REVIEW: Targeted by Katie Reus

In Targeted (Deadly Ops #1) by Katie Reus, when Marine and sniper Jack is offered a chance working within a covert government group he takes it. With no ties and no family, changing his appearance and who he is is an easy step for him to take.

Going under cover to stop biological terrorism puts Jack face to face with a love he’s never forgotten. Sophie grew up in the foster system, and it was then that she first met Jack…although that wasn’t his name then, it was Sam. When horrible events turned her world upside down, she pushed Sam away. Before she had a chance to reconnect with him, she found out he was ‘dead’. Now the new person her boss has introduced her to reminds her in so many ways of Sam.

When Sophie unknowingly puts herself in danger and someone is worried she knows too much, has seen too much, Sophie doesn’t know who she can trust. There’s something about this stranger that pulls at her though…and soon she will have to trust him, even as she fights her attraction to him. Jack can’t help how he feels about Sophie, but his main goal is to keep her safe. Can he do that while he fights terrorism and still keep his identity secret? And if he does, can he let Sophie go again?

Katie drew me into Targeted quickly with mysterious, action packed suspense and two people I wanted to know more about. Sophie and Jack have their past in common, and as Katie pulled me deeper into their characters, it was easy to hope they could have a second chance together and find their HEA. The chemistry between them is palpable and the feelings they experience are well detailed and realistic. I found Sophie a little bit irritating at times with her actions and misunderstandings that might end up risking everything from their safety to any kind of relationship. Jack I just loved. Katie really managed to make me feel for these two people. I liked the glimpses of the past she includes in Targeted that helped me get to know Jack and Sophie even better.

There are quite a few secondary characters in Targeted, some I really found intriguing and hope to find out more about in future Deadly Ops books. Theses secondary characters really added strength to the plot, making it multi dimensional. Katie also draws out the mystery and intrigue right to the very end.

Targeted is fast paced and easy to lose yourself in. Katie’s flowing writing kept me glued to the pages of Targeted way too late at night!

I’d recommend Targeted to any romantic suspense lover!

Book Info:

Published October 1st 2013 by Signet | (Deadly Ops #1)

Former Marine sniper and current NSA agent Jack Stone has a new face to go with his new identity. But he still has the same tortured memories—which include the woman he let get away years ago, when they were teenagers. Now his new assignment in Miami will put him so close to the woman he’s never been able to forget, he could reach out and touch her—if only she weren’t under suspicion.

When Sophie Moreno uncovers evidence linking the medical supply company she works for with arms smuggling—and worse—she doesn’t know who to turn to. After a shocking betrayal, she realizes the only person she can trust is a mysterious new person in the company—a man with hauntingly familiar eyes.

As Sophie questions her intense attraction to this man and Jack struggles not to blow his cover, the two of them must race against the clock to stop terrorists from killing scores of people—starting with them.