Series:
Cutter's Code (Book 17)
To bring down a traitor…
She needs the man who betrayed her love!
Years ago, Foxworth Foundation operatives walked into a
trap that almost annihilated them all. So when Charlie Foxworth -- the firm's
cool financial mastermind -- finds the man responsible, she'll stop at nothing
to take him down. But to do it, she needs unflappable former sniper Rafe
Crawford -- the man who shattered her heart -- plus K-9 Cutter. Little does she
know, they also might be key to keeping her alive!
At last, we get Rafe's story. The taciturn, closed-off, former
Marine sniper has intrigued me from the start, and his ongoing feud with
Charlie seemed out of character. Here, we look at Rafe's past and the
experiences that affected him so profoundly, including his problems with Charlie.
Quinn's sister, Charlie, is the financial genius who
ensures that Foxworth has the resources it needs. Her life appears to revolve
around the foundation and its needs. She's always calm, logical, and focused -
except when around Rafe. It was interesting to see these two get under each
other's skin.
The suspense of the story was terrific. Three years
earlier, an ambush nearly wiped out Foxworth operatives. Since then, they have unsuccessfully
searched for the person responsible. No matter what, they refused to give up, and
Charlie has finally identified him. Though she isn't a trained operative, she
maneuvers her way into becoming the man's girlfriend while searching for the
proof they need to take him down. When Max Flood invites her to Seattle with
him, she knows this is the time to get Quinn involved.
I loved watching the team go all in to bring down their
quarry. It isn't easy, and a lot of undercover work is going on. Each step kept
me riveted and impatient to see results. The intensity kept ramping up the further
they got into the investigation. An unexpected twist brought an old case into
the mix and complicated the mission. I was on the edge of my seat when Charlie
was in mortal danger and gripped by the intensity of the rescue scene. The "gotcha"
scene with Max Flood was fantastic and the perfect culmination of their
investigation.
As wonderful as the suspense was, watching Rafe and
Charlie together was terrific. Each is known for their stoic calm and attention
to detail, but that all goes out the window when they must deal with each other.
The sparks between them were explosive, with their attraction hidden beneath a
barrage of snide remarks. You know it isn't good when Quinn has to intervene. I
felt for Cutter, who was determined to bring the two together. Even he showed
frustration at their stubbornness. Despite his problems with Charlie, Rafe is
very protective of her but consistently puts his foot in his mouth when
attempting to express his worries. Charlie is determined to stick with her plan
despite its dangers.
In the meantime, she tries to break through Rafe's walls
and find out why he pulled away from her. I liked seeing her chip away at him
until he finally caved. I ached for him as he revealed the tragedy that had
haunted him. Their conversation was intense and emotional, and it was exactly
what was needed to break the chains that kept Rafe from believing he deserved
to be happy.
Cutter had his work cut out for him in this book. While
the professional work was intense, he handled it all with ease. But when it
came to his other mission of getting Charlie and Rafe together, he had to work
extra hard. It's always fun to see those skeptical of his talents, such as
Charlie, experience his matchmaking determination. Rafe is well aware of
Cutter's proclivities but tries hard to resist. Seeing even Cutter frustrated
and annoyed by their uncooperativeness was amusing. I laughed out loud at
Cutter's effective way of getting Rafe to stop running away. The epilogue was a
funny depiction of an exhausted Cutter.
I'm not sure if this is the last of the Cutter's Code
series. I know it was intended to be, but hopefully, the author will listen to
her many fans and pen new adventures for Foxworth and Cutter.
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