By
USA Today Bestselling Author
Heather Slade

Code name: Ranger
Target: Maisie Ann Jones
Mission: Uncover the whereabouts of a smart, sexy spitfire

RANGER
Undercover, confidential, and dangerous, the new K19 Shadows lurk where others won’t, ready to act in a moment’s notice. When Maisie Ann Jones disappears with a serial killer on the loose, it doesn’t look good. The others have turned up dead.I refuse to let anything harm this woman, after all, she stole my heart. I’m determined to find her, save her, and take down anyone who gets in my way.

MAISIE
A teenage crush. At least that’s what I thought it was. But when Ranger comes barreling back into my life, nothing stops how I feel or what I should want—I just want him.I’m a Dartmouth grad who took over my family’s business before I turned twenty-five. I don’t need a man. I’ve never been a damsel in distress. Until now. But I’m worried that he’s met his match. Will this serial killer destroy the only man I’ve ever loved?

This book opens with a glimpse of the now, then goes back to establish everything. If you’ve read Onyx, this will be a bit familiar but from a different point of view.

There is a major threat against the K19 group and the men here have been ordered to shelter in this small town until the threat has been eliminated. As a result, with Onyx in command and Ranger as his second, a new unit of K19 has been established this one Shadow Operations.

Ranger’s family has always been a part of this lakeside community of camps (cabins) and along with his team they are making it their headquarters.  He’s trying to make the best of the inactivity and when they are invited to dinner at the Jones’ he remembers Maisie and the attraction between them. Now he’s wondering if it will be the same.

This is just one of many favorite scenes!

Finally, Al motioned for Onyx to follow him down the hallway. I couldn’t have been happier when Jimmy followed and Mary went into the kitchen, leaving Maisie and me alone.

“Can I get you anything to drink?” she offered.

“I’ll take a beer if you’ve got one.”

“When does anyone on the lake not have beer?” She rolled her eyes and pulled two from the refrigerator. “Glass?”

“Bottle’s good.”

“They may be a while, if you two want to go sit on the porch and chat while I finish up dinner,” suggested Mary.

Maisie led the way, and I followed, watching her high and tight ass that was covered by jeans but that I remembered seeing once or twice in a bikini. Man, I wished it was summer and I could get a glimpse of that hotness again.

“So, Ranger, the last time I saw you, I must’ve been fourteen or fifteen.”

I took a step closer and looked into her deep blue eyes. “We both know that isn’t true, beautiful. We saw plenty of each other after our first meet up. The last time you talked to me, you were fourteen.”

“I don’t recall you striking up a conversation.”

I took a sip of my beer. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe we did something more than converse the night of your eighteenth birthday.”

“Oh. Were you there that night?” Her eyes darted to the left, and her cheeks flamed a second time.

I leaned in closer still so my mouth was close to her ear. “I’m heartbroken you don’t remember.”

She took a step back. “Who’s lying now?”

I liked that she admitted she had been, in so many words at least. “I can tell you I’ve never forgotten it. I was quite taken with you.”

Her eyes were wide, and she studied my mouth. “So why didn’t you ask me out?”

“I think I did, but you were leaving for college the next day.”

“You remember that?”

“There’s a lot I recall about you.”

“I doubt that includes the first time we met.”

“You’re wrong. It was on the Canada Lake Store docks, and it was the day before I started working there that summer.”

“It was the only summer you did.”

“I filled in every now and then, but not as much as I would’ve liked. I came up every weekend I could, though.”

“Dinner’s ready,” I heard Mary call out from the kitchen.

“Wait,” said Maisie when I turned to walk in that direction. “What would’ve happened if I hadn’t left the next day?”

“I can’t say for certain, but I can tell you why I showed up at your party.”

“Why?”

I turned my body and crowded hers into the doorway. “To claim you as mine, sweet Maisie Ann Jones.” I waited for her to laugh or get pissed or have some kind of reaction to my Neanderthal proclamation. She didn’t have one besides her breathing accelerating and her pupils dilating— which was exactly what I’d been going for.
Heather Slade. Code Name: Ranger (Kindle Locations 149-175). K19 Shadow Operations Book One.

Now Maisie is taking over the family business and has big plans to revitalize the area. Unfortunately there are other things in play she doesn’t know about.

Ranger escorts her around to examine what makes some of the surrounding areas so successful and they wind up doing something very unexpected.

There are so many surprises, plenty of intrigue and of course some sizzling heat.

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.