Book Description
Matt Stromsoe has come a long way since his wife and son were killed in an explosion meant for him. Wounded severely in both body and spirit, Stromsoe gave up the last thing that held any meaning for him—his job on the police force—and proceeded to hit rock bottom, hard.
That was a lifetime ago, and finally the spiral of personal destruction and despair seems to have come to an end. The man responsible for the murders—Stromsoe's best friend from childhood and his wife's old lover—is behind bars and Stromsoe has put the past behind him, rescued from the abyss by a former colleague who offers him a job at his private security firm. Stromsoe's first assignment is to protect local television personality Frankie Hatfield from a stalker. But the further Stromsoe is drawn into this case, the more he finds that the net of intrigue is wide and ultimately leads back to the man who killed his family. As events conspire against him, Stromsoe learns that prison is no safeguard against revenge.
T. Jefferson Parker has been hailed as belonging "in the first rank of American crime novelists" (Washington Post Book World) and praised for "some of the finest writing you'll ever read" (Chicago Sun-Times). Superbly crafted, emotionally complex, and filled with heart-stopping action, Storm Runners proves why the novels of T. Jefferson Parker are impossible to resist.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book.......2007-10-01
This was a great book by T Jefferson Parker. His knowledge of the Spanish Gang called La Emme is very insightful and believable. He also takes you back and gives you history of the LA DPW. Very good book from start to finish.
SHOWDOWN IN THE VALLEY.......2007-09-20
The story of these two individuals is tied together with the lives of first one woman, who eventually married the cop, and one of the drug lord's lovers, who was killed by the actions of the cop. After the killing of the Ofelia, Mike Tavarez's lover, he tries to kill the cop, Matt Stromsoe, but ends up killing Matt's wife and young son instead. Matt himself is injured in the bomb blast and spends years recuperating and rehabilitating. He also spends time just trying to kill himself through drinking and pity.
But another friend of Matt's, Dan Birch pulls him back from the brink of self-destruction and gets him into rehab, then offers him a job working security with Dan's firm.
Here is where the stories start to intertwine. The person Matt is assigned to be a bodyguard for is a Fox News Weather Lady whose high-profile life has attracted a stalker. She has asked for protection and for Dan's company to stop the stalker.
Of course there are layers and layers of lies and deception and eventually the threads of the plot lead us back to Tavarez. Even though he is in prison, he still maintains a lucrative and vast network of corruption in the Southwest.
Throw in a formula for making rain, corrupt utility executives, scared innocents, and a little romance and you have a formula for a good read that keeps you turning the pages.
Parker takes the time to let us in on the mindset of the characters, he lets us see their flaws and their strengths. He leads us to the final showdown and ties up all the loose ends. Its always a pleasure to read his books.
Parker is on the downswing.......2007-07-20
Sorry Jeff, but I just couldn't get past the unbelievable plot cornerstone: seeding the sky to make it rain. I found that central point, and the manner in which it is presented, to be quite preposterous. Character development was only passable - - not great. I was actually happy when the book ended, so I could move on to DeMille, Lescroart, Coben, et al.
Gripping.......2007-07-18
One of Parker's best. No gruesome ways to kill or torture women as in the sex criminal who practiced taxidermy on them, no people-eating serpents, which had turned me off to his books. Ditto tired jaded cops in all mystery fiction, a boring stereotype. Here a cracking good story. Parker's typical damaged hero rehabilitates to bodyguard a San Diego TV weather woman, the romantic interest--but a bit too convenient. Why do women always fall into the arms of a PI hero with no effort on his part? Too common, unlikely male fantasy. The woman is also more normal vs so often so off-center as to be unbelievable in some of his books, though she has an unusual obsession. Only plot flaw: Why would a major bad guy only decide to break out of prison at the end when he had the means and know-how to do it all along? Again too convenient to the plot. Parker's lyrical and fresh descriptions of nature always illuminate, now that he has dropped sleep-inducing multi-page descriptions of setting. His voice is unique and fresh, the menace in the plot one not explored to my knowledge, and twists of plot and character make STORM RUNNERS a standout, and a fast satisfying read.
Three and a half stars.......2007-07-16
I think I've read nearly all of T. Jefferson Parker's books. I love his fast paced books set in Southern California. I thought this was a good book but not his best. Still worth reading. I look forward to your next one!
Book Description
What do thrill-seeking women want?
A fantasy-fulfilling abduction...an exciting rescue by a scorching hot guy...with an unforgettable night of passion. So they go to www.takemetonite.com -- and then they die.
Someone has to stop it.
When Sage Valentine discovers that her roommate's shocking suicide might be related to a website that provides edgy, thrill-seeking entertainment, she immediately books her own "abduction" to get some answers. But her "rescuer" isn't really who she thinks he is....Johnny Christiano is dedicated to the Bullet Catchers, who saved him from a wise guy's life of crime and turned him into an elite bodyguard. When he's assigned to stop Sage's kidnapping, he's unexpectedly trapped between deceit and sizzling desire. But the closer Johnny and Sage get to the truth, the closer danger stalks them...until death is only a double-click away.
Customer Reviews:
Bullet Catcher Series is Great!.......2007-10-01
This series of book is worth the read. Great action and it is well written. Very enjoyable.
Hot, Hot, Hot!.......2007-09-17
I'm a big fan of this series and this book is just another jewel in the Bullet Catchers crown. Ms. St. Claire has a real talent for writing HOT heroes and heroines you can sympathize with.
Now all I need to know is where to hire these Bullet Catchers...*wink*
Can't wait for the next one, First You Run - I'm going to pre-order now!
Intriguing and Suspenseful.......2007-08-28
This is the first Bullet Catcher paperback I've read and it intrigued me from the start. The notion of getting kidnapped for a thrill seemed unnatural to me, so I had to find out more. Then, Sage really gets into the act just to investigate what really happened to her roommate who supposedly committed suicide. As surprising as this was, the book only gets better with lots of suspense, a few steamy sex scenes, and some cooking thrown in for good measure. I don't think I'll ever look at a cannoli the same again. Ha-ha. A great read!
