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Veena’s review of Perfect Mate (X-OPS, Book 1) by Paige Tyler
Paranormal Romance published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 06 May 14

In many ways this book reminds me of one of the books in Lora Leigh’s popular Breeds series. Ivy, however, is not manufactured in a Lab using genetics. She is a naturally occurring breed, though I’m not sure I understood how that phenomenon came to pass.  Landon, her new partner, is definitely human. He’s a special forces soldier who’s been matched to her through a computer program.  I thoroughly enjoyed the characters of Ivy and Landon and the thrilling action adventures that they get into in and out of the job.

Ivy definitely has bad luck with partners. The first she’s forced to report for forcibly attempting to rape her and the second thinks he’s better than her and heads right into an ambush, even when she warns him. This time her handler has used a computer program to find the most compatible match. Only time will tell how it all turns out.

Landon leads a special forces team.  He’s poised in the midst of enemy territory with the terrorist he and his team have been chasing in his gun sights, when an urgent message recalls him to base and he’s given new orders to drop everything and head back stateside. When he reports for duty, he finds that he’s assigned to train with a partner who looks delicate but is tough as steel.

The two definitely have chemistry. While he might try to resist her allure, ultimately Landon goes down like nine pins. Ivy, of course, is completely bowled over by his protectiveness, even when he stands up for her with fellow teammates.  With his reassignment Landon’s special ops team is reassigned stateside and they extend their bond to include Ivy, especially when she’s in trouble and they team with Landon to effect the rescue.

A lot of action and adventure in the midst of relationship building as these two complete the training programs and missions they’re assigned to. While I enjoyed the story elements and chemistry between the protagonists, I am a bit leery about the similarities between this story and the Breeds series from Ms. Leigh. I think I’m going to wait and watch and see where this series goes before I can wholeheartedly commit to it.

Grade:B

Summary:

He’s a High-Octane Special Ops Pro

When Special Forces Captain Landon Donovan is pulled from an op in Afghanistan, he is surprised to discover he’s been hand-picked for a special assignment with the Department of Covert Operations (DCO), a secret division he’s never heard of. Terrorists are kidnapping biologists and he and his partner have to stop them. But his new partner is a beautiful, sexy woman who looks like she couldn’t hurt a fly—never mind take down a terrorist.

She’s Not Your Average Covert Operative

Ivy Halliwell is no kitten. She’s a feline shifter, and more dangerous than she looks. She’s worked with a string of hotheaded military guys who’ve underestimated her special skills in the past. But when she’s partnered with special agent Donovan, a man sexy enough to make any girl purr, things begin to heat up…

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:
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