What do you think?
Rate this book
Deadly Ops #1
Targeted
A Deadly Ops Novel
Former Marine sniper Jack Stone has a new face to go with his new identity, but he can't escape the tortured memories of the woman he left years ago. Then an undercover assignment in Miami puts him close enough to touch her - if only she weren't under suspicion.
When Sophie Moreno uncovers evidence linking her employers with arms smuggling - and worse - she realises the only person she can trust is a stranger with hauntingly familiar eyes.
As Sophie questions her intense attraction to this man and Jack struggles not to blow his cover, they must race against the clock to stop terrorists from killing scores of people - starting with them.
Former Marine sniper Jack Stone has a new face to go with his new identity, but he can't escape the tortured memories of the woman he left years ago. Then an undercover assignment in Miami puts him close enough to touch her - if only she weren't under suspicion.
When Sophie Moreno uncovers evidence linking her employers with arms smuggling - and worse - she realises the only person she can trust is a stranger with hauntingly familiar eyes.
As Sophie questions her intense attraction to this man and Jack struggles not to blow his cover, they must race against the clock to stop terrorists from killing scores of people - starting with them.
329 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published October 1, 2013
174 people are currently reading
3,654 people want to read
About the author
Katie Reus
156books3,203followersKatie Reus® is the USA Today bestselling author of the Endgame trilogy, the MacArthur Family series and the Deadly Ops series. She fell in love with romance at a young age thanks to books she pilfered from her mom's stash. Years later she loves reading romance almost as much as she loves writing it. However, she didn't always know she wanted to be a writer. After changing majors many times, she finally graduated with a degree in psychology. Not long after that she discovered a new love. Writing. She now spends her days writing paranormal romance and sexy romantic suspense.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 253 reviews
May 25, 2018
Targeted is a second chance romance that reunites Sophia and Sam, only Sophia doesn't know it's Sam. At some point in Sam's career in the Marines, his identity is killed off and becomes Jack.
Jack is part of a highly specialized group who brings down terrorist and sex traffickers. When he gets assigned to his newest mission, he finds out his first and only love, Sophia works for the man they need to investigate. When her life becomes endangered, Jack learns he will do anything to keep her safe.
This was probably 75% Suspense and 25% romance but it's really good suspense. Despite the long separation, Jack is still very much in love with Sophia and he's extremely protective of her. It's exactly what I love to see in my reads.
I borrowed this on the Audible Romance Package and enjoyed this narrator. I would recommend the audiobook.
Jack is part of a highly specialized group who brings down terrorist and sex traffickers. When he gets assigned to his newest mission, he finds out his first and only love, Sophia works for the man they need to investigate. When her life becomes endangered, Jack learns he will do anything to keep her safe.
This was probably 75% Suspense and 25% romance but it's really good suspense. Despite the long separation, Jack is still very much in love with Sophia and he's extremely protective of her. It's exactly what I love to see in my reads.
I borrowed this on the Audible Romance Package and enjoyed this narrator. I would recommend the audiobook.
August 22, 2015
Targeted is one of those romantic suspense books with stupid villains and main characters that act in ways that contradict their supposed feelings. If the book hadn't worked for a team challenge, I would have dnf it.
Let's start with the hero, a Marine sniper, who is recruited by the NSA for a new Black Ops team. One of the conditions of joining said team is changing his name and having plastic surgery. Huh?
1. Why change his name? Isn't he supposed to be doing undercover work and/or Black Ops job? When undercover, you obviously give a false name and when doing Black Ops, nobody asks your name.
2. Why plastic surgery? This is a man who grew up in the foster system so he has no family or friends, except for an old girlfriend. In the places he's going, nobody's going to know who he is.
As this doesn't make sense operationally, the reason for these changes is so that the old girlfriend wouldn't recognize him when he came back to her life. This is one of those couples who supposedly loved each other forever and ever but something bad happened and they went their separate ways and never tried to contact the other. Huh? If the hero loved her so much, wouldn't it have made sense to give her some space for a year or so and then reach out to her? But no. The hero went on his merry way and when offered the chance to get a new identity, he accepted without compunction.
The whole suspense plot doesn't make any sense either. The heroine gets proof of gun smuggling in her job. The bad guys have no security whatsoever so she's able to get in and out. And even though they know she was in there (they saw her car license's plates), they wait until the next day to do something, in the most elaborate way possible. Why not go to her house that same night and kill her?
The bad guys, knowing that their operation has been compromised, do nothing whatsoever to even move to a different hangar. Instead, they waste time chasing the heroine and trying to kill her. Why not set her up to take the blame for some crime? Maybe dump a body in her house and accuse her of being a murderer/pornographer/you name it?
And you won't believe the reason why the bad guy needed to step foot in Miami, to be snatched up conveniently by the authorities. To get a guy to sign some papers! Why couldn't he send one of his goons with the papers and then have them delivered to him where he was safe?
