Hell or High Water is the first book in the Lost and Found Inc series. It however is not my introduction to the series, as I read No Greater Hell and A Helluva Holiday (books 4 and 4.5) awhile back. Now, I went into the story expecting a suspenseful read, and it did not disappoint.
When ex-SEAL Nate Wolfe learns a woman from his past is in danger, nothing will stop him from protecting her. Not even her. This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.
Title: Hell or High Water
Author(s): Jerrie Alexander
Series: Lost and Found, Inc. #5
Also in this series: No Greater Hell , A Helluva Holiday
Published by Jerrie Alexander on July 12, 2013
Pages: 260
Genre(s): Romantic Suspense
Source: Purchase
Format: eBook 
Purchase: Amazon
Reading Challenges: 2023 Thrifty Thursday Reading Challenge, 2023- Coyer
Rating: 
Heat Level: 
Dallas Child Protection Services Investigator Kay Taylor doesn't want or need Nate in her life. But he doesn't seem to understand the word no. He seems to also have forgotten the brand he left on her heart.
When Kay is taken and sold to a monster, the devil himself couldn't stop Nate from doing whatever it takes to find her...but will he be in time?
The story introduces Kay Taylor, an investigator for Child Protective Services and ex Navy SEAL, Nate Wolfe. The story began with Kay held captive by some real, dangerous people. She escapes, but danger still lurks as her kidnappers believe she possesses a ring that would reveal their identity. However, they never counted on her ex and their friends from college stepping in to protect her.
Kay is not too keen on having Nate’s protection because of their history. He broke her heart 10 years ago. Nate, however, is determined to keep her safe at any cost, and this time around, he has no plans to leave. If only he could convince Kay.
Hell or High Water embodied the elements attributed to the romantic suspense genre. Romance, suspense, drama, action and danger permeated the pages, which made for a nail-biting experience.
I enjoyed the romance. It was great to see the slow building of Kay and Nate’s relationship. After 10 years apart and given the circumstances of their separation, the re-building of trust was important. The author portrayed this quite well. Nate had his work cut out for him to regain Kay’s trust. Although, a few times throughout the story, Kay made me furious with the way she held on to her anger. The secondary characters added depth to the story, and now I look forward to reading their stories.
The suspense was well done. It had me on the edge of my seat. The plot twist at the end may be quite shocking for readers new to the series. I figured out what was happening, only because I read No Greater Hell prior to picking up this instalment.
This instalment set the bar for the rest of the series. This would make a great addition to the bookshelves of die-hearted fans of the romantic suspense genre.
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An exciting prequel novella to New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Julie Ann Walker's thrilling new Deep Six series This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.
Title: Hot as Hell (Deep Six, #0.5)
Author(s): Julie Ann Walker
Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca on June 1, 2016
Pages: 140
Genre(s): Romantic Suspense
Source: Purchase
Format: eBook
Purchase: Amazon
Reading Challenges: 2023 Thrifty Thursday Reading Challenge, 2023- Coyer
Rating:
Heat Level:
Harper Searcy didn't want to fall for a soldier, but she couldn't forget her hot Navy SEAL friend or their one night stand. When the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan where she works comes under attack by terrorists, there is only one man she knows who would move heaven and earth to rescue her: Michael "Mad Dog" Wainwright.
Hot as hell served as a short but interesting prequel to Walker’s Deep Six series. Because of its brevity, character and world development suffered.
What saved it from being a total bust was the action that kept me glued to the pages. Unfortunately, it was over quickly.
Overall, for a novella, it delivered as expected.
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In a world on the brink... This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.
Title: Hell or High Water
Author(s): Julie Ann Walker
Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca on July 7, 2015
Pages: 385
Genre(s): Romantic Suspense
Source: Purchase
Format: eBook
Purchase: Amazon|Audible
Reading Challenges: 2023 Audio Book Challenge, 2023 Thrifty Thursday Reading Challenge, 2023- Coyer
Rating:
Heat Level:
Six men. One sunken Spanish galleon. Millions in gold and silver coins lying on the ocean floor. And a past that refuses to let the guys of Deep Six Salvage forget the Navy SEAL motto: the only easy day was yesterday...
There's more than one kind of treasure...
The nation's security has always been CIA agent Olivia Mortier's top priority. But a mission-gone-wrong has begun to make her wonder if there's more to life than risking hers.
And more than one secret at the bottom of the sea...
Only two things could make Leo Anderson abandon his hunt for the legendary lost ship, La Santa Christina, and return to the world of weapons and warfare he swore to leave behind: a capsule of enriched uranium, lost on the ocean floor, and a plea for assistance from the one woman he can't seem to forget...
Hell or High Water by Julie Ann Walker is the first book in the Deep Six series. This instalment paved the way for a journey on the high seas. One that is filled with danger, action and romance. The series follows six retired Navy SEALs who became treasure hunters and the women who captured their hearts. Hell or High Water gives us Leo and Olivia’s story.
This delivered in every way I expected from the author. In this instalment, terrorists, with the help of a CIA mole, stole some deadly chemicals. The chemicals ended up at the bottom of the sea. In order to recover it before the terrorists could claim it, CIA operative Olivia Mortimer sought the services of retired Navy SEAL Leo Anderson.
Hell or High Water entertained me from start to finish. The banter between Leo and his friends cracked me up. There is never a full moment with those guys around. The hero, Leo, is a solid guy. His loyalty shone throughout the story. Although he’s the team leader, he always confers with his team when deciding on a course of action. Olivia held her own. She displays confidence and courage. However, emotional issues from her past often left her doubting her abilities. These issues also had her questioning her worth in the relationship department.
I enjoyed the romance. It was lovely seeing Leo and Olivia finding their way back to each other. The road to their happy ending was not smooth, but the journey proved worthwhile in the end. The fact they had history made their romance more endearing. Given the circumstances, they currently face it’s my belief the romance developed at the right pace.
As per Walker’s writing, the setup of the next couple had me smiling from ear to ear. I can’t wait to read their story.
The story was not always fun, and action packed. Walker slipped in some emotional moments, which explained the reason Leo and his friends did not re-enlist. This aspect of the story will have readers tearing up.
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About Jerrie Alexander
My love of reading all genres and making up stories for my kids inspired me to return to school to study creative writing. When my career in logistics took off and my children grew active in horses and sports, my family always took precedence. Oddly enough, I still have every paper I’d written for class. In fact, they moved with us from state to state until after we’d returned to Texas for good. My husband, who always believed in me, suggested I retire early and write my books. I have eleven romantic suspense books and four contemporary erotic romance books published. I’m currently working on a new romantic suspense. I write alpha males and kick-ass women. My characters weave their way through the problems love and life presents and on occasion, in spite of themselves, they fall in love with each other. If they’re tough enough, they live happily ever-after. My books are complete standalone stories with a happy ending. I stopped writing for a couple of years my real-life John Wayne husband unexpectedly lost his life. Thanks to the support of family, friends, and my dear readers, I’m back and looking forward to writing more stories. I love hearing from my readers. You are, after all, why I write.
About Julie Ann Walker
Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Julie grew up in a house full of women – she has three older sisters. As you can imagine, there was no lack of drama… or romance. Her mother enrolled her in a book club as soon as she began to read and it was the small spark that ignited her voracious appetite for the written word. Because of Julie’s early immersion in literature, she found writing came quite naturally. In high school, she won multiple writing contests and was the proud senior editor of The Tiger’s Tale – her school newspaper. During her college years, however, she longed for a challenge. “Reading and writing felt like second nature to me, so I looked for a way to flex my mental muscles,” she recalls. After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree, Julie began teaching advanced high school mathematics. “I loved working with the students and facing the challenges of the classroom, but I longed for the occasional snow day when I could race to the local book store, buy two or three new novels, and curl up in front of the fire to read.” It wasn’t until a fortuitous move to Chicago that Julie once more returned to her first passion. Now Julie loves to travel the world looking for views to compete with her deadlines. When she’s not writing, she enjoys camping, hiking, cycling, cooking, petting every dog that walks by her, and… reading, of course!
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
This series looks like something I would enjoy. Great reviews Nadene!
Kim, I do believe you enjoy it.
Thank you for reading and reviewing Hell or High Water! I appreciate it so much.
You are welcome.
Glad you found some good freebies! I have read some of Julie Ann Walker books also. While it may be easier (faster) to read shorter ones, they do often suffer from development issues.
It’s rare to find novellas that don’t suffer from development issues. Not every author can pull it off.