Unforgiven is the latest in the Deep Ops series by Rebecca Zanetti. If you love romantic suspense books then this book is definitely for you. It has it all highly skilled operatives, single mother on the run with her small child, a psychotic hitman/murderer/former operative, university professors, friends, and last but not least a love story all blended into one awesome story. It started off just a little bit slower than I was expecting, but it certainly made up for it later on in the story and especially with an amazing ending. It was so good that I finished it in less than a day. I didn’t want it to end, but I guess I will just have to settle for waiting for the next one to come out.
Rebecca Zanetti has done it again with Unforgiven. The Deep Ops series by Rebecca Zanetti is easily one of the best romantic suspense series that I have ever read!

Love binging a romantic suspense in one sitting! Gemma has just taken on a new job as a professor that a friend helped set her up with. No one knows but she’s actually on the run and in hiding from her ex - he has almost tracked her down a few times and she’s determined to keep herself and her daughter safe. She’s definitely not looking for love or complications.

Jethro is the British philosophy professor who she meets right away and who may make things more complicated. Jethro is trying to give up work on the deep ops team but gets called in when a body is found that has a note written specifically to him.

I really enjoyed the multiple layered stories happening in this one and it’s always fun to see couples from previous stories as you get later into a series.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance reading copy.

A compelling addition to Deep Ops, Unforgiven is the fifth book in the series. Murder, betrayal, connections and love. The characters are captivating, the story well-conceived and delivered. A fabulous story and a keeper in my library

If you are an adrenaline junkie and love that thrill when reading a suspense novel, this is a must read!

This book is a standalone in a larger series of interconnected and recurring characters. While that usually makes me feel like I'm missing out on the inside jokes and the camaraderie between these characters, I didn't have that with 𝘜𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯.

Rebecca truly has a gift for writing this genre. Romantic suspense is a balancing act, too much suspense or not enough romance and the book can miss the mark. She pulls it off effortlessly!

Gemma is on the run with her daughter from her ex and he won't stop until she's found. Her strength and determination to protect Trudy by any means is admirable and what made me love her character. I can't imagine having to go through what she had to in order to survive and let Trudy thrive!

Jethro is a hot AF professor (I totally had Indiana Jones on my mind!). But, he's not just a professor, he's ex British military.

There's so much I loved about this book: The suspense, the cat and mouse game with 2 foes, the attraction between Jethro and Gemma, the adorableness that is Trudy, the friendships between the Deep Ops crew and Jethro's UK buds!!

I loved this book from start to finish!! The story line is action-packed, suspenseful and thrilling. Gemma and Jethro were great together. Gemma's daughter, Trudy, was so adorable, I loved her interactions with everyone. It was great to see the Deep Ops group come together to help out one of there own. This series just keeps getting better and better!! I can't wait to find out more about the twins, Ian and Oliver, in the future.

I love a British hero and Jethro is the perfect one! Former MI-6, he helps the Deep Ops team occasionally while being a professor. Gemma is on the run with her daughter and temporarily teaching at the same university. He is intrigued by her and they end up together while Jethro chases his killer brother and she tries to avoid her ex.

Love the Deep Ops crew of misfits and the romance and mystery are equally exciting and makes this book hard to put down. I love this series and can’t wait for the next!

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Unforgiven is about two people running from a past they would rather forget. This is a wonderfully written, intriguing story that kept me spellbound. It has suspense, intrigue and romance all rolled up together. It also has light and funny moments while the two main characters, Jethro and Gemma, deal with death, a serial killer and falling in love with each other.

Gemma is running for her life when she meets Jethro. Jethro is a college professor with secrets of his own and a past he wants to hide. Jethro and Gemma are both good people who unfortunately, have had bad things happen to them. They meet when both their pasts come back to haunt them.

Jethro and Gemma felt real and genuine, I easily connected with them and I loved all of their interactions. They both have tons of baggage and they meet at the perfect time to help each other. This story is about good versus evil and I kept hoping good would win.

I was really invested in this story and found myself quickly turning the pages to find out what would happen next. The story goes back and forth through time as we learn about Jethro and Gemma’s past and how and why they their lives have been turned upside down.

