TITLE: Secret Santa
AUTHOR: Ainsley St. Claire
SERIES: Clear Security Holidays
SERIES ORDER: 5
RELEASE DATE: 11/6/2023
GENRE: Small Town Romance, Romantic Suspense, Holiday Romance
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
BLURB:
A deadly pursuit, a hidden hero, and a Christmas wedding date that could change everything.
In the breathtaking beauty of Glenwood Canyon, Colorado, where snow blankets the landscape and the enchanting spirit of Christmas fills the air, Cora Perry's life takes an unexpected turn. A former FBI agent, she's used to being in control, but when her younger sister Leah insists on having the rehearsal dinner at their family ranch, Cora finds herself facing an unfamiliar challenge: finding a date for the holiday wedding.
Enter Beckett Morrison, a rugged ranch manager with a hidden past and a military history. On the run from ruthless killers determined to eliminate his old Marine unit, Beckett's life is a carefully constructed web of secrecy. When circumstances force Cora and Beckett into forced proximity, working together to prepare the ranch for the impending celebration, their undeniable chemistry ignites, casting sparks that could melt even the coldest winter.
But danger lurks in the shadows, and the same people who hunt Beckett are closing in, threatening to shatter the fragile romance blooming between them during this Christmas holiday season. With the help of Clear Security, Cora and Beckett embark on a perilous journey to unmask the sinister forces hunting his team and uncover the truth behind their deadly pursuit.
Amidst the suspense and danger, love blossoms like a cherished holiday miracle, and Cora and Beckett's hidden identities become the key to their survival and their future together as a wedding date becomes a symbol of hope and lasting love.
Secret Santa is a heart-pounding romantic suspense novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat. With familiar faces from Venture Capitalists, Tech Billionaires, and the Stiletto Sisters making surprise appearances, this holiday-themed story of love, courage, and redemption as the final installment to the Venture Capitalist Holiday series.
Prepare to be swept away by the steamy passion, relentless suspense, and enduring love in Secret Santa.
MY REVIEW:
DISCLAIMER: I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was my first book I’ve read my Ainsley St. Claire. Ainsley’s PA reached out to me through email asking for ARC readers for this book and provided a link to it’s Booksprout page where I could get the book. I decided to give it a try and read it.
I enjoyed this story. It took a little bit for me to get into it because I am unfamiliar with Ainsley’s writing and world, but I ended up getting swept up in this story.
Cora Perry used to work for the FBI in the Cybercrimes department before being recruited to work for Clear Securities as a hacker. She gets unknowingly swept up into the mystery that surrounds her new ranch manager when she oversees her sister’s wedding reception plans at their grandparents’ ranch, and ends up falling for him.
Beckett Morrison is the Perry’s new ranch manager, but not all is as it seems as ghosts from Beckett’s days in the military seem to be creeping in closer and closer. They’ve been eliminating members of his old unit, is he next? Will he be able to keep Cora safe now that he’s found someone worth sticking around for?
I loved Cora and Beckett’s dynamic! This was a protector romance and I loved how Ainsley kind of tipped that trope on its scales by having Cora be the protector. To be honest, they both protected each other. Beckett was so used to protecting himself that he even considered walking away from Cora, but Cora stood beside him through it all and helped him fight.
I also really loved the mission op scenes. I felt like I was right in the middle of the action and was anxiously holding my breath to find out what happened next!
Ainsley mentions in the blurb that you get to see some characters from her other books, and having read some of the blurbs for her other Clear Security Holiday books, I can tell you that that is true. But being a newbie, I had no trouble following along in this story.
Thank you Booksprout for gifting me a copy of this book and introducing me to a new-to-me author!