A fabulous romantic suspense!

Second in Command is book two in the Men of Hidden Justice series. In this contemporary age-gap romance Melanie has the perfect balance of action, suspense and spice all wrapped up in a HEA.
Marcus is part of a vigilante team so is a rescuer and naturally a protector. This job becomes personal when he rescues Missy and is totally captivated by her. He takes the role of protector to a whole new level by smothering her, but his heart is in the right place as he is falling for her the more time he spends with her.
Missy having been sold out by a colleague ends up being kidnapped and held hostage. Marcus and his team rescue her, and she becomes dependent on Marcus. He is her talisman; he keeps the nightmares at bay and the demons away.
Narrated by the amazingly talented John Lane and Maxine Mitchell who are the perfect Marcus and Missy. I love this duo; they complement each other perfectly. John portrays the super protective, extremely masculine, tower of strength that is Marcus incredibly well. Maxine showcases not only Missy’s emotional turmoil and vulnerabilities but also her seductive goddess side who experiences a sexual awakening with Marcus!
I loved everything about this audiobook, and I’m pee my pants excited to hear Julian’s story in The Commander.

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exciting!

Wow, from the beginning, this book made me sweat in anticipation of what was happening next. Marcus finds Missy hidden behind a wall, obviously tortured. There's a bit of mystical aspect- he felt like he needed to go on the raid early; he didn't want to blow up the building because he felt like there was something he was missing, etc, and then they found Missy. And there is a bit of the insta-love aspect. And there is a lot of action- finding the awful men who are trying to sell and torture women as well as finding out why Missy is being targeted.

I'm fully invested in the characters and the world, where these men and women are vigilantes who are trying to create a better world even though they work independent of the any governmental agency. This story, and The Boss, book 1 of this series, were well rounded, well thought out and full of suspense and action. I can't wait for Julian's story!

I first read the ebook and then listened to the audiobook and the second time was just as exciting as the first, but with the added excellent narration by Maxine Mitchell and John Lane. I thought John Lane's female voice was a little older sounding than would be expected for a 24 year old but overall, they did a fantastic job and I loved John's gravelly voice!

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Truly captivating, and oh so enjoyable

Two books in and I’m loving this series. A vigilante team (of sorts), rescuing the vulnerable and weak, and eliminating the scumbags that profit from them. When Marcus took over from Matteo as team leader, he wasn’t expecting to follow in his footsteps so completely, but he also wasn’t planning on Missy. Missy who pushed all his buttons. Got to say, Marcus was far from perfect, his temper regularly got the better of him, he was alpha controlling and extremely stubborn. I loved him. Let me stress he was never hurtful or physical (except in the bedroom). The story had everything I love. Action, suspense, and lots of sexy time. I loved the story, I was captivated throughout. What a truly entertaining audio. Maxine Mitchell is one of my favourite narrators and she really brought Missy to life, between her and John Lane I was actually living their story.

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Such a good story!

When Marcus takes over the team from Matteo, he was all business. Ready to take on whatever comes in his path, he isn't prepared to see her. A woman, locked in a cage or I should say, this woman kicks his protective instincts in and some others he didn't know he had. Missy is not a wilting flower. She is a capable, and her chemistry with Marcus is instant and sizzling! But the best part of this series is the suspenseful storylines. Marcus needs to keep Missy safe, find the people who were after her and diffuse future situations. Moreland delves into the darkness, giving us the thrills and excitement of mystery while interweaving witty banter and steamy passion. And we get to visit with Matteo and Evie, seeing where life has taken them! I am enjoying this fantastic series and look forward to book 3, The Commander.

John Lane and Maxine Mitchell continue to team up and bring us a narration that is stunning. Lane has the perfect voice for these alpha males. He dives into Marcus and brings out his protectiveness and warmth all while still being in command. Mitchell has the best voices, and she comes in with a spunky Missy, edgy and anxious to help. I am loving these two narrating together and look forward to more.

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Another fantastic narration of a great book!

After smashing through THE BOSS I literally went straight into this one. Again Maxine killed the narration. She gave me both Missy’s vulnerability and her strength. She had a great range of voices and I just felt like I was there with her in this book. John is now Marcus, the guy who took over from Matteo from Book 1. He is grumpy, bull-headed and tries really hard to resist Missy. When he gives in, it’s all on, on like donkey kong baby! These two push and pull and you really see the characters develop throughout the book.

Melanie does a great job of giving us a different storyline with the same great elements. Plot and pacing. Yes, I am here for it. Give me the suspense and give me a knife wielding woman, who can throw a blade. A must read/listen to series that will keep you captivated from the first to the last page.

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Amazing

Ahh, this book was everything I wanted and more. It was filled with love, passion, danger and drama. I loved Marcus from the previous book and I knew I had to listen to this audiobook!! It did not disappoint.

Missy is incredible, trying not to give away spoilers is hard but basically, Marcus meets Missy under not so nice circumstances and soon these two become inseparable. Missy is fierce, passionate and determined. If I was going into battle (or up against a very large spider) I would call Missy haha!!
These two are the best power couple I have ever read and I loved every second of it.

This book is the second book within the "Men in Hidden Justice" series. That being said it can be read as a standalone however I would recommend reading the previous book just to get an insight into the work Marcus and his team do, also the fact that it is amazing haha! This is a dual POV and switching between POVs is perfectly timed as it deliveries the right amount of drama and suspense.

