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Man on a Mission #3
Alec's Royal Assignment
In the Man on a Mission series, a special agent becomes one woman's most dangerous weakness...
Bodyguard to the queen of Zakhar, lieutenant Angelina Mateja is unwilling to risk her reputation or her job for US special agent Alec Jones—no matter how sexy and irresistible he is. Alec's been recruited by the king to root out a human trafficking ring—not get up close and personal with a stunning woman who practically radiates touch me and die. But after sharing a mind-blowing kiss, Alec can't deny the fire simmering beneath Angel's cool exterior. As the danger—and their attraction—intensifies, Angel is forced to choose between the job of her dreams, and the man who is starting to occupy her heart...
Bodyguard to the queen of Zakhar, lieutenant Angelina Mateja is unwilling to risk her reputation or her job for US special agent Alec Jones—no matter how sexy and irresistible he is. Alec's been recruited by the king to root out a human trafficking ring—not get up close and personal with a stunning woman who practically radiates touch me and die. But after sharing a mind-blowing kiss, Alec can't deny the fire simmering beneath Angel's cool exterior. As the danger—and their attraction—intensifies, Angel is forced to choose between the job of her dreams, and the man who is starting to occupy her heart...
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 2015
8 people are currently reading
215 people want to read
About the author
Amelia Autin
42 books56 followersAward-winning author Amelia Autin is an inveterate reader who can’t bear to put a good book down…or part with it. She’s a long-time member of Romance Writers of America (RWA), and served three years as its treasurer. Amelia lost the love of her life in 2021 to the ravages of ALS. She currently resides in quiet Vail, Arizona, where she can see the stars at night and has a “million dollar view” of the Rincon Mountains from her back yard.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 27, 2015
Fantastic book with a seriously awesome heroine. Angelina is bodyguard to the queen, a position she has fought long and hard for. From the time she was a little girl she wanted more than just to be a wife and mother. She studied hard, earned a law degree, and when the new king opened the Zakharian Defense Forces to women she immediately joined. Though things have gotten better for women, Angelina still feels that Zakharian attitudes are still fifty years behind modern times.
Alec, who was one of Princess Mara's bodyguards in MacKinnon's Royal Mission, ran into some trouble on his last assignment. Expecting a reprimand and a less than desirable posting, instead he is assigned to become the regional security officer at the embassy in Zakhar. It is believed that the princess asked her brother, the king, to intercede on his behalf. When he arrives in Zakhar, he discovers that, while that may be the public story, in truth he has been selected by the king himself for another reason. There is a human trafficking ring operating between Zakhar and the States, and someone at the embassy is suspected of being involved. Alec's task is to help shut it down.
Alec and Angelina meet the first day that he arrives in the country and sparks immediately fly between them. I loved their encounter the next morning, when they meet while running. They spend a little time as they run getting to know each other. When Alec asks her if she worries about running alone as she does, her reply is priceless and surprising. I liked the respect that began to build between them from that point. A moment later they are locked in a mind-blowing kiss that shakes them both up.
I loved Angelina. She was strong willed and determined woman who worked hard to get where she was. Honor and duty are everything to her and she tries hard to avoid anything that would cast doubt on her ability to d her job. There are multiple scenes that show what she is up against, such as feeling she has to wait until the male security team members have spoken before she does. It is also evident in the way she is treated after the incident at the cathedral. She doesn't like it, but accepts it as the way things are. She gets a boost in confidence (and I gained even more respect for King Andre) when the king himself praises her actions and commends her in front of her male counterparts. I also liked the way he privately praised her actions and gave her advice on dealing with the effects of those actions. His praise and Alec's confidence in her also gave her the courage to ask to help with an interrogation. It was incredibly satisfying to her (and to me as a reader) to see her succeed where all the men had failed. There was one brief scene with the heads of the king's security detail that was kind of unresolved, and I would love to be a fly on the wall when they get the news that happens at the end of the book.
