This book was a good one. I found it was well written and got me hooked .

I do recommend this series and I actually have recommended it to friends already.

After an op gone wrong, CIA Agent Hunter Wright, and his ops team, Topaz, were disavowed and falsely accused of committing treason in Juno Rushdan’s An Operative's Last Stand, Fugitive Heroes: Topaz Unit #4. I was drawn into the novel by vivid descriptions and interesting and relatable characters from the first scene. Interactions between Hunter and Kelly are fiercely emotional because of perceived betrayal on both sides, but also because of the depth of their feelings, strong personalities, and intense, fiery attraction for each other. A determined, relentless survivor, Kelly is ruthless and ambitious. But she had to choose between Hunter and her dream job with the CIA. And, so she did. Hunter, a former delta force soldier, is an intelligent, forward-thinking, resourceful, formidable adversary. Rushdan’s writing is concise with deft plotting, nail-biting action scenes, taut suspense, and angsty romance. The author keeps you guessing, trying to figure out who’s behind setting up Topaz and wanting the team dead and why. Fast-paced with a nice balance between romance and suspense, the novel is a quick, entertaining read. Reading this novel is like watching an excellent romantic suspense/spy/action movie.

Eighteen months later, ex-CIA agent Hunter and his team are still on the run from their own government and agency. Hunter now knows for sure someone set his team up, especially after they barely escape a CIA mercenary strike team targeting Topaz with a kill order. He’s tired of running. They all are. He owes it to his team to clear their names so that they can get their lives back. More than anything else, he wants answers. One night was all Hunter had with Kelly Russell before his whole world turned upside down, but he never stopped thinking about her or wanting her. He needs to know why she betrayed and set them up, and he’s going to find out the truth. Deputy Director Kelly believes Hunter and Topaz have gone rogue even though she should know them—him—better than anyone else. Because she's the only person who can give him the answers he needs, he’s going to have to rely on her help. When the search for answers jeopardizes her life, too, she will have to rely on him and Topaz now. But can they trust each other?

Full of action, suspense, angsty romance, and twists and turns that you never see coming, An Operative’s Last Stand is a thrilling romantic suspense novel that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I’m looking forward to reading more books by Rushdan.

The Operative’s Last Stand puts you right in the action but is a slow burn on the romantic side of things. Kelly and Hunter begin the novel as completely opposed to each other, but with hint of a past that proves to draw them together. The book moved at a brisk pace in a good way and did not have any lulls. I, as the reader, was always fully engaged. The ending was also very satisfying as they finally unfolded the investigation. Very compelling in the final chapters. Another great novel in the Harlequin Suspense line. Thanks, NetGalley and Harlequin!

An Operative's Last Stand is full of intrigue and romance, although it took me a bit to warm up to the romance. Kelly is a hard nut to crack, so it was a matter of warming up to the character, but warm up, I did, and by then, I was fully invested in the story. The book is a quick read, easily finished in a cozy afternoon or evening by the fire. It's also perfect for a bit of escape from reality after a stressful week. It's well written, exciting, and the pacing keeps things moving right along. This is part of a series, but I didn't find any reason it wouldn't work well as a standalone.

4.5 Stars

Juno Rushdan can always be counted on to deliver a high stakes tale of danger, desire and suspense and she is on top form with her latest novel, An Operative’s Last Stand.

Hunter Wright had barely emerged unscathed from the clutches of CIA mercenaries, but the former agent refuses to sit quietly and hide in the shadows. He wants answers and he will go to the ends of the earth to find them and to find out who had targeted his ops team, Topaz, for treason. Hunter will leave no stone unturned in his search for the truth – even if it means coming face to face with the one woman he never could resist. The woman who still haunts his thoughts and dreams: deputy director Kelly Russell.

Kelly had been forced to put her personal feelings for Hunter aside after believing that he had gone rogue. Yet, something is telling her that there is more to this story than meets the eye. When Hunter comes back into her life, Kelly wonders whether she can trust him again – or whether his return could put her in danger and jeopardize her work.

With the two of them working very closely together, temptation quickly proves impossible to resist. But can they trust each other enough to save both Topaz – and one another?

An action-packed romantic suspense novel where the pace never flags and the twists and turns come thick and fast, Juno Rushdan’s An Operative’s Last Stand is a nail-biting sizzler readers will not be able to put down.

Fast-paced, sensuous and wholly captivating, An Operative’s Last Stand is another winner by Juno Rushdan.

I've only read one of the other books in this series, but these can easily be read as stand alones or out of order. The level of romantic suspense is just right in this one, keeping the story moving at a steady pace throughout the whole book. There were definitely moments that kept me hanging on by a thread. Kelly was hard to like for some of the book, but as she evolved and learned more, as well as developed her relationship with Hunter. Some romantic suspense focus more on the suspense, but this one had a great romance as well as a dynamite suspense plot line.

CIA agents Kelly Russell and Hunter Wright shared a steamy night after a long building attraction, but Kelly cut it off and Hunter had no choice but to keep things professional.

When Hunter’s team is sent to Afghanistan on a sanctioned mission things fell apart and it’s made to look like his team, Topaz, went rogue and intended to assassinate another target for money, making them traitors to the country. Kelly is interrogated and tortured to make sure she wasn’t part of the operation and once she’s exonerated, she’s promoted. Hurt and betrayed she’s on the warpath to catch Hunter and his team.

Hunter and his team were set up and there seems to be only one person who could’ve done it: Kelly the woman he fell hard for, only to be rebuffed for her career. Now he and his team are on the run, but they have evidence to prove their innocence.

This was an action-packed story with a lot of hurt on both sides at first and I could totally understand why Hunter and his team would be livid with Kelly. However, as the story went on and all that Kelly went through was revealed I could understand why she was so hellbent to catch them. I really felt for her and was disturbed what she went through. I was happy when they all finally got together to get to the truth.

Of course, both Hunter and Kelly’s feelings of betrayal were strong as they felt passionate for each other, even if Kelly wanted to shut things down thinking they couldn’t work together and carry on with a romantic relationship as well. All that goes out the window when their lives are on the line and it becomes clear that what matters most.

An Operative’s Last Stand was an exciting, fast-paced read full of heated emotions. The was a lot of anger between Kelly and Hunter, understandable when such strong feelings are in play. I knew that would flip the minute they realized the truth. The passion they once had was never extinguished. These two were crazy for each other and I just wanted Topaz to be cleared so they all could go back to a normal life. This was the fourth book in the series, but I didn’t read the previous and it worked well as a standalone. I really enjoyed this one!

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Love the fantastic ending for this awesome series. Juno Rushdan can craft a Romantic-Suspense that has everything and do it in less than 300 pages without any deficiencies in any way. She is a must read for me and I have never been disappointed. "An Operative's Last Stand" is fast paced, steamy hot and loaded with non-stop action, just the way I like my Romantic-Suspense to be.

Hunter Wright is a CIA operative on the run. His team has been accused of treason and a hit squad is after each of them. He finally has intel and knows that he was set up by a woman he trusted with his life. He's beyond furious and he wants answers. He is willing to lay is all on the line in order to clear his name and the names of his Topaz teammates. Ther is only one person who has the answers, and he means to get them, even if it means he may not survive.

Kelly Russell was Topaz team's handler, and she has no idea what could have made them turn traditor and kill and innocent Afghanistan official. As the new Deputy Director of the CIA, she has sworn to hunt them down and eliminate them, even Hunter, the one man she has ever has feelings for. Getting Topaz Team is proving difficult and when Hunter turns the tables on her, they finally get to the truth of what really happened and the undeniable passion they have for each other.

Hunter and his team was set up and now seen as the enemy. Kelly and Hunter once has a thing but after finding out about the betrayal she's on a mission to take them down when she finds out there is more then she was told and now doesn't know who to trust. Clearly someone wants to silence Hunter and team and they need to find out who and why.

If you love a good suspense novel then look no further. I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into but I love a good intrigue novel and this was perfect for that. I loved seeing how everything played out. There was a bit of action, plenty of suspense and a load of confusion as to wondering who was behind everything. It was interesting seeing the suspicion take place once they realized that that someone was playing a trick on everyone and it had some deadly consequences. It was hard to figure out who was to trust and I enjoyed seeing how the whole mystery played out. Overall great book I really enjoyed it.

Terrific conclusion to the series. For the last eighteen months, the members of the Topaz Unit have been on the run. Accused of betraying their country for money, they know they are innocents of the charges and are desperate to clear their names. Meanwhile, the powers-that-be at the CIA have sent hit squad after hit squad to silence them. Hunter Wright, Topaz's team leader, has done his best to protect his teammates who have barely escaped their pursuers. All of them and their significant others have joined Hunter on his sanctuary island, where they decide it is time to return to the US and get the answers they need.

Two years earlier, Hunter and the team's handler, Kelly Russell, grew very close. After one passion-filled night, Kelly pulled back, insisting on returning to a professional relationship. Not long after that, Topaz Unit was sent on the mission that started their troubles. They suspected something was off but carried out their orders, only to discover that they had killed the wrong person. When they were declared traitors, Hunter believed that Kelly had set them up, and when he learned of her promotion, he was sure of it. In previous books, we have seen Kelly's determination to exterminate the team vehement in her characterization of them as traitors. Hunter is understandably hurt and angry that she could believe him capable of such heinous behavior.

Thanks to discovering a tracking device at the end of the previous book, the team knows their days on the island are numbered. As the story opens, they await the next attack. I was on the edge of my seat as they lay in wait, trap baited. I loved watching them kick butt while Kelly and the others followed the events in horrified disbelief. Kelly's frustration is palpable, and her frustration with her coworker is evident. That was my first inkling that everything might not be what it seemed. I loved seeing the team make a clean getaway, and advance their plans to discover the truth.

The story's suspense built from event to event, chapter to chapter, as the team grew closer to uncovering the truth. Hunter's first step was a confrontation with Kelly, and I loved how he set that up. Face-to-face for the first time since that fateful mission, their exchange was heartbreaking and satisfying. Though she was skeptical of Hunter's claims, he raised just enough doubt that she promised to look into it. Those inquiries stirred up a hornets' nest, and the team worked hard to protect themselves and, eventually, Kelly. Bombs, snipers, mass shootings, made for non-stop action as Hunter and Kelly raced to uncover the who and why of the set-up. Just when I thought I knew who was behind it, an unexpected twist proved me wrong. The final confrontation was a nail-biter with Kelly caught in the clutches of the mastermind. The motivations behind it all shocked me, and the steps taken to ensure success were horrifying. I was glued to the pages as Hunter, the other Topaz members, and some of John's SEAL friends arrived in time to save the day.

Much of the relationship between Hunter and Kelly happened off-page at the beginning of the book. Despite her being his boss, their time together deepened the attraction that grew between them. I was as frustrated as Hunter was at Kelly's lack of faith in Hunter's honor. I'm not sure I could be as forgiving as he was. I could feel Hunter's pain when he kidnapped Kelly and tortured her to get her to listen. Kelly's guilt was evident as she uncovered the manipulations that made her believe in Hunter's treachery. Once she saw the truth, she allowed herself to pursue her growing feelings for him. The epilogue was terrific with finding out the results of their work and seeing the happiness of the four couples. I loved the twist in the big moment between Hunter and Kelly.

If it were possible to read a book from cover-to-cover in one breath, An Operative's Last Stand would be that very book. Hunter Wright is an ex-CIA agent with a price on his head. In fact, it is the CIA that wants him dead and they will not stop at anything until the job is done. Why is Hunter's previous team, Topaz, determined to wipe him out? What of Kelly Russell, Deputy Director and the one leading the charge against Hunter?

Run. Kill or be killed. What will Hunter to in order to save his life, prove his innocence that got him marked and resist his growing feelings for Kelly? A quandary on every level. Trust becomes key because Hunter must trust at least one person to stay alive and that proves to be Kelly. Can they work together to prove his innocence and pull together enough facts to determine why things are at a dangerous level?

Utterly exciting. So much so that I now want to make room in my schedule for the previous books in this series. Juno Rushdan never once let the tension go in this book, all while the story between Hunter and Kelly developed despite the odds against them.

Many thanks to Harlequin Intrigue and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

An operatives last stand by Juno Rushdan.
Fugitive Heroes: Topaz Unit, Book 4.
Barely escaping CIA mercenaries, ex-agent Hunter Wright is after the person he thinks targeted his ops team, Topaz, for treason. Deputy director Kelly Russell is still the one woman he can't resist, but she believes Hunter went rogue. Now she's his only shot at getting the answers they need. Can they trust each other enough to save Topaz—and each other?
I really really enjoyed this book. I liked Hunter and Kelly. Great story. 4*.

In order for a romantic suspense to really work, you need to believe the romance within the suspense, and it needs to move seamlessly from the romantic portions to the guns blazing and being chased portions.

This book worked in some places and not in others.

I believed in the relationship between Hunter and Kelly, but I thought too much credibility was given to the idea that she was his mark during the prologue...and that colored the way I felt about them at the end of the story.

There was a lot of action, and it was interesting, but I am not sure it was well-balanced throughout the story and I thought the ending/resolution was a little rushed and somewhat out of the blue.

Overall, I was engaged enough to finish the book, even with the issues noted above, and I do recommend this title.

This is a Romantic Suspense, and this is the fourth book in the Fugitive Heroes series. I have to say I did not care about any of the characters. The storyline just could not pull me into it. I think books with CIA is just not books for me. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

A top tier CIA unit has had to go on the run after being accused of assassinating an Afghani official and being paid to do so. Kill orders have been issued for them. To survive they need to prove their innocence. This action in this book starts from the first and never stops. There is a twist at the end that I didn’t see coming. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Great book! I loved this one! It had suspense, intrigue, action, and a good who done it! I've read a few books in this series, I saw that a few reviews said to read the series in order, while you don't know all the characters I still feel they can be read as a standalone?! At least this one! I definitely will recommend this book and series! Its well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Rogue CIA ops team, TOPAZ is still on the run, trying to clear their name and stay alive. Believing that Kelly is involved in the plot to frame and now kill them, Hunter knows the only thing left to do is find her and learn why she did it and clear their name. Action packed, this book grabbed me from page one and I couldn’t put it down.
A great ending to a fantastic series.

AN OPERATIVE’S LAST STAND (Fugitive Heroes: Topaz Unit Book #4) by Juno Rushdan is the brilliant final book and ending to the Fugitive Heroes series! These books should be read in order as each member of the Topaz team gets their own romantic suspense story which will bring them all back together to prove the team’s innocence.

Topaz team leader Hunter Wright has been able to keep his team safe up to now, but he knows they must return to Virginia to get to the person he believes betrayed his ops team. Hunter knows the CIA Deputy Director is the only person who can get the answers regarding their failed op and prove their innocence.

CIA Deputy Director Kelly Russell believes Hunter and his team went rogue and has sent CIA mercenaries to eliminate the treasonous team. Not only does she believe they betrayed their country, but that Hunter personally betrayed her.

Can they trust each other enough to save Topaz and each other?

I loved this conclusion to the Topaz series! It has everything. There is an enemies-to-lovers trope, emotional discoveries and consequences, fast-paced action and thrills, believable suspense and a climax and conclusion that was both surprising and smart. Ms. Rushdan’s characters realistically come to life on each page. This book, while wrapping up the overall series arc, also gives the reader a romance between Hunter and Kelly which is both emotionally devastating with many of the revelations and smokin’ hot with explicit sex scenes. For me, this final book was perfect!

I highly recommend this series and cannot wait for more from this author!

This is the perfect ending to a totally absorbing series about CIA agents forced to go rogue when they are suspected of treason. Hunter Wright is the leader of the Topaz unit and feels responsible for the fact that they are being hunted down by a kill squad. In this last book of the series, Hunter decides to take the fight back to the home turf of the CIA and confront his team manager, Kelly Russell, the woman he is more than a little attracted to and the one whom he suspects of betraying and setting up the team. The action is non-stop and fast-paced, with bombs, mercenaries with high power rifles and subterfuge on the highest levels of the spy agencies of the U.S. I was able to figure out who the real villain was, but not until very close to the end. The suspense was riveting and built from chapter to chapter, with the entire team involved in a life or death struggle against an unknown enemy. There were some really steamy bedroom scenes, but I just skimmed those since they neither added nor detracted from the story for me. I enjoyed the fact that there was romance in the midst of all of the danger and that realistic details about the characters were part of the story. With three-dimensional characters and a plot that was engaging, this book is one not to be missed. It is the last book in the series, but it can be read as a standalone.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Book Funnel. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Action packed, entertaining and gripping: it was an excellent story that kept me turning pages and I appreciated the characters, the very tense plot and the romance.
It's the first I read in this series and made wish to read the others.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine