Exit Strategy by Lena Diaz – a Review
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Description:
When Sabrina Hightower awakens to the sound of an intruder, she figures he’s there to rob her, murder her— or worse. She doesn’t expect to be carried off by a muscle-bound stud with male-model good looks… or that he came to rescue her.
Mason Hunt became an enforcer with EXIT Inc. to eliminate the bad guys—terrorists, militia groups, all those who would do America harm. But his latest target is innocent. If EXIT could lie about sultry, strong-willed Sabrina, what darker truths might they be concealing?
Going rogue in the rugged North Carolina mountains, Mason risks everything to keep Sabrina close, especially now that EXIT’s lethal assassins are chasing them down. The heat is on… but it’s nothing compared to the slow burn of seduction.
Review:
Killer opening scenes have become synonymous with Lena Diaz. Sabrina slipping on blood while scrambling away from the stranger who broke into her house puts you so on edge, you’re holding in an empathetic breath. EXIT Strategy is the first book of a new series although the agency was introduced in her Deadly Games series by the delicious Buchanan brothers. Never fear: Ms. Diaz reclaims her stride with excellent, suspenseful, thrilling writing.
“You’re here to protect me, right? Someone other than my family is after me? They want to hurt me?”…
He shook his head as if she were daft. “They don’t want to hurt you, Miss Hightower. They want you dead…
A renewed stab of fear shot straight to her gut. “Why are you so sure?” she whispered.
“Because I’m the one they hired to kill you.”
How do you rationalize desire for the man who knocks you out and kidnaps you: Stockholm syndrome? Far from it as that would imply a devious nature from Sabrina’s captor and Mason Hunt is not going Freudian on us.
He had a rugged, wild, bad-boy charm that could melt away a woman’s defenses with one well-aimed grin. And while Sabrina certainly wasn’t immune to his particular twist on tall, dark and handsome, it was his quiet strength, his confidence, and the way he’d risked his own life to protect her that had her so confused.
Mason has been thrust into an extraction where EXIT (officially Extreme International Tours specializing in dangerous, thrill-seeking adventures. Unofficially, an agency “sanctioned by the government as a weapon of last resort”), the company he’s been loyal to, is accused of behaving unethically. Before proof of complete compromise, Mason goes off grid, a breath away from wanted rogue, to rescue Sabrina. It helps that swoon-worthy Devlin Buchanan is orchestrating the mission (Take the Key and Lock Her Up review available here), but Mason is an enforcer NOT a goon. He researches and goes with his gut (which fortuitously coincides with Devlin’s, lol): Sabrina has been erroneously targeted for termination based on fake charges.
The chemistry was on point! Not only was Sabrina a sound companion (a dead shot and fast learner to boot), they connected on an emotional level despite their rough introduction. Steeeaaamyyy cornfield sex – Mason can rock ANY location, I’m certain. They’ve even got humor to keep them endlessly amused. It’s not all perfect; they clash on a number of issues (mostly involving Sabrina’s safety), but they shine as a couple!
For as efficient a company as EXIT is, Ms. Diaz did an amazing job of describing some of the key players as bumbling amateurs. As despicable as the head of the snake is, I actually felt bad for “the big bag” to rely on an inept second. EXIT is imploding and failure trickles down from the top. Is there a way to salvage this once respected organization?
I downplayed the impact of this book, my friends. Not only has Ms. Diaz maintained strength in awesome storytelling, she’s exploded onto the scene with EXIT Strategy. Compelling subplots increase interest and tension. Everyone has a back story and Ms. Diaz makes you reconsider even the most dastardly. Action is ratcheted up to the very end; intense does not suffice!
There’s no denying the feeling that Lena Diaz clearly enjoyed writing this book because when you create a hotter than hell character like Mason, your writing must be as fiery and intriguing. Nailed. It.
Reviewed by Carmen
Copy provided by Author
