Excellent conclusion to a series that began with four SEALs on vacation stumbling onto a human trafficking ring, followed by foiling an assassination and discovering a conspiracy of murders. Each book has solved its immediate problem, but the questions have continued to build about who is behind it and why. In this book, our sexy SEALs have joined with the men and women of the Stealth Operations Specialists to figure out the connections among a bunch of diverse murders. Montana has been paired with CIA operative Kate to infiltrate the upper reaches of Washington society while protecting a valuable asset.

I really liked Montana and Kate. Montana is an honest-to-God cowboy, raised on a ranch, with bone-deep cowboy values. He's a hard worker, honest, and a true gentleman in all circumstances. I loved the way he credited his mama for his manners, especially when it would help make his point. Kate is a kick-ass CIA agent who was recently burned when her partner and lover turned out to be a double agent. Because of it, she's wary of trusting Montana right away.

Both Montana and Kate have been picked for this mission because they are good at blending in with those around them. I loved watching the two of them bounce off each other as they work out their balance of power. Montana is naturally protective, but he is also aware of and impressed by Kate's skills. It was fun to watch him fall a little more under her spell with each new talent exposed. I especially enjoyed the scene with the motorcycle. As good as she is at her job, Kate's confidence in her judgment was shaken by what had happened with her partner. I liked the way that Montana's treatment of her restored that confidence. I loved how their feelings become crystal clear in the midst of danger. The ending was pretty sweet as they shared those feelings.

The action and suspense of the story were fantastic. I loved the teamwork of the group as they bent their minds to figure out the connections. When they deciphered the code from the end of the last book, the intensity amped up even further as they went to work to prevent any more murders. The scene at the gala, with Kate impersonating Mila, was a real nail-biter as I waited to see what was going to happen. The fear and confusion at the end of the evening, topped off by the chase, had the team scurrying to make sense of what had happened. As some of the information started to come together, a very scary picture began to emerge. The final confrontation had a couple of twists and turns before it came to a very James Bond-ish ending. ( )