Ex-military, Hunter Holt was called back to help not by his comrades, but his foster family. A new foster kid is in trouble and Hunter may be the only one to pull him out of trouble. The big catch is that he will be working with his childhood sweetheart, Faye Smith. The feelings they had for each other is still there. The question is, are they less broken now to survive any kind of relationship.

Hunter and Fay’s second-chance at romance is well deserved. Both characters had emotional issues and Zanetti clearly showed how they are being handled. I thought they were cute together. The humor infused action and suspense were on point and it kept me wanting to know more. But then, Zanetti is consistent in having those qualities in her books.

It was nice seeing characters from the last installment come together to help Hunter. Being that Raider is a foster sibling, you get some page time with him. Along with the rest of the crew from Deep Ops. Yes, that includes Roscoe, the drunk dog, and Kat, the cutest kitty ever. The whole crew makes this novel fun. I also encountered two interesting characters that are apparently from Zanetti’s other series. Intriguing enough to make me want to read that series too.

I was bummed to find out that this book was only a novella. Given that the first book, Hidden was a hit for me, my expectations for Taken was pretty high. While I enjoyed this book a lot, I wish it was a full-length read. With deep issues such as abuse, complicated family issues, and PTSD, I feel that Hunter and Faye needed a more in-depth story to fully understand them. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed their story quite a bit. In fact, I’m rating this novella a four star.

Rebecca Zanetti has a great mid-series novella offering (she’s labeling 1.5), TAKEN, from her sexy Deep Ops world. It’s a second-chance love story with a big, hunky ex-marine river guide, reconnecting with the only woman he’s ever loved who left him five years ago. Hunter Holt and Faye Smith grew up in foster care with an amazing woman named Miss Angelina, who is a great influence on the lives of the kids she raised. She sends Faye in search of Hunter so they can retrieve one of her current foster kids who’s been led astray by an older woman and taken him on a cross-country tare, a la Bonnie and Clyde. There’s also the possibility that the kid is Hunter’s brother. So, there’s that. Hunter and Faye have time on their hands while tracking Lucas, and are able to unpack much of the baggage that broke them apart; it’s heartbreaking, but fortunately not deal-breaking. You can count on Zanetti’s iconic fast-paced suspense and well-developed characters.

*Originally published at Frolic: https://frolic.media/spring-romantic-suspense-round-up/

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

4.25 Hearts This is #1.5 in the Deep Ops series that began with Hidden. This is a short novella that can be a stand alone and it was a quick read but since it is only after the first in the series I would suggest reading Hidden first because trust me there is never a Rebecca Zanetti book & series that is not worth reading.

This is a second chance at love story which I love (since I had a second chance at love) but there are so many cute moments especially with the animals that alone makes it worth the read.

Great story and romance. Never disappointed when Rebecca writes a book.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Romance
Triggers: Murder, relationship between a young boy and grown woman

Hunter and Faye grew up together. They were once inseparable. But when things really came through, Faye knew that she had to get her life in order and did the only thing she could... she left.

When their foster mother calls them worried about one of her new foster children, Faye and Hunter will have to figure out a way to work together and bury their hurtful past.

This is a short story, but it is full of action. Hunter gets a nice surprise and when push comes to shove, he knows that he never stopped loving Faye.

These two have a relationship that you can see spans the decades. They have a familiarity that is comfortable. I really enjoyed watching them and even though this couple might not be seen in other books, it was a very sweet story.

Overall, this was a sweet, second-chance romance with action surrounding their relationship.


Sarah – ☆☆☆
After Hidden, the brilliant psychological thriller that started this series, I was really excited for more from the Deep Ops team. And hopefully there’s more coming. But for me, this novella really doesn’t succeed on any level.

At just over 100 pages, this is a short read and neither the romance nor the suspense has been fully developed. Rebecca Zanetti usually excels at complicated relationships and tense psychological suspense. This book has a surprisingly simple storyline – the Deep Ops team assists with the hunt for a fugitive on a killing spree. There are no real surprises or twists and there isn’t really any action until the very end. This is also a disappointing simple second-chance romance with a few hot scenes and an easy insta-fix relationship between two characters we don’t ever get to know terribly well.

I understand that the novella format doesn’t necessarily lend itself to a complex story but it seems an odd fit for an author who excels at complicated stories. I’m really hoping this is just a blip and the series gets back on track when book two is released.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is book 1.5 in the new engaging series from Zanetti – and loyal fans will be delighted that an in-between novels story has been served up! I would recommend that you read the first book... because Raider... but this would stand alone just fine too.

For a novella, this packs plenty of punch and seemed much fuller than I had expected for the page count. I do think that the fact Hunter and Faye had a past, meant that they were a team from the beginning, not needing too much build up – and the early scenes between Jackson and his runaway teacher/love clearly set up the dynamic and the responsibility for the events, which helps tie things up more quickly. But never did it feel rushed or insufficient, which is the mark of Zanetti's skills on the page.

Lovely treat catching up with a couple of old friends – and fun times with the crazy dog and Wolfe's cute cat. Looking forward to more already!


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
From the first page to the last, I was enthralled. The storyline is one that is rarely written about in such a way you get the angst from the characters as we are reading along.

The way Faye and Hunter's backstory is told gives the reader a sense of being there with the obvious flashbacks that sometimes take away from the story. They ended badly when Hunter refused to get help for his PTSD, and Faye had trouble fighting her own demons.

Now they are being sent to rescue a teen by their foster mother. Making the situation even more dire? The teen boy is in the company of an older, married woman. Hunter is shaken to learn that the teen is his half-brother, as well.

Knowing what his brother has lived with and through, Hunter is bound and determined to find him before the police do.

Driving together, Hunter and Fay have no choice but to address the reasons behind their breakup and acknowledge that the love is still there.

I used to be a huge Rebecca Zanetti fan, but somehow I drifted away. I'm so glad I'm back.

This is a second chance, best friends, military ops book with just the right amount of everything. Great characters, kidnapping, chases, murder, elite ops, friendships, and of course a little love and sex thrown in for good measure.

I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.

#netgalley, #taken, #quickread

I love this new series by Rebecca Zanetti. It is fast paced with a strong plot and in-depth characters. I can't wait to read more about the other misfit characters, especially Wolfe.

Taken is a second chance romantic suspense story. Hunter and Faye have an extensive history together starting when they were foster children. They split up five years ago and end up back together to save a foster kid in danger.
This is part of the Deep Ops series, but can stand alone without leaving you lost. Although this was part of that series it wasn't my favourite. It seems like it was written a long time ago and resurrected. The other books are almost a different style or maturity. I did enjoy it, though..... Just an observation from a long time reader.

Taken by Rebecca Zanetti is a companion novella in the romantic suspense Deep Ops series. This novella takes place between the first and second full length books of the series. The main characters do change in this novella so it could also be read as a standalone if choosing to do so.

Hunter Holt and Faye Smith do share a past together but it’s been five long years with no contact between the two of them. However, when word comes in about a missing teen Hunter and Faye find themselves forced together by the circumstances. Hunter also learns that the boy may also be a brother to him that he didn’t know he had.

Taken really has all the components of a great fast paced Rebecca Zanetti romantic suspense read with likable characters, an action packed plot and good, solid writing. I did however wish it had been longer so I would be able to get to know the characters better and get more intensity out of the action but as with most novellas I couldn’t help but want more, still good for a quick read though.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

I really love this cast of characters. I wasn't in the right headspace to finish this earlier so had to put it down.

I returned to it today and enjoyed the suspense and danger and them coming together to save Lucas.

I need more Wolfe!!

Another fast paced, exciting and sweetly satisfying read by my top favorite author. Rebecca had claimed my heart with her world. I was enthralled with these characters. Hunter and Faye found there way back against all odds.
I loved seeing Wolfe, Raider and Mal again
But oh my gosh when Talen and Dage showed up I nearly dropped my kindle.. Wow such a simply sweet surprise.

Can't wait for more.

This novella is the second book in the Deep Ops series and can be read as a stand alone. Five years ago, trauma and loss severed the tie between Faye and Hunter.. Now she needs his help to find a lost young man, Jackson, the half-brother Hunter never knew he had. Jackson is in love with his teacher and runs away with her. Unbeknownst to him, she is on a robbery spree with fatal results. Hunter was a lost boy himself once. In fact, he ran away from the exact same man, the monster of a father that he and Jackson share.. This is a second chance romance story and reintroduces us to some of the Deep Ops crew from book 1 like Raider and the quirky Wolfe. Good solid story especially for novella length.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy of Taken by Rebecca Zanetti that I read and reviewed.
I loved this book. Faye and Hunter were electrical together. I also enjoyed the other characters and I can't wait to see what the author has planned for them. This book was packed full of action and romance making it the full package.
I am giving Taken five out of five stars.

Hunter Holt and Faye Smith both have reason to run. However, for now, they both must work together to help locate a missing foster child. Working together certainly is not easy, as they once had a chance to be together. Now, several years have fast and the two must work together, along with Hunter's Deep Ops team to find the child, as well as the brother that he never knew.

This second chance story was an excellent read. Although it was only a novella, it was a singular story that was very well done. The Deep Ops team is terrific, and if you like animals you might just enjoy the dog and cat in this story as well. I enjoyed the previous title, and look forward to continuing.

In this story readers get to briefly visit with some of the members of the team, such as Malcolm and Wolfe. The first book in this series, Hidden, was released last year, and the next book in the series, Fallen, will be released in September.

Many thanks to Zebra and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

This second chance romance/suspense novella has guest appearances and comic relief by some of the Deep Ops crew introduced in the first book, but is really about 4 kids, Faye, Hunter Holt, Raider Tanaka and Mark, who were fostered together by Ms. Angelina and consider themselves siblings. However, since they aren't blood related, Faye and Hunter Holt became lovers. Hunter went into the Marines and Mark followed him there. Faye became a psychologist. Raider is now working for Deep Ops. Mark was killed in action. The emotional trauma from Mark's death at the same time that Faye lost a patient to suicide, left them both emotional wreaks, unable to open up or help each other, so Faye left. Five years later they are reunited, when Hunter's half brother, Jackson, whom he never even knew existed, ends up at Ms A's for one night and then disappears with his mentally disturbed Math teacher, Louise. Jackson thinks he is in love with this older woman, not realizing how disturbed she really is, as she goes on a killing spree, while telling him that she is robbing convenience stores for food. Working together with Raider, their mission is to find Jackson, before he is implicated in the killings or killed along side Louise. Will Jackson allow Hunter to rescue him? Will Faye and Hunter fight for the one person that means the most? Will Faye finally decide to a new career path and a last name?

Wonderful characters and an action packed story make this a terrific, "don't want to put it down" read. I received a free, advanced copy of this book from NetGalley.com. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.

A great second-chance romantic suspense with enjoyable characters, exciting situations, surprise appearances by characters from another of the authors' series, some heat and smexy-times. I really enjoyed this addition to the DeepOps series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Kensington Books - Lyrical Press, via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias.

This was a good, quick novella in the Dark Ops series. Faye and Hunter were well developed characters. Though this is part of a series it can easily stand alone.

A great storyline. The characters were believable. Full of action, romance and surprises. A great addition to the series.

Deep Ops #1.5, Taken is a novella that feels like a full length book, there is so much that happens in it even after finishing it in just over an hour I felt fulfilled. In this book we meet Raider Tanaka's foster family. Raider, whom we met in the first book, is just a side character in this and they use his connections with Deep Ops to help track down Hunter Holt's (the main character) newly discovered younger brother, Jackson, when he runs off with his teacher and she goes on a robbery and killing spree. Faye Smith is a trained psychiatrist but not a practicing one anymore. Faye, Hunter, and Raider all ended up in the same foster home they all came from abusive parents and after finally ending up with Ms. Annabelle they all ended up good people. Ms. A's newest foster is Hunter's younger brother but before she could tell him about his brother Jackson ran off and Faye, Hunter, and Raider rush off to save his butt.

Faye and Hunter were each others first loves but after Hunter left the Marines and began suffering from PTSD and the death of their other foster brother and the incident that caused Faye to leave her practice everything just fell apart with them. Here they are now working closely together and realizing they could love no other.

Overall, it was a fast paced quick read that really hits the romantic suspense spot. I love the character, I liked seeing Wolfe and his cat, Kat, and Force and that dumb Roscoe, man I love that dog. Force also hints at what Raider is going to be up to in the next book.

❤️❤️❤️ out of 5
As much as I don’t like novellas of course I have to like a RZ one because am I a true fan if I don’t? I mean also it could be the fact that this one was done well that made a difference too? A second chance romance means that the relationship doesn’t feel too rushed and the suspense kept up a nice pace.
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Our heroine and hero grew up in foster care together and when they hit adulthood they tried to make a relationship work but both were too emotionally damaged to make it work. Fast forward a couple of years and our heroine approaches our hero at the request of their former foster mum to find one of her current runaways- who happens to be related to our hero.
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I definitely recommend reading Hidden (book 1 in the series) first as this feels like an extension of that with a lot of characters popping up in a short span of time, which honestly if you hadn’t read it could feel overwhelming. RZ writes fantastic alpha heroes and this one certainly didn’t disappoint as well as a writing a heroine who can totally stand her own ground around him.

Ms. Zanetti is a new author to me. I followed the recommendation that said her writing style is similar to other authors I read and enjoy. I will say the jury is still out on that one but I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

There is a lot of history between the protagonists which remains a bit murky other than the fact that the aftermath of events left the two deeply estranged. Now brought together by their foster mother in search of her newest foster run away who happens to be Hunter's brother of whom he had no knowledge, Hunter and Faye along with Special Forces friends pursue the leads to find Jackson before he becomes embroiled in the crime spree his lover is engaged in. Circumstances give Hunter and Faye a chance to mend fences and forge a future.

I found the story a little slow and not too exciting though the preview of the next book already has me salivating.