Series:
Citadel Solutions (Book 2)
She saves lives with steady hands. He takes them with
deadly precision.
In the war-torn jungles of Corazón, Dr. Lauren Valentino
runs a field hospital under siege—treating the wounded, protecting the
innocent, and risking everything to hold the line. Knowing the danger is
getting critical, Lauren's family sends Citadel Solutions security expert Logan
Kane to get her out.
One doctor should be no problem for a battle-hardened
Marine who specializes in impossible missions—even when the mission doesn't
want to be rescued and a hurricane is closing in.
They clash instantly.
The heat between them? Instant too.
When communication is cut off and killers close in,
Lauren and Logan are forced into the jungle. The storm's not the only thing
hunting them. Survival means moving fast and finding some way of trusting each
other.
In a world where death is always only one step behind,
love might be the risk that breaks them both.
Or saves them.
Terrific second book in this series. The action and
tension started on the first page and kept me turning the pages to the end. From
the action to the setting, the descriptions are so vivid I felt almost as if I
were there. Dual first-person POV from Lauren and Logan gives insight into
their actions and feelings.
Doctor Lauren Valentino works for a medical outreach
program, currently in the jungle of Corazón. She is highly skilled, works exceptionally
well under the most challenging circumstances, and cares deeply for her
patients. The story opened with an example of the conditions she works under,
and I couldn't help but root for a successful outcome. We also learn that political
unrest and expanding cartel activities are making conditions more dangerous. Lauren's
wealthy parents pester her frequently to return to Chicago, where she
"belongs."
Former Marine Logan is the second-in-command at Citadel
Solutions. He is professional, protective, and experienced. When Lauren's
parents hire Citadel Solutions to extract Lauren and her team from danger, he
prepares for the worst.
When Logan and his team arrive, disguised as a weather research
team, Lauren immediately takes exception to the plan. Logan wants to leave
within a week, while she insists it will take at least a month to safeguard her
patients. Matters become complicated when the cartel leader's son becomes
obsessed with Lauren. She thinks politely telling him "not
interested" will be the end of it, while Logan sees the danger. When the
cartel leader gets involved, Lauren finally realizes the peril of her
situation. Their departure suddenly becomes critical.
I was glued to the pages as Logan and Lauren fight for
their lives. Lauren's refusal to desert a patient in need leaves her and Logan
on their own to escape the cartel. Not only must they evade those out to stop
them, they must also fight Mother Nature, as a hurricane makes landfall. They
must learn to trust each other if they are going to escape. I enjoyed watching
their connection grow as they relied on each other. I loved seeing how Logan
appreciated Lauren's strength and resilience, which only added to his
attraction for her. Lauren's understanding of Logan's PTSD is something he
doesn't expect.
Just when I thought everything would work out for them,
Logan allows his fears to push Lauren away. I ached for Lauren because it
brought back her insecurities. Each runs from the memories of what they had as
they try to convince themselves that the other is better off without them. I
loved seeing Logan's friends attempt to get through to him. However, it is an
unexpected twist that reveals to each of them what they almost threw away. The
conclusion was an intense, nail-biting event. The teamwork was outstanding, and
I loved Lauren's actions. The two epilogues were fantastic, especially seeing
what is in store for their future.
The secondary characters were terrific. I loved the
chance to get to know the team members, Tyler and Jace. Their respect for each
other is evident in every interaction, while light-hearted teasing does a great
job of breaking the tension. My favorite was young Elena, one of the villagers.
Her presence of mind and determination to help Lauren were incredible.
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