By
Heather Slade

Falling for the enemy never felt so good.

K19 Security Specialist Gunner Godet is so deep undercover that nobody on his team knows where he is or what he’s signed up for. And now that he’s vowed to help a sexy and mysterious woman from the dirtiest Russian organization in all of Eastern Europe, his only chance at survival lies in her hands—and arms. Luckily, Gunner refuses to give his heart to a woman ever again. Otherwise, he’d be in more danger than he ever imagined.

Zaryana “Raketa” Ivashov wants out—out of the game. But pulling out of this “political party” means defecting and trusting an enemy. As Gunner and Raketa journey for safety, their attraction grows stronger, their passion undeniable. But can two sworn enemies find happiness in a world of danger and betrayal?

I have to say when the guys of K19 fall in love it’s not easy by any definition.

Gunner knew Zaryana ‘Raketa’ Ivashov was the one for him when she didn’t shoot him on a mission. She works for United Russia and wants to defect. She couldn’t carry out her last mission, so returning would be suicide.

While helping protect Razor’s now wife Ava she ended up kidnapped by Petrov. Now Gunner needs to find her as well as get the five million dollar bounty off her head.

Once Gunner has her he takes her into protection on his island. It’s here we get insight into Raketa’s life.

This is a favorite scene.

There were many forms of torture; she herself had an arsenal she’d used to get…information. However, the form Gunner was using wasn’t intentional. Or was it?

There he stood, sweat glistening from a body almost too perfect to be anything but sculpted from stone, wearing nothing but workout shorts and shoes. It was all she could do not to run at him, knock him on the ground, and trail her tongue over the hard outline of his every muscle.

Instead, she turned, went back into the house, and stomped in the direction of the bedroom he’d deposited her in the night before.

She could hear his footfalls and prayed he wouldn’t open the door she’d slammed shut.

When he didn’t, Raketa’s disappointment far outweighed her relief.

She looked in the closet, shocked to find clothes that weren’t her own, but close enough to what she usually traveled with that they could’ve been. She found the same when she opened the drawers to the dresser.

“Who do these belong to?” she demanded when she stalked out to the kitchen with a few pieces of clothing in her hand.

“You,” he answered without looking up at her.

“Why?”

This time he looked, raised an eyebrow, but didn’t answer.

“I need a shower.”

Gunner pointed toward the hallway. “Second door on the right.”

She stalked back into the bedroom, rummaged through the clothes he’d provided, and then opened the door he’d indicated.

“This isn’t a lavatory,” she said, coming back into the hallway.

“Keep going,” he said, again not looking up at her.

She turned to go farther down the hallway.

“Into the room,” she heard him say.

“What?”

Gunner came toward her and opened the door she’d initially gone through. He stepped aside and motioned for her to go around him.

“This is your bedroom,” she said when she stepped inside.

“And if you go through that doorway, you’ll be in my bathroom.”

Raketa turned around and looked at him. “Don’t you have another?”

Gunner shook his head and closed the door behind him, leaving her standing alone in a room that was vastly different than the rest of what she’d seen of the house.

Instead of the cool and neutral tones that had been used in the bedroom she’d slept in, this one was done in rich dark brown and black. She never would’ve predicted it of him, but now that she was seeing it, the decor suited Gunner perfectly.

The wall the headboard of the bed rested against was covered with rough wood, with an outlined map of the globe etched into it. A ledge ran the entire distance of the wall where photos and other trinkets of memorabilia sat. Another of the walls was covered with rough and old-looking brick. There was a fireplace holding several wood logs built into the center of it.

It was the stuff sitting on the ledge that threw Raketa the most. She never would’ve expected Gunner to be at all sentimental. The fact that he was, was almost shocking and, for some reason, made her sad.

Photos, trinkets, even memories, had never been a part of her life. Raketa was essentially an orphan, or had always believed herself to be.

When her parents died, she’d been sent to Moscow, alone, and had been met by a stern man who smelled horribly and didn’t seem to understand Azeri, the only language she spoke at the time.

He’d driven her to a “home” that housed both girls and boys, orphans like she was.

She’d lived there until she turned seventeen, when another man came

Slade, Heather. Gunner (K19 Security Solutions Book 2) . Sparrow Publishing. Kindle Edition. to the home and took her along with seven other girls.

She remembered being one of the two in their group of eight who hadn’t wept in fear, and thus, hadn’t incurred the wrath of the man who came for them. Instead, she’d stayed quiet, hoping to make herself seem as small and insignificant as possible. When that hadn’t worked, the only other girl who hadn’t wept with the others, got between her and the man who likely would’ve raped her. She’d taken a beating, but spared Raketa, who had been far smaller than her.

From that day on, that girl became her protector. They’d learned that the eight of them had been chosen because of their “better-than-average looks,” in order to train them to work for Russian intelligence.

Both Raketa and the other woman had risen further than the others, eventually becoming operatives and assassins. She had been the one who’d first called her Raketa—the rocket. In turn, she’d called her Losha, for she was strong as a horse but could run like the wind.
Slade, Heather. Gunner (K19 Security Solutions Book 2). Kindle Locations (713-747). Sparrow Publishing. Kindle Edition.

So many twists and turns as K19 works to figure out who the woman was Raketa saw and what her real relationship to Petrov is.

Edge of your seat suspense, hold your breath action and lots sizzle make this a page turning read.

5 Contented Purrs for Heather!

Heather Slade

My books are filled with things that bring me joy: music, wine, skiing, families, artists, and cowboys. Not always in that order.

I’m an Amazon best-selling author, and a PAN member of Romance Writers of America. I speak, teach, blog, am an executive sommelier, and all-around entrepreneur.

I grew up an east coast girl, and then spent half my life on the west coast. Now my husband, our two boys, and I happily call Colorado home.

By
Heather Slade

When love cuts like a knife . . .

Bodyguard for K19 Security Systems, Tabon “Razor” Sharp has seen his fair share of tragedy, but one thing is for certain: he never forgets a face. Agreeing to be his buddy’s groomsman means he’ll once again reunite with the enchanting and gorgeous, Ava McNamara. Unable to finish what they started last time, he’s more than ready to reignite the spark with Ava.

But the wedding brings on more than he bargained for. Meeting Ava’s father throws a wrench into his plans. Her father isn’t who he claims to be. And Razor is determined to uncover all the facts. Torn between exposing a criminal and protecting Ava, he struggles between duty and desire. Now, it’s up to Razor to protect the woman with the haunted eyes and destroy everything she’s ever known. Will they recover from the truth or will Razor’s cut wound her too deeply?

Since the day they met Tabon ‘Razor’ Sharp and Avarie ‘Ava’ McNamara have wanted each other, things didn’t happen that first night because Razor was on duty protecting Quinn. Now it’s Quinn and Mercer’s wedding and Razor has the desire to see if the same heat is between them as it was a year ago.

That whole scenario gets shot down when he finds he is going to have to become her bodyguard. The reasons for the protection are complex from the start. First though Razor needs to convince Ava to move in with him.

This is a favorite scene.

Ava remembered Quinn saying that she’d asked Mercer once if he’d take her there, and he’d answered that he’d take her everywhere. She wondered if India would be their only stop, or would they continue traveling? No one deserved a never-ending honeymoon more than Quinn did.

“I’m going to miss you so much,” Ava said, hugging her friend tightly.

“You keep Razor on his toes,” Quinn teased. “Seriously, though, I think the two of you are well-suited,” she whispered.

Ava rolled her eyes, but secretly, she wished it were so.

“Speak of the devil,” said Quinn, winking at Ava when Tabon approached them and stood right behind her.

“Got a minute?” he whispered.

“No.” Ava walked away from him and over to the sidewalk leading to where Mercer had parked Quinn’s Porsche. She stood with the rest of the guests as they fêted the couple with rose petals on their way out.

She turned back around and saw Tabon standing off to the side, studying her.

“What do you want?” she asked. “I thought I made myself clear earlier.”

“I have an offer to make you.”

Ava rolled her eyes and walked away, but he stayed on her heels.

“Just listen. This doesn’t have anything to do with me.”

She stopped and folded her arms in that way that practically pushed her boobs right out of her dress.

He took a deep breath, willing himself to look anywhere but there. “I heard you and your sister were planning on spending a few more days in California.”

She nodded. “Pen and Tara are thinking about it too.”

“I’d like to offer you a place to stay.”

Ava laughed. “With you?”

“No, not exactly.”

“Explain yourself, then.”

Razor smiled. Damn, he liked this woman. “I have a place a couple of hours up the coast, in Cambria. It’s near where Doc’s family lives.”

Ava rolled her eyes.

“Wait,” he said, holding up his hand. “Hear me out. It’s a duplex. Each side sleeps six, although two of you would have to share a bedroom since there are only three.”

“Where would you be?”

“On the other side.”

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why are you doing this?”

Razor stepped forward, close enough to tuck an errant strand of hair behind her ear. “Because I want another chance with you.”

“Ah, so there are strings.”

“Absolutely not. I just want to get to know you better, Ava.”

She shook her head. “I’m not interested.”

He cupped her face with his palm. “Please.”

“Don’t do this to me,” she said, shaking her head again.

Razor kissed her forehead. “Please,” he murmured again.

He saw her eyes were closed, and felt her lean into him.

“I need to talk to the girls.”

“Where are they?”

“They went back to the cottage to change.”

“I’ll walk you there,” he said, taking her hand in his.

Ava stopped walking. “Tabon?”

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“Is this just a game to you?”

He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to him. “No, it isn’t. I can’t forget you, Ava, and believe me, I’ve tried.”

“What if I don’t feel the same way about you?”

Razor smiled. “My heart will be broken, broken, but I’ll live. And in the meantime, I’ll get to spend some time getting to know the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.”

Ava rolled her eyes. “For now, I’ll consider your offer and talk it over with my sister and our friends. But don’t push it, Tabon.”

He kissed her hand. “I’ll be waiting to hear from you. I’m in Cottage Fourteen.”
Slade, Heather. Razor (K19 Security Solutions). Kindle Locations (584-616). Sparrow Publishing. Kindle Edition.

Now there’s something Ava can do that will become very disconcerting to Razor. She can tell when he’s lying, and she really hates when he keeps things from her. The way he knows she’s mad at him is she calls him Razor instead of Tabon.

I loved meeting Razor’s family and more of the guys, some not yet K19 but will be offered spots. It also looks like Razor’s sister has her eye on one of them. Oh and the whales, lots of whales visible from his home on the Oregon coast.

Intrigue, suspense and drama as things heat up in the case that Ava is a witness in. Razor breaks a lot of rules when it comes to Ava because he is in love with her.

Hold your breath action, tears, laughter, romance and sizzle will have you turning the pages to see what happens next.

5 Contented Purrs for Heather!

Heather Slade

My books are filled with things that bring me joy: music, wine, skiing, families, artists, and cowboys. Not always in that order.

I’m an Amazon best-selling author, and a PAN member of Romance Writers of America. I speak, teach, blog, am an executive sommelier, and all-around entrepreneur.

I grew up an east coast girl, and then spent half my life on the west coast. Now my husband, our two boys, and I happily call Colorado home.