Malicious Intent ~ Review

Malicious Intent

Defend and Protect #2

By Lynn H. Blackburn

When a seemingly random case of counterfeiting brings U.S. Secret Service Agent Gil Dixon to the home of his childhood best friend/first love he never expected to be drawn into a life-or-death case. Dr. Ivy Collins has spent most of her life trying to develop a prosthetic that can be controlled by the mind and her company is on the verge of releasing its prototype.

But someone has decided to target Ivy and they aren't about to be dissuaded by the presence of the Secret Service, the FBI, or the police. They want something from Ivy and access to her company's computer system seems to be their focus. But "Why?" is the question on everyone's mind. 

For the last fifteen years, Ivy Collins has been avoiding her best friends Gil and Emily Dixon. An incident from the summer that she and Gil discovered their love nearly destroyed her and isolated her from her dearest friends. 

Gil has never forgotten Ivy even though she ended everything between them with no warning. Could this case bring them back together? Or will it end in their deaths?

Malicious Intent is the second book in the Defend and Protect series and it is as intense as the first book Unknown Threat. The Secret Service is still recovering from the attacks that took the lives of several of its agents while dealing with the emotional repercussions. When this case places them once again in danger they have to scramble to not only keep Ivy safe but themselves. 

If you are looking for action that keeps you turning the pages and a second chance at love you will love Malicious Intent. This is a fairly clean read. There is a bit of violence but nothing graphic that will leave you cringing. There are suspects aplenty to keep the reader guessing. I really like that several characters from past books by Lynn H. Blackburn make appearances. This is a perfect weekend read that will keep your attention from cover to cover. My recommendation is to move this to the top of your February TBR list!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Driven by a traumatic event in her past, Dr. Ivy Collins is on the precipice of a scientific breakthrough after years of research and sleepless nights when dangerous circumstances demand that she give it all up--to save someone else. Can US Secret Service Agent Gil Dixon work with her to help save her work--and her life?

Dr. Ivy Collins, founder and CEO of Hedera, Inc., is ready to begin clinical trials of her company's cutting-edge prosthetic. Her work has been heralded by government, medical, and advocacy groups and everyone hopes the device will be a success. Well, almost everyone. Someone is trying to sabotage Hedera and the launch, but to what purpose--and how far will they go to get what they want?

Meanwhile, U.S. Secret Service Agent Gil Dixon can't believe he's finally been reunited with Ivy, his childhood best friend. Now that he's found her again, Gil intends to spend the rest of his life with her. But it will take all his skill to uncover the truth in time to save Ivy's life's work, her own life, and the innocent lives caught in the crossfire.

Perfectly balancing chilling suspense and uplifting romance, award-winning author Lynn H. Blackburn delivers a story of revenge, greed, and overcoming that you won't want to put down no matter how late it gets.