Lizette Steyn is searching for her place in a dangerous world. Tired of betrayals, she runs from the one man who craves her love. The Kenyan bush and a new job as a flight attendant is a reprieve from reality–until reality hunts her down. Professionally, James “Johnny” Cane is a military beast, but his personal life is a mess. After Lizzy walked away, he pined from a distance. When fate throws … fate throws them together, Johnny rushes to his challenging woman’s side. It could mean getting his heart broken again–and protection isn’t enough. When a mastermind terrorist captures Lizzy, Johnny and his MIT2 team race across East Africa to find her before it’s too late.
more
A heady combination of romance, danger, and suspense
As a huge fan of the first book, I was immensely excited to dive into the second installment. While not necessary, I was glad I’d read the first book as the second dives right into the action. This time, we jump right back into the tension left between Lizette and Johnny, her having fled in anger when she found out he’d been using her to get to her best friend who, so very erroneously, was a suspected terrorist.
Even from the beginning of the story Lizzy already knows she’s overreacted, but before she can muster the will to get over her pride, working in some of the most dangerous places in Africa quickly puts her in a position where she has no choice but to call on her hunky covert ops paramour. And things spiral from there for Lizzy, Johnny, and their nearest and dearest.
In an action packed ride around the globe, through challenges and horrors that are physical, mental, emotional, and in every other way impactful, Lizzy and Johnny’s relationship likewise goes through its ups and downs. The combination of romance, danger, and suspense is heady, and it’s hard to predict who will still be standing when the dust settles, much less whether there will be any peace and happiness for our heroes and heroines. Thankfully the ending, while terrifying, brutal, and gut wrenching, is also satisfying on pretty much every level.
While I’m used to reading books heavier on the romance and lighter on the action, this series is so gripping it’s hard not to love it. And I can’t wait to read book three!
I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it, this author has me hooked hooked hooked and has made me an avid fan of her books. The story, the characters, the suspense, the action, the steam, all of it, is spot on and amazing.
We have met Johnny and Liz in the first book and they were together under false pretences from Johnny but during that time, he fell in love. Unfortunately, Liz fees betrayed and doesn’t want to see Johnny until she needs him when a psycho has set his eyes on her and he is the only one, with his team, able to save her.
Holy smokes….heart pounding, heart breaking, intense scenes not for the faint of heart, a page turner and a definite keeper, in my opinion. I LOVED Johnny, his presence, his patience, not giving up on the woman he loves…sigh…swoon…sigh…swoon. Liz was a bit too much for me sometimes, her back and forth where Johnny was concerned, didn’t endear me to her at first. But, she comes around and wins me over and has me rooting for her in time. Johnny, he steals the show and makes me want to make a clone of him to have for myself. Can’t wait to get into the next one !!!
5 stars
Angsty
Passionate
Intense
Heartfelt
Emotional
Suspenseful
Military romance
Heart pounding
Unpredictable twists and turns
Second chance
Gripping
Off the charts chemistry
Hot (broody) alpha hero
Feisty Heroine
Amazing love story
Stain On The Earth is the second book in Mobile Intelligent Team series. I also love the scenery – setting in this book and getting to know different countries / cultures through characters’ eyes and Louise’s outstanding writing. This is Johnny and Lizzy’s book and journey to their well-deserved HEA.
It was cleverly well developed, well written and thought out. It was told in dual, third person POV. I liked everything about this book. Writing just flowed and had me captivated and invested to the story from start to finish wanting to find out what happens next. It was so effortless and poignant. I enjoyed every minute of it and never wanted it to end. It’s thrilling, gripping, edge of your seat page turner. It’s also a bit dark, twisted and such a wild ride. The characters are so amazing and engaging, the topics are real, important and relatable. The villains are portrayed with such intensity that you are literally immersed into their world and I had a feeling like I could get glimpses into their psyche and intentions.
Johnny is the medic in MIT2 and a former Ranger. He is kind, charming, loving, caring, protective, vulnerable, and perfectly imperfect.
Lizzy is kind and gentle soul and a fighter and survivor. I love her determination to take control over her life and to start living. Her ex fiancé abused her and she doesn’t trust easily because of that.
Watching Johnny and Lizzy fall in love and take this second chance was pretty epic and marvelous. I love the way Johnny wanted to win her over and prove his love for her. He is so protective of Lizzy and wants only best for her. She owns him and he is aware of that. Because of that reason he will do anything to protect her and make sure she is safe. I loved their banter and conversations. I love their relationship development; they were building some kind of friendship and then potentially became more. The more they spend time together the more they feel for each other. They are both kickass characters. Their chemistry and the buildup were amazing. They both have insecurities and are jaded from the past but from different reason. The epilogue was amazing and it’s what they deserve.
Secondary characters are so intriguing, engaging, funny and incredible. I just love their camaraderie, friendship and the way they have each other’s back. The author also introduced some new characters (like Dylan “Atlas” Jenkins) who I’m so curious about now. Even though I love all the guys, Slater is still my favorite and I can’t wait for his book.
While it’s a standalone in the series and can be read without reading the first one; I’m glad I read the first book because it was more enjoyable this way, at least for me, and I got a glimpse at the characters and understood them more. It’s filled with so much love, heart and heat, effortless and poignant writing with compelling, gripping storyline. I’m blown away with Louise’s knowledge of the military life and terminology which makes this book and series even more real, relatable and compelling. In my opinion it will attract the readers who love romance and romantic suspense mixed with mystery, intrigue, damaged, rugged heroes and strong, fierce heroines. I highly recommend it.