Hidden Agendas
by Lora LeighSeries: Tempting SEALs #4
Published by St. Martin's on June 26, 2007
SubGenres: Erotic Romance, Romantic Suspense
Format: AudioBook, Paperback
Pages: 332
Narrator: Mackenzie Harte
Length: 11 Hours And 36 Minutes
Source: Library - Libby, Purchased
Audience: 18+/Adult
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SAVING LIVES IS HIS MISSION.Tough-as-nails Navy SEAL Kell Kreiger is the best there is at searching, rescuing, and taking no prisoners…yet even the rush of ever-more dangerous missions isn't enough to satisfy him. Haunted by a tortured past, Kell seeks distraction in a secret world of dark intimacies. But when Emily Stanton, the one ray of light in Kell's shadowy existence, is pursued by a ruthless drug lord, the rules of the game suddenly change—and Kell will have to go deeper undercover than he ever imagined...
SAVING HER IS HIS PASSION.Emily has loved Kell ever since her father, a prominent politician, rescued him from a brutal life on the streets. They were kids then, too young to act on what was growing between them…but now that Emily is ready, the handsome, headstrong SEAL has decided he's no good for her. Ever since he rescued her from Diego Fuentes' compound, Kell's only duty has been to keep Emily safe. But Fuentes isn't finished with Emily—or Kell. And to protect Emily, Kell has no choice but to lay himself—body, soul, and secrets—bare…and fight against evil with all his heart.
I can’t believe it took me so long to read Lora Leigh’s Tempting SEALs series. It’s been on my TBR list forever, but I’m finally finishing it in 2026. The fourth book, Hidden Agendas, is about Navy SEAL Kell Krieger and Emily Stanton. Their chemistry is intense, especially since they’ve both been hiding their feelings for years. I’ve always loved this in romance books, and Lora Leigh did amazing with their story.
A little about the story without giving too much away. A ruthless drug lord is targeting Emily Stanton again because of her father, a Senator, and Kell has been assigned to protect her. Emily knows Kell well. She doesn’t make it easy for him, since she tends to put herself in risky situations for her research. Poor Kell has to deal with it, which made this book a wild ride. I loved every minute of it.
Both characters, Kell and Emily, have strong personalities that clash, which definitely made the book entertaining. Kell is protective of Emily, but he respects that she can take care of herself and doesn’t smother her, especially once they get together, which I loved about him. Emily really holds her own, even after being kidnapped before and facing danger again in this book. She knows how to deal with her overprotective father, a Senator, and she can handle Kell, even when he frustrates her. She also knows what to do in difficult situations, since she learned some self-defense. She is a Senator’s daughter. I just loved her character and how strong and independent she was.
One thing I love is when characters have obvious chemistry for years but never act on it. As soon as Kell and Emily get together, their chemistry is instant, and neither wants to let go. I liked that Kell helped Emily with her research and showed her what it means to be cared for, in and out of the bedroom.
I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out why the drug lord was so determined to get Emily again. When the truth comes out, there are twists I didn’t see coming. If you think there’s only one villain, you’ll be surprised. Fair warning, this book has some dark content in it that may be triggering for some readers.
The cliffhanger at the end really shocked me. Lora, I’m glad I have the next book ready because I need to keep reading the Tempting SEALs series after that ending. I’m so glad I didn’t have to wait for the next release.
Overall, this book was a steamy, wild ride, and I give it five stars. I still can’t believe it took me so long to read this series, but I’m excited to finally catch up and check out more of Lora Leigh’s books. She’s gained a fan for life.
Standalone or Part of Series: It’s part of the Tempting SEALs series and I recommend reading in order.
POV: Multi-POV (Third Person)
Would I recommend this book? Yes. If you like your Romantic Suspense books with action, suspense, and plenty of steamy moments between two strong main characters, you’ll enjoy this book.
What to Expect:
✔️Erotic Romantic Suspense
✔️Bodyguard/Protector Romance
✔️Forced Proximity
✔️Alpha/Navy SEAL Hero
✔️Strong/Independent Heroine
Favorite Quote(s):
“She was his. He would die for her. He would die without her.”
About Lora Leigh
Lora Leigh is a New York Times bestselling author of erotic romance novels. Leigh started publishing with electronic publisher Ellora's Cave in 2003. Leigh's longest-running series is The Breeds. She won the 2009 RT Award for erotica. Leigh was born in Ohio and raised in Martin County, Kentucky, US.
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