Operation: Endgame by Christi Snow

When the Mission Ends #1
Releases September 14, 2012
293 pages
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Genre: Romantic Suspense
Series: 1. Operation: Endgame* 2. Operation: Endeavor (January 2012) 3. Operation: Endurance (April 2013)
Source: Author for an Honest Review
Rating: Loved It

It’s been six months.

Six months since Jake Madsen let Chris Robertson die.

Six months since the passion between Jake and Cassie, Chris’ sister, stepped over the line.

But now Cassie’s being stalked and it’s time for Jake to swallow his guilt, grief, and lust so he can save her life, even if it’s a life without him. He owes it to his dead friend and he owes it to Cassie. He’s fallen in love with her, but she doesn’t have to know that for him to keep her safe. (Source: Goodreads)

The Three Musketeers grow up together playing war games. Chris, Cassie and the neighbor, Jake. They terrorized the neighborhood of their Texas town. This practice led them to their careers as adults. Cassie is a professor of military strategy at Texas Tech, Chris a pilot and Jake a parajumper in the Air Force. And that friendship is the strongest and most lasting thing in all their lives.

The death of Chris during a mission gone wrong in Columbia devastates Cassie and Jake. Jake feels the guilt that his crew couldn’t get to Chris fast enough. Cassie is haunted by nightmares of Chris’ torture in Columbia. She can’t really move on with a constant reminder and a nagging feeling. When these two look to each other to console their grief, is it right or wrong? This night of passion threatens to tear apart even their friendship.

Six months later, Cassie isn’t her self. She has a stalker and the love of her life is back in town. Jake has been sent by her older brother, Colton, to go check on her. Forced to be with each other night and day, Jake struggles with a promise he once made to Chris–”hands off his sister.” Jake, if anything, is honorable. These two walk through a daily tango of keeping Cassie safe and trying to figure out where their relationship is. There is action, suspense and twists and turns before it comes to an end.

This book had me endeared to these three kids that grew up together. And it had me crying in the first 20 pages. The characters are strong, independent and lovable. Cassie is a smart and passionate expert in military strategy. She commands attention without giving up her femininity. Jake is strong, sensitive, tortured and had me melting like butter with “darling” spoken in a Texas drawl. You can’t help but love Chris through the eyes Cassie and Jake’s love for him. It was a one seat read for me. I couldn’t put it down. I love friendships that turn romantic. And Christi Snow knew just how to torture me, by teasing and delaying my gratification.

Their childhood love of things military and their grown up commitment to it made a very interesting backdrop. The stalker is pulled to Cassie, because of her work on the Operation: Endgame video game. It creates ample anxiety to keep Cassie and Jake bound together and see them in action using their knowledge.

Sometimes a girl has to save herself and the man she loves.