I loved all the characters in this engaging story as they fight evil together.
I immediately fell for Jethro and his British accent. This story has wonderfully written dialogue and I especially enjoyed all the bantering between Jethro and his friends. I enjoyed every minute of this enthralling, emotionally intense, edge of your seat story.

Rebecca Zanetti is one of my favorite authors and I will read pretty much anything by her; however this book is a little darker than I am used to. It took me a little bit to get into. I don't know if I was waiting for something bad to happen right away in the story, but I was definitely on edge. That said, about a quarter of the way in, I was immersed in what was Gemma hiding from and how was Jet going to help her when he has own past to battle. This book has several twists and I feel satisfied with how it was all tied up I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone look for a story with an edge to it.

Unforgiven, Deep Ops #5, by Rebecca Zanetti, focuses on British Deep Ops agent Jethro Hanson and the enigmatic new professor Gemma Falls who captures his attention. Zanetti dives directly into the story, weaving a suspenseful, eerie tale that drew me in immediately. Unforgiven’s scenes are vivid, lively, and detail-filled, especially the exhilarating action scenes and engaging character interactions, which are integral to the characters’ development and that of Zanetti’s complex, emotional, intense, and riveting story. Zanetti wonderfully develops the relationships between her characters, both primary and secondary. I love how Gemma and Jethro’s instant attraction quickly grows into a deep connection through intense, emotional, funny, sexy, intimate, and steamy interactions, catching both by surprise. The sweetness of Trudy’s interactions with Jethro and the Deep Ops team members will steal your heart. They’re so adorable. Readers familiar with the series catch up with how team members from earlier books are doing.

A game theory expert, Gemma finds herself using her knowledge and skills to evade a deadly and relentless stalker for years and outrun a killer. Now that Gemma’s teaching game theory as a professor at D.C. University, she’s hopeful that D.C. can be a safe harbor for her young daughter Trudy after years on the run. If only Gemma could avoid the sexy and distracting philosophy professor Jethro, with whom she keeps crossing paths, and all his freely given help and advice. The last thing Gemma needs in her life right now is an arrogant, infuriating man who won’t go away, despite how sexy he is with his British accent and everything else.

Jethro, a philosophy professor at the University, has blood on his hands from his time as a British Agent for the Queen and a Deep Ops agent that he can never wash away, even though he now works in academia. But he longs for redemption, nevertheless—something he believed beyond his reach until meeting Gemma and her daughter. Gemma never expected to be swept away by passion again. Not after her last experience. But the chemistry between her and Jethro is fiery and intense—a surprise to them both. To protect Gemma from a threat pursuing her requires Jethro to unleash the deadly trained killer he’s been trying to escape locked deep inside.

Zanetti deftly develops complex, intriguing characters you not only can’t help rooting for but that you also genuinely grow to admire. Gemma is sharp, intelligent, resilient, resourceful, perseverant, and guarded. She sacrifices to protect her little girl, ensuring she always meets all her needs and is safe first. With a sparse, lonely life, save for Trudy, she’s burdened by secrets and a tragic past, making her wary of trusting and letting others into her life. Intelligent, handsome, charming, and sexy, Jethro presents a harmless, calm façade to the world. But deadly secrets from his past haunt Jethro and won’t stay in the past. The lethal skills he learned in training for the Queen’s secret service doing things he can’t leave behind either may come in handy to keep Gemma and Trudy safe from whatever threats are stalking them.

Unforgiven is a gripping, emotional, steamy, suspenseful angsty, breathtaking romantic suspense read.

This was a wild ride involving two cat and mouse games. Gemma is escaping her abusive ex-fiance (but not sure how she managed to obtain multiple fake documents and secure a job at a university) and Jethro is being hunted by his sociopathic brother. There was lots of exciting action as both Gemma and Jethro are stalked by their hunters. Lucky for them, they had help and back up from the Deep Ops team. While I liked Gemma, I didn’t quite buy her sudden personality change from nervous and scared to tigress. I also didn’t understand the significance (if there was any) of Jethro and Fletcher’s background as being sons of a duke. Their familial lineage was mentioned a couple times but there was no further expansion. I loved the interactions with Trudy, Gemma’s daughter, and Ian and Owen, Jethro’s former military buddies.

