Taking a Risk: Part One

R.I.S.C. #1

by Anna Blakely

The highly anticipated romantic suspense series by debut author, Anna Blakely.

R.I.S.C. (Rescue, Intel, Security, & Capture): An elite, private security team that will stop at nothing to protect the ones they love.

HE LOST HER ONCE. HE WON’T RISK LOSING HER AGAIN.
When Former Delta Force Operator Jake McQueen believes Olivia is lost to him forever, it shatters his entire world. She's the love of his life, even if she didn’t know it. Consumed with grief and a fierce need for revenge, Jake and the other members of R.I.S.C.’s Alpha Team travel deep into the jungle with only one goal in mind...To eliminate those responsible.

Out for blood, Jake is shocked to find Olivia alive and in the midst of escaping her captors. When they’re forced to make their way through the jungle without the rest of his team, Jake’s new mission becomes clear...getting Olivia home safely and then making her his, once and for all.

E.R. nurse, Olivia Bradshaw believes she can handle anything, until tragedy strikes. After narrowly escaping a fate worse than death, she’s given a second chance at life...and a chance with Jake. Will she finally confess her true feelings for him, or will the guilt from what happened that fateful day keep her from taking a risk with the only man she's ever loved?

Taking A Risk, Part One is a story filled with love, action and edge of your seat suspense. Don’t miss the chance to see how this exciting new series begins. Get your copy today!

Genres: Romantic Suspense, Romance, Suspense, Military Fiction, Military Romance, Second Chance, Contemporary

246 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 8, 2019

About the author

Author of the exciting R.I.S.C. Series, Anna Blakely brings you stories of love, action, and edge of your seat suspense. As an avid reader herself, Anna writes what she loves...strong, Alpha heroes and the intelligent, independent heroines they love.

Anna's dream is to create stories her readers will enjoy, and characters they'll fall in love with as much as she has. She believes in true love and Happily Ever After, which is what she will bring to you.

Anna lives in rural Missouri with her husband and children, as well as several rescued animals. When she's not writing, Anna enjoys reading, watching action and horror movies (the scarier the better), and spending time with her amazing family.

Reviews

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Romantic Suspense, and this is the first book in the R.I.S.C. Alpha Team series. This book pulled me into the story right for the start. There is a ton of action and suspense in this book. I really enjoyed getting to know all the characters in this series. Great start to a series, but the ending of this book leaves you hanging on the edge wanting to know what was going to happen. I wanted a better ending.

[Debbie DiFiore · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just not for me

Personal opinion alert I really didn't like this book but I read it and saw him save her and have sex with her, and etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. It just didn't make me swoon. They both had other partners, him more than her, and that really didn't bother me, but it was just so paint by number. I didn't feel their love. At all. I didn't even feel their lust. Maybe I am becoming romance blind but it just didn't feel right. I am not going to even read the next book. I just didn't even care. And that is so unusual. I have been reading romance for more than fifty years so I think I may be suffering from ennui. I will read it again at a later date.

[Valeen Robertson (Live Thru Books Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

As her life flashes before her eyes, the one thing Olivia regrets is that she never admitted to her best friend that she loved him as more than a friend. But now she'll never get that chance and it's really the worst thing about her situation. Back at home, Jake's horrified to see on the news that his best friend and her team have been taken from him. He vows revenge and his security team is there for him to exact it. Little did either of them know they'd run into each other again at the perfect time. But it won't be easy getting out of there alive, even with all of Jake's skills.

I still cannot believe this is a debut novel! The first part of Olivia and Jake's story feels like the best episode of Hawaii 5 0, set in a different country, and with the added benefit of lots of tension and steam between the two best friends. Be forewarned that it does end without resolution, but the second part has already been released and you can be sure that I'll be reading it next!

ARC via Hidden Gems Books for an honest review.

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[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Please note – this is only part one and ends on a cliff hanger

I enjoyed the suspense and action scenes this book presented. In the beginning when Jake thought Olivia was dead (no spoiler here) the emotions were jumping off the page. This author is really good at portraying the heartbreak Jake was going through. My heart broke for him.

I didn’t like Olivia’s character too much and had a tough time with her I need to let him go BS. This was because she was not good enough for him. But while in captivity she was good enough? Seriously? I think the author added this in to try to give a conflict to why they were to have a difficulty of getting together but she missed the mark and really made the character come across to me as spoiled idiot. This was unnecessary and she could have put a better PTSD spin on it than this. She lead him on then pushed him away. It was so repetitive that I started skipping over most of her thoughts since it was a waste of my time. I deduct a star immediately if the author can’t keep my interest with both characters. My eyes hurt from all of the eye rolls I did from her.

If the author did the survivor’s guilt in a way of why did I survive and they didn’t as apposed to I should have done something – that would have been more pleasant for me to read. Instead this tine 5’4” of nothing thinks she could have saved them all and conquered the bad guys all on her on only just if she didn’t freeze. Yep, didn’t buy it and it felt more like a pity party and whoa is me as opposed to what the author wanted it to be. Big time missed the mark for me.

Jake was the voice of reason for me. Although he was much nicer, I would have told her grow the F up and get real.

Another thing that annoyed me was that the author described three of the team member appearances from Olivia, Jake and Trevor’s point of view. It was the same thing – just repetition and annoying. Looks like she just wanted to add more verbiage.

I didn't hate this book but didn't love it either. I will read the next one to see how it ends.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taking a Risk: Part 1 is part of a two part story and I started it being pretty sure that it wouldn't be the entire story and as I write this review, I can't wait to find out how the story ends.

Jake McQueen, the head of R.I.S.C. a group of ex-military operatives returns from a mission to find out that Olivia, the little sister of his late best friend and the woman he as loved is reported dead when she went to Madagascar to help with victims of a hurricane. After the shock wears off he gets his team together and they go to where the cartel's current compound in the jungles of South America.

Unknown to him Olivia survived the massacre in Madagascar and being held in the compound his Alpha Team is going to eliminate the men that killed Olivia and her friends, only to find Olivia escaping. This sets the storyline for the rest of the plot, adventure, chase, setbacks and the start of another mission right after they return to the States.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not usually a fan of romantic suspense, and this is a totally new to me author, but I decided to take a chance because that precis sounded interesting and good gracious, look at that cover!



And I'm so glad that I picked this up! What a great, fun, exciting, sweet read! I just loved it!

At the beginning of the book, Olivia is in Madagascar giving aid to people misplaced after a hurricane. Her team is attacked, and she's presumed dead. Back in America, Jake, Olivia's dead brother's former military teammate and her best friend, is devastated by the news. He'd always been secretly in love with her, and he was crushed. He decides to get his private secret op team together to take revenge on the bad guys.

I really don't want to give too much away, but the whole book is done so well. Jake's feelings and emotions are expressed perfectly. Honestly, he's just one of the best romantic heroes I've read. Loved everything about his character. The story is exciting and fun. There were no spots that dragged or felt unnecessary. The whole thing flowed perfectly and was just really fun to read. Lots of action, but not super gory, and the relationship between the MCs is definitely the focus without feeling forced. Just loved it.

Only thing I didn't love is the ending 😔. This is a two-parter, and there's really not a good conclusion here at all. Definitely doesn't feel like a finished story. But this is so good, I can't wait to start part two!!!

[Patti Adams · Rating 2 out of 5]

First time author

I debated if I felt this was a two or three star book. I wanted to like this story. It started out with a literal bang and grabbed my attention. Sadly by the middle I was struggling to get past sentences with the words out of place. By the end of the book, I found myself skimming. The idea was good but the story was bogged down and didn’t play out well. I’m 50/50 on if I will buy the next book, just to see how it ends.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok... I'll admit, I do not happily do cliffhangers. I usually avoid them like the plague. However, this one does end in a happy-for-now, which made me breathe easier. That, and since part two is easily available and I don't have to wait makes me a very happy camper. The story is well written, and makes you want to immediately dive into part two! Kudos for a beautiful story!

[Beautiful_Jade · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just didn't work for me. Not particularly likeable characters and a ridiculous story line.

[Vbat421 · Rating 3 out of 5]

good book. hate cliffhanger

It should be a full novel. Cliffhanger killed everything. These should be illegal. Hopefully the rest in the series is not like this.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story

This was a good story but I'm pretty sure you could have done it in one book instead of two. Its annoying for it to just end.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Anna Blakely book and I think it was pretty solid. I liked the hero and the heroine was mostly decent. However, I didn't like that the author broke this story up into two books. Despite her claims that Jake and Liv's story was "so complex" that it took two books to tell, in reality their story isn't complex at all. And it could have been brought to a very natural close at the end of this book without it feeling like their story was unfinished. The entire second book could have been some other couple's tale. Trying to double dip with Jake and Liv just felt redundant since we went through a lot of the same plot beats.



The story opens with Olivia, a nurse, on a humanitarian mission to Madagascar. She's there to help the locals recover after a hurricane but their camp is attacked by guerillas. Olivia freezes when the shooting starts, unable to process what's happening. She sees every one of her colleagues, plus a local woman, get gunned down before she snaps out of it and takes off running. She doesn't get far though and feels a burning pain in the back of her head.

Next we come in on Jake, the owner of R.I.S.C., turning on his TV and learning that Olivia has been killed.

Jake was BFFs with Olivia's brother and he'd always had a thing for her but never felt he should act on it because that went against the bro code. Even when Olivia's brother died 10 years ago, it didn't stop Jake from feeling like he shouldn't touch her. So he became her friend instead. He spent hours on the phone with her, listening to her cry and mourn her brother. Then again a few years later when her father, her last surviving relative, died.

He's never made a move on Liv and never intended to. Aside from the aforementioned bro code stuff, he also routinely goes on top secret missions for the CIA, dealing with very unsavory people. He feels like it would put her in danger for them to be together (but apparently very publicly acting as her best friend doesn't?). And there's also a deep dark secret he's keeping from her regarding her brother's death. The last final thing that would destroy any relationship they tried to build together.

But when he hears that she's been killed he absolutely loses it. I thought AB did a really good job of describing Jake's gut-wrenching grief in this scene. He went through a gamut of emotions. He raged and punched holes in the wall, he cried, he threw up. And through it all he thought over and over about how much he'd loved Olivia. Her sense of humor, her passion for life, everything. And now he'd never see her again. Never get a chance to find out what it was like to kiss her. To be with her. He'd thought that he was keeping her safe by staying away from her, but she'd been killed and he hadn't been there to protect her. What's worse, now she'd never know how he'd felt about her.

After a brutal few hours, Jake finally processes his feelings enough to settle on revenge. He's going after the men who killed her, and no one can stop him. His R.I.S.C team (why are they specifically RISC with a 'C' while all the books in the series are risk with a 'K'?) all agree to go with him. At least one other member also knew Liv and wants revenge, the rest are just going to support their team mate. They all know how much Liv meant to him, and they're worried he'll recklessly get himself killed if he goes off alone.

A scene change later and we're with Olivia in a tent in the jungle. It's been 18 days since she was taken. She hasn't really been hurt, aside from the initial blow to the head, but she hasn't been well-treated either. She's only been given a few scraps of food and a small amount of water each day, and has been kept under guard constantly. She's heard the guards talking and making reference to an "auction" that she's to be taken to and she knows full well what that probably means. The leader of the group is a man she's dubbed "Scarface" because of the prominent scar on his face.

Finally today she's taken to a place where she can shower, the first one she's had since being captured, and when she comes out, they've taken her clothes and left a white dress for her to put on. She knows this means it's time for the auction and starts psyching herself up to make a break for it. Her plan is to try to seduce one of the guards, to get him into her tent, then to use the self defense skills Jake and her brother had taught her to knock him out. However, this plan immediately goes out the window when Scarface comes back to the camp with a 14 year old boy with him.

The boy has been shot in the chest and is bleeding badly. Scarface knows Olivia has medical training so he drags her out to the boy and tells her to save him. She assesses the situation and quickly determines that the boy can't be saved. Even if she had been a surgeon instead of just a nurse, it would have taken a fully staffed operating room and multiple blood transfusions to save this boy's life. In the middle of the jungle and with nothing more than dirty clothes to use as bandages, there's no hope. Scarface won't accept that and just keeps insisting she save him. When the boy eventually dies, Scarface says that Olivia killed him, on purpose. He starts beating Olivia up and looks like he intends to rape her but she gets the drop on him and knocks him out. Then she runs barefoot into the jungle.

Meanwhile, Jake's team has found the campsite and had been preparing to attack and wipe everyone out. They see a woman running off and Jake tries to squash the tiny spark of hope that says it could be her. But he still insists on being the one who goes to intercept the woman. At first Olivia doesn't recognize Jake, not even by his voice, which seemed hard to believe. She tells us in her inner monologue that she'd spent her long hours of captivity imagining that Jake, whom she'd been in love with for ages, would swoop in and rescue her. But then one of the guards showed her an American newspaper with a front page story saying she'd been killed. This makes Liv realize Jake must think she's dead like everyone else. No one will be coming to save her. So when a camouflaged and ski mask-wearing man in the jungle claims to be Jake, she doesn't believe it at first.

I would have liked for the couple's reunion to have been a bit more emotional. Considering what a great job the author had done describing Jake's devastation at losing her, I expected him to immediately kiss her when he found her alive. He doesn't, because he's concerned she might have been being raped during her captivity, which I guess is the right thing to do in this situation, but it did rob me of that ultimate romantic reunion I'd been hoping for.

Anyway, things go sideways and Jake and Olivia get separated from the rest of his team. They have to spend a couple of days running through the jungle while being pursued by the bad guys. They do share one kiss on the first night, but then Jake pulls back and apologizes. Even though Liv initiated the kiss, he decides she's in a fragile state and he's taking advantage by kissing her back. She takes this as a rejection. She also develops this bizarre hangup about the fact that she froze during the initial attack. Once she finds out Jake is this badass soldier guy, she feels unworthy of him and starts putting emotional distance between them. Jake puts a stop to that fairly quickly.

For his part, Jake has decided that he wants a relationship with Olivia, even though there's still that deep dark secret about her brother's death between them. He knows he has to tell her the truth but...not just yet. First he wants to sleep with her and let their relationship have time to breathe. Then he'll tell her. Honest.

They end up deciding to have sex in the jungle, despite them KNOWING that they've got 2 bad guys dogging their steps. So they've barely gotten started when Olivia, who is sitting on top of Jake at the time, feels a gun being pressed to the back of her head. The bad guys tie their hands and then proceed to walk them further into the jungle for several hours. Finally they stop and Olivia says she has to go to the bathroom in order to separate the two captors. Jake finally makes his move and takes them out. Then Jake's team shows up and rescues him. Although they had called in the CIA handler they usually work with when Jake didn't turn up at the agreed upon time. The CIA guy is pissed because this was an unsanctioned operation but he pretty much understands why they did it.

They all go back to a motel and Jake and Liv finally sleep together. Olivia has a nightmare about the attack and Jake makes a couple of statements about how he'll definitely be there for her as she tries to get back to her normal life. He knows she's been through something terrible and he's got her back 100%. Nothing could keep him away... Then he leaves her the very next day.

This didn't feel believable and came across as very contrived. The excuse given is that the CIA guy has figured out who the buyers were for the auction. He needs Jake to go and capture them because he's THE BEST. No one else will do. And honestly, can Jake really trust someone else to get the job done right? They've learned that Liv was specifically targeted for kidnapping. It wasn't just a wrong place, wrong time thing. One of the buyers had seen her picture in the paper before she left on the aid mission and had specifically paid to have her kidnapped so he could have her. And this is a powerful billionaire from a well-placed family. He's got the money and connections to avoid prosecution if this isn't done right. Surely Jake wants to be there in person to make sure it's finished and Olivia is truly safe, right?

So Jake agrees and leaves, without talking to Olivia. Again, this is dressed up. The CIA guy had deliberately taken Olivia out of the building while Jake was busy reading the briefing about the mission. He tells Jake straight up that he was afraid Olivia would start crying and Jake would cave and stay behind. But Jake MUST go on this mission because he's THE BEST. THE BEST I tell you! Jake is pissed at CIA guy's high-handed tactics but ultimately acquiesces. He doesn't even call Olivia or leave a message for someone to give to her. He just leaves, after he'd promised to be there for her as she tried to get past her ordeal and back to some semblance of a normal life.

And that's the end of this book. It was a very awkward and unsatisfying place to stop things and it felt very artificial. As you can tell from my summary above, not that much actually happened in this story. It feels like we're missing the third act of the book. A third act that should have been included. Instead the author took that third act and padded it out with a bunch of extra and repetitive stuff in order to call it a second book.

I'm not a big fan of the choice...but, I did immediately start reading the sequel so hush my mouth I guess...

[Janis · Rating 5 out of 5]

TAKING A RISK Part One, by Anna Blakely

I first read this book in 2023, and it was my first look into the worlds created by Anna Blakely. Jake & Olivia's story is still my favorite super couple. I became hooked on the RISK Series from the first page.

The story starts out with Olivia Bradshaw in the middle of a violent & traumatic event. She is a nurse who has been volunteering in Madagascar and is reported to have been one of 8 people violently killed. The next scene is Jake McQueen, 5 weeks later, after returning from a secret mission and finding out that the woman he has loved most of his life is gone. Jake is the owner of a super secret company (R.I.S.C.) of former military bad asses. Of course, he feels the guilt that he never told Olivia how he really felt about her. So naturally, he and his team vow retribution to the cartel responsible.

Actually, Olivia is the sole survivor of the massacre for reasons that are explained later. She has been regretting never having told Jake how much she loved him. Jake and his team's revenge mission quickly becomes a rescue. However, things do not go according to plan, and crap literally blows up.

Jake & Olivia get separated from the rest of the team and need to find their way through the jungle to meet up with them at plan B's extraction point.
While they are trekking through the jungle, they have a heart to heart with all the feels and discover some of their truths. Jake's & Liv's hike out of the jungle wouldn't be easy under the best of conditions. Jake's team will extract them, but they also have to elude the big baddies hot on their tail.

This story literally starts out with a bang, and the suspense and action makes it hard to put the book down. EVERY time I read it. I love Jake & Liv! With all the action and suspense, we still learn so much of their back stories and feelings. I always want more. And there is still more to come.

Jake and Olivia get a "happily, for now" ending in this book. Sort of. There is so much more to Jake's & Liv's story that Anna gave us a second book.

If you are new to Anna Blakely, I highly recommend TAKING A RISK Part One, and I guarantee you will then want to read Part Two. It is worth noting that these first two books are the only ones of Anna's that needed to be split into two separate stories. Jake & Liv's is that awesome! The entire series is fantastic!!! Enjoy!

[Sandy Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 1 and part 1 of Taking a Risk-it does end in a type of cliffhanger. It's about Jake McQueen, a former member of delta forces, who owns RISC. And Olivia Bradshaw, his best friend who he has been told was murdered while helping on a mission trip. Jake and members of his team have traveled deep into the jungle in order to get revenge on the people he believes murdered the one woman he loved but never thought he could have. What he never expected was to find Olivia not only alive but running after breaking free from her captors. Olivia has been held for weeks and after figuring out what they planned to do with her, she has just been waiting for her chance to either escape or force them to kill her. Especially when she knows there isn't going to be anyone coming to her rescue. When she finally has her chance and takes it, she never expects to run (literally) right into Jake and his team. Or that they would have to fight their way out on their own when they are separated from that team.

I absolutely loved this book by this brand new author! For a debut book, it is definitely an excellent read. The story pulls you in and I was wanting to cry from the beginning!! The action is jam packed and I loved the introduction to all of these characters! Olivia has a core of steel, even when the things are absolutely horrible for her. She still manages to stand up and keep going because she knows she has to for the people she loves. Jake broke my heart at first but once he finds Olivia, all I could hope for was that he would be able to step up and tell her everything he never thought he had the right to before. And I really want to know his secret!!! Just be prepared because it is part 1 so it is a full read but it is not the complete story for these characters. I loved it and can't wait to read the next book in this series!

[R Huiszoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna Blakely, ‘Taking a Risk’, Part one.
R.I.S.C. Series 1.

As a Hidden Gems ARC reader I received a free copy and promised an honest review. Here it is.

Rating: 4 stars (of 5).

In general: From friends to lovers.

Main characters:
- Olivia Bradshaw (31).
She’s an emergency room nurse at a hospital in Dallas-Fort Worth and volunteered for a medical aid mission in Madagascar, a country recently hit by a hurricane. She secretly has - since her youth - a crush on the best friend of her brother Mike, who was killed in action about ten years ago.

- Jake McQueen (34).
Owner of the private security firm R.I.S.C. His company often works for the government in foreign countries. He too had since his youth secretly a crush on the little sister, ‘Liv’, of his best friend Mike. But never told her about it, for dating the little sister of your friend is ‘not done’. After her brother’s death Olivia and Jake became best friends. Jake didn’t tell her about his true feelings because he thought that his job was too dangerous to have a permanent relationship.

In Madagascar Olivia’s medical team is killed by a drug cartel from Venezuela, dealing on this island. The criminals act as if the whole medical team was killed. Jake wants revenge. He meets with his security team and everyone volunteers for this mission.
The author, Anna Blakely, describes the revenge mission. It results in a lot of exciting action scenes in the jungle of Venezuela, some hot sex scenes and interesting information about the methods modern governments use in reaction against international, criminal enemies.
All in all an interesting book with an exciting plot and for me a pleasure to read. I had only some doubts about the credibility of Liv’s hesitations and little self confidence when it seemed that the dreams from her youth were about to be fulfilled.

R. Huiszoon.

[Audrey Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Jake and Olivia's story- the suspense and action throughout this book kept me interested and I didn't want to put this book down.

Jake and Olivia's brother Mike, who passed away were best friends growing up, so Jake grew up with Olivia his whole life. He secretly held a torch for her but never acted on his feelings for her, but always looked out for her, and had a strong friendship with her. When Olivia goes on a mission trip with some fellow nurses and her camp is taken hostage by drug dealers who kill them all except Olivia, they take her hostage although it's presumed by the media back home that Olivia and all of her colleagues are dead. Jake goes through so many emotions when hearing that Olivia is dead, he and his team make it their mission to go find the people responsible for killing Olivia. Upon their arrival, they find Olivia running through the jungle, very much alive. Jake separates from his team to get Olivia out of harms way and away from the men who are after her, and it's a race against the clock how they'll make it out of the jungle alive. They both have to face fears, and come to terms with telling one another how they truly feel about the other. I thought that the emotions both Olivia and Jake felt throughout this book were so well portrayed, I could actually feel their emotions.

I liked Olivia, but I had a tough time with her. I know she was held captive and went through enough but she went through so much self doubt and 'i'm not good enough for him' BS, it got on my nerves. Jake was the voice of reason throughout this book. He was the swoony alpha male who would protect Olivia with his life.

This book left with a cliffhanger so I'll be curious how this book continues on!

[Kelly DeMarco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Action packed as the tension builds
Taking A Risk Part 1 (R.I.S.C. Series 1) by Anna Blakely is a very well written romantic suspense in which Jake and Olivia are given an incredible gift. They have known each other for years, secretly loved one another yet for reasons they thought were important, never pursued each other.
Jake, a security specialist is often in harm's way, saving others or protecting the innocent. Olivia, an emergency room nurse with empathy and compassion to spare, volunteers her medical training after a natural disaster and leads to her capture while the world presumes she has died along with her colleagues.
These two collide (quite literally!) at the most opportune time and as a result Jake vows to tell Olivia how he feels. Olivia struggles with survivors guilt and Jake employs some tough love. Through it all, these two experience a wide range of emotions that pull the heartstrings and endear these characters to the reader.
Overall, this romantic suspense is very well written, keeping the reader captivated and constantly on edge. Jake and Olivia just can't seem to catch a break, and, even when they do it's short lived! I'm completely on pins and needles for Part 2 and have added it to my TBR ASAP list! If any couple deserves a HEA, it's Jake and Olivia. I can't wait to see them reap the rewards.
I read an ARC of this book from Hidden Gems and voluntarily share my review.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLY COW!! This 2 book set is off the charts filled with such heartwrenching suspense that my stomach was in knots to the very end. With characters you will quickly fall in love with, and plenty of alpha men to wet any appetite, the genius writing of this author had my teeth clenching at times and my eyes in tears at others.

Emergency room nurse Olivia Bradshaw had no idea what she was in for when she joined a group of nurses and doctors in Madagascar to give aide to hurricane victims. Before she can return home her life turns into a nightmare. As days turn to weeks she knows her time is about up if she doesn't do something to save herself.

Jake McQueen had promised his best friend to watch out for his younger sister, and for years he'd been there for her. When his R.I.S.C. team returns from a job he will experience gut-wrenching news that will leave his heart shattered. He never even got to tell Olivia how he felt. Determined to get revenge Jake will enlist his team to assist in destroying those who took the life of the only woman he ever loved.

When Jake and his team arrive in Venezuela they will be stunned to find things aren't as they expected, but getting Olivia back to safety won't be easy. Keeping her out of danger when they get back on American soil won't be as simple as they expected either.

Plan to read TAKING A RISK books 1 & 2 to get the entire Jake and Olivia story. It is WELL worth it. 

[LaTonja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can I just say if Taking a Risk: Part One (R.I.S.C. #1) is in indication of how this series is going to go I am so in. I highly recommend this book.

This is the story about Jake and Olivia. For years Jake and Olivia have loved each other, but neither of them admitted their love for each other. Instead Jake continued to have a close loving relationship with Olivia, his best friend's little sister. When Jake is faced with tragic news about Olivia is he able to admit to himself the love he felt for Olivia was more than friendly. Olivia is too comes to realization that Jake is her everything, but will she ever be able to see him again and let him know?

This book is full of suspense, lust, and mystery. Also, the comic banter between Jake and Olivia is so welcoming and shows a real side to this couple. This book is well written, faced paced, and there isn't a point that I got bored or even wanted to put the book down. Let's not forget this book also introduces the readers to the rest of Jake's R.I.S.C. team. Let's just say I can't wait to read each of their stories also. Thank God I purchased R.I.S.C. #1 & #2 at the same time, because when I finished this book I didn't want to stop learning more about Jake and Olivia's story.

[PepperP0t · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Rescue, Intel, Security & Capture) RISC owner, former Delta Jake McQueen returned from a mission and heard, nurse Olivia Bradshaw was dead. Olivia, a woman he loved but couldn’t have because she was his dead best friend’s sister and a secret het kept. Jake vowed vengeance against whoever killed her and burned her body.

During downtime while working a humanitarian effort after a disaster, Liv and her team were attacked by a cadre of cartel thugs. The thugs killed and robbed everyone with Liv but for some reason kept her alive and took her to their base. A week and a half later, when Liv is unable to save the leader’s dying brother, she’s beaten but escapes before worse happens.

Luckily, Jack and his team arrive as Liv escapes, they’re shocked to Liv alive and quickly move to split and protect Liv from the thugs chasing her. Jake catches up to Liv, planning to get a head start on their exit plan but Liv had run away from the team’s preplanned path. While the team follows Jake’s order to use their alternate plan, Jake and Liv fall into enemy hands. Back on US soil, they learn, Liv had stumbled onto a crime organization, one other agencies were desperate to locate.
Rating: 2.75stars

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jake is destroyed after watching the news report on TV. He missed his chance and now he is out for revenge. His best friend is gone, and he doesn’t know what else to do. Luckily, his team is behind him 100%.

Olivia’s mind won’t let her realize what is going on around her and when her mind and body finally connect, she may not have the chance to save herself. Her regret is that she never told her best friend that he really meant more to her for many years.

I loved the flow of this story. It is story of what ifs, trust and wishing for second chances. This was my first read of Anna Blakely and now I need to go and get the rest of the R.I.S.C. series to read, especially Book 2 of Taking a Risk. If you like stories of military, special ops, rescue, strong women, and characters that are loyal to each other, then you should pick up this book and read it I give it a 5-star review and I am looking forward to reading more of the R.I.S.C. series in the near future. I will read more of Anna Blakely’s books as well because I like her writing style.

[MammaDi3Gatti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book packaged with book 2, and I wouldn't recommend picking this one up unless you have both immediately on hand. If I were reviewing this one on its own, I'd probably rate it much lower only because I hate cliffhangers. I didn't think the books precisely needed to be split; some of the repetitive "you're my EVERYTHING" stuff and its "but how does he really feel?" back and forth could be cut and it could easily fit into one book.

But other than that, I really loved this page-turner. After all, I adore romantic suspense, plus it covers all my favorite tropes and character profiles: best-friend's-sister, friends-to-lovers, strong female MC, emotionally available and imperfect male MC, cool teammates, etc. I read both books in a matter of hours.

I just can't let the cliffhanger go though. I mean, whyyyyyy? If I'd just picked up book 1, I'd have been really steamed by the ending.

I received a copy of this book for free. I'm writing this review voluntarily, and it reflects my honest opinion. Thanks!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a group review of the first 3 books....
Anna Blakely's new series, R.I.S.C. tells you just in the title ,R. Rescue; I. Intel; S. Security and C. Capture these books even though they can be read by themselves ...you(just like me) won't be able to just read one, you have to read them all.
Jake and Olivia; Taking a Risk 1&2:The first two books is their story which takes you into how Jake and his team work. Their are so many twists and turns and plots that have you at the end of your seat wondering how , what and why. Anna has you smiling, Mad, laughing, Crying and even rooting for the HEA to come sooner than later.
Trevor and Lexi; Beautiful Risk: Trevor's book is how he starts to believe that he can move on with his life from an incident in his past where he felt that he didn't work an operation in a better way. He meets Lexi and hoping that he finally can move on ...but the past rears up and Lexi is taken. Can Trevor get his act together ans save her? Anna throws in more twists and turns but the men and woman of RISC will do everything to protect the ones they love.
This new series is one that you will be wanting if you love strong alpha men and women that fight for what they believe in, protect and fight for those that can't protect themselves then Anna's RISK series is one you will want to add to your TBR.
Now on to International Risk, Derek and Charlotte(Charlie) story...told you can't just read one....

[Stacy J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a phenomenal book!!! I can't believe this is Mrs. Blakely's first book.

This story was gripping and nerve wracking. It has drama, suspense, comedy and romance all wrapped up in an amazing story. The action was written in a way that made you feel like you were in the story and that was fun to read.

I really liked the characters of Jake and Olivia. They were both written as strong individuals who when faced with danger, didn't shy away. But there were also show as being able to be vulnerable. To me, especially with Jake this made him human. Some books like this the man is written in such a way that he comes of as hard and uncaring. This was not the case with Jake.

My only complaint is that I have to wait until the next installment to find out what happens. Luckily we don't have to wait long.

I would highly recommend this book!

[Jen (jensdreamylittlereads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taking A Risk by Anna Blakely is the first book in a two-part story in the R.I.S.C Series. What a fantastic debut from this talented author!

The story began with a bang and I was captivated from the first page. I devoured this book and could not put it down. It is full of suspense, intrigue, thrilling heart pounding action and romance.

I loved the characters of Jake and Olivia. Both were extremely likeable, engaging with a chemistry that is sizzling. Their unwavering love for each other is evident from the outset and I found myself rooting for them all the way.

There is plenty to love about this book; superb plot, skilful writing, wonderful main characters along with side characters who all have amazing potential for their own stories. I cannot wait for Part Two and the conclusion to Jake and Olivia’s story

[Floraljoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plenty of action and drama with an interesting and unique plot:
An entertaining romantic suspense novel with plenty of adventure and action. Whilst it drew me in from the very beginning, I did not feel as if the story progressed enough and I wish that the author had not divided it into two parts. So much remains unresolved and it is for this reason that I am only giving this book 3 stars. I would not have purchased this had it not been gifted to me in exchange for a review and although I'd like to find out what happens to Jake and Olivia and see justice done, I won't bother purchasing part 2 (each part costs the same as longer, complete books do so you end up having to pay double...)
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

3* ARC Review – Action that ends with a cliffhanger
I was introduced to this author and series by this ARC provided by Hidden Gems in exchange for this review. When it said Book 1, I hesitated to request the ARC, but it noted that it ended with a Happy for Now ending. I did not find the ending to be as such.
Beyond the unsatisfactory ending, I found the storyline lacking in some way. I have read other books with a similar plot and this one was at times hard to take seriously. One basic issue was that Olivia was working in Madagascar when she is kidnapped, but then taken to Venezuela by this drug cartel. I found that a little far-fetched and I could not figure out the use of it as part of the story. Both Olivia and Jake were interesting characters, but their internal musings about how attracted they were was a little inappropriate due to what was going on around them.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first time reading anything by Anna Blakely, and had been intrigued by the description of the book. It caught my attention from the beginning and kept it through the end. I went straight from book 1 in to book 2 and didn't want to put it down until I found out how their story would play out. There is danger galore, an incredibly strong woman (Olivia) who survives the unthinkable not once, but again and again... And who is there to rescue her? Jake - her best friend, and the friend of her older brother. She's loved him for years, but always thought it was one-sided. Jake has loved her for years, but held back out of respect for her 'deceased' brother. Plenty of ups and downs for these two, emotions galore, and the members of RISC will do anything for each other. Twists and turns keep the story intriguing through to the end.

[Melanie Marnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anna Blakely really knows how to keep you at the edge of your seat with lots of suspense and fast paced action. If this introductory book us any indication, the R.I.S.C. series will be incredible reading. Jake McQueen and Olivia Bradshaw have long held deep feeling for one another but have never expressed or accted on them. Learning of her death leaves him devastated and remorseful that he never told her he loves her. Finding her alive is a shock, keep her safe and protected as they trek through the jungle a necessity, telling her he wants her forever is an absolute must. Olivia is a survivor, strong and resilient. She endures rather than giving up. Her one regret? Never telling Jake that she loves him. When he shows up out of the blue she just may get her chance. But first, the have to make it out of their dangerous predicament alive.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

They thought it was the end...

But could it possibly be the beginning?
Olivia's life falls apart the day she is kidnapped, Jake's world stops the minute he is told she is dead and the only thing that keeps him breathing, keeps him moving is revenge...until he finds his reason to breathe again.
A fast paced, dark, depraved and very dangerous Jake and Liv find themselves fighting for their lives more than once, but they have everything to live for and a determination that defies anything the cartel can do to them....but can it survive the secrets of their past?
I really enjoyed this book, it is the beginning of a series and the beginning of Jake and Olivia's story, it doesn't end in a complete cliffhanger but it does finish on a happy for now. However it is worth noting this series is now available on Kindle Unlimited, which is where I read it.