Phoenix (Linear Tactical #8) by Janie Crouch-a review

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 10, 2020

Adrenaline junky.
Adventure traveler.
Extreme sport sensation.

They’re all labels Riley Harrison—known to the world as Phoenix—wears as easily as the tattoos covering his body.

But it’s his role as undercover operative for Linear Tactical’s kidnap and ransom unit that makes his blood sing. Riley uses his celebrity status to help infiltrate locations and situations nobody else can get into.

In. Out. The fight is usually over before the bad guys know it’s begun or that Riley was involved.

But his skills and celebrity status won’t help when he discovers the woman he loves is keeping unbearable secrets and in a danger he never could’ve imagined.

She wants Riley to stay far away from her.

That’s not going to happen.

But he’ll have to be willing to lose everything to save her. To save them.

Phoenix will learn you have to burn before you can rise.

•••••••••••••

REVIEW:PHOENIX is the eighth instalment in Janie Crouch’s contemporary, adult LINEAR TACTICAL romantic suspense series focusing on a group of former Special Forces soldiers who own and operate Linear Tactical, an Oak Creek, Wyoming business specializing in survival skills, security and protection. This is extreme sports athlete and Linear Tactical undercover operative Riley ‘Phoenix’ Harrison, and nurse Riley ‘Wildfire’ Wilde’s story line. PHOENIX can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalment is revealed where necessary. And YES, both of the characters’ names are Riley, so to avoid further confusion, like the characters in the book, our heroine will be called ‘girl Riley’, and our hero ‘boy Riley’.

Told from dual third person perspectives ( Riley and Riley) PHOENIX follows extreme sports athlete and Linear Tactical undercover operative Riley ‘Phoenix’ Harrison, several days after a successful rescue by the team in the Egypt. With the Linear Tactical extreme WAR games about to commence boy Riley is dumbfounded when the woman he has loved for close to 3 years breaks it off without a reason or why but boy Riley isn’t willing to give up without a fight, and with girl Riley’s job as part of the medical personnel team, boy Riley is determined to find out the truth, and prove he is worthy of her love. Meanwhile, girl Riley struggles with some personal news of her own and refuses to allow boy Riley to suffer along side. Hoping to push boy Riley out of her life, girl Riley keeps secret the truth until events at the WAR games prove that someone is out to destroy his life. What ensues is the rebuilding romance and relationship between Phoenix and Wildfire, and the potential fall-out as boy-Riley becomes the target in a dangerous game of betrayal and revenge.

Riley Wilde does not want to complicate Phoenix’s life any more than it already has, and by walking away, she believes, is the better alternative than path on which she is currently headed. Keeping her secret means hurting Phoenix further, especially when someone is determined to take down our story line hero. Riley ‘Phoenix’ Harrison fell in love with Wildfire within days of their first meeting, and currently struggles with girl Riley’s rejection especially in light of their love for one another.

The relationship between the two Riley’s is one of second chances; a rekindling romance between two people whose lives are spiralling out of control. From girl Riley’s secrets, to the person attempting to destroy their lives, our couple are in for an uphill battle, a battle that will become more dangerous when Phoenix’s past demands vengeance and payment. The $ex scenes are hard and fast.

There is a large ensemble cast of energetic secondary and supporting characters including several members of the Linear Tactical team including Zac & Annie (Cyclone #1), Gabriel Collingwood (Angel #4) ,Peyton and Cade (Echo #7), Finn’s brother ‘Baby’ Bollinger, Wyatt Highfield, and Gavin Zimmerman; extreme sports athletes Damon Sullivan, Gunnar ‘Iceland’ Jefferson, Bo Gonzales and Amber Lowe; and Egyptian billionaire Sayed El Kadi. Baby Bollinger’s story line is next in BABY.

PHOENIX is a story of family and friendships; secrets and lies; betrayal, revenge, power and control. The premise is captivating and engaging; the romance struggles in the face of secrets and timing; the characters are colorful, charismatic and spirited. PHOENIX is a heart warming and encouraging story of strength and acceptance.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Cyclone
Eagle
Shamrock
Angel
Ghost
Shadow
Echo

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy