Unforgiven (Deep Ops 5) by Rebecca Zanetti-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 7, 2022

Run:
Gemma Falls never expected to use her game theory expertise to outrun a killer. But for years, that skill is all that kept her one step ahead of a deadly stalker. When Gemma gets the chance to teach at D.C. University, she hopes she and her young daughter have found a safe harbor. The only flaw is the arrogant philosophy professor who’s always underfoot giving unwanted advice—in his sexy British accent . . .

Hide:
Jethro Hanson has blood on his hands. He’s working within ivy-covered university halls now, but he knows that his work with the Deep Ops team and the deadly acts he once committed for the sake of Queen and country place him beyond forgiveness—until he meets Gemma . . .

Seek:
Soon, the passion between them stuns them both. But when Jethro discovers a threat is fast overtaking her, he must choose between the redemption he seeks—and releasing the ever-present killer inside .

•••••

REVIEW:UNFORGIVEN is the fifth instalment in Rebecca Zanetti’s contemporary, adult DEEP OPS romantic suspense series focusing on the men and women of the Requisition Force, Deep Ops Team, a division of the Homeland Defense Department ( HDD) of the FBI. This is former MI6 agent turned professor Jethro Hanson, and single mother/ professor Gemma Falls’ story line. UNFORGIVEN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

WARNING: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Jethro and Gemma) UNFORGIVEN focuses on two intersecting pathways. Single mother/professor Gemma Falls is on the run, trying to stay under the radar in the face of her abusive ex tracking her down, and trying to destroy her life but Gemma never expected to meet fellow professor Dr. Jethro Hanson, a man whose own past is about to push Gemma and Jethro together, in the face threats against both of their lives. A UK assassin for hire has tracked down Jethro Hanson, and has set their sights on our story line couple; and Gemma’s past is seeking vengeance against the woman he lost years before. Reluctantly accepting the help of his fellow agents of the Requisition Force team, Gemma and Jethro struggle to stay one step ahead a killer but as the number of bodies amass, all evidence points towards our story line hero. What ensues is the building relationship between Gemma and Jethro, and the potential fall-out as both of their pasts collide with the present, threatening everyone connected to our story line couple.

Gemma Falls’ past is mired in betrayal and abuse. On the run, in hiding, trying to stay one step ahead of her well-connected ex fiance, Gemma struggles with Jethro’s attention, attention that is going to place our heroine in the direct line of fire. Jethro Hanson had hoped he had left his past behind but an aggressive killer with ties to our hero, is doggedly determined to destroy our story line couple.

The relationship between Gemma and Jethro begins as co-workers whose lives are about to cross paths again and again. Jethro Hanson walked away from MI6, hoping to restart as a professor in America but Jethro never expected his past to return, threatening the woman with whom he is falling in love. Gemma Falls wants her life to be free of the past but at every turn someone or something is determined to destroy any sense of peace. Meeting Jethro means the possibility of a new start but until both of their pasts are out of the picture, Gemma sees no relationships for the foreseeable future. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and familiar secondary and supporting characters including team leader Angus Force and FBI psychologist Nari Zhang, computer hacker Brigid Branaghan (Fallen 2), US Navy SEAL Clarence Wolfe and his fiance /reporter Dana Mulberry (Broken 3), of the Requisition Force, Deep Ops Team, a division of the Homeland Defense Department ( HDD) of the FBI, Special Agents Tom Rutherford, and Kurt Fields, Detective Tate Bianchi, Detective Buckle, and attorney Scott Terentson. We are introduced to MI6 Agents Ian and Oliver Villan, Gemma’s daughter Trudy; her ex-fiance Monty Cameron, and his brother Jack as well as Jethro’s brother Fletcher.

UNFORGIVEN is a story of betrayal and vengeance, obsession and murder, friendships and family, acceptance and love. The character driven premise is intriguing, edgy and tragic; the romance is seductive and moving; the characters are spirited and startling.

Reading Order and previous reviews

Hidden
Taken (1.5)
Fallen
Broken
Driven

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy