I knew the risks of this job when I signed on with Jameson Force Security. Knew my time as a marine would prepare me for the danger I would face. But no amount of training could have ever prepared me for the helplessness of watching my teammates die, the agonizing mental and physical pain of torture, or the despair of captivity. Returning home to Pittsburgh following a mission gone wrong, I am … riddled with guilt and haunted by nightmares. I spend my days trying to regain the parts of myself I lost in that desert, the pieces that made me the Malik Fournier I once was. While the physical effects of my torture are fading, the emotional ones are proving much more stubborn and I find solace from the last person I should ever seek such comfort. Anna Tate lost even more than I did in that mission. Now a widow and a single mom to the daughter she gave birth to shortly after her husband’s death, Anna offers me comfort I don’t deserve. As my feelings for Anna grow, I worry that once she learns the truth about what happened, she’ll turn her back on me. I pull her to me just as tightly as I push her away. Hoping this forbidden love will save me from the ghost I’ve become.
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This book was so good from beginning to end it was hard to put down. Malik was new to the company and on his first mission with Jameson Force Security when they were on a mission to rescue hostages and working with British and Australian military forces when they started taking fire. During this fire fight two of his team members are killed and he is taken hostage. After five months he is rescued but survivors guilt is an traumatic thing. Coming home he is convinced he is to blame for the deaths of his teammates. Anna lost her husband Jimmy on that mission. She is now a single mom after giving birth to Avery and working as Kynan’s secretary. She is extremely happy to have Malik back and holds no grudge against him. She has been read in on the mission and knows he did nothing wrong. This was a slow burn and starts out as a friendship but there was an undeniable chemistry. I have basically given you the premise of this book and that is all I’m going to give. READ THE DAMN BOOK! YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!!! Emotional and low to no angst. Oh, and LOVE this cover!!!
This is now my favorite of the series. Malik is just swoony and heartbreaking and wonderful. Anna is so strong and brave, and she holds them both up when she needs to. I love that this book deals with mental health and how important it is. Who thought I’d like a military guy more than his hockey playing brothers? But, my favorite Fournier brother has now been decided.
Sawyer Bennett is an author whose attention to detail is off the charts. Her writing is so visual that you feel as though you are right there. Her characters seem like they are real people and you become so attached to their story you literally cannot put the book down. Ghost was a story that I have been waiting for since the first mention of his capture is previous books. It is emotional, sad, frightening, because of what he went through, and also loving. He forms a bond with Anna from the moment he returns. They are both tied to his mission that resulted in him being captured and tortured. She lost her husband and he almost lost his life. Although he felt guilty and responsible for Jimmy’s death he could not ignore the attachment he felt toward Anna. But bro code made him hesitant along with the guilt to take it further. He had to come to terms on what happened on that mission before he would be allowed back to work and move on. He also didn’t know how Anna would react if she knew what really happened. Well his view anyway. He was the only one who thought he was responsible for Jimmy’s death, while others who were there had a very different view. In others eyes he acted according to how he was trained and did the best job.
This story is filled with so many emotions. Tears you will cry for Malik as well as Anna. Two souls that are so connected you cannot help but wish for their happiness together.
I’ve read every book in this series but was definitely excited to read Malik’s story!
Book 5 in the Jameson Force Security Series finds us in Syria, as it’s been 5 months since Malik Fournier was captured during a rescue mission gone bad. Kynan McGrath (Head of JFS) has been diligently trying to track down Malik’s location since he was taken and finally, it happened. Tank, Merritt, Cage & a few of the other guys from Jameson brought him home. Malik spends a couple of weeks recovering at his parents house, but then decides it’s time to head back to work so he can start to move forward with his life.
Back in Pittsburgh (Jameson’s Headquarters), Anna is Kynan’s Admin. Assistant and helps him with a wide-array of tasks. Anna’s husband, Jimmy, was on the same hostage rescue team as Malik, but was unfortunately killed in action, along with fellow Jameson team member, Sal. She works for Jameson and takes care of her & Jimmy’s daughter, Avery, who was born not long after he was killed. It hasn’t been easy for Anna, working, having & taking care of Avery, but she does have her mother’s support, even if it’s not always wanted as she’s trying to retain her independence.
Malik sees Anna on the morning he arrives back at Jameson, and there’s a bit of a connection on both their parts. Malik sees Anna & the guilt is immediate as he blames himself for both Jimmy & Sal’s deaths from their joint mission. Anna sees Malik and just feels joy & relief that he’s been found & has returned. She believes they have a lot in common as over the past 5 months they’ve both gone through horrific, emotional trauma. She makes it her mission to let Malik know she’s there for him and available to talk if he ever has the need.
This story is all about watching Malik & Anna navigate a relationship, while they’re both still fighting with the losses they’ve both endured. It’s really quite a sweet read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
(The only issue I have with this book is that we never found out about what happened to Cage after he had to come clean with Jaime!! Would have loved to hear how that conversation went!! )
Malik Fournier is a former marine and a member of The Jameson Force Security group. He is also the brother to Max and Lucas Fournier, both who play professional hockey for the Carolina Cold Fury. When a rescue mission goes horrible wrong in Syria, some men get killed while Malik ends up captured where they end up torturing him for six months. When Malik is finally rescued, he’s thankful to be alive, but haunted by demons that keep invading his thoughts. As Malik is trying to get back to life in Pittsburgh, PA he ends up becoming close with Anna Tate, the widow of his teammate who was killed on their mission. Malik feels guilty because of things that happened in Syria, but at the same time he feels a strong bond to Anna. Maybe it’s the grief they both share that is driving them together, but something about Anna, and even her newborn daughter, Avery, seems to put Malik at ease. Anna and Malik both need to get past the guilt they feel about being together to realize that the help they both need to overcome their grief may just be in the form of each other. It takes a whole lot of pain and soul searching for these two lost souls to finally get their happy ending but once they do, they find out that it was all worth it.
First off…that cover…..dang! Secondly, usually this series is more intrigue and romance, but this story brings with it a whole lot of emotions. You couldn’t help but feel for both Malik and Anna and you couldn’t help but root for these two to get together. I just adored Malik. He is strong and emotional. He reminds me of a big teddy bear. Malik grew up in a great family that communicate well with each other which probably helped him while he was captured. Anna on the other hand seemed like she had to grow up quickly. She accidentally got pregnant; quickly married; then lost her husband two years later. That is a lot to handle in your mid 20’s. Overall, this was a great addition to this series and I highly recommend it
Malik and Anna take us on an emotional journey through loss, survival, hope, and ultimately love. This was a wonderful addition to the series.
If you have read some of the previous books in this series, Wicked Secret (Wicked Horse Vegas Book 8) or Dominik , you know Malik was on a mission in Syria when he was captured and a couple of his teammates were killed. One of those teammates was Jimmy, Anna’s husband. This story takes place several months after Malik’s capture and now Jameson Force Security has his location and is on a mission to rescue him.
This has been a story I have been both anticipating and at the same time not sure if I actually wanted to read it and I’ll tell you why, I was afraid of how much detail we would be given about his capture. Would we have to bear witness to the horrors he suffered or would we be spared? I’m glad I went with my gut and read it because Sawyer Bennett did a wonderful job with retelling his days of captivity without having me want to be sick. We are given enough to get the picture but not so much that we are overloaded with it.
This story is about Malik coming home and dealing with the aftermath of his capture and survival while knowing two of his men didn’t make it home. Jimmy was killed while Anna was pregnant with their daughter so he never met Avery, Anna has been a strong woman since his passing and it wasn’t easy but she’s doing it not only for herself but for her daughter as well.
I loved the bond that Malik and Anna made and watching it grow into something more was just wonderful. I also loved the friendship between Anna and Cage and boy oh boy are we in store for some fun with his book which is up next in Code Name: Rook.
If you enjoy Romantic Suspense, Friends-to-Lovers, or Office Romances this book is for you. This is book 5 in the JAMESON FORCE SECURITY but it can be read as a standalone.
Happy Reading!!!
I knew the risks of this job when I signed on with Jameson Force Security. Knew my time as a marine would prepare me for the danger I would face. But no amount of training could have ever prepared me for the helplessness of watching my teammates die, the agonizing mental and physical pain of torture, or the despair of captivity.
Returning home to Pittsburgh following a mission gone wrong, I am riddled with guilt and haunted by nightmares. I spend my days trying to regain the parts of myself I lost in that desert, the pieces that made me the Malik Fournier I once was. While the physical effects of my torture are fading, the emotional ones are proving much more stubborn and I find solace from the last person I should ever seek such comfort.
