Title: Heart of Danger {Ghost Ops #1}
Author: Lisa Marie Rice
Published: Avon Red October 2012
Synopsis: Ghost Ops. A small team of super elite soldiers so secret only two men know of their existence-General Clancy Flynn and their commanding officer, Colonel Lucius Ward. On a mission to destroy a US-based lab working on weaponized bubonic plague, the team is betrayed by their commanding officer. The Team is massacred and only three men survive to be court martialed: the Team Leader, Tom ‘Mac’ McEnroe, tech genius John Ryan, and lethal Nick Ross. They disappear en route to prison and are never heard of again. Mac and his men hole up in a high tech lair, completely off the grid. But when a beautiful woman somehow finds him, he doesn’t know whether to kiss her, or kill her.
Dr. Catherine Young is on a mission, propelled by forces beyond her control to find a man who has disappeared off the face of the earth. She is bearing a deadly message from a dying man. Catherine has a gift that allows her to see into the heart of others. But looking into Mac McEnroe’s heart is like looking into the heart of danger itself
Status: Read from October 19 to 20, 2012 — I own a copy {Courtesy HarperCollins/Edelwiess}
My Thoughts:
Lisa Marie Rice is a popular author of romance suspense and Heart of Danger is the first book in her new series featuring the men of Ghost Ops – a secret unit of elite American soldiers with no identity. In this first installment, when the Ghost Ops team is betrayed during a mission, only three men escape, believing their commander Colonel Lucius Ward, sold them out. Hidden in their high tech lair, the arrival in the middle of a snowstorm of Dr Catherine Young arouses Tom ‘Mac’ MacEnroe’s suspicions. A scientific researcher working in the field of dementia, Catherine insists that the commander is her patient and desperately needs Mac’s help. Though fearing a trap, Mac and his men will leave no man behind and with the help of Catherine’s special talent, they mount a rescue that reveals a horrifying secret.
Though there isn’t anything particularly original about this new series, Rice balances the action with romance well. I found myself caught up in the suspense as it becomes clear there is something sinister happening at the lab for which Catherine worked and rescuing Lucius will not be easy, even for Mac’s elite corps. The idea of the Haven provides another layer of interest to the story which pleasantly diffuses the focus on military operations.
The technological advances sets this novel a generation or two into the future with some nifty gadgets available to the team. Interestingly Rice also chooses to develop a futuristic political climate with the villain motivated by an allegiance to China. I like that Rice has ground the series in something larger than itself.
Mac is the bad ass, brooding, tough guy who dissolves with a simple touch from Catherine. Catherine is stunning, smart and psychically gifted to boot, all without being aware of her appeal. It is a little cheesy but the sexual tension is well developed and when the pair finally succumb to their attraction the sex is pretty hot.
I did tire of the repetitive internal monologues of both Mac and Catherine though. Mac loses his train of thought every time Catherine looks his way, slipping into a self flagellating loop of lust and suspicion, while Catherine berates herself for thinking Mac could ever be interested in her, given she is such a freak.
A fast, escapist story that blends sci-fi, paranormal, action and romance genres this is an enjoyable read.
Oct 24, 2012 @ 09:45:30
*stares at the cover for too long*
Oct 25, 2012 @ 14:14:53
LOL Angela
Oct 24, 2012 @ 18:33:53
Balanced and revealing review.
Oct 25, 2012 @ 00:39:44
Thanks for such an in-depth review. A pity I’m put off this book by the cover. As I’ve commented on several other blogs I’m beginning to tire of all the ‘pretty’ muscle bound men who seem to frequent so many book covers.
Oct 25, 2012 @ 14:15:23
I have to admit I think the cover is the main reason I consented to review it