Fallen (Deep Ops #2) by Rebecca Zanetti-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 24, 2019

Too quiet. A talented hacker who got caught, Brigid Banaghan is now forced to work with a secret Deep Ops unit. But she won’t reveal any more to these renegade Feds than she has to. Especially not to Raider Tanaka, her control freak of a bodyguard and handler. It’s enough that his body is tensed for action and his heated gaze is always on her . . .

Too sharp. Raider knows there’s more to his new assignment than he’s been told. Why send a deadly agent of his experience to guard a computer genius—even a gorgeous, unpredictable, undisciplined one? But when Brigid’s estranged father is named in an investigation into Boston’s organized crime, Raider’s mind switches onto high alert, just like his senses . . .

Too close. To clear her father’s name, Brigid needs Raider’s help. The Unit’s idea that she bring a straight-laced Fed in as her “fiancé” won’t fly, though—not unless Raider can release his inner bad boy and become the rebel Brigid can’t resist

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REVIEW: FALLEN is the second instalment in Rebecca Zanetti’s contemporary, adult DEEP OPS romantic suspense series focusing on the men and women who work for the HDD (Homeland Defense Department) and Angus Force’s Requisition Force Team. This is Special agent Raider Tanaka, and computer hacker Brigid Banaghan’s story line. FALLEN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary but I recommend reading the series in order for back story and history with the secondary characters.

Told from several third person perspectives including Raider and Brigid FALLEN follows Brigid and Raider as they go undercover in an effort to infiltrate Boston’s organized crime. With her father a potential suspect and one time member of the targeted group, Brigid struggles with what has to be done, and the secrets she keeps to protect her life. What ensues is the fake relationship that turns into something more between Raider and Brigid, and the potential fall-out as the undercover operatives find themselves targeted in return.

Brigid Banaghan works for the Deep Ops unit of the HDD but Brigid keeps secret the truth behind her recent release from prison for hacking government computers. Working for Angus Force gives Brigid Banaghan purpose, a purpose that covers the lies she is desperate to keep concealed. Raider Tanaka is currently working as Brigid Banaghan’s handler but working together on an undercover operation finds Raider getting into character including a romantic relationship with our storyline heroine. As Brigid and Raider fall deeper into their assignment, secrets are revealed, and more than one player is desperate to keep hidden the past.

The relationship between Raider and Brigid begins as a professional assignment that soon turns into something more. Raider and Brigid find themselves on the receiving end of one too many attacks, attacks that often result in Raider fighting for his life. Hoping to keep up appearances, Brigid and Raider take their relationship to the next level, but in doing so place Brigid in the direct line of fire. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including former police detective and undercover operative Malcolm West, and Pippa Smith, (Hidden #1), Requisition Force team leader Angus Force, and members: former Lieutenant Commander Clarence Wolfe who carries a kitten in his pocket, and Angus Force’s quirky whiskey guzzling, lipstick eating German shepherd Roscoe: FBI psychiatrist Dr. Nari Zhang; Special Agents Tom Rutherford, and Kurt Fields, journalist and crime reporter Dana Mullberry, as well as Brigid’s father Sean Banaghan. The requisite evil has many faces. Dana and Wolfe’s story is next in BROKEN.

The world building continues to focus on the undercover ops, and Angus Force’s desperate search to prove a rogue agent not only didn’t die, but the FBI has known all along.

FALLEN is an intriguing with a spicy and character driven premise; energetic undercover agents, charming alpha hero, and arrogant bad guys. Rebecca Zanetti pulls the reader into an edgy and intense, dramatic addition to her DEEP OPS romantic, suspense series.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews

Hidden
Taken (1.5)
Fallen

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy