SHADOW (Linear Tactical #6) by Janie Crouch-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 16, 2019

Heath Kavanaugh lost years of his life working for a covert agency that ended up being the enemy. Knowing they put something inside his head—constant, incomprehensible whispers—is driving him crazy.

He needs answers, but they’re nowhere to be found.

What he definitely doesn’t need is to fall hard for his Linear teammate’s younger sister, Jacquelyn—the adorable linguistics doctoral student who happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Especially when Heath’s attention puts her directly in the path of a danger he thought was gone for good. To stop it, they’ll have to figure out what’s in his head. And hope it doesn’t destroy them all

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REVIEW:  SHADOW is the sixth instalment in Janie Crouch’s contemporary, adult LINEAR TACTICAL romantic suspense series focusing on a group of former Special Forces soldiers who own and operate Linear Tactical, an Oak Creek, Wyoming business specializing in survival skills, security and protection. This is Heath ‘Shadow’ Kavanaugh, and linguistics specialist Jacquelyn ‘Lyn Norris’ Zimmerman’s story line. SHADOW can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty although I recommend reading the series in order for backstory and cohesion as there is an ongoing premise throughout. There is a slight cross-over with the inclusion of characters from the author’s BREE AND TANNER romantic suspense series.

Told from several third person perspectives including Lyn and Heath SHADOW follows the search for a mole in the biomedical engineering department at Wyoming Commonwealth University. Heath Kavanaugh’s latest assignment comes from the FBI as they hunt for the person(s) responsible for ‘selling’ secrets about the latest government projects but Heath finds himself attracted to PhD undergrad Lyn Norris who will find herself targeted for something she knows nothing about. What ensues is the building relationship between Shadow and Lyn, and the potential fall-out as secrets are revealed, the past comes full circle, and our heroine finds herself in a precarious position when her life hangs in the balance as she struggles to uncover a secret code known to very few.

Heath Kavanaugh was once a part of an unsanctioned government project that resulted in the death and destruction of people he knew. With the continuous messages filtering through his mind, Heath knows that whatever brainwashing experiment was used on his brain is about to come unglued with recent discoveries. Lyn Norris struggles with a life-threatening illness but that hasn’t stopped our heroine from going for what she wants. Battling issues of self-image and low self esteem, Lyn becomes suspicious when Heath begins a slow seduction in an effort to uncover the truth.

The relationship between Lyn and Heath is one of immediate attraction. Heath is unaware of Lyn’s true identity, and her relationship to people Heath already knows. Lyn finds herself on the outside looking in when Heath’s ‘cover’ is blown in an effort to protect Lyn from further harm. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including most of the previous story line couples and Linear Tactical agents, as well as Tanner Dempsey from the author’s Bree and Tanner series.. We are introduced to Lyn’s University co-workers and fellow professors; the requisite evil has many faces.

SHADOW is an action -packed story of family, friendships, betrayal and love; a story of secrets and lies, power and control. The premise is captivating and intriguing; the characters are sassy and colorful; the romance is seductive and sexy. SHADOW is an energetic and fast paced story of romance and suspense.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Cyclone
Eagle
Shamrock
Angel
Ghost
Shadow

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy