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Against - The Raines of Wind Canyon #8
Against the Edge
A child he's never met. A danger he's never known.
Deep in the humid, rank heart of the Louisiana bayou, a survivalist group has something that belongs to former navy SEAL Ben Slocum: his son.
That he's a father is news Ben Slocum was not expecting. But once the initial shock wears off for the confirmed bachelor, he takes in the rest of what social worker Claire Chastain tells him: that Sam is in the custody of an abusive degenerate, that they've disappeared...and that Ben is now the child's only hope.
As Ben and Claire band together to track the two down, their concern for the boy draws them closer, each fighting feelings there's no time to explore. Because when their search takes them too close to Sam's abductor and his cohorts, the danger hits home-the son he's desperate to save, the woman he's desperate to love... Ben's got one chance to take back what's his, and in one gunshot he could lose it all.
Deep in the humid, rank heart of the Louisiana bayou, a survivalist group has something that belongs to former navy SEAL Ben Slocum: his son.
That he's a father is news Ben Slocum was not expecting. But once the initial shock wears off for the confirmed bachelor, he takes in the rest of what social worker Claire Chastain tells him: that Sam is in the custody of an abusive degenerate, that they've disappeared...and that Ben is now the child's only hope.
As Ben and Claire band together to track the two down, their concern for the boy draws them closer, each fighting feelings there's no time to explore. Because when their search takes them too close to Sam's abductor and his cohorts, the danger hits home-the son he's desperate to save, the woman he's desperate to love... Ben's got one chance to take back what's his, and in one gunshot he could lose it all.
392 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 28, 2013
282 people are currently reading
1080 people want to read
About the author
Kat Martin
189 books3,173 followersKathleen Kelly Martin (aka Kathy Lawrence, Kasey Mars)
Kathleen Kelly was born on 14 July 1947 in the Central Valley of California, USA. She obtained a degree in Anthropology and also studied History at the University of California in Santa Barbara. She was a real estate broker, when she met her future husband, Larry Jay Martin. A short time after the two became acquainted, Larry asked her to read an unpublished manuscript of an historical western he'd written. Kat fell in love with both the book and the author! Then, after doing some editing for him, she thought she'd try her own hand at writing. She moved on to become a full time writer.
Published since 1988, she signed her books with her married name, Kat Martin, but she also used two pseudonyms: Kathy Lawrence for a book in collaboration with her husband Larry Jay Martin, and Kasey Mars for her first contemporary romances. The New York Times bestselling writer, among her many awards, has won the prestigious RT Book Review Magazine Career Achievement Award. To date, Kat has over eleven million copies of her books in print. She has been published in seventeen foreign countries, including England, South Africa, Spain, Argentina, Germany, Italy, Greece, Norway, Sweden, Russia, Bulgaria, China, and Korea.
Currently residing with her husband, a Western-writer and photographer, in Missoula, Montana, USA. But when they are not writing, they also enjoy skiing and traveling, particularly to Europe.
"I've always loved books. I was an avid reader, with any number of my own stories rolling around in my head. Writing them down seemed a logical step."
"I love anything old," Kat says. "I love to travel and especially like to visit the places where my books are set. My husband and I often stay in out-of-the-way inns and houses built in times past. It's fun and it gives a wonderful sense of a by-gone era."
Kathleen Kelly was born on 14 July 1947 in the Central Valley of California, USA. She obtained a degree in Anthropology and also studied History at the University of California in Santa Barbara. She was a real estate broker, when she met her future husband, Larry Jay Martin. A short time after the two became acquainted, Larry asked her to read an unpublished manuscript of an historical western he'd written. Kat fell in love with both the book and the author! Then, after doing some editing for him, she thought she'd try her own hand at writing. She moved on to become a full time writer.
Published since 1988, she signed her books with her married name, Kat Martin, but she also used two pseudonyms: Kathy Lawrence for a book in collaboration with her husband Larry Jay Martin, and Kasey Mars for her first contemporary romances. The New York Times bestselling writer, among her many awards, has won the prestigious RT Book Review Magazine Career Achievement Award. To date, Kat has over eleven million copies of her books in print. She has been published in seventeen foreign countries, including England, South Africa, Spain, Argentina, Germany, Italy, Greece, Norway, Sweden, Russia, Bulgaria, China, and Korea.
Currently residing with her husband, a Western-writer and photographer, in Missoula, Montana, USA. But when they are not writing, they also enjoy skiing and traveling, particularly to Europe.
"I've always loved books. I was an avid reader, with any number of my own stories rolling around in my head. Writing them down seemed a logical step."
"I love anything old," Kat says. "I love to travel and especially like to visit the places where my books are set. My husband and I often stay in out-of-the-way inns and houses built in times past. It's fun and it gives a wonderful sense of a by-gone era."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews
October 5, 2015
I could write a really long review, but I already wasted a day reading this damn book - so go elsewhere for more info. I am going to stick to the issues for myself and the Safety Gang. This book was a hot mess.
I usually like romantic suspense. Maybe it is the author, this book, or just the many issues I noted below. I may give her one more chance but I doubt it.
Safety Gang spoilers
I usually like romantic suspense. Maybe it is the author, this book, or just the many issues I noted below. I may give her one more chance but I doubt it.
Safety Gang spoilers
October 13, 2024
2.5 stars
A synopsis of the plot would indicate an interesting, even exciting, novel. A social worker who was friends with a young mother who died of cancer contacts her son’s father, an ex-Navy SEAL and current private investigator, to inform him that he has a son—he had no idea—and that his son is missing. She believes the boy was abducted by the mother’s abusive ex-boyfriend, although the police think he’s a runaway. There’s a sub-plot involving the social worker’s ex-boyfriend, an investigative journalist, involving a Colombian drug cartel, but it doesn’t get a lot of page time until later in the book.
So the story was decent. However, (1) the writing was basic. Don’t expect a pretty turn of phrase or nuance or sly humor or anything beyond workaday, (2) the MMC was, of course, hot. He was also emotionally stunted because the young mother who died was the great love of his youth who broke his heart by cheating—an explanation for that was given late in the book and was absolutely the silliest thing I’ve ever read—so he has spent the last dozen years avoiding emotion and using women for sex. His repeated and repeated denial of feelings became really tedious, and (3) the FMC was overcome by his hotness, despite knowing he would never return her burgeoning feelings.
I’ve read this romance dynamic SO. MANY. TIMES. And written better.
So the story was good. The romance was a boring and predictable retread. The sex was meh. You might expect it to be better, with the mix of all those abs and shoulder muscles and red bikini panties and whatnot, but average it was.
This was my first book by this author. I wouldn’t avoid her work in the future, but I wouldn’t seek it out either.
A synopsis of the plot would indicate an interesting, even exciting, novel. A social worker who was friends with a young mother who died of cancer contacts her son’s father, an ex-Navy SEAL and current private investigator, to inform him that he has a son—he had no idea—and that his son is missing. She believes the boy was abducted by the mother’s abusive ex-boyfriend, although the police think he’s a runaway. There’s a sub-plot involving the social worker’s ex-boyfriend, an investigative journalist, involving a Colombian drug cartel, but it doesn’t get a lot of page time until later in the book.
So the story was decent. However, (1) the writing was basic. Don’t expect a pretty turn of phrase or nuance or sly humor or anything beyond workaday, (2) the MMC was, of course, hot. He was also emotionally stunted because the young mother who died was the great love of his youth who broke his heart by cheating—an explanation for that was given late in the book and was absolutely the silliest thing I’ve ever read—so he has spent the last dozen years avoiding emotion and using women for sex. His repeated and repeated denial of feelings became really tedious, and (3) the FMC was overcome by his hotness, despite knowing he would never return her burgeoning feelings.
I’ve read this romance dynamic SO. MANY. TIMES. And written better.
So the story was good. The romance was a boring and predictable retread. The sex was meh. You might expect it to be better, with the mix of all those abs and shoulder muscles and red bikini panties and whatnot, but average it was.
This was my first book by this author. I wouldn’t avoid her work in the future, but I wouldn’t seek it out either.
March 18, 2015
These are my thoughts/feelings while reading this book:
0.0% Hopefully starting this tomorrow :) Looking forward to it :D
Haven't actually had time to start this yet :'( life has been really really hectic the last couple days but I should def have time to start this tonight if not tomorrow for sure! Just wanna read! :'(
4% When she had come to Houston, she hadn’t been sure Ben Slocum would help her. But then she saw his face as he looked at his son for the very first time, and she had believed nothing would stop him from finding the boy.
I think I'm gonna love Ben soon enough – he’s not only a SEAL but now a father who’s gonna do whatever it takes to get his son back (who he’s never met!) He sounds PERFECT – cant wait to see more of him! :) <3
10% Riggs grinned. “We’re off to Hawaii, my friend. I’ve been promising Amy. We’re leaving first thing in the morning.”
Awww it’s nice to see Johnnie and Amy again :) <3
18% The boy’s sweet, smiling face popped into her head and her heart pinched. She should have pressed harder for custody, should have found a way to keep him with her. She should have told him how much he meant to her. She had failed him so badly.
I love how much Claire loves Sam! <3
20% “He’s not mine, but he’s someone’s. I couldn’t just leave him there. I’ll take him to Claire. She’ll know how to handle it.”
Aww I love that Ben did that! :) <3
21% At least he had Pep. The only friend in the world he could trust.
Oh Sam! :’( That’s so not true :’(
22% Three times eleven is thirty-three.” Claire rubbed her arms as if she felt a chill. “Does it say what the six means?”
Oh wow didn’t expect that – this case is interesting! Havent seen too much between Ben and Claire so far but I'm interested to see what happens next between them! Enjoying this so far :D
24% “I don’t think I could get my fill of you in just one night.” He didn’t usually say things like that. It sounded too much like a commitment, but it was true.
I love that! That was one hot kiss! <3
28% She didn’t remind him not to call her angel. She was beginning to like the way it sounded when he said it.
Me too Claire! :D
30% Her eyes widened as her gaze moved lower. “It’s not my fault, angel, if the way you’re looking at me is making me hard.”
Haha I'm starting to love these two – hope we saw more things like this! Although I don’t think they’re gonna be able to resist each other much longer! :)
31% “God, I want you,” he said against the side of her neck, his teeth grazing her skin. Goose bumps rose wherever he touched. “I need you, angel.”
Ben is so hot! <3
32% It was a wet dream come true. A woman who wanted ten-shot-tequila sex. Sex with no memory at all of what had happened. No morning-after regrets. He wondered why it bothered him.
Because you want more with Claire – Its why youre so conflicted over her Ben! I'm really starting to love these two! :) <3
37% “What the hell are you doing here?” She knew the voice
Oh shit! :(
38% Pain ripped through him
Oh god! I wasn’t expecting that! :’(
44% He waited for the little voice that told him he’d gone straight off the deep end, but the voice never came.
Because you haven’t! Claire isn’t Laura – you can take the risk again! <3
46% “None of your business,” Annie said, and Ben grinned. All three women just stared. “What?” he said. “You don’t grin,” Annie said. “You’re the Iceman.”
Love that he grins now Claire’s in his life! Love the girls talking! :D <3
47% She couldn’t miss the teasing glint in his incredible eyes. He was enjoying this—far too much. Well, two could play the game.
Go Claire! I love seeing them like this! :D <3
48% I should have known better. Fuck it.” Ben shot up from the sofa, but Claire was also on her feet.
Oh Ben :’( but you cant blame Claire for thinking that :/
51% He made love to her with the same sweet tenderness, exposing the vulnerable side of himself he rarely allowed her to see.
Oh these two! <3 Cant wait to see the rest of their story unfold – I'm loving them atm! I'm falling hard for Ben! <3 <3
57% “Yeah, it’s a regular five-star. Nothing but the best for my woman.” Claire looked over at him, and he realized what he’d said. She wasn’t his woman. She didn’t belong to him.
Awww BEN! I love that he never realised what he said! <3
59% “If I take you tonight, it won’t be easy. I’ll be rough and hot.”
Soooo hot!! <3 <3
He didn’t apologize for his roughness. She didn’t want him to. The tiger had broken free of its cage, and he was amazing.
That was so fucking hot! <3
65% “You got me. I want you. So does Claire.” A look of hope filled eyes as pale as his father’s. “Is Claire really here?” Ben nodded. “She’s the reason I knew about you. She loves you, Sam.” Ben didn’t say more, but Ty could read it in his face. He loved the kid, too.
Aww! I so cant wait to see more of Sam and Ben! (and Claire! :D) <3
67% “You don’t think they’ll come here, do you? You don’t think they’ll come after Sam?”
I feel foreshadowing! :( Especially as we’re only at 67% :(
68% She just hadn’t known how badly it was going to hurt. What a fool she had been. Ben was the Iceman. He might be a good dad to Sam, but he was hell on women.
Oh Claire! Maybe Ben was just shocked :/ I hope they get a chance to talk properly soon and that Ben doesn’t over react!
69% Claire Chastain wasn’t going to walk away. Not like Laura had done. Why the thought struck him he didn’t know.
Yes you do Ben! <3 really love this book now :) <3
71% “Welcome to the family, such as it is.” Sam looked up at him in confusion. “We’re all a family here,” Annie explained
Awww! Love this family! And they are def all family – there for each other no matter what! <3 <3
73% Down the road, he’d get past his confusing feelings for Claire, and they could be friends.
Oh Ben! :( Youre breaking my heart – stop fighting it! :(
75% “That’s the irony,” Sage said gently. “I think Ben loves you very much.” “He’s sick over what happened,” Annie added. “He can’t work. He can’t think. He’s focused his entire attention on Sam just so he won’t have to think about you.”
Oh Ben and Claire :’( they’re hurting my heart :’( You tell her! Explain to her what Ben really meant!
She sagged
Oh god! I didn’t see that coming?! :(
82% It doesn’t get any deeper than marriage, buddy. But it did. Love was the dangerous part and he wasn’t marrying for love. He was just being practical. The plan suited him perfectly.
Haha you keep believing that Ben! You know the truth deep down! You just need to stop being scared! <3
“You think that’s funny, huh? I’m trying to teach you to shoot.” “It isn’t my fault. Well, not exactly.” “It’s exactly your fault,” he teased. “Now let’s try it again.”
<3 I really love these two – just wish they could really talk! That Ben will realise that love isn’t a bad thing! <3 <3
85% Jake grabbed his shoulders and shoved him hard against the outside of the house. “All right, goddammit, you love her. You’ve said it. You’ve accepted it. Now get your fucking head on straight, and let’s go find her and your boy.”
Go Jake! His family need him to stay in control! <3
90% Claire thought of Ben and her heart squeezed. Dear God, even if he found them, she wasn’t sure he would be able to get them out without getting killed.
Don't underestimate him Claire! His woman and son is in there – Ben will do whatever it takes! <3 <3
91% AWWW! I love Sam and Ben so much! <3
93% When Troy brung the boy here, he said he didn’t have no kin. Sam was the son I never had and I wanted to keep him. I didn’t know he had family till Troy brung him back and Sam told me. I’m glad you come for him.”
I kinda like Aggie – shes not a bad woman just brought up in a different way but she doesn’t wanna hurt anyone :)
94% That’s the way I feel, Claire. What I need to know is how you feel about me.
Finally! It took nearly losing her but he finally told her! I love Claire and Ben so much! So glad I could finally get lost in their story! <3
100% 4 stars! It took a while to get into but I totally fell for Ben and Claire! I think it took me a while to get into coz I couldn’t get lost in it! But when I finally could I loved being able to sit for hours with Ben and Claire (And Sam of course :)!) They were perfect! <3
0.0% Hopefully starting this tomorrow :) Looking forward to it :D
Haven't actually had time to start this yet :'( life has been really really hectic the last couple days but I should def have time to start this tonight if not tomorrow for sure! Just wanna read! :'(
4% When she had come to Houston, she hadn’t been sure Ben Slocum would help her. But then she saw his face as he looked at his son for the very first time, and she had believed nothing would stop him from finding the boy.
I think I'm gonna love Ben soon enough – he’s not only a SEAL but now a father who’s gonna do whatever it takes to get his son back (who he’s never met!) He sounds PERFECT – cant wait to see more of him! :) <3
10% Riggs grinned. “We’re off to Hawaii, my friend. I’ve been promising Amy. We’re leaving first thing in the morning.”
Awww it’s nice to see Johnnie and Amy again :) <3
18% The boy’s sweet, smiling face popped into her head and her heart pinched. She should have pressed harder for custody, should have found a way to keep him with her. She should have told him how much he meant to her. She had failed him so badly.
I love how much Claire loves Sam! <3
20% “He’s not mine, but he’s someone’s. I couldn’t just leave him there. I’ll take him to Claire. She’ll know how to handle it.”
Aww I love that Ben did that! :) <3
21% At least he had Pep. The only friend in the world he could trust.
Oh Sam! :’( That’s so not true :’(
22% Three times eleven is thirty-three.” Claire rubbed her arms as if she felt a chill. “Does it say what the six means?”
Oh wow didn’t expect that – this case is interesting! Havent seen too much between Ben and Claire so far but I'm interested to see what happens next between them! Enjoying this so far :D
24% “I don’t think I could get my fill of you in just one night.” He didn’t usually say things like that. It sounded too much like a commitment, but it was true.
I love that! That was one hot kiss! <3
28% She didn’t remind him not to call her angel. She was beginning to like the way it sounded when he said it.
Me too Claire! :D
30% Her eyes widened as her gaze moved lower. “It’s not my fault, angel, if the way you’re looking at me is making me hard.”
Haha I'm starting to love these two – hope we saw more things like this! Although I don’t think they’re gonna be able to resist each other much longer! :)
31% “God, I want you,” he said against the side of her neck, his teeth grazing her skin. Goose bumps rose wherever he touched. “I need you, angel.”
Ben is so hot! <3
32% It was a wet dream come true. A woman who wanted ten-shot-tequila sex. Sex with no memory at all of what had happened. No morning-after regrets. He wondered why it bothered him.
Because you want more with Claire – Its why youre so conflicted over her Ben! I'm really starting to love these two! :) <3
37% “What the hell are you doing here?” She knew the voice
Oh shit! :(
38% Pain ripped through him
Oh god! I wasn’t expecting that! :’(
44% He waited for the little voice that told him he’d gone straight off the deep end, but the voice never came.
Because you haven’t! Claire isn’t Laura – you can take the risk again! <3
46% “None of your business,” Annie said, and Ben grinned. All three women just stared. “What?” he said. “You don’t grin,” Annie said. “You’re the Iceman.”
Love that he grins now Claire’s in his life! Love the girls talking! :D <3
47% She couldn’t miss the teasing glint in his incredible eyes. He was enjoying this—far too much. Well, two could play the game.
Go Claire! I love seeing them like this! :D <3
48% I should have known better. Fuck it.” Ben shot up from the sofa, but Claire was also on her feet.
Oh Ben :’( but you cant blame Claire for thinking that :/
51% He made love to her with the same sweet tenderness, exposing the vulnerable side of himself he rarely allowed her to see.
Oh these two! <3 Cant wait to see the rest of their story unfold – I'm loving them atm! I'm falling hard for Ben! <3 <3
57% “Yeah, it’s a regular five-star. Nothing but the best for my woman.” Claire looked over at him, and he realized what he’d said. She wasn’t his woman. She didn’t belong to him.
Awww BEN! I love that he never realised what he said! <3
59% “If I take you tonight, it won’t be easy. I’ll be rough and hot.”
Soooo hot!! <3 <3
He didn’t apologize for his roughness. She didn’t want him to. The tiger had broken free of its cage, and he was amazing.
That was so fucking hot! <3
65% “You got me. I want you. So does Claire.” A look of hope filled eyes as pale as his father’s. “Is Claire really here?” Ben nodded. “She’s the reason I knew about you. She loves you, Sam.” Ben didn’t say more, but Ty could read it in his face. He loved the kid, too.
Aww! I so cant wait to see more of Sam and Ben! (and Claire! :D) <3
67% “You don’t think they’ll come here, do you? You don’t think they’ll come after Sam?”
I feel foreshadowing! :( Especially as we’re only at 67% :(
68% She just hadn’t known how badly it was going to hurt. What a fool she had been. Ben was the Iceman. He might be a good dad to Sam, but he was hell on women.
Oh Claire! Maybe Ben was just shocked :/ I hope they get a chance to talk properly soon and that Ben doesn’t over react!
69% Claire Chastain wasn’t going to walk away. Not like Laura had done. Why the thought struck him he didn’t know.
Yes you do Ben! <3 really love this book now :) <3
71% “Welcome to the family, such as it is.” Sam looked up at him in confusion. “We’re all a family here,” Annie explained
Awww! Love this family! And they are def all family – there for each other no matter what! <3 <3
73% Down the road, he’d get past his confusing feelings for Claire, and they could be friends.
Oh Ben! :( Youre breaking my heart – stop fighting it! :(
75% “That’s the irony,” Sage said gently. “I think Ben loves you very much.” “He’s sick over what happened,” Annie added. “He can’t work. He can’t think. He’s focused his entire attention on Sam just so he won’t have to think about you.”
Oh Ben and Claire :’( they’re hurting my heart :’( You tell her! Explain to her what Ben really meant!
She sagged
Oh god! I didn’t see that coming?! :(
82% It doesn’t get any deeper than marriage, buddy. But it did. Love was the dangerous part and he wasn’t marrying for love. He was just being practical. The plan suited him perfectly.
Haha you keep believing that Ben! You know the truth deep down! You just need to stop being scared! <3
“You think that’s funny, huh? I’m trying to teach you to shoot.” “It isn’t my fault. Well, not exactly.” “It’s exactly your fault,” he teased. “Now let’s try it again.”
<3 I really love these two – just wish they could really talk! That Ben will realise that love isn’t a bad thing! <3 <3
85% Jake grabbed his shoulders and shoved him hard against the outside of the house. “All right, goddammit, you love her. You’ve said it. You’ve accepted it. Now get your fucking head on straight, and let’s go find her and your boy.”
Go Jake! His family need him to stay in control! <3
90% Claire thought of Ben and her heart squeezed. Dear God, even if he found them, she wasn’t sure he would be able to get them out without getting killed.
Don't underestimate him Claire! His woman and son is in there – Ben will do whatever it takes! <3 <3
91% AWWW! I love Sam and Ben so much! <3
93% When Troy brung the boy here, he said he didn’t have no kin. Sam was the son I never had and I wanted to keep him. I didn’t know he had family till Troy brung him back and Sam told me. I’m glad you come for him.”
I kinda like Aggie – shes not a bad woman just brought up in a different way but she doesn’t wanna hurt anyone :)
94% That’s the way I feel, Claire. What I need to know is how you feel about me.
Finally! It took nearly losing her but he finally told her! I love Claire and Ben so much! So glad I could finally get lost in their story! <3
100% 4 stars! It took a while to get into but I totally fell for Ben and Claire! I think it took me a while to get into coz I couldn’t get lost in it! But when I finally could I loved being able to sit for hours with Ben and Claire (And Sam of course :)!) They were perfect! <3
April 28, 2024
The action and suspense romance is fast-paced and exciting. The romance is steamy and believable as it follows a rocky path to the end. The ex-military alpha males here all get their chance to show their stuff as challenges keep popping up. The main characters main you care about them and their fates and Sam, the kid, is a loveable. I felt that at times the plot was beyond belief and there were some errors, but overall it was good escapists romance.
August 2, 2013
Those of us who have read the books in this series know that the heroes and heroines are gritty and plucky people who have taken the challenges of life, some of them quite extraordinary, and have woven them into the warp and woof of their lives. For a Navy SEAL, life is seen through a very specialized set of lenses. These individuals are prepared to deal with just about anything and no matter how challenging. Yet finding out that one has a child about whom they were completely ignorant has to be one of those moments for which no one is truly prepared. It would seem that Ben has met his emotional match and added on to that defining moment in his life is the knowledge that the son he never knew is in a situation that could mean either his death physically or the death of everything that little boy held dear. He’s been kidnapped in order to make him a gift to an older sister who has always wanted a child. And he is being inducted into a counter-culture anti-government cult that is mostly family and whose life is firmly rooted in the hidden places in the Louisiana Bayou.
This is a suspenseful, action-filled novel that pitches the extraordinary skills of a highly trained Navy SEAL against the wiles of people who have made a life out of staying hidden, whose lives are raw and built around satisfying the basic human urges, whose loyalties are all tied up in family and a determination to have everything their own way, no matter how many others outside their lives they hurt or destroy. The reader is given a clear sense of Ben’s awe at being a father, his horror at finding out what has happened to this little boy, the sexual tension that develops between him and Claire, the disregard of the sensibilities of a little boy as Sam is introduced to the raw realities of living with people who don’t really care about him, and the sort-of maternal urges of an older woman who can never really take the place of his dead mother. Readers will be introduced to a life that is so very foreign to the way most of us live, one that is absent of the finer nuances of loving and caring and respecting the value of other human beings. And this author doesn’t back away from giving readers the full jolt of what being a part of this cult means for a little boy who has grown up so far in a modern setting and is now taken back into a lifestyle that is about eating and sleeping and sex and all else that is fulfilling basic human urges without any of the stuff that makes for a life full of meaning.
I make no bones about the fact that I have really enjoyed the novels in this series and have found all the characters to be interesting in their own right. Once again Ms Martin has crafted a story that is unique in its own way, filled with people who are capable of keeping the reader glued to each succeeding page, and whose presence in the story enlarge the context in a meaningful way. No one is there that shouldn’t be there. And Ms Martin writes with an economy of words, making each word and sentence weighty with added feeling and information, moving the reader relentlessly through the story. That’s as good as it gets.
Readers who like a gritty story mixed in with a sizzling love story will love this book. Are all the characters to my liking. Heck no! But they all seem to belong and that’s what made this story really OK for me. I think it’s a novel that will probably draw me back again in the future just as has others in this series. And I happen to believe that any book that can withstand a second reading can’t be all bad.
I give it a rating of 4.25 out of 5.
This review was originally posted on Book Binge by Judith.
This is a suspenseful, action-filled novel that pitches the extraordinary skills of a highly trained Navy SEAL against the wiles of people who have made a life out of staying hidden, whose lives are raw and built around satisfying the basic human urges, whose loyalties are all tied up in family and a determination to have everything their own way, no matter how many others outside their lives they hurt or destroy. The reader is given a clear sense of Ben’s awe at being a father, his horror at finding out what has happened to this little boy, the sexual tension that develops between him and Claire, the disregard of the sensibilities of a little boy as Sam is introduced to the raw realities of living with people who don’t really care about him, and the sort-of maternal urges of an older woman who can never really take the place of his dead mother. Readers will be introduced to a life that is so very foreign to the way most of us live, one that is absent of the finer nuances of loving and caring and respecting the value of other human beings. And this author doesn’t back away from giving readers the full jolt of what being a part of this cult means for a little boy who has grown up so far in a modern setting and is now taken back into a lifestyle that is about eating and sleeping and sex and all else that is fulfilling basic human urges without any of the stuff that makes for a life full of meaning.
I make no bones about the fact that I have really enjoyed the novels in this series and have found all the characters to be interesting in their own right. Once again Ms Martin has crafted a story that is unique in its own way, filled with people who are capable of keeping the reader glued to each succeeding page, and whose presence in the story enlarge the context in a meaningful way. No one is there that shouldn’t be there. And Ms Martin writes with an economy of words, making each word and sentence weighty with added feeling and information, moving the reader relentlessly through the story. That’s as good as it gets.
Readers who like a gritty story mixed in with a sizzling love story will love this book. Are all the characters to my liking. Heck no! But they all seem to belong and that’s what made this story really OK for me. I think it’s a novel that will probably draw me back again in the future just as has others in this series. And I happen to believe that any book that can withstand a second reading can’t be all bad.
I give it a rating of 4.25 out of 5.
This review was originally posted on Book Binge by Judith.
December 8, 2015
For some reason I put off reading this book for a long time. I have had it for about two years now and have only just gotten around to reading it. I am not sure what it is exactly that made me reluctant to read this book. Every time I picked it up I put it down again without even starting it. Finally, I managed to pick this up and start reading it and I am glad I did because I ended up liking it.
Kat Martin did a great job of creating this tense and steamy romance. It was well written, had depth and had an interesting storyline outside of the romance, the characters were pretty good too. I thought her world building was good and the pace well kept. This book managed to keep me interested from beginning to end which is more than I can say for a lot of other books I have read lately.
I liked the characters. Ben was a good guy, the second he found out he had a child he was instantly ready to take on that responsibility and change his life style. He was cool, calm and collected, often thinking with his head instead of his heart which was great considering the circumstances. He (mostly) treated Claire well, he wanted to protect her but let her make her own decisions even if they put her in harms way. However, when it came to the romance he was sometimes careless with Claire's feelings which ruined him a little bit.
I liked Claire too. She was an independent woman who wasn't scared to stand up for herself. She loved Sam, Ben's son, fiercely and although the romance was important to her it was never as important as Sam. She was prepared to move heaven and earth for the boy and I felt like if she had too she would have walked away from Ben without a second thought if it would have been best for the boy.
The romance was good and there was plenty of chemistry between Claire and Ben. They fell into bed pretty quickly but it wasn't quite an insta-love so I didn't mind so much.
There were a couple of aspects of this book that I was not a fan of. Although I liked Ben I wasn't a fan of the chapters from his point of view. There were only a couple and they changed the whole tone of the book. They jolted me out of the story and it took me a while to get back in afterwards. I also thought the extra storyline about Claire's ex was unnecessary. It just dragged the book out longer than it needed to be and didn't really add anything story wise.
Other than that I enjoyed this one. I will definitely pick up more books from this series and author.
October 11, 2021
Something that bothers me about this series is that most of the leading men are man-whores before they meet their partners. Mostly, I try to ignore that and go with the flow of the book, but this time it bothered me for at least the first half of the book. Once I was able to move on, I did enjoy the story of Ben who learns from Claire that he has a son from his ex-fiancée who was her friend. I read the ebook. 3.5/5
February 17, 2018
Another great one for the series. I only have one left to read and then I will mourn the loss,lol!
Read
December 2, 2018Miniseries: The Raines of Wind Canyon
April 25, 2021
In book 8 of the Raines of Wild Canyon series, Ben and Claire travel all over the country to find Ben’s missing son, Sam. Even though they’re attracted to each other, they keep saying they shouldn’t sleep together because they don’t want to fight or have the distraction of an affair, which could prohibit them in finding Sam. They do sleep together, however, and everything is fine between them, as I suspected. Aside from the missing child plot, there’s a drug subplot with Claire’s pushy ex-boyfriend. Claire doesn’t want him back but keeps giving him mixed signals.
Ben is pretty macho in the way he carries on with women and refuses to love. (The one woman he’d loved betrayed him years earlier, and he can’t move on and love again.) Don’t get me wrong, I like this kind of plot and it worked for the story, but I found it frustrating that he would give Claire a chance, then back-peddle and push her away, and she wouldn’t leave. That doesn’t sound like a strong female character to me even though Ben kept thinking she was. Their romance just didn’t seem real to me, and I didn’t understand why Claire moved from LA to Houston to be close to Ben without talking to him about what she wanted and needed from him since they were only having a fling.
Meeting the secondary characters (couples from the previous books in this series) were some of the better parts in this story.
This is the first novel I’ve read from Kat Martin, and I’ve heard a lot of good things about this series. While this was a good story with a good plot, I think it would’ve been better as a novella.
For a Harlequin book, I was surprised by the typos. Besides a few obvious misspellings, there were three instances when the wrong name was used in the sentence.
All in all, I liked the story, but it had potential to be better.
3 Stars
Ben is pretty macho in the way he carries on with women and refuses to love. (The one woman he’d loved betrayed him years earlier, and he can’t move on and love again.) Don’t get me wrong, I like this kind of plot and it worked for the story, but I found it frustrating that he would give Claire a chance, then back-peddle and push her away, and she wouldn’t leave. That doesn’t sound like a strong female character to me even though Ben kept thinking she was. Their romance just didn’t seem real to me, and I didn’t understand why Claire moved from LA to Houston to be close to Ben without talking to him about what she wanted and needed from him since they were only having a fling.
Meeting the secondary characters (couples from the previous books in this series) were some of the better parts in this story.
This is the first novel I’ve read from Kat Martin, and I’ve heard a lot of good things about this series. While this was a good story with a good plot, I think it would’ve been better as a novella.
For a Harlequin book, I was surprised by the typos. Besides a few obvious misspellings, there were three instances when the wrong name was used in the sentence.
All in all, I liked the story, but it had potential to be better.
3 Stars
November 6, 2014
Against the Edge is the eighth book in Ms Martin's Raines of Wind Canyon series and as usual I just jumped straight into Against the Edge and I had no problems with jumping in with an already established series as judging by Against the Edge each book has different characters that don't always connect with the previous books other than a mention of other characters and such.
While I liked Against the Edge I had some problems with believing in the romance between the main character's Ben and Claire. I just didn't feel that spark on the page like I normally do between the characters which made the budding relationship between Ben and Claire really hard to believe.
That happens for me more often than not in romantic suspense novels I find. That because the storyline is rushed or because it's meant to be set in a short period of time, that believing that two characters can connect that quickly just doesn't work for me and has become a bit of a pet peeve for me when reading romance books!
Other than that the story was all right. It didn't wow me or make me feel that I needed to take a few days to recover from the storyline because it was so amazing or because it was so rubbish and I need to restore my faith in reading, it was just an ok read.
Overall, I don't think I'd read another book in the Raines of Wind Canyon series {although this was the last one} but I think I would read something else of Kat Martin's so long as it wasn't a romantic suspense.
First line: "His head was pounding."
While I liked Against the Edge I had some problems with believing in the romance between the main character's Ben and Claire. I just didn't feel that spark on the page like I normally do between the characters which made the budding relationship between Ben and Claire really hard to believe.
That happens for me more often than not in romantic suspense novels I find. That because the storyline is rushed or because it's meant to be set in a short period of time, that believing that two characters can connect that quickly just doesn't work for me and has become a bit of a pet peeve for me when reading romance books!
Other than that the story was all right. It didn't wow me or make me feel that I needed to take a few days to recover from the storyline because it was so amazing or because it was so rubbish and I need to restore my faith in reading, it was just an ok read.
Overall, I don't think I'd read another book in the Raines of Wind Canyon series {although this was the last one} but I think I would read something else of Kat Martin's so long as it wasn't a romantic suspense.
First line: "His head was pounding."
December 7, 2013
I really enjoyed this book, I liked sweet, passionate Claire and strong, protective, but emotionally shut down Ben. It was a total make up for all the other previous, badly done "delinquent" daddy themed books I had read. Neither character was overly foolish and they both seemed believable to me. I loved how as soon as Ben found out about his son, he was all in and ready to track him down and bring him home. I loved how despite how uptight Claire appeared to be she stood on her own and wouldn't back down from a fight. I liked the journey they embarked on, where they got to know each other along the way and build a small bond, not only for the little boy, but themselves also. I will say that I didn't like how quick the other issue that popped up this book regarding an ex of Claire's got resolved, like all of a sudden, that small side storyline wasn't so important to expound. Past that blip, the only real regret I think I can muster is that this is like number 5,6,or 7 or something in the series. I'm usually a big stickler about reading books out of order, but I don't usually like starting a series when I am so many books behind, but I really wanted to read this story and get a feel for the author's style of writing. I wasn't anticipating that I would really enjoy the book so much, but now I see I might have to go back and eventually read the other books in the series as well.
October 24, 2014
I love the Against the .... series. I have not read a bad one yet and I have read then all to this 8th book. Great plots and hot romance. Although, they do seem to be a bit on the formula side, they are still great books and provide the escape I read for.
Clare has come to Ben to get his help to find Sam, who was kidnapped by a real bad dude his mom was sleeping with before she died from breast cancer. Sam is also the son Ben never knew he had. Ben is mad as hell that Laure never told him he was a father. Laura had her reasons. Ben agrees to find Sam and keep him. Clare also wants to keep Sam. Ben and Clare have a hot time, but Ben does not want anything long term with any woman, even Clare (thank you, Laura). The plot twists and runs on the danger element clear to the end.
Clare has come to Ben to get his help to find Sam, who was kidnapped by a real bad dude his mom was sleeping with before she died from breast cancer. Sam is also the son Ben never knew he had. Ben is mad as hell that Laure never told him he was a father. Laura had her reasons. Ben agrees to find Sam and keep him. Clare also wants to keep Sam. Ben and Clare have a hot time, but Ben does not want anything long term with any woman, even Clare (thank you, Laura). The plot twists and runs on the danger element clear to the end.
May 13, 2017
One of the better books I've read in this series! I quite enjoyed the chemistry between Ben and Claire. I also liked that the story had some good ups and downs and kept my interest as Ben and Claire navigated through a sea of bad guys to find Ben's son. I have one more book of the series to read and hoping it's as enjoyable as this one!
August 28, 2014
Awesome book by this author! I love the perfect balance of suspense and mystery. The characters are gritty and raw at times. She really did her research on this one, too. Very true to life.
December 7, 2014
Ms Martin writes superb romantic suspense. This one will keep you on the edge of your seat with her complex storyline and well-drawn characters.
May 18, 2020
Spoilers...................
Hero was an ex navy seal who was a bit of a mawhore according to the introduction. Our heroine Claire was a simple social worker trying to find our hero in an attempt to recover his missing child (unknown to him). I actually did not mind the hero’s attitude towards love and marriage because it made sense. I had a hard time liking Claire. She knew about him for a while and never reached out to him before. Somehow she was good friends with the mom (hero’s ex) and believed he did not care about his son. Even after everything it seems like she still found no real fault with the ex. How anyone could get pregnant on purpose and never tell the father is beyond me? Even towards the end we are suppose to believe that she cheated on him to drive him away because she loved him so much. She wanted him to follow his dreams so she sleeps with his best friend🙄🤷🏻♀️? The sex scenes were hot and the chemistry was great in the bedroom. I do wish we got more scenes of the hero reconnecting with his son and them living as a family. Also not sure what the point of Michael was.
Hero was an ex navy seal who was a bit of a mawhore according to the introduction. Our heroine Claire was a simple social worker trying to find our hero in an attempt to recover his missing child (unknown to him). I actually did not mind the hero’s attitude towards love and marriage because it made sense. I had a hard time liking Claire. She knew about him for a while and never reached out to him before. Somehow she was good friends with the mom (hero’s ex) and believed he did not care about his son. Even after everything it seems like she still found no real fault with the ex. How anyone could get pregnant on purpose and never tell the father is beyond me? Even towards the end we are suppose to believe that she cheated on him to drive him away because she loved him so much. She wanted him to follow his dreams so she sleeps with his best friend🙄🤷🏻♀️? The sex scenes were hot and the chemistry was great in the bedroom. I do wish we got more scenes of the hero reconnecting with his son and them living as a family. Also not sure what the point of Michael was.
February 21, 2019
The basic suspense story here was interesting and the romance ran as expected, but after a while I simply got tired of hearing about how great the couple thought each other looked and how good the sex was, blah, blah, blah. I may no longer be a kid and I remember the excitement of new relationships, etc., but I kept wanting to say something like, "there's a difference between sex and romance and love...."
And did I say the basic non-relationship premise of the book was interesting enough? I'm not saying "no sex", just less... and get on with the story... I sometimes walk around the house listening to a book (gotta get those steps in). And, eventually, my husband says something about the book I'm listening to seems to be all sex scenes.
Recommended for the basic plot and "love story".
And did I say the basic non-relationship premise of the book was interesting enough? I'm not saying "no sex", just less... and get on with the story... I sometimes walk around the house listening to a book (gotta get those steps in). And, eventually, my husband says something about the book I'm listening to seems to be all sex scenes.
Recommended for the basic plot and "love story".
September 9, 2018
I did not realize I had read this several years ago, even so it was good reading the second time around. Ben is a ex Navy Seal working as a independent PI with Alvarez Security in Houston, Texas. He arrives home to find a woman on his door step who says her name is Claire she is a social worker in Los Angles and he has a nine year old son who has been kidnaped and the police believe he was a runaway. But she knows differently and she needs his help.
October 18, 2023
Fantastic series.
Wow, I’ve loved each book in this series so far. Loved getting updates on characters too, that they are like family to each other. Claire can’t help falling for Ben. She already loved his son but knows that he’ll break her heart. I cried for them and ended up with happy tears in their happy ever after. Loved the suspense level too. This book is worth re reading. I highly recommend each book in this series.
Wow, I’ve loved each book in this series so far. Loved getting updates on characters too, that they are like family to each other. Claire can’t help falling for Ben. She already loved his son but knows that he’ll break her heart. I cried for them and ended up with happy tears in their happy ever after. Loved the suspense level too. This book is worth re reading. I highly recommend each book in this series.
May 22, 2017
I read this one all the way through but I really did not like the story or the main characters much. I found it to be very sexist and just didn't enjoy this story of Ex-Navy Seal Ben Slocum, the child he never knew about and the revenge kidnapping. Did not feel believable...
May 22, 2018
This series is my current favorite and I can't stop reading them. THIS story was very special to me. The extreme tenderness in Claire struck a chord for me. Ben's willingness to do anything, anything for his son really touched me. This story was so sweet.
August 28, 2019
Against the Edge
I can't read fast enough to reach the end and find out that it's going to be another happily ever after. I know that it's going to be just that but the journey is so very intriguing. Ben and Claire and Sam. Who know..
I can't read fast enough to reach the end and find out that it's going to be another happily ever after. I know that it's going to be just that but the journey is so very intriguing. Ben and Claire and Sam. Who know..
March 26, 2022
Ben is determined to rescue the son he never knew he had. The beautiful social worker Claire is determined to make sure Ben accomplishes his goal. The rescue plan takes them to a swamp in Louisiana.
This was a exciting adventure with a stealthy military styled rescue.
This was a exciting adventure with a stealthy military styled rescue.
October 7, 2025
Interesting storyline
Lots of action in this one. The book kept my attention and parts of the storyline seemed realistic. I liked the FMC…not so much the MMC. Too much of a Mr. Testosterone for me.
Lots of action in this one. The book kept my attention and parts of the storyline seemed realistic. I liked the FMC…not so much the MMC. Too much of a Mr. Testosterone for me.
April 14, 2018
Adventure.
April 22, 2018
Against the Edge review
Against the Edge is the eighth romantic suspense book in The Raines of Wind Canyon series written by author Kat Martin.
Against the Edge is the eighth romantic suspense book in The Raines of Wind Canyon series written by author Kat Martin.
July 15, 2018
A good, solid romantic suspense. Once again, Martin writes a strong female character who sticks up for herself, a believable child character and a Hero With A Heart. A good read.
August 9, 2018
Suspenseful plot. Well written. Some cliches, but not so much as to annoy. Like this series
August 13, 2018
Excellent mix of adventure and romance!
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