago Jessie asked my blog to review this book but jackass here thought I wouldn't enjoy a military book so I took her paranormals and read them instead. I abso loved them. My bestie Melinda was alllllll over these Ex Ops books telling me I am an IDIOT for not reading them. Pft *fluffs hair* she MAY have been right. ANYWAY, so I read Jessie's book ICE with my other favorite hottie Chelsea Camaron and was like "WOW" Jessie is amazeballs. SOOO I decided, I am gonna read her Military. *FACE PLANT* Why didn't I read them like a year ago????? *kicks myself in the butt*
I totally loved this book but I gotta tell you.....I am kinda scared of Jessie. The woman can write and describe some VERY frightening scenes...blowtorch scene in ICE....the Kidnapping and cutting scene in this one.....*Shivers* I am totally not gonna get on her bad side is ALLLL I am saying........
This book begins with the two main characters planning their forever. Bobby is going to come back and rescue Belle and live a HEA. Well Bobby is an idiot and dumps his girl. She then runs away and starts life over far far far away from her lousy life with and with out Bobby.
Now fast forward 15 years later : Bobby has regretted dumping Belle since 5 seconds after the letter was sent. Belle has kept a shameful secret since the day she left and has been so scared to return and tell Bobby. I loved loved loved how she was giving him the business the day they reconnect but I loved loved loved how his partners were the ones giving him "romance" advice....Snickers
I remember messaging Jessie to say that I was in looooove with Bobby and then within an hour telling her I was killing him and cutting his sac off!! So as you can imagine Bobby kinda gets in his own way at times. Granted, he should be upset BUT he also needs to accept the role he played in their messed up situation. Now I will admit that I get annoyed in some books when the main couple are on and off and on and off but I never was with these two. You wanted them to make it and understood their issues but still screamed at them for getting in the way of their own happiness.
I am super excited and have book 2 downloaded and ready to read ASAP!!
I totally loved this book but I gotta tell you.....I am kinda scared of Jessie. The woman can write and describe some VERY frightening scenes...blowtorch scene in ICE....the Kidnapping and cutting scene in this one.....*Shivers* I am totally not gonna get on her bad side is ALLLL I am saying........
This book begins with the two main characters planning their forever. Bobby is going to come back and rescue Belle and live a HEA. Well Bobby is an idiot and dumps his girl. She then runs away and starts life over far far far away from her lousy life with and with out Bobby.
Now fast forward 15 years later : Bobby has regretted dumping Belle since 5 seconds after the letter was sent. Belle has kept a shameful secret since the day she left and has been so scared to return and tell Bobby. I loved loved loved how she was giving him the business the day they reconnect but I loved loved loved how his partners were the ones giving him "romance" advice....Snickers
I remember messaging Jessie to say that I was in looooove with Bobby and then within an hour telling her I was killing him and cutting his sac off!! So as you can imagine Bobby kinda gets in his own way at times. Granted, he should be upset BUT he also needs to accept the role he played in their messed up situation. Now I will admit that I get annoyed in some books when the main couple are on and off and on and off but I never was with these two. You wanted them to make it and understood their issues but still screamed at them for getting in the way of their own happiness.
I am super excited and have book 2 downloaded and ready to read ASAP!!
June 17, 2013
My kind of book, boy meets girl, boy loses girl due to stupidity, boy and girl meet years later and he grovels to win her back. Yum, what fun!
June 16, 2013
ABSO-FREAKIN-LUTELY LOVED THE HELL OUT OF THIS STORY!!!!! Can't bloody wait for the rest of this series!!!!!
September 25, 2023
Pretty good!
Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Trope: second chance, secret baby
Angst: 😱😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥
Secret Maneuvers is a romantic suspense book with a hero that's a veteran and a heroine that's an ATF agent. I love it when the books have a heroine that's military or LE, just because we're in male dominated jobs and can take care of ourselves, doesn't mean we don't need love too, lol. Anywho, pretty good story, it probably got a little too in the weeds about the mission stuff than I was in the mood for, but ill definitely be giving her another try. I liked how they both had messed up, neither one less guilty than the other and they both had to ask for forgiveness.
Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Trope: second chance, secret baby
Angst: 😱😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥
Secret Maneuvers is a romantic suspense book with a hero that's a veteran and a heroine that's an ATF agent. I love it when the books have a heroine that's military or LE, just because we're in male dominated jobs and can take care of ourselves, doesn't mean we don't need love too, lol. Anywho, pretty good story, it probably got a little too in the weeds about the mission stuff than I was in the mood for, but ill definitely be giving her another try. I liked how they both had messed up, neither one less guilty than the other and they both had to ask for forgiveness.
Want to read
March 11, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/11/2020)! 🎁
November 15, 2014
I'm feeling lucky this week every book i pick up was 5 star read and this was no exception.The writing was great(same parts have too much descriptiveness ,that was my only issue with this book)Bellе and Bobby great hero and heroine,great second characters(Declan,Riley ,Jason were great friend to Bobby) sum that all up and you cоme with amazing book.
Bobby «Ace» Baker is the golden boy of Sylvania, Georgia.He is great student,football player in his high school,even better son with loving parents.Belle is from the other side of the town,She is the wild child with abuse father,she live in trail but she have Bobby heart.They are high school sweethearts,the only problem for Belle is that Boбby is living for the Army but the make a plan.After he will finish with his training he will came home,they will marry and finally Belle will have her happy ending.
“First, tell me who loves you.”
“You do, Bobby.”
“That’s right, sweet baby. Remember that.”
But thirteen weeks later Belle receive letter from Booby where he tell her that he is not ready for forever.Alone ,shattered and without money she run from the town where her dream have crushed down.
15 years later Bobby is shattered man,he needed two weeks to realize his mistake but it was too late,Belle was out of town and out of his life.After years of searching for her,many investigators couldn't find her ,Belle walks right into Booby life like ATF agent.
My first love—the one who I’d foolishly let get away— stood right in front of me, looking better than any of my vivid memories could ever do justice. My Belle.
Belle couldn't believe her „bad“ luck when she see Booby after 15 years,she never thought she will meet again with the men who crushed her but even after all this years he is still love of her life.What is most worst she must work with him on the mission.The moment he see her,Booby know that he must make her his again.He will do anything to achieve that but between them are secrets,anger and betrayal.Are there love is strong enough to survive again??
Bobby
He is HOT,alpha,military man.Before i start reading this book i read same reviews where they say he was big jerk and i was expecting he to be asshole of the year but for me he was not(don't judge me) yeah he write her that letter but he regret and he was ready to make everything to redeem himself.And i understand his harsh words to Belle after he finally find out her secret.I' m not saying he was right but he was hurt and angry.
Belle
She was such likeable heroine,always feel unworthy for Bobby love,my only issue with her it was that she was hiding
The end was perfect and that epilogue melted my heart.
“Thank you, baby.”
“No, Ace, thank you.”
“What are you thanking me for?”
“For giving me my happily ever after.”
Overall amazing book for second -chance,with lots of drama,great HOT scenes between H/h i enyojed from the first page to last .Highly recommend
June 27, 2013
RATING CLARIFICATION : 3.5 STARS
I really enjoyed this book, but I will say that I didn't love it. It was a story that kept me interested all the way through, but I still felt like something was missing. I really can't put my finger on what it was but I think a big issue I had was that I didn't really get the actual time frame of the book. Something is revealed in the end of the book that I was shocked to realize that the story only takes place over a short time frame. I will say that I truly felt like it was two stories in one. We got the second chance love story with an action pact thriller. The action part of the story really had me on the edge of my seat....I couldn't wait to see what happened. There is a part to the story that is kind hard to read. Just beware that if that kind of scene is not something you like to read about then this book might not be for you.
I will say that one of the main reasons for the deduction in points was regarding the second chance love story. I felt that the Hero was a bit of an A$$ in regards to a secret the heroine kept. I felt he could've handled the situation much better. When the secret comes out I truly felt that Bobby (the Hero) was quite hypocritical...not taking in any of the blame for the situation, plus some of the name calling on his part I thought was a bit uncalled for. He was pretty viscous to Belle (the heroine). I agree that he had every right to be mad about the situation but for being a 33 year old man, I thought he could've been more mature and adult about it. Talked it out like adults. Plus I thought Belle was way to forgiving when it came to Bobby. I realize she loved him with all her heart but if a man ever talked to me the way he did, he would need to do more then just make me dinner and have good sex with me, before I would be forgiving him.
I loved Jaxon, Declan and Riley....I thought that they gave Bobby some really good advice. I hope that each of them get their own books.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a second chance love story but still has enough action in it to keep you on the edge of your seat.
I really enjoyed this book, but I will say that I didn't love it. It was a story that kept me interested all the way through, but I still felt like something was missing. I really can't put my finger on what it was but I think a big issue I had was that I didn't really get the actual time frame of the book. Something is revealed in the end of the book that I was shocked to realize that the story only takes place over a short time frame. I will say that I truly felt like it was two stories in one. We got the second chance love story with an action pact thriller. The action part of the story really had me on the edge of my seat....I couldn't wait to see what happened. There is a part to the story that is kind hard to read. Just beware that if that kind of scene is not something you like to read about then this book might not be for you.
I will say that one of the main reasons for the deduction in points was regarding the second chance love story. I felt that the Hero was a bit of an A$$ in regards to a secret the heroine kept. I felt he could've handled the situation much better. When the secret comes out I truly felt that Bobby (the Hero) was quite hypocritical...not taking in any of the blame for the situation, plus some of the name calling on his part I thought was a bit uncalled for. He was pretty viscous to Belle (the heroine). I agree that he had every right to be mad about the situation but for being a 33 year old man, I thought he could've been more mature and adult about it. Talked it out like adults. Plus I thought Belle was way to forgiving when it came to Bobby. I realize she loved him with all her heart but if a man ever talked to me the way he did, he would need to do more then just make me dinner and have good sex with me, before I would be forgiving him.
I loved Jaxon, Declan and Riley....I thought that they gave Bobby some really good advice. I hope that each of them get their own books.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a second chance love story but still has enough action in it to keep you on the edge of your seat.
June 27, 2013
3.75 Stars
This was a story about first loves and second chances. It had a bit of a military/police/crime type story line as well. However, the main focus was on the hero of the story, Bobby, and how he planned on winning back the love of his life. There was a major secret to be learned, some harsh moments from Bobby with Belle that tore at my heart and emotions and a chapter that was rough to read where the crime aspect came in to play. I loved the family times, the moments with Bobby's friends, and all the sweet things Bobby would say to Belle. Over all, I enjoyed this book a lot and how it wrecked havoc on my emotions.
What I loved about this book:
1. The military and crime aspect of the story
2. Dual POV's
3. This story made me cry a bunch
4. Declan, Riley and Jaxon. I LOVED this group of guys. Great friends to Bobby and had excellent advice.
5. Seth. Loved his "moments" of truth talks.
6. Belle wasn't a wimp... she did a pretty good job with having a back bone and a tough girl side
7. Bobby and Belle's nicknames for each other
8. Bobby's sweet side and swoon worthy words
9. HEA
I'm excited to read book 2, about Riley.
This was a story about first loves and second chances. It had a bit of a military/police/crime type story line as well. However, the main focus was on the hero of the story, Bobby, and how he planned on winning back the love of his life. There was a major secret to be learned, some harsh moments from Bobby with Belle that tore at my heart and emotions and a chapter that was rough to read where the crime aspect came in to play. I loved the family times, the moments with Bobby's friends, and all the sweet things Bobby would say to Belle. Over all, I enjoyed this book a lot and how it wrecked havoc on my emotions.
What I loved about this book:
1. The military and crime aspect of the story
2. Dual POV's
3. This story made me cry a bunch
4. Declan, Riley and Jaxon. I LOVED this group of guys. Great friends to Bobby and had excellent advice.
5. Seth. Loved his "moments" of truth talks.
6. Belle wasn't a wimp... she did a pretty good job with having a back bone and a tough girl side
7. Bobby and Belle's nicknames for each other
8. Bobby's sweet side and swoon worthy words
9. HEA
I'm excited to read book 2, about Riley.
September 29, 2014
One surprisingly very good book.
June 19, 2013
Originally posted at http://smexybooks.com/2013/06/review-...
Favorite Quote: “I cease to exist unless I’m with you.“
Bobby Baker, the hometown golden boy, has always loved his Belle, the girl from the wrong side of the tracks. The night before he leaves for basic training, he assures Belle of his love and promises her he will come for her in a few months when she turns eighteen. Bobby finds his convictions tested in basic training and in a single moment, destroys his and Belle’s dreams when he sends her a “Dear John” letter, claiming he’s not ready to settle down. He soon regrets sending the letter, but Belle disappeared after she read it and he was never able to find her and beg her forgiveness.
Now, fifteen years later, Bobby is shocked and thrilled to see his Belle is the ATF agent that his black ops team will be working with to locate and destroy a mexican drug lord who is funneling weapons through the US. Bobby wants to apologize and work towards a reconciliation but Belle is not the same as she was fifteen years ago. Heartache and secrets have hardened Belle’s heart; especially to the man who shattered it so long ago. Bobby isn’t ready to give up though. He knows he and Belle belong together and plans to use every trick he ever learned in the military to make her forgive him. But when Bobby finds out about Belle’s biggest secret, he’s not sure he can forgive her.
I love second chance romances, especially when there is some serious groveling involved. Jessie Lane provides both in her romantic contemporary, Secret Maneuvers. A familiar romantic story that is elevated by the well developed characters, witty dialogue, and the injection of a suspenseful plot line. Secret Maneuvers brings us a healthy dose of love, regret, heartbreak, and second chances. Smooth pacing with a viable storyline that places you directly into the lives of our protagonists. In here we meet two people who, once loved each other madly, try to deal with all their unresolved issues when they come face to face fifteen years later. The characters are delightfully flawed and realistic. The story line is written in a smooth and enjoyable conversational style with an emotional realism as some of her characters react and engage as you or I might. I enjoyed the fact that the reader experienced alternating POVs. It’s always more interesting to me to watch (or read in this case) the same scene told by two different people.
Our hero Bobby is a good old southern boy who’s a genuinely nice guy. Working as part of a secret CIA black ops team, he is intelligent, loyal, honest and trained to achieve the impossible. He isn’t blind to his flaws and readily owns up to his mistakes. Though he has gone on with his life, he never stopped looking for or loving Belle. His thoughts always circle back to Belle and you never once doubt that the love he feels for her is real. I enjoyed meeting him. His dialogue is both funny and sad as he struggles with trying to receive Belle’s forgiveness…and his own.
“I had no intentions of giving up this time. Belle was my woman. The other half of my soul. An intricate part of me that had felt lost for far too long.”
Annabelle was a bit harder to connect with. We are introduced to her slowly and unlike Bobby, she has more layers to peel back. She is still hurt and angry with Bobby over what he did to her and justifiably so. I completely understood her feelings and her fears about letting him back into her life. When he sent that letter, it broke her and reinforced the bad girl/trailer trash image she had of herself.
”With my shitty luck in life, I should have expected this sooner or later. Who would want to settle down with the town’s trailer trash. Certainly not a respectable boy like Bobby Baker.”
Though she left her small town and made something of herself, she is still that scared abused little girl who feels unworthy. I found her emotional base to be a bit unsteady. She is drama queen with a HUGE chip on her shoulder and her fluctuating attitude made her seem juvenile for her age. While I sympathized with her, it was hard to like her.
As Bobby and Belle begin to slowly and painfully reconnect, you know instantly that the chemistry still burns hot but there is a lot they need to resolve. They antagonize each other from the get go. They start out on opposite sides of the battlefield as Bobby tries to talk to Belle and Belle won’t have anything to do with him. Every time they interacted, I expected to hear a bell and that really tall tux wearing dude to step out saying, “Let’s get ready to ruuuuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmmmmbbbbllllleeeeeee!”
We aren’t given an easy fix to their relationship. Especially when Belle’s secret is revealed. These characters have to work hard to repair the damage to their hearts. You can feel the anger, resentment, confusion, and hurt rolling off of them. Pride is a huge obstacle they both need to learn to set aside. The emotional baggage that Belle carries needs to be addressed and Lane does a great job of it even though I felt Belle held on too long to her animosity. I will be honest and say I wasn’t pleased with Belle’s secret. It’s not a favorite trope of mine and I thought her reasons stemmed more from revenge and anger. I was happy to see some very valid emotions come from Bobby when he learns of Belle’s secret. It’s painful at times as you watch these two struggle to learn about each other all over again and find a way to forgive each other and themselves.
”Love was a joke. A fairytale that mother’s told their daughters while tucking them into bed at night just before the man they swore was their Prince Charming knocked the living shit out of them because supper was cold.”
We meet some delightful secondary characters that all play a large roll in Belle and Bobby’s lives and leave enough open for stories of their own. The Sullivan brothers offer comedic commentary while Bobby’s commander steps in with some humorous advice to help Bobby see things he’s missing in his quest for Belle’s heart. Boyd, Belle’s partner, has her back always and gives Belle the truth whether she wants to hear it or not. The intertwining suspense plot is action packed and satisfying without overpowering the main story arc. The ending wraps everything up and assures us that our couple comes to terms with the past and look towards the future.
”I’m just an ordinary man, but you make me feel like I’m the strongest man in the world. I’m not worthy of the gift of your love, but I promise to work each and every day to become worthy of it.”
Rating: C+
Favorite Quote: “I cease to exist unless I’m with you.“
Bobby Baker, the hometown golden boy, has always loved his Belle, the girl from the wrong side of the tracks. The night before he leaves for basic training, he assures Belle of his love and promises her he will come for her in a few months when she turns eighteen. Bobby finds his convictions tested in basic training and in a single moment, destroys his and Belle’s dreams when he sends her a “Dear John” letter, claiming he’s not ready to settle down. He soon regrets sending the letter, but Belle disappeared after she read it and he was never able to find her and beg her forgiveness.
Now, fifteen years later, Bobby is shocked and thrilled to see his Belle is the ATF agent that his black ops team will be working with to locate and destroy a mexican drug lord who is funneling weapons through the US. Bobby wants to apologize and work towards a reconciliation but Belle is not the same as she was fifteen years ago. Heartache and secrets have hardened Belle’s heart; especially to the man who shattered it so long ago. Bobby isn’t ready to give up though. He knows he and Belle belong together and plans to use every trick he ever learned in the military to make her forgive him. But when Bobby finds out about Belle’s biggest secret, he’s not sure he can forgive her.
I love second chance romances, especially when there is some serious groveling involved. Jessie Lane provides both in her romantic contemporary, Secret Maneuvers. A familiar romantic story that is elevated by the well developed characters, witty dialogue, and the injection of a suspenseful plot line. Secret Maneuvers brings us a healthy dose of love, regret, heartbreak, and second chances. Smooth pacing with a viable storyline that places you directly into the lives of our protagonists. In here we meet two people who, once loved each other madly, try to deal with all their unresolved issues when they come face to face fifteen years later. The characters are delightfully flawed and realistic. The story line is written in a smooth and enjoyable conversational style with an emotional realism as some of her characters react and engage as you or I might. I enjoyed the fact that the reader experienced alternating POVs. It’s always more interesting to me to watch (or read in this case) the same scene told by two different people.
Our hero Bobby is a good old southern boy who’s a genuinely nice guy. Working as part of a secret CIA black ops team, he is intelligent, loyal, honest and trained to achieve the impossible. He isn’t blind to his flaws and readily owns up to his mistakes. Though he has gone on with his life, he never stopped looking for or loving Belle. His thoughts always circle back to Belle and you never once doubt that the love he feels for her is real. I enjoyed meeting him. His dialogue is both funny and sad as he struggles with trying to receive Belle’s forgiveness…and his own.
“I had no intentions of giving up this time. Belle was my woman. The other half of my soul. An intricate part of me that had felt lost for far too long.”
Annabelle was a bit harder to connect with. We are introduced to her slowly and unlike Bobby, she has more layers to peel back. She is still hurt and angry with Bobby over what he did to her and justifiably so. I completely understood her feelings and her fears about letting him back into her life. When he sent that letter, it broke her and reinforced the bad girl/trailer trash image she had of herself.
”With my shitty luck in life, I should have expected this sooner or later. Who would want to settle down with the town’s trailer trash. Certainly not a respectable boy like Bobby Baker.”
Though she left her small town and made something of herself, she is still that scared abused little girl who feels unworthy. I found her emotional base to be a bit unsteady. She is drama queen with a HUGE chip on her shoulder and her fluctuating attitude made her seem juvenile for her age. While I sympathized with her, it was hard to like her.
As Bobby and Belle begin to slowly and painfully reconnect, you know instantly that the chemistry still burns hot but there is a lot they need to resolve. They antagonize each other from the get go. They start out on opposite sides of the battlefield as Bobby tries to talk to Belle and Belle won’t have anything to do with him. Every time they interacted, I expected to hear a bell and that really tall tux wearing dude to step out saying, “Let’s get ready to ruuuuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmmmmbbbbllllleeeeeee!”
We aren’t given an easy fix to their relationship. Especially when Belle’s secret is revealed. These characters have to work hard to repair the damage to their hearts. You can feel the anger, resentment, confusion, and hurt rolling off of them. Pride is a huge obstacle they both need to learn to set aside. The emotional baggage that Belle carries needs to be addressed and Lane does a great job of it even though I felt Belle held on too long to her animosity. I will be honest and say I wasn’t pleased with Belle’s secret. It’s not a favorite trope of mine and I thought her reasons stemmed more from revenge and anger. I was happy to see some very valid emotions come from Bobby when he learns of Belle’s secret. It’s painful at times as you watch these two struggle to learn about each other all over again and find a way to forgive each other and themselves.
”Love was a joke. A fairytale that mother’s told their daughters while tucking them into bed at night just before the man they swore was their Prince Charming knocked the living shit out of them because supper was cold.”
We meet some delightful secondary characters that all play a large roll in Belle and Bobby’s lives and leave enough open for stories of their own. The Sullivan brothers offer comedic commentary while Bobby’s commander steps in with some humorous advice to help Bobby see things he’s missing in his quest for Belle’s heart. Boyd, Belle’s partner, has her back always and gives Belle the truth whether she wants to hear it or not. The intertwining suspense plot is action packed and satisfying without overpowering the main story arc. The ending wraps everything up and assures us that our couple comes to terms with the past and look towards the future.
”I’m just an ordinary man, but you make me feel like I’m the strongest man in the world. I’m not worthy of the gift of your love, but I promise to work each and every day to become worthy of it.”
Rating: C+
October 12, 2013
I must admit I am completely shallow when it comes to men in uniform—it automatically cues the drool reflex—then when you throw in military uniform I must pick my jaw up, I am sucked in with the slightest of pulls. Ms. Lane’s book already intrigued me with the romance factor of two characters fighting for a second chance at love, but then she reeled me in like a fish caught with a hook in its mouth with the storyline filled with tasks of armed forces/ special op set out stop trafficking of illegal firearms. The main focus starting out is joining of forces between ATF (The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) with Special-Ops team led by ex-military members to drop the hammer on drug cartels from transporting weapons across borders. While in mix of executing out their mission, we also tip-toe around the relationship or lack of, of special ops Bobby Baker and ATF agent Bella Roberts (also known as Annabelle Smith).
Bobby and Belle were childhood sweethearts who came from polar opposite households. Belle came from an abusive and broken home, her dad an abusive drunk and a mom who has passed. Whereas, Bobby is the town football star with loving parents. Aside from Belle’s kickass, tough as nails best friend Teagan, Bobby truly was Belle’s safe haven. He symbolized hope for a better future. Although, he was going off to basic training for the Army, he promised he’d return, give her her happily ever after. However, that hope was shattered when she receives a ‘Dear John’ letter expressing his uncertainty in their readiness for a forever
“I’m not sure I’m ready for forever for us…We’re so young. There are so many things we’ve yet to see and do in life.”
Devastated, crushed, broken, unwanted—you name it that describes Belle’s feelings; rightfully so. Fleeing from her heartache and escaping from her father’s physical abuse, Belle doesn’t give small town Sylvania, Georgia a backward glance she just picks up and sets out to start a new life for herself.
Fast forward 15years and we meet a reincarnated Belle. This is a chick after my own heart. She is no longer the weak girl who needs saving, yet strong, independent; she has made a hell of a career for herself and pushed through her ache for Bobby to capture the most out of life for herself rather than sinking in self-pity.
“There has been plenty of tears, but they were shed with my chin up, my shoulders back, and me facing the world head-on.”
Imagine the shock of waking up to discover you’ve won the lottery, completely out of left field right? Well that shock factor pretty much sums up the face to face encounter these two characters have after so many years apart.
From the moment they become reacquainted it is crystal clear the spark is still present. Even though both harbor feelings of hurt and anger, they cannot deny the chemistry still draws them to another. I have nothing but respect for Bobby for being man enough to own up to his mistakes. He resiliently tries to explain his regret to Belle and prove his love for her has never faded.
“All I had to do was come up with a plan to tame the wild woman who still managed to make my dick go hard in less than eight seconds like some sexual rodeo and my heart squeeze in my chest so hard that I thought I might be having a heart attack.”
But plan as you might, when secrets begin to surface, its back to the drawing board for these two. A relationship that was already fragile becomes broken once the dinosaur of a cat is released from its bag. I had caught on to Belle’s secret early on and was glad it was revealed a third of the way in; rather than being dragged out. When the bombshell hits Bobby, his reaction is realistic and handled to a certain degree maturely. On the other hand, I was slightly disappointed at treatment of Belle and lack of attempt to put himself in her shoes.
I did get a tad annoyed at how much both characters play the blame game. They both made mistakes, mistakes that hurt each other, but in the end it was still “they” not just one of them.
From the secret reveal onward, we see two vulnerable hearts trying to mend individually and as a couple. Toward the end a wall in thrown in and SMACK you run into drama. The suspense enhanced the storyline. It really helped portray the dynamism of both these characters. Once the drama was resolved I was a happy girl, but then Mr.Doucheface resurfaces, Bobby f**ks up again. This additional drama did come off a tad unnecessary to me; couldn’t things have wrapped up nicely without another headache?
“What had I done? I’d practically stabbed myself in the back while damn near killing—emotionally and physically—the love of my life and it was all my unforgiving brain’s fault.”
Usually when I read about a hero who constantly flubs up and rears his ugly “douche” face multiple times in a story, I tend to be left loving the heroine ten times more than the hero. However, when Bobby Baker makes mistakes, this man has one hell of a way with words to redeem himself. The fight he gives at the end to capture back as he previous describes as his “existence”:
“You were, are, and will always be more than my life. More than my beating heart, or any other physical reaction my body has. You’re my everything, my fucking essence. I cease to exist unless I’m with you.”
Holy memory erased…when he reveals the letter she “should of received” instead of the ‘Dear John’ note, all was forgiven!
As Belle says
“It wasn’t something epic like people read in tales of unrealistic love stories like Romeo and Juliet. No, it was just Bobby’s heart manifested in short, boxy little slashes that formed words in a letter so beautiful that I could read it and see the physical proof of his love and devotion to me.”
Final note, the secondary characters were a 5 stars for me. The Sullivan brothers—Riley and Declan were perfection. Riley a man of few words is prime example “sometimes less is more” what little he says holds so much truth. In addition, Declan is the voice of reason, the slap in the face, every friend needs. And then Teagan, not many other book best friends can compete with the level of protectiveness, loyalty and love this woman offers to Belle.
This is the first book I have read by Jessie Lane and I am a fan. Well written and entertainingly stacked with romance, suspense, and angst spindled together to form a happy ending. I cannot wait to continue this series with Riley’s story.
Bobby and Belle were childhood sweethearts who came from polar opposite households. Belle came from an abusive and broken home, her dad an abusive drunk and a mom who has passed. Whereas, Bobby is the town football star with loving parents. Aside from Belle’s kickass, tough as nails best friend Teagan, Bobby truly was Belle’s safe haven. He symbolized hope for a better future. Although, he was going off to basic training for the Army, he promised he’d return, give her her happily ever after. However, that hope was shattered when she receives a ‘Dear John’ letter expressing his uncertainty in their readiness for a forever
“I’m not sure I’m ready for forever for us…We’re so young. There are so many things we’ve yet to see and do in life.”
Devastated, crushed, broken, unwanted—you name it that describes Belle’s feelings; rightfully so. Fleeing from her heartache and escaping from her father’s physical abuse, Belle doesn’t give small town Sylvania, Georgia a backward glance she just picks up and sets out to start a new life for herself.
Fast forward 15years and we meet a reincarnated Belle. This is a chick after my own heart. She is no longer the weak girl who needs saving, yet strong, independent; she has made a hell of a career for herself and pushed through her ache for Bobby to capture the most out of life for herself rather than sinking in self-pity.
“There has been plenty of tears, but they were shed with my chin up, my shoulders back, and me facing the world head-on.”
Imagine the shock of waking up to discover you’ve won the lottery, completely out of left field right? Well that shock factor pretty much sums up the face to face encounter these two characters have after so many years apart.
From the moment they become reacquainted it is crystal clear the spark is still present. Even though both harbor feelings of hurt and anger, they cannot deny the chemistry still draws them to another. I have nothing but respect for Bobby for being man enough to own up to his mistakes. He resiliently tries to explain his regret to Belle and prove his love for her has never faded.
“All I had to do was come up with a plan to tame the wild woman who still managed to make my dick go hard in less than eight seconds like some sexual rodeo and my heart squeeze in my chest so hard that I thought I might be having a heart attack.”
But plan as you might, when secrets begin to surface, its back to the drawing board for these two. A relationship that was already fragile becomes broken once the dinosaur of a cat is released from its bag. I had caught on to Belle’s secret early on and was glad it was revealed a third of the way in; rather than being dragged out. When the bombshell hits Bobby, his reaction is realistic and handled to a certain degree maturely. On the other hand, I was slightly disappointed at treatment of Belle and lack of attempt to put himself in her shoes.
I did get a tad annoyed at how much both characters play the blame game. They both made mistakes, mistakes that hurt each other, but in the end it was still “they” not just one of them.
From the secret reveal onward, we see two vulnerable hearts trying to mend individually and as a couple. Toward the end a wall in thrown in and SMACK you run into drama. The suspense enhanced the storyline. It really helped portray the dynamism of both these characters. Once the drama was resolved I was a happy girl, but then Mr.Doucheface resurfaces, Bobby f**ks up again. This additional drama did come off a tad unnecessary to me; couldn’t things have wrapped up nicely without another headache?
