This is the book that I have been waiting for! I loved meeting Derek in the sixth book of this series and was really anticipating the romance between him and Elizabeth. I was also kind of ready for another terrorist plot and this book delivered on both counts. While we meet both Derek and Elizabeth briefly in an earlier book, that would in no way impact this one if you are considering picking this one up out of order in the series. The author does a great job orientating readers and making sure they understand that Derek and Elizabeth have at least met before etc.
If you are a fan of thrillers then you will no doubt have Laura Griffin on your radar already but if you haven’t heard of her (like me prior to about 7 weeks ago) then you absolutely need to get this author on your radar! I have featured some of Griffin’s books in the past (The Texas Murder Files) but I hadn’t read any of her books up until about 7 weeks ago when I finally caved. Ever since then I have been knee deep in allllllllllll of her books. While I might love some more than others, overall all the books she has written are fantastic and diverting reads.
I think of all the books that I have read in this series, I think so far this is one of my favorite ones. It comes at a good point in the series as it gives readers something new to read about (counterterrorism) rather than grizzly and horrifying murders. The amount of research and attention to detail in each book is staggering. I feel like Griffin is a master at so many things—-writing sizzling romances, twisty mysteries, and knowing all about police and military procedures! She is truly a master at what she does.
Summary
An FBI agent and a Navy SEAL race against time in New York Times bestselling author Laura Griffin’s newest Tracers novel. “Griffin delivers the goods!” (Publishers Weekly)
FBI agent Elizabeth LeBlanc is still caught in the aftermath of her last big case when she runs into the one man from her past who is sure to rock her equilibrium even more. Navy SEAL Derek Vaughn is back home from a harrowing rescue mission in which he found evidence of a secret terror cell on US soil. Elizabeth knows he’ll do anything to unravel the plot—including seducing her for information. And despite the risks involved, she’s tempted to let him. Together with the forensics experts at the Delphi Center, Derek and Elizabeth are closing in on the truth, but it may not be fast enough to avert a devastating attack…
Following in the bestselling tradition of the Tracers series, including Exposed, Scorched, and Twisted, Beyond Limits pulls out all the stops with Griffin’s most gripping thriller yet. (summary from Goodreads)
Review
This is the second book that features an active Navy SEAL as part of the mystery and romance. From the beginning Derek and Elizabeth have amazing chemistry. Derek is tenacious and isn’t willing to let the object of his affection go without a fight but not in a way that is pushy or anything. He is respectful and gives Elizabeth the space to be a professional woman in a mans world. I never felt like he restricted her in anyway. Sure he was frustrated by her sometimes and tried to protect her but at the same time he understood that she was an FBI agent and she was capable of operating in a man’s world and holding her own. It’s one of the things that I really enjoyed about his character—-how he related to Elizabeth. He treated her as an equal.
I also loved how much chemistry they had together. Derek was this kind of glib lounge individual but he was also serious and resourceful when needed but he was great at defusing hard situations with some humor which I absolutely loved and adored about his character. Not to mention the sex scenes were hot but not overly steamy and graphic. It was a perfect balance of sexy and romantic. Very well done, I would expect nothing less from Griffin as her sex scenes are always tasteful and believable.
I was fascinated by the counterterrorism parts too! For the last three years it’s been all COVID all the time, it almost makes me forget that there are other thing still happening in the world like terrorism. In a post 9/11 world, terrorism was at the forefront of news reporting and often the topic of most news shows etc but now it’s all COVID. So reading something that was about terrorism almost felt like a break! This one has so much fast paced action and so many plot twists that I couldn’t get enough of it. As I mentioned earlier, this is one of my favs in the series thus far! Do not miss this book or this series!
Book Info and Rating
Format: 400 pages, kindle edition
Published: January 27th 2015 by Pocket Books
ISBN: 9781451689358
Review copy provided by personal collection. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.
Rating: 5 stars
Genre: Mystery, thriller, romance
The Lit Bitch 