Alec is also fantastic. I loved his immediate connection with Angelina and his acceptance of who she is. It was great to see his reactions to the things that she feared would upset him, such as her throwing him at the beginning, and then her offer to drive on the trip to the cathedral. While he has great respect for her abilities, he can also see her vulnerability. As much as he wants to flaunt their relationship, he understands her need to keep it private. I loved the sensitivity that came through when he saw how the events at the cathedral affected her. It was also great to see that same sensitivity cause him to stand up for her when she won't do it herself.
I loved seeing the relationship grow between them. Alec has finally found a woman that understands him and who he is. He begins to dream of a future with her and is happier than he's ever been. Angelina has also started to believe in the possibility of a future with Alec. But when his investigation ends, Alec suddenly realizes that there are some obstacles to those dreams. His personal code of honor and duty have him unable to give up what he does, but asking Angelina to give up everything she has worked for is something he won't do. But instead of talking to her about it, he makes the decision to end things. I ached for him and wanted to smack him at the same time, because he was so miserable and had brought it on himself. Angelina had to take a good look at her own issues and make some decisions about her own future. I loved seeing how she worked through them, and how it brought her to a greater understanding of the kind of man Alec is. The resolution of the problem and how it came about was terrific. Once again the king showed just how great a man he is.
The suspense of the story was great and kept the tension going throughout. There were two main threads - the human trafficking that Alec was dealing with and the attack at the cathedral that Angelina was involved in. The intensity of action at the cathedral had me holding my breath until it was resolved. The investigation of who was behind it (though the reader already knows) was complicated and I really enjoyed seeing Angelina's participation. The information she uncovered linked it to Alec's investigation, and that's when things got really interesting. Angelina had another link to his investigation, and I loved seeing them work together on that. It seemed that they were just one step ahead of the bad guys until they got to the end of the search. That conclusion was incredibly emotional and I'm really looking forward to the continuation of that storyline.
*copy received in exchanged for honest review.
Alec, who was one of Princess Mara's bodyguards in MacKinnon's Royal Mission, ran into some trouble on his last assignment. Expecting a reprimand and a less than desirable posting, instead he is assigned to become the regional security officer at the embassy in Zakhar. It is believed that the princess asked her brother, the king, to intercede on his behalf. When he arrives in Zakhar, he discovers that, while that may be the public story, in truth he has been selected by the king himself for another reason. There is a human trafficking ring operating between Zakhar and the States, and someone at the embassy is suspected of being involved. Alec's task is to help shut it down.
Alec and Angelina meet the first day that he arrives in the country and sparks immediately fly between them. I loved their encounter the next morning, when they meet while running. They spend a little time as they run getting to know each other. When Alec asks her if she worries about running alone as she does, her reply is priceless and surprising. I liked the respect that began to build between them from that point. A moment later they are locked in a mind-blowing kiss that shakes them both up.
I loved Angelina. She was strong willed and determined woman who worked hard to get where she was. Honor and duty are everything to her and she tries hard to avoid anything that would cast doubt on her ability to d her job. There are multiple scenes that show what she is up against, such as feeling she has to wait until the male security team members have spoken before she does. It is also evident in the way she is treated after the incident at the cathedral. She doesn't like it, but accepts it as the way things are. She gets a boost in confidence (and I gained even more respect for King Andre) when the king himself praises her actions and commends her in front of her male counterparts. I also liked the way he privately praised her actions and gave her advice on dealing with the effects of those actions. His praise and Alec's confidence in her also gave her the courage to ask to help with an interrogation. It was incredibly satisfying to her (and to me as a reader) to see her succeed where all the men had failed. There was one brief scene with the heads of the king's security detail that was kind of unresolved, and I would love to be a fly on the wall when they get the news that happens at the end of the book.
Alec is also fantastic. I loved his immediate connection with Angelina and his acceptance of who she is. It was great to see his reactions to the things that she feared would upset him, such as her throwing him at the beginning, and then her offer to drive on the trip to the cathedral. While he has great respect for her abilities, he can also see her vulnerability. As much as he wants to flaunt their relationship, he understands her need to keep it private. I loved the sensitivity that came through when he saw how the events at the cathedral affected her. It was also great to see that same sensitivity cause him to stand up for her when she won't do it herself.
I loved seeing the relationship grow between them. Alec has finally found a woman that understands him and who he is. He begins to dream of a future with her and is happier than he's ever been. Angelina has also started to believe in the possibility of a future with Alec. But when his investigation ends, Alec suddenly realizes that there are some obstacles to those dreams. His personal code of honor and duty have him unable to give up what he does, but asking Angelina to give up everything she has worked for is something he won't do. But instead of talking to her about it, he makes the decision to end things. I ached for him and wanted to smack him at the same time, because he was so miserable and had brought it on himself. Angelina had to take a good look at her own issues and make some decisions about her own future. I loved seeing how she worked through them, and how it brought her to a greater understanding of the kind of man Alec is. The resolution of the problem and how it came about was terrific. Once again the king showed just how great a man he is.
The suspense of the story was great and kept the tension going throughout. There were two main threads - the human trafficking that Alec was dealing with and the attack at the cathedral that Angelina was involved in. The intensity of action at the cathedral had me holding my breath until it was resolved. The investigation of who was behind it (though the reader already knows) was complicated and I really enjoyed seeing Angelina's participation. The information she uncovered linked it to Alec's investigation, and that's when things got really interesting. Angelina had another link to his investigation, and I loved seeing them work together on that. It seemed that they were just one step ahead of the bad guys until they got to the end of the search. That conclusion was incredibly emotional and I'm really looking forward to the continuation of that storyline.
*copy received in exchanged for honest review.
July 5, 2015
I think this is my favorite book in the series so far simply because of Alec' s character. Yes, he was big and strong and good looking and yes, he had a job that took him to exotic places and sometimes put his life in danger and yes, he was related to people in the other books that I enjoyed getting to know as well. However, that wasn't what drew me to him. The thing that captured my attention and really got me engaged in the book was the man himself and the way he was with Angelina.
When he's assigned a position at the embassy is Zakhar only a couple of people know his real reason for being there and that the King, himself, had requested Alec' s involvement in what was happening there. When Alec is introduced to Angelina he's immediately attracted to her which is unusual for him. She guards the queen and does an excellent job of it. She's tough as nails. She's had to be given her position and the fact she's a woman, something not everyone approves of, including her parents. All of her life she's worked hard to show herself capable and yet there are still those who question her actions and refuse to accept her as their equal. Not so Alec.
He admires her strength and appreciates her skill. He also sees below the surface to the woman she is inside, something no one has ever done before. Unlike the others he doesn't try to put her in her place or expect her to change to accommodate him. He likes her just the way she is. Determined, uncompromising, and loyal to those around her. He likes her because she's so much like him. For the first time, Angelina feels she can open up and be herself without fearing he'll think her weak and incapable.
While the chemistry between the characters was off the charts, I liked that their relationship wasn't based solely on their physical attraction to one another. They truly understood one another as well and connected on a much deeper level. The author is great at writing characters with a lot of depth. Where other writers barely scratch the surface, this author digs deeper, giving you an idea of what makes them tick, their motivations, the influence of past and present in their lives. Alec knew Angelina from the inside out and knew she was his perfect match. At times he was so loving and tender towards her, providing for her emotional needs as much as the physical ones, that it left me sighing.
Besides the excellent characterization the book is also suspense filled as someone is out to destroy the royal family and we learn of the disappearance of Angelina' s cousin which might tie in to Alec' s reason for being in country. There is danger, intrigue, and the possible involvement of the Russian mob. This was an entertaining read and one I enjoyed immensely. I look forward to reading the next installment soon!
When he's assigned a position at the embassy is Zakhar only a couple of people know his real reason for being there and that the King, himself, had requested Alec' s involvement in what was happening there. When Alec is introduced to Angelina he's immediately attracted to her which is unusual for him. She guards the queen and does an excellent job of it. She's tough as nails. She's had to be given her position and the fact she's a woman, something not everyone approves of, including her parents. All of her life she's worked hard to show herself capable and yet there are still those who question her actions and refuse to accept her as their equal. Not so Alec.
He admires her strength and appreciates her skill. He also sees below the surface to the woman she is inside, something no one has ever done before. Unlike the others he doesn't try to put her in her place or expect her to change to accommodate him. He likes her just the way she is. Determined, uncompromising, and loyal to those around her. He likes her because she's so much like him. For the first time, Angelina feels she can open up and be herself without fearing he'll think her weak and incapable.
While the chemistry between the characters was off the charts, I liked that their relationship wasn't based solely on their physical attraction to one another. They truly understood one another as well and connected on a much deeper level. The author is great at writing characters with a lot of depth. Where other writers barely scratch the surface, this author digs deeper, giving you an idea of what makes them tick, their motivations, the influence of past and present in their lives. Alec knew Angelina from the inside out and knew she was his perfect match. At times he was so loving and tender towards her, providing for her emotional needs as much as the physical ones, that it left me sighing.
Besides the excellent characterization the book is also suspense filled as someone is out to destroy the royal family and we learn of the disappearance of Angelina' s cousin which might tie in to Alec' s reason for being in country. There is danger, intrigue, and the possible involvement of the Russian mob. This was an entertaining read and one I enjoyed immensely. I look forward to reading the next installment soon!
January 18, 2016
Alec’s Royal Assignment by Amelia Autin is a hardboiled, edge of your seat entertaining thriller! Alec Jones, after killing two terrorist in one Middle Eastern country is transferred to another. It is on this next mission that he meets hard-edged Lieutenant Angelina Mateja, bodyguard to Zakhar’s queen. The attraction between Alec and Angelina is inevitable and instant. But the danger to face them they didn’t see coming. Russian mobster, Aleksandrov Vishenko’s plan is to execute the Crown Prince of Zakhar. Angelina stops the Russian’s attempt. From here on things heat up between Alec and Angelina and unforeseen revelations about Vishenko comes to light…putting Angelina into the path of the nefarious mobster as she attempts to save her cousin, Caterina from being assassinated by the Russian mobster.
A good, solid, entertaining read that will rivet you until the last page!
Highly Recommended
5 Stars
January 3, 2018
Finally got to read this or maybe it was again!
Loved how the understood one another to which the reason there wasn't a lot of drama at the end when he came back into her life!
Loved how the understood one another to which the reason there wasn't a lot of drama at the end when he came back into her life!
July 27, 2015
Each story in the Man on a Mission miniseries has had an original premise and is frequently emotional. There have also been many characters featured in more than one book, as plots have these individuals repeatedly working together to keep others safe. In the third novel of the miniseries, a man already met has his life drastically changing after one look at a stunning woman. Neither was seeking a relationship, as their careers meant everything to them, but sometimes the heart refuses to listen to the mind. Amelia Autin delves into the harsh realities of the world while letting two people experience romance as never before. ALEC’S ROYAL ASSIGNMENT has deeply affecting emotions, chilling suspense and particularly engaging characters.
After an unavoidable incident in a Middle Eastern country, Diplomatic Security Service agent Alec Jones has been assigned to the U.S. embassy in Zakhar. Since he had previously guarded a princess from this country while she lived in America, he already knows much about the area and its ruler. Upon meeting Lt. Angelina Mateja who guards the queen, he is instantly attracted to the physically fit beauty. Though she also notices all the positive qualities about the new security officer, the honor of being in the Zakharian National Forces is not something she takes lightly. While Angelina is now allowed to work alongside the men from her country, she still has to be careful about her actions and spoken words because she will do nothing that would jeopardize her career.
When Alec is asked to meet with Zakhar’s king, he learns about suspicions concerning the trafficking of women from the country and is to covertly check into the possibility. To deal with any threats that arise related to this problem or any other troubles, Alec and Angelina must always be prepared. But they certainly are not ready for the surprisingly powerful desire between them.
There is always an immediate connection to the dynamic characters created by Amelia Autin. The author has a way of making every person in her books come across as exceedingly true-to-life, and the profound emotions expressed by each one just adds to their believability. Alec and Angelina are a wonderful couple, as they both possess such outstanding traits. They are trustworthy and honorable, plus each is very dedicated to their chosen profession. How these two relate to one another from the very start shows how like-minded they are in many respects, and I so wanted them to overcome any hurdles that would keep them apart. While the future may not be certain for this couple, sexual satisfaction is always guaranteed when Alec and Angelina are intimate because of how attuned they are to the other. Plus, nothing is ever held back whenever they are intimate.
Suspense in the story comes from several factors, and when the moment arrives for things to play out, I held my breath because of a number of uncertainties. Amelia Autin has a knack of skillfully balancing danger with emotions, and the intensity of both keeps increasing as the story progresses. There is also more than one threatening scheme in development, and they are cleverly interwoven in order to prove the ruthless mind of a criminal has no bounds. The book ends with the perfect setup for the next Man on a Mission novel, a story that I am highly eager to read. ALEC’S ROYAL ASSIGNMENT is entertaining with captivating experiences.
Received copy for a CataRomance review
After an unavoidable incident in a Middle Eastern country, Diplomatic Security Service agent Alec Jones has been assigned to the U.S. embassy in Zakhar. Since he had previously guarded a princess from this country while she lived in America, he already knows much about the area and its ruler. Upon meeting Lt. Angelina Mateja who guards the queen, he is instantly attracted to the physically fit beauty. Though she also notices all the positive qualities about the new security officer, the honor of being in the Zakharian National Forces is not something she takes lightly. While Angelina is now allowed to work alongside the men from her country, she still has to be careful about her actions and spoken words because she will do nothing that would jeopardize her career.
When Alec is asked to meet with Zakhar’s king, he learns about suspicions concerning the trafficking of women from the country and is to covertly check into the possibility. To deal with any threats that arise related to this problem or any other troubles, Alec and Angelina must always be prepared. But they certainly are not ready for the surprisingly powerful desire between them.
There is always an immediate connection to the dynamic characters created by Amelia Autin. The author has a way of making every person in her books come across as exceedingly true-to-life, and the profound emotions expressed by each one just adds to their believability. Alec and Angelina are a wonderful couple, as they both possess such outstanding traits. They are trustworthy and honorable, plus each is very dedicated to their chosen profession. How these two relate to one another from the very start shows how like-minded they are in many respects, and I so wanted them to overcome any hurdles that would keep them apart. While the future may not be certain for this couple, sexual satisfaction is always guaranteed when Alec and Angelina are intimate because of how attuned they are to the other. Plus, nothing is ever held back whenever they are intimate.
Suspense in the story comes from several factors, and when the moment arrives for things to play out, I held my breath because of a number of uncertainties. Amelia Autin has a knack of skillfully balancing danger with emotions, and the intensity of both keeps increasing as the story progresses. There is also more than one threatening scheme in development, and they are cleverly interwoven in order to prove the ruthless mind of a criminal has no bounds. The book ends with the perfect setup for the next Man on a Mission novel, a story that I am highly eager to read. ALEC’S ROYAL ASSIGNMENT is entertaining with captivating experiences.
Received copy for a CataRomance review
July 16, 2015
This review is of Amelia Autin’s “Alec’s Royal Assignment”, book #5 in the “Men on a Mission” series, a book I won in a Goodreads "First Reads" giveaway.
The Story: The book begins with the hero of the book, Alec Jones, a Diplomatic Security Service special agent, killing two terrorists in a cafe in the Middle East. Later, Alec is transferred to another Middle Eastern country, Zakhar, to work in a similar capacity. There, he meets the heroine of the book, Lieutenant Angelina Mateja, bodyguard to the queen of Zakhar. Alec and Angelina are immediately attracted to each other. What they don’t know, however, is that there are threats afoot, namely from Aleksandrov Vishenko, a Russian mobster who has nefarious plans in Zakhar. Among Vishekno’s plans: to assassinate the Crown Prince Raoul Theodore Alexei Stepan, the infant son of King Andre Alexei IV, the ruler of Zakhar.
That assassination attempt is stopped by Angelina-who suspects something like that would take place-and Alec. Later, Angelina and Alec make love.
It is later revealed that Vishenko is behind-in addition to his efforts to kill the young prince- a sex trafficking operation which ensnared many Zakharian women, among them Angelina’s cousin, Caterina. While Alec and Angelina discover that Vishenko is behind the sex-trafficking operation, Caterina is in the States trying to stay alive long enough to testify against Vishenko, who has put a $1,000,000 contract out on her.
While Alec and Angelina are declaring their love for each other, Caterina-using the alias Cate Jones-has been arrested in Colorado by immigration police; Caterina is an illegal alien as she has remained in America despite her work visa’s expiration. Alec and Angelina fly to the States to try to talk to Caterina and keep her safe against Vishenko’s plans to assassinate her. While Alec and Angelina are able to keep Caterina safe-in this book anyway-they do have a bit of crisis in their own relationship over whether either will have to make major sacrifices to be with the other person. However, fate intervenes. King Andre Alexei IV offers Alec a job as Regional Security Officer in Zakhar, thus allowing him to remain in the country with Angelina promoted to head of the queen’s security detail, meaning they won’t have to have one quit their job and change their life entirely to be with the other. Alec and Angelina then have their Happily Ever After.
Mrs. Autin has clearly done her research on international security and that is the strongest part of the book. The romance between Alec and Angelina feels secondary to the action aspects of the book; they don’t rise to the level of people who I when I put the book down I cared so much about whether or not they were together in the end or not.
Sex: A few scenes. Mildly descriptive, but not particularly hot in my eyes.
Violence: The major violence occurs in the prologue, when Alec shoots two terrorists. There are scenes of guns being drawn, but no descriptive violence after the beginning.
Bottom Line: “Alec’s Royal Assignment” is the penultimate book in the “Men on a Mission” series; the final book will feature Caterina as she falls in love and tries to bring Vishenko to justice permanently.
The Story: The book begins with the hero of the book, Alec Jones, a Diplomatic Security Service special agent, killing two terrorists in a cafe in the Middle East. Later, Alec is transferred to another Middle Eastern country, Zakhar, to work in a similar capacity. There, he meets the heroine of the book, Lieutenant Angelina Mateja, bodyguard to the queen of Zakhar. Alec and Angelina are immediately attracted to each other. What they don’t know, however, is that there are threats afoot, namely from Aleksandrov Vishenko, a Russian mobster who has nefarious plans in Zakhar. Among Vishekno’s plans: to assassinate the Crown Prince Raoul Theodore Alexei Stepan, the infant son of King Andre Alexei IV, the ruler of Zakhar.
That assassination attempt is stopped by Angelina-who suspects something like that would take place-and Alec. Later, Angelina and Alec make love.
It is later revealed that Vishenko is behind-in addition to his efforts to kill the young prince- a sex trafficking operation which ensnared many Zakharian women, among them Angelina’s cousin, Caterina. While Alec and Angelina discover that Vishenko is behind the sex-trafficking operation, Caterina is in the States trying to stay alive long enough to testify against Vishenko, who has put a $1,000,000 contract out on her.
While Alec and Angelina are declaring their love for each other, Caterina-using the alias Cate Jones-has been arrested in Colorado by immigration police; Caterina is an illegal alien as she has remained in America despite her work visa’s expiration. Alec and Angelina fly to the States to try to talk to Caterina and keep her safe against Vishenko’s plans to assassinate her. While Alec and Angelina are able to keep Caterina safe-in this book anyway-they do have a bit of crisis in their own relationship over whether either will have to make major sacrifices to be with the other person. However, fate intervenes. King Andre Alexei IV offers Alec a job as Regional Security Officer in Zakhar, thus allowing him to remain in the country with Angelina promoted to head of the queen’s security detail, meaning they won’t have to have one quit their job and change their life entirely to be with the other. Alec and Angelina then have their Happily Ever After.
Mrs. Autin has clearly done her research on international security and that is the strongest part of the book. The romance between Alec and Angelina feels secondary to the action aspects of the book; they don’t rise to the level of people who I when I put the book down I cared so much about whether or not they were together in the end or not.
Sex: A few scenes. Mildly descriptive, but not particularly hot in my eyes.
Violence: The major violence occurs in the prologue, when Alec shoots two terrorists. There are scenes of guns being drawn, but no descriptive violence after the beginning.
Bottom Line: “Alec’s Royal Assignment” is the penultimate book in the “Men on a Mission” series; the final book will feature Caterina as she falls in love and tries to bring Vishenko to justice permanently.
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January 12, 2016received 4 stars @ RT Book Reviews
Miniseries: Man on a Mission
Miniseries: Man on a Mission
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews