"Now they're dodging bullets and running for their lives."
Okay, so I wasn't expecting to spend my Tuesday afternoon ugly-crying over a turtle conservationist and a grumpy ex-military hero, but here we are. Frida literally jumped off my lap during one of the chase scenes because I gasped too loud. Worth it.
Look, I picked up Escape Mission because I needed something with HEAT and TENSION while working on a rebrand for a client who keeps sending me "inspiration boards" that are just... beige. So much beige. I needed adrenaline. I needed romance. I needed someone to get thrown against a wall in a protective manner. Kendall Talbot delivered.
When the Bullets Start Flying and So Do the Feelings
Zena is exactly my kind of heroine—she's got a mouth on her that won't quit, she's on parole (love a complicated queen), and she discovers something horrific while checking on turtle hatchlings. TURTLE HATCHLINGS. The way this book goes from "aww, baby turtles" to "oh god, we're being hunted by a merciless corporation" gave me whiplash in the best way.
And Blade? Listen. A broken alpha hero who doesn't know he's broken? That's my emotional kryptonite. The man lost his best friend and his career in one failed mission, and he's just... existing. Barely. Until these sisters need rescuing and suddenly he's got purpose again. That kind of broken hero clawing his way back to caring hit me the same way Open Season did. The way his attraction to Zena catches him completely off guard—he's so annoyed by it and I was LIVING for every reluctant protective moment.
The forced proximity hits different when people are literally trying to kill you. There's this scene where they're hiding and the tension is so thick I forgot I was supposed to be designing a logo. Just sat there with my stylus hovering over my tablet like an idiot.
Two Voices, One Wild Ride
Here's where I gotta be honest with you. The dual narration from Antony Davis and Justine Eyre is... a mixed bag. Antony Davis? First time listening to him and I'm into it. His voice has this gravelly quality that works perfectly for Blade—you can hear the exhaustion and the reluctant heroism. When he delivers the action sequences, the pacing matches the chaos beautifully.
Justine Eyre brings good emotional depth to Zena, and her humor lands well. BUT—and this is something I noticed other listeners mentioning too—the Australian accent can be a bit distracting at times. I'm not Australian, so it didn't bother me as much, but I could see how it might pull you out of the story if you're from that region. Apparently she gets better with each book in the series, which is encouraging if you want to continue.
The production quality is clean though. No weird background noise, no jarring transitions between narrators. Professional through and through.
The Slow Burn That Actually Burned
This book felt like a summer storm—fast, intense, and you're left a little breathless when it's over. The enemies-to-lovers arc is chef's kiss. They start off with so much friction (Blade is her sister's EX-BOYFRIEND, the complications!) and watching them fight their attraction while also fighting actual bad guys? The vibes are immaculate.
I will say—there's spice here. Like, real spice. Abuela would have clutched her rosary and then secretly kept reading. The steamy moments feel earned because of all the tension that builds up, and they're woven into the action in a way that doesn't feel forced.
The small Aussie coastal town setting with its dark secrets gave me major "everyone knows everyone's business but also everyone's hiding something" energy. Kendall Talbot clearly knows how to build atmosphere—the location feels lived-in, like she's actually walked those streets.
My Heart, Though
Did I cry? Okay, not full ugly-cry, but my eyes got misty during a particular scene where Blade confronts his past. The guilt he carries, the way he's convinced he doesn't deserve good things anymore—it hit me somewhere tender. And Zena, who can't control a thing she says, being the one to crack through his walls? Beautiful. Just beautiful.
This is a rainy Sunday book, or a "I need to feel something while stuck in traffic" book. At nearly 10 hours, it's substantial enough to really sink into.
Who Needs This in Their Ears
If you love action-packed romantic suspense with protective heroes and heroines who give as good as they get—absolutely grab this. If you're super particular about accents in narration, maybe sample first. Skip if you need your romance slow and gentle; this one moves fast and shoots back.
Now I need to know what happens with the rest of the Alpha Tactical Ops team. My client's beige rebrand can wait.
