I absolutely loved this book! I almost think it’s my favorite in the entire series! And it was wonderful meeting up with all of the characters from the previous four books! Almost like a family reunion!

Gemma is on the run with her small daughter from an abusive relationship. She takes a job at a University in Washington D.C. and there she meets Jethro. She has too many secrets to get involved with anyone, especially a smooth talking man like him.

Jethro can’t figure out why Gemma gives him the brush off every time they meet and determines she must be hiding something. Of course, so is he so he decides to just be friendly. When he discovers she has a small daughter and car problems, he steps in to help…but she doesn’t want anyone’s help…she’s just trying to stay under the radar. That does nothing but make him determined to figure her out.

Jethro’s brother Fletcher is brilliant man, yet one with psychopathic tendencies and he wants to make Jethro pay for putting him in jail. Unfortunately Gemma lands on his radar and then the man after her knows where she’s at…and that she has a daughter (who just happens to look like him). The suspense ramps up and at times it seems like it’s a race against time.

Jethro doesn’t want to have a “family” but the Deep Ops team have made him part of their family. They are helping him whether he wants their help or not and then Gemma gets taken into the fold.

The suspense is crazy good and it keeps you involved and you just don’t want to put it down! And the ending hits all of my feels! Another winner for Ms. Zanetti!

Mystery, suspense, betrayal, and sizzling scenes. Definitely a must read!

I also want to thank Net Galley for allowing me to read this advance reader copy...a phenomenal read!!!

3.5 stars

3.5 stars

My soft spot for Rebecca Zanetti's 'Deep Ops' stems from a misfit crew under Angus Force that don't really bother to hide their brokenness (but in fact, almost revel in it) and slowly becoming a dysfunctional family as the series progresses. The individual books' focus on each pairing however, do vary in quality and romantic tropes underpinned by suspense.

In 'Unforgiven', the entire team gets thrown into chaos by the whirlwind that's Gemma Falls and her daughter--a mother-daughter pair on the run from an abusive ex. The sudden insertion of Jethro's super-evil, over-the-top smart villain of a brother who threatens to wreck the fragile peace the crew has been enjoying also conflates the danger that Gemma faces. With the twin threats, Zanetti's storytelling is pacey as the crew fight fire on both fronts, with Jethro neatly bulldozing himself into Gemma's life and bed.

It was nice to see the return of the crew as a whole and the dynamics that they create when they are around each other; the addition of some side characters does helps keep the plot more lighthearted than darkly violent. Zanetti's brand of humour that she lends the secondary cast can be somewhat off-key, though it certainly does well enough to serve as a tension-reliever at times. 

I'm a little less enthused strangely, about the Deep Ops' crew's individual stories and it's no different here--the violent past of each of Angus's team member is often touted to be the reason and excuse why they don't take any emotional plunges, then switch their opinions almost immediately when 'the one' appears. It's a holding pattern that repeats like clockwork and frankly, I'd like to see a bit more nuance with this particular tortured and overused trope.

Jethro's insistence on railroading his way into Gemma's problems (going so far as to order a background check on her when it wasn't his place to) simply because she was reticent with him didn't put him in the best light, more so as he'd also just come off a one-night stand when he'd met her. That he also flipped so quickly from steadfastly refusing any commitment to any woman to suddenly wanting to play family because of his need to protect Gemma and her daughter felt more of a product of the constant adrenaline rush from a sudden roll of traumatising events than one forged out of deep emotional connection and understanding.

Zanetti's blend of suspense and action is probably what will keep me coming back still; maybe the next pairing is the one that will really unearth that pot of gold for me...who knows?

I love every single thing Rebecca Zanetti writes. She is my favorite author and never disappoints me. I thought this series was finished after Angus and Nari's story, but her creativity never ends. Gemma and Jethro's book was so good and I now have hopes some of the other minor characters might get their own books too. If you like action, suspense and hot romance this is a must read!

Loved this, it’s - action - drama - suspense - romance - all rolled into one exciting, addictive and highly entertaining read. A retired British agent, Jethro Hanson, working as a professor, has no choice but to get involved in a murder investigation, mainly because he’s the number one suspect. He needs to catch the killer and clear his name. University teacher, Gemma Falls is on the run, she has a secret, she is not willing to share it, with anyone, it’s a big one, and she doesn’t trust anyone with it. She doesn’t want to make friends, she’s just trying to survive. She’s well and truly under the radar. Until both their lives collide, and staying together might be the only thing that can save them. Adventure plus, plus, plus. Great characters, some fun moments and a budding romance. I loved all the characters, they really brought the story to life, they either kept me on my toes or had me giggling to myself. An entertaining read. I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my honest review.

