Taken by Rebecca Zanetti

Hunter Holt might be the most stubborn ex-soldier ever born, but when he’s called on to help find a lost foster kid, he jumps into action. Even if it means working with the woman who broke his heart five years ago—the woman who still haunts his dreams...

Faye Smith has spent five long years trying to get her life back on track. She knows she should’ve turned toward Hunter and not away from him. But they both had too many demons to destroy. Maybe now they’ll get another chance—and save someone else’s life too...

But first they’ll have to stop arguing long enough to trust the Deep Ops team. Hunter was a lost boy himself once. In fact, he ran away from the exact same man, their monster of a father. Now he and Faye will have to unite to find the brother he never knew—and maybe each other...

Book 1.5
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

Hunter and Faye grew up together. They were once inseparable. But when things really came through, Faye knew that she had to get her life in order and did the only thing she could... she left.

When their foster mother calls them worried about one of her new foster children, Faye and Hunter will have to figure out a way to work together and bury their hurtful past.

This is a short story, but it is full of action. Hunter gets a nice surprise and when push comes to shove, he knows that he never stopped loving Faye.

These two have a relationship that you can see spans the decades. They have a familiarity that is comfortable. I really enjoyed watching them and even though this couple might not be seen in other books, it was a very sweet story.

Overall, this was a sweet, second-chance romance with action surrounding their relationship.


Sarah – ☆☆☆
After Hidden, the brilliant psychological thriller that started this series, I was really excited for more from the Deep Ops team. And hopefully there’s more coming. But for me, this novella really doesn’t succeed on any level.

At just over 100 pages, this is a short read and neither the romance nor the suspense has been fully developed. Rebecca Zanetti usually excels at complicated relationships and tense psychological suspense. This book has a surprisingly simple storyline – the Deep Ops team assists with the hunt for a fugitive on a killing spree. There are no real surprises or twists and there isn’t really any action until the very end. This is also a disappointing simple second-chance romance with a few hot scenes and an easy insta-fix relationship between two characters we don’t ever get to know terribly well.

I understand that the novella format doesn’t necessarily lend itself to a complex story but it seems an odd fit for an author who excels at complicated stories. I’m really hoping this is just a blip and the series gets back on track when book two is released.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is book 1.5 in the new engaging series from Zanetti – and loyal fans will be delighted that an in-between novels story has been served up! I would recommend that you read the first book... because Raider... but this would stand alone just fine too.

For a novella, this packs plenty of punch and seemed much fuller than I had expected for the page count. I do think that the fact Hunter and Faye had a past, meant that they were a team from the beginning, not needing too much build up – and the early scenes between Jackson and his runaway teacher/love clearly set up the dynamic and the responsibility for the events, which helps tie things up more quickly. But never did it feel rushed or insufficient, which is the mark of Zanetti's skills on the page.

Lovely treat catching up with a couple of old friends – and fun times with the crazy dog and Wolfe's cute cat. Looking forward to more already!


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
From the first page to the last, I was enthralled. The storyline is one that is rarely written about in such a way you get the angst from the characters as we are reading along.

The way Faye and Hunter's backstory is told gives the reader a sense of being there with the obvious flashbacks that sometimes take away from the story. They ended badly when Hunter refused to get help for his PTSD, and Faye had trouble fighting her own demons.

Now they are being sent to rescue a teen by their foster mother. Making the situation even more dire? The teen boy is in the company of an older, married woman. Hunter is shaken to learn that the teen is his half-brother, as well.

Knowing what his brother has lived with and through, Hunter is bound and determined to find him before the police do.

Driving together, Hunter and Fay have no choice but to address the reasons behind their breakup and acknowledge that the love is still there.

Also Available in the Deep Ops Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our Hidden post.

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti has worked as an art curator, Senate aide, lawyer, college professor, and a hearing examiner – only to culminate it all in stories about Alpha males and the women who claim them. She writes contemporary romances, dark paranormal romances, and romantic suspense novels.

Growing up amid the glorious backdrops and winter wonderlands of the Pacific Northwest has given Rebecca fantastic scenery and adventures to weave into her stories. She resides in the wild north with her husband, children, and extended family who inspire her every day—or at the very least give her plenty of characters to write about.

Connect with Rebecca

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Taken (Deep Ops #1.5) by Rebecca Zanetti to read and review.