A novella featuring Ford, Ward, & Tasha. Ford & Ward work for the CIA & Tasha works for MI6, unbeknownst to each other. Ward and Tasha have been flirting and finally go on a date that ends in disaster and uncovering their secret identities. The men and Tasha team up since they have the same goal of ridding the island of a rogue dictator. The attraction between Ward and Tasha intensifies and starts interfering with the mission but they can't seem to help themselves. Danger, intrigue, romance, and a showdown round out this short story. ( )

Running Hot is the prequel to the Bad Boys Undercover series. I've read the other books in the series so far and have loved them. This book suffers from the same problem as all novellas; it's just too short. There just wasn't time to develop the characters or the plot. It did help that I was aware of the characters from the other books in the series. The origin of "The Alliance" is explained along with how Tasha became its head as well as how Ward lost the use of much of his right hand. A good story worth reading as background for this excellent series. ( )

Good introduction to the Bad Boys Undercover series and how The Alliance got started. It starts with Ward regaining consciousness after a date with the sexy bartender he's been trying to charm all week. She has morphed from hot bartender to badass woman, and he's scrambling trying to figure out what is going on. I loved their confrontation, as he tries to maintain his cover, and she tries to get him to come clean. Ward isn't totally helpless, and uses his own skills to escape his bonds, but even that doesn't work out quite the way he expects. Finally rescued by his partner, Ford, they head off looking for her while continuing on their own mission.

Tasha works for MI6 and Ward for the CIA. Both of them are on the island for the same reason. When they finally catch up to Tasha, it takes some doing to convince her that working together is the way to go. Tasha has quite an attitude, thanks to dealing with men who have no respect for her abilities, and has no trouble letting Ward and Ford know what she thinks of them. There's some power struggling going on between Ward and Tasha, partly aggravated by the simmering chemistry between them, but they end up working very well together. Both of them have trouble with their attraction distracting them which gets them into a couple awkward situations.

The suspense and action of the story was really good. From the first page there was always something going on. I loved seeing all three work together to get the mission accomplished. The encounters leading up to the final confrontation were intense and showed both Ward and Tasha that they could depend on each other. The final confrontation had me wondering at times if they were all going to make it out in one piece. I liked the realism of things not going according to plan, and that injuries happen.

When it was all over Ward and Tasha had to deal with the aftermath. I ached for Tasha as Ward pushed her away. I enjoyed his big moment at the end, especially seeing a hint of vulnerability in his tough guy attitude. I also loved his comments about their future relationship, on and off the job. ( )