I was gifted a copy of Rebecca Zanetti’s latest in her Deep Ops series, Unforgiven, and couldn’t put it down! The book is a thrill-ride from start to finish.
Gemma meets, and falls in love, with a handsome Doctor who turns out to be abusive. When Gemma becomes pregnant, she knows she has to run away before he hurts the baby. She changes her name and manages to stay one step ahead of the people he hires to search for her and daughter Trudy until a chance encounter with a serial killer ups the ante.

Philosophy professor, and ex MI6 operative, Jethro Hanson finds the new sub standoffish but interesting. The more he sees of her, the more he wants to know. She’s hiding something that much is certain, and his protective instincts tell him it’s dangerous. But Jethro has another problem; his psychotic brother escaped prison and is waging a sick game with him, leaving mutilated bodies in his wake.

The Deep Ops group is a ragtag bunch comprised of ex-military, spies, detectives, a psychologist and expert hacker, and a service Shepherd with self-confidence issues and a pocket kitten. They fight hard and love soul-deep- in short, they’re dreamy! They also consider each other family and will risk their lives to protect what’s theirs. When Jethro gets framed for murder, the team bands together to find the truth and save a young woman and her daughter caught in the crosshairs of a serial killer.

This story is by turns scary, funny, heart-wrenching, and swoon worthy- a must read!

Sibling rivalry carried a little too far as one brother, who has escaped from prison, tries to make life miserable for his younger sibling, a college professor. Both just happen to be former operatives for MI6. The professor falls for a colleague who, along with her daughter, is hiding from a former fiancé who happens to be the father. With a little help from his friends, they fight the wayward brother the jilted fiancé, and multiple law enforcement agencies.

Get ready for a fast-paced, danger filled ride with a ton of heart! Gemma and Jethro both have secrets in their painful pasts, but when a common enemy threatens them both, they'll have to trust each other. I loved how strong Gemma's character was and Jethro's protectiveness. The entire cast of characters were interesting and fully fleshed out. This story got very dark in places but also had a lot of humor that had me laughing out loud as well as some incredibly sweet moments. A marvelously entertaining read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for access to this arc.

Unforgiven is the latest Deep Ops novel featuring the Deep Ops team’s sexy British friend and sometimes co-conspirator, Jethro Hanson. Jethro is a former MI6 operator and current college professor. Gemma Falls is on the run and teaching at DC university using one of her aliases seems like a good temporary hideout. The sexy philosophy teacher gets under her skin to the point that she borders on rude. But the last man she was interested in was a complete controlling psycho and Gemma has her daughter to think about. A good man and a cute dog is hard to resist as Gemma and her daughter fall hard for Jethro. Jethro has danger of his own lurking as his psychopath of a sibling is back and trying to frame him for murder. With danger on all sides, Jethro and Gemma get a little help from their friends as the Deep Ops team step up with their unique skill sets. Action packed and full of danger with a side of fun and romance for another addicting chapter in the Deep Ops saga where sexy tough guys find their perfect mates every time for a heartfelt HEA. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

OK so, Jethro isn't the sexiest name in the world but this character makes up for his name with literally everything else. Jethro and Gemma have such great chemistry but Trudy really stole the show. The way all the big tough men just melt around her is adorable. I also really liked the main villain in this story. He wasn't your typical serial killer and with this being book 5 in the series it's nice to have characters that keep the series fresh and less predictable than series who have the same formula with every book. I'm also excited that more characters were introduced in this book who will *hopefully* get their own books later in the series. I really enjoyed this book/series and recommend it to anyone looking for some good romantic suspense.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love this series and this book is one of the reasons that the Deep Ops series is one of my favorites from Rebecca Zanetti. This was a fabulous read. It can be read as a stand alone, but honestly you have got to read the rest of the series if only because the cast of characters are all unique and amazing. This story is about Jethro and Gemma. Jethro is the bonus addition to the Deep Ops team. This team takes a reluctant member, decides they are family, and you better just accept it.

Jethro has a threat from his past that’s coming for him and he reluctantly has to accept he’s part of a team. Gemma is running from her past to protect herself and her daughter. These two characters fight to get the ending they want; lots of action, love, and family. The plot really held my interest and kept the story moving. It also drove the story while the characters fall in love. All of the things the characters go through create a great build up to the end of the story.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Kensington Books and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.


Action, thrills, suspense, a series which doesn’t disappoint.

Deep Ops adds its very own 007 to its ragtag team. After giving up his life working for MI6, Jethro Hanson is now a Professor teaching philosophy. Due to his past he doesnt want to form any close ties to anyone but Angus and Wolfe and the Deep ops team has adopted him into their family already. When random bodies start turning up with letters addressed to Jethro the team rally together to help in hunting a killer that is very close to Jethro.

Gemma Falls is a woman on the run and currently hiding by covering for her friend teaching at a D.C. University. All she has been trying to do for years is to keep her and her daughter safe from her ex. One thing she doesnt have time for is a sexy British Professor.

These two with a serial killer and an abusive ex on their trails end up together and along with trying to stay alive they open something with each other they never thought they would again – their hearts.

This series has it all – humor, suspense, thrills and romance.

Unforgiven is a fast-paced thriller full of action, suspense, danger, and more! Gemma is on the run from an abusive ex who is stalking her. Whenever she settles somewhere, she’s always ready to hit the road again in an instant. However, at her newest location, she meets Jethro, a professor working at the same college where she’s temporarily filling in for a friend. Strange things start happening and Jethro is always there to lend a hand, whether Gemma likes it or not, and she doesn’t like it at all.

Jethro has his own demons to deal with but feels a need to help Gemma. He comes complete with a group of friends who are just as dangerous as he is, but also good people. As hard as he tries to keep them at a distance for their own safety, they try even harder to be there to help him. They consider him family.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was chilling! Rebecca Zanetti writes hot and steamy romantic suspense, but Unforgiven is suspense first and foremost, with the love and the romance sharpening the risks and danger.

Gemma Falls is a single mother on the run from an abuser. She finds a temporary position teaching statistics and game theory at DC University. Her new colleague, Dr. Jethro Hanson, is a British professor who appears disinterestedly helpful but is hiding so much more than Gemma could guess. Still waters run deep indeed.

Gemma is being stalked by her ex, while Jethro is receiving notes from a serial killer. Sure, he may argue the semantics of the term, but essentially there are killings and they occur serially. The stakes are critical for Gemma because of her daughter. Stakes are phenomenal for Jethro because, well, victims are getting disemboweled. Like I said, it’s chilling.

Luckily, Jethro has friends for tough spaces, having helped Angus Forge and the Deep Ops team on a previous mission. And, Jethro’s skills and know-how come from his MI6 background, which comes with benefits as well. Jethro and Gemma find the perfect chemistry together, and learn that with a found family around them, they no longer have to fight their own battles alone. I found this to be one of the most engaging and thrilling of Rebecca’s Deep Ops instalments. I’m giving it 4.5 stars because of it’s awesomeness in making my blood run both hot and cold, withholding a half star because the Uber villain(s), while scary, were rather predictable.

I am grateful to the publisher for this ARC distributed via NetGalley.

There is a reason the Deep Ops series is one of my favorites from Rebecca Zanetti. This was a fabulous addition. It can be read as a stand alone, but honestly you have got to read the rest of the series if only because the cast of characters are all unique and amazing. This story is about Jethro and Gemma. Jethro is the bonus addition to the Deep Ops team. This team takes a reluctant member, decides they are family, and you better just accept it.

Jethro has a threat from his past that’s coming for him and he reluctantly has to accept he’s part of a team. Gemma is running from her past to protect herself and her daughter. These two characters fight to get the ending they want; lots of action, love, and family. The plot really held my interest and kept the story moving. It also drove the story while the characters fall in love. All of the things the characters go through create a great build up to the end of the story.

I hope there will be more in this series with some of the newer characters introduced! This will go into my reread pile!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love this romantic suspense series from Ms. Zanettit. It is always a fun read and I cannot put it down. As soon as I have a copy of the book, I must read it. I thought this series would be over. To my delight, this book is about Jethro. Yes, the sexy Brit living in the States, teaching as a professor of philosophy. Anyone else kind of imagining Giles mixed with James Bond? I am!

What I liked about this book is that there are two different plots going on at the same time. This is reminiscent of Catherine Coulter's FBI series. I enjoy it when two concurrent mysteries/suspense are blended into one story. Because life is never that straightforward and easy. Life is messy and usually, there are multiple events going on at the same time. For Gemma, she is on the run and hiding under the radar to escape a bad situation. As the story unfolds and we learn more about why Gemma's life is a complete train wreck, my anger escalates. I am completely incensed by what Gemma put on hold and how she's had to feel constantly for her life. Lately, I have been reading more books where authors are using stalkers and domestic violence as a theme. I'm not sure if it just is happenstance or this is a current trend. Regardless, I become livid with stalkers and just want to give them a beat down.

Jethro is a retired MI6 agent. I know absolutely nothing about MI6 other than what books and movies show. It seems to me, that once an agent, always an agent. I have zero validation if what happens in this book is real for a "retired" MI6 agent but it reads so very good. I love Ms. Zanetti's suspense/thrillers. I especially like this renegade group of law enforcement agents. They don't fit the mold and they are all loyal to a fault. Jethro's past comes to haunt him and it is a doozy. We are talking about boiled rabbit psychotic cra-cray. Jethro is a man's man and feels he should take care of this all by his lonesome self. Come to find out, he has friends and he didn't know it.

This is an action-packed tale that moves at an exciting pace. Ms. Zanetti pens another winner with betrayal, dysfunctional love, and redemption through love. Gemma and Jethro's romance is a whirlwind. I like how Gemma slowly starts to trust him because he is considerate and thoughtful. He demonstrates acts of kindness without prompting or showmanship. He's the real deal. Gemma needs a heavyweight like him in her corner. Their romance is fraught with danger that even includes a bombing. Talk about exciting times!

Lastly, Roscoe does make several guest appearances and it appears he's being kept in the background. My guess is maybe too many readers fell in love with him in the previous books and focused all on him instead of the main characters. Maybe one day, Ms. Zanetti will be write a novella from Roscoe's point of view. Kevin Hearne did. *hint hint*

This thriller is recommended for romantic suspense readers who enjoy action, adorable toddlers, and alpha male who saves the day.

I loved this book Gemma is a strong character with a traumatic past and Jethro just wants to be left alone wiTh no entanglements. Then they meet and everything just kinda pushes them together, it's a fast paced storyline with some real twists and turns in the plot. I also love that she brings back past characters.. it is definitely worth the read.

This is a wonderful series! In this 5th book, Professor Jethro Hanson gets his book. We've seen him in previous books. He's an ex-MI6 operative - - except they aren't ever really ex-MI6. Gemma Falls is substituting for her friend at the university, but she's on the run from an abusive ex. She's hoping she can stay at the university for a while to earn money to be able to run again with her daughter if she has to. Jethro has his own problems with his brother who is also ex-MI6. His brother has escaped from England and is killing in DC and framing Jethro for the murders. As Gemma and Jethro begin to get close, their pasts catch up and merge together. Jethro doesn't want to rely on the Deep Ops team and put them in danger but he doesn't have much choice when Gemma and Trudy are put in danger. The Deep Ops team have taken him, Gemma, and her daughter Trudy as family. The humor in these books makes me laugh out loud. The action and romance in this story is amazing. Since there were a few new characters, I'm hoping Rebecca will continue this series. I received an advance copy from NetGalley to read early. I'm leaving my honest review.

I absolutely loved this book and this series as a whole. The family dynamic amongst the entire team is just the best: filled with love, laughter, and a heck of a lot of sass. I had been hoping for a story for Jethro for some time and Rebecca Zanetti just completely delivered. Gemma and Jethro’s tale in “Unforgiven” is a wild ride, one which had me engaged from beginning to end. The story line, cast of characters and romance between the two leads is everything you would expect from Zanetti. The hero is better then Bond. The heroine is a fierce warrior, both smart and strong enough to bring Jethro to his knees. The plot is exciting, mysterious and action packed. Being reunited with the rest of the Team felt like a family reunion. I really hope there are more books to come for this group of misfits, as I did not want this book to end.

My favourite dysfunctional family of disgruntled spies, psychologists and warriors is back with a bang. This time the hero is their English colleague, Jethro.

Jethro has always been around to lend a hand in the previous books but not much was known about the former spy-turned Professor. Now we get to what makes him tick and what demons he's on the run from!

Gemma is a mum on the run with the cutest toddler in history! She makes an impact on our Jethro and soon finds herself in danger once more but is it enemies from her past or his?

Roscoe, Kat and their various humans make an appearance and it gave me the warm fuzzies to see how they are all getting on. That housing estate they're building is going to have to grow some soon to fit them all.

My fave scene involved a toddler, 2 huge, but injured, mercenaries and cartoons LOL. Can't wait to see this series evolve and here's to many more to come!