I won't even go into the relationship between the characters, which was totally blah. I didn't feel any chemistry whatsoever.
Sophie Eastlake did a good job with the narration but even she couldn't save this. Definitely not continuing the series and not reading this author again.
Let's start with the hero, a Marine sniper, who is recruited by the NSA for a new Black Ops team. One of the conditions of joining said team is changing his name and having plastic surgery. Huh?
1. Why change his name? Isn't he supposed to be doing undercover work and/or Black Ops job? When undercover, you obviously give a false name and when doing Black Ops, nobody asks your name.
2. Why plastic surgery? This is a man who grew up in the foster system so he has no family or friends, except for an old girlfriend. In the places he's going, nobody's going to know who he is.
As this doesn't make sense operationally, the reason for these changes is so that the old girlfriend wouldn't recognize him when he came back to her life. This is one of those couples who supposedly loved each other forever and ever but something bad happened and they went their separate ways and never tried to contact the other. Huh? If the hero loved her so much, wouldn't it have made sense to give her some space for a year or so and then reach out to her? But no. The hero went on his merry way and when offered the chance to get a new identity, he accepted without compunction.
The whole suspense plot doesn't make any sense either. The heroine gets proof of gun smuggling in her job. The bad guys have no security whatsoever so she's able to get in and out. And even though they know she was in there (they saw her car license's plates), they wait until the next day to do something, in the most elaborate way possible. Why not go to her house that same night and kill her?
The bad guys, knowing that their operation has been compromised, do nothing whatsoever to even move to a different hangar. Instead, they waste time chasing the heroine and trying to kill her. Why not set her up to take the blame for some crime? Maybe dump a body in her house and accuse her of being a murderer/pornographer/you name it?
And you won't believe the reason why the bad guy needed to step foot in Miami, to be snatched up conveniently by the authorities. To get a guy to sign some papers! Why couldn't he send one of his goons with the papers and then have them delivered to him where he was safe?
I won't even go into the relationship between the characters, which was totally blah. I didn't feel any chemistry whatsoever.
Sophie Eastlake did a good job with the narration but even she couldn't save this. Definitely not continuing the series and not reading this author again.
August 27, 2015
Not impressive, but not really bad either. I liked it ok...
I felt like many situations could have been resolved easily just with a tad of communication, and the twists could have been better. The setting and world building provided enough material for something more interesting and less cliché or predictable imo (NSA agents, undercover agents, Miami, druglords, etc. Exciting stuff).
I liked the audiobook narrator, I've listened to her works before, her voice flows nicely and she has great voices and tones for every character, even the male ones.
Nice audiobook to listen to while I'm busy around the house, running errands or multitasking. It's action packed and has a fast paced, TV show/movie feel to it. :)
I felt like many situations could have been resolved easily just with a tad of communication, and the twists could have been better. The setting and world building provided enough material for something more interesting and less cliché or predictable imo (NSA agents, undercover agents, Miami, druglords, etc. Exciting stuff).
I liked the audiobook narrator, I've listened to her works before, her voice flows nicely and she has great voices and tones for every character, even the male ones.
Nice audiobook to listen to while I'm busy around the house, running errands or multitasking. It's action packed and has a fast paced, TV show/movie feel to it. :)
August 7, 2013
I won this ARC here on ŷ so thank you GR!
4.5 I could tell right away that this is a series that I will love to sink my teeth into. This is a first in a new series that is RS. I cant give cant give any spoilers and wont be doing any quotes since this doesn't come out until October.
Former Marine sniper and current NSA agent Jack Stone works for Wesley Burkhart -boss, handler and recruit all rolled into one. Jack has been called in to work undercover as a silent partner with Keane Flights to infiltrate the workings of SBMS (South Beach Medical Supplies). Wesley Burkhart wants Jack to get close to Sophie Moreno because she is the assistant to Roland Weller. They are unclear if Weller for working with terrorists and Jack needs to get close to Sophie.
There is a lot going on in this book. It starts off with a bang. You are drawn in right away. There is so much more going on with Jack and I wish I could say more but nope. I will say that this was pretty much nonstop action. When there was down time you usually got flashbacks. Which I enjoyed.
Aside from all the action there is an instant attraction that is HOT! I loved Jack and Sophie together. Jack made me swoon! His thoughts about Sophie has me melting and I wish I could spout out his sinfully sweet thoughts. Sophie was a good character too. I didn't find her annoying in fact I kinda thought that she was stubborn and funny at times. Maybe that was just me though.
