Until the End

Rushdan dials up the suspense in her tense but overstuffed third Final Hour romance (after Nothing to Fear). The Outliers, a team of ethical hackers, accept a dangerous job that makes them targets of a group of terrorists. When the terrorists attack, Kit Westcott is the only survivor, as well as the only witness, sending the grieving hacktivist on the run for her life. Castle Kinkade, an operative for the secret government agency Gray Box, which is working to stop the terrorist group, is assigned to protect Kit. But Kit doesn’t trust the government, not even the handsome, tough-as-nails former Navy SEAL Castle, and he isn’t prepared to handle the beautiful spitfire who challenges his every move. Kit and Castle grow closer as he protects her from attacks, going so far as to jeopardize his career for her safety, but she’s still keeping secrets that could jeopardize Gray Box’s mission. Action, heat, and a strong cast round out the story, but the fast pace, multiple points of view, and relentless drama leave little room for emotional connection. Instead, this romance is based more on physical attraction and adrenaline. Readers will enjoy the ride but long for some quieter moments. Agent: Sara Megibow, KT Literary. (May)