“What had I done? I’d practically stabbed myself in the back while damn near killing—emotionally and physically—the love of my life and it was all my unforgiving brain’s fault.”
Usually when I read about a hero who constantly flubs up and rears his ugly “douche” face multiple times in a story, I tend to be left loving the heroine ten times more than the hero. However, when Bobby Baker makes mistakes, this man has one hell of a way with words to redeem himself. The fight he gives at the end to capture back as he previous describes as his “existence”:
“You were, are, and will always be more than my life. More than my beating heart, or any other physical reaction my body has. You’re my everything, my fucking essence. I cease to exist unless I’m with you.”
Holy memory erased…when he reveals the letter she “should of received” instead of the ‘Dear John’ note, all was forgiven!
As Belle says
“It wasn’t something epic like people read in tales of unrealistic love stories like Romeo and Juliet. No, it was just Bobby’s heart manifested in short, boxy little slashes that formed words in a letter so beautiful that I could read it and see the physical proof of his love and devotion to me.”
Final note, the secondary characters were a 5 stars for me. The Sullivan brothers—Riley and Declan were perfection. Riley a man of few words is prime example “sometimes less is more” what little he says holds so much truth. In addition, Declan is the voice of reason, the slap in the face, every friend needs. And then Teagan, not many other book best friends can compete with the level of protectiveness, loyalty and love this woman offers to Belle.
This is the first book I have read by Jessie Lane and I am a fan. Well written and entertainingly stacked with romance, suspense, and angst spindled together to form a happy ending. I cannot wait to continue this series with Riley’s story.
February 23, 2013
Secret Maneuvers was not only my first book ever by the writing duo Melissa Pahl and Crystal Leo aka Jessie Lane, but I think this series could find itself among my favorites for romantic suspense. The story begins with a scene from Bobby and Annabelle's past. The hometown golden boy and the trailer park bad girl. It's Bobby's last night as a free man before leaving for Army boot camp. In just a few pages we get the extent of their relationship, their bond, and their future dreams. Everything seems perfect until one day it isn't. Fast forward fifteen years later and Bobby is now a part of an elite Ex Ops teams headed by the CIA. When their next mission involves working with the ATF, he comes face to face with the girl he never should have left behind, but the reunion is anything but warm. In fact, it's downright frosty.
As they work together to investigate black market sales of firearms being smuggled to a Mexican drug cartel, they also have to come to terms with their past. Belle has been keeping a big secret from Bobby. Will he forgive her when he discovers what it is, or will he lose her forever through the dangers of their jobs and his stubbornness?
This book never got boring. Ever. Between the mission, Bobby's attempts to get her alone for five minutes to talk, Bobby's boys giving him a hard time, and Belle's unwavering refusal to listen to a word Bobby had to say, there was never a dull moment. The first half of the book dealt mainly with the elephant in the room, and then her secret was revealed. Things go from interesting to "uh oh" in a heart beat, and suddenly the roles have switched. I could sympathize with both of them, however I definitely found myself on Bobby's side throughout the story. Around the 80% mark is when the action really goes down. It was gritty, uncomfortable and had me white-knuckling my poor Kindle.
If there was anything I had an issue with, it was everyone's treatment of Bobby after Belle was rescued. He didn't have a lot of time or freedom to completely process the changes in his life, but everyone kept yelling at him for hurting Belle's feelings. In my opinion, what Bobby did wasn't all that terrible. He was young, impulsive and scared - good intentions, crappy timing. The fact that he tried to make things right two weeks later was more than enough to redeem him. I especially disliked Teagan. Yes, she was Belle's champion and she had a good reason to be very protective of Belle, but her animosity wasn't the friendly type of "if you hurt her, I'll rip your testicles off and feed them to you" kind of needling. I truly believe she hated his guts and always would, even though Belle chose him. I much preferred Seth's approach to the whole thing. What a fantastic character for one so young. What Bobby blurted out in the hospital was just him being honest. The ending was a little cheesy, but it was perfect for our couple and brought the story full circle.
Overall, I loved this story, and can't wait for the rest of the series and the men of Ex Ops. The story flowed well, it was told from both Bobby and Belle's first person alternating POV. The chemistry between them was believable even with the underlying hostility, and the sex ... oh so HOT! I also thoroughly enjoyed the dialogue. The other men from Ex Ops made enough of an impression that I'm already invested in them and want their stories right now. I would never have guessed this book was penned by two people instead of one.
Book #2 - Riley
Book #3 - Lucas
Book #4 - Declan!!!
Favorite lines:
~*~
~*~
~*~
~*~
Warning: There is a torture and rape scene around the 80% mark. They aren't graphic, but you might want to skip that part if it's something that is a trigger for you.
My final rating 4 to 4.5
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
As they work together to investigate black market sales of firearms being smuggled to a Mexican drug cartel, they also have to come to terms with their past. Belle has been keeping a big secret from Bobby. Will he forgive her when he discovers what it is, or will he lose her forever through the dangers of their jobs and his stubbornness?
This book never got boring. Ever. Between the mission, Bobby's attempts to get her alone for five minutes to talk, Bobby's boys giving him a hard time, and Belle's unwavering refusal to listen to a word Bobby had to say, there was never a dull moment. The first half of the book dealt mainly with the elephant in the room, and then her secret was revealed. Things go from interesting to "uh oh" in a heart beat, and suddenly the roles have switched. I could sympathize with both of them, however I definitely found myself on Bobby's side throughout the story. Around the 80% mark is when the action really goes down. It was gritty, uncomfortable and had me white-knuckling my poor Kindle.
If there was anything I had an issue with, it was everyone's treatment of Bobby after Belle was rescued. He didn't have a lot of time or freedom to completely process the changes in his life, but everyone kept yelling at him for hurting Belle's feelings. In my opinion, what Bobby did wasn't all that terrible. He was young, impulsive and scared - good intentions, crappy timing. The fact that he tried to make things right two weeks later was more than enough to redeem him. I especially disliked Teagan. Yes, she was Belle's champion and she had a good reason to be very protective of Belle, but her animosity wasn't the friendly type of "if you hurt her, I'll rip your testicles off and feed them to you" kind of needling. I truly believe she hated his guts and always would, even though Belle chose him. I much preferred Seth's approach to the whole thing. What a fantastic character for one so young. What Bobby blurted out in the hospital was just him being honest. The ending was a little cheesy, but it was perfect for our couple and brought the story full circle.
Overall, I loved this story, and can't wait for the rest of the series and the men of Ex Ops. The story flowed well, it was told from both Bobby and Belle's first person alternating POV. The chemistry between them was believable even with the underlying hostility, and the sex ... oh so HOT! I also thoroughly enjoyed the dialogue. The other men from Ex Ops made enough of an impression that I'm already invested in them and want their stories right now. I would never have guessed this book was penned by two people instead of one.
Book #2 - Riley
Book #3 - Lucas
Book #4 - Declan!!!
Favorite lines:
Finally! Finally, we were going to have this come-to-Jesus talk that was so overdue between us that if that talk itself had been a library book, the late fee would resemble the national debt.
~*~
"That's not the problem. The problem is that she's slicker than snot on a glass doorknob."
~*~
Throwing his hands up in the air, the man stood up and walked towards the door grumbling. "I send him to the jungle one time, where a monkey flings shit on him, and he's yet to let me live it down."
~*~
I pulled together enough sense to hope that I'd fucked the doubts right out of her, too.
~*~
Warning: There is a torture and rape scene around the 80% mark. They aren't graphic, but you might want to skip that part if it's something that is a trigger for you.
My final rating 4 to 4.5
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
June 18, 2013
Fair warning, I wrote this review a few days ago, and can't remember what's a spoiler and what's not, so, if you don't want any spoilers of any kind, you may wanna stay on the safe side and skip my review.