There were side characters , well okay there was one that I am dying to learn more about! The way it was written I really hope that means there is a future book for that character. There is a great climax scene at the end but I was a little disappointed that there wasn't an update on someone who was majorly involved in all that went down. And I was wondering about the end scene in epilog. Was that a filler or what? Almost made me think something was about to happen. I wish there was a little something more about Jack and Sophie because the epilog felt like it was cut short. Of course I have the uncorrected version so maybe that will be different in the later issue. Overall I loved it and look forward to more from this series.
4.5 I could tell right away that this is a series that I will love to sink my teeth into. This is a first in a new series that is RS. I cant give cant give any spoilers and wont be doing any quotes since this doesn't come out until October.
Former Marine sniper and current NSA agent Jack Stone works for Wesley Burkhart -boss, handler and recruit all rolled into one. Jack has been called in to work undercover as a silent partner with Keane Flights to infiltrate the workings of SBMS (South Beach Medical Supplies). Wesley Burkhart wants Jack to get close to Sophie Moreno because she is the assistant to Roland Weller. They are unclear if Weller for working with terrorists and Jack needs to get close to Sophie.
There is a lot going on in this book. It starts off with a bang. You are drawn in right away. There is so much more going on with Jack and I wish I could say more but nope. I will say that this was pretty much nonstop action. When there was down time you usually got flashbacks. Which I enjoyed.
Aside from all the action there is an instant attraction that is HOT! I loved Jack and Sophie together. Jack made me swoon! His thoughts about Sophie has me melting and I wish I could spout out his sinfully sweet thoughts. Sophie was a good character too. I didn't find her annoying in fact I kinda thought that she was stubborn and funny at times. Maybe that was just me though.
There were side characters , well okay there was one that I am dying to learn more about! The way it was written I really hope that means there is a future book for that character. There is a great climax scene at the end but I was a little disappointed that there wasn't an update on someone who was majorly involved in all that went down. And I was wondering about the end scene in epilog. Was that a filler or what? Almost made me think something was about to happen. I wish there was a little something more about Jack and Sophie because the epilog felt like it was cut short. Of course I have the uncorrected version so maybe that will be different in the later issue. Overall I loved it and look forward to more from this series.
February 24, 2017
4.5 Stars (Rating for both content and narrater)
Audio very well read by Sophie Westlake....Fast paced and and kept my interest from start to finish.
Audio very well read by Sophie Westlake....Fast paced and and kept my interest from start to finish.
October 2, 2013
Review posted:
Blog rating: C-
Jack, a man who “killed� his true self Sam when he went to work for a special ops team left behind the woman he loved when they were teens living in the same foster home, Sophie. He hadn’t seen her for years but always loved her and when his new mission puts him in direct contact with Sophie, he can’t say no and goes undercover for the op that brings him face to face with the only woman he’s ever loved, and she has no idea who he truly is.
Sophie and Sam were in love, he was her first lover and her protector against the world. But when Sam enlists and leaves Sophie in a new foster home for one month before she can go out on her own, she’s attacked and raped by her foster father. She’s full of hurt and pain and takes it out on Sam, saying some nasty to things to him during their last conversation and it’s the last time they’ve seen each other until now. Sophie suspects her boss and their company is wrapped up in some shady dealings and now she has proof. She also put herself right in the middle of a dangerous operation and not only is her life on the line, but the lives of her friends and anyone else that can be used as leverage against her. Sam, or Jack as he goes by now, realizes how much trouble Sophie is in and while his mission is still to bring down the bad guys who are dealing in arms smuggling using Sophie’s company as a cover, he’s also protecting Sophie with his life.
I was really enjoying this story up until the end, more on that later. I liked the Sam/Jack storyline and while it got dragged out a little too long before he reveals himself to Sophie, I enjoyed their romance. It’s whirlwind, Sophie falling for Jack who’s really the young man she used to love. So in that respect, it’s not too fast, but Sophie’s in the dark for much of the story even though she has her suspicions. The balance between seeing Sophie and Jack fall for each other mixed in with flashbacks to Sophie and Sam’s relationship was a nice counter.
The story had me hooked, it HAD me, up until the end. Sophie and Jack’s relationship felt solid. Yes it was fast, but both were in the same space with their feelings until Sophie gets taken and used as a bargaining chip against Jack. Jack doesn’t want to show his hand to the bad guy so he downplays his feelings towards Sophie so he can get his plan into action. Sophie’s convinced that Jack is just using her, that he doesn’t love her and she’s just a means to an end for him to complete his mission. Ok, whaaaat? It felt like this came out of left field because Sophie was around Jack when he did this same thing with people coming in and out of the story, playing off what he really planned to do by saying one thing and doing another. Yet here’s Sophie, being held and in tears because she means nothing to him. I hated that this was done to this character because up until this point, I was enjoying Sophie, but this put her in the stupid-heroine category fast for me and ruined what had been an engaging story.
