ARC Review: Do or Die by Suzanne Brockmann

Do or Die
Author: Suzanne Brockmann
Series: Reluctant Heroes
Publication: Ballantine Books (February 4, 2014)

Description: Navy SEAL Ian Dunn went rogue in a big way when he turned his talents to a lawless life of jewel heists and con jobs. Or so the world has been led to believe. In reality, the former Special Ops warrior is still fighting for good, leading a small band of freelance covert operatives who take care of high-stakes business in highly unofficial ways. That makes Ian the hands-down choice when the U.S. government must breach a heavily guarded embassy and rescue a pair of children kidnapped by their own father, a sinister foreign national willing to turn his kids into casualties. Shockingly, Ian passes on the mission for reasons he will not—or cannot—reveal.

But saying no is not an option. Especially not for Phoebe Kruger, Ian’s beautiful and unexpectedly brash new attorney. Determined to see the abducted children set free, Phoebe not only gets Ian on board but insists on riding shotgun on his Mission: Impossible–style operation, whether he likes it or not.

Though Phoebe has a valuable knack for getting out of tight spots, there’s no denying the intensely intimate feelings growing between Ian and Phoebe as the team gears up for combat. But these are feelings they both must fight to control as they face an array of cold-blooded adversaries, including a vindictive mob boss who’s got Ian at the top of his hit list and a wealthy psychopath who loves murder as much as he loves money. As they dodge death squads and play lethal games of deception, Ian and Phoebe will do whatever it takes to save the innocent and vanquish the guilty—or die trying.

My Thoughts: DO OR DIE was a fast-paced, engaging, humorous thriller. It also had a huge cast of characters. The main characters are Ian Dunn and Phoebe Kruger. Ian is a former Navy SEAL turned jewel thief and con man who is currently serving an 18 month sentence in prison. Phoebe Kruger is his newly appointed lawyer. The FBI needs Ian out of jail so that he can rescue two kidnapped children who are being kept in the K-stan embassy. Ian refuses and Phoebe can't understand why.

His reasons bring in two more characters - Ian's younger brother Aaron and his husband Shelly. Ian and Shelly are gay. They have been inseparable since high school. But Shelly's father Davio is a gay-hating crime boss who has put a hit out on Aaron. Ian made a deal with Shelly's uncle Manny - also a crime boss - to take the fall for one of his colleagues in exchange for him leaving Aaron and Shelly alone and protecting them from Shelly's father. 

We also can't forget Shelly's half-sister Francine and half-brother Berto. Francine and Berto had a relationship when they were teens. But when Francine attempted to say that she was the one in the sex tape with Aaron instead of Shelly, her boyfriend Berto didn't stand up for her and left her to his father to be beaten and raped - though no one knows about the rape. Berto has grown up to work in concert with his uncle to keep his crazy father under some sort of control. 

Then there are the FBI agents - Deb and Yashi - who are trying to keep control of Ian and his band as they try to save everyone from Davio and his henchman and manage to rescue the children before they are sent back to their father. Holding the kids is an old acquaintance of Ian's - the Dutchman - who just happens to be a pedophile and serial killer and sociopath. 

I love the relationship between Ian and Phoebe. Phoebe is a tough lawyer but more than a little naive when it comes to dealing with hit men. Ian is a crafty con man who doesn't do relationships. He is a master at sabotaging them. Most of the humor in the story comes from their conversations.

The story was filled with action. It was filled with twists and turns, plots and plans, and cons. I loved every minute of this story. 

Favorite Quote:

Phoebe had truly believed that her being a lawyer made her untouchable. But no doubt about it, she'd become the woman who idiotically went into the basement to check the circuit breakers when the lights went off, with a serial killer on the loose.

She was, officially, too stupid to live.

And yet Ian had come after her.

I got this ARC from Amazon Vine. You can buy your copy here.