Final Siege

Scarlett Cole

Jan 2018 · Love Over Duty Book 2 · Sold by St. Martin's Paperbacks

About this ebook

"Cole is a genius at weaving together heart-racing, suspenseful moments with scorching intimacy and real characters." - USA Today

Hard, hot, and exhilarating, a sexy ex-Navy SEAL and a headstrong investigative journalist get a second chance at love in Final Siege by Scarlett Cole.

IN THE LINE OF FIRE.
Former SEAL Malachai “Mac” MacCarrick is all about the future he’s created with his Navy brothers in Eagle Securities, taking assignments in the most dangerous places, and doing things no one but ex-military would attempt. But when an urgent phone call brings his troubled past—and the woman he once loved—into the present, it’s a chance to redeem himself that he can’t refuse.

STRAIGHT TO THE HEART...
An investigative journalist researching an explosive story, Delaney Shapiro tells herself she got over Mac—and his role in her brother’s death—a long time ago. But the first moment she sees him at her bedside in an overseas hospital, she knows it’s not true. Every moment together rekindles the desire that once burned between them, and now that she’s a target for an emerging Russian arms dealer, Mac won’t let her out of his sight. To protect her, he’ll risk it all—including his life...


“Non-stop action and heart-pounding romance...a must-read for romantic suspense fans!”
—Cynthia Eden, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author on Under Fire

Ratings and reviews

***4 ‘Put A Line In The Concrete’ Stars*** Have you ever read a book that you really enjoyed and yet in the end a few little things had you wrestling with just how much you loved it and why, which leads to a bit more waffling over the rating and simply messing with your head? If you haven’t, you’re lucky, but Final Siege has had my already over thinking mind working overtime. It isn’t that I didn’t like the book, hell I did the whole “Let me just take a peak” thing and didn’t really stop until about six chapters in because I was hooked, but those couple of things have made my head go a little wonky despite how much I enjoyed everything else. Let’s start off on a good note though. Mac. I adored Mac. He has honor tattoo’d on to his heart and soul. The man is simply a GOOD man. His loyalty knows no bounds and when he sets his sights on a goal, a category 5 hurricane won’t stop him from achieving it. He’s confident and definitely has the alpha thing going on, but doesn’t go into asshat territory. Delaney. Here’s where things get a little murky. I loved that she wanted to make the world a better place by bringing those intent on doing harm to justice. Her determination along with a good dose of stubborness to ensure that she accumulated factual data was something I admired. But on the personal side, I liked her, but didn’t love her. Some of her actions/reactions and her excuse(s) for them had me wanting to shake her because they had me looking at her as if she were a toddler throwing a tantrum for not getting their way. But when she was acting like a sensible adult, I did find her sweet and funny and really wanted to get to know that person. Second chance romances are always rocky, no matter the reason for the why they didn’t work out the first time around, and while Mac and Delaney’s wasn’t the most OTT angsty I’ve ever read, they still drove me batshit crazy. I want to get more into things (I’ve written and deleted this part at least four times now) but that would give away a lot of the story. What it boils down to as good as I am with the outcome I’m still not all too sure if I believe they truly fit together. The only reason I say I’m good with it is because Mac really believed with his entire being that she was his and was always meant to be and I love him so much that I want him happy. Even though I’m not all in on the HEA part, I still really enjoyed the book. The suspense aspect definitely kept me on my toes throughout the book, but what really kept me turning the pages (outside of needing to see Mac and Delaney FINALLY have it out) were the secondary characters (which should come as no surprise). I loved catching up with Six and Lou and how they were settling in as a couple, I enjoyed the little tastes of each of the Eagle Securities personalities and watching them interact, whether it be on a mission or just hanging out. I cannot wait for Cabe’s book and I’m really hoping that Ms. Cole has something simmering in her head for Mac’s siblings because I REALLY want to get know them all better. ~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~

Two and a half stars. So I quite liked the first book in this new series, the heroine had a brain and was unusual, I didn't really warm to the hero and heroine but the first book in a new series can often be a bit 'off' as the author finds their feet so I was looking forward to the second book. Delaney Shapiro was madly in love with her older brother Brock's best friend Malachi 'Mac' MacCarrick until the day her brother died, being goaded to jump off a cliff by Mac. Her father died shortly afterwards and her mother became an alcoholic. Fourteen years later and she has not seen or spoken to Mac since her brother's funeral. Mac is now a former Navy SEAL who has set up Eagle Securities with Brock's other friends. As usual, these are all military and do super secret security stuff. One day Mac gets a call from a military hospital in Germany, Delaney is a journalist and had been kidnapped, drugged and tortured in Tajikistan following a story about US companies being complicit in arming the Taliban. In her delirium Delaney asks for Mac and he comes to her aid. Reunited after fourteen years Mac is still just as much in love with Delaney as he ever was, but she can never forgive him for causing the deaths of her beloved brother and father. Delaney comes back to San Diego but soon believes that she is being followed and a man tries to break into her apartment whilst she is in there. Obviously she is on to something with her investigation but irritatingly she doesn't know what. I didn't really enjoy this book, although I read it through to the end. Delaney (as many others have said) acts like a petulant teenager, refusing to listen to Mac's explanation of what really happened that day and insisting on hating him, whilst also relying upon Mac to keep her safe from the men following her. I didn't really understand why Mac loved her still, and if he called her Buttons once he called her it 49 times (okay all 49 instances in the book might not all be the annoying nickname) - it's a stupid nickname. This book sat uneasily in that grey area between true romantic suspense and light-weight romance with a bit of a mystery. The plot was all over the place (and had to stop for frequent bouts of bonking as Delaney and Mac had sex on every available surface), I still don't have a grasp on WHY the men were chasing Delaney, because frankly until a source gives the team A REALLY BIG CLUE they are totally in the dark. So there was too much sex and feelings for a romantic suspense but too much plot for a mystery romance. I don't think it helped that I have also confused the arc in the first book with another book (which I now have to try and find) where there are mysterious goings on in the town where the good guys have created their compound - I was looking for that arc! I still love Scarlett Cole as an author, her recent book Nikan Rebuilt was a rollercoaster of emotions, but I'm afraid this book didn't do it for me. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Mac and Delaney are strong, compelling characters that reach out and grab readers’ attention from the very beginning. Their relationship is a rocky road full of emotional turmoil and suspense throughout the story and the author has brought them to vivid life ensuring that the readers want to get know Mac and Delaney and their story. The attraction between the hero and heroine sizzles with lots of burning passion as the romance heats up the pages. Anticipation builds and gets the adrenaline pumping throughout the story as danger stalks Delaney while Mac and his Eagle Security team members try to keep her alive and help fit the pieces of her story together to bring down a bunch of bad guys. The story has lots of twists and turns to keep readers on their toes along with thrills that add lots of excitement throughout the pages of this steady to fast paced story. Final Siege is the first book that I have read of Scarlett Coles and I have to say that she does a great job of bring her world and her characters to life. She also provided just enough information to spark my curiosity and ensure that I am want to read the first book to find out what happened and since she had me ensnared by the Eagle Security team, of course I can’t wait to read the next book as well

About the author

Born in England, Scarlett Cole traveled the world, living in Japan and the United States before settling in Canada where she met her own personal hero – all six and a half feet of him. She now lives with her husband and children in Manchester, England where she's at work on her next book. She is the author of The Strongest Steel.