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Review

4.5 Badass Stars!

Best Laid Plans is the first book I have read by Stylo Fantome and though I don’t prefer third person POV, it worked well in this book. It starts out with a mission. Well, actually two missions. The first is to steal diamonds and the second is to transport them. It’s a fast paced, action packed, suspenseful book that includes some fun banter and a good bit of sexy time.

Marc is a mercenary and hitman hired by Russian mafia to steal diamonds from Liberia. After preparing for a month, he completes the heist and the next mission goes to Lily. Her job is to transport the diamonds out of Africa and into Russia. Of course, this isn’t an easy feat when things start going wrong and she isn’t about to let it discourage her.

“I don’t think of things failing because I won’t allow them to. Like this plan –maybe it hasn’t gone exactly according to plan, but even the best laid plans can fall apart. You just keep going. Failure isn’t an option. Failure isn’t part of my plan.”

Right from the beginning Lily and Marc notice each other. They are the only Americans on the mission at the time. They became closer, flirted, but never crossed the line in the month they spent together. Knowing that the next morning Lily is leaving, he finally makes his move.

“You wait till now to make a move!?” she panted when he pulled away.

“I like to leave people wanting more. Take care of yourself,” he replied, brushing his thumb across her lips. She went to respond, but he turned and walked away again, this time for good.

No sense in getting more attached than he already was; after that night, he’d probably never see her again.

They do end up seeing each other again, starting a ripple effect they never saw coming. After they part ways, wrong conclusions are drawn causing total chaos for Lily’s mission. I do not want to divulge what happens in the story but it kept my attention the whole way through.

Lily was a strong character with revenge on her mind. She spent a long time working her way up the ladder to get the job she has now. All she wants to do is reach her goal. Even given the option to disappear after the dangers and disasters she and Marc deal with, she won’t chose that route.

“I can’t,” she choked out, then cleared her throat. “I just can’t. Five years. I made promises to yesterday. I can’t start giving away my tomorrows.”

Marc is ruthless. It actually took a little while for me to really like him. Some of his actions in the beginning bugged me a lot; however, if I look at it as purely him reacting like a hitman, then it doesn’t irritate me quite as much. This really makes me conflicted on how I felt about Marc from the start.

Crazy to think that a week ago I hated him. A month ago, I didn’t even know him. And now, I always want to be with him.

Lily and Marc are a perfect match. She keeps up with him and holds her own. She’s feisty and keeps Marc on his toes. Their banter is hilarious and their chemistry is hot. He knows what he wants and she willingly obliges.

“Ready to play rough, princess?” he breathed against her lips. She smiled up at him.

“I thought you’d never ask.”

I really enjoyed Best Laid Plans and can’t wait to get to the conclusion in Out of Plans!

… we don’t need to be these people anymore …

The Mercenaries series