3.5stars
This story is a story about losing one of the important people in your life and finding hard to cope with grief. That's why Delany doesn't lose just her brother but also her friends and one true love. After years apart she meets Mac again on foreign soil all broken and beaten. She doesn't recall but her subconscious had him called. Mac didn't expect to ever see Delaney again especially not under these circumstances. And now that she is in his life again he makes everything in his power that she stays. But the journey is difficult full of old resentment and pain. It is intense story emotionally and situational because Delany is not finished with her research yet and of course because her job is becoming dangerous Mac will do anything to help her and protect her. I liked Mac, he is a strong character likable. I didn't like Delaney to much she was ok but I really didn't like hatred toward Mac you could really feel the resentment and she delivery fought against all the good that Mac did for her.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for Netgelly

An awesome romantic suspense story. Solid characters and plot kept me hooked

Sorry to say this but I haven't actually finished this book. It was too slow and Delaney simply killed it for me. She was just too much, couldn't stand her. I really tried my best but no couldn't do it. There is nothing wrong with Scarlett's writing and I loved all of her previous books. It might be just me so please give it a go I certainly haven't given up on this author.
An ARC received from NetGalley for an honest review!

I really liked the premise of this novel. I love military alpha men any day of the week but when the heroine is just as strong? It’s a recipe for some heated arguments followed by hot make up sex. Scarlett is a wonderful story teller and throughly enjoyed “Final Seige”

4.5 stars! This series just gets better and better! Scarlett Cole is one of my instant one click authors and this book did not disappoint - a heartbreaking second chance romance full of secrets and misunderstandings, a suspense filled storyline and a Scorching Hot chemistry between Mac and Delaney! I devoured this book in one sitting and it left me wanting more of the Eagle Securities family! Can’t wait for the next book!

This is a must read if you like suspense, second chance, and steamy romance. The two main characters are strong and likable characters. This book was well written. Final Seige is the first book I have read by Scarlett Cole but will not be the last. This book can be read as a stand alone but I wish I would have read the first book before this one. I didn't have trouble following the storyline. The author did a great job filling in the missing pieces. I would recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book. The review below is purely my own opinion.

This is the 2nd book in the Love Over Duty series, and I would definitely say that it's best to read the first book ("Under Fire") prior to diving into this story. There are elements to the plot of this one that are definitely related to events that happened in book 1.

Let me also say that I'm not typically a fan of the second-chance trope. That's just my personal preference. I normally find that the reasons for separating in the first place are because of TSTL decisions/big egos/stubborn pride/lack of communication/etc. Thus, this trope (second-chance romance), I've learned, is often filled with lots of angst and drama. And I'm not a fan of books that have a lot of angst and drama.

That being said, I found myself going into this story with an admitted bias (see above explanation about second-chance romance stories) --- so while reading about Delaney, the heroine, I would sometimes roll my eyes at her scenes, her thoughts and feelings. I wanted to shake her because so much pain, angst, and drama could've been avoided if she "put on her big girl panties" and talked things out with Mac. While I do understand her reasons, I don't quite get why it had to take so damn long to finally work their issues out and gah, she only reaches out because she absolutely *has* to.

Can you tell that I wasn't too fond of Delaney? Sigh.

Mac, OTOH, I loved. He's all alpha-hot and will drop everything to protect the woman he loves, even though she's been cold to him for all these years.

Although I wasn't crazy over the MC's in this book, the over-all storyline which started in book 1 has me wanting to read more to see what happens next.

A separation caused by tragedy, and a coincidental ‘rescue’ so to speak, 14 years later, leading to a second-chance romance did sound like the kind of story I wanted to dig into. Delaney and Mac do have weighted history and I was eager to see what Scarlett Cole would write about such a story and second chances, particularly after I got a sniff of what happened in their past.

But as an RS reader, I’m admittedly used to a style of writing that has gotten ingrained over the years, so these are my own preferences that I’m highlighting here—preferences that perhaps show how unused to Cole’s style I am.

For this reason, ‘Final Siege’ was hard to get into despite the enticing blurb, and these were mostly structural (narrative-wise) quibbles for me. Cole’s writing did throw me off in the instances of head-hopping—when the perspectives sometimes switched without warning—and the lack of demarcating in spots where scenes and dialogues just didn’t break or signal any time passing. With the lack of paragraphing and breaks, the whole narrative felt a little rambly, along with some awkward insertions of sentences that didn’t quite seem to flow with the development of a scene or aid in characterisation. Some parts, however, were well-written, though it was hard to get past the uneven way the whole story was laid out, particularly at the beginning of chapters where I found myself scrambling to make sense of context.

By and large, Delaney and Mac danced around the biggest ghost in their past that haunt them. Delaney did turn out frustrating at times: her inability to get over Mac’s supposed part in her brother’s death felt like something she hung onto simply so that she had a reason to keep on hating Mac. There was also a large focus on the push-pull happening between Delaney and Mac that got cloyingly repetitive when I’d expected the suspense to take priority after they meet again. That however, only kicked in somewhere near the halfway point, which made ‘Final Siege’ seem rather slow-paced for an RS book and in some way, like a game that went a step forward and 2 steps back.

That said, I’m not too sure how much of final revisions ARCs actually undergo. ‘Final Siege’ does unfortunately, look like a book that still needs a bit of editing; otherwise, it’ll be left as a story that’s got a potential which it never quite reached.

This is the first book I have read by this author and I must say she immediately pulled me into this story. It is the second in the series and even though there were some references to the first book, it can definitely stand on it's own. Although there were enough references to that first book that I now want to read more about Six and Louisa. This was a second chance romance featuring Mac and Delaney. Delaney broke off the romance at her brother's funeral blaming Mac for his death. But as soon as Mac finds out Delaney needs help he is right there whether she wants him or not.
This story had some great characters and a well developed suspense plot. In fact at times, the detail was almost more than you wanted regarding the politics of the illegal operation. Even so the action was fast paced and kept my interest throughout as I rooted for Mac and Delaney to finally come together.

**I received a copy of Final Siege from St. Martin's Press and Net Galley in exchange for a voluntary and honest review**

Final Siege by Scarlett Cole is the second book in the Love Over Duty series. I have to honest I didn't read the first book and even though it was easy to get into the story. But I think that I could've been able to understand how Six and Dr. Louisa fit into the story better. Because they are part of what happens at the end. I did enjoy the story and give it a solid 4 stars.

Delaney Shapiro is a investigative reporter for a small internet newspaper who prides themselves on telling the whole truth. But while in Afghanistan she is taken hostage and beaten when a SEAL team is finally able to rescue her the hospital calls Mac as he's listed as her emergency contact. Now Malachai and Delaney haven't talked in 15 years since her brother Brody died. But there's a secret he's carried for so long as to why her brother died perhaps now it's time to tell her what really happened. But the story that she's working on somehow connects to Louisa and Six it will take all of Eagle Security to rescue Delaney this time.

Malachai MacCarrick has loved Delaney since they were children but after Brody's death, he goes into the SEALs as planned but with a secret from her that broke them up. Now when he's called to her beside he'll do anything because he still loves her. But can he tell her Brody's secret and can they find love again?

The suspense and mystery surrounding Louisa, Six, Delaney, Mac and Cabe was very good but the romance side of it could've had a bit more heat. All in all Final Siege was a good story, now onto to Cabe's story which is next. But I think I'll read Under Fire first.

So I have read the first book in the series and I do think that you should read that before you crack open Final Siege - if you don't it is a bit like being thrown into the middle of the pool to learn to swim (not quite as bad as the deep end where you are going who... what... every two seconds when you read a book, but not the same as learning in the shallow end with armbands on)

Mac and Delaney (our hero and heroine) were both entertaining characters (although Delaney got a bit grumpy at times) and even with it being a whole new storyline there was still some hold over from the last book Under Fire to link and to follow through into the next book in the series

There were plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing and enough tension between the leads to keep it interesting and it definitely leaves me wanting to know who is going to get the next book!

3.5 Stars for this second book in the series. I'm really enjoying this series so far and love the premise of Eagle Securities. Ms. Cole clearly does her research, which makes the content of the book very realistic. I am in awe of the things she knows about, covering such a wide spectrum. I loved the first book featuring Six and Lou and was really looking forward to Mac's story. And Mac himself did not disappoint. He is a saint, and a hot one at that! I liked his character a lot. I must admit, though, that I had a lot of trouble liking Delaney for most of the book. I thought the reasoning behind why she was so angry at Mac was believable, but I still found myself cringing throughout most of their early interactions because I thought she was just mean, mean, mean. I wanted to shake some sense into her. The fact that he kept putting up with it and trying to help her anyway was a testament to his level of love and devotion. We should all be so lucky to find that. Anyway, it all came around to a satisfying ending, and I was pleased with that. I'm looking forward to Cabe's story next.

Loved this book, love this series! This is Mac and Delaney's story and it is full of pain and secrets and loyalty to friends and lovers. Alpha males and strong females the best stories!!

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A so-so entry in the romantic suspense genre. An investigative reporter and a former SEAL are reunited while she works on a story tracking weapons. A lot of detail to the suspense with the romance lacking with the exception of some steamy bedroom scenes. The characters weren't developed enough to really care for them that much.

Copy Provided by publisher

Great opening.

Damn, he killed his friend?

Even her boss didn't know where she was and what she was working on? Well that was a bad idea.

Shoot, Six gives a good speech.

Louisa is evil. I like it.

For the love of God. You get a threatening e-mail, after three sightings of a stalker, you tell the SEAL standing three feet away!

Whoa, boy. That's not what she meant.

That's a good brother he's got.

Easy read with an Alpha but very sweet hero and a journalist heroine.
I liked the second-chance romance, even if the premise felt, not necessarily weak, but perhaps a bit far-fetched, since 14 years seems too much to keep that kind of secret. But, in a way, it’s understandable; and the grief dimension was solidly handled, even I started missing the deceased brother, Brock, what a lovely character he would be.
I also liked the camaraderie and friendship between the male and female characters, enjoyed less the countless sex scenes or the bragging about each other’s physical prowess and found the heroine a bit naïve sometimes (for example, her obsession with the Pulitzer Prize).

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.

Delaney is an investigative reporter and is kidnapped while during a story about guns in Kunduz. She is rescued and transported to Germany. Mac is former SEAL and now him and two friends own a security company. He hasn’t seen or heard from Delaney in years but when he gets the call from Germany, he’s on the first flight out.
Delaney and Mac dated when they were younger. They all grew up together including Delaney’s brother Brock. But Brock was killed in an accident and Delaney blamed Mac and she never forgave him.
Once they get back to the States, she has no where to go so she stays with Mac. She is determined to write her story but someone out there doesn’t want her to. Mac wants her back more than anything but can they get over the past to start a future?
First time reading this author and it was an excellent story. Second chance at love, sex, secrets, and a story that will keep you turning pages to the very end. The ending was a little anti climatic, it was built up and then it was over. I can’t wait to read more from Ms. Cole.
* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for netgalley *

Scarlett Cole is one of my favorite authors in contemporary romance and now she ventures in romantic suspense. Final Siege is a book full of adventure and love born in the midst of non-stop action!
Mac is devoted to Eagle Securities which he has created with his navy brothers. He is not afraid to take jobs in the most dangerous places and nothing can disturb his calmness except his painful past. When he receives an unexpected call from Delaney, the love of his life that got away, he cannot refuse to give his help even if that means bringing his life upside down.
Delaney has left everything behind chasing all the dirty secrets as an investigative journalist. When she is ready to expose an arms dealer, she is not safe anymore and the only one who can protect her is Mac. She has never forgotten her first love but she cannot forgive him for his role in her brother’s death.
Danger brings these two closer and they soon see that the fire still burns and their love and attraction is still sizzling. Can they forget their past and move forward?
Mac is a wonderful hero. He is thoughtful, loyal and hardworking. He has a commanding presence and he will do anything to protect Delaney. I loved that he doesn’t hide his feelings and he shows his vulnerabilities to her. He admits his love, his regrets and his fears.
Delaney is an independent, strong girl. She has work ethics and she will do anything to help the greater good. I found her sometimes a little stubborn and I wish she could have listened sooner what Mac had to say. I understand her reluctance to learn the truth about her brother’s death because she is in pain but I would have liked to solve their misunderstandings earlier in the story. Also, she might be independent but sometimes you just need to accept the help if needed and she fights him in every turn.
When these two have scenes just the two of them speaking about their feelings or burning the sheets, the story is delicious. When there are the politics and the details of Delaney’s investigation, I found myself wanting to skip them and go directly to the action.
Scarlett Cole knows how to write characters full of emotions and Mac and Delaney will keep your attention. Final Siege is a book packed with suspense and heat and it might be not be my favorite one by this author, but if you are romantic suspense fans, this story will hold you captive!