Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
Fantastic conclusion to the series. In the first two books, Call to Honor and Call to Engage, we saw the team deal with a mission gone wrong and the fallout as they began to suspect someone in their midst committed treason. As they searched for the truth, they quickly realized that they could only trust their own team members. Though they caught the immediate offender, it was also clear that there was someone else pulling the strings, and they want that person. This becomes even more critical as the book's prologue opens with their team leader, Nic Savino, about to be charged with treason.
From there, the book goes back two months, to a resort in Hawaii. Darby Raye, an attorney for the government, is on the first vacation she's had in years. It isn't her idea. Darby is a workaholic, perfectly content with the idea that her work is her life. But her boss made it clear that if she wants that next promotion, he needs to see that she has balance in her life. Darby is antsy and has no idea what to do with herself if she isn't working. I loved her phone conversation with her secretary, who encourages her to let loose for a bit. There's a man at the bar who catches her eye, but she's reluctant to do anything about it. She's just ended a relationship with a fellow attorney, a Navy lawyer who wasn't at all pleased when she broke things off. The man she is staring at is Nic, who is also on a forced vacation, while the rest of his team looks into who is behind the pending charges against him. He's equally antsy, unhappy at being apart from his team and unable to work on clearing his name. When he sees Darby sitting by herself, he is immediately attracted and not shy about letting her know it.
Their attraction sets Darby and Nic on the path of a mutually agreeable fling. The only condition they have is for complete anonymity. They will stick to first names only, with no discussion of families, friends, pasts, work, etc. I loved seeing these two workaholic people relax and escape from their stresses. Though both agreed that this was a short-term affair with no emotions involved, just intense physical intimacy, neither can prevent the feelings that worm their way past their barriers. I loved how their connection deepened and their sensitivity to the other's moods. In spite of their intentions, there were a couple of emotionally charged moments when the past intruded on the present. It wasn't long before each admitted to themselves that they'd like to see where it would go if they were to continue to see each other. But fate intervenes before either can pursue the thought, and Nic is called back to duty. When Darby finds out who and what he is, she is devastated, and returns home to drown her sorrows in work. Fate isn't done with Nic and Darby though. Once she is back, Darby is assigned to a new case. She is to look at the evidence provided and decided if one Dominic Savino is guilty of treason. She is stunned to discover that it is "her" Nic, and reluctant to believe that the man she knew in Hawaii is capable of such heinous crimes.
The suspense of the story is outstanding as we see events from both Nic's and Darby's points of view. Nic and his team race against time to trace Ramsey's traitorous actions to their source before Nic is convicted of a crime he didn't commit. I loved seeing each team member use their unique talents to help the man they respect and admire the most. On the other side of the aisle, we have Darby, who is under a great deal of pressure to bring charges of treason against Nic. Much of that pressure comes from her ex, who is the Navy lawyer who is pushing hard for the charges, something that doesn't sit well with Darby. I loved her independence and determination to do what was right, in spite of that pressure. There was a fantastic scene with Darby and the members of Poseidon. I loved seeing her hold her own with these men as they discovered that they all wanted the same thing - to find the truth. The intensity built as the day of reckoning approached. The final confrontation had me on the edge of my seat as the tangled web of treachery unraveled. Desperation on the part of the bad guy put Darby in extreme danger, leaving it up to Nic and the men of Poseidon to come to the rescue in heart-pounding action. Darby is no damsel in distress, though, and gets her own satisfying part in the proceedings. I loved the ending, from a funny yet sweet scene with Darby and the men of Poseidon to Nic and Darby finally opening up about their feelings and fears.
The entire series has been excellent, with fantastic intrigue, suspense, action, and believable romantic relationships that came out of desperate circumstances. Though this story arc is finished, I would love to see stories for the rest of the men of Poseidon.
From there, the book goes back two months, to a resort in Hawaii. Darby Raye, an attorney for the government, is on the first vacation she's had in years. It isn't her idea. Darby is a workaholic, perfectly content with the idea that her work is her life. But her boss made it clear that if she wants that next promotion, he needs to see that she has balance in her life. Darby is antsy and has no idea what to do with herself if she isn't working. I loved her phone conversation with her secretary, who encourages her to let loose for a bit. There's a man at the bar who catches her eye, but she's reluctant to do anything about it. She's just ended a relationship with a fellow attorney, a Navy lawyer who wasn't at all pleased when she broke things off. The man she is staring at is Nic, who is also on a forced vacation, while the rest of his team looks into who is behind the pending charges against him. He's equally antsy, unhappy at being apart from his team and unable to work on clearing his name. When he sees Darby sitting by herself, he is immediately attracted and not shy about letting her know it.
Their attraction sets Darby and Nic on the path of a mutually agreeable fling. The only condition they have is for complete anonymity. They will stick to first names only, with no discussion of families, friends, pasts, work, etc. I loved seeing these two workaholic people relax and escape from their stresses. Though both agreed that this was a short-term affair with no emotions involved, just intense physical intimacy, neither can prevent the feelings that worm their way past their barriers. I loved how their connection deepened and their sensitivity to the other's moods. In spite of their intentions, there were a couple of emotionally charged moments when the past intruded on the present. It wasn't long before each admitted to themselves that they'd like to see where it would go if they were to continue to see each other. But fate intervenes before either can pursue the thought, and Nic is called back to duty. When Darby finds out who and what he is, she is devastated, and returns home to drown her sorrows in work. Fate isn't done with Nic and Darby though. Once she is back, Darby is assigned to a new case. She is to look at the evidence provided and decided if one Dominic Savino is guilty of treason. She is stunned to discover that it is "her" Nic, and reluctant to believe that the man she knew in Hawaii is capable of such heinous crimes.
The suspense of the story is outstanding as we see events from both Nic's and Darby's points of view. Nic and his team race against time to trace Ramsey's traitorous actions to their source before Nic is convicted of a crime he didn't commit. I loved seeing each team member use their unique talents to help the man they respect and admire the most. On the other side of the aisle, we have Darby, who is under a great deal of pressure to bring charges of treason against Nic. Much of that pressure comes from her ex, who is the Navy lawyer who is pushing hard for the charges, something that doesn't sit well with Darby. I loved her independence and determination to do what was right, in spite of that pressure. There was a fantastic scene with Darby and the members of Poseidon. I loved seeing her hold her own with these men as they discovered that they all wanted the same thing - to find the truth. The intensity built as the day of reckoning approached. The final confrontation had me on the edge of my seat as the tangled web of treachery unraveled. Desperation on the part of the bad guy put Darby in extreme danger, leaving it up to Nic and the men of Poseidon to come to the rescue in heart-pounding action. Darby is no damsel in distress, though, and gets her own satisfying part in the proceedings. I loved the ending, from a funny yet sweet scene with Darby and the men of Poseidon to Nic and Darby finally opening up about their feelings and fears.
The entire series has been excellent, with fantastic intrigue, suspense, action, and believable romantic relationships that came out of desperate circumstances. Though this story arc is finished, I would love to see stories for the rest of the men of Poseidon.
