GOING DARK (The Lost Platoon #1) by Monica McCarty-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway
GOING DARK
The Lost Platoon #1
by Monica McCarty
Release Date: September 5, 2017
Genre: adult, contemporary, romantic, military suspense
Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo /
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 5, 2017
Like Rome’s Lost Legion, a SEAL platoon goes on a mission and vanishes without a trace.
After walking into a trap on a covert op in Russia, the men from top secret SEAL Team Nine are presumed dead. Not knowing whom they can trust, and with war hanging in the balance, the survivors must go dark and scatter around the globe.
Marine ecologist Annie Henderson joins her new boyfriend on a trip to the Western Isles of Scotland to protest a hazardous offshore drilling venture. When she realizes that she may be swept up in something far more dangerous than she’d intended, there is only one man she can turn to. . . .
She and the mysterious but sexy dive boat captain haven’t exactly gotten off to the best start, but something about his quiet confidence makes her think that he’s the kind of man she can depend on. Because he’s gruff and guarded, she can tell Dan Warren has secrets. But she could never imagine how high the stakes are for him to keep his cover, even as he risks everything to protect her.
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REVIEW: 4 out of 5 for this reader folks!
Going Dark by Monica McCarty is a contemporary romance with a serious dose of action and suspense. If you like your story line having a bit of everything then this is certainly a good book to pick up. I will say, those that have knowledge of military and political jargon/acronyms just may enjoy this a tad more. There is much for a person with limited knowledge to take in and I can understand that it may be a little confusing. I happen to be someone who has served and knows much about military language and op procedures, so this wasn’t hard for me to follow.
The book starts off with a bang. SEAL Team Nine is sent on a Black Ops mission and it happens to go terribly wrong. Assumed dead, they are soon conveniently “forgotten” despite the fact that there are survivors. These survivors (which I expect will be the main characters in the books of the series), decide to stay undercover only revealing the truth to a few people, and swear to get answers for their failed mission and lost team mates.
Our leading male is Dean. Dean was the chief of SEAL Team Nine and if currently laying low in Scotland. He is a no nonsense kind of guy who leads by example, is tough as nails, conservative and set in his way of thinking. Very aware of what could happen and be lost, Dean will do just about anything to find the answers he is desperate for.
Annie is our leading lady. Annie is an ecologist, activist, and totally liberal in her thinking. She has set off to Scotland with her boyfriend to protest some off shore drilling. There she meets Dan (who is actually Dean undercover), who accompanies her on an expedition to the drilling grounds. There is an instant attraction and despite having a boyfriend (if that is what we call him .. I would like to call him dip**** ..lol) she feels very drawn in a way she isn’t with her current guy. But no time to act on attraction just yet .. little does she know her expedition to do good will turn into a fight for her life and for Deans.
I really loved the action and adventure in this book. I have a thing for opposites attract so I was pleased with the constant lusty bickering Annie and Dean do. I did however roll my eyes a couple of times when the predictable argument of liberal vs conservative popped up. I don’t mind the opposite views, it was just that it came across a little “naggy” at times. I did find though, that Annie and Dean really tried to get thru all the turmoil together, and let love just happen even when it shouldn’t.
Monica also has another side romance story going between other characters as well, so you do in fact get more bang for your buck where couples are concerned. A good flow to the story line, I never found myself bored or wanting to skip read. I love that both our leads are equally passionate when it come to their personal beliefs, experiences, morals and affection for the other.
Fantastic read for those that like the adventure, military and love. I will eagerly await the next novel!
HAPPY READING! 🙂
Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley
Reviewed by Rachel T
But he noticed her. The sexy brunette had been the focus of too many of his sex-starved thoughts for him not to have recognized that shadowed figure right away.
His thoughts immediately turned to anger. What the hell was she doing out here alone at this time of night?
Granted Stornoway wasn’t exactly the mean streets of name-your-favorite American inner city, but it had its share of illegal activity—especially along the waterfront—and it wasn’t a place where a young woman should be walking alone in the middle of the night.
He went after her without thinking. Proving his point, she took way too long to realize he was behind her.
He could tell by the way she jumped when she turned around that he’d startled her.
But it didn’t last. As soon as she recognized him, her eyes narrowed angrily. “Why are you following me? You scared me!”
“Good. You shouldn’t be out here alone—” He stopped suddenly, seeing her expression. She looked about ready to burst into tears. “What’s wrong?”
Unconsciously he’d reached for her arm. Why the hell he’d done that he had no clue. He didn’t go around touching women without an invitation.
He released her before she could protest. But if she’d noticed the too-personal gesture, she didn’t let on.
“Nothing,” she replied, her expression too blank.
He held her gaze long enough for her to see that he knew she was lying. It must not be something she did often, because a guilty blush rose to her cheeks.
She was so damned cute. He wanted to . . .
Fuck.
He took a step back.
Go dark. Don’t do anything to risk your cover.
He heard the warnings loud and clear. But he couldn’t very well let her walk around alone. What if something happened?
“Where’s your boyfriend?”
The tightening around her mouth before she responded gave a big hint of what might be bothering her. Trouble in paradise? Now, that was a cryin’ shame.
“He’s still at camp. He’s hanging around for the music. Julien plays guitar.”
Dean didn’t care if he was Jimmy Hendrix returning from the dead for one last show. “And he let you walk back alone?”
She immediately stiffened, giving him a scathing look. “He didn’t let me do anything. I make my own decisions.”
From the way she said it, it was clear she thought he was some kind of medieval misogynistic pig.
One of those, was she? He should have guessed. That kind of oversensitive feminist crap drove him crazy—not everything was a “microagression.” Being a strong woman didn’t mean you could be stupid about personal safety. And all he’d meant was that douche bag should have cared enough about her safety enough to insist on accompanying her.
Although admittedly Julien probably wasn’t much of a defense.
“Then your decision was a shitty one.”
She looked stunned. “You just say whatever you think, don’t you? I wasn’t asking for your opinion.”
“Well, you got it.” He gave her a long look, taking in the Tulane sweatshirt, tight jeans that left no room to hide anything, and flip-flops. “And unless you are a black belt jujitsu specialist or trained in self-defense and carrying some kind of weapon, I’m walking you to the guest house.”
She looked up at him half outraged and half bemused, as if she couldn’t quite believe someone like him actually existed. It was a look he’d been on the receiving end of more than once.
Eventually her mouth twisted with a smile. “How do you know I’m not?”
“Because if you had any secret ninja skills, from the way you were looking at me a few minutes ago, I’d be on my ass right now.”
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