This one had so much promise and I was looking so forward to it. But it ended up being a lot of back-and-forth that was largely unnecessary as the two kept pushing each other away even though they’ve been crazy in love with each other for so long. But, it was so good to see them finally become happy with each other and it’ll be interesting to see how the dynamics of the relationship play out with the rest of the team from now on. ( )

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Brittney Sahin fans' most anticipated book in the Stealth Ops series is here, Navy SEAL Asher Hayes finally gets his time to shine in Finding the Fight. Asher is the tough guy in the special black-ops team, known for fighting and throwing himself into the fire. He ribs on everyone, but particularly on former CIA officer Jessica Scott. The entire team knows there's sparks flying between the two, but they have no idea just how much. When Jessica is targeted the team agrees to go rogue to stop any future attacks, but Asher? He's willing to do whatever it takes, even if that means ruining whatever might be brewing between the two. As the stakes get higher and the mission gets personal, Asher and Jessica have to decide if they have the will to fight or accept failure.

"He was living two lives lately. It'd been easier back in the day. He never walked the fine line. No need to balance."

The buildup to Jessica and Asher finally putting into motion the chemistry between them has been going on since book one in the series. The side comments from Asher, Jessica's nickname of Peaches, and the great care Jessica takes to avoid one on one time with him has made it all painfully obvious that these two had some unfinished business. Of course, it isn't just lust and flirty banter between these two, there's an unspoken rule that Team Guys don't go after fellow Team Guy's sibling, and Jessica is just that. High-stake ops and dangerous missions, as well as Asher being back around family for the first time in years, really brings out the emotion in him, making him question his mortality and his wants, making him turn to fighting again. Jessica has always been better about hiding behind her walls, but when she's abducted and injured she comes home different, her walls broken a bit, and Asher finds his way in.

"But you need to find the fight inside of you. It's in there. I know it."

I love how sensitive tough guy Asher was with her, all while trying to feed his inner beast with secret fights and making risky moves to protect both Jessica and the world from further attacks. I think Ashers always been a good guy despite his bad boy appearances, I think Finding the Fight really highlighted that about him. We see him with his family, we learn about the events that hardened him and turned him into the stubborn, brash, handsome man we know. Jessica, on the other hand, has been a mystery to us and Brittney Sahin really developed her in this story. We understand her a little more than we had previously and the slow burn of the romance makes it realistic, because old Jessica would not have been on board. Like the previous novels, the secondary characters play a huge role in the story and bring the setting, the team, to life. Not only could I hear Jessica and Asher bantering in my head, but I could picture the guys as they fought against the bad guys intent on wreaking havoc. This book isn't just emotional and romantic, it's riveting, suspenseful, and an action-packed ride.

“'You,' he whisper-said. 'You changed me.' He took a breath and mumbled, 'Whether I like it or not.'”

While Asher may not be my personal favorite of the bunch, he is certainly the best looking and the one who most obnoxiously begged for a story. He's a limelight stealer, but in a good way. Like the man who inspired his image, Jason Momoa, Asher is larger than life and this story brings him back down to earth, giving readers a chance to get to know him and see another side of him. We get to see he's more than just talk and risk taking, he's got a big heart and a past that shaped him. And Jessica? We get to know her in a way that allows us to see what Asher sees in her. They're a perfect fit, even if it took a long time for their roads to finally line up. Finding the Fight is such a fantastic standalone story and an incredible addition to the Stealth Ops series.

ARC provided. ( )