I’ll probably come back for the next book, especially if it centers around Jack’s friend Levi who makes an appearance and what we learn about his tragic past has me interested in his story. Targeted had an interesting plot set up for Jack and his back story, a nice romance but the ending left a bitter taste in my mouth.
Blog rating: C-
Jack, a man who “killed� his true self Sam when he went to work for a special ops team left behind the woman he loved when they were teens living in the same foster home, Sophie. He hadn’t seen her for years but always loved her and when his new mission puts him in direct contact with Sophie, he can’t say no and goes undercover for the op that brings him face to face with the only woman he’s ever loved, and she has no idea who he truly is.
Sophie and Sam were in love, he was her first lover and her protector against the world. But when Sam enlists and leaves Sophie in a new foster home for one month before she can go out on her own, she’s attacked and raped by her foster father. She’s full of hurt and pain and takes it out on Sam, saying some nasty to things to him during their last conversation and it’s the last time they’ve seen each other until now. Sophie suspects her boss and their company is wrapped up in some shady dealings and now she has proof. She also put herself right in the middle of a dangerous operation and not only is her life on the line, but the lives of her friends and anyone else that can be used as leverage against her. Sam, or Jack as he goes by now, realizes how much trouble Sophie is in and while his mission is still to bring down the bad guys who are dealing in arms smuggling using Sophie’s company as a cover, he’s also protecting Sophie with his life.
I was really enjoying this story up until the end, more on that later. I liked the Sam/Jack storyline and while it got dragged out a little too long before he reveals himself to Sophie, I enjoyed their romance. It’s whirlwind, Sophie falling for Jack who’s really the young man she used to love. So in that respect, it’s not too fast, but Sophie’s in the dark for much of the story even though she has her suspicions. The balance between seeing Sophie and Jack fall for each other mixed in with flashbacks to Sophie and Sam’s relationship was a nice counter.
The story had me hooked, it HAD me, up until the end. Sophie and Jack’s relationship felt solid. Yes it was fast, but both were in the same space with their feelings until Sophie gets taken and used as a bargaining chip against Jack. Jack doesn’t want to show his hand to the bad guy so he downplays his feelings towards Sophie so he can get his plan into action. Sophie’s convinced that Jack is just using her, that he doesn’t love her and she’s just a means to an end for him to complete his mission. Ok, whaaaat? It felt like this came out of left field because Sophie was around Jack when he did this same thing with people coming in and out of the story, playing off what he really planned to do by saying one thing and doing another. Yet here’s Sophie, being held and in tears because she means nothing to him. I hated that this was done to this character because up until this point, I was enjoying Sophie, but this put her in the stupid-heroine category fast for me and ruined what had been an engaging story.
I’ll probably come back for the next book, especially if it centers around Jack’s friend Levi who makes an appearance and what we learn about his tragic past has me interested in his story. Targeted had an interesting plot set up for Jack and his back story, a nice romance but the ending left a bitter taste in my mouth.
Read
June 16, 2015Review to come.....
April 5, 2024
I would have liked a little more romance with all the action and suspense in this one. Lot of time had to be spent reliving/revealing the past.
March 1, 2018
2.5 stars
November 15, 2015
This one was not for me. It took me 3 days to finish it, a really long time for me. I found it easy to put down the book, so much that I finished 3 other books while in the middle of this one. I just couldn't find much that was good in this book.
I did enjoy the fact that Sam and Sophie cherished the memories of each other, but the continuous flashback got a bit old. I didn't get why Sam didn't try to contact Sophie again, if she had meant that much to him, even though it made it easier for him to turn into Jack.
I had a hard time buying that Jack's boss would send him back to work with Sophie, his first love, all for the sake of closure. I also had a hard time buying into all the reckless actions that Jack did, barely checking in with his boss and even going against his orders. Why was there no reprimands?!
The author's not a bad writer, her sentences were coherent and put together well, but the characters came off as very flat for me. by the end of the book, I felt like I still knew almost nothing about Jack or Sophie other than basic background, and I was incredulous that Sophie only appears to have two friends and no life other than work and home. Jack, similarly seemed to have no other interests besides his love for Sophie and his work. All in all, didn't make it easy for me to connect to them as characters.
The ending was very implausible. It doesn't seem like it would be that easy for someone would be able to get out of that life as easily as Jack did.
After all that, I don't think I'll be continuing on with the series.
I did enjoy the fact that Sam and Sophie cherished the memories of each other, but the continuous flashback got a bit old. I didn't get why Sam didn't try to contact Sophie again, if she had meant that much to him, even though it made it easier for him to turn into Jack.
I had a hard time buying that Jack's boss would send him back to work with Sophie, his first love, all for the sake of closure. I also had a hard time buying into all the reckless actions that Jack did, barely checking in with his boss and even going against his orders. Why was there no reprimands?!
