Member Reviews
This is the latest book in the Deep Ops series and can be read as a standalone but it's much better if you read the stories in order. This is Angus and Nari's story. Angus is the head of the team and Nari, the teams psychologist.
When new serial killer cases turn up that remind Angus of exactly how his sister was killed, he realizes that the killer, Lassiter is still alive. He thought he'd killed him six year ago but Lassiter is killing people who look just like Angus's team and taunting him. I really enjoyed this suspenseful action packed thriller with a dose of sexy romance. Highly recommended.
Action. Chemistry. More Action. Suspense. And then even more action...
Since the beginning of the series I haven't been sure what to think of Angus or get a mental picture of him. As the series progressed, I liked how he cared for and stuck by his team of misfits. I wasn't a fan of the over the top Roscoe (dog) antics in the first book, but those settled down and found its place just like all of the characters. If you haven't been reading the series DON'T start with this one. Angus's backstory and the serial killer has been building to this point and you're missing context, backstory and the team's chemistry.
The book came together wonderfully and I loved it. There was a lot of chemistry between Nari and Angus without the push/pull. The story line moved along perfectly and kept me engaged. Best part... all of the team members are featured in this book.
I could not wait for this story - and it was even better than I hoped it would be. We have watched Nari and Angus dance around each other from the first story and knew the day was coming where they would explode together. We also watched Angus be tortured by the serial killer who he killed but is not dead - and coming to the conclusion there was rewarding. I do wish there was just a little more explanation at the end (I don't want to say too much to spoil the story). I love Rebecca's writing and her tortured characters with big hearts. I hope we get many more stories in the Deep Ops story - these characters are like family. I wish we could give more than 5 stars for this story!
I have been anxiously awaiting Force's book so that I could put all the pieces together that have been floating around the background since this series began. The story is action packed and certainly had some surprises. I have loved Angus Force from the beginning, in no small part due to the fact the he has the most adorable dog ever, and I fell even harder for both of them in this book. I liked the character of Nari, but I must admit that she didn't seem like the perfect match for Angus to me. I just didn't feel the same chemistry dripping off the page that I felt with the previous pairings. Nonetheless, the story is captivating, so much so that as soon as I was done reading this one, I started back over from the beginning so that I could get the full effect of the series. I'm not sure if the series will continue with Jethro, Serena, or Millie's stories, but if so, I'll definitely keep reading. I'd love to keep going with these characters and their world.
A sincere thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing an ARC for review.
A big thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books/Zebra for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. This is part of a series. I think it reads well as a stand alone. Although, I have read most of the series. I am not sure if this is the final book in the series, but it is the one a lot of people have been waiting for. This is Angus Force and Nari Zhang's story. They have been circling each other for multiple books. But in this book, we learn a lot more about both of them. Roscoe is still the zany, lovable, crazy canine! This is a romantic suspense. Is Lassiter alive or dead? I was surprised by the ending but loved it! 4.5 stars. I think many will enjoy this book!
4.5 stars
Angus Force is determined to hunt down the serial killer he once thought he killed. But no one else believes Lassiter is alive, even after bodies start being found. It’s a race against time as Angus and Nari work together to find and stop Lassiter.
We finally get Angus and Nari’s story! These two have been circling each other since book one but they are finally giving into their attraction.
Angus has known for a while that Lassiter is still alive. He just has to convince everyone outside of his team that it's true. When new bodies are found he expects HDD to finally see the connection, instead the HDD disbands his team because his deal with them was up. Force is a driven man who will stop at nothing to catch Lassiter.
Nari Zhang actually enjoys the ragtag Deep Ops unit. They are like family, except for Angus. She has been fighting her attraction to him for a year but working closely with him to catch Lassiter changes everything. They finally stop fighting their attraction. Their relationship is very push/pull in the beginning because Angus keeps trying to push her away.
Nari was probably my favorite female from this series. She was smart and could kick some major ass. Even battered and bruised she still puts up a fight. I quite loved her. Also, her Mom and Dad were great side characters too. Angus has been a bossy, obsessive, and a drunk man through a lot of this series but in this one we finally see his true feelings. Angus was a lot sweeter than I expected and it just made me love his character even more. I loved these two’s relationship and can see them being a powerful team stopping bad guys in the future.
This was a great romantic suspense and a great ending to the series (at least I believe this is the ending). The hunt for Lassiter was action packed, dangerous and emotional. I wasn’t expecting some of what happened at the ending and it made the story even better. Also, Roscoe is still my favorite crazy dog.
*ARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.*
I’ve been waiting for Angus and Nari’s story, and this book doesn’t disappoint. Angus is very intelligent and excellent at his job, but he also harbors a lot of guilt for his sister’s murder. I felt for him and admired his determination to find Lassiter, even when very few people believed his instincts about it.
I also felt for Nari and what she had to deal with from her biological father. His attitude towards her was awful, and I honestly wouldn’t have blamed her if she wanted to have nothing to do with him ever again..
The chemistry is great between the pair, and it has always been clear that beneath the dislike that they actually cared for one another. I loved how the team pulls together to support one another and it shows how much they care about both Angus and Nari.
Roscoe, the dog with a drinking problem and love of wearing women’s shoes, is back again as well. He’s still as quirky as ever and his antics always provide some chuckles.
Driven is well-written with interesting characters, non-stop action, a great romance, and an unexpected twist. I recommend it for fans of romantic suspense, however, I do suggest reading the series in order, as the search for Lassiter has been an on-going storyline.
Finally, I feel as if I had been waiting forever to read Angus's book. It was filled with your typical Rebecca Zanetti charm, suspense and laughter.
From beginning to end it was a page Turner. Are there going to be more? I hope so, I don't think I can ever get enough of the Deep Op characters.
I loved the book. It might be my favorite read in quite a while. I loved every second of reading it. It is a nail-biting, in-your-face, page-turner that I really, really loved. There's not the whole rigmarole of meeting each other and all that comes with it (which is to be expected as we know the characters already from the previous books in the series). You go into this book excited, and you leave it with a wistful smile on your face. Driven is so much more than the story of Angus & Nari (they were so different but perfect for eachother). It is so much more than I thought it would be. The story flowed smoothly and it was interesting and it kept me turning the pages, eager to find out how will the suspensful parts with the serial killer play out. I loved the supporting characters. Loved the distinctive voices of both the hero and the heroine. Felt the HEA was well earned. I loved all of the characters and would love for this series to continue. My review really can't do this book justice. Just read it. Read it now. You'll be glad you did.
3.5 stars
The Deep Ops series is one where a ragtag crew (with their own quirks that sometimes straddle the unbelievable) battle the little things that go wrong, but 'Driven' feels a bit more like a police procedural gone rogue. Angus Force and Nari Zhang have had some sort of tension in Rebecca Zanetti's previous books in the series and 'Driven' is their story, where the catalyst that brings them together is the return of a serial killer that has long haunted Angus dreams.
The premise is certainly quite an unusual one that kept me reading: the mutual preoccupation of Angus Force and the serial killer Lassiter that dates all the way back to Angus's FBI profiling days and the fateful day that his sister got caught in Lassiter's net. Except that Lassiter's supposed to be dead...until dead bodies of women who resemble the team members in Angus's crew start turning up and showing the same hallmarks of Lassiter's kills.
Barring the action scenes aplenty, there isn't nonetheless, much context given to this abnormal relationship between Angus and Lassiter; much less clear is the odd (and not-too-convincing) revelation at the end about who really was pulling Lassiter's strings all along. As a result, those who dive straight into 'Driven' might have some difficulty assimilating why Angus is the way he is, who the secondary characters are and how Nari and her job seem to be so integral to the plot.
The murder mystery did sometimes overshadow the growing relationship between Angus/Nari, which seemed to progress in uneven patches that moved quickly from work colleagues to lovers to lovers-being-in-trouble to HEA. They're not a surprise pairing because Zanetti has been hinting at them from the start, but I wish she could have done them more justice with their emotional development instead of constantly thrusting them into one dangerous whomping scene into the next.
Overall though, this is definitely the book I enjoyed the most in the series. Despite my reservations, it was a fun ride and a few days' worth of entertainment.
I'm so happy to see Angus getting the respect he deserved from the very beginning. Driven was everything I was hoping it would be for his story. There was a lot to prove here and I think the author did a fantastic job of wrapping it all up. I'm not sure if that means this series is ending, but I really hope it's not. She really could keep these guys going for more, but now they will have the backup they truly deserve. Plus, we gotta get Jethro's story!
Each book is a standalone but I do highly recommend starting with book one. Angus is the beginning of everything for this series and the reason why we got this ragtag team in the first place. You learn so much about each individual character in their own book. You won't understand what it truly means for each of them to stand by Angus they way they did unless you start at the beginning. You also won't truly appreciate Roscoe the dog. He is one of my favorite side characters in a series. period.
I have been waiting for Angus and Nari's story since the beginning. It did not disappoint.
I love this whole Deeper Ops crew.
We always knew Angus and Nari would be an explosive mix and their chemistry has been percolating in the background over the last few books. They may pretend the other doesn't exist from time to time but they have each others back when it counts!
Angus is suffering, not so quietly, with PTSD. He is functioning alcoholic with a slight fixation on a serial killer that he thinks may have resurfaced. Nari was sent to keep an eye on the team and has never denied it but she had her own reasons to "serve penance" with the HDD rejects. She has her own family issues to deal with. it's not easy when your boss is also your estranged Bio-Dad!
Is Henry Lassiter really alive? Does he have an acolyte copycat? Or is someone trying to finally send Angus over the edge? Whoever is hunting Angus is now making very personal, he's killing females who resemble team members. Angus is ready to set the world on fire to protect his team.
OMG between the possible resurrection of serial killers, the team being disbanded by the HDD, and his up-close-and-personal bodyguard duties of Nari, Angus copes admirably well. I really feel for Angus. But don't let the alcohol-soaked facade fool you, he's smarter than the average profiles and he hides muscles to die for! He must work out like a mother to maintain that physique with all that alcohol!
Nari has family problems and I can't believe how her Bio-Dad treats her - I wanted to reach into the book and throttle him! Mind you I did not see that plot-twist coming! Tight plotting, wonderfully endearing characters, all full of quirks and cracks. Roscoe remains my favourite pooch ever!
I'm dreading the thought that this may be the lost book of the series. I really hope not I love this series and there are so many more characters to have stories about, least of all my fellow Brit and Bondish ex-spy!
This book is a heart pounding blend of suspense, emotion and quirky humour. I was utterly engrossed from the first page to the last. Though I’m not usually a fan of romantic suspense, I can’t get enough of this series. The characters are original and three dimensional with their own unique personality quirks and flaws that make the book unforgettable. Without giving anything away, there are some major plot twists in this book that really keep you guessing, right to the end. Just brilliant!
Loved Drive. Rebecca is an amazing writer world builder. I love the way she describes the settings and the emotion she puts into each word she writes. I love this series and I truly hope we see more of these books.
I knew Angus and Nari would combust like that!
We've gotten hints over the last few books that Angus and Nari were attracted to each other but didn't/couldn't do anything about it. Well, as the team's hunt for Lassiter comes to its climax, we find the team is kind of in disarray and struggling to keep things together. Angus finds himself as both a hunter of a killer and a suspect of gruesome murders. Nari is coming to terms with her place in the world and what she truly wants in life. As the world comes crashing down on them, Angus and Nari fight together and for each other through it all. Definitely did not see the case wrapping up the way it did though!
I've really enjoyed this series because it has some quirky personalities, fierce lovers, and ladies who can take care of business. I'm thinking we have 2 more stories maybe? And possibly some new team members? We will have to wait and see!
I was so worried the relationship between Nari and Angus in DRIVEN wouldn’t live up to my expectations after three books of building sexual tension. I am happy to report that not only did Rebecca Zanetti meet my expectations, she also knocked them out of the park! Zanetti has been masterfully weaving the romance and the building “is he dead or isn’t he dead” serial killer plot the entirety of this series. It all explodes in an action-packed ride of a romantic suspense novel.
While both Angus and Nari had been central secondary characters in previous books, their book added layers to their attraction outside the physical. Both characters are driven (get it??) in their own ways and mesh well as a couple on so many levels. Their adrenaline-laced relationship is only deepened by the soft, tender, and funny moments Zanetti throws in. Who knew gruff, bossy, monosyllabic Angus would throw out romantic one-liners that would melt my heart?
Of course, the gang is all back. Wolfe is still my favorite comedic relief character, although Roscoe gave him a run for his money; I love that dog! I have no idea where the series will go from here, Zanetti has left herself an open path, but I will follow wherever she leads!
Overall, if you want to start this series from the beginning (which I highly recommend), grab HIDDEN and fall in love with these characters from book one. If you want to jump in with DRIVEN, I support your life choices, and I think you’ll still have a blast! Nari and Angus are easy to root for and Zanetti’s writing shines like always.
**I received a free copy of this book in order to provide an honest review**
Really good steamy romantic thriller, but I wish I had started from book one in this series.
While Driven is the fourth installment in this series, it was my first book by this author. I'm not gonna lie, I wish I had read the others first instead of starting from here in order to get a full picture and sense of characters. There was never a moment where I was completely confused about what's going on, but it's clear that there were some backstories I had no clue about. In addition, while Zanetti does a great job introducing the characters already so well-known by avid reader of this series, I did have an underlying feeling that I was missing out on some facts and stories.
Nonetheless, once I got a hand of the plot and the characters, the book blew my mind! Turns out I'm a massive fan of the combination of romance and thriller. When I read fiction, I want to feel something intense - and Driven certainly provides this experience. I really liked the twists, and most importantly the sex scenes, although I wished there were more of them in this book.
*Thank you to the Publisher for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review,
I received this book via NetGalley and have agreed to leave an honest opinion.
This book is part of the Deep Ops series and can be read as a standalone. This story is about Angus and Nari. Angus is the head of the team and Nari is a Psychologist placed with the team. Angus is so full of anger and frustration. He also wants Nari but cannot due to his emotional state. Nari doesn't talk much about herself or why she is with the team but she takes her job seriously and encourages all to talk to her if needed.
Angus' sister was killed by a serial killer, Henry Lassiter, and he is determined to stop him for good. Six years ago, he thought he killed Lassiter when they basically had a gunfight where Angus was injured badly but recently women are being killed and they all resemble women on his team. He swears Lassiter is alive but none above him believe him.
Is this Lassiter killing and leaving messages for Angus. Will Angus and Nari find their way to one another? Will they survive?
Even after Angus' team is disbanded by the HDD (a secretive agency) he will not stop looking. His team plans on being right there with him. I loved reading about the rest of the team again, which have been in past books in this series.
I felt so bad for Angus. At first even Nari didn't believe him when he said Lassiter was alive but soon she did and was totally supportive of him. This of course brings them much closer.As the bodies pile up, it is Angus, Nari and his loyal team against the Feds.
This book has quite a twist at the end and a was really good story. I have been waiting for Angus" story for awhile!
This story blew me away it was so good. I liked how the author was able to take such a small idea and make it into an awesome story. Good characters and dialogue helped move this along quite nicely. Driven is another winner for Ms. Zanetti.