This book is reminiscent of an action movie with lots of danger, many killings, and only a few respites for romance. While I wouldn’t want to read a steady diet of such books, I found myself completely caught up in this story of two spies working at cross-purposes in the jungles of South America.

Mitch, a black ops operative, is in South America to rescue Zak, a completely annoying, spoiled trust fund kid who’s been captured. But instead of being the simple rescue Mitch anticipated, he finds Zak just as he’s shot the drug lord’s second in command. Instantly, all the drug lord’s men are after Mitch as he tries to get Zak out of the jungle. In the middle of the rescue, a gorgeous blond – who Mitch thinks looks like a pampered suburban housewife – steps out of the bushes and complicates the rescue.

Megan Cassidy tells Mitch she’s in South America on an orchid tour and that everyone in her group was killed in a surprise attack. Mitch thinks of Megan as a typical damsel in distress. While he can’t relate to the sheltered life he imagines she’s led, he falls for her tears and takes her along with him. He’s quickly in for a big surprise.

Not only is Megan not a suburban housewife, she’s a fierce CIA operative who has infiltrated the drug lord’s camp. Megan quickly turns on Mitch, takes Zak, and heads back to the drug lord’s camp.

For the remainder of the book, Mitch and Megan alternate between working against each other and reluctantly with each other. While there’s a quick attraction, neither their personalities nor the circumstances lend to a lengthy romance.

The author conveys a good feel for the location from the insects, the snakes, and the vegetation to the heat. I was able to visualize many of the settings Megan and Mitch found themselves in, as well as understand the dangers they encountered.

Mitch seemed off his game a lot of the book, thoroughly distracted by and attracted to Megan. At times this made me question if he’s quite as good a commando as he thinks he is. Then, just when I’d be ready to give up on him, he’d do something that would show he really is a good agent.

Megan and Mitch move from one dangerous situation to the next and are generally in situations where they can’t talk. As a result, a lot of the book takes place in their minds as we see the action through one of their thoughts. At times the lengthy passages inside their heads felt claustrophobic and left me longing for more dialogue.

While not without problems, the story caught my attention from the first paragraphs. I found myself turning the pages quickly to figure out what was going to happen next to these two spies. Toward the end we’re introduced to one of Megan’s brothers who suffered serious injuries while working for the same black ops group as Mitch. If the next book features him, I’ll definitely pick it up to read.