Okay so here's the thing. I really liked Secret Maneuvers ...I did, but there's just no way I can give this anything higher then 3 stars, and here's the somewhat long list of why:
- (ok I just re-read the synopsis, and I'm pretty sure this first one's a spoiler, so I'm using the tag: A very big pet peeve of mine,
-Then, there's the editing. Now this didn't bug me as much as it should've, but it did pull me out of the story a couple times.... the tense....it seemed like it kept changing...well wait, first off, I thought from the synopsis that this would be in 3rd person narrative, so the dual first person pov's threw me...but I got over it semi quickly. The problem is ,that a few times the story went from from first person past to first person present ( I went vs I go) then a few times it felt like it wasn't a first person perspective at all...almost seemed like the book didn't know what it wanted to be, so instead it's a bit of a Renaissance book, and has a little bit of everything, style wise, in it. Like I said, it pulled me outta the story a few times :(
Also some stuff just didn't make sense. I can't really explain this one without spoiling it, so I'll just leave it at that.
The h as a mother: When her kid wasn't physically in front of her, the h very rarely had him in her mind. Granted she worried about the H finding out about his here-to-fore unknown kid, but that's about it. Now I'm not a parent, so correct me if I'm wrong, but don't parents usually give a shit about their kids, even when they're not physically right in front of them? Yeah, mother of the year she's not. Oh also she doesn't talk to her kid about his dad, before intro'ing them. Again i don't have kids, but it felt like she should have had a sit down with him first, before introducing her son to his dad.
The HEA...a little too hunky dory.
The use of the phrase dag-gum. I know it's a small thing, but this bugged the holy hell out of me. I know not everyone's ok with cursing, and I'm okay with that really....but I freaking hate this word....especially when the h does in fact curse, maybe not the worst of the worst of curse words, but she does curse....so why the hell does she have to use that stupid, irritating word is beyond me.
So I get why the H is sorta a douche to the h, she kept the existence of his freaking kid from him, because of her own selfish reasons, but at one point he tells the h that She's moving to his home state, without a thought to compromise, without a thought to the difficulty his teenage son wold face leaving everything he knows behind...he just says it like its a no brainer ..and the h thought it was sweet. While, me on the other hand, I wanted to kick his douchey ass. It'd be one thing if they talked about it, and the h wanted to leave, and came up with the idea on her own, but the way the dude says it, geez, can u say asshole?
Also the H is sorta passive. Like he never does anything til one of his buddies tells him...I get being supportive, but it made him come off like....well like he doesn't really give a shit.
Seriously mad at the heroine. This chick needs therapy, no bones about it. Also couldn't help but fell like this H and h could really use couples counseling. nd the fact that it's never mentioned, bugged me to.
On a positive note, I did like that h was kick ass in her own right....even if she didn't always come off that way. Liked that she could save herself. And that being a mom, doesn't preclude her from continuing to kickass. Also her son was pretty good kid, maybe a little older then his years, but still a good kid.
Okay, now despite my issues with Secret Maneuvers, it's seeming to get a lot of positive reviews, so all my problems...could be just that, mine, so you may try this and freaking love it, so even though I liked it, I'm o where near loving it.
Okay so here's the thing. I really liked Secret Maneuvers ...I did, but there's just no way I can give this anything higher then 3 stars, and here's the somewhat long list of why:
- (ok I just re-read the synopsis, and I'm pretty sure this first one's a spoiler, so I'm using the tag: A very big pet peeve of mine,
-Then, there's the editing. Now this didn't bug me as much as it should've, but it did pull me out of the story a couple times.... the tense....it seemed like it kept changing...well wait, first off, I thought from the synopsis that this would be in 3rd person narrative, so the dual first person pov's threw me...but I got over it semi quickly. The problem is ,that a few times the story went from from first person past to first person present ( I went vs I go) then a few times it felt like it wasn't a first person perspective at all...almost seemed like the book didn't know what it wanted to be, so instead it's a bit of a Renaissance book, and has a little bit of everything, style wise, in it. Like I said, it pulled me outta the story a few times :(
Also some stuff just didn't make sense. I can't really explain this one without spoiling it, so I'll just leave it at that.
The h as a mother: When her kid wasn't physically in front of her, the h very rarely had him in her mind. Granted she worried about the H finding out about his here-to-fore unknown kid, but that's about it. Now I'm not a parent, so correct me if I'm wrong, but don't parents usually give a shit about their kids, even when they're not physically right in front of them? Yeah, mother of the year she's not. Oh also she doesn't talk to her kid about his dad, before intro'ing them. Again i don't have kids, but it felt like she should have had a sit down with him first, before introducing her son to his dad.
The HEA...a little too hunky dory.
The use of the phrase dag-gum. I know it's a small thing, but this bugged the holy hell out of me. I know not everyone's ok with cursing, and I'm okay with that really....but I freaking hate this word....especially when the h does in fact curse, maybe not the worst of the worst of curse words, but she does curse....so why the hell does she have to use that stupid, irritating word is beyond me.
So I get why the H is sorta a douche to the h, she kept the existence of his freaking kid from him, because of her own selfish reasons, but at one point he tells the h that She's moving to his home state, without a thought to compromise, without a thought to the difficulty his teenage son wold face leaving everything he knows behind...he just says it like its a no brainer ..and the h thought it was sweet. While, me on the other hand, I wanted to kick his douchey ass. It'd be one thing if they talked about it, and the h wanted to leave, and came up with the idea on her own, but the way the dude says it, geez, can u say asshole?
Also the H is sorta passive. Like he never does anything til one of his buddies tells him...I get being supportive, but it made him come off like....well like he doesn't really give a shit.
Seriously mad at the heroine. This chick needs therapy, no bones about it. Also couldn't help but fell like this H and h could really use couples counseling. nd the fact that it's never mentioned, bugged me to.
On a positive note, I did like that h was kick ass in her own right....even if she didn't always come off that way. Liked that she could save herself. And that being a mom, doesn't preclude her from continuing to kickass. Also her son was pretty good kid, maybe a little older then his years, but still a good kid.
Okay, now despite my issues with Secret Maneuvers, it's seeming to get a lot of positive reviews, so all my problems...could be just that, mine, so you may try this and freaking love it, so even though I liked it, I'm o where near loving it.
May 22, 2013
First loves, second chances, and too many heart-stopping moments to count!! Secret Maneuvers is without a doubt sure to be a huge hit, because this story is romance magic from page one up until the very end!! I lost count of how many times I had to use the highlight feature on my iPad with this story, there were just so many great moments and lines that I wanted to go back to! Whether they were tender or filled with raw emotion, hilarious or beautiful, this was just one of those stories that gives you a little of everything to endure and enjoy!
He was the football star. I was the angry girl with a massive chip on her shoulder and my middle finger stuck up in the air at the world. ~ Belle Loc 103
Bobby and Belle were the kind of couple that just NEEDED to be together. Regardless of their very different backgrounds, or maybe even because of them, there was just no denying that these two people were absolutely meant to be together. As young loves they were each other's world, he her knight in shining armor and she his breath of fresh air. The moment he changed everything with that letter, Belle's heart was just demolished. It was such a stab in the chest, and I felt it right along with her as she tried to pull herself together and be strong. She spent so much of this story being the strong one, keeping her heart wrapped up tight and covered in barbed wire so she won't have to hurt again. I just adored her, and when her big secret was revealed I found it easy to forgive her decision. She had suffered through years of abuse, and she was facing her future after the only man she'd ever loved abandoned her. In my mind, that's an automatic free pass to make some mistakes!
Love was a joke. A fairytale that mother's told their daughters while tucking them into bed at night just before the man they swore was their Prince Charming knocked the living shit out of them because supper was cold. ~ Belle Loc187
It didn't take long for me to fall for Bobby, I mean I'd be drool-swooning over this sexy military man even if it weren't for that deliciously tempting cover! With a heart of gold and the determination every woman dreams of having aimed straight her way, he was not about to give up on the woman he loved without proving to her he would make up for the pain he'd caused her. He was tough and rugged on the outside, but deep down he was just a big old softie when it came to his Belle and I loved it!!
I'm just an ordinary man, but you make me feel like I'm the strongest man in the world. I'm not worthy of the gift of your love, but I promise to work each and every day to become worthy of it. ~Bobby Loc 3893
I was surprised by how intense the action and suspense became, especially since the reader is lulled into this sense of security even though you know what Bobby, Belle, and their teams are doing is dangerous. They are going after some extremely violent, soulless people who don't think twice about killing and torturing, and as the action picks up it becomes painfully clear just how far these despicable people will go. It's not for the faint of heart, for sure, but it was such a thrilling shift in the tone of the story that had me holding my breath in anticipation.
Kudos to the Jessie Lane gals for packing Secret Maneuvers full of all the things a reader could ask for in an unforgettable romance, because it made for one incredible story! I can not wait to get more of these amazing characters with the next book in this series, including some fabulous supporting characters that I hope to see again!
This and other of my reviews can be found at: http://www.autumnreview.com/search/la...
He was the football star. I was the angry girl with a massive chip on her shoulder and my middle finger stuck up in the air at the world. ~ Belle Loc 103
Bobby and Belle were the kind of couple that just NEEDED to be together. Regardless of their very different backgrounds, or maybe even because of them, there was just no denying that these two people were absolutely meant to be together. As young loves they were each other's world, he her knight in shining armor and she his breath of fresh air. The moment he changed everything with that letter, Belle's heart was just demolished. It was such a stab in the chest, and I felt it right along with her as she tried to pull herself together and be strong. She spent so much of this story being the strong one, keeping her heart wrapped up tight and covered in barbed wire so she won't have to hurt again. I just adored her, and when her big secret was revealed I found it easy to forgive her decision. She had suffered through years of abuse, and she was facing her future after the only man she'd ever loved abandoned her. In my mind, that's an automatic free pass to make some mistakes!
Love was a joke. A fairytale that mother's told their daughters while tucking them into bed at night just before the man they swore was their Prince Charming knocked the living shit out of them because supper was cold. ~ Belle Loc187
It didn't take long for me to fall for Bobby, I mean I'd be drool-swooning over this sexy military man even if it weren't for that deliciously tempting cover! With a heart of gold and the determination every woman dreams of having aimed straight her way, he was not about to give up on the woman he loved without proving to her he would make up for the pain he'd caused her. He was tough and rugged on the outside, but deep down he was just a big old softie when it came to his Belle and I loved it!!
I'm just an ordinary man, but you make me feel like I'm the strongest man in the world. I'm not worthy of the gift of your love, but I promise to work each and every day to become worthy of it. ~Bobby Loc 3893
I was surprised by how intense the action and suspense became, especially since the reader is lulled into this sense of security even though you know what Bobby, Belle, and their teams are doing is dangerous. They are going after some extremely violent, soulless people who don't think twice about killing and torturing, and as the action picks up it becomes painfully clear just how far these despicable people will go. It's not for the faint of heart, for sure, but it was such a thrilling shift in the tone of the story that had me holding my breath in anticipation.
Kudos to the Jessie Lane gals for packing Secret Maneuvers full of all the things a reader could ask for in an unforgettable romance, because it made for one incredible story! I can not wait to get more of these amazing characters with the next book in this series, including some fabulous supporting characters that I hope to see again!
This and other of my reviews can be found at: http://www.autumnreview.com/search/la...
January 26, 2014
Great book. This is the start of what I know will be a great series. Aside from Bobby his Ex Op brothers have a job of entertaining me in my dreams. Oh Jaxon, I've got a mission for you
This was a great military special operations book. The best is the characters and the fact that I can see this going on for a while. First is Bobby Baker, the sweetheart who left for the service and in his absence Annabelle (Belle) is lost. She knows they have plans to marry when he is out so when she gets a devastating letter from Bobby's mom she takes off. She is at her lowest point, well I was too. I mean a few weeks in, he send her a letter saying they are done. I wanted to go find his ass and beat him with a stick myself. Poor Belle is abused by her Dad, has no place to go and now nobody to depend on but her best friend Teagan.
It is one of those rough and tough groups. The unit is consisting of Jaxon the leader and a man I lust after! He has special powers and I think I want to take him for a ride. Then there is Declan and Riley, they play small roles, but each have mentions of what I know will be a fascinating story.
When Belle's best friend Teagan comes back to town she is introduced in a very guarded way. I know that I smell mystery and a big defense mechanism from her. I cant wait to learn more. She is as hot as Belle. I loved it! A big sweet treat is when a woman does things better, faster, and hotter than a guy. Who can resist ? not me
What I wanted was a little of Bobby's parents. I felt like they were not mentioned and there are events that I wanted to see them at. Now in the midst of the novel it gets really dark. There is a set-up, a sting, gun runners, human trafficking and a bad Mexican gang. So if you like this type of book I know you will love it like I did. I was doing the happy dance when I saw that book 2 was due out in the spring. I will, in the mean time, keep my fingers crossed that everyone grabs this and prepares for book 2. Bring on Jaxon and Riley!
This was a great military special operations book. The best is the characters and the fact that I can see this going on for a while. First is Bobby Baker, the sweetheart who left for the service and in his absence Annabelle (Belle) is lost. She knows they have plans to marry when he is out so when she gets a devastating letter from Bobby's mom she takes off. She is at her lowest point, well I was too. I mean a few weeks in, he send her a letter saying they are done. I wanted to go find his ass and beat him with a stick myself. Poor Belle is abused by her Dad, has no place to go and now nobody to depend on but her best friend Teagan.
It is one of those rough and tough groups. The unit is consisting of Jaxon the leader and a man I lust after! He has special powers and I think I want to take him for a ride. Then there is Declan and Riley, they play small roles, but each have mentions of what I know will be a fascinating story.
When Belle's best friend Teagan comes back to town she is introduced in a very guarded way. I know that I smell mystery and a big defense mechanism from her. I cant wait to learn more. She is as hot as Belle. I loved it! A big sweet treat is when a woman does things better, faster, and hotter than a guy. Who can resist ? not me
What I wanted was a little of Bobby's parents. I felt like they were not mentioned and there are events that I wanted to see them at. Now in the midst of the novel it gets really dark. There is a set-up, a sting, gun runners, human trafficking and a bad Mexican gang. So if you like this type of book I know you will love it like I did. I was doing the happy dance when I saw that book 2 was due out in the spring. I will, in the mean time, keep my fingers crossed that everyone grabs this and prepares for book 2. Bring on Jaxon and Riley!
June 30, 2013
Wow...this is another book that hooked me from the start. Even though after reading the blurb I knew what to expect, the prologue still crushed me. My heart ached for Belle and I was so pissed at Bobby for abandoning her the way he did after making her so many promises. UGH...I felt sick for her. Damned Bobby!! lol Secret Maneuvers really brought out the tears for me. I shed more than my fare share at several times through out the story.
I loved Belle right from the start. She was such a great character and I loved how she was able to overcome her awful upbringing and make something of her life. I also loved that after moving from Georgia she had such great people in her life that truly cared for her. I especially LOVED Charlie and am so hoping that he gets a book of his own. Of course I am also hoping that Bobby's team members get books of their own also. LOVED Jaxson, Riley, Declan, Chase, Arturo and Lucas. Oh...I thought it was so funny that Belle drove that huge truck.