The author's not a bad writer, her sentences were coherent and put together well, but the characters came off as very flat for me. by the end of the book, I felt like I still knew almost nothing about Jack or Sophie other than basic background, and I was incredulous that Sophie only appears to have two friends and no life other than work and home. Jack, similarly seemed to have no other interests besides his love for Sophie and his work. All in all, didn't make it easy for me to connect to them as characters.
The ending was very implausible. It doesn't seem like it would be that easy for someone would be able to get out of that life as easily as Jack did.
After all that, I don't think I'll be continuing on with the series.
April 25, 2016
Action packed from the beginning. This is one of the better book 1 romantic suspense books I've read in a while. I enjoyed this one.
Former marine Jack Stone is the second in command in the NSA team that specializes in undercover work taking out crime rings. Now Jack has been tasked with discovering whose leaking information to the Miami drug lord and working with Keane Flights to smuggle drugs and arms. This new assignment forced Jack to work with Sophie Moreno, a former flame who believed him dead on assignment in Afghanistan.
Sophie came through the foster care system trusting very few people and still nursing the devastation of losing her love Sam when the new agent Jack comes on the scene. So many things about Jack remind Sophie of Sam but she knows that Sam is dead. Can she let go of Sam and move forward with Jack?
I liked this story and enjoyed the unraveling of the mystery. There was action, adventure, mystery, love and most of all, forgiveness. The author did a great job in keeping the pace steady. It was never boring or slow. I was rooting for the couple the whole time and enjoyed the angst filled ride. Sophie Eastlake is one of my favorite narrators because she does a great job differentiating voices. Her recitation kept me engaged to the story from beginning to the end. I can’t wait for book 2.
*Special thanks to Tantor Audio for the audiobook, which was given in exchange for an honest review
Former marine Jack Stone is the second in command in the NSA team that specializes in undercover work taking out crime rings. Now Jack has been tasked with discovering whose leaking information to the Miami drug lord and working with Keane Flights to smuggle drugs and arms. This new assignment forced Jack to work with Sophie Moreno, a former flame who believed him dead on assignment in Afghanistan.
Sophie came through the foster care system trusting very few people and still nursing the devastation of losing her love Sam when the new agent Jack comes on the scene. So many things about Jack remind Sophie of Sam but she knows that Sam is dead. Can she let go of Sam and move forward with Jack?
I liked this story and enjoyed the unraveling of the mystery. There was action, adventure, mystery, love and most of all, forgiveness. The author did a great job in keeping the pace steady. It was never boring or slow. I was rooting for the couple the whole time and enjoyed the angst filled ride. Sophie Eastlake is one of my favorite narrators because she does a great job differentiating voices. Her recitation kept me engaged to the story from beginning to the end. I can’t wait for book 2.
*Special thanks to Tantor Audio for the audiobook, which was given in exchange for an honest review
June 24, 2015
A good Action/Romance story! Good Narration.
This was a really good story. Lots of action, running for your life, kidnapping, killing, espionage and romance.
I really liked the heroine, Sophie, she was a strong female character, smart and witty.
The hero, Jack a/k/a Sam, was kick butt and sexy. Covert operative, is a yes in my book.
Sophie and Jack had great chemistry together. It was not forced or fake it really felt genuine. There was one sex scene that was very mildly (nicely) written, so no hot and steamy sex but the chemistry, attraction and sexual tension was definitely all there.
The story line, plot and the back story was great. There were no TSTL moments by the heroine which was a bonus. I really hate it when the heroine has to do something really stupid, this did not occur so, YAY!
I would have liked more dialogue, what there was of it was good, but I would have liked a lot more.
As for the narration, I think Sophie Eastlake did a very good job. She read with emotion and did a pretty good job on the men's voices and gave everyone their own distinct voice. So it was a solid 4 star listen.
I am going to listen to the next book in the series Bound to Danger, Deadly Ops Book 2.
This was worth the audible credit for sure.
This was a really good story. Lots of action, running for your life, kidnapping, killing, espionage and romance.
I really liked the heroine, Sophie, she was a strong female character, smart and witty.
The hero, Jack a/k/a Sam, was kick butt and sexy. Covert operative, is a yes in my book.
Sophie and Jack had great chemistry together. It was not forced or fake it really felt genuine. There was one sex scene that was very mildly (nicely) written, so no hot and steamy sex but the chemistry, attraction and sexual tension was definitely all there.
The story line, plot and the back story was great. There were no TSTL moments by the heroine which was a bonus. I really hate it when the heroine has to do something really stupid, this did not occur so, YAY!
I would have liked more dialogue, what there was of it was good, but I would have liked a lot more.
As for the narration, I think Sophie Eastlake did a very good job. She read with emotion and did a pretty good job on the men's voices and gave everyone their own distinct voice. So it was a solid 4 star listen.
I am going to listen to the next book in the series Bound to Danger, Deadly Ops Book 2.
This was worth the audible credit for sure.
September 8, 2019
Oh man, what a bloody brilliant read. Once I started I could not put it down, I was even reading whilst cooking! A story chock full of action packed suspense with two brilliant characters. LOVED Jack to bits!
I felt the story was more focussed on the action/suspense rather than the romance but the tension between them was still there throughout the story, and this did not affect the read at all for me.
I was so so happy that they got their second shot at love together, if ever there was a couple deserving their HEA it's Jack and Sophie.
LOVED it!
I felt the story was more focussed on the action/suspense rather than the romance but the tension between them was still there throughout the story, and this did not affect the read at all for me.
I was so so happy that they got their second shot at love together, if ever there was a couple deserving their HEA it's Jack and Sophie.
LOVED it!
November 28, 2013
3.75 Stars~~~~My first book by this author, and I was pleased. Great plot line that didn't become tedious. The leads had good chemistry and tension. Both were likable characters. The book flowed well and didn't drag. ~Enjoyable romantic suspense with a good balance of the genres~
October 2, 2013
Best book she's written! Amazing.
April 5, 2016
This review was originally posted at
After skipping Targeted to start my reading experience with Katie Reus' Deadly Ops with books 2 and 3 I decided it was time to finally go back and read/listen to the first book. After reading 2 and 3 I purchased Targeted on my Nook, then the series was released on audio so I decided to give it a go on audio instead.
While I didn't fall in love with Sophie Eastlake the first I heard her narrate another book I thought I'd give her another go. Sophie does a good job with Targeted. Her voice for the characters was strong, her pacing and emotions of the characters. I'll listen to more of Sophie in the future.
Soap opera plastic surgery trope
I've seen this during my soap opera watching days but Targeted is the first book I've read/listen to that uses this plot device to hide the identity of the hero from the heroine. I thought, "Oh she's [Sophie] going to be pissed/hurt when she finds out." Sam aka Jack Stone (total soap opera name LOL) left Sophie when they were teens to join the Marines
Sam aka Jack Stone (total soap opera name LOL) left Sophie when they were teens to join the Marines. Well, Sam didn't exactly left her, he went to boot camp but something happened to Sophie while he away and she blamed him because he wasn't there to protect her and she didn't want to see him again. Now thirteen years later, Jack is in Sophia's life under cover with the NSA.
Onward and Upward
Even though Targeted wasn't my favorite in the series I'm glad that I backtrack to listen to it, I can now move on to the next two books on my shelf in the series, Edge of Danger (#4) and A Covert Affair (#5). So look out for those reviews later this month.
After skipping Targeted to start my reading experience with Katie Reus' Deadly Ops with books 2 and 3 I decided it was time to finally go back and read/listen to the first book. After reading 2 and 3 I purchased Targeted on my Nook, then the series was released on audio so I decided to give it a go on audio instead.
While I didn't fall in love with Sophie Eastlake the first I heard her narrate another book I thought I'd give her another go. Sophie does a good job with Targeted. Her voice for the characters was strong, her pacing and emotions of the characters. I'll listen to more of Sophie in the future.
Soap opera plastic surgery trope
I've seen this during my soap opera watching days but Targeted is the first book I've read/listen to that uses this plot device to hide the identity of the hero from the heroine. I thought, "Oh she's [Sophie] going to be pissed/hurt when she finds out." Sam aka Jack Stone (total soap opera name LOL) left Sophie when they were teens to join the Marines
Sam aka Jack Stone (total soap opera name LOL) left Sophie when they were teens to join the Marines. Well, Sam didn't exactly left her, he went to boot camp but something happened to Sophie while he away and she blamed him because he wasn't there to protect her and she didn't want to see him again. Now thirteen years later, Jack is in Sophia's life under cover with the NSA.
Onward and Upward
Even though Targeted wasn't my favorite in the series I'm glad that I backtrack to listen to it, I can now move on to the next two books on my shelf in the series, Edge of Danger (#4) and A Covert Affair (#5). So look out for those reviews later this month.
October 16, 2013
I really enjoyed this fast moving romantic suspense. It was also great to have a Cuban American heroine.
February 8, 2016
I read Book 4 in this series first and really liked it. This one was OK, but didn't measure up to the 4th one. I like the series well enough that I'm going to read Book 2 and 3 as well.
September 14, 2017
Katie Reus doesn't put her characters in a situation that she can't write them through. Her plot was good but there were too many sex-on-the-brain interruptions.
A little less on the page fillers and I could bump this up a star. I heard books further along in the series are better. I'll have to give them a try.
April 1, 2017
Not a bad spy thriller, good story, great characters I enjoyed it
April 30, 2022
Hmmm� a bit immature. I chose it because I am always looking for identity themes� hiding out, etc., but my gut said, “don’t do it.� I should have listened.
June 29, 2015
High Action Romantic Suspense “And I've fallen.So hard.I've hit the ground. Gone right through it. Never in my life have I felt this. Nothing like this. I've felt shame and cowardice, weakness and strength. I've known terror and indifference, self-hate and general disgust. I've seen things that cannot be unseen.And yet I've known nothing like this terrible, horrible, paralyzing feeling. I feel crippled. Desperate and out of control. And it keeps getting worse. Every day I feel sick. Empty and somehow aching.Love is a heartless bastard.”� - � Tahereh Mafi, Destroy MeA bad start to a book can stop my read in its tracks, and this one started out, well, bad. Not because the writing is bad, it isn’t, but because I thought it was going to be just another series of bedroom calisthenics with no real story to back it up. Thankfully, the premise sounded promising, so I gave it a couple of chapters to see if it would be worth reading.I am glad I did. Targeted surprised me � in a good way. The story, once you get past the immediate problem, is tightly written, well-paced, and surprisingly free of excessive nookie at the cost of story. That doesn’t mean that this isn’t a ‘romantic suspense� � but it does mean that it is much more suspense than romance, which is just what I like.The premise is interesting � not ‘Oh, I have never seen that before� interesting, but though I have seen it done before, I have never seen it done this well before. Sophie Moreno had a hard life growing up. A very hard life, until she met Sam. Placed in the same foster home, Sophie and Sam form an unbreakable bond. But when placed separately for their last months in the system, and Sophie is brutally raped by her new foster father while her new foster mother stands by, Sophie is broken, unable to bear the agony and shame she feels. And the pain of Sam not being there to protect her from the monster. Contrary to what the sickos into BDSM think � Rape Is NOT Sexy. And Sophie is certain that no one will ever love her again. Not like Sam did, before she was brutalized. Turning her back on him, she sends him away, determined to protect herself from his disgust at what has happened to her.Now, thirteen years later, Sam is no longer Sam but Jack Stone, an undercover agent for an undercover agency hidden within the NSA. Back from a grueling undercover operation in the bowels of a human trafficking ring, Jack just wants to rest, relax, and decompress. But his boss, Wesley Burkhart, Deputy Director of the NSA, has something different in mind. Something that will bring Jack right back to Sophie. For Sophie has seen something she shouldn’t � and a vicious cartel boss will do whatever it takes to track Sophie down and kill her. Now Jack is determined to protect her, while keeping his identity a secret. But their old bond is still there, and keeping his secret may destroy them both.This book, the first in the Deadly Ops series by Katie Reus, shows promise. The action is well written, the characters intriguing, and the storyline kept me riveted. There were some continuity issues that had me scratching my head, but not enough to make me turn off my listen. I am hoping that the same issues don’t show up in the next book, Bound to Danger. These are the only two on Audible, but there are more in the series at Deadly Ops.Sophie Eastlake does a beautiful job of narration. She has quite a catalog with Audible, including the Elder Races, Nikki Glass, and the Chicagoland Vampires series. I would have enjoyed listening to the book just for her narration.If you are looking for a romantic suspense where the suspense is the star, you might give it a try. I wasn’t disappointed. Not a five star read, due to a couple of odd content issues, but a good listen nonetheless.
September 25, 2013
Jack was the perfect hero for Katie Reus’s new romantic suspense series. He is all those things that make a bad ass tough alpha hero swoon worthy. He is part of an elite team of super-secret NSA operatives. His newest assignment brings a past he tried to bury back into his life in a major way. The only woman he has ever loved is employed by the company that has every government agency keeping their eyes on them due to possible illegal activities. Jack knows there is no way Sophie is involved. He ceases the opportunity to get close to her one again and protect her from any and all dangers.
I have noticed that I either love or hate Katie’s heroines. There is no middle ground for me in this department. Sophie is one of those heroines that did absolutely nothing for me. I hated that she worked that way for me. She was put through some tough situations. There was so much potential for her to be one of those heroines that shined for me, but she just never made it happen. Don’t read me wrong here. Sophie is not weak, whiney, or flakey. Some of her reactions were just off to me. Considering her character never lost it while in her numerous stressful situations says a lot. The times she did lose it was completely mind boggling.
I’m pretty sure the next hero, next book was set up in the pages of Targeted. I’m curious. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for the Next Deadly Ops book. I do love a character that will do bad things for completely selfish reasons. If the next book goes where I think it might I will get just that. Characters that walk the line of team good and team bad always have amazing tales.
I have noticed that I either love or hate Katie’s heroines. There is no middle ground for me in this department. Sophie is one of those heroines that did absolutely nothing for me. I hated that she worked that way for me. She was put through some tough situations. There was so much potential for her to be one of those heroines that shined for me, but she just never made it happen. Don’t read me wrong here. Sophie is not weak, whiney, or flakey. Some of her reactions were just off to me. Considering her character never lost it while in her numerous stressful situations says a lot. The times she did lose it was completely mind boggling.
I’m pretty sure the next hero, next book was set up in the pages of Targeted. I’m curious. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for the Next Deadly Ops book. I do love a character that will do bad things for completely selfish reasons. If the next book goes where I think it might I will get just that. Characters that walk the line of team good and team bad always have amazing tales.
October 5, 2013
As I was reading this one I kept waiting for it to live up to the author's other books. It took me 3 days to finish this one, a long time for me. I found it easy to put down the book.
I did enjoy the flashbacks with Sam and Sophie in the past, loved that each of them cherished those memories. I even understood why Sophie pushed Sam away, but didn't get why Sam didn't try to contact her again. Because of that it was easy to see why Sam made the decision to be Jack, he felt he had nothing.
I had a hard time buying that Jack's boss would send him back to work with Sophie, his first love. I also had a hard time buying into all the cowboy actions that Jack did, barely checking in with his boss or even going against his orders.
I was glad with how this one ended, but it doesn't seem like it would be that easy for someone would be able to get out of that life.
I did enjoy the flashbacks with Sam and Sophie in the past, loved that each of them cherished those memories. I even understood why Sophie pushed Sam away, but didn't get why Sam didn't try to contact her again. Because of that it was easy to see why Sam made the decision to be Jack, he felt he had nothing.
I had a hard time buying that Jack's boss would send him back to work with Sophie, his first love. I also had a hard time buying into all the cowboy actions that Jack did, barely checking in with his boss or even going against his orders.
I was glad with how this one ended, but it doesn't seem like it would be that easy for someone would be able to get out of that life.
August 1, 2013
Jack and Sophie thrust back together in Targeted. Jack is aware of their past together, but Sophie is not. Jack has been given a new face and identity due to his job with the NSA.
Physical characters of descriptions randomly appear throughout the story. For example, Wesley's current physical description isn't given until the 3rd quarter to epilogue of the book. Until then I'd been picturing a 40ish, medium height, single man only to discover he's tall, older and had a family. Some characters seem to disappear near the end/resolution also as it's never reveled what happened to them.
Despite this, the flashbacks and story's current action flow together well. The writing is crisp, detailed and action packed. The characters are realistic. Both Jack and Sophie share their points of view and are strong willed personalities.
Overall, a fun action packed read.
Physical characters of descriptions randomly appear throughout the story. For example, Wesley's current physical description isn't given until the 3rd quarter to epilogue of the book. Until then I'd been picturing a 40ish, medium height, single man only to discover he's tall, older and had a family. Some characters seem to disappear near the end/resolution also as it's never reveled what happened to them.
Despite this, the flashbacks and story's current action flow together well. The writing is crisp, detailed and action packed. The characters are realistic. Both Jack and Sophie share their points of view and are strong willed personalities.
Overall, a fun action packed read.
December 29, 2014
Narrated by Sophie Eastlake
Strong start to this one and I'm hoping for a great listen.
Finished now and loved it! Great suspense with two highly likable and fully developed characters. Romance and action are mixed evenly and Sophie Eastlake perfectly performs each true to the author's words. I'll now be looking for more Eastlake narrations.
Strong start to this one and I'm hoping for a great listen.
Finished now and loved it! Great suspense with two highly likable and fully developed characters. Romance and action are mixed evenly and Sophie Eastlake perfectly performs each true to the author's words. I'll now be looking for more Eastlake narrations.
November 3, 2013
a really great read full of action, and the redemption of a man who lost his love and gave up his life but is rediscovering himself as he rediscovers that love and gets to begin life a new. I can't wait to find out whose story will be next though i have my suspicions. Another wonderful series.
Shelved as 'tbr-later'
August 18, 201517 August 2015:
Read
September 14, 2016DNF 57% No he podido con este libro... es demasiado aburrido y predecible. Los personajes son más planos que una hoja y la trama me hacía querer dormir durante 10 años seguidos...
March 11, 2023
This is definitely not your Grandmother's love story read. Lol this is a new author for me and I am looking forward to reading more books by her, Sam and Sophie were foster kids together until Sam joined the Military at 18 and Sophie suffered a horrible rape at the hands of a foster home she was placed in. % years in and Sam "dies" to be reborn as Jack Stone a covert ops operator...Sophie is in the business sector now and has mourned Sam's death since it happened one night she nearly gets caught coming out of a plane hangar after taking pictures of guns and weapons being smuggled and when her life is then threatened Jack Stone comes in to protect her...Can he do his job when Sophie is the love of his life...without telling her who he really is????
Displaying 1 - 30 of 253 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.