Books & Spoons Review for FINAL SIEGE by Scarlett Cole

IN THE LINE OF FIRE…

Former SEAL Malachai “Mac” MacCarrick is all about the future he’s created with his Navy brothers in Eagle Securities, taking assignments in the most dangerous places, and doing things no one but ex-military would attempt. But when an urgent phone call brings his troubled past—and the woman he once loved—into the present, it’s a chance to redeem himself that he can’t refuse.

STRAIGHT TO THE HEART…

An investigative journalist researching an explosive story, Delaney Shapiro tells herself she got over Mac—and his role in her brother’s death—a long time ago. But the first moment she sees him at her bedside in an overseas hospital, she knows it’s not true. Every moment together rekindles the desire that once burned between them, and now that she’s a target for an emerging Russian arms dealer, Mac won’t let her out of his sight. To protect her, he’ll risk it all—including his life…

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With the intense start of a run for a rescue of an old girlfriend half across the world, at the beginning of the story, I jumped in the series by a new author to me with high hopes and great expectations. I liked the idea of the story, the plot of the young lovers separated 14 years ago by a tragic death of a brother and a best friend and all the trouble they run into because of their professions as a journalist and a former SEAL now security expert. 
I thought that the team of best friends and military brothers were fun and entertaining, their teamwork seamless, and the support they gave to each other priceless. 

I liked Mac, he was attractive, kind, protective, loyal, and smart. He was easy to be around with, and he genuinely cared about people around him. He was an alpha military man, tough and rough, yet his heart's desire was to have a family, a loving wife and children, a home. 
He once thought he was going to have it all with Delaney Shapiro but she tore them apart accusing Mac of her brother's death. 
I tried to like Delaney, I tried to be as forgiving as Mac and keep giving her second chances. But she just rubbed me the wrong way with her selfish, stubborn act that was rather immature, as well. Her ideologies and judgments made me see red, there were a lot of details with her that I struggled with through the story.
The push and pull between Mac and Delaney didn't stop them from having steamy love scenes. The big secret that Mac was holding out of loyalty to his dead best friend was the key that kept me reading, I wanted to see how Delaney reacted to the reveal, hoping she would redeem herself. 

The majority of the story deals with the back and forth between the reuniting Mac and Delaney. It is towards the end where the action starts, where the investigation jumps forward leaps and bounds, that the adrenaline starts pumping, and things start happening with hair-raising speed and vigor. 

Like I mentioned at the beginning I liked the plot and idea of the storyline, but the eARC I received must have been a really raw and rough copy of the book since there were issues with timing - did it happen three days ago, a day ago, or that morning - type of guessing. When you have to go back and check what was it, and the timeline confusing the natural flow, it did make an impact on the enjoyment of the tale. 
Another thing was the jumping from scene to another without any warning or indication of the change of the different place, time, or the characters altering. This would just happen in the next sentence. Sometimes what was in a middle of a scene, in my mind. Either there were big junks of the story cut off without smoothing the edges or there was a considerate amount of editing still needed before the book is released. 

Despite all the issues I personally faced with the story and its flow, I hope the final copy that ends up in the reader's hands has been smoothed out of all the kinks. For the tight brotherhood, for the action and pressure towards the end, for Mac and his patience, loyalty, and love of family
~ Two Spoons with a teaspoon on the side 

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Expected publication: January 30th 2018 by St. Martin's Press
$7,99

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Two-time RITA finalist, Scarlett Cole, is a contemporary romantic suspense / contemporary romance author (represented by Beth Phelan at The Bent Agency). Author of the Second Circle Tattoos Series. The Strongest Steel was a Best Debut Goodreads Author Finalist 2015, and Authors on the Air Global Radio Network #1 Contemporary Romance Pick for 2015.

When Scarlett isn't writing, she spends her time reading, hoarding mason jars, and working out to off-set an epic sour candy habit. 

Having travelled the world for work and fun, Scarlett is a citizen of both Britain and Canada. A true city-dweller, she considers Toronto and Manchester home and likes to set her books in vibrant locations such as Miami and Los Angeles.

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