When he was in the Special Forces in Kabul, Lieutenant Jayson Harmon was hit in the back by a grenade, and fifteen months later, he still has a slight limp and his back still pains him. Thanks to some friends, he works at the DCO -- the Department of Covert Operations -- but he is a shadow of his former self. Jayson still hasn't told his girlfriend of several months, catshifter Layla Halliwell, that he loves her, because how could she love a broken man? If only he knew! Layla remains mute on the subject because she fears he doesn't feel as much for her as she does for him; Jayson has been so cold the past few months. Just as he is at the end of his rope, the DCO Deputy Director makes Jayson a most unusual offer and Jayson gets a chance to go on a mission, even though his partner is someone he despises. But upon hearing that Jayson has been sent in the field, Layla, who is a psychologist and not adequately trained, secretly goes after him because she knows Jayson is in grave danger!

No matter how great the previous book was, Paige Tyler always manages to surpass herself when it comes to the brilliant X-Ops series! However the dazzling HER ROGUE ALPHA could be a bit daunting for a newcomer to this series, as Ms. Tyler does not recap very much what happened previously. There is a continuing story arc in this series which is getting more exciting with each book. HER ROGUE ALPHA features nearly non-stop heart- pounding action, which takes place mostly in Washington DC, but also in the Ukraine, as the villains extend their tentacles further. As is the custom with Ms. Tyler, women are just as heroic as the men, and Layla was a total delight. The author did a superb job at making this reader empathize with Jayson and Layla, and I loved how their romance bloomed. Jayson had to face his demons and Paige Tyler took care of that in a most wonderful fashion. In contrast to the explosive action scenes, the interactions between Layla and Jayson are very subtle and the tone subdued and intimate; their romance was very realistic and brought out the best in both of them.

While some issues have been dealt with, this fantastic series is far from over, as some nefarious dealings are brewing still, and I already cannot wait for the next installments as two newly introduced characters, who both appealed to me very much, will be featured, as well as a personal favorite of mine. X-Ops for ever!