Overall I highly recommend this book

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A joy to listen to

Love this series on audiobook! With a swoony hero voiced by John Lane and a spunky, strong heroine voiced by Maxine Mitchell, Second in Command is a joy to listen to.

Marcus Gallo is a protector and rescuer by nature and also profession as a member of Hidden Justice. But never before has a job become so personal.
Missy Evans find it hard to trust after the ultimate betrayal that lands her as a victim.

“No one can protect her the way I can. Nothing or no one is going to touch her while I’m around.”

Second in Command is Book two in the Men of Hidden Justice series. It can be read as a standalone but The Boss is so good you really don’t want to skip that. And I definitely can’t wait for Julian’s story!!!
-5 Stars!-

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A deliciously satisfying listen

Second-in-Command follows Marcus who we first met in the first book in the Men of Hidden Justice series, The Boss. This book does stand completely alone and in this story, Marcus himself is now the boss of the secret, vigilante type organisation.

Marcus is a deliciously grumpy, scowly hero which is even more delicious because he’s working for a good cause and is ultimately a very good man. I loved how intense he was and how focused and yet when he was with Missy he was gentle and caring. It may sound odd but I enjoyed seeing Marcus lose control around and about Missy. It was never really a control or power thing as Missy met Marcus toe to toe which was so delicious. The perfect pairing.

Marcus is brought to life by the delightful tones of John Lane - narrator for all the Melanie Moreland books I’ve listened to so far. With that said, he manages to bring a different feel to every one of the heroes he’s voiced, and as soon as he started talking, I believed him to be Marcus and enjoyed his performance immensely. Extra points for his ability to portray Missy’s voice in such a way that I genuinely forgot I was listening to a single voice and not two people have a conversation.

I liked Missy a lot even if I (thankfully) couldn’t understand exactly what she was going through. She started off quite downtrodden and scared but even then, her spark still shone through. As she grew in strength and healed, she got really feisty and I loved that she stood up to Marcus. She was still vulnerable enough that I felt she was a layered and relatable character. I was rooting for her the whole time.

Maxine Mitchell takes on the role of Missy and again, I thought she was perfect for the role. She gives us vulnerability without ever sounding weak. I also love the way Ms Mitchell really ‘acts’ the book out. For example, if the character’s voice is said to shake, she’ll read it in a shaky voice. I’ve noticed that doesn’t always happen with some audiobooks/narrators, so it’s something I’ve come to really appreciate.

As I mentioned, Marcus and Missy were really a great pairing and a great team in general. I loved that in her own way Missy managed to rile Marcus just as much as he did her. They had an effortless chemistry and I adored the seamless transition from strangers, to hero and victim, to lovers and then something more. The sex was hot (especially the grumpy sex) but the sweet and tender moments, especially where Marcus did thoughtful things for Missy, were extra sugary and made my heart happy.

There is a more difficult and disturbing storyline that helps to drive the story forward. While it’s uncomfortable to think about and some of the details are upsetting, it’s never gratuitous, never overly in-depth and things always work out in the end. In the end, this is the story of Marcus and Missy and that’s what the main focus of the book is. Anything else is just a bonus.

I hugely enjoyed this tale and was absorbed in the story from the first. Since I’ve previously read the ebook, I really like that I can sit back and just let the story take over, and that I notice little details I may have missed, or get a different perspective of certain things based on how the narrators read the lines.

Ms Moreland has an amazing gift to make you fall in love with her characters and make you feel like they are now your own, telling their story just for you, the reader; Our two narrators then bring life to these characters and bring you a great audiobook experience. Whether this will be your first audiobook of Ms Moreland’s, or you’re a devoted fan, you will not be disappointed with this love story with a little bit extra. 5 stars.

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1 person found this helpful

Matteo and Missy!

When Matteo decided to pursue his dreams outside the organization it was Marcus who assumed control. His latest assignment has brought Missy into his life and once he sees her he knows that there is nothing he won’t do to keep her in his life and protect her but the biggest challenge may be protecting her from herself.

Missy wasn’t sure how she was going to escape the predicament she found herself until Marcus came to her rescue. Even though she doesn’t know him he makes her feel safe, but she isn’t prepared to stand on the sidelines while he and his team try to capture the man responsible which causes some fiery interactions between them as they try to come to a compromise.

The chemistry between them is explosive and the intrigue keeps you on edge but it the emotional connection between these two strong and independent characters that makes their relationship so memorable. The narrators were a great choice for the characters as they brought out the strength of Matteo and emotional turmoil that Missy was experiencing.

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Entertaining and a good easy lecture for a rainy day

It is short, predictable and a little silly but in a good way. This novel is not trying to be super smart or deep, it’s just the right dose of romance and bit of an action that will make you forget about cold gloomy weather outside. It’s far from being my favourite, but even farther from being the worst, and recently I have read so many bad books that this is definitely a bonus. Sex is sexy. Man is manly. Girl is not too girly. There is no time to get bored because story is rather short. Choice of two narrators is interesting and I have to admit the male one is evidently sexy, his super deep voice mesmerising, but when he reads Melissa’s dialogues I cannot help but laugh and giggle. Don’t take it too seriously and you will enjoy it.

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