One Minute to Midnight by Nico Rosso (Black Ops: Automatik #2)
Released: July 18, 2016
Romantic Suspense
Carina Press
Reviewed by Mandi
Favorite Quote: He moved down her body like a thundercloud, full of electric power and silent strength.
Ben and Mary both work for the Black Ops company, Automatik, and their latest assignment is to travel to a town called Morris Flats, suspected of being the center of a gunrunning ring. Ben and Mary know each other, but haven’t worked together as just the two of them until this assignment. They both have very high respect for the other. Ben is a former SEAL who excels in his black ops missions. Mary is a sniper where precision and a cool head rule her world. To infiltrate the town without raising eyebrows, they have to go in with cover stories. Ben goes in with the cover as a sales person selling magnetic bands that help athletes and other people on their feet beat pain. Unknown to the people who receive these free samples, they also double as a tracking device.
Mary’s story is that she works for a developer looking for prime land for a business/apartment complex. She meets with local officials to discuss options, giving her access to the higher-ups in this town. Ben heads for the police basketball league, as he is suspicious of the some of the cops. Since Ben and Mary just happening to be traveling at the same time to Morris Flats (under their cover) they just happen to meet up and flirt at the hotel bar pretending to be strangers. The problem is, they both are honestly really into the other one, but with the undercover work, is the flirting part of the charade or is it true? As these two quietly work together to find the guns and the ring of bad guys, they also start falling for each other.
The first thing that stands out in this book is how mature and professional Ben and Mary are. Angst? Not really. Ben and Mary have zero time for angst! They are on a mission, and they want to complete their mission as efficiently as possible. And while that might sound boring in a sense, this book is anything but. They enter into a corrupt town – it doesn’t take long for them to realize some of the police and other officials are dirty. It’s just a matter of locating the guns and figuring out the extent of the corruption. Ben and Mary work seamlessly together – both so well skilled in their combat, undercover stuff etc… (“undercover stuff” is a very professional term).
Sometimes I read a romantic suspense and the suspense and actions of the protagonists are so over the top. Those can be fun reads but not believable necessarily either. This book felt like the suspense part (the weapons, training, secret gadgets) felt like they could really exist in the real world. It was detailed and very well done.
The romance is also hot in this book. Mary is more cautious and uncertain about getting into a relationship with Ben, but I think she is the type of woman who needs to analyze it and take it in from all sides before she can be certain about the next step.
“I don’t want…” This territory was unknown. She didn’t know how to pick her steps. “I don’t want to be frosty…” Fear choked her. But she couldn’t let it stop her from telling him, “…with you.”
A glimmer in his eyes cracked his mask. “You’re a gift…I’m not sure I deserve.” The serious soldier returned quickly. “And I understand. We have an op. Success is critical. We’ll stay on target.”
Mary is very tight-lipped over her background. She retired from Special Forces before joining Automatik but she never tells how she acquired all of her specialized skills. But she eventually opens up to Ben, that trust building between them that is the foundation of their relationship.
Ben is hot (I don’t always picture the hero as the cover model but hell yes in this one). He pushes Mary a little and is more open about his feelings. And he says the most romantic things:
“You’re not my woman,” he explained. “I can’t own you. But you are the woman.” He pounded the side of his fist on the steering wheel and huffed with frustration. “How do I say it? You’re all woman.” The car bounced over a curb, and Ben muscled it back onto the street. “You’re everything.”
Oh Ben. Say it again. The respect they have for each other both professionally and intimately makes my heart smile.
The sexual tension and chemistry are done really well. Highly recommend this one.
Grade: B+
Great review! I’m really looking forward to reading this one.