Hotshot (Dark Ops, #2) in Alpha Heroes & Spitfire Heroines

Nov 23, 2008 Auntee rated it really liked it

Shelves: romantic-suspense, catherine-mann, men-in-uniform, 2009_reads

For a book that started out sort of slow and meandering, this one really picked up the pace and had me hooked by the half-way mark. I think the initial problem I had with it wasn't in the characters, but the plot about gangs and legislation involving gang violence. I just wasn't all that hooked on the plot. But once the relationship between the hero and heroine started to develop, I got more involved.

Shay Bassett's a reformed wild child, now a responsible nurse volunteering her time at a youth c For a book that started out sort of slow and meandering, this one really picked up the pace and had me hooked by the half-way mark. I think the initial problem I had with it wasn't in the characters, but the plot about gangs and legislation involving gang violence. I just wasn't all that hooked on the plot. But once the relationship between the hero and heroine started to develop, I got more involved.

Shay Bassett's a reformed wild child, now a responsible nurse volunteering her time at a youth center, manning a suicide hot-line in a gang infested part of Cleveland. Shay understands and can relate to the neighborhood youth; she had a wild and troubled teenage past, and problems with her military father who wasn't always there for her. After a particularly painful incident that nearly cost her her life, she slowly began to turn her life around. Now she's getting ready to testify in a Congressional hearing about the escalating gang activity in Cleveland, but it looks like someone wants to prevent that from happening.

Air Force Major Vince "Vapor" Deluca hasn't seen Shay since one horrible night that changed their lives seventeen years ago. Now his former mentor (and Shay's father) asks for his help keeping an eye on Shay. The FBI has been monitoring the increased gang activity in Cleveland and their possible ties to terrorists, and suspect Shay may somehow be involved. While Vince hasn't been in touch with Shay since his own former gang member days, he can't believe that she would be involved in terrorist activities. Since he credits Shay's father Don with turning his life around, he's happy to help. And he wouldn't mind getting a look at the girl who almost got to him all those years ago.

To make a long story short, Shay and Vince meet up again, find the fire and passion is still there after 17 years, but this time they do something about it. It doesn't take long before Shay is off the suspect list, especially when she keeps having to dodge attempts on her life. Vince vows to keep her safe, and their forced close contact ignites something in both of them that's been on the back burner all these years. He can't resist her long, sexy legs; she can't get enough of his shaved head, and intimidating, muscular, tatooed body. Hot bedroom scenes ensue. But Shay has some hangups about military men due to a rather tenuous relationship with her father. Will she trust Vince enough to let him into her heart and reveal the painful secrets of her past that he knows nothing about?

Like I said, I wasn't too interested in the whole gang activity plot. It was kind of ho-hum for me. And until the relationship between Shay and Vince started to heat up and get interesting, I was just biding my time. But then things started coming together with the plot and the relationships, and I couldn't put it down. I really admired Shay for turning her life around and making something of herself and wanting to help the teens of her hometown. I thought her relationship with her father was rather interesting; she had doubts about his love for her because he wasn't always there for her emotionally or physically, but he truly did care for her, just wasn't effective communicating that to her. Her father Don had his own rather hot romance with an alpha female FBI agent that at times upstaged the main romance of Shay and Vince. Fifty-six year old Don even had some hot bedroom moments himself! I also loved and admired Vince's character. Beneath his gruff and intimidating appearance was a kind heart and gentle soul--he was really one good guy. And Shay and Vince together really cooked. Perfectly matched couple.

The book built to a very suspenseful (if at times hard to believe) conclusion, involving a suicide bomber, a kidnapping, a birth, a smuggling of illegal arms into the country, and a wild ride in an experimental Air Force plane. Great fun.

Although there wasn't a whole lot of military action going on since Vince was on leave, the author did manage to work in the other members of his squadron, who assisted in some hi-tech surveillance of gang members. It was nice to get an update on Jimmy 'Hotwire' Gage and to anticipate the future stories yet to be told about the other guys.

If your're a fan of hot military romance, you'll probably enjoy this series. While it wasn't quite as good for me as the first book in the series, Defender, it did hold my interest once it got going and got better and better as I kept reading. A pretty solid if unspectacular effort. 4 stars. ...more

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Mar 02, 2009 Shawna rated it really liked it

Shelves: hero-im-gaga-over, badasses-hunks-in-leather, hero-stud-mantel-hall-of-fame, reunions-are-sweeter-second-chances, cop-bodyguard-govop-merc-military, hero-tattalizing, romantic-suspense, quick-read-romance, im-a-cover-hottie-ho, why-do-good-girls-like-bad-boys

4 陆 stars 鈥� Romantic Suspense

I liked 鈥楬otshot鈥�, the second book in Catherine Mann鈥檚鈥楧ark Ops鈥� series even better than the first for one main reason: Vince 鈥淰apor鈥� DeLuca...he鈥檚 positively yummy! The romance in 鈥淗otshot鈥� is much steamier than in 鈥淒efender鈥�, which was another added bonus for me!

The military themed 鈥楧ark Ops鈥� romantic suspense series features a squadron of undercover test pilots, with a wide range of backgrounds and expertise, engaging in top secret missions to save the day (and t 4 陆 stars 鈥� Romantic Suspense

I liked 鈥楬otshot鈥�, the second book in Catherine Mann鈥檚鈥楧ark Ops鈥� series even better than the first for one main reason: Vince 鈥淰apor鈥� DeLuca...he鈥檚 positively yummy! The romance in 鈥淗otshot鈥� is much steamier than in 鈥淒efender鈥�, which was another added bonus for me!

The military themed 鈥楧ark Ops鈥� romantic suspense series features a squadron of undercover test pilots, with a wide range of backgrounds and expertise, engaging in top secret missions to save the day (and the girl).

The operation in 鈥淗otshot鈥� involves Major Vince 鈥淰apor鈥� DeLuca being tasked with assuming the role of bodyguard for his former mentor鈥檚 daughter, Shay Bassett, who鈥檚 a nurse at a Cleveland youth center that鈥檚 overrun with gang violence. It seems Shay is scheduled to speak at a Congressional hearing to beseech for more funding, and that a terrorist group recruiting gang members for their own agenda wants to keep her quiet...permanently. Vince鈥檚 team is assigned to bring down the terrorist group and his mission is to protect Shay. Of course there鈥檚 a complication in that Vince and Shay share a volatile, unresolved history from when they were troubled teens together 17 years ago that makes it impossible for them to keep things platonic.

Former bad boy biker, test pilot Vince 鈥淰apor鈥� 鈥淗otshot鈥� DeLuca is a 鈥楳ajor鈥� (no pun intended) hottie! He鈥檚 got the whole big, hard body, shaved head, Ray-Bans, tattoos, biker bad-ass thing going on, but yet he鈥檚 funny, tender, sweet, protective without being overbearing, patient, and thoughtful, and he recognizes the good thing that he and Shay have together pretty quick and is determined to hold on to her this time around.

鈥淗otshot鈥� is a great romantic suspense and a quick read at only 280 pages with equal parts action, suspense, and steamy romance with a sexy former biker bad boy turned flyboy and a strong heroine. I鈥檓 looking forward to Tech Sergeant Mason 鈥淪mooth鈥� Randolph鈥檚 story in book three 鈥淩enegade鈥� that鈥檚 slated for release in January 2010. 4.5 stars! ...more

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Aug 05, 2013 Mareli rated it really liked it

I don't know what problem I have with CM books but I always have to force myself at the beginning because I don't feel involved just from the start. It's like a slower furnace getting hotter slowly.

But in the end the book is really great. Vance "Vapor" and Shay were friends, with a very troubled youth but Vance had been rescued by Shay's father and now is a pilot. She works with troubled teens and they have to work together against a terroristic alarm that involves some of Shay's teen.

A bit lo ...more

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May 06, 2011 Dee rated it really liked it

Shelves: romantic-suspense

A solid read from Catherine Mann. I enjoyed meeting Vince in Defender and was looking forward to reading more about him. I liked both His & Shay's character. On the outside both appeared to be strong but underneath they had their insecurities and problems that life throws at them.

I would have given this a 5 star except that I expected sparks to be coming off them a lot sooner than it did. These two characters had known each other since they were kids and had apparantly loved each other and felt ...more

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Aug 07, 2009 Colleen rated it liked it

Shelves: romantic-suspense, 2010, own-book, bodyguards-military-themed

Good book, but nothing very exciting. The gang plot just did not do it for me - I found my eyes glazing over in several areas of the book. I did enjoy the relationship between Vince and Shay though. Definitely had some sizzle and I liked their snarky banter. Would have enjoyed some more info on Jimmy & Chloe (from the first book Defender) - all this book told us is that they were still together. I've ordered the next book in the series Renegade so I'll definitely keep going with the series, I ju ...more

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