Bobby....UGH!! He was such an ass hat!! I tried so hard to like him and just when I thought I was there he would do something so douchebaggy and it would send me right over the edge again. I wanted to kick him in his junk so many times. I totally understood why Belle kept her secret from him but I thought he was intentionally cruel to her considering how he kept saying she was the love of his life. I hated the way he treated her at the football game. I loved loved LOVED when Seth put Bobby in his place about his treatment toward Belle. I could have kissed Seth!! lol Oh..and at the hospital, I wished Bobby's team didn't stop Charlie from kicking Bobby's ass~he definitely deserved it. So even with such a sweet ending I still have a problem with Bobby's character. Hopefully with the following books I can forgive him. lol
Great start to a promising series that I am so looking forward to. 4 out of 5 rating.
***ARC provided by Jessie Lane~Thank you!!
I loved Belle right from the start. She was such a great character and I loved how she was able to overcome her awful upbringing and make something of her life. I also loved that after moving from Georgia she had such great people in her life that truly cared for her. I especially LOVED Charlie and am so hoping that he gets a book of his own. Of course I am also hoping that Bobby's team members get books of their own also. LOVED Jaxson, Riley, Declan, Chase, Arturo and Lucas. Oh...I thought it was so funny that Belle drove that huge truck.
Bobby....UGH!! He was such an ass hat!! I tried so hard to like him and just when I thought I was there he would do something so douchebaggy and it would send me right over the edge again. I wanted to kick him in his junk so many times. I totally understood why Belle kept her secret from him but I thought he was intentionally cruel to her considering how he kept saying she was the love of his life. I hated the way he treated her at the football game. I loved loved LOVED when Seth put Bobby in his place about his treatment toward Belle. I could have kissed Seth!! lol Oh..and at the hospital, I wished Bobby's team didn't stop Charlie from kicking Bobby's ass~he definitely deserved it. So even with such a sweet ending I still have a problem with Bobby's character. Hopefully with the following books I can forgive him. lol
Great start to a promising series that I am so looking forward to. 4 out of 5 rating.
***ARC provided by Jessie Lane~Thank you!!
September 30, 2013
4.5 Stars
Okay, this one took me by surprise. I really liked it. I loved when my emotions were ripped apart and my heart was in knots. Those are some of the best moments in books.
“I’d handed him my heart on a silver platter and, instead of keeping it safe like he’d promised to, he’d chopped that vulnerable heart into a million, tiny pieces before throwing it in the trash.”
The story takes off right from the beginning. We see Belle and Bobby as teenagers and then wuickly followed by them 15 years later. I loved that the authors did not drag all the events in the story. There is a twist, which I figured out pretty early, but it did not change how much I enjoyed this story. Actually, it made me like the book even more.
“Don’t you get it? You’ve taken over my body! You own it just as much as you master your own.”
The writing and the characters were so good. Even the secondary characters were good and not annoying.
This book had me feeling angry, mad, upset, and happy. Just when I thought everything was in order and going smoothly, something happened that again my heart fell. It was awesome.
“I love you, Ace. Forever.”
“I love you too, Belle. Forever, baby.”
Annabelle “Belle” was a great heroine. Bobby, okay, I was angry with him. I wanted him to feel Belle’s pain. I was a little mad at him when actually he was the one that was the jerk, but sometimes, tried to not his fault in the problem.
Most of this book was highlighted on my Kindle because there were so many great scenes, lines, and emotions; beautiful and gut wrenching. Loved it all. I highly recommend. I will be reading more from these two great writers.
A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, this one took me by surprise. I really liked it. I loved when my emotions were ripped apart and my heart was in knots. Those are some of the best moments in books.
“I’d handed him my heart on a silver platter and, instead of keeping it safe like he’d promised to, he’d chopped that vulnerable heart into a million, tiny pieces before throwing it in the trash.”
The story takes off right from the beginning. We see Belle and Bobby as teenagers and then wuickly followed by them 15 years later. I loved that the authors did not drag all the events in the story. There is a twist, which I figured out pretty early, but it did not change how much I enjoyed this story. Actually, it made me like the book even more.
“Don’t you get it? You’ve taken over my body! You own it just as much as you master your own.”
The writing and the characters were so good. Even the secondary characters were good and not annoying.
This book had me feeling angry, mad, upset, and happy. Just when I thought everything was in order and going smoothly, something happened that again my heart fell. It was awesome.
“I love you, Ace. Forever.”
“I love you too, Belle. Forever, baby.”
Annabelle “Belle” was a great heroine. Bobby, okay, I was angry with him. I wanted him to feel Belle’s pain. I was a little mad at him when actually he was the one that was the jerk, but sometimes, tried to not his fault in the problem.
Most of this book was highlighted on my Kindle because there were so many great scenes, lines, and emotions; beautiful and gut wrenching. Loved it all. I highly recommend. I will be reading more from these two great writers.
A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
February 9, 2017
UPDATE: Relido em 9 de fevereiro de 2017.
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Os heróis namoram e ele vai para o exército enquanto ela aguarda completar 18 anos para enfim se casarem. Mas o herói manda uma carta acabando o relacionamento e a heroína é obrigada a partir da cidade para fugir do pai abusivo.
Eles se reencontram anos mais tarde em uma missão, ela é uma agente ATF e ele é um agente de operações especiais.
Enquanto perseguem bandidos a história entre o casal vai se desenrolando com muita tensão, ação e cenas explosivas. Segredos são revelados e as faíscas voam entre os dois.
Uma boa história que prende a atenção do leitor e nós somos fisgados ao universo criado pela autora.
Recomendo!
---------------------------
The heroes have been dating and he goes to the army while she waits to complete 18 years to finally get married. But the hero sends a letter ending their relationship and the heroine is forced to leave the city to escape the abusive father.
They are reunited years later on a mission, she is an ATF agent and he is an agent of special operations.
While chasing bad guys the story between the couple will unfolding with a lot of tension and action scenes. Secrets are revealed and the sparks flying between the two.
A good story that holds the reader's attention and we are hooked to the universe created by the author.
Recommend!
------------
Os heróis namoram e ele vai para o exército enquanto ela aguarda completar 18 anos para enfim se casarem. Mas o herói manda uma carta acabando o relacionamento e a heroína é obrigada a partir da cidade para fugir do pai abusivo.
Eles se reencontram anos mais tarde em uma missão, ela é uma agente ATF e ele é um agente de operações especiais.
Enquanto perseguem bandidos a história entre o casal vai se desenrolando com muita tensão, ação e cenas explosivas. Segredos são revelados e as faíscas voam entre os dois.
Uma boa história que prende a atenção do leitor e nós somos fisgados ao universo criado pela autora.
Recomendo!
---------------------------
The heroes have been dating and he goes to the army while she waits to complete 18 years to finally get married. But the hero sends a letter ending their relationship and the heroine is forced to leave the city to escape the abusive father.
They are reunited years later on a mission, she is an ATF agent and he is an agent of special operations.
While chasing bad guys the story between the couple will unfolding with a lot of tension and action scenes. Secrets are revealed and the sparks flying between the two.
A good story that holds the reader's attention and we are hooked to the universe created by the author.
Recommend!
July 1, 2013
3.5 stars
More than your typical romantic suspense. I liked getting the inside perspective from the first person narrative. It certainly made the hero more human as we get to ride through his roller coaster of emotions. The heroine is spunky and I admire the fact that she pulls herself up from her bootstraps. The last dramatic conflict was a little too over the top for me and felt just a little contrived. Still, this is worth the time to read and is a welcome addition to my RS library.
More than your typical romantic suspense. I liked getting the inside perspective from the first person narrative. It certainly made the hero more human as we get to ride through his roller coaster of emotions. The heroine is spunky and I admire the fact that she pulls herself up from her bootstraps. The last dramatic conflict was a little too over the top for me and felt just a little contrived. Still, this is worth the time to read and is a welcome addition to my RS library.
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