To The Brink - Cindy Gerard

TITLE: To The Brink

AUTHOR: Cindy Gerard

SUMMARY: Working on highly sensitive diplomatic affairs, Darcy Prescott is a natural target for terrorist kidnappers. But when she's mysteriously plucked off a street in Manila one sultry night, Darcy's disappearance isn't what it seems.

The moment Special Forces soldier Ethan Garrett laid eyes on Darcy, he knew she was the woman he would marry-and he did. But when their marriage fell apart, Ethan never really recovered. Now a highly paid bodyguard, Ethan quickly slips back into combat mode when he learns of Darcy's disappearance and calls in old favors to assemble a rogue rescue team..

Tracking Darcy all the way to the jungles of the Philippines, Ethan knows every move he makes could mean the difference between life and death. His love for Darcy burns stronger than ever. But when he learns the true reason for her abduction, it may be too late to save her-or himself. - From Publisher

REVIEW: Finding romantic/suspense writers that become addictive are a rarity for me. I find myself often cringing at some of the cheesy lines when it comes to the characters declarations of love. Anyways, I've been wanting to read Cindy Gerard's The Bodyguard series for awhile. I like bodyguards, they fit into my alpha male love so I was eager to read this series. Got my hands on this book through my local used bookstore and now I must track the rest of this series down. Immediately.

Gerard most definitely did her research. When it came to Ethan and his team I felt that the dialogue and actions where true to life, that the men could easily be non-fiction rather than fiction. I love when an author does their research, they end up adding those little details that, for me, make a story pop and often suck me into the world they've created. Along with all those fine delicious details that Gerard added for reading the books out of order I never felt lost. Each character was given a little back history to make a new reader become in the loop, yet at the same time I never once felt like I was getting an over-whelming amount of information. Enough that I wasn't scratching my head wondering why Ethan trusted this group of guys. Each was unique and I'm looking forward to getting the two previous books read before I continue on with this series.

Even the plot was engaging. Gerard did bounce back and forth from present to past, but it was always clearly marked, which I loved (sometimes I just don't want to get pulled out of rhythm wondering where I am in the time-line of event). I think the fact that we were shown past events make Ethan & Darcy's connection and love much stronger. Plus, it really showed how much each of the characters had grown during the time apart and made me fall more into what they were going through. Generally I find when authors jump around in the time line I get confused and can't seem to get my rhythm, I'm glad that didn't happen with this book. Gerard pulled it off flawlessly.

Definitely a perfect book for an enjoyable fast past read that will keep you hooked until the very, very end.

RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Blood Ties - Kay Hooper

TITLE: Blood Ties

AUTHOR: Kay Hooper

SUMMARY: New York Times bestselling author Kay Hooper takes us to the outer reaches of fear in her latest thriller, as the Special Crimes Unit finds itself targeted by a monster intent on destroying both Noah Bishop and his people.

The elite Special Crimes Unit, the FBI's most controversial and effective team, is a group of mavericks and misfits trained to use their unique psychic abilities to hunt the worst monsters imaginable-human ones. Led by the enigmatic Noah Bishop, the SCU has earned a reputation for pitting their skills and cunning against killers that other cops fear. But this time Bishop and his agents face an enemy who has them in his sights, a trained sniper with a deadly plan-and more than one ace up his sleeve.

It starts with an unspeakable series of grisly murders across three states, a trail of blood leading, finally, to the small Tennessee town of Serenade. There, two more brutal killings lure the SCU into what may be the ultimate trap.

One of the first investigators on the scene, Special Agent Hollis Templeton, is willing to push herself as hard and as far as necessary. Risking more than her life to help and protect her SCU colleagues, Hollis must cope with her own psychic abilities, which are evolving in unprecedented ways, an attraction to the most complex man she's ever known, and a serial murder investigation that turns very, very personal.

In her time with the SCU, Hollis has shown an uncanny ability to survive even the deadliest attacks. But what she can't know is that this killer intends to destroy the team from within.

The clock is ticking. The body count is rising. And as Bishop and his agents race to uncover the true identity of their enemy, not even their special senses can warn them just how bloody, and how terrifyingly close, the truth will be. - From Publisher

REVIEW: Hooper is a mastermind at creating vivid characters with a storyline that has you engaged and begging for more. Blood Ties is the newest installment from Hooper's Noah Bishop Series and if you've enjoyed the previous books you'll love this one.

This book, like Blood Dreams & Blood Sins, is part of a bigger story arc and something Hooper hasn't done until this trilogy with her Bishop Series. The story continues with familiar foes and a new enemy that's working at destroying Bishop and the SCU. While I loved having a huge story line that spanned three books, I wish the release dates were closer. Often I'd find myself trying to remember what happened in book one and that took away from the story, not a lot but enough that I took notice.

With having such a connected storyline it did allow for us to get to know some newer characters better and have more word time with some favorites. For example, Hollis. She's always been one of my favorites and I loved that we got lots from her in this book. Hooper always writes her characters so real that you feel like you're going through the story with them. I'm always so eager to learn about the new characters she brings to the canvas; and even for the characters that have been around for a while, she still manages to give them scenes that allow them to grow.

This is the twelfth book in this series and the plot and characters haven't eroded and Hooper is still finding villainous foes to pit against the talent of the SCU.

Here's to hoping that the next book in this series comes fast!

RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Undone - Karin Slaughter

TITLE: Undone

AUTHOR: Karin Slaughter

SUMMARY: In the trauma center of Atlanta's busiest hospital, Sara Linton treats the city's poor, wounded, and unlucky-and finds refuge from the tragedy that rocked her life in rural Grant County. Then, in one instant, Sara is thrust into a frantic police investigation, coming face-to-face with a tall driven detective and his quiet female partner…. In Undone, three unforgettable characters from Karin Slaughter's New York Times bestselling novels Faithless and Fractured collide for the first time, entering an electrifying race against the clock-and a duel with unspeakable human evil. - From Publisher

REVIEW: If you're looking from a purely evil killer with some hard edged, driven and "intense" Special Agents then you'll enjoy this book, however read "Faithless" & "Fractured" first.

This was my first dive into Slaughter's work and I wish I had read all her previous books. It's not part of a trilogy but the characters are from two of her previous books and I think having some more back ground knowledge and knowing more would've helped me a bit. Especially with it came to the hard edged Special Agent Faith. I found myself more often than not annoyed with her childish behavior and somewhat ignorant attitude. Perhaps if I had known her story more I would've had justification for her action. She still wouldn't have been a favorite of mine but I'd like to at least enjoy her input and views rather than wish she's disappear.

My favorite character of all was Dr. Sara Linton. This didn't surprise me as she had the heart break factor that often sways me. I adored her character and felt like she was the most honest and real character of them all. Her story about losing Jefferey, her husband, was heart breaking and that tugged on my heart-strings. She alone makes me want to pick up Slaughter's book so I can get more of her.

Special Agent Will Trent was also fascinating. The way he's over come various life obstacles to get where he is made his character dynamic and layered. He wasn't your typical handsome SA. Of course some of that love was lost when it came to his estranged wife Angie. Again, I don't know the full back history but not a fan and I felt like it made Will a weaker character. I understand the connection between the two I just hated how shitty she treated him and how he allowed it. I didn't like that Will hasn't realized and embraced his self worth. And on that note I move on before this turns into a group session.

The plot itself was good. I wasn't hooked and addicted until close to the end of the book. I felt like there were times when the plot slowed and I became bored. But when we were in the thick of the investigation or in dark caves I was hooked. Or when Will & Sara had any scenes together I was innately curious. But just when I was sinking into the book we hit a slow part.

All around, I didn't love and I didn't hate this book. I lacked passion for it and that is, in my opinion, worse than hating a book.

RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

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