| Title | : | Agent Under Siege (The Justice Seekers Book 2) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | - |
| Publication | : | First published December 24, 2020 |
The Kentucky Ripper is in prison…or is he? When no one will help Teagan Ray find the man who really abducted her, former profiler Bryson Anton agrees to investigate. But soon their search takes two jolting turns—brutal attacks from a cunning suspect…and a powerful mutual attraction.
Agent Under Siege (The Justice Seekers Book 2) Reviews
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Book two in the Justice Seekers but it can be read as a stand alone or part of the series.
While the Justice Seekers is about a group of people looking to redeem themselves for their past decision. As the author is writing you can see the start of the different books and characters that will be having their own books in the future.
The author pulls readers in with a feisty female lead who will not stop until she is able to get the truth out there and will not take No. The male lead is the tradition broken down man who can't see past his own weaknesses.
The story flows well the characters stay true to who they are from the beginning to the end.
While this might be a HQR series you would never guess. The talented author Lena Diaz gives readers a pulse pounding mystery with a romance readers will enjoy. -
I am a big true crime person so this book was endlessly intriguing for me. I loved all the twists and turns of the story and the pacing was perfect. We would have quieter moments filled with great relationship building and then all of a sudden we would be thrust into some intense action that truly had me at the edge of my seat. Diaz is an extremely talented writer and I loved how well she balanced all the light and dark moments in the story. I also appreciated the level of fun this story had despite the very serious subject matter. This the second book in the Justice Seekers series and there are at least two more planned and I want to read them all!
*Thank you to Harlequin for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. -
This was a complex suspense story with a bit of romance to brighten things up. Teagan was kidnapped and tortured two years earlier before managing to escape. Even though she is in Florida, she's convinced that the man who abducted her is the Kentucky Ripper. Everyone insists that the Kentucky Ripper is in prison, but Teagan thinks they locked up the wrong man. She put her studies in Criminal Justice on hold while she works to prove it. Now she wants to discuss her research and theories with Bryson, the former FBI profiler who worked the case.
After leaving the FBI, Bryson went to work for Justice Seekers. A few months earlier, he was injured while working a case and is on an extended leave of absence while he recovers. Bryson blames himself for his coworker nearly being killed on that case. He also blames himself for how his Kentucky Ripper profile was handled, allowing another woman to die before he was captured and jailed. Bryson's boss, Mason, wants him to meet with Teagan, and Bryson flat-out refuses, throwing her information in the trash.
I loved the first meeting between Teagan and Bryson. Bryson is none too happy when she shows up on his doorstep the next day. He is rude and obnoxious to her, but she refuses to back down. I loved how she kept after him until he agreed to listen to her. I ached for her as she recounted what happened to the "victim" without revealing that it was her. With his skill at reading people, Bryson soon figured out the truth. He continued to rub me the wrong way with his abrasive attitude toward Teagan, but he did make some valid points. I hurt for her when he refused to help and sent her away. An added complication was the sparks that flared between them. Those sparks made it hard for Bryson to put her out of his mind.
This is where the story intensifies. Without telling her, Bryson heads to Florida to check out Teagan's account and do some investigating on his own. He has no intention of contacting her at all. Just his luck, Bryson encounters her as he checks out the site of the abduction. They end up working together, setting in motion a chain of events that puts them in extreme danger. I was on the edge of my seat when the first stop in their investigation went terribly wrong. Teagan's terror leaped off the page as she and Bryson found themselves at the mercy of a madman. I loved seeing the two of them work together to save themselves. Bryson's kindness and understanding of Teagan's trauma went a long way toward redeeming him in my eyes, and I liked how he kept her focused. Several twists made me wonder how they would make it out alive.
Determined to keep her safe, Bryson takes Teagan back to Kentucky. They team up with the rest of the Justice Seekers and go all out to find the attacker and the truth about the Kentucky Ripper. I was fascinated by their actions and discoveries and stunned by the revelations. The final confrontation was a terrifying nail-biter, and I loved seeing Teagan take control at the end.
I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Teagan and Bryson develop. There were sparks between them from the minute they met. Bryson is very conscious of the age difference between them. There was also his belief that he's a screwup who would get her killed because of his failures. Teagan refuses to accept his self-condemnation. I liked her teasing and flirting as a way to get him back to living again. Bryson kept trying to push her away, but she refused to go. With the intensity of their situations, it's no wonder that the feelings between them developed and grew quickly. The ending was terrific, and I loved Bryson's big moment.
One of the things I enjoyed most about this book, and I know it will sound weird was that people got injured. They didn't just brush it off and go on. Bryson's original injuries were severe enough that he was still in pain during this book. His confrontations with the bad guy were realistically portrayed, as were the injuries received. I can't wait to read the other books. -
RATING: 3 STARS
2020; Harlequin Intrigue
Agent Under Siege is book two in the Justice Seekers series. The Justice Seekers are supposed to resemble the Knights of the Round Table. I have not read book one (
Cowboy Under Fire) so I cannot for sure say these books can be read as a standalone. I usually do not read books out of order, in fact, I get behind on reviews as I have to scour to find book one first. I didn't realize it was book two until I started it, and about a chapter in, I no longer needed to read book one. The author basically tells you summary of the book, so you could skip book 1 and 2 as I would bet the last book will do a synopsis as well.
I started out reading Harlequin's imprint Mira, which mostly did romantic suspense. I branched out into Harlequin series like Lakeshore Chronicles (Susan Wiggs) and Virgin River (Robyn Carr) that featured contemporary romances with family drama and some historical romances. I have not read many of the smaller imprints that are have more specific troupes. As I enjoy suspense and romantic suspense, I thought I would try Harlequin Intrigue. I have not read anything by Lena Diaz but have seen her suspense novels on friends's tbr lists. About one third into the novel, I realized that I don't think Harlequin Intrigue is my cup of tea. While I enjoyed the mystery aspect, and the story line of a serial killer still out there committing murders, the romance was centre stage. It was more of a romance with a very small side of the mystery. Solving the mystery was done in the spare time while Teagan romances Bryson. Diaz is a good writer, so I would recommend this one for those that love romances with a touch of mystery.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.*** -
The Justice Seekers series is fantastic! I love the premise behind the second chance for former law enforcement members. Certainly adds a new dimension to the character's backgrounds. Though so far, book one is the best for me, Agent Under Siege was good too! I especially liked the banter. Teagan was just too funny and kept the hero, Bryson, on his toes. A large part of the book takes place in Jacksonville, a part of FL I'm quite familiar with and don't see that often in books.
Lena Diaz's dialogue and action scenes are well-crafted that keep readers turning the pages. Every time the characters let their guard down, something or someone would pop up and the action was just nonstop. The perfect balance of romance and thrills. -
Teagan Ray is a survivor. She had been kidnapped and tortured two years ago but managed to escape her kidnapper who was never apprehended. She froze her master degree studies to work on the Kentucky Ripper case. She is convinced the man arrested and convicted as the Kentucky Ripper is a copycat killer and the actual serial killer is still at large. Teagan is determined to discuss her theory and research with Bryson Anton, the former FBI agent who wrote the profile of the Kentucky Ripper. She approached Mason Ford, Bryson Anton's boss at the Justice Seekers, hoping he could get her a meeting with Bryson. Bryson is on leave from the Justice Seekers after being shot during an earlier case. He doesn't want to meet with Teagan or anyone. Teagan isn't giving up. She decides a direct approach is best. When Teagan arrives at his front door and tells him why she is there Bryson would like to throw her out, but something stops him. When he hears about Teagan's theory and research and why she is so determined to find the real Kentucky Ripper he sends her away but decides to look into Teagan's abduction himself. After all Teagan has the same mark as the Kentucky Ripper's victims have. Maybe her theory has merit.
Agent Under Siege by Lena Diaz is the second book in her Justice Seekers series. This is a chilling thriller. A serial killer on the loose is scary. Teagan's theory that the police had the wrong man in prison starts this storyline. Teagan and Bryson end up working together which puts them in some extremely dangerous, life-threatening situations. I could not put this book down. So much was going on that I had to keep reading to find out what would happen next. The ending was quite a surprise. This author has me hooked on this series. -
Each book in this series gets better.. Loved the two leads. Teagan had me in stitches laughing through most of the book even with the dark subject matter. Great suspense and romance.
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When Teagan is kidnapped and tortured two years ago by a man the police can't find, she takes it upon herself to gather any evidence she can about who he might be. She's convinced he's the Kentucky Ripper, even though that madman is supposedly behind bars. His MO was too close to the Ripper's for him not to be, but which one is the copycat? Was it the madman who held her captive for weeks or was it the one who confessed to the crimes and was serving time in jail? Teagan didn't know, so she turned to the only person who might be able to help her, FBI profiler Bryson.
Bryson wasn't working for the FBI anymore, not after he felt he screwed up the Kentucky Ripper case. It wasn't his fault, his job was to provide the profile, which he did, it was up to the cops to interpret it, which they did incorrectly and a woman died. Haunted by that, Bryson quits the FBI and joins the Justice Seekers, a place where displaced cops and criminal justice people work for a second chance to make things right. Bryson's second chance didn't go so well, and now he's nursing a bullet wound and a bad attitude. He has all but given up until Teagan walks through his door and insists he helps her.
Begrudgingly at first, Bryson decides to help her, if nothing else to appease his own curiosity about the Kentucky RIpper Case. It isn't until he starts digging deeper that he realizes Teagan may be onto something. Unfortunately, but the time he does, it might be too late for both of them. The action from here is non-stop until the end when you're left wondering if the hero and heroine will ever be together.
This was a fast-paced intrigue that was intricate in the plot, even though it was obvious that it didn't have to be. There was a bit of a plot hole that I fell into, but if you can get past that, you'll enjoy this intrigue. That said, I liked that the couple was different and the heroine was sassy and did her own thing, to a point. By the end of the book, the incessant bantering between them that got them nowhere was just frustrating and made me ask 'what is going on right now?' way too many times. While everything in a Harlequin is often over the top, this time, it was a little bit too over the top too many times for me to give it five stars. I thought the idea of the Justice Seekers was fantastic and it's a series I definitely want to finish! -
Bryson Anton is a profiler for the Justice Seekers, but he is finished with that part of his life. He just wants to be left alone to wallow in his self pity and nurse his injury in his remote home, off the grid. When his boss shows up asking him to take a case, an old case with possible new evidence, a case that still haunts him, he throws his boss out the door and the file in the trash. Who has a polka dot file folder anyways?
Teagan Ray is the only survivor of the Kentucky Ripper, and she believes that the wrong man is in jail. She has studied her case inside and out and has a new theory. Since she is not law enforcement, she needs the one man who knows everything about what happened, and he is the only one that can help her. The problem is, how is she going to convince him to help her when she shows up on his doorstep?
Bryson and Teagan start the deadly trail of lies, deceit and murder as they vow to bring the right Kentucky Ripper to justice. The clock is ticking, lives are in danger, and Bryson and Teagan are racing against the clock. Will they get to him before he gets to Teagan?
This is an action packed, quick moving and witty suspense novel. I loved the interaction between the two main characters and how they drove each other crazy, yet they had an undeniable attraction to each other. The plot was great, it kept you guessing right until the end and had me turning pages late into the night. This is the first book of Lena Diaz’s that I have read, but it most certainly will not be the last. I see that she has a few series, and as those are my favourites, I can not wait to pick one to start with. Thank you so much to the author Lena Diaz, Harlequin Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book to review. It was fabulous! All opinions expressed for this review are unbiased and entirely my own. -
Teagan is a survivor. She was kidnapped by the Kentucky Ripper years ago. She was humiliated and tortured. She got out of that nightmare but has never forgotten her ordeal.
Bryson is the FBI agent who worked on the case. He tried to save Hayley but got shot in the hip. He has to adjust to life in constant pain and as a cane and wheelchair user.
He's determined, focused and also a fighter. Some may say he has a temper. But I see things from his point of view as pain and muscle stiffness can be a real issue and something that people who aren't wheelchair users may not understand. As a fellow wheelchair user, I am able to understand how these two things can affect how I feel.
There are some points when he's tender and understanding. The chemistry between them and depth and intricacies of relationship is expertly dealt with by author Lena Diaz.
There is so much action in this book. It really is non-stop. The trail and house where Teagan was kidnapped are really atmospheric and I felt fear and unease as they were mentioned.
The investigation has a lot of twists and turns and I was hooked by it and wanted Teagan and Bryson to be OK. The medical side of Bryson's life is realistic and I went through the same nerves as Teagan waiting for him to recover from surgery.
Love, suspense, action and real-life issues combine in this very well thought out book with unforgettable characters.
Thanks to Lena Diaz and Harlequin Suspense for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
5 stars. -
An exciting thrill-ride from the first page to the last! The story enthralled and entertained me so much so that I didn't want to put the book down. I loved absolutely everything about it, the action, the suspense, the romance, the connection between all the main characters, the team, and the brotherhood of the Justice Seekers, the banter between Teagan Ray and Bryson Anton, and especially the woundedness of the hero and the heroine.
Rarely are the heroes and heroines of romance novels physically impaired, but here he is; Bryson is tough to the bone and more capable than most heroes, and he is in a wheelchair at times. As mobility challenged person myself, finally there was a main character that has the same challenges as I do. I understood him on a different level, his moodiness, his attitude, and what he stood against each day.
Teagan was a fun and humorous heroine. She was full of life, she had endured so much, but she was dealing with it, facing the challenges head-on.
The action is hair-raising intense, the images in my mind were sharp and vivid, the heightened fear palpable.
The story is build so that the plot allows the love story to develop, and the characters to grow. There is not an aspect of the tale that I didn't enjoy and the Justice Seekers is a series I can highly recommend, just be prepared for an addictive, explosive, tension and danger-filled entertainment
~ Five Spoons -
An explosive second installment in Lena Diaz's The Justice Seekers series! AGENT UNDER SIEGE reconnects us with an injured Seeker from the first book in the series as he regains his footing and revisits the case that still haunts him. I was drawn into the book from the very first page and couldn't put it down until the stunning conclusion. Great characters, high impact suspense and a sweet romance mixed in. Looking forward to more in the series!
Bryson is a memorable character. If you read the first book in the series you'll remember the part he played in Dalton and Hayley's story, and watching him work through his injury and connect with Teagan is rewarding.
Teagan is such a fun character. She's had a huge trauma, but she hasn't let it stop her from standing back up, digging into the case and stepping forward with her theories to try to get help. She's sassy and direct and I simply adored her.
I highly recommend this book and the entire series to anyone who loves non-stop action as they try to work their way through a mystery as you follow that happily ever after towards the end. -
These modern day knights of the round table are a computer savvy group of ex-law enforcement officers, determined to bring the guilty to justice. Bryson Anton had been one of them but he was injured in his last case and he's still reeling from those events, shutting himself off from the team and not going in for physical therapy. He was the profiler on the team. When Teagan Ray just about demands his help he initially refuses . . . . until he learns that two years ago she was a victim who escaped and she's convinced Bryson had correctly profiled the serial killer who she believes attacked her. As he learns more about her, their mutual attraction grows . . . but the serial killer won't be happy until he recaptures the one that got away . . .
This is an action packed read, a brilliant romantic suspense that keeps you guessing and turning the pages. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and can't wait to read more in this intriguing series and visiting Camelot again!
Thanks to Harlequin and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I voluntarily read and honestly reviewed. -
Teagan is not convinced the guy they put in jail for abducted her is really in prison. She wont be easy until the real person is behind bars, She asks former profiler Bryson Anton to help. Bryson isn't in the mood to deal with this and is also on the mend after being injured. But will help this strong willed women anyways and on the way to figuring out she just might be right.
Whew if you like a fast paced book that'll keep you on your toes then your going to love this one. I loved that there was so much going on that I just didn't want to put this book down. Also poor Bryson dude was already injured and in paint and the person behind who kidnapped her before really was doing a number on him. I'm surprised he didn't die multiple times throughout the book. Then there's always romance thrown in the book, of course tensions are high when it comes to the romance side of things and I appreciate that it remained decently clean considering they were having a murdering psychopath after them. Overall I really enjoyed this book. -
Another in the Justice Seekers series, in which Bryson Anton is at home rethinking his failures as a former FBI profiler and as a member of the Justice Seekers while attempting to heal from injuries incurred in his last adventure. When Teagan Ray shows up demanding that he help her identify the Kentucky Ripper because she doesn't believe the man in prison is the real killer, Bryson doesn't know what to make of her. She was one of his victims--she insists on calling herself a survivor--and insists that she'll never feel safe until the real killer is caught.
When Bryson finally agrees, one situation after another gives him yet more wounds and trips to the hospital for stitches and other assists even as Teagan is convinced they are getting closer to understanding who the killer is. But when his profiling skills provide what Teagan needs, it may be too late--because someone is now in Bryson's home and is after them. Will they escape with their lives or will Teagan die and take their new knowledge to their deaths? -
Who is Bryson? Who is Mason? What kind of work are or were they in? Who is Teagan? Where do we find the story set at? What happens when Teagan shows up at Bryson's house? Who does he think she is? What happens? I love how she needles him and doesn't take no for an answer! I seriously loved his home office that he has his in monstrocity of a home. I wish I had one of those myself! What happens when Bryson goes to Florida? Who is at the Broderick's home? What happens when Teagan and Bryson go to see them? This read was definitely suspenseful. My heart broke for Teagan when she started having flashbacks to what happened the first time. Who is behind what is going on? Oh, I did not see that twist coming! Even if some of it was brought up throughout discussions! Enjoy the read!
RECEIVED THIS BOOK from Harlequin through Netgalley AS A GIFT FOR A FAIR/HONEST REVIEW and REVIEWER FOR Bloggin' With M. Brennan. -
Agent Under Siege is my first read by Lena Diaz, which means it was also the first book I've read in the Justice Seekers series. Both of those things will be remedied now that I've had a taste of this author's writing. The series has an intriguing premise as does this story. I love reading about profilers. The books are fiction, so some leeway can be given on the believability of the story, but I tend to be drawn to profiler storylines. Plus I always enjoy running into a story set in my own homestate of Kentucky. All of that combined with some great characters and a good mix of both suspense and romance makes for an engaging tale that I have and will continue to recommend to my fellow romantic suspense fans.
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*I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
I did not expect to love this story as much as I did. This was a thrilling story that just flew by while I was reading it. I loved how three dimensional Bryson, Teagan and some of the others in this story were, and how the relationships were portrayed. Diaz's writing was so easy to get lost in and the twists and turns in the story just keep you within the story and needing to know what happened next. I also enjoyed that Bryson and Teagan seemed like actual people with actual problems, who were willing (though sometimes reluctantly) to work through those problems and issues. All in all I really enjoyed this story and would definitely read from this author again. -
OMG this book...It's soooooo intense, I devoured it in one sitting, actually it could be faster than that, but I need to stop a few times to catch my breath because the intensity, my heart racing most of the time, so scared of what happened next.
Trying to catch a serial killer, trying to survive from the attacks, it's like there's danger in every chapter, it's so scary, a spine-chilling, blood-curdling suspense read. Thank goodness there's romance in it, something sweet and makes me smile with those flirty moments to break the intensity. It's a short fast-paced suspense read packing with punches with loveable characters, so........Definitely a MUST-READ one. -
OMG this book...It's soooooo intense, I devoured it in one sitting, actually it could be faster than that, but I need to stop a few times to catch my breath because the intensity, my heart racing most of the time, so scared of what happened next.
Trying to catch a serial killer, trying to survive from the attacks, it's like there's danger in every chapter, it's so scary, a spine-chilling, blood-curdling suspense read. Thank goodness there's romance in it, something sweet and makes me smile with those flirty moments to break the intensity. It's a short fast-paced suspense read packing with punches with loveable characters, so........Definitely a MUST-READ one. -
This one was a surprise for me in that it was a heightened thriller more than I expected. Teagan gets Bryson to help in what has not happened yet. We are caught up in that dilemma than we are given drama two fold. That is the best kind to keep those pages a turning. This is a series that will be getting those stars because it knows how to unfold.
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Categories
Romantic Suspense, Crime Thriller, Police Procedural Mystery & Detective
Miniseries
The Justice Seekers (Book #2) -
Wonderful Story
This is the first book I have ever read that the good guy gets shot and stabbed several times. It was a great story..... -
3.5 stars
I like the concept of this series - a modern day Camelot and knights of the round table (I was always a sucker for that story) but composed of former law enforcement officers. A man named Mason Ford leads a team of twelve men and women, the Justice Seekers, who’ve had their law enforcement careers destroyed by scandal and accusations by others, or they got burnt out. They refuse to let adversity keep them from doing what they were born to do—fight for justice for others when conventional means have failed. These modern-day knights, the Justice Seekers, strive to make the world a safer place ,while falling in love along the way. Currently there are four books planned.I didn't read the first book so I may have missed some story about the group (like how they are funded; money doesn't seem to be an object) but it didn't affect my enjoyment of this book or affect the story.
"Agent Under Siege" gives Bryson, us an injured, burnt out former FBI agent who wants to hang up his suit or armor, and sulk. His last case took a lot out of him and left him doubting his skills. Then a whirlwind Teagan crashes into his life. She has a different take on his last case with a theory about the responsible parry but no one is listening. No one except Bryson's boss at the Justice Seekers.
Bryson annoyed me at times; he was such a pessimist. Granted, being shot and needing to use a wheelchair or cane to get around will put a crimp in your day/week/month/year/life. Fortunately he moved away from his personal pity party pretty quickly once Teagan crashed into his life. She was flirty, sassy, sexy, smart, a little naive yet cautious, and super determined to get her life back on track. It was a steamy case of opposites attract. The sparks between the two were strong but both agreed they needed to be hands off while working together. Well, they tried. :D I thought the HEA was a little rushed but I loved that they talked about important matters such as sexual history and the potential challenges of interracial dating. The latter was acknowledged and discussed but it wasn't the focus of the relationship, it was one aspect.
The mystery moved very quickly; the story was fast-paced and full of action. There were some twists and turns and a couple of heart-stopping moments. I knew they'd make it cuz this was a romance but that didn't do much to alleviate the tension when they were in danger. That said, the romance did move super fast and then it slowed waaay down and I thought that Bryson could have done a better job communicating with Teagan.
I enjoyed the story, the series premise, and Teagan and Bryson. I will definitely be on the lookout for the next two books. -
I love this new series by Ms. Diaz. It’s full of great characters, and suspense. This book had me laughing a lot, but also not so much. I just felt awful for both the heroine and hero. They both had things they were working through.
Bryson wants to be left alone, but it’s short lived when his boss Mason comes to see him telling him he has a client for him. He tells him in “no” he laughs at the folder he hands him and throws it away.
My favorite part was when He’s waiting for a therapist to come over, but Teagan Ray comes to the house first. Bryson thinking Teagan is the therapist asks her a bunch of questions when the real one rings the doorbell. Lol. But Bryson doesn’t let Teagan leave. He tries to tell her to leave, but she’s not having any of it. She won’t budge until he hears her out.
So much more to come, and I assure you that you will love this book. I also recommend the first book. The Justice Seekers Book #1 Cowboy Under Fire.. -
Great Read.
I love Lena Diaz! I pick up all of her books because I get “to know” each of the charters. I read the first in this series over Christmas break (Cowboy Under Fire) & I’m so excited for book 3. Keep them coming Lena!
