Mockingbird's Cry (Hera Force #1) by Winter Austin

@Archaeolibrary, @hotchoc84, @WinterAustin_,

#Romantic, #Military, #Suspense, #Thriller,

Five years ago, Josephine "Mockingbird" Caruso belonged to an all-female black-ops military group named Hera Force—a team tasked with bringing down terrorists like the enigma dubbed the Chessmaster. But the faceless criminal mastermind had other plans and single-handily destroyed the operation, ruining the women’s military careers and their lives.
Ex-Delta Force operative Detective Lincoln Sullivan reports to the scene of a mass-murder, learning all too quickly he knows the victims. The killer has left behind a deadly missive just for him: Find the Mockingbird or more will die.
Lincoln flies to New Orleans where Jo lives with her twin brother. Lincoln and Jo had once been co-operatives and lovers, however the fallout from Hera Force's destruction left what little relationship they had in tatters. Jo has no desire to work with Lincoln again, but the threat to her life and the remaining two operatives, Nadia “Phoenix” Roth and Jade “Dragon” Delacour, force her hand. The four former teammates are thrust together once more. There are unknown forces moving in the background and an old enemy is about to return with a vengeance.
Tensions between the ex-lovers come to a head when Lincoln learns his partner is an Army agent working under Hera Force’s top general, a man who's not all that he seems. With each step Lincoln and Jo take, they are met with death and destruction. Buried lies and half-truths begin to unravel Jo’s shaky trust in Lincoln until all is brought to light.
When the killer strikes, Jo is faced with a hard choice, be the leader she was born to be, or lose Lincoln forever.

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4 out of 5 (very good)
Independent Reviewer for Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mockingbird's Cry is full of suspense, intrigue and romance, which makes a good all around read. There's plenty of action to keep you entertained.
Jo, an ex-member of Hera Force (all-female black ops group) is pulled back into the military life (that was ruined by a failed mission) working with Lincoln... gorgeous, ex co-operative and lover from many moons ago!
Both are strong and capable, you'd need to be with all the twists, turns and lies that keep getting in their way personally and professionally.
The way that the two characters interact is well written and I really feel for them. I love how resilient Jo is.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *


Winter Austin perpetually answers the question: “were you born in the winter?” with a flat “nope.” Having returned to her hometown, Winter has stepped into the chaotic world of a full-time wife, mom, author, and employee.
A lifelong Mid-West gal, Winter rediscovered her love of her beloved Iowa with its hot summers and snowy winters. She grew up listening to the captivating stories told by relatives around the table or a campfire. Since becoming a published author, she learned a mindset of a glass half-empty personality makes for a perfect suspense/thriller author. Taking her ability to verbally spin a vivid and detailed story, Winter translated that into writing deadly romantic thrillers. Combining her love of all things rural, agricultural, and military, she’s turned her small town life upside down.
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