Anna Tate lost even more than I did in that mission. Now a widow and a single mom to the daughter she gave birth to shortly after her husband’s death, Anna offers me comfort I don’t deserve. As my feelings for Anna grow, I worry that once she learns the truth about what happened, she’ll turn her back on me.
I pull her to me just as tightly as I push her away. Hoping this forbidden love will save me from the ghost I’ve become.
Freaking loved Anna and Malik’s story. Their journey wasn’t an easy one and they both had tragic past’s. This will take you on a emotional journey like no other. Flawlessly written and heartfelt. Loved every single page.
Code Name: Ghost is the long awaited story of Malik Fournier and his teammates widow, Anna. Malik is finally rescued from being held captive in Syria for 5 months. He was captured during the same mission that killed Anna’s husband, Jimmy. Anna and Malik both lost something in that desert and because of that, they have an immediate and deep connection. It begins with a mutual understanding and friendship that quickly evolves into something so much more. However, they both have to deal with confusion and guilt over what they feel and whether to act on it.
I loved Anna’s relationship with her mom and how she learned that she could relate to her so much more. We also got to see again how close the whole Fournier family is and it was nice to catch up with them and see what they’re all up to these days.
We also got a glimpse into the next book and I cannot wait to see how this plays out for Cage. He is in for it!
As always, I have to praise the work of one of my favorite authors. Sawyer Bennett is an automatic one click for me. Each book ticks off so many boxes, there is something for everyone to enjoy!
Side note: this book is part of a series, but each one can be read as a stand-alone. It truly won’t spoil any of the stories if you read out of order.
I highly recommend Code Name: Ghost and I think you’ll enjoy it as much as I did!
4.5 stars
*ARC generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
***4 Stars***
I have to admit, this was the book in the series I’ve been making grabby hands at because of my love and adoration for Max Founier, Malik’s brother, and I was crossing my toes hard that he and the rest of the fam would make an appearance or two, so yeah. I was all kinds of excited. And outside of the familial ties, I really enjoyed Malik and Anna’s journey. It was fun, heartbreaking and swoon worthy and I just really liked how everything surrounding Malik and Anna played out, as well as getting to hang out more with the JFS gang and getting a glimpse at what was coming up next in their world.
I loved Anna and Malik. Both have been put through an emotional storm and have come out on the other side a bit bruised and battered, but strong. Anna is sweet, hard working and independant. She’s done what was needed to be done to find a way to live her life in order to ensure that her daughter has a mom who is whole. Malik went through things that most could never imagine, or even want to, and while he is grateful, and thankful, to have made it out, he carries around a lot of guilt. But when he isn’t berating himself over all that happened, he is a really sweet guy. He is close to his family and simply loves what he does.
Their journey to their HEA could have gone any number of ways, but I liked the road that was taken. They have a shared experience that has connected them and I liked how they navigated around and through it all by becoming friends first and then becoming more. The push/pull is there, but the angst is relatively low ~ which I found suited both Anna and Malik and who they were at their very core and I loved where they were at in the end.
This was a great addition to the series. I enjoyed how Malik’s recovery was handled and the steps he went through to get back to some sort of semblance of normal for him. As for what he went through while captured, we are given some insight, but nothing too detailed, so it’s low on triggers. I loved catching up with the various members of the JFS gang and meeting a few new ones as well. There is a good dose of Cage (Code Name: Rook) in this one and I cannot wait to see how his situation plays out, because it’s gonna be a doozy!
~ Copy provided by the author & voluntarily reviewed ~
Code Name: Ghost (Jameson Force Security #5) by Sawyer Bennett
This latest offering from Sawyer Bennett in her Jameson Force Security Series felt different. Not Different in a bad way, in a really good thoughtful way. This was not the physical threat type story. Code Name: Ghost is more the back side of a mission. When you must heal and come to terms with what happens when you do this kind of work. The risks it is to yourself but also to the ones who love you and you love.
I really enjoyed watching Malik Fournier evolution, not just physically but emotionally too. Coming into the book you aren’t sure if he can overcome being held as a POW after a rescues mission went bad. Malik must confront and deal with not only survivor’s guilt, but he is falling in love with Anna Tate, one of his comrade’s that died during that rescue mission. I love the added insight of Malik’s conversions with Corrine. It gives us a peak behind the curtain the effects and aftermath this kind of career has on people.
