Men of Mercy Series by Lindsay Cross, Elle James

Hunter James didn’t want or need redemption. Until one mission turns his world upside down. He left Mercy to fight for his country and escape a broken heart. Years later, he is hard. Cold. A man without mercy. Part of an elite Task Force, he tracks a brutal terrorist to his home town. And runs into the woman who betrayed him… Evangeline Videl was destroyed when Hunter left. Determined to move on, she finds another man, but discovers too late the monster hidden beneath his smooth smile... moreHunter James didn’t want or need redemption. Until one mission turns his world upside down. He left Mercy to fight for his country and escape a broken heart. Years later, he is hard. Cold. A man without mercy. Part of an elite Task Force, he tracks a brutal terrorist to his home town. And runs into the woman who betrayed him… Evangeline Videl was destroyed when Hunter left. Determined to move on, she finds another man, but discovers too late the monster hidden beneath his smooth smile. Struggling to find the conviction to live, Evie finds her life spinning out of control. Then Hunter returns… Forced to band together to find the terrorist before its too late, Hunter and Evie must learn to forgive or risk losing the promise of redemption and their lives… less

Ranger James accepted his best friend’s death like a good soldier. With guilt. Regret. Vengeance. But a forbidden desire keeps pulling him from his mission… Desire for his best friend’s widow. Killed in Action. That’s why Rachel Carter’s husband wasn’t coming home. A war widow, alone and broke, Rachel struggles to revive her family’s crop dusting service to survive. Now she takes to the skies to find escape. Escape from the pain. From the guilt... moreRanger James accepted his best friend’s death like a good soldier. With guilt. Regret. Vengeance. But a forbidden desire keeps pulling him from his mission… Desire for his best friend’s widow. Killed in Action. That’s why Rachel Carter’s husband wasn’t coming home. A war widow, alone and broke, Rachel struggles to revive her family’s crop dusting service to survive. Now she takes to the skies to find escape. Escape from the pain. From the guilt. From the earth-shattering desire for her husband’s best friend. Rachel and Ranger can’t fight the attraction between them any longer. But one fateful night cleaves their new found love in two... Can they find the will to fight for true love? Or will an evil so shocking destroy their lives for good? less

They say you can’t go home again. Jared Crowe never wanted to. Home meant facing memories of abuse and neglect. Of dark closets and evil nightmares. Of his own relatives intent on killing him. But now his brother’s kidnapping forces him to face those demons. Only this time, Jared isn’t a scared little boy. He’s a full-grown Special Forces operative bent on revenge. As a little girl, Sparrow Pickney risked her life to free two abused boys... moreThey say you can’t go home again. Jared Crowe never wanted to. Home meant facing memories of abuse and neglect. Of dark closets and evil nightmares. Of his own relatives intent on killing him. But now his brother’s kidnapping forces him to face those demons. Only this time, Jared isn’t a scared little boy. He’s a full-grown Special Forces operative bent on revenge. As a little girl, Sparrow Pickney risked her life to free two abused boys. As a grown woman Sparrow needs to earn a place in her adopted family’s business or be forced into a life of degradation. The chance to prove her family loyalty comes when she catches Jared spying on the compound and captures him. When Jared sees his captor, he realizes she’s the girl of his dreams and vows to rescue her from a life of poverty. What Jared doesn’t know is Sparrow may not be the savior he remembers…but the one responsible for abducting and torturing his brother. Jared is determined to find the truth. But that truth may be more than his heart can take. less

Special forces operative Hoyt Crowe wasn't just damaged… he was broken. After suffering brutal torture in captivity, his once lively spirit is shattered. Now his greatest adversary isn’t some unknown terrorist in a foreign country, it’s himself. Hayden James watched Hoyt slide into a private purgatory of post-traumatic stress disorder, taking her heart with him. No longer warm and loving, he is cold. Hardened. A shell of his former self... moreSpecial forces operative Hoyt Crowe wasn't just damaged… he was broken. After suffering brutal torture in captivity, his once lively spirit is shattered. Now his greatest adversary isn’t some unknown terrorist in a foreign country, it’s himself. Hayden James watched Hoyt slide into a private purgatory of post-traumatic stress disorder, taking her heart with him. No longer warm and loving, he is cold. Hardened. A shell of his former self. When an old enemy threatens Hayden’s life, Hoyt must find the strength to slay his inner demons or lose the woman he loves forever. Author Interview: Q: You write Military Romantic Suspense, and though it seems like the Navy SEAL romance books are the most popular, even Black Operations. So why did you choose Special Forces? A: My husband is active Army and a veteran. The top tier of the Navy is the SEAL Teams. The top tier of the Army is the Special Forces. I think the SF deserves just as much recognition as the SEALs…they are like the Ghostwalkers of the Army. Plus- I don’t know jack about swimming. Q: You based your military romance series on a Special Forces team – Task Force Scorpion. Why did you also decide to put them in a small town setting? A: Just because you come from a small town, doesn’t mean you can’t be hard core. I grew up in a small town. The men there can be bad boy alpha males just as easily as the men from big cities ☺ Plus, I grew up reading small town romance. I think readers love the feeling of belonging to a community, getting to know all the quirky folks who live there and falling in love with not only the hero but also their friends and family. Q: You're books are often about second chances – big secrets. Why? A: Who doesn't root for a hero dying for a second chance? Yes, he probably screwed up big time in the past, but how much sweeter is the love between the hero and heroine when they show forgiveness? As far as big secrets – they're just fun. Secret babies, corrupt politicians, love triangles… Believe me – it ALL happens in a small town romance and real life. Q: Why write Military Romance? First off, I am kin to and am friends with a lot of military men, and they're all sweet and well mannered and love their country. But a lot of them are badass, too. Which is what we want when someone's fighting for our country – :-) – and in a hot romantic suspense : A fearless bad boy alpha male who fights for his country and his woman. less

He thought he was done. His career as a special forces sniper was over. He’d lost his leg and his dignity in that ambush. Now, after nearly a year of rehab, he was fighting the toughest battle in his life: prove he was still worthy to serve. His chance: Contract with Landry Security to pull protection for a rancher by the name of Sam Bishop. If he succeeded in routing out the bad guy, Cord would be back on the team... moreHe thought he was done. His career as a special forces sniper was over. He’d lost his leg and his dignity in that ambush. Now, after nearly a year of rehab, he was fighting the toughest battle in his life: prove he was still worthy to serve. His chance: Contract with Landry Security to pull protection for a rancher by the name of Sam Bishop. If he succeeded in routing out the bad guy, Cord would be back on the team. The bonus: He’d be able to get the hell away from all the counselors and therapists trying to tell him how to come to grips with his PTSD and missing limb. There were no emotions and feelings in west Texas, just rough necks and grit. Exactly what he needed. The catch: Sam’s real name is Samantha and she’s not a codgy old man – she’s the one girl from Cord’s past he never got over. He thought he’d lost his chance with her, and now that he wasn’t a whole man, he didn’t deserve her. Samantha is determined to show Cord he’s everything she ever wanted. Her biggest battle isn’t the stalker threatening her life: it’s making Cord see he’s worthy of her love and so much more. less

Ethan Slade was a loner. No parents. No wife and kids. No liabilities. He had one love in his life - the Special Forces. As a member of the elite Task Force Scorpion, he'd been on more near death missions than most soldiers experienced in a lifetime and he liked it. So when his commander put him on a forced two-week vacation, Ethan did the only thing he could - took Grey Holden and Team Omega up on an offer for another mission: provide protection to a senator's daughter at her wedding... moreEthan Slade was a loner. No parents. No wife and kids. No liabilities. He had one love in his life - the Special Forces. As a member of the elite Task Force Scorpion, he'd been on more near death missions than most soldiers experienced in a lifetime and he liked it. So when his commander put him on a forced two-week vacation, Ethan did the only thing he could - took Grey Holden and Team Omega up on an offer for another mission: provide protection to a senator's daughter at her wedding. Kate Richards had a chip on her shoulder. After being fired from her job as a CIA analyst because her boss wanted her in his bed instead of behind a computer, Kate was left without a job or a clue as to what she would do next. Then ran into Athena Madero, who'd had her own problem with asshole bosses and offered Kate a new job - come work for her private security company, Team Omega. After years of ribbing and sexual harassment, Kate wanted nothing to do with men. Period. Especially tall, dark and handsome alpha male operative Ethan Slade. The last thing Ethan wanted or needed was to give up his life as a roamer, avoiding any attachments or obligations. But neither of them is prepared for the instant eruption of desire at their first meeting. The two come together in an explosion of passion so potent it will leave them both marked for life. But just as quickly as they've come together, Kate is violently ripped from his fingers, and it's up to Ethan to rescue the woman he's come to love before he ends up alone again. less

