Carrying on after the explosive excitement of book one, the spotlight shifts from Kyle and Carla to another member of the team, Richie 'Q' Goldman and the newest female Delta, Melissa 'the Cat' Moore. The elite tough members of the Delta team's story is told with detail, passion, and a rush of adrenaline.
This is book two in the Delta Force series and while it could be read out of order in a pinch, it builds on the book that came before it and continues the series arc about the team and the previous story of Kyle and Carla.
Melissa Moore has finished her training. She has achieved the impossible by becoming Delta and a member of The Unit. She has come a long way from the young girl who lived on a houseboat in Washington State, working in a museum, and going on hiking adventures and flying lessons with her intrepid brother. But one fateful climb, leaves her bereft of a beloved brother and ready for a new life's calling. She joins the army and pushes to become the best of the best like the amazing man who rescued her up on that mountain. Now, she is being shipped out to work with an existing team in South America.
Melissa takes one look at her new team and wonders if there has been a mistake especially when half the team bristles at her appearance and all of them are far more skilled than she is. What can she possibly add to the equation and why is she here? Even after the CIA man tells them they have a new assignment that requires flyers, she is still off her game because of the unlikely boyish grin of Richie Goldman.
Richie is the team's tech guy and resident genius, but that doesn't make him any less a warrior and qualified to be there. He watches Chad and envies him his ease with women since Richie stumbles all over himself and struggles to catch the nuances. Thus, he is as surprised as everyone else when he is as natural and relaxed as can be with Melissa. Their rapport is instant even after he discovers she can appreciate his geek out moments and they share the love and ability to fly planes.
Adventures and situations arise as they are want to do for Delta team members, but through it all the pair grow close and marvel at what is happening between them. But then the doubts come. Can this be real? Can they have something special in their line of work and on the same team?
Things heat up and the mission takes over. Both are determined to make it out alive and make sure the mission is successful so they can cash in on all the previous missed opportunities.
Alright, this was an enjoyable read. Like the first book, it starts out slowly and then picks up speed as it goes. I enjoy the author's careful attention to detail so that the back drop and characters, the plot and development feel right for such a story.
The characters are tough, gritty, and live a life constantly on the edge. Honed to a sharpness that the average person cannot even imagine, they go about life, love, and work so differently. I continue to enjoy the group introduced in the first book that now includes Melissa into the dynamics. Melissa is a hard, focused woman, and most think she has walls around her as thick as a fort, but from the first encounter, Richie awakens the laughter and easy side. Melissa has no idea how this many-faceted guy does it and Richie is just being Richie. Melissa is gifted at reading people and their motives though she doesn't realize just how crucial such a gift it is until she is on the team and part of the mission. Instead, she is uneasy and wonders what her place will be since she is moved from her newly graduated team to this already established one. Chad is hostile and Carla starts out that way. Duane takes a wait and see. Kyle, the team leader, and Richie accept her without reservation. Melissa is captivated by both the gentle geek and by the fierce warrior spirit that are both Richie. Richie never thought he'd be the guy to get the girl and decides upfront that he wants something meaningful that will survive past one night. He reads Melissa well and appreciates her strength without being intimidated so that he can let her take the lead with full trust.
The romance is passionate, but also develops at an even pace. They are constantly together and in an intense situation so the relationship progresses quickly though not unbelievably. This pair are caliente. I loved the way Richie was with Melissa. He keeps her guessing and has her wanting. He's got a lightness to him and enjoys discovering new things and new facts, but he is all male for Melissa. The author gave them wonderful experiences whether it is underwater exploring a Caribbean reef and appreciating an island respite or sharing an intense coupling in a drug empires' lair. They make sense together and are a fantastic team and part of the larger team.
All in all, this was a fantastic story balanced well between the romance and the action-suspense. Only my third encounter with the author's works and I am prepared to read anything he writes and has written. Those who enjoy military romantic suspense should definitely give this series a go.
My thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.