By
USA Today Bestselling Author
KaLyn Cooper

She was the job and off limits,
but his heart wanted so much more.

Heath Kubiak jumped at the chance when a Holt Agency job came up in the Apostle Islands. After years of working back-to-back missions all over the world, he longed to take some much-needed time off. He knew that area of Lake Superior extremely well. He’d take lead of the team this time, they’d find whoever was lost in the National Park, then he’d stay for a week or two, fishing and camping. Sounded like a perfect plan.

All Annali Frantz wanted to do for the summer was get away from teenagers, her parents, and Washington D.C. She loved teaching biology to high school students, but she also needed a break from them. When the opportunity arose for her to work at a research station—and get a full semester credit toward her second master’s degree—she couldn’t pack her bags fast enough. For the past two years, her mother had been on a mission to find her the right husband for when her father, the senator, made a run for the White House. Ali, who preferred her nickname, found trout more interesting than politics, the only subject discussed inside the Beltway. Avoiding boring first dates and spending time on the Great Lakes with other scientists and forest rangers was the perfect summer plan.

You know what they say about best laid plans. Will they work out right this time for Heath and Ali?

When Senator Jonah Frantz’s daughter doesn’t call in for her weekly check-in with her mother, he immediately tries to find someone in the park service to aid him. When he gets a video and then a call from the kidnapper, it’s his press secretary Susan who records the call. Her boyfriend works for the Vice President who had an issue with his son that was handled confidentially by a group in Indiana. Here begins our story.

The Holt Agency has been called in to find Annili Frantz, the problem is there are many islands, and many are isolated. However, Heath Kubiak grew up around the islands and his family still has a cabin there. That knowledge will prove to be invaluable. Afterward he plans to spend time at the cabin to regroup.

Annili Frantz was working on research in the Apostle Islands of Lake Superior to complete her second master’s degree when she was taken. She’s currently chained in a small cabin with only enough leeway to reach the camp toilet and the food left in a cooler daily a few feet away from the door. She couldn’t even reach a wall to lean on. She’s figured out she’s being drugged and is trying to figure out what it was in, really hoping it wasn’t the water because she needed to stay hydrated. The cooler they left today had more food than usual, and it makes her wonder if they weren’t coming the next day. She decided to ration the food just in case.

Heath and his team arrive with not much daylight left and a storm on the way. Storms would make the Lake impossible to navigate. They’d have to be quick to check what they could and return to the mainland before the storm hits or find shelter where they are. They were splitting up to hit the ones Heath believed were the best to hide someone. Keene would set up a command center, while Kenner questions the folks at the research camp on Stockton Island before crashing. He had flown them in so rest would be necessary, this would have Heath searching this first day alone. Ryker and Xena would be checking Manitou Island and if there is time Otter as well. Heath would search Outer Island.

The storm moves in quicker than expected and the rain began to pelt down as he found the creek he was looking for and secured the boat as best he could. After gearing up, he hid his extra gear under a fallen pine tree to get later, only taking the necessities with him now. The cabin he was looking for was straight up this creek. There he hit the jackpot, he found her. They couldn’t stay there though and Keene lets them know where to go.

This is a favorite scene.

“Even though it’s raining like hell, I don’t want her to be here in the morning. Do you see any other huts or anyplace we could go?” He looked at her bare feet, dug out the pair of strap-on sport sandals and socks they carried on rescue missions, and handed them to her.

“There’s the lighthouse about a mile north but I have no idea if you can get inside it.” Keene was quiet, only mumbling, for the next several minutes. “It looks like there’s another shack, about the same size as the one you’re in, fifteen hundred feet south down the lake and up another stream about fifty feet. Given the trouble you had getting there, are you sure you want to try to get to this other hut?”

“I know I don’t want her here at sunrise.” Heath held her gaze. She had intelligent brown eyes and a girl-next-door face. None of his science teachers ever looked that pretty.

“I can make it. I sure as hell don’t want to be here when they arrive in the morning.” Ali had shocked him with her language. He figured a high school teacher, who was also the daughter of a senator, would be prim and proper, never swearing.

“That’ll give me a chance to check on the boat. It should be flatter walking down near the shore. Any chance this storm is letting up?” The storms on the lake he remembered from his childhood seemed to come in waves separated by lighter rain.

“Can you make it to the mouth of the creek in this downpour in forty-five minutes?” Keene sounded doubtful. “If so, it’s supposed to let up for about an hour. Still raining, but not this hard. Be sure you’re inside before the next one starts. It has steady winds at thirty miles per hour and gusts up to fifty miles an hour.”

Heath looked to Ali. “It’s about three hundred and fifty feet of slippery, steep creek bank. You’ll be hanging on to trees and limbs and anything else you can grab.”

“I’d rather be anywhere else but here.” She stood to make her point.

“We’re leaving now,” Heath announced. “Bravo team out.” Once again, he dug in his bag and pulled out a Frogg Togg suit for her. The lightweight, breathable material was one hundred percent waterproof. He’d guessed her to be a size small, but he had a medium in his bag just in case.

He attached a barely visible, motion-activated camera in the corner that faced the door. It would feed video directly to their satellite phones and to the Holt Agency computers back in Indiana.

Over the past three years, they’d done so many kidnap and human trafficking rescues that they had refined their list of necessities to carry. Since they had information about her ahead of time, they’d estimated her to be a size small. Unfortunately, they didn’t have anything waterproof for her feet.

Barefoot, Ali went to the cooler provided by her kidnappers and grabbed the two gallon-sized plastic bags, tossing out the ice cubes. She returned to the dry spot on the floor and using the blanket, wiped off her feet before she slid on the socks. She put the plastic bags over her socks then strapped on the shoes, making sure the Velcro held tight.

Genius. Heath made a mental note to add plastic bags to their growing list of rescue mission necessities.

She slid on the thin waterproof pants. They were a bit long until she tightened the Velcro on the bottom hem. It helped seal the plastic bags covering her feet. She winced as she tried to slide her left hand down the jacket sleeve, so Heath helped her.

“Your left shoulder is going to be sore from where you tugged on the chains. When we get to the other cabin, I’ll give you a topical lotion to rub into it.” Heath knew how painful her body would be from being restrained. He’d spent three months as a POW of rebels in Ethiopia.

“Thank you.” She eagerly zipped the jacket and secured the hood.

He could tell she was anxious, so he grabbed his backpack, slid the waterproof rain cover over it, and hiked it to his shoulders. “Hang onto my belt. Grab what I grab. Step where I step.”

“Got it.” When she latched onto his belt, the surprising warmth of her fingers as they wrapped inside his pants at the small of his back sent an unexpected shiver through him. He’d personally rescued dozens of women and given them the same instructions, but no other woman had the same effect on him as Ali.

“Let’s go.” As soon as he opened the door, the wind shoved at them both. He leaned forward and stepped onto slick, rain-soaked grass. He had to make it fifteen feet through horizontal rain that felt like tiny needles jabbing at his exposed cheeks before they reached the woods where they had saplings to hang onto. They slid with each step but soon learned to walk in sync, steadying each other. When they reached the woods, he was able to use the trees to help balance and move much faster. His goal was to reach the lake by the time the rain eased. The best path back was close to the rushing water, which was now waist deep, looking more like rapids than a creek.

He and Ali were working exceptionally well together, making very good time when her left leg slipped during a large step.

She let go of him, grabbing at the surrounding small trees. Most were too large for her to hold onto.

She slid into the gushing creek. “Fuck!”

Heath jumped forward, grabbed a strong sapling, and held out his free hand. Flailing in the whitewater, their wet hands brushed but neither could get a good grip.

“I’ll meet you downstream,” she yelled as she maneuvered her body, feet first, arms crossed over her chest, hands fisted under her arms, chin on her chest.

She knew exactly what to do and had the wherewithal and strength to move into the correct position.

I wonder if she whitewater kayaks? Or enjoys river rafting? Very few people know what to do if caught in a fast-moving river.

It took Heath, moving as fast as he could now that he was alone, almost twenty minutes to reach the lake. Ali sat on the southern bank just inside the woods.

“Are you okay?” he called from the other side of the creek.

She grinned ear to ear. “That was one hell of a ride. I’m wet, but not too cold. It is easier to get to this side closer to the lake.”

“Stay there. I have more bags to retrieve,” he yelled above the crashing lake waves. It wasn’t until then that he looked up the shore and saw nothing but waves.

His boat was gone.

The ragged ends of the ropes he used to tie it to two trees rode the white froth of waves a few feet offshore. Waves taller than a room rushed toward the shore, curling over onto themselves before they flattened out on the thin strip of sand. The water was immediately sucked back into the lake with the same power that created the next huge curl.

As a SEAL, Heath had spent a lot of time on, in, and under the oceans all over the world. The Great Lakes could whip up the water to rival any ocean storm with waves over twenty-five feet tall. More than three hundred and fifty sunken ships, some buried under thirteen hundred feet of water, were a testament to the rage of Lake Superior during a storm.

“Looks like it’s letting up.” Ali stood as Heath approached, huge duffel bags over both shoulders. “There’s a game trail that runs along the shore about ten feet into the woods.”

“Thanks for scouting that out, but you really shouldn’t have moved once you reached safety. Had you fallen into the lake, I wouldn’t have been here to rescue you,” he chastised.

“Yeah, that would’ve sucked. That undertow is a killer.” She smiled up at him, her face glittering with small raindrops that fell vertically. “I can’t thank you enough for the waterproof flashlight. It came in real handy when I got close to the lake.” She glanced toward the woods. “And when I explored while waiting for you.”

“You’re welcome.” Heath glanced over her. “Were you hurt? That water was really moving.”

“No. I’m fine.” She grinned. “I believe the depth of the water kept me above the rocky bottom. I floated on top and kept to the center. I knew if I got close to the shore, it would scrape me across those trees.”

She led him to the animal trail, and he took the lead. She slid her hand around his belt this time. He missed the warmth of her fingers through his shirt and T-shirt.

“Do you whitewater kayak or raft?” he had to ask as he started down the well-worn trail.

“Both.” She gave him that grin again when he looked over his shoulder to check on her. “I did a summer internship a few years ago in the Great Smoky Mountains. One of the guys on our research team paid for his undergrad by guiding on the Pigeon River during the summers. The first time he took me down the river on a raft, I fell in love with whitewater. He taught me how to kayak and that summer we did the Ocoee, Hiawassee, and the Nantahala— that’s a cold river I’ll never do again. I joined a water rafting club at school, and we did the Snake River in Wyoming, Gauley River in West Virginia, and the Rogue River in Oregon before I graduated. As a graduation gift, Dad and I did a rafting trip on the Colorado River.” She turned the tables on him. “Do you whitewater?”

Heath chuckled. “If it’s water, I do it. You don’t happen to scuba dive, do you?”

“I love to dive. Even my mom dives. We used to take two weeks at Christmas and go someplace with sunshine up. My grandfather loved the Caribbean.” There was warmth in her voice as she spoke.

“Did he teach you how to dive?” Heath knew their conversation kept her mind off the misery of the rain and her lack of real shoes.

She giggled and he thought it was the most wonderful sound in the world. “No. Dad insisted we all learn at the local YMCA from a certified master diver.”

“Smart man.” Over the years, he had met more than his share of people who claimed to be instructors and were extremely dangerous underwater. He was very careful now who he went down with.

“Every dive was a science lesson. Grandpa Frantz taught earth science at the University of Michigan so every time we went down, I either got a lesson in fish, coral, or geography” Ali sighed.

“Do I need to slow down?” Heath was afraid he was walking too fast, so he turned to look at her.

“Heavens, no.” She gave him a small smile. “I just miss my grandpa. He and I did a lot of things together when I was young.”

Heath turned and continued walking. He kept an eye on the time. Provided the cabin was where Keene said it would be, it might only be another fifteen minutes. “What kind of things do you and your grandpa do together?”

“Everything. We used to, anyway. He passed away in my senior year of college. But we used to have the best time. When we lived on the Upper Peninsula, he and my grandmother had a small cottage on Lake Superior. Grandpa had a sailboat and he and I used to take it out on the lake. He also had a fishing boat and he taught me to fish… after I dissected my first worm.”

“I take it you weren’t one of those queasy little girls.” Heath was so proud of how she was keeping up. They were going to make it to the other shed a few minutes before he’d planned, given that it was exactly where Keene had said it would be.

“No way in hell.” She giggled and it touched his heart.

What a woman. Here they were, tromping on an island during a huge storm, basically running from kidnappers, and she could find something joyous.

“I couldn’t wait to get back home and dissect the fish we caught,” she continued her story. “That’s what Grandpa called it. Dad informed me I was cleaning the fish so we could eat it for supper.” She giggled again.

He liked a woman who could laugh at herself.

Heath could see a much smaller creek ahead and turned upstream. They hadn’t gone far before he found the small clearing and the fishing hut.

“Stay here, hidden in the woods,” Heath ordered.

Ali gazed up at him as though he were crazy.

“It’s the middle of the night and we don’t know if anybody is in there. This might be where your kidnappers are staying.”
KaLyn Cooper. Liberated – KaLyn Cooper (Kindle Locations 599-684). Kindle Edition.

Once safely in the cozier cabin they Heath once again contacts Keene. Verifying the cameras were working properly at both cabins and the knowledge they would be stuck for at least another 24 hours due to the storm stalling. There is more than a little attraction between these two and staying professional is becoming difficult for Heath.

There is much yet to come as they narrowly escape without being seen by the kidnapper but were unable to identify him because of a mask. Still Annili refuses to return to DC insisting on completing her research for her degree.

Heath becomes her bodyguard as this story continues to ramp up with intrigue and potential suspects.

There is laughter and fun intertwined with the tension of the situation as well as a romance that will not be denied.

I can’t wait for the next book in this series!

5 Contented Purrs for KaLyn!

KaLyn Cooper

KaLyn Cooper’s romances blend fact and fiction with blazing heat and heart-pounding suspense.

Twenty-two years as a military wife has shown KaLyn the world, and thirty years in PR taught her that fact can be stranger than fiction. She leaves it up to the reader to separate truth from imagination.

She, her husband, and Little Bear (Alaskan Malamute) live in Tennessee on a micro-plantation filled with gardens, cattle, and quail. When she’s not writing, she’s at the shooting range or on the river.

By
USA Today Bestselling Author
KaLyn Cooper

Did Jack Ashworth really retire to a Caribbean island?
Or is he dead?

Who will take over as Director of Operations for Homeland Security?
Or will Jack return?

Is Katlin Callahan deathly ill?
Or is she pregnant?

Is Alex Wolf engaged to the rising star JJ?
Is he still in love with Katlin?

Who is getting married?
Will all the attendants show up?

What happens to Black Swan Team One?
And to Black Swan Team Two?

After learning that General Standish is in charge until a new Director is selected, Katlin gives an in-depth tour of Homeland to Black Swan Team 2. Four days later Kat and her team are sent on their first mission since her injury.

As Alex is driving home with Dammit their dog, he gets a call from his childhood friend JJ. She and her director want him to do the training and coordinating on the fight scenes for her new movie. He’s done them before, and after figuring out his schedule agrees to start the next week.

Kaitlyn has some issues on their mission, she’s been tired and having trouble keeping food down. But thankfully not while doing the actual tracking of their subject. Now they are heading home, and she promises Nita she’d have a full checkup done after the two weeks at the beach is done. Being alone in the condo isn’t working for Kat, she misses Alex and decides to surprise him. It was easy flying with Dammit on their executive jet. When she arrives in SD she drops off Dammit at the groomer and goes for the tests she promised Nita she’d do. She leaves there with good news and can’t wait to see Alex.

Although Alex’s schedule didn’t show it he has a commitment that evening. He’s taking JJ to the premier of her movie since she broke up with her boyfriend. It was a last-minute thing and he’s running late after properly welcoming Kat home. Unfortunately for Alex, she sees a note with the tuxedo that arrives while he’s in the shower and that makes what he called a meeting a lie. That sends her mind off in a direction Alex doesn’t see coming, the argument is fast and furious as Kat walks out. However, things are about to get even worse.

This is a favorite scene.

As soon as Alex hopped into the back of the limousine, he immediately tried to call Katlin. The first time, he didn’t bother leaving a message. He simply hung up and tried again. It flipped to voicemail. “You’ve reached the voicemail for Katlin Callahan. You know what to do with the beep.”

At the tone, he almost started to call her babe in his brain as he prepared for what to say. “Kat, I’m so sorry. Please call me back so we can talk about this.” He stared at his phone debating if he should call her right back again, hoping she picked up. Maybe she was on a call to one of the women on her team, bitching about what an ass he’d been.

He quickly texted her:
Kat. I’m so sorry. You were right. I acted like a dick to you. When you get this, please call me. I love you.

He tried calling her again. No answer.

She’s always answered my calls or at least called me back right away. She must be seriously mad at me. I fucked up big time. I should’ve told her that I agreed to escort JJ at the last minute, after she dumped her boyfriend a few days ago. Katlin would’ve understood.

He decided to tell her exactly that in a text:
Kat. I’m sorry. I should have told you that I agreed to escort JJ to her premiere tonight after she dumped her boyfriend three days ago. So, you see, this was really a last-minute job. Please forgive me. I promise to make this up to you.

It had been a few minutes, so Alex decided to call her. Again, it went to voicemail. “I love you, Katlin. I’m so sorry if I made you feel… used. I’ve missed you so much, especially after we’d spent every day and night together for nearly three months. There has never been anybody else, and never will be. Please forgive me for being such an ass tonight. I love you, and always will.”

His messages got longer as did the apologies. He felt absolutely terrible. Although she hadn’t responded, he’d hoped that she’d read each and every text and listen to all of his voicemails. Hopefully, he’d find her waiting for him in their bed.

He had the operations center track the car. It was currently sitting in long-term long-term parking at the airport. A typical escape and evade trick. The person tracking her wouldn’t know whether she got on an airplane, picked up at the airport, rented a car, or stole one. He’d already sent a team to retrieve the company sports car.

He’d checked her embedded tracker, but it seemed to be malfunctioning. It had her in South America for a few minutes before bouncing to China, then Africa.

Alex was becoming frustrated, more so after they picked up JJ and her entourage.

“Alex, put that damn thing down,” JJ insisted. “There can’t be anything that important back in the office that you need to be glued to your phone.”

He looked up at JJ. “Babe—” Oh, fuck. Katlin was right. When did he start calling every woman babe?

JJ looked at him with perfectly arched raised eyebrows as though waiting for him to finish his sentence. Fuck. What was he going to say? Oh, yeah. “I think Katlin read your note, got pissed, and walked out on me.”

JJ gave him a small grin. “Sorry. Not sorry.” Her grin widened. “If she left you over such a small thing as that note, then maybe she doesn’t love you as much as you think she does.”

Katlin loved him. He knew that in his soul. “Maybe her medicine is fucking with her emotions.” That could be it. Glancing at his watch, he realized it was too late on the East Coast to call Dr. Tobias to see if they changed her medicine. Maybe that was the good news she’d wanted to tell him.

Meredith excitedly clapped her hands. “I need you all to pay attention. We’re almost to the line of limos.” She stared at Alex and JJ. “Remember, no matter what happens around you, or what anyone says to you, just keep smiling and moving down the red carpet. We’ll jump out of the car when there are still two cars in front and meet you inside.”

Her hairstylist fussed with JJ’s hair and sprayed it once again. “Reapply your lipstick now,” she ordered.

JJ opened the tiny clutch purse and extracted her lipstick. Using the minuscule mirror on the case, she carefully reapplied more of the color. After slipping the tube back into the purse, it didn’t want to close. “This damn latch is broken.”

Meredith grabbed it from her and snapped it closed. “You’ve got too much crap in here. I’ll take it into the theater with me.”

“No. I have to carry this. The designer of my dress insisted I carry this clutch with me, and I don’t want to make her angry. It fits me perfectly and I wouldn’t mind getting more from her.” JJ ran her hand down the low-cut neckline that accentuated her perky breasts. “She knows how to highlight all my attributes and hide my flaws.”

“Then hold onto it overtop the clasp.” Meredith continued with her instructions, which included which media to stop at and give an interview. Alex only half listened as he checked his phone every few seconds.

Fuck it all. I don’t have time for Kat to pull this shit on me. I don’t care whether she’s PMSing or whatever the hell is wrong with her today. There always seems to be something with her. If she’s going to be that way, I’ll let her cool off tonight. I’ll make it up to her tomorrow by taking her out to dinner and showing her a good time, being the loving fiancé she expects… and deserves. I’ll find her. I’m sure Homeland will straighten out her tracker quickly.

A minute later Alex and JJ were the only ones left in the back of the limousine.

Alex looked at his childhood friend. “When we were kids, did you ever think you’d be riding in a limousine to your premiere?” They’d both been poor children from the seedier side of Washington D.C.

She reached over and squeezed his forearm. “Not in my wildest dreams.” She inhaled a deep breath and let it out slowly. “This is my first starring role in a big movie. I just hope they like it. I know it’s already been reviewed by several big names, but those people standing out there are the ones who will really determine my success as an actress.”

The car inched forward, and Menudo gave them the signal. “I’ll be right behind you watching the audience.”

Someone opened the back door and Alex exited first. He stood to his full height and scanned the area out of habit before reaching in for JJ’s hand. She elegantly stepped out of the limousine to camera flashes and people yelling. She lifted her hand to wave and dropped that damn purse. Since all eyes were on her and he wasn’t her bodyguard, Alex stepped back and scooped up the purse and the few contents that had spilled. JJ all but grabbed it from his hand and placed her free hand in the corner of his elbow.

This wasn’t Alex’s first red carpet. He’d been a bodyguard to several stars. When she moved too quickly, he warned through his pasted-on smile, “Slow down.”

JJ instantly let out a breath and reduced her pace, waving and smiling to the lines of fans. Several places had been set up for staged photographs. She entered the first posing for the best pictures of herself and the dress. She then signaled for Alex to join her. The camera clicks were almost deafening. This part he’d never done before and swore he would never do again.

They moved to the next stop and repeated the process. It took almost fifteen minutes before they reached the media. Here, Alex knew his place; he was simply window dressing to the beautiful JJ who captivated audiences with well-practiced soundbites.

JJ was up next for the last and most important media who were talking to the director. “I need to freshen my lipstick. I’ve cheek kissed more people in the last ten minutes than I have in my entire life.” She opened the tiny purse and several things popped out. Alex kneeled to retrieve the contents once again. He handed everything back to her and waited as she stashed it away. A small box was the only thing left. While he was still on one knee, the ring box popped open, revealing a very large diamond ring.

The media host must have glanced their way because she squealed, “Oh, my God. Is that a diamond?”

What the fuck? Alex looked at the ring in the box. What the hell was JJ doing caring around a diamond ring? A rather gaudy ring in his opinion. He looked up to her for answers.

“Of course I’ll marry you, Alex,” JJ gushed, clasping her hand to her nearly bare chest.

What the hell?

When Alex stood, JJ slipped the ring on her finger and went on tiptoes. At the last second, he moved his head slightly, so she only got the corner of his mouth with her kiss. She grabbed his face in both hands and gave him a quick peck on the lips before turning to the hordes of cameras.

Alex tried to step back but she pulled him even closer. She then turned and set her left hand on his chest flashing the huge diamond ring. Then she threw her arms around his neck and kept her mouth on the opposite side, away from the cameras.

“Alex, please go along with this. Please. Don’t embarrass me now.”

“You saw it here, first, live on…” the host droned on, hyping her TV talk show. “JJ, how are you feeling right now?” She shoved the microphone in front of JJ.
KaLyn Cooper. Undefeated Love – KaLyn Cooper (Kindle Locations 736-807). Kindle Edition.

Yep Alex is in deep trouble, and Kat isn’t going to be found. She takes a lone assignment in China, then the team takes on a sanctioned assignment, after which she resigns the team and disappears. Only appearing once for the wedding before taking off again. Poor Alex doesn’t get a chance to even talk to her even though he’s proven is innocence in the JJ debacle.

So much happens in this book, I was laughing, crying, screaming and WOW what a perfect series end!

I can’t wait to read the adventures of Black Swan Team 2.

5 Contented Purrs for KaLyn!

KaLyn Cooper

KaLyn Cooper’s romances blend fact and fiction with blazing heat and heart-pounding suspense.

Twenty-two years as a military wife has shown KaLyn the world, and thirty years in PR taught her that fact can be stranger than fiction. She leaves it up to the reader to separate truth from imagination.

She, her husband, and Little Bear (Alaskan Malamute) live in Tennessee on a micro-plantation filled with gardens, cattle, and quail. When she’s not writing, she’s at the shooting range or on the river.

By
USA Today Bestselling Author
KaLyn Cooper

After being rescued from the Ethiopian rebels’ prisoner of war camp, Keene Soto returned to the United States a broken man. His torture had been of an especially personal nature. He believed himself to be only half a man, and that half hadn’t worked since his return to the USA. He was too damaged for any female, so he given up hope of finding love.

Until she touched him.

Kelly Edson had moved to the Holt farm with her son Jock when her stepbrother and his best friend opened the Holt Agency. She’d hoped living on the farm in the middle of nowhere Indiana would change her luck. She’d been a loser magnet. Almost every man she’d ever dated was a failure at life, pulling Kelly and her son down with him. Working two jobs and studying for her next nursing certification while raising a son, she hadn’t dated a loser in over two years. Because she hadn’t been on a date. She was surrounded by hot single men who all worked for her brother and considered her a little sister. Except Keene. She looked forward to their nightly conversations on the porch swing.

When Kelly and Keene discover she’s the only one who can help him recover from his POW physical and emotional damage, will her brother keep them apart?

When Kelly disappears, will the truth keep Keene from helping them find her?

Keene has PTSD and some severe nightmares since Ethoipia, his physical injuries are of a private nature and really impact his emotions. He’s now working for the Holt Agency and has purchased land from the Holts. He’s mostly doing the construction himself with the occasional contractor and even the occasional teammate. He really needs his own space.

Kelly Edison also lives on the ranch with her son, Jock. She’s Ajax’s stepsister and treats all the men like her brothers. Truly a joy to be around, Kelly’s a home healthcare Certified Nursing Assistant in this rural area, working two afternoons a week. She works mornings at the diner for the rest of her income and studies to be an EMT at night. Her boss is a genius at getting the approvals for those in need. Right now, she has several patients spanning both ends of her territory. When she arrives at the first one for the day, Mr. Munson, the signs were that his other caregiver had not been in.

He tells her Shelby hadn’t been there since the previous Tuesday. Apparently, he fired her. Something he really can’t do, but the girl left anyway and hadn’t been back. Now Kelly had to find a replacement, hopefully quickly. With her boss Rudy’s approval, she goes to local high schools to see if the know of recent graduates who might need a job and be interested.

The counselor at the second school sets her on edge, to the point that she talks to Keene about what she saw on his laptop. It’s enough to have him looking into it the next morning. Ajax and Keene arrange to meet with a state trooper at the diner where Kelly works.

It’s really busy and Kelly has a bit of a confrontation with some construction workers.

This is a favorite scene.

Kelly grinned right back at him and stepped into his personal space. “Do you like it hot?” She mixed seductive and teasing in her voice.

“Oh, yeah, baby.”

She shoved the hot pot into his chest. When he stepped back, she pushed him into his chair and set the pot of coffee on the table in front of him. “Good. I’m sure your buddies like it hot too, so why don’t you be a gentleman and pour coffee for everyone at your table? We’re little bit busy today and that would really help out.”

She gave the large table of eight men a huge smile. “Gentlemen, see that sign up there?” She pointed to the We have the right to refuse service sign. “If he, or any of you, touches a server in this restaurant again, none of you will be allowed to step foot in here ever again. It’s twenty miles in the opposite direction of the old Nelson farm to the next restaurant that serves breakfast.”

She put her fist on her hip. With her father’s clientele, she’d learned to defend herself as a teenager and expanded those skills working in bars. “Does everybody understand the rules and consequences?”

She looked at each man in the eye. She got a few “yes, ma’am” responses, a few chin lifts, a couple of nods, and then she looked at Loudmouth.

“I was just trying to have some morning fun. Start my day right with the pretty girl on my lap.” His smile didn’t soften his words or entice her to forgive him. “I didn’t expect to be served by a bi—”

“I wouldn’t finish that sentence if I were you.” Keene’s deep voice rumbled from behind her. She knew he had at least five inches and twenty-five pounds of solid muscle more than Loudmouth.

“You will start with an apology to my sister.” Ajax stepped beside her, right behind Loudmouth’s chair. He was thinner than Keene and had an inch or two in height but had regained his badass SEAL body at the farm.

Without looking behind him, Loudmouth said, “And who’s gonna make—” Before he could finish the sentence, his ass was on the floor. Her brother had simply tipped the chair forward then pulled it out from underneath him. Keene reached down and picked him up by the shoulders, planting him directly in front of Kelly but out of arm’s reach.

“What the fu—”

“That doesn’t sound anything like an apology.” Ajax stepped between Kelly and Loudmouth. Keene stepped beside her. Both men kept glancing at the table of construction workers, but nobody made a move to help their coworker.

“I really hate to repeat myself, but I obviously need to for you.” Ajax dropped his hands to his sides, elbows slightly bent. When he rolled to the balls of his feet, Kelly fought a smile. She knew this fighting stance. He was prepared. “Now, apologize to my sister. In case you can’t read it on her nametag, it’s Kelly. Not Red.”

“Sorry…Kelly.”

Before she could say anything, Keene popped in with, “Sorry for what?”

Loudmouth took a deep breath and stood a little taller, holding her gaze. “I’m sorry, Kelly, for pulling you into my lap.”

“And…” Her brother made a rolling gesture with his hand for Loudmouth to continue.

His eyes went big. “And what?”

Her brother shook his head. “You’re not at all good at this, are you?”

“What else do I need to apologize for?”

Keene cocked his head to the side. “Let’s start with disrespecting her. That’s no way to treat a lady.”

Loudmouth let out a huff of air. “I’m sorry for disrespecting you.” With a bored expression, he glanced at Ajax then Keene. “Can I get back to my breakfast now?”

Kelly looked at the construction workers’ table and realized that Clara had served their food during the apology.

“I accept your apology. Sit down. All of you. Eat before it gets cold.” Kelly looked at both Keene and Ajax. She tilted her head toward the kitchen.

“Who are they?” Loudmouth asked as she stepped through the swinging door.

“Navy SEALs,” several replied from the table of elderly gentlemen.

She heard grumbles from the construction workers before the door closed.

Turning, she punched her fists on her hips. “I was handling the situation.” She glared at the two tall men. “Although I appreciate you backing me up, I had it handled.”

“You’re welcome.” Her brother held out her keys, ignoring her protest. “You needed a new battery. Actually, you need a new car. That one is on its last legs.”

“I also need a vacation in the Caribbean, but I can’t afford that either.” Could this day get any worse? Now she had to worry about her car falling apart or dying on her as she cut down a country road the back way between patients. She couldn’t tell her brother that she barely made enough money to pay Nancy and Frank rent, feed Jock, and put gas in her crappy car. She was doing everything she could to better herself so she could get a job that made more money.

“We’ll talk about this at supper. I have errands to run.” He moved his gaze to Keene. “Give me about half an hour and I’ll be ready to go back to the farm.”

“Will do.” Keene and Kelly watched her brother leave. “Are you okay?” He looked at her with concern.

“Yes.” She thought she was fine. Pissed at her brother and Keene for taking over when she had handled it. Tired from lack of sleep and rushing like crazy all morning. Now worried about her car conking out on her. Then there was coming up with money for Jock to play baseball that summer. Other than that, everything was wonderful.

“Then why are you shaking?” Keene stepped in and wrapped one arm around her back. With the other, he gently pushed her head to his massive chest. “You’re okay.” He rubbed his hand up and down her back, holding her tight.

She let out a heavy sigh and melted into him. She wanted to cry but had no idea as to why. She felt so safe and secure wrapped in Keene’s arms. No man had held her like this in years. Exactly when was the last time that a man held her? Except for dancing at the wedding, she hadn’t been in a man’s arms since moving to the Holt farm over two years ago. Before that it had been months.

Damn, she needed to go on a date. She liked dating. She liked men. She also liked sex. She hadn’t been laid almost three years. The idea of sitting across the table from a man, enjoying adult get-to-know-you conversation, eating food made by a real restaurant chef, sounded wonderful. Nancy was a very good cook but she made comfort food and they ate family style.

There was little privacy in their home. She craved interaction that was just for her. Someone to tell her she looked pretty. A reason to dress up.

She wanted more of the feelings she was beginning to get from Keene holding her.

He continued to reassure her that she was all right and safe.

It took her a while, but she got ahold of her emotions. Thankfully, she hadn’t cried. Taking a deep breath, she stepped back, immediately missing his strong arms and the feeling of safety.

Looking into his beautiful hazel eyes, she wasn’t sure what to say. Finally, she decided, “Thank you,” was appropriate.

“You’re welcome…anytime.” She swore she saw a glimmer of hope and desire before he masked it. She’d felt him start to get hard, but it hadn’t developed into much. Maybe he was just comforting her, the way a friend would. The way he would his boss’s sister. He wasn’t interested in her as a woman.

Clara flew through the swinging door. “If you’re done making out with tall, gray, and handsome, I could use some help out front.”

Oh, my God. She’d totally forgotten where she was.

She grabbed Keene by the biceps. “I’ve got to get back to work. Thank you for everything.” She went up on tiptoes and brushed her lips across his. Hugging him, she whispered in his ear, “You have no idea how much that meant to me. Thank you.”

She grabbed plates and their ticket from the finished food counter and headed through the door to table six.

Her lips tingled from that slight brush with Keene’s. His lips were soft, but she’d surprised him. Besides, that was a friendly kiss. And Kelly wondered how he would kiss her if given the chance. Would he be wet and slobbery like a dog? Or would he take her lips and mouth, softly nipping and biting, slow and sweet?

She almost walked past the table where she was to deliver the food.
Cooper, KaLyn; Agency, Holt. Unchained (Holt Agency Book 2). Kindle Locations (876-944). Black Swan Publishing. Kindle Edition.

There are several things going on here, from the suspicious counselor to having to talk about her marriage and Jock’s father, to getting the replacement for Shelby.

I really loved the interaction between Kelly and Keene. The attraction is definitely there and grows rapidly even as he makes a startling, life changing discovery.

Love, Laughter, Suspense, Romance and Sizzle surround the characters in this book.

I can’t wait to read the next installment of the Holt Agency!

5 Contented Purrs fo KaLyn!

KaLyn Cooper

KaLyn Cooper’s romances blend fact and fiction with blazing heat and heart-pounding suspense.

Twenty-two years as a military wife has shown KaLyn the world, and thirty years in PR taught her that fact can be stranger than fiction. She leaves it up to the reader to separate truth from imagination.

She, her husband, and Little Bear (Alaskan Malamute) live in Tennessee on a micro-plantation filled with gardens, cattle, and quail. When she’s not writing, she’s at the shooting range or on the river.

By
USA Today Bestselling Author
KaLyn Cooper

He was done with missions…
but Charley wasn’t done with him.

After he left the Navy, stripped of his SEAL Trident and his pride, Andrew did a quick covert job for Charley before parting ways. As the Security Officer aboard a cruise ship, he invited several SEAL friends to travel as his guests through the Panama Canal. He never imagined he’d need his highly trained skills for another of Charley’s missions in the middle of the cruise.

Kendra had worked her way up the male-dominated bridge crew, first in the U.S. Navy then for Monarch Cruise Lines, to Staff Captain, second in command of a huge cruise ship. Her crew was well trained and respectful…except for the too sexy, bossy Security Officer who reported directly to her. After succumbing to him, she discovers she enjoys their life together.

When all hell breaks loose, and Charley needs both of them for her next mission, will Kendra be able to keep him in her life with all the odds stacked against them?

If you’ve been reading this series, you’ll know what happened with Andrew and the Navy before you read this one. Andrew Buchanan is now working as head of Security for Monarch Cruise lines. It’s a great job for him to begin transitioning to civilian life. This is the last cruise in his contract, and he’s invited a few SEAL friends to join him. He needs to do something for these men, and this is something special.

Kendra Benson was once Navy she worked her way up the ranks there and now is Staff Captain aboard this Monarch Cruise ship. Her next cruise will have her as Master Captain of her own ship.

There are a few interesting interactions before the cruise hits the approach to the Panama Canal but to be honest, I loved reading about the canal and going through the locks. It’s a dream of mine to do this.

Okay so as they are readying to go through to Gatún Lake there’s an explosion in the lock behind them. This is when all the excitement begins as Andrew rushes to the Bridge.

Before Andrew reached the bridge, there were several more blasts but since he was pounding his way down the hall, yelling at people to clear a path, he had no idea of the direction of the explosions.

At the top of the stairs Andrew stopped. Depending where people were standing on the bridge, someone might see him through the glass in the bridge door if he opened the staff stair door.

He cracked it a fraction of an inch, just enough to peek one eye.

Dammit. He couldn’t see anyone on the bridge. Not even a shadow.

Opening the door enough so he could slither through and plaster himself against the wall, he made sure the heavy-duty door closed with only a whisper. He bent and crab crawled under the window to the bridge so he could get a better angle. Peeping in, he saw that the two men who entered with the pilot had their guns pointed at Captain Phillips.

His men each had their tasers pointed at a Panamanian soldier.

Andrew needed to get in there and deescalate the tension on the bridge. He needed to enter in full view of his men, so he crawled back under the window and crossed to the other side of the ship. Opening the door without a sound, with the soldiers’ backs to him, he stepped in and immediately hand signaled to his men.

“Did any of you see that container ship blow up?”

The soldiers spun their heads and guns toward him. Both of his men pulled the trigger, sending the taser points directly into their targets. Within seconds the soldiers were writhing on the floor. In one large step, his guards grabbed the guns and had them pointed at the soldiers’ heads.

Andrew quickly took the pilot down to the floor, face first, his hands behind his back. He had zip ties around the man’s wrists then grabbed his ankles, lashing them together before moving to the jerking and drooling soldiers.

“Kendra, what the fuck happened here?” He knew she would give the most precise accounting.

“We were moving into our hold position when the first bomb went off. The percussive wave rocked the ship. The soldiers obviously didn’t have sea legs and stumbled. They must’ve thought we did it on purpose and pointed their guns at Captain Phillips. Your men immediately pulled their tasers and aimed them at the soldiers. The pilot spoke to the soldiers in Spanish, but I couldn’t understand them. I don’t believe Captain Phillips could either.” Kendra looked at each bridge officer. “Did any of you understand what they’d said?”

Everyone shook their heads.

The pilot rolled over onto his back and sat up. “As she said, they thought you had rocked the ship on purpose. They are very young, inexperienced soldiers who were awakened in the middle of the night and brought to the locks to protect us pilots. Neither of these two had ever even been on a ship.” He glanced at the soldiers before returning his gaze to Andrew. “What are you going to do with them?”

“Put them in the brig.” It was an answer to the pilot’s question as much as an order to his men.

He had a dozen questions for the pilot but waited until the soldiers were off the bridge. “What are your orders?”

“Same as always, coordinate with the fore and aft tugboats to get you into position in each lock, make sure they keep you straight from one lock to the next, then guide you into Lake Gatún so you can anchor close to the dam. We always anchor cruise ships over here because it’s close to the marina where you can dock your lifeboats and they can get the buses close.”

Andrew had done a lot of interrogating during his time as a SEAL. The man seemed to be telling the truth. Besides, they needed him. He knew the lake.

“Do you know if the locks received any threats in the last twenty-four hours?”

The pilot shook his head. “If they did, they wouldn’t tell me. I’m just a local pilot. I wondered if they weren’t overreacting, but it seems as though calling out the Army was necessary.” He held Andrew’s gaze. “Did you say the bombs were on that Chinese container ship?”

“All I know is that a plume of smoke came from the container ship.” He wondered how much he could say in front of the pilot. “Captain Phillips, Captain Benson, a word, please.” His gaze returned to the pilot. “Navigate us to the usual holding spot.”

Once again, the three of them went into the glass office.

“What aren’t you telling us?” Kendra asked as soon as the door closed.

“Shortly after the explosion, hundreds of armed Chinese soldiers threw ropes over the side of the ship and started shooting Panamanian soldiers and lock workers.” Andrew wasn’t going to sugarcoat it. “This is an act of war against the Panamanian government.”

He knew he’d better call Charley fast. Given how many cruise guests were taking videos of the explosion, and most likely posting them to every social media possible, she probably already knew. Andrew also knew what he wanted to do next.

“Sir, with your permission, I want to take one of the lifeboats and check if we can still get out on the Pacific side. I have no idea where the other explosions came from.”

“Sir, I’m going with him,” Kendra announced. “As master of this ship, you are responsible for all the souls aboard. As a former Navy officer, I’ll be of more help to Andrew. That way I can stay with the boat if he has to go overland to get a better look.”

“Excellent idea.” Captain Phillips glanced to his bridge. “I’m not sure what to do next.”

“Drop anchor. Act as if none of this ship’s plans have changed,” Kendra said with authority.

The three of them stepped back onto the bridge. “Prepare the lifeboats as though we’re going to take people ashore for their excursions. We’re going to pretend as though nothing is wrong,” Captain Phillips announced to the bridge crew.

“Sir, we can’t send people ashore until we know what’s happening back there.” Lieutenant Commander Adams stood in front of Captain Phillips with his hands on his hips.

“Lieutenant Commander, I do know what’s happening back at the locks. I am the one who is responsible for every person on this ship, and I do not take that obligation lightly.” He looked over at Andrew and Kendra. “That’s why Captain Benson and Commander Buchanan are the only ones leaving the ship in a lifeboat. But we want all our guests to believe that everything will be fine.”

“You’re going to lie to our guests?” Lieutenant Commander Adams huffed.

“Hell, yes.” Kendra got in his face. “The last thing we need is a ship full of people panicking, guests and staff. We want to keep them doing normal things.”

Captain Phillips picked up the ship wide intercom. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is Captain Phillips coming to you from the bridge. It looks as though there was a little excitement at the locks but we’re not going to let that disturb our enjoyment of today. Everyone going on an excursion, please check your ticket at this time for the meeting place. While the crew gets the lifeboats ready to tender you to the marina to meet your buses for your excursions, I suggest that you enjoy an early lunch. Please meet at your designated time and place for your excursion. For those staying on board, it may be several hours before we are assigned our return time to go back through the locks. We’ll keep you informed.”

“Excellent job,” Andrew told his boss. “We’re going to go change while they lower our lifeboat.” And Andrew would make that call to Charley.
KaLyn Cooper. Shadow in the Daylight (Kindle Locations 1115-1173).

There is pretty much nonstop action from this point, from the bridge to the locks, to lifeboat recon, to an aircraft carrier, and back again.

I love Kendra and Andrew their relationship which is already sizzling grows stronger throughout this harrowing experience.

I can’t wait to read the next book in this multi-author series!!

5 Contented Purrs for KaLyn!

KaLyn Cooper

KaLyn Cooper’s romances blend fact and fiction with blazing heat and heart-pounding suspense.

Twenty-two years as a military wife has shown KaLyn the world, and thirty years in PR taught her that fact can be stranger than fiction. She leaves it up to the reader to separate truth from imagination.

She, her husband, and Little Bear (Alaskan Malamute) live in Tennessee on a micro-plantation filled with gardens, cattle, and quail. When she’s not writing, she’s at the shooting range or on the river.

By
USA Today Bestselling Author
KaLyn Cooper

The terrorist plot discovered by the new assistant manager at the Dallas Guardian Security Center is real, but she’s not what she seems.

Jonathan O’Neil, new to the Dallas Guardian Security Center, knows a terrorist plot when he sees one on the tempting waitress’ computer. To find out the details of the plan and to stop them, he sets out to seduce her, only to find that nothing is what it seems.

Gwen Shaw overhears refugee teenagers discussing a plot to rival 9/11, but her Arabic is rusty. Besides, who is going to believe the sketchy information from an apron-wearing newcomer, even though she’d recently left the Army as a seasoned officer?

ELITE Justice, the second book in the Guardian Elite series, features the sexy men from KaLyn Cooper’s Guardian Elite series in a heart-pounding romantic suspense of mistaken identity of a strong heroine.

NOTE:
This book was previously published as Justice for Gwen. It has been deeply edited and expanded to become part of KaLyn Cooper’s rebranded Guardian ELITE series.

This book opens as Jonathan O’Neill enters the diner Up In Smoke, to meet up with Quin the manager of Guardian Security in Dallas. Jonathan is the new assistant manager, and they are having a ‘get to know you’ lunch. The atmosphere is light until a woman shows up with a gripe about credit cards not working, confronting Quin with the accusation. That gets settled by the police chief who was seated at the next table.

Then we get into the meat of this tale. A group of teenagers come in and settle at a booth, speaking arabic. Instead of the normal teenage complaints they were discussing their dissatisfaction with not being allowed to help plan or execute an attack.

Gwen spent a couple of tours in Afghanistan and she starts documenting their conversation. Although her Arabic isn’t the best she definitely got the drift of the conversation. The question was who to take it to.

Jonathan comes at around 10 PM late for some but for him it was breakfast. He gets a glimpse of her notes before she shuts the laptop.

This is a favorite scene.

Stepping onto the sidewalk in front of his hotel, the tall buildings cast long shadows, filling the street with the pretense of night. This was Jonathan’s fourth graveyard shift in a row. As the newest of the three assistant managers, he’d been assigned the twelve hours from ten at night to ten in the morning. He’d awakened several hours ago and hit the local gym since this Guardian office didn’t offer one yet. After showering and changing into his uniform, he’d headed out to find food.

A man-sized breakfast is what he needed. Steak and eggs, maybe. He remembered Up In Smoke served the meal all day and turned in that direction.

He couldn’t wait to move into the new building where he’d have his own quiet apartment rather than the outdated hotel with thin walls where he and Quin currently lived. He was sure the room above him had been rented to a knuckle-dragging gorilla who had bounced on a hooker for hours last night. She had to have been a purchased lay because no woman he’d ever fucked sounded so fake.

Thoughts of sex shot to memories of the unsuccessful pub crawl with Quin. They’d started at a strip club where the women were too skinny but all of them had nice racks. Fake, but huge. Next, they moved on to a hopping nightclub. A pretty little brunette had sidled up to him, but she was more interested in the gun Guardian required him to carry at all times— even off-duty since he could be unexpectedly called to an emergency— than she was in him.

Quin had danced with several drop-dead gorgeous women before he found a model-perfect blonde. When they had returned to the bar, Roxie had introduced Jonathan to her friend, Babs. He’d thought of her as Big-Boobed Babs when they first met, but after an hour of strained conversation, he had designated her Brainless Babbling Babs. He’d considered it a bullet dodged when she’d seen several other friends and joined them on the dance floor. He’d taken advantage of the opportunity and quietly slipped out.

Jonathan heard his boss return to the room next door around three in the morning, sure he’d scored given the satisfied look on his face the next day in the office. He hadn’t been envious of Quin, simply resolved. None of the beautiful women he’d seen and talked with sparked a flicker of interest in him.

As Jonathan strode toward the little diner, he realized why he’d slept alone that night. He’d compared every woman to the sassy, take-charge Gwen. Rich brown eyes, a no-nonsense haircut, and very little, if any, makeup was more beautiful to him than any of the scantily dressed women with overly-dramatic eyes he’d seen replicated in every bar he had visited. He quickened his steps, hoping she was there.

Gwen sat at the counter typing on a laptop as he entered. Jonathan let out a long breath, pleased at the sight of ass-hugging jeans and a tight t-shirt. His gaze instantly scanned down her legs. Strong. Toned. They would look perfect bare and wrapped around his waist.

Yeah. This was the image he’d jerked off to the night he’d gone out with Quin as he showered away the stench of beer, clashing perfumes, and raging pheromones.

Without asking, he slid onto the stool beside her. “Please tell me I can get steak and eggs this time of day, Gwen.”

Her initial look of surprise softened into a genuine smile that made the gold strands in her brown eyes sparkle. He wondered if they came to life or disappeared completely when she was aroused.

“You most certainly can.” She cocked her head. “You have an advantage over me. You know my name, but I don’t know yours.” As she scraped her gaze over him, the corner of her mouth twitched up before she controlled it. “Calling you New Guardian Guy, or Quin’s friend from work just doesn’t seem right. I like to know who I’m talking to.”

“Jonathan O’Neil.” He held out his hand. “And I am Quin’s friend, but I’m also his employee. I’m the newest assistant manager at this center.”

She took the proffered hand and gave it a firm shake. “Nice to meet you, Jonathan O’Neil. How would you like that steak cooked? And the eggs?”

She reached down to her waist and confusion was chased by the realization that she wasn’t wearing an apron. With a self-deprecating smile, she stood and slid around the corner of the counter. Grabbing an order pad and pen, she looked at him expectantly.

“I like my steak rare and my eggs sunny side up.”

“Home fries, French fries, baked potato, or one of those?” She pointed to a list of sides on the board above the kitchen window where a Latino man watched them carefully.

Jonathan didn’t bother looking. This was breakfast for him. “Home fries.”

“Coffee?” Gwen’s raised eyebrow was one of the sexiest things he’d seen.

“Definitely.” He looked around for a coffee cup, but they sat ready only on the set tables. She reached under the counter and pulled out a mug.

Leaning back, she reached out to the machine behind her, then turned around to him. “Leaded or unleaded?”

“Fully leaded, please.” He smiled when she grabbed the black-bottomed pot and filled his mug. “Sweetheart, you have just earned my undying gratitude.”

Just as she slid the order under the clip and spun it toward the kitchen, the restaurant phone rang. She snatched the portable handset from beside her computer. Frowning at the display, she said, “Excuse me.” She disappeared into the back, leaving him alone to enjoy his surprisingly delicious coffee.

Jonathan glanced around the nearly empty diner. A middle-aged couple sat in a booth along the back wall, hardly talking, concentrating on their pie. They’d probably been married for over a decade, catching a late supper together after a long day at work if he had to guess given the man’s suit jacket lying on the seat next to him and her dress pants, flattering blouse, and short heels. He’d been taught to sum up people and situations quickly. They were no threat.

As he swept his gaze over the restaurant, his eyes fell on Gwen’s computer. Three words jumped out at him. Big like 9/ 11.

What the fuck?

Put Ams in their place.
Holy shit. What was she into?

The lid suddenly closed, and very feminine fingers splayed over the blue case.

“Your order should be up soon.” At Gwen’s terse words, his eyes met hers. Yeah. He’d been snooping, and he needed to dig further.

He hoped his smile put her at ease. “Writing a book?” It was a plausible explanation.

She slid the laptop off the counter, placed it underneath, and drew out a mug. She turned her back on him and poured a cup of decaf. “I’m no author.” She came around to his side and, once again, took her seat. “I hated writing papers in college.”

“Where did you go to school?”

Any information she was willing to give him would help. She just stared at him for the longest time, as though trying to read his mind or decide if she could trust him.

To start the give and take necessary to build a solid foundation for a friendship, he offered, “I graduated from the University of Florida.”

“You’re a gator.” She smiled.

“Yes, ma’am.” He sipped his coffee. “I wanted to get out of Miami but not too far from my folks.” He shrugged. “Besides, the school had Navy ROTC and I had a scholarship.”

“You were in the Navy?” There was more than a spark of interest in her question.

“Marines.” He was used to women gushing at this point and mentally prepared for the onslaught of military questions.

“I was Army.”

She couldn’t have shocked him more if she’d said she was an alien. He set the cup down and stared at her. Really looked at her, as though seeing her for the first time. It was there. That hard edge that said I’ve seen too much.

Jonathan wanted to take her in his arms and protect her. He’d hold her until all the sharp angles melted into smooth, round curves, erasing the bad things she’d seen, replacing those memories with the sweet life she deserved.

And, maybe she’d do the same for him.

“When did you get out?” He managed to ask.

“Six mon—” Her gaze flew to the door as a bearded man all but fell through. “Kane.” Concern saturated the single word.

She jumped up and grabbed the man around the waist and placed one hand under a bent elbow. Half-carrying, half-guiding him to the back, the two spoke so low Jonathan couldn’t hear.
KaLyn Cooper. ELITE Justice (Kindle Locations 390-459).

He also meets Kane who will be important later. For now though Jonathan is concerned because he’s unkempt and smelly and appears to be in some kind of withdrawal. What’s really going on surprises him.

He and Gwen have a definite attraction and he uses that to get information off her computer. Bad move, sneaky move, but he gets what his company needs. It’s just a small part of a big picture.

I love the way things twist and turn and the romance that sneaks in with just the right amount of sizzle.

I can’t wait to read all of these newly revised books.

5 Contented Purrs for KaLyn!

KaLyn Cooper

KaLyn Cooper’s romances blend fact and fiction with blazing heat and heart-pounding suspense.

Twenty-two years as a military wife has shown KaLyn the world, and thirty years in PR taught her that fact can be stranger than fiction. She leaves it up to the reader to separate truth from imagination.

She, her husband, and Little Bear (Alaskan Malamute) live in Tennessee on a micro-plantation filled with gardens, cattle, and quail. When she’s not writing, she’s at the shooting range or on the river.

By
USA Today Bestselling Author
KaLyn Cooper

Can the love of your life happen twice?

Vice Admiral Cade Lister had continued to function for five years after losing his much-loved wife to cancer, but he hadn’t been living. His work hadn’t changed so it had become his life. He went from one command to another, wherever the Navy sent him.

His world was focused on the SEALs he commanded…until the day in his exuberance over a highly complicated operation, he hugged his administrative assistant.

Marta Merkel had been a force to be reckoned in the SEAL world. For over twenty-five years, since her SEAL husband had been killed on active duty, she could make or break a career.

Even though they were single adults past fifty, she worked directly outside his office, controlling his work life.

With years of baggage, could they make this work?

There is much that is happening in this book, I loved the way it opened with us in the ops room as Dylan’s team is involved in a final rescue mission in Afghanistan. Marta is there along with the commanders as she had just brought in food as things started to go down.

This is a favorite scene.

After passing along the vital information to other teams in the area, Dylan had gotten the woman and her five children on their way to safety. He and the remainder of his team had reconned the school and developed a strategy to rescue all the captured men but needed reinforcements to implement the plan.

Lieutenant Chaney is going places, not just because he’s the father of Evan’s grandson, but he’s a damn good officer.

The door to the conference room opened and Marta Merkel, administrative assistant extraordinaire, at least in Cade’s opinion, slid in with trays of food stacked three high.

The woman was his lifesaver. She certainly knew what she was doing as the civilian assistant to the commanding officer of Naval Special Warfare. Sure, she had worked in that office for over twenty-five years, the last decade at the desk directly outside his office, but the woman knew his job better than he did. He was her fourth NSWCO and regularly shared her experience making him look fucking good.

Marta set the trays on a credenza and had just turned back toward him when Dylan announced, “Blue one-seven alpha, two-niner alpha, and two-five charlie ready and in position. Do we have a go?”

Cade felt her gaze on him. That’s Dylan, she mouthed. May I… She pointed to her feet. He gave a slight nod knowing this wasn’t her first experience watching a team in live action. Her security clearance was equal to his. Besides, as best friend to Evan’s new wife, Genevieve, she personally knew Dylan and his four-month-old baby, Ian.

“Blue one-seven alpha, two-niner alpha, and two-five charlie, you have a go. I repeat, you have a go.”

Everyone’s attention went to a side screen where the eerie green of night vision technology made it difficult to discern images.

“On my count.” Dylan counted backwards followed by an explosion that rocked the building in front of them. Someone pointed to the drone footage that showed explosions at the four outer doors.

The barrage of bullets was so loud Cade felt as though he was in the building with his men.

Shouting in English and Pashto filled the air when not drowned out by the echo of gunfire. It took less than a minute to sort out that every local man was on their lists as HVTs.

What felt like a lifetime later, which in truth was less than six minutes, men moving in a line could be seen through the green haze on the screen. Once outside, Dylan reported, “Blue one-seven alpha, two-niner alpha, and two-five charlie, moving to extraction site. Eight targets down. No casualties.”

The conference room erupted. The four team commanders present leaped out of their seats shouting and pumping their fists in the air. His relatively new Executive Officer, Rear Admiral (lower half) Paul O’Connor, joined in the excitement.

Cade realized he was on his feet when he was embraced in a bear hug by his friend, Captain Evan Hubbard. When the big man turned to congratulate someone else, Cade watched Marta trying to hold in her jubilation, smiling ear to ear. Caught up in the excitement, he turned to his administrative assistant and wrapped his arms around her picking her up off the ground.

“He did it.” Marta threw her arms around his neck. “Dylan did it.”

“Damn straight he did.” Cade leaned back to look at the beautiful woman in his arms. He hadn’t held a woman in over five years. It felt so fucking good. Leaning forward, he placed an excited kiss on her lips.

Heat rushed through him, awakening body parts that had been dormant for years. His cock twitched as it started to fill.
What the fuck? He hadn’t had an erection since his wife had passed away. Not that it was anywhere close to its full size, it had still shocked him.

Setting Marta back on her feet, he made sure she was steady before he released his arms from around her.

Suddenly realizing what he’d done, Cade quickly glanced around to see if anyone had seen him kiss her.

Whew. Everyone else was caught up in their own excitement.

The stunned look on her face made him take a step backward. He couldn’t read her eyes because his gaze was darting everywhere reassuring himself that no one had seen his moment of indiscretion.

He was the fucking commander of all Navy SEALs, West Coast to East Coast and those stationed around the world. It was his job to set an example and kissing his administrative assistant was completely unsatisfactory. Hell, she could stride back to her desk and write up an EEO complaint against him, and rightfully so. He could be court-martialed for several things starting with conduct unbecoming an officer and ending in sexual assault.

One glance back at Marta told him everything he needed to know. She was in shock. She hadn’t moved since he’d let her feet touch the ground. Her fingertips were at her lips as though holding in a scream.

He stepped close enough to her so only she could hear. “Marta, Ms. Merkel, I don’t know what overcame me. I sincerely apologize. I am so very sorry.”

She blinked and it was as though she had regained all her senses. “Don’t worry, Admiral, I’m equally at fault. I was caught up in the moment.” She then smiled at him but it wasn’t her normal admin to boss show of white teeth. “And I’m not a damn bit sorry.” She winked at him before turning on her heel and striding up out of the room with a little bit more swing in her step than he’d ever noticed before.
KaLyn Cooper. Fall of the Trident (Special Forces: Operation Alpha): Seasoned SEALs, Book 3 (Kindle Locations 103-148). Aces Press, LLC

This is just the beginning of things for Cade Lister and Marta Merkel. There’s quite the attraction there and they both get a bit conflicted because of their jobs.

The main plot focus is on those human traffickers, they’ve taken down much of it but haven’t gotten the head honcho. That SEALs were involved and that there are hints of people high up in command have everyone on edge and wanting it all resolved.

Things start coming to a head when Cade travels with Marta to Little Creek to welcome the teams home.

I couldn’t put this book down, there is always something happening that either answers a question or creates a new one. The slow but steady development of the relationship between Marta and Cade is perfect and definitely sizzling.

I can’t wait to see what KaLyn has up her sleeve for her next offering in this world!

5 Contented Purrs for KaLyn!

KaLyn Cooper

KaLyn Cooper’s romances blend fact and fiction with blazing heat and heart-pounding suspense.

Twenty-two years as a military wife has shown KaLyn the world, and thirty years in PR taught her that fact can be stranger than fiction. She leaves it up to the reader to separate truth from imagination.

She, her husband, and Little Bear (Alaskan Malamute) live in Tennessee on a micro-plantation filled with gardens, cattle, and quail. When she’s not writing, she’s at the shooting range or on the river.

By
USA Today Bestselling Author
KaLyn Cooper

Another mission into the shadows was the last place he wanted to be. Last time it ended his career. This time promises death or salvation.

Ryker Tufano has spent the last several months drowning his survivor’s guilt—and unexpected ejection from the Navy—in alcohol and self-loathing. His entire SEAL team, and his memory, were lost on their last mission. A phone call from the mysterious Charlie changes everything. It was all a lie.

When he discovers that his foster brother and SEAL teammate, Ajax, is alive, they must head back to Ethiopia to rescue the rest of their team.

Xena Riggs is angry with her bosses in Washington DC. They were willing to let an entire SEAL team be erased for their mistake…her mistake. Offered redemption and retribution if she helps two of Charlie’s newest employees, she jumps at the chance.

As Ryker follows his guide into the mountains of Ethiopia, he’s not sure if she’s Xena Warrior Princess, GI Jane, a wet dream…or walking him into an ambush.

Xena is having trouble keeping her heart out of this mission. Lust doesn’t belong in these mountains. If Xena survives this assignment without being captured and killed by the enemy, there’s a good chance Ryker will kill her himself once he discovers the truth.

This book opens with Ryker Tufano growing impatient waiting for Charley to show. Instead he gets the shock of his life when his brother and teammate Axel walks in. They both believed the other to be dead along with the rest of their teammates. Neither of them can remember the events of that last mission having woken up in the hospital.

Serena, Charley’s assistant leads the meeting with Charley on the phone. When they realize they are going after their teammates there is no question they are in.

We get our first glimpse of Xena Riggs as she is trying to ascertain the location of the captive SEALs, quite an interesting scene as we meet part of her team.

Once back in Ethiopia Ajax, Ryker and Serena meet up with Xena. Ryker wants answers gets a bit condescending and Xena lets him have it. I do love strong women and Xena definitely qualifies in more ways than one.

I almost choked when I realized Xena would be teaming up with Ryker and seriously started to worry for his health and well being as I chuckled. Unfortunately they still haven’t found all of the SEALs, though Xena has folks looking for them.

They have to detour first to attend an Embassy dinner with Xena’s mother. Ryker would learn a lot at that dinner. The most fun starts the next morning at Xena’s family compound ‘Eden’.

This is a favorite scene.

Xena was so excited to see her father home and safe. She didn’t care how terrible he smelled. He’d been in the far western regions of the country tracking down Nebil Yared, the second most powerful rebel, who supposedly had ambushed and captured the Navy SEALs and still had four in his possession.

Giving her dad one last squeeze, she stepped back. “You have good news?”

“Yeah,” he said distractedly as his gaze swept the table, landing on her breakfast. He winced as though rejecting the local food.

“Professor Riggs,” Zala said with a broad smile as she entered the dining room with arms filled with plates. “I’ll bring your usual breakfast out in a moment.”

As she began to set plates in front of Ryker, his eyes got wider and wider. Eight slices of French toast were stacked nearly a foot high on one plate. Eight pancakes covered another. Four eggs, cooked exactly the way he’d requested, sat atop eight slices of perfectly toasted bread. The last dish was covered an inch thick in bacon.

“Ma’am. This all looks wonderful, but I apologize. I didn’t mean for you to make all of this food for me.” Ryker looked devastated by his mistake.

Xena, Clint, and Van burst out laughing.

“You knew this was going to happen, didn’t you?” Ryker glared at her, making her laugh even harder.

All Xena could do was nod her head up and down.

Ryker looked to Zala. “Ma’am, thank you for going to all the trouble—”

“Stop right there, son, before you upset the best cook in Western Ethiopia.” Her father then spoke in Oromo, Zala’s native language. He thanked her for the excellent meal she had prepared and asked her to bring him only fruit and juice.

“Yes, professor. I’ll bring that right away.” Zala spun on her heel and strode from the room.

Getting herself under control, Xena finally explained. “Zala comes across as fluent in English but in truth, knows very few words. She understood all the breakfast items and made them for you.” She gestured to the plates of food.

“And since I saved your sorry ass, I’ll take that French toast. I’ve been thinking about Zala’s breakfast ever since yesterday morning.” Her father grabbed the plate and slid it to the other side of the table where he sat beside Clint. He picked up his son’s silverware and started cutting off pieces.

“Good thing Mom didn’t see you do that.” Van got up and poured himself another cup of coffee.

“Your mother would cringe at what I’ve eaten, and the way I’ve eaten, for the past week. Most of my meals were devoured at the tip of my Bowie knife. Nobody up in the damned mountains knows how to make decent injera.” He shoved a huge forkful into his mouth, then closed his eyes, moaning as he chewed.

When his eyes opened, his gaze immediately went to Xena. With a small tilt of his head toward Ryker, his eyebrows raised. “Please tell me you didn’t bring him home from the party last night.”

She knew exactly what her father meant, but as a grown woman, she loved to torment him. She pasted on a guilty smile. “Actually, I did.” She grabbed Ryker’s hand and interwove her fingers with his. “He’s such a great boyfriend, and Mom likes him. Since I was heading here to Eden, I brought him along.” She tried to affect a dreamy gaze at Ryker— while trying to hold in a laugh at the terror in her dad’s tired eyes.

Her father swallowed hard. He then set down his silverware and gathered himself. “You haven’t brought a boyfriend here since your ship was stationed in the Indian Ocean. This must be serious.” The older man wiped his hands on a napkin and stood, extending the right one across the table. “Adam Riggs. It’s a pleasure—”

Xena couldn’t hold it in any longer. She burst out laughing. “Daddy, this is Ryker Tufano. He’s not my boyfriend, although he played the part very well last night at the embassy party. He’s our new mission, from Charley.”

Ryker immediately stood and grabbed her father’s hand. “Sir, I assure you, nothing is going on between your daughter and me. I’m here to rescue the remaining members of my SEAL squad and that’s all.”

Disappointment ran through Xena. She had thought perhaps the kiss last night might be the start of something mutually beneficial. Then, when he’d appeared at her door in the middle of the night wearing nothing but low-slung sweats, she’d started to hope that Ryker might be interested in her body, at least. It had been a long time since she’d taken a man to her bed.

Her father sat back down at the table and dug into the French toast and bacon, consuming his breakfast almost as quickly as Ryker. Xena knew her father hated talking business during a meal, so she made small talk with her brothers.

Once her father pushed back from the table, that was her cue that he was done. “So, Daddy, you said you had good news.”

“I do.” Her father got up and poured himself another cup of coffee. “Over the past week, I’ve met with several rebel groups under the guise of selling them guns and ammo… for gold.” He smiled at her before he sipped. “Thank you for that insider information. I’m still not sure where they’re getting the gold, but I did get to see some of it. I’m quite sure if Neberu knew about it, anyone involved with the mining operation would be dead. As near as I can tell, it’s coming from an old mine north of Dembi.”

“Oh, for Christ’s sake, please don’t tell me they’re talking about the Queen of Sheba mine.” Clint downed the last of his coffee and got up for more.

“What’s the Queen of Sheba mine?” Ryker asked.

Xena knew the way her father answered questions, like the professor that he was. He couldn’t simply give her the name of the town or village. No. He had to first tell the entire story behind the answer.

Before her father could start a six-thousand-year history lesson, she quickly explained, “The oldest gold mine in existence is still producing near the Sudanese border. Oral history claims that it was the key source of gold for the ancient Egyptian Empire. Daddy has even found gold artifacts dating back six thousand years that chemically match the ore still being dug up over there. About ten years ago, a metallurgist matched the gold to that given by the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon of Israel three thousand years ago.”

“Wow,” was all Ryker said.

Detailed history lesson averted. Xena grinned with pride as she glanced toward each of her brothers. “Now, Daddy, I believe you were about to tell us where Ryker’s teammates are being held hostage.”

“Oh, yes. I followed leads all through the mountains for a fucking week. Thank God almost everybody knew the name Digger. Most were happy to tell me about the rebels, hoping that I would sell them better arms or begging me not to provide them with any guns and ammo. The government really doesn’t do anything for those people.”

Ryker often shifted in his seat, anxious for the location. She reached under the table to pat his thigh, just as he repositioned himself. Her hand slid dangerously close to his cock.

Their eyes met.

She hoped the look on her face said I’m sorry rather than I’m interested in what’s behind your zipper. To reinforce her unsaid message, she patted his leg closer to his knee.

“I spent last night in Metu Zuria where a farmer swore they’re in the foothills about ten miles south of Gore. They had been to Mettu University trying to recruit young men into the cause.” Her father had finally given them the location.

“That area is surrounded by small farms that have been hit pretty hard this last year by the drought,” Blade announced as he headed to the corner for coffee. “I could land a bird two clicks away and the rebels would never know it.” When he glanced at Xena, she snapped her hand away from Ryker’s leg. She didn’t need him making assumptions.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ryker’s glance bounce between her and Blade. What the hell was that about?

“You volunteering to fly in a team tonight?” Adam Riggs asked. Blade shrugged. “Sure. We should take Dell. He wants to play with his new drones. They can give us a heads up before we walk into a pile of shit.”

Her father looked at her. “Roll your team out at midnight. That puts you on location around two. Recon only.”

“I’ll take the Poseidon up and do a few flyovers as soon as it gets dark.” Van loved flying the newer Boeing P-8 reconnaissance plane with more gadgets and spy gear than analysts back at Langley would be able to analyze and comprehend within a year.

Although she really appreciated his offer, all she said was, “Thanks.” She didn’t want him to think it was that big of a deal because he would hold it over her head the next time he wanted something from her. Sibling rivalry was abundant in the Riggs family.
KaLyn Cooper. Shadow in the Mountain: Shadow SEALs Book #4 (Kindle Locations 1169-1238). Black Swan.

There’s a lot of tension as they get closer to the deadline for finding the SEALs and find they’ve been moved yet again. They Axel’s team and theirs have to strike at the same time or all would be lost.

Between Xena’s brothers, her team, and surprise visitors, there is plenty of suspense, action and the sizzling romance with Xena and Ryker I couldn’t put this book down.

5 Contented Purrs for KaLyn!

KaLyn Cooper

KaLyn Cooper’s romances blend fact and fiction with blazing heat and heart-pounding suspense.

Twenty-two years as a military wife has shown KaLyn the world, and thirty years in PR taught her that fact can be stranger than fiction. She leaves it up to the reader to separate truth from imagination.

She, her husband, and Little Bear (Alaskan Malamute) live in Tennessee on a micro-plantation filled with gardens, cattle, and quail. When she’s not writing, she’s at the shooting range or on the river.

Special Forces: Operation Alpha
Seasoned SEALs Book 2

By
USA Today Bestselling Author
KaLyn Cooper

Sometimes life just throws two people together.

Commander Mike Gallagher was not looking for wife number three. In his mid-forties, he’d given up on love. But life kept him running into Special Agent in Charge Kameron “Kam” Hood of Homeland Security Investigations for Human Trafficking. She was one of the most prickly women he’d ever met and they had taken an instant dislike to each other.

Kam Hood was new to San Diego when she had lucked into a tip that led her team to make the biggest human trafficking bust on the West Coast. She was too busy establishing herself in her new job to think about men…except Mike Gallagher. She enjoyed throwing him around in her Brazilian jujitsu class and making him submit to her.

When Kam’s life is threatened, Mike steps in to keep her safe.

But can he keep his heart safe?

With the success of the bust of the human trafficking ring involving some SEALs and many more, the tedious task of talking to the girls involved has begun.

When the Special Agent in Charge Kameron ‘Kam’ Hood calls Commander Mike Gallagher she doesn’t identify herself she just announces she needs Dylan Chaney immediately. This leads to an amusing spiel from the Commander followed by the introduction she should have led with but not the reason behind it.

One of the girls, refuses to speak to anyone but ‘her boyfriend’ Dylan. Accompanied by the Commander and also Captain Evan Hubbard, Dylan goes to Homeland Security’s Headquarters. Brought to the interrogation rooms by Kam, Dylan recognizes the girl as Tala, the girl he spoke with undercover, there was nothing untoward sexual or otherwise between them. He did promise he’d get her home though.

The information Dylan gets out of her also tells of another location where her friend is being held. Now they have to figure out where that one is. Tala won’t go home without her friend.

In another line of priorities, is a change in fighting techniques. SEALs need to be on top of every manner of fighting in order to remain at the top of the food chain. Things get interesting here as Commanders are sent to various martial arts studios to find one that will be advantageous for the SEALs to learn.

This is where Mike is going to get a surprise, he’s taking a Brazilian jujitsu class. The instructor is none other than Kameron Hood.

This is a favorite scene.

A few men with an obvious law enforcement swagger headed to the establishment. Like him, they were wearing shorts and T-shirts, so he quickly followed them in.

The reception area was extremely crowded as mothers pressed against windows on the right watching elementary-age children swing nunchucks. Some of the kids were very good. They had obviously been taking lessons for years. He would have loved to be involved in something like this at their age.

Unfortunately, his single mother could barely afford to feed him and his two brothers. He had to be happy with school sports. Recreational leagues were even out of their price range. When other kids were playing Little League baseball all summer, he was mowing neighborhood lawns while his brothers weeded landscaping to earn a few bucks.

After working in the sun all day, they would ride their bikes down to the lake and jump into the cool refreshing water. He’d learned to swim in that spring-fed lake. His mother saved enough money to put all three boys in the class taught annually by the Red Cross. She was adamant that they learned to swim well. How could she have known where that skill would take him?

Thanks, Mom. His eyes moved heavenward. She had tried so hard to give them a good base for their lives… before she was suddenly taken from them.

When his eyes dropped down, yells and thumps from the class on his right caught his attention. A dozen men who looked like they spent a great deal of time at a gym, sparred in headgear against the man in the middle of the circle, tapping in and out. The two wearing all black loose-fitting gi-style clothes, obviously the instructors, took on challenger after challenger. They were fast, never repeating the same combination of kicks. They could all easily be mixed martial arts competitors.

At the far end of the lobby, several women browsed through the small store while others sat on benches taking their shoes off and chatting.

He could no longer hear grunts and groans from the adult class as they went through several stretches in what Mike thought of as cool-down exercises. The kids, on the other hand, invaded the small lobby, quickly finding their parents who shuffled them out the door.

A man dressed in black with the school emblem embroidered on the right side of his chest emerged from the store. “The Brazilian jujitsu class will be taught in Gym A. Tonight, kickboxing will be in Gym B. Please enter the gym now so classes can get started on time.”

The large room reeked of sweaty men. That was nothing new for Mike. Navy SEALs were pushed to their physical limits every day. It was actually kind of comforting in its familiarity. But when several women entered, light fragrances intertwined with the dirty jock smell, disturbing his chill.

Mike took off his shoes and set them along the side wall with the others then sauntered his way in to find a spot in the middle of the floor. As he glanced at the two instructors, he realized how slight the one was, yet they had both been throwing around huge men easily weighing fifty to a hundred pounds more.

When the smaller of the two removed the headgear, Mike gasped.

Kam Hood slid off the rubber band holding her hair and massaged her scalp before she scraped her hair up into a high bun. She wiped the sweat from her face and neck with a black terrycloth towel before grabbing a light purple water bottle.

Mike almost laughed. It looked so feminine and incongruous with the kickass woman holding it. Wouldn’t that be great if she were staying for the Brazilian jujitsu class? He glanced to his side and saw there was room for her next to him.

When the tall man with broad shoulders and ponytail grabbed his gear and started to leave, Mike scanned the lobby for the instructor.

“Everybody, find a place on the floor where you have room to move. We’ll begin with warm-ups before we pair off and practice the basic moves and counter moves.” Kam stood at the front of the class facing the two dozen students, who were an interesting mix, from petite women to the large men he’d followed into the facility. From the tiny bit of conversation he caught, many were in law enforcement.

Mike knew the moment she saw him. Their gazes held a bit too long before she gave him what he thought was a small smile. It could also have been a devilish grin. He certainly didn’t know her well enough to tell.

Ten minutes later, though, he was positive.

“Comman—” she stopped mid-word and corrected herself. “Mr. Mike Gallagher, would you be my partner tonight?”

He couldn’t say no. Instead, he gave her one of his most panty-dropping smiles as he made his way to the front of the classroom. Although he was used to balls-to-the-wall hand-to-hand with his SEALs, he’d go easy on her.

For the next forty minutes, he was her test dummy. She had taken him down from a standing position to the ground so many times, in different ways, he’d forgotten the count. The fascinating part was, she always ended up on top. He wondered if that was her preferred sexual position, but since she was wired with a microphone, he didn’t dare ask. What he disliked most was that she had forced him to submit by tapping out every time.

When the class was over, Mike was sure he’d never spent so much time on his ass in the arms of a woman without getting laid.

As soon as the microphone was shut off, she asked, “What the hell you doing here?”

After the torture she’d just put him through, he decided to play with her. “Why, Kam, fancy meeting you here. How have you been?”

She glared at him.

He smiled. “How’s the investigation going?”

Her gaze swept the room as a few of the women approached her. “We’re not done with this conversation, Commander Mike Gallagher.” She glanced at the approaching women. “I want to know why you’re here.”

“Are you free after this class?” he whispered.

“Yes.” Then she looked shocked as though she hadn’t meant to say that out loud.

“Good. When you’re done here, there’s a nice little Italian restaurant around the corner. I’m starved and I’m sure you’ve burned enough calories to eat, too. I’ll wait for you over here.” Without letting her disagree, he walked away and took an inordinate amount of time putting on his shoes. After the last woman left, Mike waited for her at the only door.

“I don’t date my students,” she announced as she stepped into the lobby.

“Good thing I’m not one of your students, and this is not a date.” He grinned, enjoying the light banter. “Think of it as a business meeting with food involved.”

She stopped on the sidewalk a few feet from the door. “Did someone find out more information that you need to pass along to me?”

“No.” Then he thought better about that answer. “Not that I’ve been told. But when it comes to this case, we are all mushrooms.”

Kam’s laugh was light and feminine, catching him completely off-guard.

“I haven’t heard that saying in years.” She smiled as though lost in a memory. “My dad used to—” She flicked her hand as though to brush away the thought.

He heard her inhale deeply and groan. “Donatello’s smells delicious. The only reason I’m going with you is because I do need to eat. I also need to go grocery shopping because I don’t have hardly anything in my refrigerator.”

Mike didn’t care why she was going with him, just that she was. He’d been impressed with the class and even though he’d ended up on his ass all too often, the fact she could put him there was reason enough to talk to her.
KaLyn Cooper. Summer Heatwave (Special Forces: Operation Alpha): Seasoned SEAL Series, 2 (Kindle Locations 637-696). Aces Press, LLC.

An interesting friendship develops between Kam and Mike as not only the investigation heats up again but also she begins the the paperwork and an example of the new training.

I love that Rocco, Gumby, Ace, Bubba, Rex, and Phantom are the first so we’ll be seeing more of them and boy I laughed at Phantom, almost as hard as I did Mike.

Lots of suspense, intrigue, some action and let’s just say Mike and Kam are explosive together. I think my kindle’s still intact…

5 Contented Purrs for KaLyn!

KaLyn Cooper

KaLyn Cooper’s romances blend fact and fiction with blazing heat and heart-pounding suspense.

Twenty-two years as a military wife has shown KaLyn the world, and thirty years in PR taught her that fact can be stranger than fiction. She leaves it up to the reader to separate truth from imagination.

She, her husband, and Little Bear (Alaskan Malamute) live in Tennessee on a micro-plantation filled with gardens, cattle, and quail. When she’s not writing, she’s at the shooting range or on the river.

Special Forces: Operation Alpha
Seasoned SEALs Book 1

By
USA Today Bestselling Author
KaLyn Cooper

Is a bittersweet tragedy
enough to bring exes back together?

Navy Captain Evan Hubbard returns to the West Coast to take command of Group 1 Navy SEALs at Coronado. His mission to clean up the team’s tarnished reputation. When a sex trafficking ring involving SEALs comes to light, Evan must decide who he can trust to help him clean house and restore honor and pride. Before he can get started, an unexpected phone call with his college-age daughter and his ex-wife throws his personal life into chaos.

Genevieve Hubbard has spent the last twenty-one years as a schoolteacher, nine as a single mom after her decision not to follow her husband’s career to the other side of the country. While she never stopped loving her ex-husband, she’s made a life for herself that doesn’t include him.

Their daughter has been keeping secrets—the father’s identity from Genevieve, and her pregnancy from Evan. When tragedy strikes shortly after the baby is born, Evan and Genevieve must work together to do what is best for everyone. Will they find love again, or will they lose everything that is precious to them?

NOTE:
Spring Unveiled is the first book in the Seasoned SEALs Series, featuring characters from Susan Stoker’s SEAL of Protection Series. 

Captain Evan Hubbard was surprised how quickly his promotion came through and the swiftness of his transport to San Diego. He’s to take command of SEAL group 1 effective immediately. There’s a lot of cleaning up to do none of which will be pleasant.

Moving back to the west coast brings back a lot of memories. His ex-wife still lives there with his daughter Kylie and he’s hoping to get close to them again.

Genevieve still lives in the house she once shared with Evan. Kylie is now living there full time having returned from college pregnant and scared. Genevieve is driving Kylie to the hospital, when Evan calls his daughter. There’s just one little thing, Kylie never told him she’s pregnant.

This is a favorite scene.

“I’m ready to go,” Kylie announced as she hefted her body into the passenger seat. “The contractions are four minutes apart.”

Holy shit. This was it.

Gen inhaled the cleansing breath and exhaled slowly. “Okay, then, let’s do this.”

As she backed out of the driveway, the car indicated an incoming call. “Dad” appeared on the dashboard screen. It was Kylie’s phone that was ringing.

Fucking great.

“Did you call him and tell him you were in labor? Is he getting on a plane to come out here?” Gen didn’t like the way her daughter rolled her lips into a flat line then lifted her shoulders in a slight shrug.

“Well?” She pressed.

The phone rang again.

“Are you going to answer that?”

She heard Kylie gulp before she pressed to answer the call. When her daughter said nothing, Gen decided to take control of the situation.

“Hey, Evan, Kylie and I are in the car on the way to the hospital. Since we don’t know how long this is going to take, you’re welcome to join us there.” She wasn’t going to keep him from meeting his first granddaughter or grandson. Kylie had insisted on not knowing the sex ahead of time so Gen couldn’t even tell him which to expect.

There was a long pause of silence.

“Evan? Did we lose you?” It sounded as though he was in a car. Maybe he was on the way to the airport.

“Won’t that be a bit awkward with the baby’s father there?” His reply baffled her.

“Kylie, did you tell your dad who was the baby’s father?” Gen was instantly hurt that she wouldn’t tell her the father’s name but she’d tell her father. But if he knew, they could contact the father and let him know. Maybe he’d want to be there.

Their daughter sniffed, then broke out in tears. “I didn’t tell him anything.”

“Okay, so your dad doesn’t know who the father is either?” Gen needed to clarify this point.

Kylie shook her head. “No. I mean I didn’t tell him anything.” She wiped her eyes with a paper napkin she found in the center console. Rubbing her belly, she confessed, “He doesn’t know.”

“Oh, Jesus.” Gen stopped behind the cars at the red light. “Are you telling me your dad doesn’t even know you’re pregnant?”

Kylie shook her head and pointed to the dashboard indicating the still-active call. “He does now.”

“Evan, I was just informed that you know nothing about the pending birth of your first grandchild.”

“What-the-fuck?” His voice exploded through every speaker in her car. “Kylie is…my little girl…is pregnant?” He seemed to spit out the last word.

Their daughter arched her back and burst into tears, screaming. “It hurts.”

“Ah-he, ah-who. Breathe through the contraction like they taught you in the class. Concentrate on your breathing, not the pain.” Gen tried to keep her words calm.

“What the hell is happening? Why is she screaming?” Evan’s urgent voice wasn’t helping.

“Kylie is in labor. That’s why we’re headed to the hospital. Contractions hurt.” Like a bitch. But Gen didn’t want to encourage anymore screaming. “That’s the part of our daughter’s birth that you missed.” She was being a bitch and knew it. They’d been out somewhere in the ocean learning to deep dive when she’d gone into labor. Kylie had already been born by the time he got back to shore.

“My baby is having a baby?” Incredulity laced his quiet voice.

“Yes.” Gen didn’t know who to be angrier with, her daughter or her ex-husband. She thought he and Kylie talked regularly, like every week or two. “Obviously, you haven’t kept up with her in months.”

But he’d seen her at Thanksgiving, although she hadn’t been very pregnant at the time and probably wasn’t showing much. She could have easily hidden it by wearing a long sweater, especially since Virginia would feel chilly compared to Southern California. Gen had noticed that her daughter had put on a little weight at Christmas time, but it wasn’t until Kylie announced she was not going back to college that she realized why.

“I have.” His voice was very defensive. “We talked just a few weeks ago and she didn’t say anything about a baby.”

“I’m sorry, Dad.” Kylie blew her nose. “I knew you’d be disappointed in me and I didn’t want to tell you.”

“And you thought he’d never find out?” Gen accused. “You know better than to keep anything from your father…or me.”

“Ky, you know I love you no matter what.” He exhaled a long breath. “Vivi, what hospital are you taking her to?”

She couldn’t speak.

It was as though he’d punched her heart.

He’d called her Vivi. She hadn’t been called that name in years. The last time she’d heard it, the last time he’d set it, he’d begged her not to file divorce papers. Oh, Vivi, don’t do this to us.

All she could manage to do was stare straight ahead and mindlessly drive toward the hospital over on the mainland.

Kylie’s huge round eyes stared at her, frightened, as though she’d threatened to leave. “Mom’s a little busy driving right now. We’re headed to the Navy Medical Center in San Diego. I’m still on Tricare, your medical insurance. As long as I go to the base hospital, they’ll pay for everything.”

“That’s good, Ky. Good thinking. Where are you?” Evan’s voice was so controlled it was comforting.

Gen got her act together. “We’re about to cross the bridge.” She needed to cut her ex-husband a break.

This was all new to him. “Evan, I know I’ve had a lot longer to deal with this situation but it’s happening now.” It was a good thing Gen was used to driving in heavy traffic and knew the way to the hospital as she changed lanes on the bridge. “I don’t know if you want to fly all the way out—”

“Vivi, I’m less than ten minutes behind you.”

“You’re here?” Her daughter’s wide eyes were proof that she didn’t know, either. “How long have you been here?”

Evan chuckled. “About four hours. That’s why I was calling Kylie. I wanted to tell her the good news. I’m going to be the commanding officer of Group One. I’m here to stay for at least the next three years. Hopefully more.”

And the hits just keep on coming. “What happened to Captain Desmond?” Not that Gen, or anyone she knew, would miss the man. He was a terrible person and a terrible commander, in her opinion.

“We can talk about that later.”

That was code for either her situation or his was not operationally secure. She had a plain old cell phone through a national carrier. He probably had an encrypted phone that shot directly to a protected military satellite before it bounced down to earth.

“I’ll meet you at the hospital. I need to cancel my plans with Vice Admiral Lister.” He hung up without saying goodbye. Typical Evan.
Cooper, KaLyn; Alpha, Operation. Spring UnVeiled (Special Forces: Operation Alpha) (Seasoned Seals Book 1) (Kindle Locations 360-411). Aces Press, LLC. Kindle Edition.

Evan meets them at the hospital and helps smooth things over since everyone perked up when he walked in. Kylie hits them with a bit of a bombshell when she lets them know she’s planning on adoption. She does concede to wait twenty-four hours before finalizing anything. Both Evan and Gen are more than willing to help raise the grandchild. Then the unthinkable happens.

This is where I start crying and don’t stop for a while. Kylie’s death devastates her parents, but there’s a child who needs love and care.

Evan and Gen immediately start things in motion to get custody of their grandchild. No way would they let Ian go to a foster home. Even on bereavement leave, Evan starts things in motion to clean up his SEALs.

I found it interesting when Evan discovers who the father of his grandchild is. The circumstances of Dylan’s break up with Kylie not an uncommon thought for a SEAL.

There is so much that happens in this book, from Baby Ian, to identifying SEALs involved in shady business, to Evan and Gen falling in love again.

I really can’t wait for the next book in this series, I hope the wait is not too long.

5 Contented Purrs for KaLyn!

KaLyn Cooper

KaLyn Cooper’s romances blend fact and fiction with blazing heat and heart-pounding suspense.

Twenty-two years as a military wife has shown KaLyn the world, and thirty years in PR taught her that fact can be stranger than fiction. She leaves it up to the reader to separate truth from imagination.

She, her husband, and Little Bear (Alaskan Malamute) live in Tennessee on a micro-plantation filled with gardens, cattle, and quail. When she’s not writing, she’s at the shooting range or on the river.