REVIEW: ELITE GUARDIANS 1: ALWAYS WATCHING ~ LYNETTE EASON

The bodyguards of Elite Guardians Agency have more than just skill and prowess in common - they're also all women. When it becomes clear that popular psychiatrist and radio personality Wade Savage has a stalker, his father secretly hires Elite Guardians in order to protect his son.  But when Wade's bodyguard is attacked and nearly killed, agency owner Olivia Edwards must step in and fill the gap. Olivia's skills are about to be tested to the limit as Wade's stalker moves from leaving innocent gifts at his door to threatening those closest to him – Including Olivia.  But in her mind, even more dangerous than the threats to her life is the hold her handsome client has on her heart. 

 

Always watching by Lynette Eason is the first book in the Elite Guardians series.  I absolutely loved having a female bodyguard protect a big, strong man.  It is a very refreshing departure from the usual damsel in distress looking to her male bodyguard to save her.  The ladies of Elite Guardians are smart, capable, professional security specialists running their own company and calling the shots.  They work together beautifully, efficiently and rally around their own.  It was a pleasure to experience their relationships, both personal and professional.

This first book in the series follows Olivia who steps up to protect their client, popular radio personality Wade Savage, who is being stalked by what appears to be an obsessed fan.  Wade, being the big, strong man that he is, refuses to entertain the thought of a bodyguard, sure that he can take care of himself.  Wade’s father, therefore, secretly hires the Elite Guardians to keep an eye on his son and when Wade’s bodyguard is ruthlessly attacked and left for dead, Wade is not happy to discover his father’s involvement, but he can no longer deny that the threat may be bigger than he can deal with on his own; especially considering that the now vengeful stalker escalates to threats towards Wade’s 12 year old daughter, Amy.  Agreeing to accept the protection of the Elite Guardians, though uncomfortable at the thought of women placing themselves in danger for his family, Wade and Olivia work together to unmask the identity of the stalker before he or she finally succeeds in ever increasingly dangerous attacks. 

There is an element of romance between Olivia and Wade, but while it is solid, it is never the main focus of the story – which is very realistic given the situation they find themselves in, and Wade’s daughter’s safety and wellbeing being the most important factor in his life (as it should be).  Amy is a preteen with serious anxiety issues.  I felt for Amy throughout this book as she very bravely battles her sometimes crippling anxiety.  Eason does a fantastic job with this character; rarely have I read such a believable portrayal of child, especially one with anxiety.  Amy’s relationship with Olivia is also beautifully handled and it is a joy to watch them become friends. 

 

Wade and Olivia’s mutual attraction is immediate, but before they can entertain the thought of a relationship, both of them have to address some of the scars from their pasts, and they both have to break down the walls that they have erected to keep themselves from being hurt in order to let each other in. Wade’s strong faith in God helps him tremendously throughout the story, and even helps Olivia, whose faith has been shaken following a traumatic event in her past that she struggles to make peace with.  As Wade needs Olivia to keep him and his daughter physically safe, she needs him to guide her back to God.

 

The action in Always Watching begins right out of the gate and truly doesn’t let up right until the very end.  The element of suspense is ever-present and Eason keeps the reader on the edge of their seat with the next threat right around the corner.  I did, however, manage to identify the stalker very early on, which is the reason I am scoring this book 3 hearts.

 

 

Product Information:
Title: Always Watching

Series: Elite Guardians. First in Series
Author: Lynette Eason
Publisher: Revell
Year: 2016
Pages: 336
ISBN-10:  0800723260
ISBN-13: 978-0800723262
ASIN: B012H102DO

 Related Posts:

Review: Deadly Reunions 1: When the smoke clears ~ Lynette Eason

Review: Deadly Reunions 2: When a heart stops ~ Lynette Eason

Review: Deadly Reunions 3: When a secret kills ~ Lynette Eason

Review: A killer among us ~ Lynette Eason

 

REVIEW: WHEN A SECRET KILLS ~ LYNETTE EASON

Revell Publishers has graciously supplied me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

After ten years of looking over her shoulder, Jillian Carter is tired of running.  When she saw a crime committed the night of her High School graduation, Jillian was young and scared, and when instinct told her to flee, she did.  Now she’s finally ready to go back home to right a wrong and finally put the past behind her. 

Young as he had been when they were together, Colton Brady had loved Jillian Carter with all of his being.  He could never understand her sudden disappearance, and he certainly could never forget the girl he had wanted to spend the rest of his life with.  He even became a cop for the sole purpose of finding her, but Jillian had changed her identity and ultimately had been too good at hiding.  Her friends, Alexia and Serena, seem convinced that something had scared Jillian badly enough to get her on the first bus out of town, and that whatever it was had recently put all of their lives in danger.

When Jillian is attacked at the airport mere minutes after arriving home, Colton can’t help but concede that whatever she saw, someone clearly wants to silence her; but when Jillian accuses Colton’s uncle of murder, will family honour take precedence over claims of his High School sweetheart?

As they work together to discover the truth (Jillian believes Senator Frank Hoffman guilty of murder, Colton works to prove his innocence), it soon becomes clear that their long ago love is not in the past at all; but with an even bigger secret Jillian has been keeping for ten years, could Colton ever forgive her and give their rekindled love a chance?

When A Secret Kills by Lynette Eason is the third and final instalment of the Deadly Reunions series.  After ten years of running, hiding and learning to take care of herself, Jillian Carter is finally ready to come home and face her demons; especially with her secret risking the lives of her best friends, Alexia and Serena.  With recent attempts on both of their lives, Jillian knows the time for the truth is at hand.  She expects danger, she expects opposition, but what she does not expect is for the love of her life to pick her up at the airport.  After running away without so much as a goodbye, Jillian doesn’t know what to expect from Colton, but one thing is certain; they have unfinished business.

Colton won’t believe his uncle is guilty of murder, as Jillian claims.  He agrees to help her discover the truth of that long ago night, if only to prove his uncle’s innocence.  With attempt upon attempt on Jillian’s life, Colton admits that she knows something that someone is willing to kill for, but when attempts are made on his own life Colton’s faith in his uncle’s innocence is strengthened.  His uncle would never see him harmed… would he?

When A Secret Kills is a fast paced, action packed read, even more intense than its predecessors.  Jillian is literally running for her life from the very first page, and the danger continues throughout the novel.  There is a ten year old mystery to be solved, and danger mounts as the puzzle pieces start to come together.

It was great to finally meet Jillian and as a character she did not disappoint.  She’s tough as nails yet has a very believable vulnerability about her.  I enjoyed the interaction between Jillian and Colton, but just wish there was more interaction between the three ladies of the novels.  For best friends these three spend hardly any time together after finally being reunited after years apart.  It would have been nice to finally see the three of them together.  I wish Serena and Alexia had bigger roles in this novel, but as it is their men seemed to play a bigger part. 

While both Jillian and Colton are believers, there is much less focus on faith than the previous two books, something I sorely missed.  The majority of this book was more action than religious fiction.  Even so, When a Secret Kills is by no means a disappointment, rather a very satisfying conclusion to the trilogy.  

Product information:

Title: When A Secret Kills

Author: Lynette Eason

Pages: 352

Publisher: Revell

Year: 2013

ISBN: 0800720091

ISBN13: 9780800720094

Related posts:

Review: Deadly Reunions #1: When The Smoke Clears ~Lynette Eason

Review: Deadly Reunions #2: When A Heart Stops ~ LynetteEason

Review: A Killer Among Us ~ Lynette Eason

REVIEW: WHEN A HEART STOPS ~ LYNETTE EASON

A killer's deadly game needs new players... but someone's about to change the rules.

Medical examiner Serena Hopkins is used to dealing with death, but her composure is put to the test when a familiar modus operandi marks the piling bodies; the stakes become higher as it becomes apparent that a serial killer copycat is on the loose.  Another chilling common denominator is the fact that the victims are all members of Serena’s High School graduating class, getting ready to celebrate their 10 year reunion.  Serena knows a very dangerous game is being played and she might very well be in danger herself.  Nearly as unnerving is the presence of FBI agent Dominic Allen, her best friend’s brother and childhood crush, lead investigator on the case.

As the bodies and the evidence pile up, Serena and Dominic must work together to find a pattern and stop the killer before he strikes again.  When Serena catches the killer’s eye and a game of cat and mouse ensues, Dominic must face the reality that the girl he once ignored because he believed he wasn’t good enough for her, has become the woman he is falling in love with.  When Serena finds herself in serious danger, she must determine if the secret that she has been keeping is what has put her next on the killer's hit list. Can she trust Dominic with the truth before it's too late?

Lynette Eason’s When A Heart Stops is the second book in the Deadly Reunions series.  As with When The Smoke Clears I really enjoyed this book, but not quite as much as the first, simply because the detail this time around wasn’t as solid as in book 1.  I’m big on detail and consistency, and as with Eason’s older works I found myself questioning consistency;  for example something as simple as the location where Serena left her car (Eason missed a great opportunity here, by the way – I found myself waiting for an explosion of a car bomb.  It was set up perfectly, but didn’t happen – this is not Eason’s fault, though, but my own.  My imagination is just way too fertile).  Regardless, I still believe Eason’s writing is becoming more solid and the Deadly Reunions series is still way better than the Women Of Justice series.  The works of solving a case, as well as Serena's work as a medical examiner, is portrayed very realistically, and the case is gripping.

  

While I really like Dominic and Serena, the character development isn’t as strong this time around compared to the growth Alexia undergoes in When The Smoke Clears.  Dominic’s feelings towards his and Alexia’s father, for example, isn’t explored thoroughly. Furthermore the focus on faith isn't quite as prominent this time around either, which is something I missed.

From the very first page the killer's focus is on tormenting two best friends.  Therefore, I would have expected the killer to ultimately focus on Serena and Alexia; however *spoiler alert* he focuses on Serena and a teenage girl instead.  While it is always a good thing for an author when their work is not predictable, this did not make sense to me.  I also think if Serena and Alexia were the ones in trouble the tension and suspense could have been remarkable.  Eason had so many great possibilities that she just did not use.

Eason also set up two potentially important storylines, but didn’t follow through; first, Serena had decided to set herself up as bait for the killer, but things worked out differently – baiting the killer would have been a much more thrilling thread to follow than the one Eason ended up using; so much potential for suspense!  Also, a significant part of Serena and Dominic’s relationship hinges on the fact that Serena doesn’t want to be with a man like her father, and at times Dominic reminds her of her father too much.  This is Serena’s greatest doubt concerning Dominic, and it (as well as the dynamic between Serena’s parents) is something Dominic picks up on.  This setup pointed to an inevitable choice, yet it is one Serena never addresses.  There is not a conclusion to this question mark and it is something that still hangs over Serena and Dominic at the end.  Perhaps Eason will address this issue in When A Secret Kills, the next and final instalment of the Deadly Reunions series.

It will follow Serena and Alexia’s friend, Jillian Carter, as she finally returns home to face the demons that have been chasing her for ten years.  I look forward to finally finding out what Jillian saw that put her life in danger.  When A Secret Kills will be released in May 2013.

Product Information:

Title: When A Heart Stops

Author: Lynette Eason

Number of pages: 336

Publisher: Revell

Year: 2012

ISBN: 0800720083

ISBN13: 9780800720087

REVIEW: WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS ~ LYNETTE EASON

Over the holidays I came across When The Smoke Clears in my bookstore – it looked pretty interesting, so I decided to give Lynette Eason another shot.  Good thing I did!

Growing up in a home with an abusive father caused Alexia Allen to have trouble believing that a Heavenly Father can be loving.  Kicked out of her childhood home right after completing High-School, she has just as much trouble believing her mother ever loved her at all.  Abandoned by her older brother as soon as he was old enough to leave, and losing her beloved sister through suicide, Alexia finds herself truly alone in the world; except for her best friend Serena Hopkins.

Having been accused and believed to be guilty of the arson that left her father and sister disfigured, Alexia aims to heal from the horror of the fire that lead to her sister’s eventual suicide by becoming a smokejumper.  Knowing better than most that fire can ruin a life in an instant, Alexia always takes excellent care of the equipment that keeps her safe; so when she nearly dies in a fire due to equipment failure, she knows that something sinister is going on. When Alexia learns through Serena that her mother is seriously ill, and she finds herself suspended pending an investigation, she decides to face all of her demons by going home for her High-School Reunion, and recuperating in her mother's home.  Yet trouble seems to be following her, and within hours of arriving back in town Alexia finds herself in the centre of a murder investigation. 

When Alexia also realises her mother’s friends and neighbours deeply resent her unforgiving nature, for not staying in contact with her mother, she must furthermore face the possibility that her mother is indeed the changed woman Serena claims she is, and that Alexia may carry some blame herself.  Suddenly surrounded by people who encourage Alexia to turn to God, Alexia further embarks on a tentative relationship with a God she doesn’t understand; a God she truly believes is punishing her through the events wreaking havoc with her life.  Could she be wrong about this too?  More than anything Alexia has always yearned for a loving father; could God possibly be the answer? 

Attempts on Alexia’s life complicate matters even further as it seems current events are linked to the mysterious disappearance of her and Serena’s friend, Jillian Carter, and Alexia furthermore becomes the centre of attention of two brothers each intent on protecting her life and vying for her heart.  But the conflicts ahead are nothing compared to the ghosts of the past.  As Alexia strives to finally accept and forgive her family history, she must also decide if the secret she's been guarding for the last ten years must finally come to light.

Lynette Eason totally redeems herself with this one!  Truthfully, comparing it to A Killer Among Us and Too Close To Home, it doesn’t even feel like the same author wrote these books.  The detail this time around is accurate and consistent, and the characters are strong and interesting.  Eason has a talent for convincingly portraying troubled relationships with God, and its eventual healing.  I thoroughly enjoyed every single page. When The Smoke Clears is the first book in the Deadly Reunions series, and I sincerely look forward to reading the next two books, When A Heart Stops and When A Secret Kills.

I am very pleased I tried a new Lynette Eason book.  Practice makes perfect, and her writing is becoming stronger and more gripping. 

Product Information:

Title: When The Smoke Clears

Author: Lynette Eason

Number of pages: 352

Publisher: Revell

Year: 2012

ISBN-10: 0800720075

REVIEW: A KILLER AMONG US ~ LYNETTE EASON

New in town, hostage negotiator Detective Kit Kenyon is partnered with Detective Noah Lambert – against his will. Feeling guilt over the death of his previous partner, Noah isn’t quite ready to take on a new one, but doesn’t have much choice. Within mere weeks of working together, Kit and Noah are thrown into a serial killer case. On top of dealing with the pressures of the job and getting to know (and falling in love with) her new partner, Kit is also getting to know her family. Having recently found out that she was adopted at birth, Kit left her adoptive family and home behind to get to know her birth family. Dealing with extreme feelings of rejection on one hand and guilt on the other, questioning her place in the world and her relationship with God, Kit is forced to take a hard look at her life when the killer focuses his attention on her, and she starts wondering how long she might have left to live.

As previously mentioned, I wasn't blown away by Lynette Eason's Too Close To Home, and sadly I didn’t find A Killer Among Us to be much better. The writing is a little too light for my taste, and at times a little too cutesy. The way the characters speak sometimes came across very unnatural to me. I also got very annoyed with the investigators who didn’t immediately connect the deaths (could it be any more obvious they are related?), and that they didn’t immediately make the connection that all the victims (save one) were in the graduating class from the same Law School. This is supposed to be a detective novel – I need the detectives to be sharper and not catch on much later than I do. About halfway through the book: “They’re all law students. I wonder if that’s the connection somehow?”. Really?! You think?! The response: “Possibly.” My word…

 

There are also a lot of little inconsistencies in this novel. First, a piece of evidence is a diamond and ruby tennis bracelet. Later it magically turns into a diamond and emerald tennis bracelet. Kit’s signature scents are initially said to be vanilla soap and strawberry shampoo. Later, it is combined into vanilla shampoo. At one point Kit reflects something along the lines of “So she was killed sometime this morning”, when by my calculations it should have been “sometime yesterday morning”. Readers pick up on these things! Ms Eason and her editor should have been much more observant. Impeccable details are what make a great novel.  Furthermore, Kit and Noah are partners, yet when she gets shot and it is decided she has to stay in the hospital overnight, he doesn’t even come back to check on her. She later decides to take a couple of days leave during a serial killer investigation, but doesn’t bother to tell her partner. Unrealistic! Partners always have each other’s backs. In real life, they wouldn’t do things like that.

On the positive side, Kit’s internal struggle at dealing with finding out she was adopted, attempting to accept it and get to know her birth family and get over her anger towards her adoptive family, was very realistic and heartbreaking at times. Her need to hold onto self righteous anger is very convincing. Kit’s need for a relationship with God, and her gradual submission in giving God her heart is the most beautiful and best written part of the story. Since the spiritual aspect is ultimately the whole point of the novel, I guess that makes up for the other little issues.

If you enjoy books about building bridges with God, you won’t be disappointed in this one.  Just don’t focus too hard on the police work details.  It’s not a hardcore crime drama, so don’t expect to have to work hard to connect the dots, but if you’re in the mood for a quick, light read, this book might be the way to go.

Product information:

Title: A Killer Among Us

Author: Lynette Eason

Number of pages: 352

Publisher: Revell

Year: 2011

ISBN-10: 0800733711

ISBN-13: 978-0800733711 

NOW READING: A KILLER AMONG US ~ LYNETTE EASON

So I have finished Randy Singer's The Last Plea Bargain, but my official Tyndale posting date is April 16th, so I'll withhold all comments until then.

I have now started reading A Killer Among Us by Lynette Eason.  It's the third book in the Women of Justice series.  I read the first one (Too Close To Home) a couple of months ago, and wasn't terribly crazy about it, but it wasn't a horrible book, and I like to give authors second chances, so we'll see how this one goes. 

It seems I missed book 2 altogether as the stores don't even seem to stock it anymore (well, let's not get carried away, I tried three stores), but it doesn't seem to have had a major influence on book 3.  All the important information has been relayed already, so it's no problem to read these books individually.  At least that's something.