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Review

“If it comes down to love or duty, I promise, you win every time.”

4 swoony, suspenseful stars!

The second book in Scarlett Cole’s Love Over Duty series is a gorgeously emotional second-chance-romance tied into a suspenseful, dangerous storyline to bring us an intense romantic suspense that I struggled to put down. After reading the first book of this series, the hint of Mac and Delaney’s story had me seriously excited for this book, and it was just what I was hoping for – intense and exciting with a swoony love story and a to-die-for hero. I loved this one!

Malachai ‘Mac’ MacCarrick is one of three best friends and former SEALs who created Eagle Securities. Retired from active duty, the boys started their company and carry out all kinds of missions from basic protection to top-secret, dangerous missions in the most dangerous places on earth. But when Mac receives a phone call to tell him that the woman he once loved and then lost is in trouble, he drops everything to rush to her side.

Delaney Shapiro is a tenacious investigative reporter who is hot on the trail of illegal weapons dealers. Her investigations lead her into a whole lot of trouble in an Afghanistan hot spot, and when she wakes up days later in an American military hospital, she is stunned to find Mac by her bedside.

Mac and Delaney grew up together. Delaney’s older brother, Brock, was Mac’s best friend, and the two of them fell in love as teenagers. They were everything to each other and they knew it was forever, but when Brock tragically died it tore them apart and they haven’t seen or spoken to each other in 14 years. Now Delaney is back in Mac’s life, and she’s in a whole lot of trouble, and he has no intention of letting her go again.

“As long as you need, Delaney. I’ve got you. Even though you don’t need me or want me to have you. I’m not going anywhere.”

I’m a sucker for a second chance romance, and I loved Mac and Delaney’s story. It’s clear from the beginning that there is still a lot of emotion between them, but where Mac knows in his heart that Delaney is the only girl for him, she is still full of anger and grief and she has no intention of letting him get close to her. But the gorgeously protective alpha is determined to be there for her, setting the stage for a battle of wills that makes their situation all kinds of intense, because the chemistry between these two is sizzling!

“Let’s just try taking one night at a time, and see where we end up come morning.”
“You can tell yourself that if it makes you feel better, but we both know that you and me, that this…it’s unfinished business. I’m not going anywhere until it’s finished, no matter how long that takes.”

Mac is a smitten man in love (*dreamy sigh*). When he fell in love with Delaney, he fell for life, and even through all the years in between he’s never gotten over her. His devotion to her is absolutely beautiful to see, as is his fierce protectiveness, and I loved that even though he was patient with her, he pushed as well, and he balanced it perfectly as he fought to get his girl back.

She was his. Always had been. And somebody had tried to hurt her. He couldn’t stay away from her a moment longer, and he prayed she wouldn’t make him.

Delaney’s emotions are all over the place. Though she is trying to keep her focus on her story, she can’t deny her pull to Mac, but the pain from the past is still very much a part of her and her confusion over the situation is understandable and really well written.

It’s emotional and intense, and a little bit angsty, but it’s a gorgeous romance as Mac and Delaney’s chemistry pulls them closer and closer together, leading to an inevitable reconnection and them finally facing up to their past as they realise exactly what they still mean to each other.

“Are you really still here with me?”
“I’m right where you are,” …. “It just took me a while to get there.”

But through it all, the danger surrounding Delaney increases as her investigation into a Russian arms dealer makes her a target. Her life is in danger, and Mac will need to use all of the resources he has to protect the woman he loves.

I loved this book. It sucked me in and I got completely swept up in Mac and Delaney’s story. The love story is gorgeous, and the suspense is nicely tied in, though I admit I did start to zone out when the intricate details of the arms deals were being discussed, but there is lots of excitement along the way as it builds up to a wonderfully action-packed climax. I loved that we got to see Eagle Securities in action and catch up with the characters introduced in the first book, and I especially loved the relationships between all of the boys. I’m really looking forward to Cabe’s book up next.

This is a great read, I really enjoyed it – 4 stars.

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

 

 

Love Over Duty