Dorian Lindstrom, codename Ghost, knows everyone breaks under torture. His five weeks in an enemy prison taught him that with unmerciful precision. He’s put his life back together as best he can with the help from his brothers at Linear Tactical.But he’s never gotten over his love for Grace Brandt, her part in his capture, or the fact that she died. But sometimes the dead don’t stay that way. … sometimes the dead don’t stay that way.
Grace knows her past can’t be forgiven. She’s stayed hidden as long as she could, but now the secrets slowly suffocating her won’t stay buried any longer.
And the man she helped break, the man she’s always loved, is the only one who can stop this nightmare.
She’ll need a Ghost to fight her demons, and he’s more than willing to prove she’s worth the fight.
The Ghost will rise.
more
Holy Guacamole…another mind bending, heat racing, terrorizing romantic suspense in this awesome series. Janie Crouch does suspense and romance like no other. Loved it!!!
The ghost finds his wraith
Five weeks of torture in Afghanistan broke Dorian “Ghost” Lindstrom.
Now in Wyoming, he is slowly putting his life back together, with help from his brothers at Linear Tactical.
An expert in survival techniques and self-defence, Ghost spends his days teaching survival skills to Linear Tactical’s clients, doing his best to forget the horrors of his forty-one days of captivity. Doing his best to survive, one day at a time, remembering the day the love of his life died.
Grace Brandt, aka Wraith, has stayed in the shadows. For six years she stayed hidden, but the secrets she keeps has now proven to be unbearable to keep. And so, out of the shadows, she rose from the dead to seek her Ghost.
Those of us following the men and women of Linear Tactical from the start have known and fallen in love with the reclusive, gentle giant known as Ghost. We knew he had issues—post traumatic stress disorder, to be clinically correct, arising from his days in captivity.
We were prepared to read about how Dorian—Ghost—was able to fight his demons, but wow …
Grace Brandt, Wraith, Ray… the trauma this strong woman went through was short of unbelievable. Shocking, even, when you think about Jane Crouch putting her in the cross-hairs of a conspiracy so nefarious, so evil, but sadly, oddly, possible in today’s world, in more ways than one.
Again, I thank Janie Crouch for shining a light on this topic.
Yes, I might be laying it on thick, but… post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is not specific to law enforcement. A child losing a beloved pet, physical abuse borne out of toxic relationships, bullying, any and everything that can cause mental and emotional distress can trigger PTSD.
How would you know if what you, or someone you know, is going through PTSD?
PTSD, according to the Mayo Clinic, is a mental health condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.
Most people who go through traumatic events may have temporary difficulty adjusting and coping, but with time and good self-care, they usually get better.
Although there are a lot of information about post traumatic stress disorder, it is not enough to rely on online material about the topic. From stress, sleeplessness and troubling dreams, to the need to isolate ones’ self from the outside world, or worse, having negative changes in thinking and erratic moods, it is not enough to have textbook, clinical diagnosis. It is also not advisable to treat it on your own. Especially if thoughts of suicide is rearing its ugly head.
If you tell me that never in your life have you suffered from PTSD, then I applaud you for dodging the bullet. But please, if you, or anyone you know, have PTSD, please reach out. PTSD is not something to be ashamed of.
I loved this book! Dorian is my favorite kind of hero–twisted up inside, but fighting his demons to be good, caring, courageous and protective of those he cares about. When I read the first Linear Tactical book, CYCLONE, Dorian Lindstrom was a big, strong loner who leaped off the page as a supporting character-and I’ve been anticipating his story ever since. Ms. Crouch did not disappoint. It was intensely emotional, jam-packed with action, and very satisfying.
Dorian and Ray’s relationship is complicated by brainwashing and post-traumatic stress. Their individual journeys and struggles were fascinating (and thinking about the realities that many of our veterans deal with, it was also heartbreaking and scary), but throughout the story and the characters’ history, the best thing for each other to survive and heal has been, and will always be–each other.
Of course, it’s always fun to see members of the Linear Tactical family. Blaze added a touch of necessary comic relief (“Blaze rules all!”). And two of my favorite supporting characters are the children, Ethan & Jess. A future hero/ine in the making. I hope they grow up fast, because they have their own stories to tell.
I can’t imagine this was an easy story to write. Kudos to Janie Crouch. As a reader, I gobbled it up like a wonderful treat.
Gosh, I don’t even know what to say about this story other than it was freaking AMAZING! I have been desperately anticipating Ghost’s story ever since I read the first book in Janie Crouch’s Linear Tactical series and this is hands down the best yet by Crouch.
