At Any Cost by Mandy Baxter: Review

Posted June 3, 2016 in review Tags: 4.5 stars, Hot Cops

At Any Cost by Mandy Baxter
Pages: 352

Series: US Marshals #4
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Also in this series: Locked and Loaded
Also by this author: Locked and Loaded

Goodreads

Fast, cunning, and driven, he'll do whatever it takes to nail the most violent federal perps. But she is the one danger he'll never see coming…
She can't remember when she wasn't afraid. She can't go to the police. And "Olivia Gallagher" is only a day away from fleeing her Idaho wilderness life before biker gang leader Joel Meecum finally catches up with her. So keeping her rugged new neighbor at arm's length is the only safe play. Until Livy can't resist one last hungry chance to feel alive…
For U.S. Marshal Nick Brady, taking his vacation next door to Meecum's ex-girlfriend seemed the smartest way to find him. But suddenly, nothing is making sense. How could this feisty, straight-talking brunette ever get mixed up with Meecum's brutal crew? And why is he breaking his oath and getting so close that all he wants is to keep her safe? Now as the clock ticks, Nick and Livy's only chance at escape may be the one they can't survive…
Praise for Mandy Baxter's U.S. Marshals series
"A little bit of suspense and a whole lot of passion make this the perfect read for adventurous romance fans." --RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars
"Fast-paced and full of heat, this is romantic suspense done right!" --Julie Ann Walker
"The perfect mix of steam and on?the?edge?of?your?seat suspense. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough." --Tracey Garvis Graves
"Page?turning, rip?roaring action." --Publishers Weekly

At Any Cost
Mandy Baxter

At Any Cost really took me by surprise! I wasn’t sure I would really get into the story of a girl hiding out and the marshall tricking her by using the ‘new neighbor’ rouse. However, I thought that Livy and Nick were believable and likable. Livy is quirky despite her situation. I mean, she names her snow shovel ‘Frank’. She has been living on the lam for 4 years. She only talks to her mom on the phone every 3 months. She is so isolated and lonely. When the book starts, you aren’t sure exactly what her involvement with the gang were-was she the leaders girlfriend and complicit in his illegal activities? Was she sold to the gang to pay a debt? You aren’t sure if she is a bad person or a person who was caught in a bad situation. As you get to know her throughout the book, you don’t want to believe she willing participated in anything, but you can’t quite rule it out either. It makes the plot and the relationship between her and Nick really interesting.

Their relationship certainly moves quick, but it didn’t feel like insta-love. Livy is cautious (which makes sense) but she is also lonely so the romance works. The danger is real and as the end approaches, the action is CRAZY good! Overall I thought this book was well written, entertaining, and enjoyable! The balance between the mystery/suspense and the romance is well done. Can’t wait to read more!

POV: 3rd person omniscient
Tears: no
Trope: secret identity
Triggers: none
Series/Standalone: Stand alone (part of a series but you do not need to read the previous books!)
Cliffhanger: no
HEA: View Spoiler »

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Cold Hearted by Toni Anderson, Deep Dark by Laura Griffin, Rescuing Rayne by Susan Stoker…then you will probably like At Any Cost!

Mandy Baxter lives in rural Idaho. She’s a part-time pet wrangler, a full-time sun worshiper, and only goes out into the cold when coerced. She loves black clothes, pink appliances and thinks junk food should be a recognized food group. In the summer, she can be found sitting by the lake, enjoying the view from her dock.