Review: Unexpected by Lori Foster

Who's Protecting Who?

Eli Conners expected hired mercenary Ray Vereker to be a tank of a guy with forty tattoos--not the feminine ideal with lethal combat skills. While Eli certainly needs Ray's help, the rest of him is thinking he might have something to offer her. . .

Ray's as good as any man when it comes to storming enemy compounds and loading an AK-47, but who could blame a girl for succumbing to mind-blowing temptation in the steamy jungle? But now it's back to business. If only Ray wasn't feeling hot, bothered, dizzy. . .

Suddenly, Ray's precise, no-nonsense mission is veering wildly off course, derailed by raging hormones, out-of-control desire, and a delirious love that is completely unexpected. . .

I really enjoy Lori Foster’s Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor and Love Undercover series, so I was super excited for a chance at one of her backlist. This one is slightly different than her others, though.

When Eli Connors needs to get his brother back after he was kidnapped for ransom in Central America, the agency he contacts that specializes in mercenaries sends him the meanest and the best soldier they’ve got. Ray Verekner.

What Eli doesn’t know is that Ray is a woman.

Ray is basically a mercenary for hire. She’s 31 and stubborn, and mouthy, and really good at what she does.

Until Eli comes along.

He’s a distraction she doesn’t want or need. She’s never ever let anyone come along on one of her missions before, but she can’t figure out why she let Eli.

Eli is a great hero. He is tough when he needs to be, but he’s also gentle when Ray needs him to be. He has her pegged within a day, and he goes after her. As soon as his brother is safe, she’s his.

This has a lot of things going for it. I love having an older heroine. (Sad that 31 is “older,” isn’t it?), I loved having the heroine be the former Special Forces character who saves the day, and I really enjoyed Ray’s tough side. I also like that there are repercussions for sexytimes in the jungle.

I will say that it’s not much of a Romantic Suspense, because the rescue mission is ridiculously easy, although that’s sort of the point. But it still is a quick and exciting read.

I am really glad they changed the cover to this book, not just because of the sexy man on the front, but mostly because the first cover is a giant spoiler. I’d have never thought that would happen, but after glimpsing the original cover on goodreads, I was kind of bummed at being spoiled. I’ll link it here  for you curious readers, but I won’t actively spoil it.

If you’re looking for a different twist on the military hero, look no further. A woman for the hero is a refreshing change.
***ARC courtesy of Kensington books