Good book with an excellent mix of action, suspense, and romance, with a couple of surprises thrown in for good measure. Riley and Mack were both introduced in the first book, Marine Force Recon. This book can stand alone, but it's better if you read the first book, too.

Mack is grateful to be reunited with his team members as they work for the new Declan's Defenders. Mack is tasked with protecting their boss and benefactor, Charlie, at a charity event. It isn't easy because Charlie is very independent and resistant to anything that hinders her activities. It's a pretty funny scene when she heads for the ladies room, but also one where Mack's presence plays a crucial role. Neither he nor Charlie expected her good friend, Riley, to attempt to kill her.

Riley played a big part in the resolution of the mystery in the first book. She is an aerospace engineer who also helped the FBI uncover corruption in her workplace. What no one knows is that she is also a Russian sleeper agent, thanks to the training of her Russian spy parents. Riley was raised as an American and loves her country. After the deaths of her parents, she believed she had been forgotten about until she was called on to assassinate Charlie. She doesn't want to do it, but her little brother was kidnapped and is held hostage to her following orders.

The tension was high from the very beginning. Mack had been introduced to Riley before this event, and though something about her didn't sit right with him, he didn't expect her to be an assassin. It took some hard convincing from Charlie for Mack to agree to help Riley find her brother while the rest of the team protected Charlie as she pretended to be at death's door. The suspense and action were almost nonstop as Mack and Riley raced against time to find Toby. Each lead got them closer, but they were constantly under attack from those who wanted to keep their secrets. There were multiple twists and turns that kept me turning the pages to see what would happen. The final confrontation at the end was intense and exciting. I loved seeing Mack's determination to save her and adored his reaction to her pretty much saving herself. Though this issue was resolved, another mystery has surfaced that may lead to answers in the overarching question of who killed Charlie's husband and why. I can't wait for the next book!

I liked the development of the relationship between Mack and Riley. The attraction is there from the beginning, but both of them have issues that cause them to resist. Mack still suffers from the events that happened in Afghanistan and ended his military career and other things that cause him to question his worth. He feels a deep need to prove himself. Riley is horrified by what she was forced to do and terrified for the safety of her brother. As they worked through the leads to finding her brother, Riley and Mack learned to trust each other, and with that trust, different feelings began to grow. I liked seeing them come together at the end after all the excitement is over, and want to spend more time together and get to know each other (like actually go on a date), instead of immediately declaring themselves in love. I'm looking forward to seeing more of them in future books. ( )

Show of Force (Declan’s Defenders #2) by Elle James

Harlequin Intrigue series romance.
Riley is a sleeper Russian agent, not necessarily by choice, but because her parents were. She’s been tasked with killing the benefactor of Declan’s Defenders. While she would have liked to refuse, her little brother has been kidnapped to ensure her cooperation.

Charlie’s belief and dedication to the wounded is phenomenal as is her support to charity. That she steps up so selflessly is admirable. I want to be like her. I look forward to reading who else she takes under her wings.

Action, adventure and romance. A winning combination. A bit of a cliffhanger because of an overall arc. ( )