Griffith, Lea
WORK TITLE: Running the Risk
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://leagriffith.com/
CITY:
STATE: GA
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
RESEARCHER NOTES:
| LC control no.: | no2015123109 |
|---|---|
| LCCN Permalink: | https://lccn.loc.gov/no2015123109 |
| HEADING: | Griffith, Lea |
| 000 | 00989nz a2200169n 450 |
| 001 | 9963306 |
| 005 | 20150916073614.0 |
| 008 | 150915n| azannaabn |n aaa c |
| 010 | __ |a no2015123109 |
| 035 | __ |a (OCoLC)oca10270417 |
| 040 | __ |a IlMpPL |b eng |e rda |c IlMpPL |
| 100 | 1_ |a Griffith, Lea |
| 370 | __ |c U.S. |e Georgia |f Atlanta, Ga. |
| 375 | __ |a female |
| 377 | __ |a eng |
| 670 | __ |a Way of the warrior, 2015: |b cover image on title details screen (LEA GRIFFITH [with seven others]) resource description (Eight passionate love stories about amazing military heroes by bestselling authors: Suzanne Brockmann, Julie Ann Walker, Catherine Mann, Tina Wainscott, Anne Elizabeth, M.L. Buchman, Kate SeRine, Lea Griffith) |
| 670 | __ |a Goodreads WWW site, September 15, 2015: |b author (Lea Griffith (author of Bullet to the Heart); Lea lives with her husband and three teenage daughters in rural Georgia; science fiction, paranormal and contemporary romance; born in Atlanta; website: http://www.leagriffith.com/) |
PERSONAL
Born in Atlanta, GA; married; children: three daughters.
ADDRESS
- Home - GA.
CAREER
Writer.
WRITINGS
- NOVELS
- Starry Night ("Tales form the Secret Realm" series), Hartwood Publishing Group (Phoenix, AZ), 2013
- Way of the Warrior , Sourcebooks Casablanca (Naperville, IL), 2015
- Misled ("Hidden Lies" series), Hartwood Publishing (Phoenix, AZ), 2015
- Mine and Yours, Hartwood Publishing (Phoenix, AZ), 2016
- "NO MERCY" SERIES
- Bullet to the Heart , Hartwood Publishing (Phoenix, AZ), 2013
- Arrow to the Soul, Hartwood Publishing (Phoenix, AZ), 2014
- Bone Deep, Hartwood Publishing (Phoenix, AZ), 2015
- "ALL OR NOTHING" SERIES
- Too Much, Loveswept (New York, NY), 2014
- More, Loveswept (New York, NY), 2015
- "GENTECH" SERIES
- Reckoning, Hartwood Publishing (Phoenix, AZ), 2015
- Deliverance, Hartwood Publishing (Phoenix, AZ), 2016
- Retrieval, Hartwood Publishing (Phoenix, AZ), 2016
- Retribution, Hartwood Publishing (Phoenix, AZ), 2016
- "ENDGAME OPS" SERIES
- Flash of Fury, Sourcebooks Casablanca (Naperville, IL), 2017
- Running the Risk, Sourcebooks Casablanca (Naperville, IL), 2018
SIDELIGHTS
Lea Griffith is a writer based in Georgia. She has written books in the romance and science fiction genres.
Bullet to the Heart and Arrow to the Soul
Bullet to the Heart is the first book in Griffith’s “No Mercy” series. It features a female protagonist called Bullet, who was trained to be a killing machine from the time of her childhood. She excels in sharp-shooting and is a valued member of an organization called The Collective. Meanwhile, a bitter widower named Rand plots his revenge on The Collective, which was responsible for the deaths of his wife and child. Rand believes that Bullet may have been the killer. He spends years planning how he will kill her. However, when they finally come face to face, their mutual anger may fall away.
A woman named Arrow stars in the second book in the “No Mercy” series, Arrow to the Soul. Like Bullet, she has been trained from birth to be a killer for The Collective. Arrow believes she has no soul. However, her opinions about her ability to experience human emotion are challenged when she meets a man named Adam, who works for the Trident Corporation. Their differences complicate their budding romance.
Bone Deep tells the story of another female killer called Bone. She falls for Dmitry Asinimov, who has experienced deep emotional pain.
Too Much and More
In Too Much, part of the “All or Nothing” series, Jeremiah Copeland and Daly Edwards had an intense romantic relationship, but it ended due to trust issues seven years ago. Daly visits the BDSM club that Jeremiah owns in order to tell him important information about his brother. Soon, they fall into a steamy relationship all over again.
More, the second in the “All or Nothing” series, tells the story of Ruthie Copeland and Tobias Edwards, who are related to the protagonists of the previous novel. These two also rekindle a previous romance at the BDSM club. Vicky M. Coffin, critic in Xpress Reviews, suggested that More was “initially difficult to follow as a stand-alone.” Coffin added: “Ruthie falls short of readers’ expectations of inner strength and courage.”
Flash of Fury
Flash of Fury is the first book in Griffith’s “Endgame Ops” series. Kingston “King” McNally travels to Cameroon on a secret mission for his Special Ops team. On his way out of the country, he boards a flight and is seated next to Allie Redding, a Peace Corps volunteer. Their plane is hijacked, and a group of men try to kidnap Allie, but King protects her. It is revealed that a dangerous man named Vasily Savidge is hunting Allie. King and Allie fall in love as they evade danger together.
A writer on the Book Binge website remarked: “Unfortunately, the book was largely disappointing.” The same writer added: “The most frustrating part of this book for me was the romance. King and Allie have absolute insta-lust in a way that’s truly ridiculous.” The writer continued: “The dialog in the book is also kind of awkward, and the action jumps around. … It made things confusing and hard to follow.” Other reviewers offered favorable assessments of Flash of Fury. “Besides being a great read with the promise of more Endgame stories, the book has a wonderfully fulfilling ending,” asserted Mary K. Chelton in Booklist. Jill M. Smith, critic on the RT Book Reviews website, suggested: “Griffith dives right in and gets the action going in this nonstop thriller. The characters are immediately engaging and the sexual sparks are intense.” A writer on the Good, the Bad, and the Unread website opined: “Fans of fast-paced action romance, hold onto your hats! This book starts off with a bang and keeps on going with no let up in pace.” The same writer added: “Allie is a great heroine. She is a beautiful, do-gooder who volunteers for the peace corps but also knows how to shoot to kill and can hold her own in a hand-to-hand fight.”
Running the Risk
In an interview with Joyce Lamb, contributor to the Happy Ever After website, Griffith described the second book in the “Endgame Ops” series. She stated: “Running the Risk is a second-chance romance full of suspense and action. It’s book two in my ‘Endgame Ops’ series and highlights Jude Dagan and Ella Banning. Jude thought he lost Ella in a mission gone wrong, but he’s about to find out that Ella is much stronger than any of her teammates and Jude thought she was. Let me take you on a ride that will leave you breathless and show you that love is worth any risk.” Jude and Ella are both part of a Special Ops team. During a botched mission, it is believed Ella has died. However, Jude discovers she is still living and determines to rescue her.
A Publishers Weekly writer asserted: “Griffith delivers an over-the-top adrenaline rush with this fast-paced romantic thriller.” The writer added: “Griffith keeps the suspense going throughout.” A contributor to the Book Reading Gals website commented: “Reading this book was like watching an awesome action movie come to life on the big screen. … You can’t get any better than this – jam packed adventure and action.” The same contributor noted that the book offered “exceptional romantic suspense.” Smith, the critic on the RT Book Reviews website, described Running the Risk as “a true nail-biter” and remarked: “Griffith is really on a roll and quickly becoming a major voice in the Romantic Suspense genre.” A reviewer on the Good, the Bad, and the Unread website suggested: “This is a fast-moving, adrenaline-filled ride with surprises that keep on coming. It’s great to catch up with the characters from the first book and meet even more new characters. … This is a keeper.” “Running The Risk by Lea Griffith is a fast paced, action packed story featuring the Endgame team,” asserted a writer on the Harlequin Junkie website. The same writer noted that the book would appeal to “readers of romantic suspense, although it felt like there was more suspense then there was romance.” The writer also stated: “The suspense was well-written. The book was just convoluted at times, and it was difficult at times to keep all the players straight.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, February 1, 2017, Mary K. Chelton, review of Flash of Fury, p. 29.
Publishers Weekly, February 19, 2018, review of Running the Risk, p. 62.
Xpress Reviews, January 9, 2015, Vicky M. Coffin, review of More.
ONLINE
Book Binge, http://bookbinge.com/ (March 15, 2017), review of Flash of Fury.
Book Reading Gals, http://thebookreadinggals.com/ (April 3, 2018), review of Running the Risk.
Good, the Bad, and the Unread, http://goodbadandunread.com/ (March 17, 2017), review of Flash of Fury; (April 10, 2018), review of Running the Risk.
Happy Ever After, https://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/ (April 3, 2018), Joyce Lamb, author interview.
Harlequin Junkie, http://harlequinjunkie.com/ (May 9, 2018), review of Running the Risk.
Lea Griffith website, https://leagriffith.com/ (June 19, 2018).
RT Book Reviews, https://www.rtbookreviews.com (May 31, 2018), Jill M. Smith, review of Flash of Fury; (May 31, 2018), Jill M. Smith, review of Running the Risk.
- Flash of Fury (Endgame Ops) - 2017 Sourcebooks Casablanca, https://smile.amazon.com/Flash-Fury-Endgame-Ops-Griffith/dp/149264630X/ref=la_B00BHKTTFE_1_1_twi_mas_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1527738209&sr=1-1
- Arrow to the Soul (No Mercy) - 2014 The Hartwood Publishing Group, https://smile.amazon.com/Arrow-Soul-Mercy-Lea-Griffith/dp/1629161756/ref=la_B00BHKTTFE_1_2_twi_pap_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1527738209&sr=1-2
- Way of the Warrior - 2015 Sourcebooks Casablanca, https://smile.amazon.com/Way-Warrior-Suzanne-Brockmann-2015-05-05/dp/B01FIW6PJO/ref=la_B00BHKTTFE_1_3_twi_pap_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1527738209&sr=1-3
- Bullet to the Heart (No Mercy) - 2013 The Hartwood Publishing Group, https://smile.amazon.com/Bullet-Heart-Mercy-Lea-Griffith/dp/1629161594/ref=la_B00BHKTTFE_1_4_twi_pap_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1527738209&sr=1-4
- Bone Deep (No Mercy) - 2015 The Hartwood Publishing Group, https://smile.amazon.com/Bone-Deep-Mercy-Lea-Griffith/dp/1629162396/ref=la_B00BHKTTFE_1_5_twi_pap_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1527738209&sr=1-5
- Too Much: An All or Nothing Novel (An All or Nothing Series Book 1) - 2014 Loveswept, https://smile.amazon.com/Too-Much-Nothing-Novel-Book-ebook/dp/B00HKVHYVK/ref=la_B00BHKTTFE_1_7_twi_kin_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1527738209&sr=1-7
- More: An All or Nothing Novel (An All or Nothing Series Book 2) - 2015 Loveswept, https://smile.amazon.com/More-All-Nothing-Novel-Book-ebook/dp/B00KEPJS4K/ref=la_B00BHKTTFE_1_8_twi_kin_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1527738209&sr=1-8
- Retrieval (GenTech Book 3) - 2016 Hartwood Publishing, https://smile.amazon.com/Retrieval-GenTech-Book-Lea-Griffith-ebook/dp/B01C21D7TA/ref=la_B00BHKTTFE_1_9_twi_kin_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1527738209&sr=1-9
- Retribution (GenTech: Presidio FIles Book 1) - 2016 Hartwood Publishing, https://smile.amazon.com/Retribution-GenTech-Presidio-FIles-Book-ebook/dp/B019H2LOSS/ref=la_B00BHKTTFE_1_10_twi_kin_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1527738209&sr=1-10
- Mine and Yours - 2016 Hartwood Publishing, https://smile.amazon.com/Mine-Yours-Lea-Griffith-ebook/dp/B01FTHLVPQ/ref=la_B00BHKTTFE_1_11_twi_kin_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1527738209&sr=1-11
- Starry Night (Tales from the Secret Realm - Winter Realm) - 2013 Hartwood Publishing Group, https://smile.amazon.com/Starry-Night-Tales-Secret-Realm-ebook/dp/B00H3WGTQM/ref=la_B00BHKTTFE_1_12_twi_kin_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1527738209&sr=1-12
- Deliverance (GenTech: Presidio Files Book 2) - 2016 Hartwood Publishing, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AK1B2A0
- Misled (Hidden Lies Book 1) - 2015 Hartwood Publishing, https://www.amazon.com/Misled-Hidden-Lies-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00XTWD1G6
- Reckoning (Gentec Book 1) - 2015 Hartwood Publishing, https://www.amazon.com/Reckoning-Gentec-Book-Lea-Griffith-ebook/dp/B00ZMT6HIS
- Running the Risk (Endgame Ops) - 2018 Sourcebooks Casablanca , https://smile.amazon.com/Running-Risk-Endgame-Ops-Griffith/dp/1492621749/ref=sr_1_1_twi_mas_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1527739393&sr=8-1&keywords=running+the+risk+%2B+lea+griffith
- Amazon - https://smile.amazon.com/Lea-Griffith/e/B00BHKTTFE/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_13?qid=1527738109&sr=8-13
Lea Griffith began sneaking to read her mother’s romance novels at a young age. She cut her teeth on the greats: McNaught, Woodiwiss, and Garwood. A firm believer that love makes the world go round, she still consumes every romance book she can put her hands on, but now she writes her own.
Lea lives with her husband and three teenage daughters in rural Georgia. Two dogs, a cat, and a beta fish named Coddy George complete a family that is always in motion. When not working at the EDJ, she’s usually at her keyboard, using every spare second to write. Paranormal, science fiction or hot contemporary romance, nothing is off-limits when it comes to her writing.Stay up to date with Lea Griffith by joining her newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cCPbg5
- Lea Griffith - https://leagriffith.com/about/
About
Lea Griffith began sneaking to read her mother’s romance novels at a young age. She cut her teeth on the greats: McNaught, Woodiwiss, and Garwood. A firm believer that love makes the world go round, she still consumes every romance book she can put her hands on, but now she writes her own.
Lea lives with her husband and three teenage daughters in rural Georgia. Two dogs, a cat, and a beta fish named Coddy George complete a family that is always in motion. When not working at the EDJ, she’s usually at her keyboard, using every spare second to write. Paranormal, science fiction or hot contemporary romance, nothing is off-limits when it comes to her writing.
QUOTED: "Griffith delivers an over-the-top adrenaline rush with this fast-paced romantic thriller."
"Griffith keeps the suspense going throughout."
Running the Risk
Publishers Weekly.
265.8 (Feb. 19, 2018): p62. From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2018 PWxyz, LLC http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Running the Risk
Lea Griffith. Sourcebooks Casablanca, $7.99 mass market (352p) ISBN 978-1-4926-2174-4
Griffith delivers an over-the-top adrenaline rush with this fast-paced romantic thriller, the latest in her Endgame Ops series (after Flash of Fury). Endgame black ops expert Jude Dagan believes his true love, teammate Ella Banning, died during a mission gone horribly awry. Griffith sends Jude on a heart-pounding journey to find the truth of Ella's fate, rife with ruthless international criminals, traitors, and a team that would never fail any of its own. Around every corner--whether it's in Jude's hideaway in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains or a tiny cell in what might as well be hell--lurks the unexpected. After Jude discovers that Ella is alive, he makes it his mission to bring her home, but Horace Dresden, former Navy SEAL turned traitor and international arms dealer, foils him at every turn. It's imperative that Jude find out who's really pulling the strings before EJla dies for real. Griffith keeps the suspense going throughout, right up until the hair-raising finale, which neatly sets the stage for the next episode in this saga. Agent: Nicole Resciniti, Seymour Agency. (Apr.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Running the Risk." Publishers Weekly, 19 Feb. 2018, p. 62. Book Review Index Plus,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A529357540/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=c08b0233. Accessed 30 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A529357540
QUOTED: "Besides being a great read with the promise of more Endgame stories, the book has a wonderfully fulfilling ending."
1 of 3 5/30/18, 10:38 PM
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
Flash of Fury
Mary K. Chelton
Booklist.
113.11 (Feb. 1, 2017): p29. From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2017 American Library Association http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
Full Text:
* Flash of Fury.
By Lea Griffith.
Mar. 2017. 352p. Sourcebooks/Casablanca, paper, $7.99 (9781492646303).
In the first in Griffiths Endgame Ops series, Kingston McNally, ex-SEAL and the leader of this Special Ops off-the-books group, meets Allie Redding as his seatmate on a hijacked plane out of Cameroon. Back on the ground, they are led on a wild and dangerous chase to escape the men trying to abduct her to get to her CIA director father, to whom King promises to get her home safely. This turns out to be easier said than done, given the brutality of her foe, Vasily Savidge. The worse things get, the more hopelessly King falls in love with Allie, not only for her beauty but also because of her courage and grit, both of which she uses in spades to help him, no matter how unworthy he feels. Griffith's military romance has all the elements readers treasure: a larger- than-life badass warrior, a woman to match him, and action galore. Besides being a great read with the promise of more Endgame stories, the book has a wonderfully fulfilling ending. Readers of Maya Banks' KGI and Cindy Girard's Black Ops International series will love this.--Mary K. Chelton
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Chelton, Mary K. "Flash of Fury." Booklist, 1 Feb. 2017, p. 29. Book Review Index Plus,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A481244812/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=c42d9467. Accessed 30 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A481244812
QUOTED: "initially difficult to follow as a stand-alone."
"Ruthie falls short of readers' expectations of inner strength and courage."
2 of 3 5/30/18, 10:38 PM
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
Griffith, Lea. More
Vicky M. Coffin
Xpress Reviews.
(Jan. 9, 2015): From Book Review Index Plus.
COPYRIGHT 2015 Library Journals, LLC http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/reviews/xpress/884170-289/xpress_reviews- first_look_at_new.html.csp
Full Text:
Griffith, Lea. More. Loveswept: Random. (All or Nothing, Bk. 2). Feb. 2015. 281p. ebk. ISBN 9780553394535. $2.99. EROTIC ROMANCE
Ruthie Copeland, the "Blind Painter," has lived far from her Atlanta home for three years. Tobias Edwards, the man she loves, is the one who sent her away. Friends since childhood, their love was strong, but when Ruthie tried to delve deeper into Tobias's dominant sexual nature--placing herself in submission--Tobias vowed that he would never again unleash his dark side on her. Little did Toby understand that submitting to him is exactly the fulfillment Ruthie needs and desires. When she returns to her hometown to reclaim her man, Ruthie unwittingly becomes the bait in a dangerous vendetta against Tobias.
Verdict The second title in the "All or Nothing" series (after Too Much) is initially difficult to follow as a stand-alone novel. The relationships among secondary characters introduced in the first book require further explanation and development for the plot to flow effectively. The chemistry between Ruthie and Tobias is very intense at times, yet while Tobias is a standard domineering male, Ruthie falls short of readers' expectations of inner strength and courage.-- Vicky M. Coffin, Eastern Connecticut State Univ. Lib., Willimantic
Coffin, Vicky M.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Coffin, Vicky M. "Griffith, Lea. More." Xpress Reviews, 9 Jan. 2015. Book Review Index Plus,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A400038570/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=98ad4ddf. Accessed 30 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A400038570
3 of 3 5/30/18, 10:38 PM
- The Book Reading Gals
http://thebookreadinggals.com/running-the-risk-by-lea-griffith/
Word count: 496QUOTED: "Reading this book was like watching an awesome action movie come to life on the big screen. ... You can’t get any better than this – jam packed adventure and action."
"exceptional romantic suspense."Running the Risk by Lea Griffith
> Grade A > Running the Risk by Lea Griffith
Sarah April 3, 2018 0 Grade A, Review, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Sarah Endgame Ops, Grade A, Lea Griffith, Review, Review By Sarah, romantic suspense, Running the Risk
Title: Running the Risk
Series: Endgame Ops Book #2
Stand Alone Title: yes
Author: Lea GriffithGenre: Romantic Suspense
Blurb: Survival is crucial.
Trust is optional.
Love is unstoppable.Jude Dagan’s life as he knew it ended a year ago. On a mission gone wrong, he was forced to watch as Ella Banning, the only woman he’s ever loved, was killed. Or so he thought.
Jude wasn’t the only one who lost something on the day Ella was presumed dead. She sacrificed Endgame Ops, the love of her life, and parts of herself she can never get back. Now she’s determined to take down the world’s most dangerous terrorist–even if it means working for him.
When Jude and Ella are reunited, they’ll battle the lies Ella has been forced to tell…and struggle to save a love that knows no bounds.Favorite quote(s)/excerpt(s): “We’ve got about an hour hike out of these caves. It’ll still be dark when we exit. I go first, and if there’s any sign of danger, you tuck in and wait for my orders. We clear, Ella? I need your cooperation here.”
“I’m clear,” she said in exasperation. “How the hell did I manage to survive a whole year without you?”
Oh, her sarcasm. He’d missed the hell out of that. He rolled his eyes. “I don’t know. I’m sure it was touch and go.”
Thoughts: Reading this book was like watching an awesome action movie come to life on the big screen. I could almost see some of the scenes flicker to life! You can’t get any better than this – jam packed adventure and action. The good guys against the bad guys. The down and dirty violence that is special ops. Then, with a great helping of romance thrown in there for good measure. And it hits the best of the best in romance, too! That love so strong and vibrant that you can literally feel the emotions of the characters. I don’t know how I’ve never read this author before, but I will most assuredly be remedying that fact! Exceptional romantic suspense! You can’t go wrong grabbing this one!
Rating: A
Other books in this series: Flash of Fury (Book #1)
- RT Book Reviews
https://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-review/running-risk
Word count: 494QUOTED: "a true nail-biter."
"Griffith is really on a roll and quickly becoming a major voice in the Romantic Suspense genre."Romance / Romantic Suspense / General Romantic Suspense
Image of Running the Risk (Endgame Ops)
RT Rating:
Genre:
Romance, Romantic Suspense, General Romantic Suspense
Sensuality:
Hot
Published:
April 3 2018
Publisher:
Sourcebooks Casablanca
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RT Review SourceRT Ratings Guide
5 GOLD: Phenomenal. In a class by itself.
4 1/2: TOP PICK. Fantastic. A keeper.
4: Compelling. A page-turner.
3: Enjoyable. A pleasant read.
2: Problematic. May struggle to finish.
1: Severely Flawed. Pass on this one.RUNNING THE RISK
Author(s):
Lea GriffithDeadly games within games make the second book in rising star Griffith’s second Endgame Ops series a true nail-biter. Readers were first introduced to the Endgame Ops force in the terrific Flash of Fury. In that book it became apparent that a previous doomed mission was only the tip of the iceberg regarding the treachery and manipulation aimed at the team. In this novel, Griffith pushes her protagonists to their limits as former lovers must face each other and the sometimes terrible decisions they have been forced to make. Griffith is really on a roll and quickly becoming a major voice in the Romantic Suspense genre.
When the ill-fated Endgame Ops mission went dreadfully wrong, it cost lives. Jude Dagan watched in horror as his lover Ella Banning was killed. However, unbeknownst to Jude or the rest of the team, Ella survived. After she is tortured by infamous warlord Horace Dresden’s enforcer in an effort to break and use her, Ella somehow managed to endure. Horace thinks he owns Ella and in the last year has used her exceptional skills to his advantage. But Ella, who now burns with hatred, has a secret mission to not only take down Dresden, but find out who is pulling his strings. When Jude discovers Ella is alive and apparently working for Dresden, he is hugely conflicted. Jude still loves Ella, but is she the woman he remembers, or is she corrupted by Dresden? Discovering the answers will open a Pandora’s box of dangerous secrets! (SOURCEBOOKS, Apr., 352 pp., $7.99)Reviewed by:
Jill M. Smith - Happy Ever After
https://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/2018/04/03/lea-griffith-interview-running-the-risk/
Word count: 1045QUOTED: "Running the Risk is a second-chance romance full of suspense and action. It’s book two in my Endgame Ops series and highlights Jude Dagan and Ella Banning. Jude thought he lost Ella in a mission gone wrong, but he’s about to find out that Ella is much stronger than any of her teammates and Jude thought she was. Let me take you on a ride that will leave you breathless and show you that love is worth any risk."
Interview: Lea Griffith, author of ‘Running the Risk’
By: Joyce Lamb | April 3, 2018 12:01 am
Lea Griffith
Joyce: Welcome to HEA, Lea!
Lea: First I want to say a huge THANK YOU to the USA TODAY HEA blog for hosting me. I love to talk books and I love sharing new releases!
Joyce: It’s great to have you! Please tell us a bit about your new release, Running the Risk.
Lea: Running the Risk is a second-chance romance full of suspense and action. It’s book two in my Endgame Ops series and highlights Jude Dagan and Ella Banning. Jude thought he lost Ella in a mission gone wrong, but he’s about to find out that Ella is much stronger than any of her teammates and Jude thought she was. Let me take you on a ride that will leave you breathless and show you that love is worth any risk.
Joyce: What inspires your book ideas?
Lea: For as long as I’ve been writing I’ve found that more often than not, real life inspires my story ideas. I’ve also discovered that listening to the news gives me a bevy of ideas that ultimately morph into what gets put on the page.
Joyce: What do you do when you get stuck?
Lea: Pray. And I’m being serious. Getting stuck is always a possibility but it’s my worst nightmare as an author. I have had periods where the well dried up so much it seemed I’d never finish a book. So I pray, set the worry aside, pray some more, and when all else fails, I’ll work on another project until the characters who are stuck become unstuck.
Joyce: Who are three romance authors who turn you into a fangirl?
Lea: Easy answer: Julie Garwood, Linda Howard and Nalini Singh. And when I fangirl, I fangirl HARD, lol!
Joyce: Do you listen to music while you write? What are some tunes on your playlist?
Lea: Now this is a question close to my heart. I cannot write without my headphones on and every book has its own playlist. I’ll share Running the Risk’s here: Lovely Day by Bill Withers, Use Me by Bill Withers, Ain’t No Sunshine by Bill Withers, Congratulations by Post Malone ft. Quavo, What a Fool Believes by The Doobie Brothers, You Got Lucky by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Too Good at Goodbyes by Sam Smith, Lose My Soul by TobyMac ft. Kirk Frankling & Mandisa, One of These Nights by Eagles, Don’t Disturb This Groove by The System, Can We Talk by Tevin Campbell, Incredible by Future, Long Train Running by The Doobie Brothers, Bad at Love by Halsey, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face by Roberta Flack. **And then you hit REPEAT**
Joyce: What TV show or other activity interferes with your writing schedule?
Lea: Before it went on hiatus for a million years, Game of Thrones was the only show I watch that could take me from writing. It throws me off because when I’m in Game of Thrones, I AM THERE, and nothing can interrupt my focus. Unfortunately, it throws me out of whack so badly that it usually delays things like writing deadlines.
Joyce: What’s your favorite snack and/or beverage while you’re writing?
Lea: Another easy answer for me — sweet tea and chocolate are my go-to libation and food of choice when writing. Now when I’m finished these answers change. When I’ve completed a book I usually celebrate with a tumbler of Jack Daniel’s with a splash of Dr Pepper and I’m usually washing down boiled shrimp with my Jack and Pepper. Celebration of champions, don’t you think?
Joyce: What’s coming next?
Lea: Next up is book three in my Endgame Ops series … and I’m hesitant to give you much more than that for fear of ruining the suspense in Jude and Ella’s book.
Joyce: Do you have anything to add?
Lea: Readers make the world go ’round. Without you, there would be no authors. So shout-out to all of the amazing readers who allow authors to take up space in your brain for a little while and share the stories that come from our hearts. Feel free to hit me up via social media. You can find my links at www.leagriffith.com. I hope I hear from you!
Joyce: Thanks, Lea!
About Running the Risk:
Survival is crucial.
Trust is optional.
Love is unstoppable.
Jude Dagan’s life as he knew it ended a year ago. On a mission gone wrong, he was forced to watch as Ella Banning, the only woman he’s ever loved, was killed. Or so he thought.
Jude wasn’t the only one who lost something on the day Ella was presumed dead. She sacrificed Endgame Ops, the love of her life, and parts of herself she can never get back. Now she’s determined to take down the world’s most dangerous terrorist—even if it means working for him.
When Jude and Ella are reunited, they’ll battle the lies Ella has been forced to tell…and struggle to save a love that knows no bounds.
Lea Griffith, romantic suspense, Author interviews
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- RT Book Reviews
https://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-review/flash-fury
Word count: 562QUOTED: "Griffith dives right in and gets the action going in this nonstop thriller. The characters are immediately engaging and the sexual sparks are intense."
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Image of Flash of Fury (Endgame Ops)
RT Rating:
Genre:
Romance, Romantic Suspense
Sensuality:
Hot
Published:
March 7 2017
Publisher:
Sourcebooks Casablanca
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RT Review SourceRT Ratings Guide
5 GOLD: Phenomenal. In a class by itself.
4 1/2: TOP PICK. Fantastic. A keeper.
4: Compelling. A page-turner.
3: Enjoyable. A pleasant read.
2: Problematic. May struggle to finish.
1: Severely Flawed. Pass on this one.FLASH OF FURY
Author(s):
Lea GriffithHot talent Griffith explodes out of the gate with the first book in her new Endgame Ops series. As part of the somewhat shadowy Endgame Ops force, Kingston McNally and his team occasionally work in the grey areas where the military can’t go. During one mission they are betrayed and some of the team is killed. With their names blackened, King and his remaining team want revenge. Griffith dives right in and gets the action going in this nonstop thriller. The characters are immediately engaging and the sexual sparks are intense. This is one terrific tale of romantic suspense!
After the doomed mission that killed off members of his team, King is determined to find the courier who will lead him closer to taking down infamous warlord Horace Dresden. King’s intel tells him the courier will be on a plane in Cameroon. King spots the blonde woman he thinks is the courier, but before the plane takes off, members of Boko Haram board and try to remove her. After working for the Peace Corps in Cameroon, Allison Redding is looking forward to going home to America. Things turn scary when the plane is boarded and the men grab her and demand her father’s name. Allie is stunned when a tough and sexy passenger rescues her and they escape together. Now on the run and trying to survive, Allie is not sure what to make of her rescuer, for he obviously has an agenda and secrets — but then, she has secrets, too! (SOURCEBOOKS, Mar., 352 pp., $7.99)Reviewed by:
Jill M. SmithRelated Books
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Comments - Book Binge
http://bookbinge.com/2017/03/guest-review-flash-of-fury-by-lea-griffith/
Word count: 758QUOTED: "Unfortunately, the book was largely disappointing."
"The most frustrating part of this book for me was the romance. King and Allie have absolute insta-lust in a way that’s truly ridiculous."
"The dialog in the book is also kind of awkward, and the action jumps around. ... It made things confusing and hard to follow."Guest Review: Flash of Fury by Lea Griffith
Posted March 15, 2017 by Jen in Reviews | 2 Comments
Guest Review: Flash of Fury by Lea GriffithReviewer: Jen
Flash of Fury by Lea Griffith
Series: Endgame Ops #1
Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication Date: March 17th 2017
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Pages: 384
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Ripped Bodice | Google Play Books
Goodreads
two-half-starsTheir spark is immediate
Kingston McNally lost men when someone betrayed his team, and now he's out for retribution. His quest for the enemy's courier leads him to Cameroon and Allie Redding, a petite Peace Corps volunteer as stubborn as she is brave. Their attraction is immediate, but Allie has secrets of her own...and she's not giving them up easily.
But their secrets could burn them both
Allie's life has been spent hiding in plain sight, but she's had enough of her cloak-and-dagger existence. On her way home, her plane is hijacked-and King saves her life. But that doesn't mean she owes him anything...even if he is the most damnably sexy man she's ever laid eyes on. He's got black ops and secrets written all over him, and trust is a two-way street.
This book sounded right up my alley because it’s about two people on the run, jetting around the world. Totally my catnip! Unfortunately, the book was largely disappointing for me.
Kingston (King) is the leader of a black ops team. Their last mission went sideways, a team member betrayed them, and several people lost their lives. King is trying to track down the international weapons dealer who was behind the mission-gone-wrong, and it leads him to a plane in Cameroon where he’s told a courier for the dealer will be flying. Instead, he interupts a hijacking in which some bad guys are attempting to kidnap Allie Redding. He doesn’t know if she’s the courier, someone else connected with the bad guys, or a total innocent, but he saves her anyway. When her real identity comes out, the mission changes to getting Allie back to America safely while also trying to unravel the complicated games that brought his team down.
The most frustrating part of this book for me was the romance. King and Allie have absolute insta-lust in a way that’s truly ridiculous. They are already making out very early in the book, while still escaping from the hijackers and before they’ve even had much conversation. It was especially stupid on Allie’s part, because she had no idea who King was or whether he was a good or bad guy. Come on girl, you can be smarter than that! King has some tender moments, but I didn’t quite understand what was drawing these two together, besides the obvious stressful, life-and-death situation. The dialog in the book is also kind of awkward, and the action jumps around. Several times I felt like I was dropped in the middle of an ongoing series and I had missed the set up for all the characters and teams. It made things confusing and hard to follow.
The complexity was a double edged sword, because while it did make things confusing I enjoyed some of it. There are so many people involved in the plot, and while there are a couple clear bad guys (the dealer and his cronies) and good guys (King and Allie), everyone else is a question mark. Who is double crossing whom? Who has their own secret agendas, and what are they? Will people’s personal relationships trump their national and financial loyalties? I enjoyed the mystery, and I’m intrigued by the larger story line. In fact, I’m intrigued enough that I might even consider reading another book in the series just to find out more, despite my misgivings with this first book.
So, consider my interest piqued but in no way sold on this series.
Grade: 2.5 out of 5
*I received a review copy of this book from the publisher.
two-half-stars
- Good Bad and Unread
http://goodbadandunread.com/2017/03/17/review-flash-of-fury-by-lea-griffith/
Word count: 726QUOTED: "Fans of fast-paced action romance, hold onto your hats! This book starts off with a bang and keeps on going with no let up in pace."
"Allie is a great heroine. She is a beautiful, do-gooder who volunteers for the peace corps but also knows how to shoot to kill and can hold her own in a hand-to-hand fight."REVIEW: Flash of Fury by Lea Griffith
by veena | Mar 17, 2017 | Review |
Book CoverVeena’s review of Flash Of Fury (Endgame Ops, Book 1) by Lea Griffith
Romantic Suspense published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 07 Mar 17Fans of fast-paced action romance, hold onto your hats! This book starts off with a bang and keeps on going with no let up in pace. King McNally, a leader in a shadow operations, happens to be in the right place at the right time to save a young and beautiful woman from Boko Haram terrorists who hijack their plane on the tarmac in Cameroon. As the two of them try to stay a half step ahead of gun-wielding terrorists, the surprises keep coming. This one is a keeper, because Allie Redding is just the right kind of deep, dark woman to complete King. Allie is a great heroine. She is a beautiful, do-gooder who volunteers for the peace corps but also knows how to shoot to kill and can hold her own in a hand-to-hand fight. She’s heading home, dreaming of golden arches and licking her lips at the imagined taste of those salty McDonald’s fries and pampering in her favorite beauty salon, when all hell breaks lose. Gun-wielding terrorists are on board her plane, hunting her and they don’t care who they have to hurt, maim, or kill in their attempt t capture her. Fortunately, her seat mate happens to be a kick-ass shadow warrior who manages to rescue her and take off with terrorists in pursuit.
As it happens, King has his own agenda as well. Unfortunately, Allie gets hurt in one of the battles to get away from their pursuers. She and King are forced to go to ground and hide out so she can heal enough to be extracted out of the hot spot that she finds herself in. As it turns out, Allie has her own share of secrets and friends in dark places and King definitely does not command the board, despite his name. Hunted, she and King travel out of Africa and into Europe in search of the terror organization that has both King and Allie in their sights.
Not only does Allie get to meet some of King’s team, but they manage to get some horizontal time and exchange enough background information to get the hearts engaged along with the adrenaline pumping. The unfolding story will keep you guessing as skeletons jump out of cupboards where they’ve been long hidden. With all the smoke, it’s kind of hard to separate friend from foe. Is there a future for Allie and King?
This definitely turned out to be my kind of book. It was made even better because I had zero expectations before I started reading, having never heard of the author before. I can’t wait to pick up the next book in the series to see what happens next.
Grade: A
Summary:
Their spark is immediate
Kingston McNally lost men when someone betrayed his team, and now he’s out for retribution. His quest for the enemy’s courier leads him to Cameroon and Allie Redding, a petite Peace Corps volunteer as stubborn as she is brave. Their attraction is immediate, but Allie has secrets of her own…and she’s not giving them up easily.But their secrets could burn them both
Allie’s life has been spent hiding in plain sight, but she’s had enough of her cloak-and-dagger existence. On her way home, her plane is hijacked-and King saves her life. But that doesn’t mean she owes him anything…even if he is the most damnably sexy man she’s ever laid eyes on. He’s got black ops and secrets written all over him, and trust is a two-way street.No excerpt available.
- Good Bad and Unread
http://goodbadandunread.com/2018/04/10/review-running-the-risk-by-lea-griffith/
Word count: 469QUOTED: "This is a fast-moving, adrenaline-filled ride with surprises that keep on coming. It’s great to catch up with the characters from the first book and meet even more new characters. ... This is a keeper."
REVIEW: Running the Risk by Lea Griffith
by veena | Apr 10, 2018 | Review |
Book CoverVeena’s review of Running The Risk (Endgame Ops, Book 2) by Lea Griffith
Romantic Suspense published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 03 Apr 18Jude and Ella were inseparable until that fateful mission when things went to crap and Ella was captured and killed by the enemy. So who’s the Ella lookalike? Could it be possible that Jude’s eyes deceived him? But then Jude’s Ella would never play for the enemy. Get ready for an exciting tale when all these questions are answered, along with all the ones you never thought to ask.
For a highly trained super spook, Jude is distracted and pulls in every favor he can to discover if Ella is alive and then to track her down and bring her home. Unfortunately, this Ella has changed. She’s no longer his and, even worse, does not want him anywhere around her. The deeper Jude digs, the more the plot thickens until there is no distinguishing the white hats from the black hats and vice versa.
This is a fast-moving, adrenaline-filled ride with surprises that keep on coming. It’s great to catch up with the characters from the first book and meet even more new characters. Can Jude and Ella find their way together, past all the betrayals, and find the love that once kept them both alive? For fans of romantic suspense, this is a keeper.
Can’t wait to see what the next book brings, especially given the cliffhangar at the end.
Grade: A
Summary:
Survival is crucial.
Trust is optional.
Love is unstoppable.
Jude Dagan’s life as he knew it ended a year ago. On a mission gone wrong, he was forced to watch as Ella Banning, the only woman he’s ever loved, was killed. Or so he thought.
Jude wasn’t the only one who lost something on the day Ella was presumed dead. She sacrificed Endgame Ops, the love of her life, and parts of herself she can never get back. Now she’s determined to take down the world’s most dangerous terrorist―even if it means working for him.
When Jude and Ella are reunited, they’ll battle the lies Ella has been forced to tell…and struggle to save a love that knows no bounds.No excerpt available.
Other books in this series:
Book Cover - Harlequin Junkie
http://harlequinjunkie.com/review-running-the-risk-by-lea-griffith/
Word count: 774QUOTED: "Running The Risk by Lea Griffith is a fast paced, action packed story featuring the Endgame team."
"readers of romantic suspense, although it felt like there was more suspense then there was romance."
"The suspense was well-written. The book was just convoluted at times, and it was difficult at times to keep all the players straight."REVIEW: Running The Risk by Lea Griffith
Posted May 9th, 2018 by Sara @HarlequinJunkie in Blog, Review, Romantic Suspense / 4 comments
Running The Risk by Lea Griffith is a fast paced, action packed story featuring the Endgame team. A year earlier Jude believed Ella, the love of his life, was killed on a mission gone wrong. When he discovers she’s alive and working for the man they were trying to bring down, he believes her to be a traitor and he wants the truth. Ella had been tortured repeatedly, but she was determined to finish the mission she was sent on by the leader of Endgame. Only Jude won’t let her out of his sight, but he no longer trusts her, either. The pair, along with the rest of the Endgame team, have to come together and put an end to a terrorist before it’s too late.
Not having read the first book in the series, I did feel like I was missing a little bit of the background about the team in general. While it’s not absolutely necessary, I would recommend reading the previous book first.
There’s a lot going on in this book, and it’s hard to tell who knows what, why Ella and some of the other characters were assigned missions that none of the other team members knew about, and how some of the people were interconnected. I’ll admit I was confused as to why the Piper, the head of Endgame, would leave Ella in a dangerous situation without any backup while allowing the rest of the team to believe she was a traitor. It would have been more beneficial if they had all been working together.
Ella was keeping information from Jude, while Jude was keeping information from Ella. Once again, it would have benefitted everyone if they just shared what they knew with the whole team.
Another point I wasn’t too sure on was an operative named Brody. He had been tortured right along with Ella. It wasn’t clear how he had gotten away from Dresden’s estate. And he had known Ella was alive so I don’t know why he wouldn’t have let the rest of the team know or why he didn’t try to organize a rescue attempt. Then there’s a section where it’s mentioned that Jude wanted to talk to Brody and thank him for being there for her and supporting her during their torture sessions, but readers never get to see that actual conversation take place. It would have been nice to see how Jude handled it, considering he seemed to be jealous of the close friendship Ella and Brody had formed.
Overall, the book left me with more questions than answers. The ending is left on a cliffhanger, setting up the next couple in the series. I’m not big on cliffhangers, but it did leave me wondering what’s going to happen with the next couple, and how the Endgame team is going to handle it.
I would recommend this for readers of romantic suspense, although it felt like there was more suspense then there was romance. I thought the suspense was well-written. The book was just convoluted at times, and it was difficult at times to keep all the players straight.
Book Info:
Publication: April 3, 2018 | Sourcebooks Casablanca | Endgame Ops #2
Jude Dagan’s life as he knew it ended a year ago. On a mission gone wrong, he was forced to watch as Ella Banning, the only woman he’s ever loved, was killed. Or so he thought.
Jude wasn’t the only one who lost something on the day Ella was presumed dead. She sacrificed Endgame Ops, the love of her life, and parts of herself she can never get back. Now she’s determined to take down the world’s most dangerous terrorist–even if it means working for him.
When Jude and Ella are reunited, they’ll battle the lies Ella has been forced to tell…and struggle to save a love that knows no bounds.add-goodreads