Review: Undercover Marriage by Terri Reed

Undercover Marriage by Terri Reed 

THE BABY MISSION 

An illegal adoption ring—using kidnapped babies—has to be stopped. To gather the necessary evidence, U.S. marshal Serena Summers goes undercover—as a married woman desperate for a baby. Her "husband" is her own partner, U.S. marshal Josh McCall, whom Serena blames for her brother's death. How can she act like a loving wife when she has to constantly fight her feelings for a man she isn't sure she can trust? The closer they get to unraveling the dark web of deceit, though, the more being Josh's undercover wife means putting her life—and future—in his hands. 

***** 

*****

U.S Marshal Josh McCall and Serena Summers were partnered up as pretend husband and wife to investigate an illegal adoption ring.  This was the last thing Serena wanted.  Being his partner was bad enough but now she had to pretend to be in love with him.  She blamed Josh for her brother's death even though Josh wasn't really the cause.  But you couldn't blame her for blaming him.  Even though she blamed him, her feelings for him before her brother's death were still there.  She had always admired and cared for him from afar.  Josh and her brother were best friends so Josh was often at their house.  She enjoyed his company and loved him as a friend since he already had a girlfriend at that time.  But as they pretended to be in love, real emotions that both of them desperately trying to bury and hide came to light.  As much as she blamed him, her feelings for Josh only grew stronger as they worked side by side.  

I really enjoyed their story as they tried to heal and forgive themselves as well as each other.  Josh always carried the guilt of his partner's death and the more he looked at Serena, his guilt only grew.  Serena was really mad at him for not being there for her brother.  It was understandable but it was also unfair to Josh because that day, he took a day off from work so he wasn't there to be able to help.  What Josh couldn't forgive himself with was that he didn't pick up the one phone call his partner made before his death.  But really Josh also had his own problem that day even though it was not life and death situation.  As I was reading I felt bad for both of them.  Lack of communication almost tore them apart. I was very very glad when they overcome whatever happened in the past and moved one with their life.

This book was squeaky clean.  There was only a scene or two where they kissed but not anything graphic.  I do enjoy reading steamy scenes between the two main characters but sometimes I also love to read this kind of love story.  It didn't focus on the sex and not very heavy.  It's very romantic which I'm a sucker for.  If you want to read something light, this is definitely for you.  I think this book is the last in the series but I have no problem reading this as a standalone.