Chemical Capture by Debbie Baldwin @debbaldwinstl @GatekeeperPress

the setup…
Former Navy SEAL Jonah (Steady) Lockhart, now a Bishop Security operative, has a reputation of being a casual sort of guy when it comes to relationships and he’s very clear about that. But about a year ago, a pink-haired beauty moved next door and is doing more than causing him a distraction. Verity (Very) Valentine works for Parasol Pharmaceuticals and never misses an opportunity to needle and tease Steady but it’s clear to both of them they share an attraction they’re trying hard to not give into. See, she’s in South Carolina for a very specific purpose…to surreptitiously take down Armand Krill, the head of Parasol and the man that murdered her mother. But Steady senses something is up and is determined to protect her.

the heart of the story…
I’ve watched Steady and Very play this game beginning in earlier stories and was glad to finally see them at center stage. The romance lived up to my expectations but the suspense around what Very was attempting to do had me enthralled. There were times I found her reckless, or it least it seemed so, and others where I admired her courage. However, I was unprepared for the massive twist around the bend that caught me flatfooted! The plan was über clever and imaginative at every level. Rarely do I find myself this blindsided in a mystery with this level of suspense and intrigue.

the bottom line…
Neither Steady or Very believed in long-term relationships, each for different reasons, so it was wonderful not only to see them find love with each other but to slay those dragons that created those walls. It wasn’t an easy road but they behaved maturely in dealing with their obstacles. The drama around the takedown of Armand Krill, however, was utterly fascinating, one of the most imaginative and creative plans I’ve seen in sometime. Again, I never saw it coming so well done! Oh! And there’s a wonderful service dog named Tilly you’re going to want to meet. I’m loving this series.

Book Info

• Release Date: April 19, 2023
• Series: Bishop Security #5
• Page Numbers: 372
• Publisher: Gatekeeper Press

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