I thoroughly enjoyed COUNTDOWN, book four in the Extreme Measures series by Lynette Eason. Suspense and pacing were great. However, the romance side seemed to go from 0-100 pretty fast.
Raina Price has had to run from her past and take on a new identity. Even though her lack of trust keeps her secrets locked inside, outwardly, her desire to help others brings her full circle from juvenile hall to Flight Paramedic. Bonding with girls she met in juvie, she has a good support group who have all gotten their act together and serves their community well. Even so, that doesn’t prevent Raina from constantly wondering if her past will ever catch up with her.
US Marshall, Vincent Covelli belongs to Raina’s friend group through another association. He’s always felt a connection – attraction for Raina, but her closed off attitude has always kept him on the fringe. But when she asks for Vince’s help to protect someone in her past, and then he watches Raina almost get killed, he’s all in. It’s obvious Raina is in danger. So, regardless if their relationship ever becomes personal or not, Vince ‘s goal is to keep her safe.
What follows is a path filled with twists and turns as revelations about Raina’s past comes to light. As Raina and Vince work to put their current danger behind them and look to the future, an even larger crime is revealed.
COUNTDOWN is a quick read because the action never stops. Not only that, but I love when there is a body of friends who move throughout the books in a series, allowing us updates on past characters. Raina was a great heroine. Guarded. Strong. Determined. Vince was a take charge, act where need, hero. Though their feelings for each other seemed to escalate at a quick pace, which might bother some readers, Raina and Vince shared a personal understanding about domestic abuse, allowing them to be open and vulnerable with each other, which cemented a relationship that was always just there in the shadows.
Though I was given a copy of COUNTDOWN from Baker Publishing in exchange for a review, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
