Extreme Danger (The McCloud Brothers, Book 5) | Shannon McKenna

Extreme Danger (The McCloud Brothers, Book 5) | Shannon McKenna | Formulaic-- but such a GOOD formula

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Extreme Danger (Th...

	Extreme Danger (The McCloud Brothers, Book 5) Shannon McKenna Brava, 2008 - 384 pages average customer review:based on 27 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

"Sizzling hot, intense romantic suspense!"

When I heard that this book would be about Seattle FBI agent Nick Ward, a relatively minor character in the previous McCloud Brothers books, I wasn't sure what to expect. To me he just seemed like an arrogant jerk, and I was curious what kind of story the author would come up with for him. Well, I was not disappointed! Shannon McKenna gave Nick a fully fleshed out backstory (including a heartbreaking childhood) that explained why he acted the way that he did. And while he still acted like an arrogant jerk sometimes, he was a vulnerable, lovable, arrogant jerk, afraid of being hurt and disappointing others. And Ms. McKenna paired him with the perfect heroine: bold, loving, understanding, and gutsy Becca Cattrell.

Basically, the plot is that Nick, no longer working for the FBI, is working on his own trying to infiltrate the organization of notorious, vile Russian mobster Vadim Zhoglo. Nick wants to avenge the death of Sergei, a Russian undercover agent who was working with him on a case, and who Zhoglo had brutally tortured and killed. Sergei has a young 12 year old daughter, Sveti, who was also abducted by Zhoglo, but for what purpose--was it child slavery, or something even more sinister? Nick vows to avenge Sergei's death, find Sveti, and reunite her with her mother.
Becca, an events coordinator at a local hotel, has an embarrassing breakup with her fiancee, and retreats to a friend's house on a secluded Seattle island to lick her wounds. She's told that she can use the neighbor's pool, and it's when she decides to take a midnight skinnydip that she runs into Nick.

Nick has managed to infiltrate Zhoglo's organization, working security at his island retreat. He spots Becca trespassing, and it's lust at first sight (for both of them!) When Zhoglo arrives the next day, finding Becca there, he assumes Nick brought her there for his (Zhoglo's) sexual pleasure. Nick has to think fast and bring Becca in to his plan, or risk blowing his cover. But can he protect her from Zhoglo, who clearly wants to use her for his own enjoyment, without getting them both killed?

Nick and Becca spend the rest of the time on the run from Zhoglo and his henchmen, while stumbling upon the real reason why Sveti and other children have been abducted. This subject matter involving the children is upsetting and sometimes gruesome, but it plays a key part in Nick and Becca's budding relationship.

Once again the McCloud brothers, spouses, and friends make appearances. There's a big wedding scene where everyone appears (including Tamara). Also, there are some suspenseful scenes at the climax where everyone is involved trying to save the children from a terrible fate that awaits them.

I loved this story--it was a one day read for me--I simply could not put it down! Nick and Becca sizzle as a couple; the love scenes are frequent, hot, and memorable (especially a hot tub scene!) Of course. Nick almost blows it with Becca at the end, showing a real lack of faith in the relationship. Nick is a typical McKenna hero: alpha, agressive, arrogant, but also sweetly vulnerable. Becca was a good match for him: sexy, brave, and takes no guff. The suspense was intense, the villains disgusting. McKenna gets better and better with each book--this one was 5 stars all the way!

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Formulaic-- but such a GOOD formula

Extreme Danger follows Nick Ward, one of the alpha males from the McCloud circle of family & friends. The series started with Seth Mackey in Behind Closed Doors, then followed Connor, Davy & Sean McCloud as they reunited with (or met) their true loves.

All the McKenna archetypes are here: strong handsome para-military hot guys with troubled childhoods who are preternaturally good in bed; career-oriented, somewhat naive but still feisty women who sleep with the hot guys, and coincidentally wind up in trouble with international crime lords, great sex (lots of great sex- not for the faint of heart) leading to true love, suspicion of betrayal or insanity, wrapping up with a happily-ever-after.

This sounds like I don't like the books-- I do. A lot. Shannon McKenna can write all (ALL) kinds of scenes, very well. Her female characters are unique from many others in the genre and her use of humor & dialogue makes the stories crackle. If you like her other books, you'll like this too. Nick, still a bad boy, still rough around the edges, is a little more considerate of Becca's feelings than some of the earlier pairings.

And it was fun to catch up on the developments in the lives of her previous characters. I'm really looking forward to Tamara's story, especially now that she's acquired that companion....

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reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, page 6

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