Taz (G-Man series Book 4)

Fantastic Story & Audible Listen Captivating & Thrilling!

Taz
G-Man Series, Book 5
By: Andrea Smith
Narrated by: Alexander Cendese, Samantha Martin

This is one fantastic story, it completely wowed me and blew me away. Andrea Smith is a master at writing and creating stories that sweep you, grab your attention and hold it hostage the entire book. I adore the characters in this series, especially the hot G-men but I will say their woman are pretty amazing too. Taz and Lindsey have a great life together, they have two great kids, he working in the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit and no he does not know the hot guys from Criminal Minds, LOL! Lindsey is working with her Mom, Sammie, they started their own interior design business and their current job is a daycare remodel that may lead to more work. Slate asks Taz to go undercover for a special assignment he can not say no. The assignment is dangerous and Taz goes in deep and does not go as planned. This book took me to the edge of my seat several times, the plotting and storylines are awesome. There is never a dull moment with plenty of drama, action, angst, twists & turns, thrilling suspense, heartfelt and emotional moments and some hot loving. Andrea Smith, thank you for this fantastic story and the emotional rollercoaster ride.

I listened to the Audible edition, Alexander Cendese and Samantha Martin are terrific narrators and voice artists. They did an amazing job portraying the characters, bringing them to life giving each their own voice and personality. Alexander’s take on Taz was spot on, he sounded as I pictured him to sound he really captured his sense of humor too. They are entertaining storytellers and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for the fantastic listen

Taz & Lindsey Face Excruciating Challenges After Taz’s Highly-Sensitive Undercover Operation Blows Up, Sending Their Marriage Into A Tailspin. There Is Danger And Suspense As The Story Unfolds With A Few Twists And Turns.

This is the fifth book in the G-Man series. It reads perfectly as a standalone, but fans will appreciate having read Love Plus One, book two in the series, prior to reading this. Love Plus One is the story that brought this memorable married couple together in the first place. The couple in Diamond Girl, book one, plays a role here as well. Fans get a peak at Slater and Samantha in the future, though mostly as it pertains to their relationships with Taz and Lindsey rather than them as a couple. Lindsey’s best friend Darcy from Night Moves, book three in the series, makes a few appearances as well. But this story belongs to fan-favorite Taz Matthews and his wife Lindsey – Slater’s best friend and Samantha’s daughter.

This book opens just over three years after the close of Love Plus One. Taz has turned thirty-three, and Linsey is now twenty-four. They are very happily married. Their three-year-old little girl Harper is the apple of her father’s eye. Little Jackson is sixteen months and insists on sleeping with his parents. Taz has earned his PhD and landed his dream job in the FBI’s BAU, so he no longer works under Slate. Instead of undercover work, he now spends most of his days profiling. Lindsey has finished school and is building an interior decorating business in partnership with her mother. Their specialty is in nursery designs and playrooms. Slate and Sammie have two little boys. Bryce – six, and Sidney – four. Like Taz, Slate is a very happily married family man now. Darcy, who is married now to Taz’s older half-brother Easton, has son Weston, about a year and a half old, and daughter Carson, four months old.

Lindsey had followed Taz’s advice and gotten help to get past her traumatic kidnapping and torture by Kyzer Stanfield and Susan Reynard. That the woman her father had run off with had also been Kyzer’s step-mother had been mind-boggling, but Taz had followed his instincts instead of bureau policies and just barely got there in time to save Lindsey. As a result of her rescue and the bust, he became a legend at the FBI. Lindsey’s father is now dead and the culprits in prison, so life has largely moved on.

When Slate pulls strings to get Taz assigned to a highly top-secret multi-agency case that he has been leading for the past year, Taz’s instinct tells him to walk away. Slate wants him back in the field, undercover, in an operation with national security implications. But this operation also hits close to home. Susan Reynard had been pardoned by the DOJ in a hushed move in exchange for information she offered up identifying some oversees terrorist groups. Slate had busted Susan himself and hadn’t trusted her motives, so he tracked her activities and found concerning evidence. She is currently running an operation along the southern border. Slate’s group is monitoring her communications, and there are mentions of a ‘cause.’ In addition to the known fact that Susan is into sophisticated designer drugs, Slater is convinced that they will soon discover even bigger plans. There are two agents planted in the operation currently – Marco and ATF Agent Cecil – and a third is needed ASAP. Susan would recognize Slate so he is not an option, hence he turns to Taz. Slate predicts the operation will take two to three months max. Taz reluctantly agrees to accept, hoping to pull it off faster.

Though the separation is difficult, the couple is used to this routine. Taz cannot share any details with Lindsey, but he also doesn’t want to make her worry unnecessarily by alerting her to the highly sensitive nature of the operation. Still, he has to admit that this time he won’t be calling to check in. As he leaves, Lindsey and her mother are wining and dining a potential big client. Liam Avery has a chain of businesses that could keep Lindsey and Sammie busy for a good while. He is handsome but a little older. Although Taz trusts Lindsey, he cannot help but share his suspicions of Liam’s intentions when the man joins them for dinner on the eve of his departure.

Taz is three weeks into his assignment when he is on the verge of uncovering Susan’s plans. Susan now goes by Capri DeSantis, and it is unclear whether it is her or the younger and more intelligent beauty that she bunks with, Natalia Scorpio, that runs the show. Both are evil sociopaths. But things blow up that night, and it changes everything for Taz and Lindsey.

Taz returns home to a marriage on the brink of failure and a life he hardly recognizes. He and Lindsey both have a hard battle ahead. They face personal issues as well as the issues that plague their marriage. Between family and career, finding time to address them is easier said than done. The couple that had fallen so deeply in love just a few years ago is at risk of losing everything that they built together. The poison is contagious, infecting other relationships as well. This is not a story of falling in love and happily ever after. It is a story of the real challenges faced by a happy couple and the choices they make in light of them. It is about finding love again.

But hold on to your seat, because there are still a few surprises in store. This is a G-Man book, after all. This book belongs to Taz. Though a romance, it is a serious look at the life of an undercover FBI Special Agent and the challenges of maintaining a healthy marriage. Here Taz and Lindsey search for the kind of deep and mature love that will sustain them for a lifetime of challenges to come. It takes time and perspective, but the couple eventually finds a happy ending.

Wow! Taz and Lindsey’s story has it all – sizzling chemistry, crime, family drama, and suspense. Taz really is amazing as a family man, and it is hard to see him – an alpha – struggle when things get tough. This story is very real, and allows the characters to process all the events and to express their raw feelings. Lindsey is younger and less experienced, so she comes from a different angle than Taz. Though Taz has huge challenges and this book is more serious in tone, he remains an adorable alpha protector. On her part, Lindsey struggles between principle and realism when she takes the time to process her new reality. But like in the first book, she isn’t quick to accept help, instead shuts people out in a crisis. She and Taz both make mistakes. They are both written to feel very real. Their characters are well-rounded with friendships, careers, and interesting family dynamics. The reader is absolutely immersed into their worlds.

Taz and Lindsey face excruciating challenges after Taz’s highly- sensitive undercover operation blows up, sending their marriage into a tailspin. There is danger and suspense as the story unfolds with a few twists and turns. The story is well-written and plot-driven. The writing is dense with detail. The characters are carefully crafted and three-dimensional. Their dialogue is very natural and real. The story is written in first person. The POV alternates between Taz and Lindsey. I rate this book 4.5 stars.

excellent storyine with interesting written characters. 1st time with this author but wont be my last. really enjoyed book while sitting in my lounge chair at the beach!!! great writing!!!