Deep Cover by Scarlett Cole

Amy and Cabe are working on different angles of a criminal case at the Lucky Seven Casino and a dedication to doing the right thing, for all of the parties involved, was a priority. A past crime involving Amy's mother supports her drive to stop the female disappearance at the Lucky Seven. Cabe and his team have a similar investment. Sokolov's crime syndicate has directly threatened the lives of family members of the Eagle Security team. They possess equal justification to make sure the casino becomes crime free. Bringing the villains down became as essential to me as it was to them. The team worked intelligently and well together, and it was clear they were all becoming great friends. I remained invested in the characters during the attempt to end these atrocities.

Amy's father is a professional poker player, and her uncle runs a casino. Due to her resources, she has the skills to go undercover at the Lucky Seven to investigate the missing women. As Amy goes undercover as a card dealer, the stress builds. The owner of the casino, Faulkner, has charm but at the same time, he crosses a line that justifies caution and suspicion. In contrast, Amy's direct supervisor Ortega is respectable with Amy and the rest of the staff. Who is helping Sokolov launder money if anyone? Who is responsible for the missing women, the indecent boss or the moral one? These questions fuel the anxiety. Cabe and Eagle Securities focus their attention on the money laundering. Cabe attempts to befriend Sokolov while covertly searching for the money switches. Cabe and the team do their job well. Cabe's instincts and reactions are appropriate to what I believe an ex-NAVY Seal would be. He is protective and keeps his team, which now includes Amy, safe.

I enjoyed Cabe but, his contribution is primarily guarding Amy's back. I would have liked to see Cabe play a more prominent role in the end battle, rather than just being Amy's knight in shining armor. Along the same lines, I felt an agent with Amy's qualifications could have needed less saving. I also sense Amy being more assertive in the face of danger would have made her more interesting. A  dynamic involving a couple fighting together is a delicate balance. I still found their decisions sound and them both to be capable in their jobs.

When reading romance novels, I am most committed when the plot surrounding the couple can stand on its own. I find that Deep Cover was one of these novels. Having said that, the romance in Deep Cover was also quite captivating. The characters, for justifiable reasons, decided not to pursue their attraction to each other. In high-pressure situations, that only lasts so long. When they give in to the chemistry between them, it is explosive. Well done there. This relationship develops while they are getting to know each other without bringing sex into the equation. I welcome this method as it is more believable. I recommend giving Deep Cover by Scarlett Cole a chance. I received this book from Netgalley and St Martin’s Press in exchange for my honest review.

Amazon Link