Judith’s review of His Every Fantasy (Sultry Summer Nights #2) by Delilah Devlin

 The last thing ex-SEAL Sergei Gun needs is a complication. As part of a powerful black-ops company, he’s led an extraction team into the Mexican jungle to rescue two men who have been kidnapped. Everything has gone according to plan until Serge discovers a third hostage-an exquisitely beautiful woman with a secret haunting her stormy gray eyes . . . a woman who refuses to make this rescue easy. With no choice but to bring her back to the compound deep in the sultry, steamy Louisiana bayou, Serge vows to protect her, body and soul . . .

Kara Nichols never imagined that she’d capture the interest of a powerful man like Serge. Yet from the moment they met, she’s fantasized about his strong hands caressing her naked skin, his musky scent lingering on her sheets. What began as a simple rescue mission ignites into a passionate affair. As Serge teaches her the tantalizing art of surrender, Kara finds herself more than willing to shed every last one of her inhibitions and submit to him fully. But the dark, dangerous forces that captured Kara aren’t ready to let her go so easily . . .

In a nutshell, this is a story about a former SEAL whose team was sent in to rescue two American business executives and they found a  woman being held captive as well.  There was no way they were going to leave her behind and thus began the relationship of sorts between Sergei Gun  and Kara.  Anyone who has read Ms Devlin’s previous work knows that she writes erotic romance fiction under the guise of many contexts and  genres.  In every case the stories are hot and romantic and filled with characters who are individuals most of us would like to meet and get to know.    This story is no exception.  It is filled with people who have strength within themselves that is put to the test in many ways.  Often, as is the case here,  there are unexpected happenings and complicated emotional involvement between the characters.  But one characteristic of this series is that all the  on going characters are former SEALs and have the bonds that loyalty under fire created.

Mostly this is a continuation with expansion of parts of book one.  The two oil executives who prompted the Mexican raid for their rescue appeared first in book one of this series but their situation was unresolved.  Kara, the young woman who was rescued at the same time, now realizes that her life has been drastically changed by her abduction.  She can never really go home.  The man who romanced her right into being kidnapped is a powerful Mexican cartel overlord and one who will never allow himself to be defeated.  He will continue to come after her until she is either caught or dead.  Her biggest concern involves her uncle, her mother’s older brother and a man who has never really shielded her from any of life’s hurts.  Now, as an intern in his law firm, she wonders if he has been a part of her abduction.  Needless to say, the mystery surrounding this entire situation is compelling.  Add to that the almost instant connection between Kara and Sergei, a man who has carefully guarded his heart since a woman he loved was brutally killed in Afghanistan years ago.  How can he allow Kara to become important to him and how can he let her go?  As always, it is the kind of situation Ms Devlin seems to know how to handle and one that often pops up in her work.

I have been reading Ms Devlin’s work for years and find that even though many of her themes pop up repeatedly, I don’t get bored with her writing.  Somehow she brings a freshness to each of her stories that keeps readers bound to the pages of her books.  In this case, all the men of this personal security firm are involved in the BDSM lifestyle and there are definitely aspects of that in the developing relationship between Kara and Sergei.  It is not hardcore by any means but seems to be appropriately used to build trust between two people who have learned that trust is a precious and often illusive commodity.  And as is so often the case, learning to trust forms the foundation of a journey of self-discovery just as much for Sergei as for Kara.

All in all, this is a find book, one that will delight Ms Devlin’s fans and one that is easily read and in my case, very much enjoyed.  It is beautifully written and edited and that is always a joy in itself.  Most of all, Ms Devlin has a way of bringing unusual characters to life and making them real to the readers.  Boone and Tilly, two of Sergei’s best friends and characters featured in book one, are of immense help to Kara in coming to terms with her situation and helping her to understand the dynamics of dominance and submission.  Tilly is also one of those women who knows how to accept others unconditionally and having that kind of friend is altogether new for Kara and the kind of friend she has long desired.  In all these characters we see personalities of friends we would like to know.  Even the men who are often brusque and tight-lipped are nevertheless the kind of people who one instinctively trusts.  They are the kind of characters one often finds in Devlin books.  I was delighted to find this book on Netgalley and am delighted to give it a rating of 4.5 out of 5.
You can read more from Judith at Dr J’s Book Place.

This title is available from Forever Yours Publishing.  You can buy it here or here in e-format.  This book was received by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.