A fantastic book full of non-stop action, many twists and turns, and a terrific romance between two hurting people. Zee is the computer hacker member of Topaz Unit, a former CIA unit whose last mission didn't go as planned. It quickly became apparent that they were set up, and the only questions were who and why? To make matters worse, the CIA sent a hit squad after them, determined to stop them from asking questions. In this book, Zee has settled in a remote cabin in Alaska, where she keeps to herself. The only exception is the wary friendship she's built with her next-door neighbor, John.

John is a former Navy SEAL, injured in the line of duty, and medically retired. He has PTSD and prefers to live his life away from people. The Alaskan wilderness suits him perfectly. He first got to know Zee as he helped the city girl learn to deal with the Alaskan challenges. He senses that she has secrets, but he doesn't pry since he does too.

The story's suspense was outstanding and kept me hooked from beginning to end. Zee uses her hacking skills to search for what went wrong with Topaz Unit's last mission. As good as she is, a too-long dip into the CIA's system raised flags and gave away her location. The latest kill squad has an unexpected complication. The group leader also has personal reasons for wanting Zee dead, and nothing will stop him. His ruthlessness is evident the first time we see him and his horrific actions at the computer club. The intensity ramps up when John spots the squad as they arrive near Zee's cabin, warns her and immediately jumps in to help her escape. I was on the edge of my seat as I wondered how they would get away, but Zee's abilities and John's SEAL skills made it happen. Though Zee tried hard to push John away to protect him, including a harsh exchange of words, John refused to give up on her.

The action never lets up as Zee and John struggle to stay ahead of the kill squad. An added complication came when Zee insisted on retrieving her daughter, Olivia, from her school. The shocking revelation of Olivia's father's identity added to the tension of the pursuit. The twists, turns, and intensity of the killers' intent kept me glued to the pages as each confrontation increased the pressure. The final confrontation was a nail-biter as Zee faced off against her pursuer. The conclusion was not unexpected as Zee, John, and Olivia used team leader Hunter's "parachute" to get away. The epilogue indicates that a showdown is coming and that the team is ready to bring the fight to their accusers.

I enjoyed seeing the development of the relationship between Zee and John. After months of sharing dinners, watching movies, and just spending time together, their attraction continues to grow. Neither one does anything about it because they don't want to risk their friendship. When trouble comes, Zee tries to put distance between them to protect John from those who are after her. However, John refuses to be pushed aside. I loved his protectiveness and how he insisted on helping her. Once Zee accepted that he wasn't going anywhere, their partnership was fantastic. I loved seeing them trust each other enough to share their secrets and depend on each other to have their backs. Burned by a past relationship, Zee resists the feelings stirred up by John. I loved watching John's unwavering care begin to break down her walls. John's instant connection with Zee's daughter, Olivia, also went a long way toward helping Zee trust her feelings for him. I loved the epilogue and seeing how much closer John and Zee are. There's an adorable scene between John and Olivia, followed by an emotional one with Zee and John. ( )

John Lowry finds that his neighbor, Zenobia Hanley, likeable and attractive when she first knocks at his door; but later learns that she’s actually running for her life..
In fact, Zee and John both are running and hiding from something/someone, have their own dark secrets and mysterious past.
Is their acquaintance a disaster waiting to happen?
The ambitious Juno Rushdan has great talent in creating thrillers that are imbued with abundance of actions and impressive excitement!!
I would like to thank Juno for giving me such thrilling and entertaining experience guaranteed to delight me. ( )

Alaskan Christmas Escape by Juno Rushdan
2nd book in the Fugitive Heroes: Topaz Unit series. Harlequin Intrigue. Can be read as a stand-alone but better as part of the series. Contemporary romantic suspense.
Zee was part of a CIA task force that was compromised and disavowed. John hears the black op helicopters that are tasked with killing Zee and manages to get a warning to her. The two are on the run hoping to find a safe place to hide.

Fast paced action throughout.
We meet Zee and John at a pivotal point in their relationship of becoming more than just neighbors. Both are strong individuals and they want to protect the other so their relationship gets a bit bumpy. They accept and deal with life issues without fanfare which I found admirable.

The epilogue revisits the couple from the first book and while there is a HEA for Zee and John, the overall series still has unanswered questions. I look forward to more of this series.
Intense, fast and satisfying.
4.5 ( )