My goodness, we are already at the fifth book! Unforgiven by Rebecca Zanetti gives us finally the British hot guy’s story that I have been waiting for since we first met in the Deep Ops offices! I have read every single book that Rebecca has ever written, and I think that she gets better with every single new one!
We have our Professor Jethro Hanson that is as far from a sweater wearing academic as one can get, and Gemma Falls that is keeping a step ahead of her deadly stalker and keeping her daughter safe while totally changing her appearances and teaching at DC University … and so do their paths cross … and let’s not forget the unstable killer from Jethro’s past that wreaks havoc and plays his own insane game where stakes are as high as they can get!
I loved how Rebecca lured us into the web of deceit, slowly, one step at a time … until bam!!! we are in the midst of it all and all the member of Deep Ops team and the annoying agency guys and the DC PD detectives we have met before get involved … AND let’s not forget Jethro’s buddies from the Queen’s country … sigh … overload … at the edge of my seat and I could not put the book down until I had finished it (who cares if one needs to work the next day, there is always tomorrow to catch up with work)!
I cannot wait to see what more Rebecca has in store for the Deep Ops family! I can see quite a few mind blowing stories brewing under her hat (with those great supporting characters she has introduced … ). Please give them coming, there is never enough as all great writers know, the readers inhale your days long hard work with just mere hours and ask for more and more and more!

I love this series so much. Unforgiven is Deep Ops series book #5, each book could be read as standalone, but reading them in order is the best way to enjoy the amazing characters after they found their mates in the previous books.
This time the spot is on Jethro , Angus’ friend, who helped him to take down a psycho serial killer. Jethro is an ex MI6 agent, not so ex though, but everyone known him as a Brit philosophy professor at the University. Unforgiven is also Gemma's story, a woman on the run with her little daughter Trudy.
Is a fact that Rebecca Zannetti's male characters give their best with single mom and their children and Jethro is no exception.
He’s full of charm, superhot badass, he has darkness in him, but he's so caring, sweet and protective with Trudy.
The past left marks on Jethro’s life, but because of that he always take care of the people around him, without knowledge of how his presence is so important in the life of his friends.
Gemma is also a wonderful woman smart, strong, she chose to fight back, saving herself and her daughter, running away, changing her life forever. She has secrets, she’s alone, with no family to trust, until fate puts on her path Jethro.
They feel a strong pull toward each other, but they sense there’s something behind what they let show to everyone.
The past for both of them come back in full force. Things become complicated and dangerous and they can’t hide anymore their feelings and their secrets, but this time they have a great backup.
Angus and Nari, Wolf and Dana, their team makes the difference in this story. They feel Jethro as part of them and the bond is stronger than any kind of blood ties.
I loved also the new secondary characters (the twins from Jethro former life), they’re are intriguing and fun. You can only hope the author give them their own story in a new book.
The cherry on the top is always Roscoe with his antics, one of the best character I ever read. Roscoe is Angus’ German Shepard… and part of the team as well.

Rating 5 stars
Heath level 4

4 A Couple to Root for Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free-A Quick Review
Unforgiven (Deep Ops #5) by Rebecca Zanetti takes the reader on a journey that allows the feelings of concern, discovery, and in the end, hope. This has a woman who has hidden for years from a stalker in order to protect herself and her daughter.

We also have a man with deep demons and he is hiding his own past. These two cross paths, develop a caring relationship and eventually have to battle all the things they have been hiding from.

Unforgiven by Rebecca Zanetti
Deep Ops #5

Compelling, hard driving, excellent story that I could not put down. Felt I was there in the midst of the action and a participant throughout. Great Book!

What I liked:
* Gemma: woman on the run, single mother, abused in the past, strong, intelligent, working as a substitute university professor
* Jethro: ex-MI6, lethal, intelligent, has worked with the Deep Ops team in the past, a bit of a loner that has been taken in by the team
* Trudy: Gemma’s daughter, sweet, kind, adds a lot to the story
* The way Gemma and Jethro interact and grow together as a couple as they communicate as equals
* The Deep Ops team: getting to see the couples and hearing how they were doing
* Wondering which Deep Ops member will find their HEA next
* Scott: The lawyer and ex-Marine that was there for the team but also might have been smitten by Millie
* Roscoe: a wonderful dog…with a bit of a booze problem…great with all ages
* Oliver and Ian: came over from England, also ex-MI6, might get a job with Deep Ops in the future
* Wondering if Dana and Wolfe will have a baby boy or a baby girl
* Wondering what is up with Serena
* Knowing that there is another book in the series to look forward to
* That the bad guys were dealt with by the end of the book

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like – it was easy to dislike the two evil characters as well as a few more
* Having to wait to find out what will happen next in the series

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Lyrical Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

UNFORGIVEN Deep Ops #5 by Rebecca Zanetti

I have just finished Unforgiven and I was totally absorbed into the story! I was unable to put it down once I started it. Ms Zanetti has created a world that that can be read as a standalone, but I think you would be missing out if you did not read the prior books to get the relationships with all the players.
Jethro Hanson is a brit who was in the M16, but retired to become a college professor. Gemma Falls is a single mother who is on the run from her abusive ex. She has a temporary position at the same college working as a professor in the same building as Jethro. When a killer leaves notes on bodies to implicate him, Jethro tries to find the killer while the police are investigating him. It becomes clear fast that this is very personal.
This story is a romantic thriller that is full of suspense, drama, lots of heat, angst, witty banter, and the best camaraderie between the deep ops friends. My hope is that the twins get their own books too. I loved this fast paced book. This is 5 stars.

Zanetti’s suspense novels are on my “must read” list, and she should be on your list, too. “Unforgiven” is phenomenal, perfect for kicking off a summer of leisure reading. Gemma is a smart main character, as are all of Zanetti’s. Jethro is a recurring character, one I love (this name is my only complaint- it was jarring throughout the book), and he is a perfect fit for her.

If you had to pick just five books to read this summer, make Unforgiven one of them. It’s that good!

This book was soooo good - a 5+++++rating! There was more than one crazy killer to solve for and the team came together as they always do. I love these characters and hope Rebecca keeps these coming to us for years and years!! Grad this one and get ready for a very fun ride!

I received an advanced reader copy of this book to leave an honest review. I have read many of Zanetti's works and all of the Deep Ops books. Excellent writing style, good plot lines and awesome characters. I like the whole series but really enjoyed this book (it might be my favorite so far).

This book follows Jethro (who you meet in previous books) and Gemma. Jethro is currently a professor of game theory but previously he worked for a special branch of MI6. Gemma is on the run from her abusive ex-fiancée; she is also hiding his child that he doesn't know about so trusts no one. Gemma is currently taking a stint as a substitute professor at the same college as Jethro which is how they meet. Jethro thinks she is cold and off putting until both of their pasts come back to haunt them and throw them together. I don't want to provide any spoilers but the threats from both of their pasts is real and become intertwined.

Overall definitely would recommend. A great read and keeps you hooked. I am also so in love with the new characters introduced (twins Ian and Oliver) and hope they get their own books!

This book was an absolute winner in my book between a kick butt ex MI 6 agent Jethro and Gemma. The suspense really keeps you going and the romance was the icing on the cake in my opinion. A total must read if you like romantic suspense novels! I received an advanced reader copy and I’m leaving this review voluntarily

A British professor and a woman with her young daughter on the run from her past quickly pulled me into Unforgiven by Rebecca Zanetti. This is a standalone romantic suspense in the Deep Ops series. Come see why I loved their story and recommend this series to everyone.

This is the fifth standalone in one of my favorite romantic suspense series. I love the motley crew in this unit and cannot get enough of them. If you love the genre or are curious, this is the series to try. It has swoons, humor, friendship, HEAs and plenty of suspense.

Jethro Hanson, has worked for Queen and country and now works as a college professor and has aided our Deep Ops team. When one of his colleagues takes a sabbatical on short notice, he worries, but her replacement has him worried more. Something is off with Gemma Falls and mishaps keep happening to her. As he befriends her, he thinks this mischief is caused by his past….but quickly learns it’s hers.

This was another delightful, intense and swoon-worthy tale. From Gemma’s background to MI6, I was all in. We get to see our alcohol loving pup and the rest of the gang. It was great seeing them coordinate and work together. The updates, banter, and food talk all added to the tale.

The story touches on domestic abuse, stalking and more. As always, the author has done her research and delivers an air of believability to her story.

Zanetti has created something special with the Deep Ops Series and I am always ready for more. Fans of humor, teams, romance, and plenty of suspense will love this unit FBI unit.

Review posted at Caffeinated Reviewer June 16, 2022