Fighting for Mari (Redemption Harbor Security #6)

Katie Reus

Blurb:

He’s her brother’s best friend…

Corporate pilot Mari had a crush on Colin when she was a teenager, but that ended abruptly when she heard him say something awful about her. She’s ignored him ever since. Now that he’s out of the military and started a company similar to hers, they’re rivals and he’s trying to ruin her latest business deal—so she steals one of his biggest clients.

And she’s hated him since she was sixteen…

When Colin goes to confront Mari about blowing up his biggest deal, he ends up saving her from a murderer. For some reason she seems to hate him and he’s never understood why—especially since she’s his walking, talking fantasy and their families are friends. With a smart mouth and lean curves, the badass woman is everything he’s ever wanted. When it’s clear someone wants her dead, he refuses to let her out of his sight—and they wind up stranded in the middle of nowhere with a plane that’s been sabotaged and a killer hunting them. If they can’t put the past behind them and find a way to work together… they’ll die together.

Themes: Contemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating:

Review:

Katie Reus is back with the next in her Redemption Harbor Security series with the story of a firecracker pilot that finds herself in trouble when one of her clients turns on her. Katie had taken us on some amazing adventures with her crew as this series has progressed but with each new chapter we learn more about the team and get glimpses into the craziness and I for one love it. This latest installment is about the firecracker pilot that is friends with many of the ladies that make up the RHS crew and has had a small part in a few of the previous novels. Mari finds herself not only caught in the web of a dangerous killer, but also in the arms of a sexy rival pilot that has been the bane of her existence and her biggest crush since her teens. All the drama unfolds beautifully and with such speed that you find yourself wondering if Colin and Mari are going to get out of their predicament more than once, but you never question that their feelings are developing at mach speed. I am really looking forward to the next story which Katie hinted at a few times and if I am correct will be a crazy one.

Mari Kim has always lived her life in fast forward, reaching for the highest goal and refusing to back down from any challenge, even when her biggest crush broke her young heart. Colin Lockhart has been best friends with Mari’s brother since childhood and has watched her grow into a gorgeous and remarkable woman, but for years she has treated him like an enemy and he has no idea why. With the latest battle, Mari has stolen a client from his company and bought a parcel of land right from under him and when she comes to rub his nose in it Colin is forced to accept that she will not ever tell him what he’s done wrong. When he goes to confront her again, he inadvertently saves her from an attempted murder and they find themselves forced into close quarters as the RHS team look into the attempt and try to find out who is after Mari. But the more time they spend together, even when their plane goes down in the middle of nowhere, the harder it is for Mari and Colin to deny the attraction they feel and soon their feelings are out of control. Once the danger passes can they build a true relationship or will old fears and habits keep them apart even as their love soars—and what if the danger isn’t as over as they think?

I have been dying to get to know more about Mari as we have seen so many little quirks in her attitude and behavior in previous novels I knew she was going to be an awesome character to get to know. She is sarcastic, smart, brave, and sweet when she wants to be, but she definitely isn’t sappy or a pushover in any way. She has a tough outer shell that she uses to keep her softer nature protected and rarely shows that softness to anyone outside her very tight inner circle. When she finally forgave Colin and allowed him back into her heart, the sweetness and connection they formed was one that showed us how great of a partner she will be for him and how important their love will be. She had the kind of bravery that I could only aspire to, embracing her life full speed ahead and determined to live every moment her way. Colin is a perfect match for Mari, even if she didn’t know it for far too long; he is the kind of protector that will be right beside her was she embraces her adventurous spirit, helping her spread her wings but being there as her safe spot to land. Colin is intelligent, brave, sweet, loving, and dedicated to protecting those he cares for, which definitely include Mari, even when she was being a little bit bitchy to him. He knows himself and his limits and he will never leave a friend behind or allow anyone to be hurt when he can step in to offer protection. That bravery is not something that can be taught, it’s a natural reaction that one either has or doesn’t have in their hearts. I loved getting to see Colin lose his head and heart to Mari and vice versa.

Sometimes you come across a story that will truly stick with you forever and Fighting for Mari is one of those books because there is no way I will be forgetting Colin and Mari’s story anytime soon. Mari is one of the bravest and most stubborn women that you’ll meet, but she is determined to live life on her terms and won’t let any struggle keep her down, even though the guy she’s never stopped lusting after continues to make her crazy. Her bravery and grit are all she needs to pull her through any danger, along with the help of her friends at RHS and maybe the sexy guy she finally decides to forgive and accept into her heart. Colin is a badass and he will use every ounce of his skills if it means keeping Mari safe from the killer that are one their tails. His determination in the face of deadly challenges prove that nothing will stop him when he has his heart set on the one woman he has always lusted after and has finally decided he wants for his own. The passion between these two is apparent from the very beginning, even when they are just squabbling, but when they finally allow themselves to embrace the heat the fire burns out of control. I am dying for the next in the series (Fighting for Hope) because we will finally get to see Bradford get his HEA hopefully and I can already tell that story is going to be a serious journey. Katie has done it again with the magic of two pilot losing their hearts in a big way.

*eARC provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review. No compensation was provided.