Another winner.......2007-07-07
Roxanne St Claire once again proves she can work within a structure and create something new and different every time. She creates characters and gets you right into their heads. There's no way a reader can confuse any of her Bullet Catchers with another. I can't wait to meet them all.
Roxanne St. Claire Does It Again!!.......2007-07-04
I wanted to read something for a few minutes before bed, but this was the wrong choice!! Once I started TAKE ME TONIGHT, I could not put it down!! I was up until 1 am--4 hours past my usual bedtime, but I couldn't help it. The characters came alive for me from page one. I could totally relate to Sage, who is absolutely tenacious when it comes to getting at the truth. And Johnny--OMG! Who can't love a guy like that? A smart, sensitive hunk--and he cooks! During the suspense scenes (and there are a few), my heart pounded as I frantically read on. A totally good read and one I would recommend to anyone.
While I'm here, I'd like to remark on a comment left by another reviewer about Sage performing the "sexual service" in her effort to get information from Johnny. I can totally understand where she's coming from and under many circumstances, I would agree. But as I read on, that became much less of an issue for me. I could see that Sage's loyalty was so intense that she would do anything to discover the truth about her friend's murder.
Read it. You won't regret it!!!!!
Average customer rating:
- The unusual usual
- Terrible waste of time
- So,so.
- A road trip story with the gods
- It's Just that Nothing Happens
|
American Gods: A Novel
Neil Gaiman
Manufacturer: William Morrow
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ASIN: 0380973650 |
Amazon.com's Best of 2001
American Gods is Neil Gaiman's best and most ambitious novel yet, a scary, strange, and hallucinogenic road-trip story wrapped around a deep examination of the American spirit. Gaiman tackles everything from the onslaught of the information age to the meaning of death, but he doesn't sacrifice the razor-sharp plotting and narrative style he's been delivering since his Sandman days.
Shadow gets out of prison early when his wife is killed in a car crash. At a loss, he takes up with a mysterious character called Wednesday, who is much more than he appears. In fact, Wednesday is an old god, once known as Odin the All-father, who is roaming America rounding up his forgotten fellows in preparation for an epic battle against the upstart deities of the Internet, credit cards, television, and all that is wired. Shadow agrees to help Wednesday, and they whirl through a psycho-spiritual storm that becomes all too real in its manifestations. For instance, Shadow's dead wife Laura keeps showing up, and not just as a ghost--the difficulty of their continuing relationship is by turns grim and darkly funny, just like the rest of the book.
Armed only with some coin tricks and a sense of purpose, Shadow travels through, around, and underneath the visible surface of things, digging up all the powerful myths Americans brought with them in their journeys to this land as well as the ones that were already here. Shadow's road story is the heart of the novel, and it's here that Gaiman offers up the details that make this such a cinematic book--the distinctly American foods and diversions, the bizarre roadside attractions, the decrepit gods reduced to shell games and prostitution. "This is a bad land for Gods," says Shadow.
More than a tourist in America, but not a native, Neil Gaiman offers an outside-in and inside-out perspective on the soul and spirituality of the country--our obsessions with money and power, our jumbled religious heritage and its societal outcomes, and the millennial decisions we face about what's real and what's not. --Therese Littleton
Book Description
The storm was coming....
Shadow spent three years in prison, keeping his head down, doing his time. All he wanted was to get back to the loving arms of his wife and to stay out of trouble for the rest of his life. But days before his scheduled release, he learns that his wife has been killed in an accident, and his world becomes a colder place.
On the plane ride home to the funeral, Shadow meets a grizzled man who calls himself Mr. Wednesday. A self-styled grifter and rogue, Wednesday offers Shadow a job. And Shadow, a man with nothing to lose, accepts.
But working for the enigmatic Wednesday is not without its price, and Shadow soon learns that his role in Wednesday's schemes will be far more dangerous than he ever could have imagined. Entangled in a world of secrets, he embarks on a wild road trip and encounters, among others, the murderous Czernobog, the impish Mr. Nancy, and the beautiful Easter -- all of whom seem to know more about Shadow than he himself does.
Shadow will learn that the past does not die, that everyone, including his late wife, had secrets, and that the stakes are higher than anyone could have imagined.
All around them a storm of epic proportions threatens to break. Soon Shadow and Wednesday will be swept up into a conflict as old as humanity itself. For beneath the placid surface of everyday life a war is being fought -- and the prize is the very soul of America.
As unsettling as it is exhilarating, American Gods is a dark and kaleidoscopic journey deep into myth and across an America at once eerily familiar and utterly alien. Magnificently told, this work of literary magic will haunt the reader far beyond the final page.
Download Description
"Special Feature: This PerfectBound e-book contains ""On the Road to American Gods: Selected Passages from Neil Gaiman's Online Journal"". The storm was coming..Shadow spent three years in prison, keeping his head down, doing his time. All he wanted was to get back to the loving arms of his wife and to stay out of trouble for the rest of his life. But days before his scheduled release, he learns that his wife has been killed in an accident, and his world becomes a colder place. On the plane ride home to the funeral, Shadow meets a grizzled man who calls himself Mr. Wednesday. A self-styled grifter and rogue, Wednesday offers Shadow a job. And Shadow, a man with nothing to lose accepts. But working for the enigmatic Wednesday is not without its price, and Shadow soon learns that his role in Wednesday's schemes will be far more dangerous than he ever could have imagined. Entangled in a world of secrets, he embarks on a wild road trip and encounters, among others, the murderous Czernobog, the impish Mr. Nancy, and the beautiful Easter-all of whom seem to know more about Shadow than he himself does. Shadow will learn that the past does not die, that everyone, including his late wife, had secrets, and that the stakes are higher than anyone could have imagined. All around them a storm of epic proportions threatens to break. Soon Shadow and Wednesday will be swept up into a conflict as old as humanity itself. For beneath the placid surface of everyday life a war is being fought-and the prize is the very soul of America. As unsettling as it is exhilarating, American Gods is a dark and kaleidoscopic journey deep into myth and across an America at once eerily familiar and utterly alien. Magnificently told, this work of literary magic will haunt the reader far beyond the final page. "
Customer Reviews:
The unusual usual.......2007-10-05
I liked this book. Gaiman has a way of making the unusual seem usual. It bothered me a bit because I know people who believe in gods exactly as Gaiman describes them. And after reading the book I'm guessing a lot of that came from Gaiman. I've spent much of my time rejecting the notion of the supernatural lately and so even though the book is written as fiction, it still bothered me a bit. But I was able to overlook that dissatisfaction enough to enjoy the book.
The book centers on Shadow, a man who's life is changed when he is released from prison early after his wife is killed in an accident. As he's dealing with his grief, a man offers him a job. Shadow doesn't want to do anything more than put his wife to rest, but instead he's caught up in a story and a world that he never imagined existed.
Parts of the book are just fantastic. The description and the characters in Lakeside, a town Shadow hides out in later in the book, made this book for me. I could see Lakeside in my mind and it was a place that I wanted to visit. It was that perfect small-town where things really aren't perfect, but it's still beautiful and moving, even in the midst of tragedy. If I could imagine a perfect place to live (minus the murders), it would be there.
I also loved the bit with Anubis, Bast, and (I'm drawing a blank on the other god, Osiris?) in Memphis, Michigan (I think?) running the funeral parlor.
Overall the story was great. It took me a little bit longer to get into, but under normal circumstances I don't think it would have been as difficult. And once it captured me towards the last 100-150 pages I couldn't put it down.
Terrible waste of time.......2007-09-30
I was suckered in by virtue of reading all Nebula and Hugo winning and nominated books each year. But folks, the committees were "out to lunch" on this one. The premise was great, the execution terrible. The plot was lost in blathering vignettes of minute, if any, consequence. At 3/4 through the book, after page flipping through the second hundred pages looking for plot, after exclaiming to my wife: Where's the beef? a number of times, I just gave up. I tore the book into pieces and threw it forcefully into the trash can so nobody could repeat my exact mistake. I do this once every 3 or 5 years. That's how disappointed I was.
So,so........2007-09-24
Well, although I know this book has been very popular, it was not very interesting to me, and I stopped reading in the middle. The places, and the characters in the book are in my opnion not very Neil-geiman, and less creative compared to his other publications.
A road trip story with the gods .......2007-09-23
_American Gods_ is a road trip story of sorts, though one that visits places that are "behind the scenes" in this great country. It is also an epic quest, a story of destiny, prophecy, and a story of conflict between old and new. Also, much in the book is not as it appears.
The protagonist is a person by the name of Shadow, released from prison a few days before the completion of his sentence due to the death of his wife in a car accident. His best friend was unfortunately (for several reasons) was with his wife Laura, and as his friend had a job lined up for Shadow when he got out, our hero is at loose ends.
Or is he? On the plane ride home he encounters a strange older gentleman by the name of Wednesday. Knowing far more about Shadow than anyone could really know, he offers Shadow employment. Shadow tries to ditch him, getting off the plane at a layover and going across country in a rental car. Wednesday however finds him in an out of the way diner.
It seems Shadow cannot escape this Wednesday and his offer to be an assistant, so he accepts. Is also seems that Wednesday is a god. Odin to be specific, head of the Norse pantheon; though Shadow at first of course disbelieves this, it soon becomes clear that Shadow - and all of humanity - was unaware of what occurred behind the scenes in the mortal world.
Wednesday is not the only divinity living and working as a human (or sometimes animal) in the United States. Not only is the country a nation of immigrant mortals and the cultures they came from, but it is also a nation of immigrant gods and goddesses (and other beings) from every land and culture, including some very old cultures.
Wednesday gravely informs Shadow that a war is coming between the deities, one with the older, fading powers on one side - such as the Norse and Russian deities among many others - and the new, rising, American-grown powers on the other side. The beliefs, passions, and interests of people in the United States have unknowingly given rise to a new crop of arrogant, powerful, and rising gods of the internet, news media, automobiles, and credit cards, feeding off the power and unknowing sacrifices of millions of Americans. Apparently not content to become more powerful than the old gods, Wednesday says these new, American gods intend to hunt down and destroy the old deities.
What follows is a cross country trip by Wednesday and Shadow, trying to bring into the fold the scattered older gods, attempting to put up some united front against the much more powerful and better connected new gods. The two meet many interesting and vividly described characters along the way.
There are many good things about this novel. Even some of the most apparently minor secondary characters are well-drawn and vivid. Much of the quest took the two to small towns throughout the country (with Shadow hiding in one for an extended period of time) and Gaiman did a very good job of giving the feel of small town life to the reader. The book took place in winter and without overwhelming the reader Gaiman never let him or her forget the season either. The gloomy, snowy, wintry conditions really suited the storyline.
I liked the many gods, goddesses, and mythological monsters encountered by Shadow in his travels, some hiding in plain sight as normal humans and animals, others visible only by those who can see things behind the scenes. There were several vignettes, some quite good, early in the book describing how various deities and mythical beings made it over to this country, how the faerie of the British Isles or the gods of Africa for instance made it to these shores and thus remain in this country to this day, carried over by the actions of immigrants, residing in their hearts and minds. The variety of beings described is quite diverse and included some surprising inclusions.
The book had a great twist ending and much of the book was not as it appeared, that I also liked.
Laura, for reasons apparent to the reader later in the book, becomes a surprisingly important character, she was interesting.
As for the bad, well, there were several very graphic sex scenes early on in the novel, including one that was quite bizarre, even horrific (not gory, but definitely of a supernatural nature). Wednesday disappears for large segments of the book, leaving Shadow to his own devices. Though what Shadow does during his employer's absences is quite interesting and ultimately largely relevant to the greater plot, it does give the reader a feeling that much is being missed at times as to the nature of events in the book.
All in all a very good modern fantasy story.
It's Just that Nothing Happens.......2007-09-19
After hearing so much about this book, I thought it would be only fair to read it a few years after it has been out. But as another reviewer already wrote, this book is "numbingly SEDENTARY". It's painful to read as there are sentences that don't belong. There are too many "gods" who disappear and really have no significance. Basically, it's about a bunch of people (who are gods), that sit around, drink coffee, smoke, and bull. Really.
I can't believe I paid for this crap.
I'm giving it 2 stars because the Gods idea is cool.
Book Description
The daughter of a wealthy businessman, Jillian Kincaid grew up with bodyguards shadowing her every move-and she hated it. Now a TV anchorwoman, she refuses to let another hired thug follow her around. Not even when she begins to receive terrifying death threats. Not even when the bodyguard is the darkly seductive Nolan Garrett.... Trained in Special Ops, bodyguard Nolan Garrett has been hired by Jillian's father to keep her out of danger. But it's clear from the start that Jillian isn't going to make his job easy. Far from the spoiled princess he expected, Jillian is tough, independent, and totally sexy. And she's fighting him every step of the way.As Jillian's stalker raises the stakes, Nolan must keep her close if he wants to keep her alive. But being so close can only turn up the heat that's been simmering between them-a heat that could explode into passion at any moment....
Customer Reviews:
Book #1 in the EDEN Series.......2007-08-14
This book, LOL, almost caused me to fail one of my classes. I read this when I decided to return to school (what was I thinking?).
It was SO good that I couldn't put it down. LOL
My professor, caught me reading this in the hallway just before a test--yeah, I should have been studying--and then asked me to pass it to him when I finished. I did. He got and read the whole series from me and he liked them too.
This is Jillian and Nolan's story. Jillian comes up in the rest of the books because of her father's wealth, etc.
Jillian was a journalist and anchorwoman.
This was such a wonderful read, obviously. LOL
All in this series were AWESOME, fun to read and very well written. Once again, because of this author, the bar for "good" writing was raised for me.
This is one of my favorite authors that I routinely check her website for new releases. LOL
Well done.
Great reading.......2007-08-07
This is the first book I've read by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The characters were believeable and the story held my interest. I finished reading the book in 2 days. I'm on to the second in the series.
FULL OF SEXUAL TENSION!!.......2007-07-16
This is one of those love/hate books where the characters are drawn to each other. This is the most satisfying romance I have ever read, full of electric sexual tension between the two main protagonists. I truly loved this book, it's my all-time favorte, but now nothing seems to compare!!
Excellent 1st book!!.......2007-07-11
This book is awesome!! I could not put it down! From start to finish, it was excellent! I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series!! I highly recommend this! In fact, I am giving this series to my sister-in-law once I am finished.
Pretty decent.......2007-06-18
Jillian a TV anchorwoman has been receiving death threats and her father calls in Nolan Garrett to be her bodyguard. The beginning of the book started out great. Then the book slid into mainly centering on the attraction between the two characters. It took most of the book before the two main characters decided whether or not they wanted to get involved. There wasn't a lot of action and most of the book centered around the romance. I expected the book to contain more suspense and on the edge of your seat action, but unfortunaltely it did not. However, for the most part it kept my attention and I would be willing to read the next in the series.
Book Description
Amy Walker endured unspeakable horrors while being held as a hostage before she was rescued by Dallas Garrett and his brothers from E.D.E.N., Inc. Amy is determined to leave the past behind…but only after she gets some answers to the questions that haunt her: Why was she abducted by the terrorists? Why is her mother locked up in a mental institution?
Dallas wants Amy to know he’s a man she can trust. He’s incapable of offering her his love but promises his sworn protection while she embarks on her quest to discover the truth about her family…and herself.
Working on a lead, Amy and Dallas team up with an investigative journalist and an unlikely accomplice whose motives are as murky as his past. Soon they are drawn into the depths of a secret organization that practices non-consensual mind-control experimentation—one that Amy’s own grandfather appears to be involved in. With a ruthless enemy closing in fast Amy and Dallas race against time and risk their lives to expose these crimes against humanity…and share a passion neither of them could have expected.
Customer Reviews:
Jones & Jenna stole the show!.......2007-09-30
It seemes like I waited forever to get Dallas&Amy's story and while Into The Dark did become an action-packed tale, I can't say the romance between Dallas and Amy moved me. There seemed to be much more between them when they were in the Philippines so that in the end, this romance ends like a shipboard one. Once they reach home ground, the magic fizzles out. This was how I felt about Amy and that's a shame because the book is fast-paced and would have made an excellent movie.
Somehow, the emotion was missing from this book and it shouldn't have been the case because Dallas is supposed to be one tortured soldier, suffering from PTSD but Ms Gerard has failed to pull the reader into his tortured world because she chose 'telling' rather than 'showing'. As a result, when she tells me Dallas can't see a future for him with Amy, I was wondering why not. Sure, his team members got killed or injured in a mission but all soldiers suffer that kind of loss in war time. I didn't get to share even a little bit of what those teammates had with Dallas so when Ms Gerard fast forwards the story, Dallas' reasons for his depression got lost.
As for Amy, I just could not buy into her reason for going after her grandfather. But I guess I don't understand this need for revenge, especially if in Amy's case it was just to ask him why he did what he did. IMO, that was such a dumbass thing to do. Totally TSTL, which makes me feel that Dallas and Amy's romance wouldn't survive in real life.
But I am SO intrigued by Gabriel Jones! He and Jenna truly stole the show from the depressed Dallas and the TSTL Amy. Okay, TSTL is too harsh a word for Amy because she is a very capable and self-sufficient woman. I liked that she had no qualms killing her would-be asassin. I liked that Jones told her she could watch his back anytime. But her reason for going after her grandfather was still stupid.
Obvious Flaws.......2007-09-11
I won't get into the plot here, as many others have. I will just say that I was more excited to meet the men working with Dallas and Amy in Argentina, as they are sure to be featured in future books. Those guys had more charisma in their few pages than Dallas and Amy in all 300+ pages.
My largest pet peeve by far is how quickly Amy recovered from her trauma in the Philippines. Come on - six months later and she is suddenly an expert shot and good enough at an Israeli martial art to take down a Recon Marine? How much disbelief should I suspend here!?! I love to escape to someone else's world, but at least make it somewhat believable! And that is discounting the obvious mistake of using the term "revolver" to refer to a handgun with a clip!
Into the Dark .......2007-08-13
When Dallas Garrett and his brothers embarked on a rescue mission to the Philippines, they never expected to liberate another prisoner. Tortured and violated, Amy Walker's strength and spirit touches something deep within Dallas. Both battle scarred, they share an unspoken bond. While Dallas wants to protect Amy, he can't promise her anything more. Amy has more pressing matters anyway. Even though she has her suspicions, she needs to learn for certain who masterminded her abduction...before they try again.
Once back in the States, Amy quietly vanishes out of Dallas' life. Now six months later, Amy is closer to finding her answers, but the closer she gets to the truth, the more dangerous her quest becomes. Running out of options, she turns to the only person she trusts, Dallas. In the months since Amy's disappearance, Dallas has not forgotten her. When she crashes back into his life, the urge to protect her is just as strong, yet Amy isn't the same woman he saved. The flare of attraction the two first felt is now a blaze that neither can control. Thrust into a conspiracy bigger than either imagined, can Amy and Dallas find a safe way out of their troubles? Can either deny the love and passion they both feel?
Ever since reading To the Brink and getting my first peek at Dallas and Amy, I have been dying to read their story. With Into the Dark, Cindy Gerard delivers a heart-pounding, sensuous thriller that's totally worth the wait! Amy has evolved since I first met her. She is a strong, capable woman who's ready for anything. Tortured by his past, Dallas isn't sure he has anything to offer Amy, but he proves time and time again what a good and worthy man he is. The simmering sensuality that builds between the pair boils over in the most captivating way. I'll admit that at first, I had a hard time buying the secret cabal plotting world domination, but then Dallas wasn't believing it at the start either. Quickly however, I was swept up in the adventure, and Ms. Gerard made the story work. I also loved the secondary characters that teamed up with Dallas and Amy. Although this is the last Bodyguards book, I hope those two get their own series.
Reading like a big-budget Hollywood action-adventure, Into the Dark offers all the thrills and chills any romance lover could want! While I highly recommend Into the Dark, I would suggest folks also read the third Bodyguards book, To the Brink first. To the Brink provides a good bit of back-story and makes Into the Dark that much better.
Cheryl reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed
Not What I Expected.......2007-07-22
First of all let me say I love all the books in this series except for this one so far. I haven't read Manny's book yet. I was so looking forward to Dallas and Amy's story since their introduction. I wanted to feel their connection that they felt in that book but it was not meant to be. This book felt rushed to me. There's a lot of grammatical errors and plot holes. Just think Ms. Gerard didn't take her time. There really wasn't a build up to this one and the first time they re-meet it was so rushed and not wrote out. It was weird. I'm not going into the plot since so many on here already have but I just felt it was not as realistic as her other books. I just felt like it wasn't given the care that the others were. It's still a good book but it's not great. I loved that it gave you updates on the other family members.
A phenominal conclusion to Cindy Gerard's Bodyguard series.......2007-07-17
"Cindy Gerard has outdone herself penning a phenomenal conclusion with INTO THE DARK, Book #6 in her The Bodyguards series for St. Martin's (June 2007). INTO THE DARK sheds light on what has happened to terrorist hostage, Amy Walker, who first appeared in TO THE BRINK (1/06) after being rescued in the jungle by former Force Recon Marine turned
bodyguard, Dallas Garrett, and then disappeared upon their return to the U.S. Six months later Dallas, who runs E.D.E.N., Inc. protection agency with his siblings, is ready to leave for a trip to look for Amy when she shows up and collapses on his West Palm Beach doorstep. Dallas is sure Amy's in trouble when she mumbles about not wanting to be found. After she rests and they make love, Amy tries to sneak out on Dallas again because she doesn't want to put him in danger. But Dallas convinces Amy to confide in him and she divulges an incredible story about her German physician grandfather being in the SS and doing mind-control work for the Nazi's during and after World War II with her mother as one of his test subjects. Amy has been working in a mental hospital in New York where her mother is a patient while doing research to locate her grandfather and the secret organization that experiments on people against their wills. When someone tries to kill her after leaving work one night, Amy knows she's in terrible danger. Dallas has his own demons dealing with PTSD from his military missions. Amy's research trail, thanks to a journalist's article, leads her and Dallas to Argentina. With the help of a mysterious mercenary, who saves their lives, they're determined to locate and stop this organization from their evil work. Here is everything a reader could ask for in a great romantic suspense: beloved characters, riveting suspense, thrilling adventure and pulse-pounding passion! INTO THE DARK is utterly brilliant and firmly cements Cindy Gerard as a key author in the romantic suspense genre! - Patricia Rouse, Rouse's Romance Readers Groups
Book Description
Manny Ortega is a man without a country, and he has one woman to thank for it. She was his first and only true love, and when she left, she took more than his heart—she took his life as he knew it. Hardened and honed sharp as a knife by years as a special forces soldier and police detective, Manny is ready for a fresh start at his friend Ethan Garrett’s security firm. But the past isn’t ready to let him go...
Lily Campora never imagined what would happen to Manny after she walked away from him that night in the sultry Nicaraguan heat—or how he’d hated her for it every day since. Seventeen years later, Lily knows everything, and she must put her fear of Manny’s rage aside to beg for his help. His forgiveness may be too much to hope for...
Thrust into action on a mission that will transport them to a country rife with political turmoil and civil unrest, Manny and Lily must find a way to work together. And now, amidst the dangerous beauty of a landscape reminiscent of Manny’s homeland, passion will ignite once more...
Customer Reviews:
ROMANTIC ADVENTURE AT ITS BEST.......2007-07-27
I read this book straight through, could NOT put it down. Wow! What a wonderful story line, terrific characterizations and believable action. All that and a high level of sensuality as well.
I recommend this read to anyone who likes a strong, sexy hero, a heronie with brains and compassion and an exciting adventure.
MUST READ!
Also Recommended: Recipe for Love
FAST READ FOR A SNOWY DAY........2007-02-15
CINDY GERARD IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES ALL HER BODYGUARD BOOKS ARE EXITING AND ROMANTIC.
Another great tale!.......2007-02-13
If you've enjoyed the previous books in the Bodyguard series, here's another!! It is the perfect book for those that can't stick with it, as it keeps you enthralled with every page! I only wish Cindy could write them as quickly as I enjoy reading them... but I know she has to have a life too!!
Excellent romantic suspense!.......2007-02-07
While Lily Campora, nurse for Doctors Without Borders, works in the damp, dark jungles of Nicaragua, she eventually finds herself discouraged by the death and destruction that she and her medical team face every day. When a fellow nurse, who is a dear friend, is killed in a helicopter crash, a flight that Lily should have been on, she is stricken with guilt. When Lily meets a handsome young soldier, Manolo "Manny" Ortega, that same evening at a dinner hosted by a general in the Nicaraguan Army, she feels an immediate attraction, and despite her initial reluctance, she gives in to unexpected desire and the two begin a secret love affair. The affair ends almost as quickly as it begins a few nights later, with Lily being called away in the middle of the night and then told that Manny has died. Seventeen years later, Lily learns that Manny is very much alive, and working as a police detective in the United States. When serious threats are made against someone especially dear to Lily, she knows the only person she can turn to for help is Manny, although she is confused over why he never searched for her when he came to the states.
The moment freedom fighter Manolo "Manny" Ortega first sees Lily, he is determined to get to know her and learn the reason for the haunted look in her eyes. Despite her being a few years older than him, he immediately connects with her, telling her things about himself that he has never told anyone, and quickly falls in love with her. When Lily quietly leaves him in the night, and he is subsequently taken away, shot and beaten, and left for dead, he is certain that she has betrayed him. Manny never forgot Lily; his hatred of her seeming to strengthen his motivation to fight for his life and survive. When Manny is approached to help Lily some seventeen years later, with Lily literally begging him herself, he cannot refuse, although he still isn't convinced that Lily wasn't the one who betrayed him all those years ago.
Cindy Gerard has written a wonderfully suspenseful book with UNDER THE WIRE. Lily and Manny are both extremely likeable characters, whose emotions and beliefs are excellently and realistically written. Locations and settings are described with absolute clarity, taking readers into each scene with the characters. Secondary characters, with their unique personalities and relationships, add a great deal of interest and intrigue to the story, past and present. Frequent flashbacks take readers into the past and go far in interpreting the lives and personalities of Lily and Manny. I have read all but one of the previous books in this series and have enjoyed each and every one; UNDER THE WIRE is no exception. These books are a real treat when read in order, but each capably stands on its own. I give a high recommendation for this book, as well as the previous books, to all readers who enjoy riveting romantic suspense.
COURTESY LAURIE/ROMANCE JUNKIES
Loved it! .......2007-01-18
I loved this book! I have read all of Cindy Gerard's books and they keep getting better and better!!!
Book Description
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...
Customer Reviews:
Fast and fun read.......2007-01-28
I enjoyed this book. I really liked how Gerard told the story of Ethan and Darcy in flashback style. You knew they were still in love with each other, and little by little you learned why it did not work out between them. It was a lot of fun to see how they reconciled their feelings and worked together to see Darcy out of her situation.
The best in the series so far!!.......2007-01-04
To The Brink is the third book in the Bodyguards series and it has been the best book for me so far. This has made up for all the shortcomings of the past two books. Ethan is such a hot and passionate hero and Rachel seems perfect for him. This story has a lot of gripping moments during their rescue operation and the intermittent flashbacks into Ethan and Rachel's past was also very well done. This love story is full of passion, romance and intrigue and I higly recommend it. I also hope that this series keeps getting better with the next one being Over The Line!
BRINKMANSHIP!.......2006-09-26
This is a first for me of Cindy Gerard. Fast paced, fairly good thriller and hot romance. I give it an 8 out of 10 for sensuality.
Darcy and Ethan have been divorced for 5 years, yet cannot forget each other. He is special forces. Darcy gets into a jam and leaves a cryptic message begging him to rescue her. The chapters waffle from the present to five years ago. Both scenerios are interesting and exciting. The ending of each chapter makes you frustrated that you are going back 5 years, but it is well worth it.
Quick read. I shall look for others by Ms. Gerard.
Excellent book from the Bodyguard series!.......2006-08-27
I've read all the other Bodyguard books by Cindy Gerard and this one is by far the best! It is about Ethan Garrett (the oldest Garrett) and his ex-wife Darcy. She works in diplomatic affairs and needs help when she is kidnapped. Ethan goes to great lengths to find her and rescue her. Ms. Gerard's writing is terrific. She slowly reveals Ethan and Darcy's past (their short marriage) while the rescue is occurring. This ropes the reader in and you want to find out exactly why they broke up several years before. There is also a side romance for brother Dallas and a lady named Amy. That relationship is left hanging but will be told in a Dallas book next year.
Good, but ... .......2006-05-17
Cindy Gerard is, in my opinion, a very good writer and for the most part, this is a good book. However, about 80% of the way into it, the heroine clams up and refuses to tell the hero her problem, which in the context, is insane. The rationale is that she is "protecting" him, but it's such a stupid idea that this reader felt like grabbing her and asking her where she had misplaced her brains.
I know Ms. Gerard is usually smart and creative enough to come up with better ways to keep the tension high. Much of what she writes is outstanding, so I hope this strange detour was only temporary.
Book Description
A hot-blooded bodyguard. An heiress worth a cool billion. And one dangerous attraction.... Roxanne St. Claire delivers a heart-pounding thrill ride in the second Bullet Catchers novel!
HE KNOWS ALL HER SECRETS...
Max Roper never lets emotion get in the way of his job -- not since the tragic shooting that killed his fiancée's father. Now the former DEA agent is a Bullet Catcher, and he's managed to block out Cori's bitter goodbye -- and their sizzling passion. Those dangerous desires come back with a vengeance when Max is assigned to protect a recently widowed heiress: who turns out to be Cori. But Max must also discover his ex's dark
secret...and they both know she can't hide anything from him.
...AND HOW TO USE THEM AGAINST HER
Her luxury lifestyle suggests that Cori has gone from being a trophy wife to a merry widow, but nothing could be further from the truth. Suspicious of her billionaire husband's sudden death, she hires a bodyguard. But her protector is the one man who can melt her every defense -- the one man she blames for her deepest sorrow, the one man whose six-feet four-inches of solid muscle ignites reckless passion in her. And as they close in on a killer who hides in plain view, their high-stakes affair could cost her everything...including her life.
Customer Reviews:
Enjoyable Read.......2007-07-01
The first thing readers should realize is that even though this book is second in the Bullet Catcher series, it is also a stand alone novel. Well written romantic suspense. The only reason it didn't get five stars from me was that there were not enough red herrings in the plot, making the reveal predictable in my opinion. Romance was plentiful though for readers looking for a little more sex in their novels than the typical Romantic suspense.
Max Roper is given a difficult assignment; be the bodyguard for his ex-fiance. He hasn't seen her since she ran away claiming he killed her father and she would never forgive him. Yet, she wasted no time in finding herself a new extemely wealthy husband, who just happened to have died three months earlier leaving her a sizeable fortune and a great deal of power. It's Max's job not only to protect her from whomever is trying to threaten her, but to find out if she killed her husband. The only problem is that he isn't sure if he can get her to confide in him without getting too close in the process and opening up a world of emotions locked to the past. Someone wants her out of the way. Will Max be able to protect her, or will she suffer the same fate as her father?
Is it worth buying?
Yes. Either as part of the series or just for someone wanting to read a good contemporary romance novel. Suspense is carefully strung out to pull the reader along. Just don't expect a surprise ending. Hope that helps a little with the decision.
Book #2 in the Bullet Catcher's.......2007-06-27
Wonderful read! Fast paced, starts right off and goes. Well written and edited. Sizzling romance. Gosh, the bigger and meaner they are, the bigger they fall. Glad these two got their lives back on tract. What a story. If you like bodyguard tough guys and girls that are not totally helpless, with action, thriller-type, mystery, drama and steamy scenes, you'll enjoy this easy to read book.
This bullet is gold!.......2007-03-09
When her father is killed in a DEA bust gone bad, a guilt ridden Cori blames her lover, DEA agent Max Roper and dumps him. Several years later, the two are reunited when Cori hires an elite bodyguard group to provide protection while she investigates the possible murder of her much older wealthy husband. No one is more surprised than Cori when she discovers that Max is the man who is sworn to protect her. But who will protect Cori's heart from the only man she's ever really loved, who's assigned to both protect her and determine if she had a role in her husband's murder?
Full of sizzling love scenes and great bantering between the two protagonists, St. Claire's second entry in the Bullet Catcher series has equal parts romance, intrigue, and sensuality to sustain the reader's attention and waiting impatiently for the next intallment in the series. But I could have done without the epilogue, which added nothing at all to the story (in fact, I found it detracted). Too many authors are using them to do nothing but plug their next book.
Kept Me Reading!.......2006-09-25
I'm not typically a romantic suspense fan, but this book wowed me! The characters are so easy to fall in love with, and the writing makes each scene easy to picture.
I look forward to the next installment of the Bullet Catchers series!
Hot and Sexy thrill ride.......2006-09-22
I loved it. Ms. St. Claire promises to Thrill You to Death and delivers. Max is a hero to die for. He could watch my back anytime.
Book Description
When former Secret Service agent Eve Garrett, gets a late night call from Tiffany Clayborne saying "Eve, please come and get me" she books over the the bar Tiffany says she's at. She met the girl when she was still an agent. Tiffany was her first assignment and she developed a big sister attachment to the kid that continues to this day. However, when Eve gets to the bar she sees some suspicious activity in a dark alley and her gut tells her that Tiffany is involved. When she goes after her, she's knocked out and when she comes to, Tiffany is gone. Eve believes that Tiffany is in danger. But when she goes to Tiffany's father, he doesn't want Eve anywhere near Tiffany. After all she was in charge the last time Tiffany got hurt. Eve and Tiffany have put that incident behind them. Her father has not. He plans to hire his own private detective to check into this.doesn't hesitate. Eve doesn't trust Tiffany's safety to anyone else and decides to hunt fo her on her own. However, uring her search in Miami, Florida she runs into Clayborne's detective--her old flame, Mac, who loved her and left her. He's the last person she wants to see, especially on this case. However, when several attempts are made on Eve's life, Mac decides that they should stick together. And the closer they get to Tiffany, the more deadly secrets unfold and the more the danger rises. . .
Customer Reviews:
Book #2 in the E D E N Series.......2007-08-14
This was Eve Garrett's story.
The only girl in the Garrett family/detective agency. She goes to find a missing girl and runs into ex boyfriend...Tyler.
They team up (bad knees and all).
This was a nice read. Action packed, moves along, well written. Eve can certainly take care of herself!
Love the croquet games!
ok - not the greatest........2007-05-25
I love the thought of having some super hunky hot bodyguard keeping me safe and satisfied at the same time. This book was good but i just could not warm up to it. Maybe it's because i read to many paranormal books and the reality books just don't work for me anymore. I found the reasoning for needing a bodyguard weak. The suspense was just not worth it. I have read all five books in the series and would not do it again. I bought them on line all at the same time and wish i wouldn't have. I recommend that anyone who is interested to try the half price book store first before investing a lot of money in these.
Bodyguards Book 2 was a definite improvement!.......2007-01-04
This is the second book in the Bodyguards Series and I really liked Eve and Mac's story. It was better than the first in terms of the chemistry between the main characters and the romance. I'm still looking for the intense passion in her books but hopefully, the third one will make up for that. The author certainly has a way with suspense and though it's not your edge of the seat action, it certainly keeps you intrigued. So next in line for me is To The Brink which is Ethan's story.
To the Limit, Cindy Gerard.......2006-11-05
Love this book. I hope she writes more like this.
liked it........2006-08-26
Well, this book was entertaining. I loved almost every minute of it. It did keep me on my toes. The two main charachters were really nicely written, both having a backbone and none of that stupid back and forth talk that they sometimes have in romantic suspense novels. The charachters were good, the conversations were believable and the story kept my interest. I think this is a good book to relax with, nothing really heavy, but enough to keep you smiling and loving the charachters and their relashionship.
Book Description
"Sweet Baby Jane" Perkins has carved out a mega-selling reputation as rock's favorite bad girl. But her hard-living, tough-talking image can't prevent the sharp dose of reality that hit home when her estranged mother is killed in a car accident. As bizarre coincidences escalate in her own life, Janey grows certain that someone is watching her every move, and it's not one of her adoring fans...Since leaving the Army Rangers six months ago, Jason Wilson has been adrift, a warrior without a war. Now he's taken his first civilian assignment for his army buddy's security firm: protecting a rock diva on her sold-out tour. Far from being a spoiled star, Janey is a revelation-sweet, modest, and incredibly sexy. Their friendship is turning to mutual, heated desire, but it's a distraction that could cost them more than their hearts...Drawn into the depths of a deadly secret, they'll face off against a killer growing more ruthless every day, and Jase will discover just how far he'll go to protect an explosive passion he never expected...
Customer Reviews:
Book #4 in the E D E N Series.......2007-08-14
This was Sweet Baby Jane (no James Taylor pun intended) and Jason Wilson's story.
Jane was a rock star who hired Garrett's Detective Agency AKA E.D.E.N to protect her.
They send...Jason Wilson, who doesn't like rock music. LOL
This was such a nice story. Jane was not at all what "I" would have expected as a rock star. She actually liked PEACE AND QUIET when not on stage.
A definite page turner.......2007-08-07
This was the first of Cindy Gerard's "Bodyguards" series that I picked up quite by accident at the drugstore one day. Wasn't really expecting anything special, but I was really impressed - I couldn't put it down!
The scenes and language are a bit on the gritty end of the spectrum for a romantic suspsense, but no more so than some of Nora Roberts latest. I also really enjoyed that the characters who were likeable, but not at all typical. I've read a ton of romances, and this is the first I've read about a rock star heroine and a hero that looks like he could be 18. It doesn't sound great, but Gerard really makes it work.
The book was good enough to send me off in search of her other Bodyguard books, and Cindy Gerard has become one of my rare "autobuys." The only reason I gave it four stars was that after reading her other Bodyguard books, I like those even more (specifically try Under the Wire; it was really outstanding)!
Way over the line.......2007-07-12
The gratuitous use of vulgar language was unnecessary. You can't help but have a poor opinion of the author's mentality. The plot--rather improbably. Even rockstars don't usually have multiple psychopaths stalking them. Skip this poor excuse and get a romantic mystery by Nora Roberts or Mariah Stewart.
Not very impressed with this one!.......2007-01-05
This being the fourth in the Bodyguards series, I had high expectations from this, especially since the last book called To The Brink was truly explosive. The main problem for me was that the characters were just not well developed, especially the hero Jason, who I felt didn't deserve a book of his own. He was no where near to being a alpha male or having a bodyguard personality and even got a nick name called Baby blue from the heroine!!! Now I know I wouldn't want a bodyguard with that name! The suspense itself keeps you turning the pages but when it all comes together in the end, it's very confusing and a lot of it just doesn't make sense. I hope the next one called Under The Wire is not such a disappointment.
Really Enjoyed This book.......2006-11-11
I love Cindy Gerard's Bodyguard series. I'm not going to write a plot summary since many on Amazon have already did that as has Amazon themselves. I loved the lead characters interaction and bond. I really enjoyed that she was a rock star on tour and how he was able to set up security. I loved how she brought the characters from the past novels back and gave the reader an update on them within the story. I didn't like how he took her home like they did in the Bodyguard movie with Whitney Houston. I also didn't like that Ms. Gerard didn't explain some of the reasoning behind some of the incidents that happened. I wish she would have taken a little more time with it and made the book a little longer in order to have the explanation. I would however recommend the whole series to anyone. I think it will keep you fascinated and entertained.
Books:
- Teaching: Is a Learning Experience! (For Better or for Worse Collections)
- The All-New Ultimate Southern Living Cookbook (Southern Living (Hardcover Oxmoor))
- The Art of My Neighbor Totoro: A Film by Hayao Miyazaki
- The Assistant: A Novel
- The Big Oyster: History on the Half Shell
- The Boy Next Door
- The Chronicles of Narnia CD Box Set
- The Draconomicon (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying)
- The Facts In The Case Of The Departure Of Miss Finch
- The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists
Books Index
Books Home
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- The Asian Monsoon
- The Hunt Club
- The Elfin World of Mosses and Liverworts of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Isle Royale
- Accounting Information for Business Decisions: Preliminary Edition
- Liquidacion del Impuesto a Las Ganancias
- Mike's Bikes Integrated Business Learning
The Watchman: A Joe Pike Novel (Joe Pike Novels)
The Overlook (Harry Bosch)
Bad Luck and Trouble
Invisible Prey
The Woods
