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: OUT OF CONTROL ~ SARAH ALDERSON

 

After watching her friend and bodyguard die at the hands of men who intended to harm her, Liva shuts down all her feelings.  She goes through life with her emotions switch turned off; but Liva finds solace in the adrenaline coursing through her veins when she climbs structures she’s not supposed to.  With her father out of town shortly after she moves in with him in New York, she spends a few nights with his friends, her father not comfortable leaving her alone in a new city.  When she can’t sleep one night she opens her bedroom window and silently climbs on top of the roof.  Looking for peace, Liva finds unexpected safety instead when she hears her hosts being murdered.  Liva reports the crime and is taken to the police station in protective custody to give her official statement.  At the desk next to her is Jay, who is not a witness but a criminal.  Being cuffed to the desk kind of gives that away.  When a gunman in a cop’s uniform starts shooting up the police station, Liva and Jay must depend on each other to escape the massacre.  When Liva contacts her father for help, the team he sends to retrieve her are intercepted and Liva is caught between two rival groups; one who wants to take her, willing or not, and one who wants her dead.  It soon becomes clear that Liva is somehow at the center of the chaos; but why? Who wants to kidnap her, who wants her dead, and how do the two groups connect?  On the run, Liva and Jay must stay one step ahead of the shooter, the mysterious agents, the police (Jay is a fugitive, after all) and a local gang while fitting together pieces known and unknown – and fighting the intense connection neither can’t deny.  A poor car thief and a wealthy dancer, on the surface they have nothing in common; but for the first time Liva has met someone who makes her feel as alive as she does when she’s standing on top of a high-rise.  The timing is horrendous, the circumstances far from ideal, but can Liva resist the young man who brings her to life?

 

 

Out of Control by Sarah Alderson is an action-packed adventure that doesn’t give you time to catch your breath.  The action starts almost immediately and doesn’t let up until the end.  Authors seldom succeed in making me truly fear for the safety of the protagonists, but Alderson managed to get me to tense up several times.  She does a great job of keeping the reader on their toes, keeping the mystery alive while dropping clues, making the reader work with Liva and Jay to find answers.  The ultimate truth of why Liva is targeted is a shocking turn of events Alderson masterfully weaved into the story.  The chemistry between Liva and Jay jumps off the page and the progression of their relationship is very believable under the circumstances.  The sexual content of the book is very mature but stops short of being adult level. 

 

Out of Control is an exciting, satisfying read that takes the reader on an electrifying adventure with the perfect blend of action, mystery and romantic suspense.

 

 

 

Product Information:
Title: Out of Control

Series: Standalone

Author: Sarah Alderson

Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK

Year: 2014

Pages: 321

ISBN-10: 1481427172

ISBN-13: 978-1481427173

ASIN: B00EB9Z8XU

Related Posts:

Review: Hunting Lila - Sarah Alderson

Review: Losing Lila - Sarah Alderson

Review: Tormenting Lila - Sarah Alderson

Review: Fated - Sarah Alderson

Review: Come Back To Me - Mila Gray (Sarah Alderson)

 

REVIEW: CHESAPEAKE VALOR 1: COLD SHOT ~ DANI PETTREY

Cold Shot by Dani Pettrey is the first book in the Chesapeake Valor series.  Each book in the series will be loosely connected to the others and feature many of the same characters, but will function well as standalone stories.  While it is not necessary to read all of the books or to read them in order, enjoyment of the series will obviously be enhanced by reading all of the books in order.

 

 

Cold Shot follows the story of former sniper turned park ranger Griffin McCray who uncovers a fresh grave during a routine patrol.  What initially seems to be a relatively routine investigation turns deadly when forensic anthropologist Finley Scott discovers evidence pointing to the work of an expert sniper.  With Finley refusing to back down from investigating the case, Griffin has no choice but to work with the interesting woman whom he has studiously worked to avoid for several months, along with his childhood friends, FBI agent Declan Grey and crime scene analyst, Parker Mitchell. 

 

 

When their persistent digging places Finley in the crosshairs of the deadly sniper, Griffin must finally admit his attraction to her and the fact that he has avoided her because he doesn't believe  himself ready for the kind of relationship a woman like Finley deserves.  Along with everything else on Griffin's plate, the tension between him and Parker places the entire team on edge.  Finley learns that the trio, who were once inseparable, drifted apart following the disappearance of their friend, and a mysterious traumatic event in their past which Griffin and Parker refuse to discuss.  The reason for this rift is another mystery the reader must work to solve. 

Along with finding the killer, Griffin must face his past, confront his demons and come to terms with a few hard truths to not only protect the woman he can no longer deny he loves, but to feel worthy of her.  Unbeknownst to Griffin, the "perfect" Finley is fighting demons of her own when their case places her life in danger, reminiscent of a previous case that left her with scars she desperately tries to hide from her new friends.  What exactly happened to Finley also remains a mystery through a large part of the story, adding to the list of mysteries which must be solved.  

It may not be fair to compare an author's newest works to its predecessors, but let's be honest; we all do it.  While the quality of Dani Pettrey's work remains top notch, I found that I did not enjoy Cold Shot nearly as much as I did the Alaskan Courage series, each book having had me on the edge of my seat throughout.  Those were well-researched, had great suspense, character depth and growth and tangible chemistry.  This was not the case with Cold Shot. I just did not connect with Griffin and Finley, or their story, to the extent that I was invested in the outcome, or ever feared for their safety at any one point.  I was way more invested in the few moments we got to share with Parker and Avery (who feature as the main characters in the second Chesapeake Valor book, Still Life; review to follow in due course).  Both Griffin and Finley are likable, intriguing characters, but for me they just did not have the chemistry I have come to expect from Pettrey and I found it hard to get emotionally invested in their story.  While Finley is opened interested in Griffin from the get-go, the bigger part of the story sees Griffin fighting his attraction to Finley and shooting her down.  At times I also found myself thinking that Finley does not have enough scenes and that she does not feel like a main character.  Instead of utilizing the potential a smart and brave female character such as Finley presented, her skills were ultimately not essential to the investigation, and she became a sidekick to Griffin's hero, sadly only serving as a damsel in distress for him to protect. I would say Cold Shot is about 80% mystery, 20% romance, and I personally prefer my mystery-to-romance-ratio way more balanced. 

I do love the way Pettrey portrayed both Griffin and Finley as devout Christians who each have a deep, meaningful relationship with God.  The religion aspect of the book was perfectly balanced, very much present but not too overbearing to be off-putting to readers who might be non-believers.  I loved all of the prayers both Griffin and Finley prayed; those were beautifully written.

All in all Cold Shot is by no means a disappointing read, but I cannot deny that it fell short of my expectations.  I am, however, very much looking forward to reading Parker and Avery's story and I will be picking up Still Life shortly.

 

 Product Information:

Title: Cold Shot

Series: Chesapeake Valor (Standalone)

Author: Dani Pettrey

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

Year: 2016

Pages: 338

ISBN-10: 0764211978

ISBN-13: 978-0764211973

ASIN: B012H0ZYAQ

 

Related posts:

Review: Submerged ~ Dani Pettrey

Review: Shattered ~ Dani Pettrey

Review: Stranded ~ Dani Pettrey

Review: Silenced ~ Dani Pettrey

Review: Sabotaged ~ Dani Pettrey

REVIEW: THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS: CITY OF ASHES ~ CASSANDRA CLARE

The second book of Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instruments series, City of Ashes, picks up roughly where City of Bones left off.  Clary attempts to get her life back to normal by ignoring the supernatural world she now knows exists, and avoiding the Shadowhunters, most especially Jace.  Following the destruction of her home, Clary now lives with Luke while her mother is still comatose in the hospital. 

Alec and Isabelle’s parents have returned and are once again in charge of The Institute.  Jace’s life is suddenly in turmoil as he not only has to deal with his feelings for Clary and the fact that she is his sister (see spoiler at the end of this post if you are so inclined), but he also finds himself homeless when Maryse Lockwood kicks him out of The Institute for the very same reason he now finds himself being investigated by The Clave: Nobody believes that he had no knowledge that Valentine is his father.  Should Jace be found guilty by the Inquisitor, who seems particularly hostile towards him, he stands to be stripped of his marks and sentenced to life as a mundane. 

 

With downworlder-children turning up dead and drained of their blood, and a sudden increase of demon activity, Clary and Jace must put their confusing feelings for each other aside and work together to not only discover why downworlder children are being killed, but also prove Valentine’s involvement and Jace’s innocence. 

The story transitions rather seamlessly from the conclusion of City of Bones to the events of City of Ashes.  The only interesting and sudden jump that took me by surprise is the fact that Clary and Simon are now a couple.  It was strange finding them making out in the beginning of the book, especially knowing Clary’s feelings towards Jace.  I was quite frustrated with Clary’s behaviour towards Jace in this book (actually I was quite frustrated with Clary in general.  Ignoring the world doesn’t mean you’re not a Shadowhunter.  Quit acting like a mundane!).  Jace is as much a victim of circumstances as she is (if not more so), and I feel he handles this very unfortunate turn of events much better than Clary does.  He never once treats her badly, even when he’s angry with her.  Clary on the other hand does nothing but hurt Jace all throughout the book.  If she’s not ignoring him, she’s yelling at him and rubbing her relationship with Simon in his face.  The chemistry between Clary and Jace is really well done, and all the angst surrounding their situation is eloquently handled.  As for Simon, I found him to be even more annoying than he was in City of Bones.  To my mind he forces his company and his feelings on Clary, taking advantage of her fragile state of mind.  (*Spoiler alert – Simon almost dies twice, and each time I was disappointed to learn he is still alive.  He annoys me that much).  By the end of City of Bones Isabelle had just started growing on me, and she’s sadly very much a non-character in this book.  We see very little of Isabelle.  Alec is slightly more prominent, but I would have liked to see more of all of the four of them together – Clary, Jace, Isabelle and Alec have a group dynamic that just works and it was rather frustrating that we didn’t really get to see it this time around.  

As for the plot, for a whole lot of pages not a whole lot happens.  Valentine has stolen another Mortal Instrument and needs the blood of downworlder-children (sixteen years old or younger) in order to complete a ritual that would make the Instrument switch its allegiance from The Clave to Valentine.  Valentine, who is supposed to be this super villain who has an army of demons at his beck and call, has trouble finding three children.  I found it quite unrealistic and I have trouble taking him seriously as a threat if he can’t even find three children.  The Inquisitor makes for a better villain than Valentine!  Having said that, he is very charming and cunning, which at least makes him interesting.

While this second book in the series is not as exciting or captivating as the first, I still enjoyed the story and look forward to continuing the journey.  

  

Product information:

Title: City of Ashes

Series: The Immortal Instruments (Book 2)

Author: Cassandra Clare

Publisher: Walker Books Ltd 

Year: 2009

Pages: 476

ISBN-10: 1416972242

ISBN-13: 978-1416972242

ASIN: B003Z0BWR2

 

Related Posts:

Review: City of Bones ~ Cassandra Clare

Movie: City of Bones 

If you wish to know the nature of Clary and Jace’s relationship, here it is:

They are not related.  Clary and Jace are not brother and sister.  I’m not sure how it all fits together, but I Googled it to find out because I just cannot read a book with a romantic plot device about a brother and sister who love each other inappropriately.  I had to know for sure that they are not brother and sister before I continued this journey with them.  I understand the truth comes out in the next book, City of Glass.