What a fantastic ending to the Linear Tactical series! I have been hoping and waiting for this book ever since four-year-old Jess claimed seven-year-old Ethan as "my Ethan" in Eagle. Like his father, Finn, Ethan protects those he cares about, and Jess had his heart from the get-go. Little Jess is a certified genius who has little to no fear of the world. She can outthink many adults and talk circles around the others. She can be obstinate and impulsive, frequently getting her into hot water, leaving Ethan to get her out.

Nothing changed as Ethan and Jess grew older. They belonged to each other, and everyone knew it. When Jess was fourteen, she earned an offer to attend a prestigious school, something she really wanted to do. But when she started talking about giving it up rather than leave Ethan behind, he knew he had to do something. Advancing his plans by a few months, he attempted to sneak away to join the military, removing Jess's reason to stay. Ethan's conversation with his father made me laugh (GO NAVY!). Over the next few years, Ethan and Jess don't see each other often, but their feelings for each other never change.

Then the two drift a little bit apart. Doubts arise about feelings. Neither Jess nor Ethan has any question about their own feelings. Each knows that there will never be anyone else. Misunderstandings and time apart lead to fears that the other wants something else. Just as Ethan makes decisions about his future and leaves the military, he gets tapped for a critical mission. Jess and three of her colleagues have been kidnapped while on vacation. Complicating matters, secret government research stolen from their lab may be up for sale to some bad people, and Jess is the top suspect for the theft.

From here, the suspense and action, combined with Ethan and Jess's relationship, kept me glued to the pages. With alternating viewpoints between Ethan and Jess, there was always something going on. The men who have Jess and her friends mean business and Jess fears for their lives. She's not the type to give up, having been raised around the men and women of Linear Tactical, and her brain runs a mile a minute searching for options. When Ethan and his team arrive, the race is on to get them to safety. Twists and turns, betrayals and renewals, kept the action moving. In the rare quiet moments, Ethan and Jess get to talk and clear the air between them. But will they survive to carry out that future they've waited so long for? The final confrontation was a nail-biter. Jess's strength in the face of almost certain death was incredible but not surprising. I wasn't sure how they would get out of it, but the author came through with a rip-roaring finish. The epilogue was fantastic and brought their story full circle, back to where it all began.

One of the things I loved about this book was the flashbacks showing the development of the relationship between Jess and Ethan. From their first meeting to their wedding day, the description of "soulmates" was never in question. Some of them were funny and sweet (mangoes, anyone?), some were steamy (hello, Paris), and some were heartbreaking (Happy Birthday, Jess). Ethan's strength of will and determination to do the right thing didn't surprise me, nor did Jess's attempts to get her way.

I'm sad to see this series end, but I can't wait to dig into the Zodiac Tactical series and fully expect to see some of the LT folks again. And yes, Janie, I would LOVE to see a Linear Tactical: The Next Generation series someday. ( )