Deep Breath

I've read and enjoyed Alison Kent's SG-5 series since reading The Bane Affair, so I was excited to read the latest book, Deep Breath. I wasn't disappointed: 4 out of 5.

When a guy stops at a roadside diner, he expects bad chili, not a hostage situation. But that's where SG-5 operative Harry van Zandt finds himself when an armed cartel blows through the door. They're not after him but the woman in the next booth, and their message is clear: she's got seventy-two hours to locate and deliver a valuable historical document or her brother dies. And if Harry wants to live, he'd better go with her.

Harry has his own undercover mission to finish, but with a trigger-happy band on their trails, it'll have to wait. Not that he minds helping Georgia McLain. The tough treasure hunter is as smart as she is sexy. She's also desperate. That artifact could finally clear her late father's name. She needs Harry if she's going to double-cross these thugs and keep it for herself, and her gratitude is the kind that could turn a guy's head. Too bad that document is also of vital importance to the Smithson Group, and Harry's top-secret mission is to get it before it falls into the wrong hands. Now, the beautiful, infuriating woman he's starting to fall for could lead him right to what he needs--and what she so desperately wants.

Out in the open road with a price on their heads, two unlikely lovers are caught in a game of secrets, lies, betrayals, and desire, where trust is risky and love is no time to catch your breath . . .

I've noticed that I tend to rave about the hero when I write about characters. I obviously pay a lot of attention to heroes, sometimes to the point of slighting heroines. In Deep Breath, I liked Harry--what's not to like about a man who's willing to help a woman in a dangerous situation? Who then finds himself conflicted about the possible contradictions of helping her and completing his mission?

But I also found myself noticing and appreciating Georgia's complexity. She's a confident woman with a tendency to apologize, and I love how this played out in her and Harry's first love scene. Her worries about how he'll view her during this scene seem very real for a woman in her mid-30s, who hasn't had especially positive experiences in the past.

I also thought Georgia's desire to clear her father's name is realistic. I liked the way this particular plot thread plays out, although I don't want to go into details to avoid spoilers. Let's just say I thought it was a realistic resolution.

The suspense thread in Deep Breath is a little stronger than the romance (I usually prefer the opposite), but the romance is satisfying nonetheless.