SHAMROCK (Linear Tactical #3) by Janie Crouch-a review

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About the book: Release Date December 4, 2018

Every mission has a price.
He never meant for her to pay it.

Aiden has never left anyone behind. Not a comrade and certainly not an innocent. But when an undercover mission goes wrong, he’s forced to abandon a woman trapped in a human trafficking ring.

Violet learned brutally that no one is promised a happy ending. She knows Aiden blames himself for his part, but she refuses to let her abduction define the rest of her life.

She won’t be a victim again. And she’s going after what she wants: Aiden.

Watching Violet transform herself into a fierce warrior is the sexiest thing Aiden has ever seen. The honorable plan would be to stay away from her—let her heal and grow without the shadow of his mistakes clouding her progress—even though every instinct tells him to claim her for his own.

But when they discover the danger they thought they’d left behind is closer than ever, they’ll have to confront their fears and fight side-by-side in order to survive.

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REVIEW: SHAMROCK is the third 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 thirty-three year old, Special Forces Green Beret Aiden ‘Shamrock’ Teague, and twenty-two year old, engineering student/baker Violet Collingwood’s story line. SHAMROCK can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalment is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: SHAMROCK contains scenes of graphic violence and sexual situations that may not be suitable for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Aiden and Violet) SHAMROCK follows the building romance and relationship between thirty-three year old, Special Forces Green Beret Aiden ‘Shamrock’ Teague, and twenty-two year old, engineering student/baker Violet Collingwood. Working undercover as an arms dealer for Linear Tactical, Special Forces Green Beret Aiden Teague would come face to face with his future in the guise of a young woman forced into sexual slavery against her will. Leaving behind the woman with the terrified eyes finds our hero putting a plan into motion to take down the people responsible, and rescue our heroine from the evil within. Enter twenty-two year old, engineering student/baker Violet Collingwood, and the woman with whom Aiden will fall in love. What ensues is the building relationship between Aiden and Violet, and the potential fall-out as Violet is targeted for who she is, and what she knows; and Aiden struggles with his attraction to a woman he believes needs time to recover before starting something new.

Violet Collingwood is a genius; a chemical engineering student who prefers the chemical reactions of baking sweets to that of a sterile lab tucked away in a secret building far from the man that she is growing to love. Aiden Teague’s attraction to Violet is swift and fierce but our hero battles between head and heart knowing Violet has had little time in her recovery to accept what happened or what night have been.

The relationship between Violet and Aiden is one of immediate attraction but Violet was a prisoner, and Aiden was her would-be rescuer. Hoping to seduce our hero into her bed, Violet finds herself on the receiving end of rejection by the man who stole her heart. Biding his time until Violet was ready, Aiden will soon discover there is more to Violet than meets the eye. 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 colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters. We are reintroduced to Finn Bollinger and Charlie Devereaux (Eagle #2), Zac Mackay and Anne Griffin (Cyclone #1) Linear Tactical warrior Dorian Lindstrom; Finn’s sister and local waitress Waverly ‘Wavy’ Bollinger, Sheriffs Curtis Nelson, and Jordan Reiss, a young woman whose presence in Oak Creek, Wyoming is upsetting to most of the town residents; Violet’s brother Gabe Collingwood, and their parents’ best friend Edward Appleton. The requisite evil has many faces. Jordan and Gabe’s story line is next in Angel.

SHAMROCK is a story of family and friendships; betrayal and lies; recovery and healing. The premise is raw and real; the characters are animated, stubborn and spirited; the romance is seductive and hot. SHAMROCK is an edgy and energetic story of romantic suspense.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Cyclone
Eagle
Shamrock

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

USA TODAY bestselling author Janie Crouch writes what she loves to read: passionate romantic suspense. She is a winner and/or finalist of multiple romance literary awards including the Golden Quill Award for Best Romantic Suspense, the National Reader’s Choice Award, and the coveted RITA© Award by the Romance Writers of America.

Janie recently relocated with her husband and their four teenagers to Germany (due to her husband’s job as support for the U.S. Military), after living in Virginia for nearly 20 years. When she’s not listening to the voices in her head (and even when she is), she enjoys engaging in all sorts of crazy adventures (200-mile relay races; Ironman Triathlons, treks to Mt. Everest Base Camp) traveling, and movies of all kinds.
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Her favorite quote: “Life is a daring adventure or nothing.” ~ Helen Keller.

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