Anna was this strong and capable woman. I loved how she is no nonsense with the guys. That she realizes where her weaknesses are. That she knows what she can and can not handle. I really liked her. I would have loved to have had just a bit more insight of her coping with the lose of her husband and falling for Malik. I sometimes felt she was just very accepting of her circumstances, maybe because of her losing her father as a child, maybe because of her own military background. But over all she is a really great character.
The moments between Malik and Anna when she is feeding her daughter Avery were magical. Such a sweet connection between them. This is the moment you start to feel their magic.
This was a 4.5/5 read for me. My only little quip was I just wanted a little more insight from Anna, but overall, I highly recommend this book. It can easily be read as a stand along.
I was super intrigued with Malik’s story. He went through a lot and he finally got to tell his tale. We got bits and pieces of what he went through but I wanted more. I really wanted to get immersed in his story. I thought it was an interesting story with his love interest, Anna. That gave the story an interesting dynamic. But again I just wanted more. I had a hard time feeling their connection. Overall, I did enjoy the story and happy I got to read how Malik’s story played out. There were just little bits and pieces I was missing or where I wanted more.
Smart Sweet Read
My favorite thing about Malik and Anna’s story is the adult way in which they approached their relationship and issues. I enjoyed two characters that took their issues and responsibilities seriously with an open approach to their partner.
Don’t get me wrong this story has everything needed to draw you in….wit, character connection, sexy time, and drama….all with a maturity that settles the reader and allows them to be drawn in without over the top antics.
**ARC provided for an honest review.**
I love this series by Sawyer Bennett, there is intrigue, suspense, and passion. For me Sawyer can do no wrong and this book is no exception. Malik and Anna are a great couple, even though they each struggle with grief, guilt, and coping with a new normal, they work hard to be open and communicate. Their relationship was easy and inevitable, their interactions were funny, loving, emotional, and oh so sexy. I love the depth and complexity to Sawyer’s characters, both main and supporting characters and this book is full of great personalities. This is a well written, enjoyable, and intriguing book that will keep you engaged from start to finish. Advanced copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
The book starts with the rescue of Malik Fornier, one of the Jameson Security operatives that has been missing for a number of months after a mission gone very wrong. He’s been tortured during that time and recurperates at his parent’s home in Canada.
He’s soon ready to return to Jameson and get back out in the field, but he has to tell Anna Tate how sorry he is for the loss of her husband on the same mission. Anna has gotten a few months head start on her healing, thanks to the company doc on staff just for these kinds of situations. Malik and Anna soon find that their past history binds them together in a way they didn’t expect.
There’s very low conflict in this story, and I’m not even sure that I’d call this a romantic suspense as the action is reserved for Malik’s rescue early on in the story. It’s a quieter story than any of the others in the series, but that’s okay. Malik and Anna are great together, and Kynan plays a big role in bringing them together and helping them find their happiness.
Overall, a great way to bring closure to this storyline. Followers of this series will be happy to see Malik and Anna get their HEA after all they’ve been through. The book also works as a standalone.
So emotional. Two people that bonded during a time when they both were recovering over heartbreaking events that happened to them. Anna is a widow with a newborn and Malik is a survivor of being captured by the enemies. He was tortured and still had those scars. Anna still had the scars from losing her husband but she was smiling more. These two bonded and became friends and then of course it became more. Anna struggled with the fact that she was afraid of losing Malik because of the danger of his job. Malik was all about putting Anna and baby Avery first and making sure she no longer shed anymore sad tears.
My only disappointment was that this book wasn’t as emotionally challenging as I expected it to be. Anna being a new widow and single mom while Malik’s recent brush with being kidnapped and tortured seemed like a promise for ugly crying. I don’t think I shed a single tear. But their love story is beautiful nonetheless.
How is it possible that all of this authors books get better and better each time??
Malik and Anna were perfect! Just perfect.
I am so glad they got their HEA! If any two people deserved it, it’s them.
I cant wait for the next book!!!
This is a great addition to this series I devoured this standalone
Wish I could give this book more then five stars. I cheered for Malik when he was found alive and well alive. I’m extremely glad Sawyer had him and Anna find friendship first then act on the attraction. Ghost is everything then some that you will want in a five star read.
I feel like I have been itching for this book for so very long and I have to say, it did not disappoint! So emotional and the chemistry is intense and their connection so beautiful. I enjoyed every single second of this book!