On the precipice of change …
Just not the way he’d expected …

Kerrick is tagged to join a new elite group, where he’d have more say and less rules on missions. Working mostly alone, he’s to track down a kidnapped victim suspected of being in England, and likely she’s not the only one. This is his kind of job; finding out a longtime friend is his backup makes this mission a go.

Amanda is snatched at the end of her workday while walking to her vehicle. Days later she wakes to find she’s imprisoned, alone in a small cement cell. One rotting meal a day is provided, and that is it. Once she realizes someone else is here–a young boy—she’s even more determined to escape. And to take him with her. Running into Kerrick wasn’t the plan …

Escaping is only one part of the puzzle as the truth drags them to Europe and beyond as they sort out how the two kidnappings are related, who’s behind it all and why … Before they are run aground and imprisoned all over again …

This is the start of a new series, a black ops group just starting out but with plenty of resources. Kerrick is approached by a friend as he is counting down to leaving the SEALs. The mission would be a one and done, with only one other person for backup.

This mission is to find and rescue kidnapped scientist Amanda Berg, she’s been in the news lately for her discoveries in cancer research. Not an easy task since apparently whoever was watching over her lost her trail.

Amanda had woken in a small cell, without a watch she couldn’t determine how much time had past exactly, but she figured about a day. She knew someone would be looking for her, she just hoped they’d hurry. She also heard crying so she wasn’t totally alone in captivity.

As Kerrick methodically follows the steps from the ferry where she was last sighted, Amanda hears morse code, and discovers there’s a young boy being held on the floor above her. Now she’s even more determined to escape and take the boy with her.

Finding what he was looking for, Kerrick makes plans to get in and get Amanda. His backup is a pleasant surprise, Griffin is a former SEAL as well. They’d get this job done. However Amanda has a surprise for both of them.

This is a favorite scene.

Kerrick opened the door and flashed his light in the man’s face. Eyes bright and deep emerald green stared back at him. They were twinkling. Kerrick reached out a hand, and Griffin caught it and squeezed hard. Kerrick didn’t have time for explanations or questions, but he pulled his buddy in and shut the door tight. In a low whisper, Kerrick asked, “Are you up to speed?”

Griffin nodded. “Have checked out the grounds. All clear. But doubt it will stay that way.”

Kerrick nodded and stepped through to the stairwell and said, “Down here first.”

But Griffin pulled him back and pointed down.

Kerrick couldn’t see anything.

By his ear, Griffin whispered, “Somebody’s on the landing below us.”

“Got it.”

He stepped off to the side to peer down the stairwell, seeing two bodies pressed tight against the stairwell below. So, they heard him coming? That was just too damn bad. If they got in his way, he would take them out. But … one was small, in baggy coveralls. The other smaller. He held up a warning hand to Griffin, who joined him at his side, and they studied the two in shock. They looked at each other, and then, in a sudden move, Kerrick, using the railings, jumped up to the landing below in two moves, his weapon up tight against the taller of the two people frozen in front of him. And damn if that same clear and directed gaze from one of his photos didn’t shine back at him.

“Who are you?” she snarled. Even with his gun poking her in the ribs, she raised her fists as if to clock him.

He quickly grabbed her hand, twisted it around her back, and pulled her tight against him, so she couldn’t hit him. The child beside her immediately punched and kicked at Kerrick, but Griffin grabbed him and wrapped him up tight.

Kerrick whispered in the woman’s ear, “Amanda?”

She froze, then slowly nodded.

“Good,” he said. “You’re the one we came for.”

“But Brandon comes too,” she was quick to demand.

With her in his arms, Kerrick raced back to the door where Griffin had entered. With both captives safely in their custody, they stepped outside into the cool night air. Kerrick whispered, “Don’t make a sound. Don’t make a move. Not until we tell you.”

“How do I know whose side you’re on?” she asked in an angry whisper.

He could see the fear in her gaze and also her determination to not let that stop her. But, as she stared into his eyes, she seemed to relax a bit. He smiled and said, “Well, I have a code word for you. Would that make you feel better?”

She frowned and said, “I don’t know any code word.”

“And why is it that you do cancer research?”

She stared at him, shook her head, and he whispered, “Because of your friend Alice.”

She sagged against him, and he picked her up and carried her off into the night.
Dale Mayer. Kerrick (Kindle Locations 924-948). Valley Publishing Ltd.

Now getting rescued appears to be the easy part, the getting totally away is another story entirely. Very interesting thought processes involved all of them including Brandon who has a very useful photographic memory.

Fast paced, action packed, with lots of mysterious connections, plenty of suspense and I fell in love with Kerrick just as much as Amanda does.

I love that Dale is releasing the first three books in this series on the same day, it just confirms that am already hooked on this series.

5 Contented Purrs for Dale!

Dale Mayer

Dale Mayer is a USA Today bestselling author best known for her Psychic Visions and Family Blood Ties series. Her contemporary romances are raw and full of passion and emotion (Second Chances, SKIN), her thrillers will keep you guessing (By Death series), and her romantic comedies will keep you giggling (It’s a Dog’s Life and Charmin Marvin Romantic Comedy series).

She honors the stories that come to her – and some of them are crazy and break all the rules and cross multiple genres!

To go with her fiction, she also writes nonfiction in many different fields with books available on resume writing, companion gardening and the US mortgage system. She has recently published her Career Essentials Series. All her books are available in print and ebook format.