Redwood (Linear Tactical #11) by Janie Crouch-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 12, 2021

Zimmerman. Military codename: REDWOOD. This former Special Forces soldier will protect Oak Creek from any threat.
Even one that comes in the form of a delicate blonde with haunted eyes.

A tiny town in Wyoming and the fake ID in her pocket are Lexi Johnson’s last chance. She’s used her all her resources to escape the danger that hounds her. A danger the whole world would agree she brought on herself.

She just wants a chance to start over, to rest for a moment, but the town’s upstanding and oh so sexy sheriff is determined to get to the truth behind her lies.

Even if it gets them both killed.

••••••

REVIEW:REDWOOD is the eleventh instalment in Janie Crouch’s contemporary, adult LINEAR TACTICAL erotic, romantic suspense series focusing on the men and women who work for Linear Tactical. This is former Special Forces soldier Gavin Zimmerman, and waitress Lexi Johnson’s story line. REDWOOD can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: Some of the events of REDWOOD cross over with, and run parallel to the events of book nine BABY, and book ten STORM, as well as the author’s BREE AND TANNER thriller series.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Gavin and Lexi) REDWOOD follows the building but acrimonious relationship between former Special Forces soldier Gavin Zimmerman, and waitress Lexi Johnson. Lexi Johnson’s arrival in Oak Creek, Wyoming stirs the interest of the men who work for Linear Tactical but none more so than our hero Gavin Zimmerman. Something is wrong; Lexi is obviously in hiding in the small town of Oak Creek, and Gavin is determined to uncover the truth about the woman that is calling to his heart. As Gavin struggles to gather information about Lexi Johnson, Lexi battles between head and heart knowing if and when her secrets are revealed, she will find herself on the run, once again. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Lexi and Gavin, and the potential fall-out when the truth is revealed, and Lexi’s past demands everything and more.

Lexi Johnson has a stalker, and in this the police are reluctant to move forward, aware that our heroine’s past leaves questions of believability and truth.

The relationship between Lexi and Gavin is tempestuous at best. Gavin is desperate to uncover the truth, and in doing so pushes Lexi one too many times, and in the end, our heroine is forced to confront her past, placing herself in the direct line of fire. Gavin struggles with Lexi’s secrets and lies, and when the truth is revealed, our hero reveals a different attitude that directly affects our Lexi going forward. The $ex scenes are intimate and intense, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

Once again, there is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters, most of whom we met in the previous instalments. As the team at Linear Tactical head to the islands for Zac and Annie’s wedding (Cyclone #1), Lexi remains behind until a few words of advice push our heroine to go for the man that she loves.

REDWOOD is a story of secrets and lies; betrayal and revenge; family, relationships, power and abuse. The premise is intriguing and captivating; the romance is seductive and passionate ; the characters are broken, energetic and dynamic.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Cyclone
Eagle
Shamrock
Angel
Ghost
Shadow
Echo
Phoenix
Baby
Storm