Dorian “Ghost” Lindstrom is an integral member of the Linear Tactical team, but he has demons inside of himself that cause him to go away for months at a time in the woods to be alone. Six years ago he witnessed the love of his life, Grace killed in an explosion and quickly after found himself captured and held in an Afghani prison and tortured for forty-one days and since then he has been suffering from a severe case of PTSD. While his body may have healed his mind didn’t quite follow suit and now Dorion does not know what to make of the sixth sense he has that Grace may still be alive after all of this time. Who else would be tracking him in the woods using Grace’s signature bow and arrow, but how could that be possible when he witnessed her death all of those years ago?
Grace, codenamed Wraith, survived the explosion six years ago and has been “dead” ever since, that is until members of her special ops team were being murdered one by one. Dorian was also a member of the same team and Grace did not know if at first she could trust him or not, but watching him in the woods for the past month made Grace realize that Dorian is no killer. When she makes herself known to Dorian, they both stop at nothing to catch a killer amongst their ranks. Grace and Dorian need to work fast before the killer strikes again, but there are secrets that Grace is hiding……secrets that have the power to destroy them both.
I will admit I was a bit nervous about Grace being the heroine of this story, but I am so glad Janie Crouch took the character of Grace and turned her into such a perfect match for Dorian. They have both done things in their past that they are not proud off and they are both tortured souls trying to live the best way they know how. I don’t think any other heroine could have matched or understood what Dorian was going through except for Grace. Grace has the wit, strength and personal background similar to Dorian’s which made their coming together even stronger in terms of chemistry. Their chemistry together is completely off the charts. It is hot and steamy and they both love with such passion.
Ghost really lived up and quite honestly surpassed all of my expectations with a to die for hero and an action packed storyline that had me up till 5am reading because I could not put this book down for any reason. The story is dark, much darker that the previous books in the series. There is a killer taking out most of the special ops team and Crouch leads us on a merry chase trying to figure out who is behind it all. There are so many twists that will leave you guessing almost right up until the end. The mystery is weaved between a second chance romance that will burn through the pages and keep you up way late until the evening reading.
Ghost is an action packed and emotional story full of turbo charged scenes, page turning twists, and a second chance romance you can’t help but fall in love with. I am so so so glad this is not the last book in the series and I am definitely highly anticipating the next in line. At this point, I never want the series to end! I can pretty much guarantee that the next story will be another five star read from me as well.
I will forever be grantful for being one of Janie Crouch’s early ARC readers. To see these characters in all their flawed and ungraceful glory is simply a gift. Yes, a finished product with all the edges smoothed and plotting, formatting and pacing issues completely polished is wonderful, but to true see the gem beneath all the everyday muck is truly inspiring. Ms. Crouch is a wonderful writer, and she is a boss in this genre.
We’ve been waiting for Ghost’s story for 5 books, and the wait has been well worth it once you begin this story. The horrors of war, betrayal, and healing are all here, while we still get to witness the birth or rebirth in this case, of an awe-inspiring love story! The horrors that Ghost and Wraith/Grace/Ray have faced in the past, and must face again, would kill the average person, yet here they carry those burdens and consequences like robes. Their backstories are full realized and fleshed out with little to confuse the reader in this very face-paced thriller.
It was lovely to catch up with the main characters of the previous 4 books, and to see them all moving forward while still dealing with pain and uncertainty in their lives. Those this book is a stand-alone like the previous books in this series, it was great to get even more information here on some of the lesser characters and hints to what be in store for this “family” and all their assorted friends.
I have to give a shout-out to young Ethan Bollinger and his even younger friend, Ms. Jess. I cannot wait for a book with these two sweet, loyal, and completely lovable children, set 20 years in the future. Their story is gonna make up smile, sigh and cry, I just know it!!!
Wow. Just wow.
This story will stay in your mind, hunt your dreams, and make an imprint to your heart cause Dorian and Grace will take your breath away. The pain they have experienced shattered my heart. The loss of control, the constant distress, consequences of the past torment is unimaginable.
Ghost still has the same vibe, the same brotherhood, the connection – if not stronger – between the military brothers, Linear Tactical, than in the previous books. But it is darker with the danger and malice that is done to the special force members, to the men of black ops so dark, they can’t even see their own shadows. The story goes into those deep, dark corners of the human mind that is still mysterious to us. It has the palpable sense of utter despair, loss of control, unpredictability. But the story delivers on all accounts, granting mercy, forgiveness, and redemption when needed.
Surely the story dances on the line of is it believable or not, could this have actually happened, kind of wishing the answer is no cause this book, the story hunted my mind, and I do not wish anyone would have to go through what these warriors have to endure. Their destiny came to my dreams, and that’s a sign of a fabulous, intense, memorable suspense story.
Ghost does take a different direction from the previous books in the series, it paints their army days as a more of painful reality to the LT men than the glorious past. It shows so clearly and tangible what a war can do to a person’s mind without glorifying it in any way. Amazing, really, how the author tells the story of these raw, broken souls, who have seen the worse of humanity.
The connection between (Grace aka) Ray and (Dorian aka) Ghost is marvelous, all around just one swoon-worthy, yet earnest and tangibly passionate moment after another. To the point that within its intensity it reminds me of the fourth Omega book, Leverage, from the first Janie Crouch series, the story between the pilot and the scientist. Not for a moment is there a doubt in my mind how Ghost feels about Ray and what he would be willing to do to keep her safe, as well as his brothers. He is a man of dignity, honor, loyalty, and he is the man for Grace.
As I read the story I got to witness breathtakingly beautiful love story, heartfelt and ardent, as fierce as it is delicate, as tender as it is passionate, in a mids of raw, brutal mind games and lethal, savage violence. This story stands well on its own, but to get the depth of Dorian’s connection to his military brothers, I highly recommend the whole series.
Let your mind to be blown away – and challenged -with this powerful and potent romantic suspense story, a tale that I fell in love with.
~ Five Spoons
Seriously, each book in this series guts me more and more!! Just by reading the blurb I knew Dorian’s story was going to shatter me, but to then read Grace’s story, I wasn’t sure if my heart could take it.
It has been six years since Dorian was released from hell in an Afghani prison and his body has slowly recovered from all the torture he had endured but the residual effects to his mind has been lingering and excruciating to him. He is still so crippled from the death of Grace that he was having a hard time trusting his own mind; he is feeling Grace all around him. But when there is evidence that she was actually alive, he was determined to get some answers, in any way possible.
To save the man she loved, Grace/Ray has been “dead” these past six years, and to learn all she had endured and how far she went to protect him was heartbreaking. The sacrifices and decisions she made and how it affected her, to extent she could not stand to be called Grace anymore, was absolutely gut-wrenching. But to find and stop a killer, she had to reach out to Dorian and they had to work together. But there are things Dorian doesn’t know and Ray was determined to keep protecting him and his new found life he has built.
Dorian and Ray’s story had me bombarded with so many emotions. The scenes where Dorian struggled with his panic attacks and to witness the extent of the betrayal inflicted towards both of them was difficult at times. When we learn the full truth of what really happened to them both, to say I was shocked is an understatement. Their story is intense and raw and as broken as they are, they are exactly right for each other, they are soulmates.
As hard as their story was, I absolutely loved them and was in awe of their strength, both internal and external. These two are warriors and protectors, so for them to finally be free to be together was beautiful. Don’t get me wrong a lot happens, with a lot of twists and turns and jaw-dropping revelations but ultimately worth it.
Another excellent and fabulous book from an amazing author.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Ghost was the best in this series. Just wonderful drama with many twists and turns for these 2 suffering individuals. This is not a fairy tale romance but rather an adventure to find peace and understanding with traumatized minds. This one will blow you away. Anything can happen and anything will. So creative that it could actual be real. Received ARC
GHOST is the fifth instalment in Janie Crouch’s contemporary, adult LINEAR TACTICAL romantic, suspense series focusing on a group of former Special Forces soldiers who own and operate Linear Tactical, an Oak Creek, Wyoming business specializing in survival skills, security and protection. This is government agent Dorian ‘Ghost’ Lindstrom, and agent Grace ‘Wraith’ aka Ray Brandt’s story line. GHOST can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Dorian and Grace aka Ray) GHOST follows in the wake of Grace Brandt’s return from the dead. Six years earlier Grace Brandt died trying to save the man that she loved but in doing so led Dorian Lindstrom straight into the arms of the enemy, an enemy that tortured and broke our story line hero. Fast forward to present day wherein Grace now known as Ray, has returned from the dead with news that not all is at it appears to be. The government sanctioned Black Ops group known as Project Crypt, a group of which Ghost, Wraith and the others once belonged, had gone rogue, and was working off the books in an attempt to dominate and control. What ensues us the rebuilding friendship and relationship between Ray and Dorian, and the potential fall-out as the truth is revealed, and Ray’s life hangs in the balance from sins of the past.
Dorian Lindstrom barely survived the torture endured in the Afghanistan prison but six years later, coming face to face with the woman he had tried to save meant a possible second chance for our story line hero. Grace ‘Ray’ Brandt had secrets of her own, secrets that once revealed would threaten everyone Dorian loved. Project Crypt was still in control, a control that dominated our story line couple.
The relationship between Dorian and Ray is one of second chances; a rekindling relationship between former lovers who were destroyed by secrets and lies; power and control. The $ex scenes are intimate and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
There is a large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters. We are reintroduced to Aiden Teague and Violet Collingwood (Shamrock #3), Finn Bollinger and Charlie Devereaux (Eagle #2), Zac Mackay and Anne Griffin (Cyclone #1); Jordan Reiss and Gabriel Collingwood (Angel #4); Heath “Shadow’ Kavanagh; Mason ‘Phantom’ Wyndham; Sheriff Curtis Nelson; as well as Project Crypt leader Dr. Timothy Holloman , and agent Angela Landry.
GHOST is a story of secrets, betrayal, vengeance and lies; second chances and forgiveness; retribution, power and revelations. The premise is intriguing and engaging; the romance is passionate; the characters are broken, spirited and intense.
All I can say is Janie Crouch has another winner with Ghost! She knows how to bring the characters to life, making each twist and turn in the characters’ personal journeys compelling to read. I can’t wait to read Shadow, the next book in the Linear Tactical series!
This has been a difficult review to write because I have been anxiously awaiting for Dorian’s story since the beginning of the Linear Tactical series. Now that it’s finally here, it’s darker and more intense than I expected.
And way better than I ever thought it could be.
For me, it comes down to the fact that not all heroes wear pure white hats. Things aren’t always black and white and the grays can get very dark. If you can’t handle that simple truth, Ghost might not be the book for you. If you can accept that the good guys (and gals) sometimes do bad things for good reasons, then dig in. Especially if you like your darkness with more than a few deliciously funny lines tossed in to break the tension.
Dorian “Ghost” Lindstrom has lived through hell and come out the other end damaged but not destroyed. Ray/Grace “Wraith” Brandt doesn’t think she deserves to be called Grace anymore because of what she has done. Both Ray and Dorian have body counts; some on page, some off.
But killing doesn’t always equal murder, and therein lies the difference. What woman doesn’t want a man who loves her enough to be willing to kill to protect her? Doesn’t every woman want to believe she is strong enough to kill to protect the man she loves?
Dorian and Ray have the kind of love most of us can only dream of. Sweet dreams, all.
Dorian intrigued me throughout the previous books because he is an essential part of the Linear Tactical team, but he also holds himself a bit apart. Always there when he needed, working quietly in the background.. haunted by his past and suffers from severe PTSD that frequently sends him off into the woods alone.
In this book, we finally learn that during a black ops mission in Afghanistan Dorian saw the woman he loved die in an explosion just before he was captured. He survived 41 days of torture before his teammates found and rescued him, leaving him broken in mind and body.
This is a fast-paced and grittier than previous books in the series, and at times a tough read as both Grace and Dorian deal with the lingering effects of severe PTSD. However, their commitment to finding the truth, by hunting the group that is after them, and trying to rebuild not only their relationship but a life that they can share with others – shows the strength and commitment to each other in these characters. A true love based on knowing each other characters. Sometimes a difficult read but so worth it. Janie Crouch has excelled herself within this book.
I loaded this onto my Kindle from KU, and had only read one other story in the series at that point. And of course, as I always do, I got the stories out of order. So this book talked about people and things I hadn’t read yet. Which is a really, really good thing – now I have even more of an excuse to load everything onto my Kindle (through KU I hope) and read the entire set.
But enough, what about the book, Kat? Tell us about the book. First let me say that I never allow myself to be surprised by a plot, unless the blurb is SO different that it doesn’t match the book. In this case, the book is WAY better than the blurb. Holy Canoli, I had trouble walking away from this book. You know, people in my house were disgusting me by needing to eat, cats needed fed. Really? They needed to leave me alone today.
The plot was very well put together. When there are a lot of moving parts, and this applies to ANY book, not just romance mixed with action/adventure, the author can easily take a mis-step that can send the plot into overdrive, or under-drive. In this case, there were only a couple of brief places where I tilted my head and said “Say Wha?” But that didn’t last long because Janie Crouch got it right back on track again. The characters, because so much of the plot was about them, and about their actions, needed to be very thoroughly developed through the first quarter of the book. You can stretch it to a third, but usually, by that time, if the reader hasn’t figured out what makes a character tick, they’ll give up. This author hit a home run with Ghost and Wraith. I knew everything I needed to know to anticipate what they’d do next. The absolutely only weird thing was that in the first 20 pages of the book, I knew who some of the bad guys were. I have no idea because usually I’m not the one who will say that. But at the end, I was saying to that little part of my brain that always doubts me – “see? I told you.”
This was a good book but only a good book if you go into it realizing that this isn’t going to be sweetness and light, there’s gonna be murder, blood, and violence. There will be mind control and things that go bump in the night. If you like dark, this book goes there. If you don’t like dark, prepare yourself for it. But it isn’t the “dark” that people think of – there’s no restraints, no disciplinary acts, nothing at all like that. It is just the dark of a black-ops company that has gone way off the reservation, and the story of the people it had harmed.
Do I recommend it? Oh yes. So much so that I’m returning it from my Kindle, and going off in search of other Janie Crouch books on KU today. Thank you Ms. Crouch, for an exciting, unexpectedly warm and dark read (and yes, a book can be both – this one is).
Loved the character Ghost and really found it interesting how they revealed his past as well as that of Ray. These characters had dark pasts and I loved how the author realistically portrayed them living their lives in spite of those dark experiences.
This was definitely not my favorite book of this series so far, but it was still good. I have been enjoying reading this authors books.
This book’s storyline was okay. Some of the dialogue in this story made me laugh . I liked the action in this story. I liked the hot & steamy scenes. I liked Dorian’s character. I felt sorry for Dorian. I liked Grace’s character. The ending was okay.
Linear Tactical is such a good series and Ghost’s story is another fantastic addition! Dorian aka Ghost has been through so much and yet he has more coming his way. He just wants to protect his friends and find a modicum of peace even though he knows that is probably impossible. Grace aka Wraith has been presumed dead by Ghost for years. He witnessed her death…or did he? Nothing in their past is as it appears to be and their past is forcing them into a future that is determined to destroy them both. I cannot say much about Ghost without ruining the story but it was told from dual POV and will definitely keep you glued to the pages until the very end! It was action packed, full of angst and plenty of heat. Ghost stands alone but I recommend reading all of the previous books in the series.
I am voluntarily leaving this review because I received an ARC. Janie Crouch has gone to such wonderful lengths to bring forth this amazing world filled with strong military men and even stronger women. I have enjoyed every single book in the Linear Tactical series so far and this book is no different. I couldn’t wait to read Dorian’s story, especially after how Angel had ended. Dorian’s character was so kind and strong but you knew from the first book that he had endured pain that not one of the other guys could ever truly understand. Zac, Finn, Adrian, Gavin and even Gabriel were and are always there for him. The girls knew Dorian had a hard time but always included him but kept the boundaries he needed in order to survive. But if you even thought of touching anyone he considered family you would begin to see how dark and invisible Ghost truly could be. But even a Ghost has an Achilles heel and it’s not surprising that it would be a Wraith. Ray aka Wraith would give anything to just be in the arms of the man whose always had her heart. However life and some extremely evil people made her choose to lose herself to save true love. No one would ever blame anyone who would give up themselves to save their heart and love, but can that love forgive you for what you did to save them. Ray can’t help but want to be near Dorian even if she thinks he’s not who she used to know, but that happens if you underestimate someone because of what they went through. Ray wants nothing more than to end the people who made her, Dorian and even Heath the agents they were because what they did to them and what they did to their minds. Dorian would face hell on earth again if it meant keeping Ray safe, but can Ray face her own true hell to keep Dorian safe. Will love be the saving grace for these two completely tortured souls and give them the strength to not only stand together but be together. The mind is filled with land mines especially when truly evil people are involved, but sometimes a touch or a voice can bring you back to safety….sometimes even silence. As with all of the other books in this series I found myself crying at times and laughing. But I will say the times I was crying were the worst and I almost wanted to stop reading right then. I couldn’t stop, I had to know what happened. Janie is an amazing writer. I want nothing more to visit Wyoming hoping to run into any man who could be a man with Linear Tactical. The world she has created is utterly beautiful and amazing.
Dorian AKA Ghost finally gets his story and it’s powerful. It’s emotionally and psychologically suspenseful. There’s hard hitting action and danger abounds. But, underneath it all this is the love story of two damaged people who have been manipulated by unscrupulous persons who are willing to sacrifice anyone in order to accomplish their agenda. Make no mistake this book is raw, it’s gritty, it’s dark and it’s violent. Yet it’s absolutely enthralling reading I did not want to nor could I put it down until the last page was read.
Wow! Ghost’s story has left me lost for words. So emotional, but still so much action and suspense. I didn’t see any of this coming.
I was turning page, after page needing to know what happens. My mind is reeling from everything that unfolds. I was lost in this book. Fantastic storyline.