An action-adventure-romance set in Africa, this one is meant
to be a fast-paced read.
Elizabeth (Ellie) Turner, US ambassador in in Mauritania,
Africa is somewhat idealistic in her belief in the Mauritania and her ability
to make an impact on the country. The embassy is facing a strange situation. There
are men gathering in front of the building and doing nothing. Just gathering
there. The numbers have increased enough for Ellie to have shifted all embassy
employees into the compound. While no untoward incident has yet happened, the
gathering seems intimidating enough. When random shots are fired in the crowd, Flagler
security head and Ellie’s friend, insists on sending a team for her protection
in addition to the marines already there. Reluctantly, Ellie agrees to have a
small team in the embassy with her and one team at a safe location a few miles
away. Angel McTaggart is assigned to lead the Flagler teams and she is also to
be Ellie’s personal bodyguard. Ellie and Angel are attracted to one another but
lock horns on many issues.
Elizabeth and Angel are both likeable characters but hugely
frustrating in their lack of communication (personal and professional) with
each other. Continually keeping things from the ambassador by the bodyguard particularly
doesn’t sit well. The way they ignore red flags about suspicious characters and
behaviour is also strange and makes us wonder whether they (especially Angel)
are all that great at their jobs. There are some scenes (like the first time
they kiss and some parts of the second half when they are trying to get back to
the embassy incognito after having been attacked) that seem to have been
written stand alone and then fitted in, making them feel jerky.
We really liked the gentleness in Elizabeth. She kept the
book going for us. The book ends with a HFN (happy for now) but it is easy to
imagine a HEA for this one given the MCs are both fairly mature in age, behaviour and emotions.
This one is an okay read.
⭐⭐☆