As a Special Forces operative, Aaron Spears treated relationships like Tangos. He’d seen the wreckage of his Task Force brothers' attempts and had no desire to put any woman through the hardship. He had one purpose – serve his country and protect his teammates. Then Celine Latimer walked into his life and turned his world upside down... moreAs a Special Forces operative, Aaron Spears treated relationships like Tangos. He’d seen the wreckage of his Task Force brothers' attempts and had no desire to put any woman through the hardship. He had one purpose – serve his country and protect his teammates. Then Celine Latimer walked into his life and turned his world upside down. Celine Latimer thought she’d hit the jackpot when hunky SF operative Aaron Spears asked her to accompany him to the high-profile wedding of Senator Cotter’s daughter. They’d get to spend two weeks together while Aaron pulled guard duty for Caroline Cotter and Celine intended to use every spare minute, seducing the man she’d had a crush on for over a year. The time and place proved to be more of a barrier than either of them realized. With his commander watching his every move, Aaron couldn’t afford to show any weakness. That meant ignoring Celine. Rejected and hurt, Celine packed to leave only to be caught in a kidnapping plot against the Senator. Here she sat, in a hut in the Middle East, waiting on a rescue that may never come. He'd sworn to protect and he'd failed. Now Aaron lived for one purpose- to rescue the woman he lost before she’s sold into slavery and spend the rest of his life making her see how much he loves her. less

Merc: His name is Merc. He has no past. No future. Only a thirst for revenge against the traitor who betrayed his team and his country – Agent Jack Mankel. When he’s handed a mission to rescue a sitting US senator’s daughter from the traitor’s clutches, Merc jumps at his chance for vengeance, never dreaming the girl he rescued could be his downfall…   Nightshade: She walks in the night. She is a shadow. An operative so elite even the president doesn’t know of her existence... moreMerc: His name is Merc. He has no past. No future. Only a thirst for revenge against the traitor who betrayed his team and his country – Agent Jack Mankel. When he’s handed a mission to rescue a sitting US senator’s daughter from the traitor’s clutches, Merc jumps at his chance for vengeance, never dreaming the girl he rescued could be his downfall…   Nightshade: She walks in the night. She is a shadow. An operative so elite even the president doesn’t know of her existence. Her whole life, she’s lived to serve, raised in the black-ops team her father, Jack Mankel, created. Then her whole world is turned upside down when she learns the sister she once thought dead is really alive; and to save her, Nightshade will have to take on the hardest mission of her life…   Merc knows he doesn’t deserve her. Nightshade knows she can’t have him. But a connection so powerful neither of them can resist draws them closer, even as a betrayal so deep threatens to destroy their very existence. less

He was Ice. Sheriff Bo Lawson was everything a retired Marine Special Operations Operator should be. Cold. Calculating. Calm in all situations. He handled terrorists and too drunk locals without blinking, until a couple of dead bodies show up in his small town, throwing his controlled environment into chaos. She was fire. Cheri Boudreaux, manager of the local bar, lives her life by one rule – work hard and play harder... moreHe was Ice. Sheriff Bo Lawson was everything a retired Marine Special Operations Operator should be. Cold. Calculating. Calm in all situations. He handled terrorists and too drunk locals without blinking, until a couple of dead bodies show up in his small town, throwing his controlled environment into chaos. She was fire. Cheri Boudreaux, manager of the local bar, lives her life by one rule – work hard and play harder. The last thing she needs is a repeat of her father: a strict stick-in-the-mud unable to veer from the rules. Then she meets Bo, a walking, talking sex god in uniform and her preconceived notions incinerate. Ice meets fire. Bo craves order. He craves control. He craves a red head with a wild streak wider than the Mississippi. She is everything he despises, but can’t get off his mind. So, when Cheri needs help, he wants to be her knight in shining armor. Threatened by a deadly foe neither of them could predict, Bo and Cheri clash in an uncontrollable inferno. When the truth is revealed, their world falls apart – can they find the strength to fight for each other or will their newfound love fall under a relentless tide of evil? less

Laney was a woman on the run. Her ex-husband, who just happened to be a cop, had a penchant for violence and, after Laney took their daughter and ran, he had a promise for revenge. She'd made a new life with a new name and had plans to stay hidden forever, but even the best laid plans go wrong… Forced to rush her daughter to the hospital Laney's location is revealed... moreLaney was a woman on the run. Her ex-husband, who just happened to be a cop, had a penchant for violence and, after Laney took their daughter and ran, he had a promise for revenge. She'd made a new life with a new name and had plans to stay hidden forever, but even the best laid plans go wrong… Forced to rush her daughter to the hospital Laney's location is revealed. Laney had vowed to never seek help from the man again, until Riser’s 200 pounds of packed muscle made her his own personal mission. He vowed to protect her and her daughter from her ex, but could she trust him with their lives when she'd been burned so badly in the past? Riser Malone was an admitted adrenaline junkie whose distraction on a crucial mission last year had resulted in complete failure of his objective: protect the girl. Unable to face his failure, Riser accepted every mission put before him, but a lull in the terrorist tempo left him with too much time on his hands back home. He needed a distraction, and he needed it badly. And that distraction showed up in the form of Laney and her daughter. With an abusive ex bearing down on her, Riser saw his second chance at redemption. And after one night with her, Riser new his bachelorhood was over, but if he ever had any hope for a relationship with Laney in the future, he'd have to make sure her abusive ex-husband would never harm her again. less