Don't Look Back: An Unbroken Heroes Novel

Dawn Ryder

Aug 2018 · Unbroken Heroes Book 6 · Sold by St. Martin's Paperbacks

About this ebook

In DON'T LOOK BACK by Dawn Ryder, she is the only woman worth fighting - or dying - for...

Shadow Ops Agent Thais Sinclair has sworn off falling in love for good. It’s what’s kept her calculated, steady, and on-task in a world dominated by men. She needs nothing and no one but her own wits and strength to guide her. But when she’s slated to shadow the one man who could reveal their entire operation, all bets are off.


Dunn Bateson, illegitimate son of a Southern debutante, has always had to fight harder than the rest to get what he wants. Now, the last thing he needs is Thais following his every move. She is so strong, sly, seductive. . . No woman has ever captivated him so completely. Thais may only have room for her mission in her heart, but is Dunn up to the challenge of showing her that she’s worth every risk he is willing to take?


The Unbroken Heroes series is:

“Heart-stopping.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Enthralling...a must-read for fans of romantic suspense and military heroes.”
—The Reading Café


“Sexy, rugged, and explosive.”
—#1 New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh

Ratings and reviews

Thais may only have room in her heart for her mission, but Dunn is up to the challenge of showing her that she’s worth every risk in this fast paced and smooth flowing novel full of explosive action, thrilling suspense, passionate romance and electrical sparks. Thrills and excitement abound throughout the story as the suspense keeps readers hanging on to the edge of their seat with lots of twist and turns and pulse pounding events keeps anticipation building. The candidate running for the Presidency is up to no good once again and wreaking havoc within the Shadow Ops Agency and the heroic and determined agents which keeps the turmoil and the suspense growing to epic proportions all the way up to the startling explosive conclusion of the conflict. Thais and Dunn are two characters that are strong and considerable characters that are full of electrical chemistry that has sparks flying in every direction as they fight to keep a relationship from happening even after they give in to the undeniable attraction which keeps the emotional turmoil high throughout but gives readers an in depth and insightful look at the characters psyches as they fight the bad guys and continue toward their happily ever after despite the reasons why they shouldn’t allow that to happen. The story could be read as a standalone in the series, however it really is much more enjoyable read in sequential order in able to better understand the overall plot and to get to know all the characters because while this story is Thais and Dunn’s romance, all the characters are essential to the plot and the points of view switches between them.

One man consumed with gaining more power and hold over others leads the Shadow Ops teams on a wild adventure. There is plenty of action and intrigue with tons of twist and turns that will keep you flying thru the pages. Dunn has been a recluse for good reason, he also has a rep for being someone you don't mess with. His ties to the Shadow Ops team keeps him in the loop but his mother being the target makes him ready to cross whatever lines he has to to keep her safe. It wont be easy since she is as full of piss and vinegar and as he is and stubborn to boot. Thais follows the rules and assigned to Dunn, the man that makes her want to toss it all. I love how this author puts this all together. The action and intrigue with the hot and steamy. This is a great story of making changes for love and taking care of family. I love the blend of it all and this author's style. I haven't read her before but her characters make it worth the effort. Loved Thais, she's strong and independent and while she doesn't need a man she knows when it's time to deal with wants versus needs. Great read can't wait for more from the author of this standalone read.

DON’T LOOK BACK is the sixth (and final ?) instalment in Dawn Ryder’s contemporary, adult UNBROKEN HEROES erotic, romantic suspense series focusing on the men and women who work for an elite Shadow Ops Team made up of ex-SEALs and other special forces warriors. This is reclusive British businessman Dunn Bateson, and Shadows Ops Agent Thais Sinclair’s story line. DON’T LOOK BACK should probably not be read as a stand alone; I recommend reading the series in order for back story and cohesion as there is an on-going premise throughout the series. Told from several third person perspectives including Dunn and Thais DON’T LOOK BACK is the culmination of six story lines focusing on the political atmosphere surrounding the US Federal elections. Dunn Bateson is the illegitimate son of a powerful woman running for office, a woman who has figured prominently in the upcoming elections for the US Congress, but it is Dunn’s attraction to Shadow Ops agent Thais Sinclair that finds our couple at odds with one another when Thais is assigned protection duty to the man that pushes all of her buttons. With the political campaign pushes into high gear, Miranda Delacroix continues to be targeted by the front-running opponent, an opponent who is not against using hired assassins and dupes in his bid for higher office. As the Shadow Ops team continues to ‘shadow’ Miss Delacroix, a more dark and sinister mind begins to unravel in his attempts to destroy them all. What ensues is the building romance between Thais and Dunn, and the fall-out as a series of attempts on the lives of the people they love finds the Shadow Ops team pulling out all the stops to serve and protect. The relationship between Thais and Dunn is fraught with the palpable sexual attraction that does not go unnoticed by the Shadow Ops team, an attraction that is questioned by the people in charge. Both Dunn and Thais have been burned in the past- used by the people professing their love. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text. The world building follows several paths and several perspectives as the Shadow Ops team must work overtime to take down the man in question, a man whose need to win at all costs could very well cost them all of their lives. Once again, similar to all of the previous story lines, the back and forth between numerous points of view is frenzied and disconcerting- the affect may be too erratic for some readers as the story line relentlessly and rapidly jumps between different perspectives without so much as a break or introduction. It can be confusing and unsettling from paragraph to paragraph, numerous times throughout each chapter, or within a single page, such that the reader may have to re-read the previous passages to follow the jump in perspectives. DON’T LOOK BACK is a story of suspense, political intrigue, power and control. The premise is intriguing and action-packed; the characters are animated, dynamic and edgy; the romance is passionate and seductive. If you can look past the frantic change in perspectives, DON’T LOOK BACK is a fitting conclusion to Dawn Ryder’s UNBROKEN HEROES.

About the author

Dawn Ryder is the contemporary romance pen name of a bestselling author of historical romances—her official naughty inner child. The author of Dangerous to Know, she is commercially published in mass market and trade paper, and digi-first published with trade paper releases. She is hugely committed to her career as an author, as well as to other authors and to her readership. She lives in Southern California.