REVIEW: Locked and Loaded by Mandy Baxter

Locked and Loaded by Mandy Baxter finds former Customs agent Mason Decker being dangled his dream job right in front of him–a position as a United States Marshall. The catch? He needs to go undercover to try to get information from Kieran Eagan, the con-artist that his father had taken in as a child and raised as his own son along with Mason. U.S. Attorney Charlotte Cahill is convinced Kieran has information about Faction Five, a dangerous up-and-coming syndicate. She needs the information to bring them down. Her job was supposed to be behind the scenes, but when she unexpectedly gets thrown into the undercover operation, she needs to work closely with both Mason and Kieran.

Mason is conflicted. He really wants the job with the Marshalls, but he made a promise to Kieran that they would stay out of each other’s business. Kieran followed in Mason’s father’s con-artist ways, while Mason tried to make up for what his father did by going into law enforcement. Yet the two clearly loved each other, and Mason feels bad about using him.

Kieran was more Mason’s brother than Jensen had ever been his father. Mason trusted that Kieran would do the right thing. He was a con artist and a thief, true. But he wasn’t a heartless bastard. Not by a long shot.

Due to his upbringing, Mason also has trust issues, which causes him problems dealing with authority, and, at times, dealing with Charlotte.

Charlotte was unexpectedly sucked into the undercover aspect of the mission, but she handled it well despite not having any training. She works hard to learn everything she can to play her role. At first she dislikes Mason, but as she learns more about his background and realizes that they’re more alike than either could have imagined, she gains a new respect for him. She, like Mason, even comes to realize that Kieran may not be all that bad, which leaves her wondering who, exactly, are the bad guys.

There was a twist I didn’t see coming in regards to who was actually involved in the Faction Five. I didn’t see it coming, which I enjoyed. The book is fast-paced and action packed, which will keep readers entertained.

This is the fifth book in the series but it is a standalone. I’ve only read the third book in the series but had no issues following along with the characters or the storyline.

Locked and Loaded is about unraveling a criminal syndicate, but it’s also a story about family dynamics and how parents can shape their children’s lives. It’s also about living in the shady gray areas versus living in a world of black and white. Does someone have to be completely right or wrong, or is it ok to live in the in-between? Just because someone is a con-artist, does it make them completely bad or are they capable of also being good? This book does a good job of demonstrating that it could go either way, depending on the person.

If you read the previous books in the series, or if you enjoy romantic suspense, I recommend giving this book a read.

Book Info:

 September 27, 2016 | Zebra | U.S. Marshals #5

Charlotte Cahill intends to take down an infamous diamond smuggler on the FBI’s Most Wanted list—and she intends to do it by the book.  That won’t be easy with the cocky new temporary deputy on her task force. Mason Decker feels like trouble, especially when his cool gaze wanders across her hot body . . .

After his time as a Customs officer, Decker has enough experience hanging out with criminals to know that working undercover means following your instincts, not the rules. It doesn’t take long for him to lock horns with Cahill. But when the sexy assistant U.S. attorney is accidentally dragged out of her orderly world and into the turn-on-a-dime tension of Decker’s deceptive games, she’ll find that nothing is as seductive as playing a new role . . .