What do you think?
Rate this book
Hunted #2
Lucky Like Us
The Hunted series continues as Special Agent Sam Turner discovers that protecting the FBI's star witness is more difficult than he thought!
Bakery owner Elizabeth Hamilton's quiet life is filled with sweet treats, good friends, and a loving family. But all of that is about to turn sour when an odd sound draws her outside. There's a man lying unconscious in the street, a car speeding toward him. Without hesitation, she gets the man out of harm's way before they're run down.
Unwittingly, Elizabeth has put herself in the path of a serial murderer, and as the only one who can identify the FBI's Silver Fox Killer, she's ended up in the hospital with a target on her back.
All that stands between her and death is Special Agent Sam Turner. Against his better judgment, Sam gets emotionally involved, determined to take down the double threat against Elizabeth—an ex desperate to get her back, despite a restraining order, and a psychopath bent on silencing her before she can identify him.
They set a trap to catch the killer—putting Elizabeth in his hands, with Sam desperate to save her. If he's lucky, he'll get his man . . . and the girl.
Bakery owner Elizabeth Hamilton's quiet life is filled with sweet treats, good friends, and a loving family. But all of that is about to turn sour when an odd sound draws her outside. There's a man lying unconscious in the street, a car speeding toward him. Without hesitation, she gets the man out of harm's way before they're run down.
Unwittingly, Elizabeth has put herself in the path of a serial murderer, and as the only one who can identify the FBI's Silver Fox Killer, she's ended up in the hospital with a target on her back.
All that stands between her and death is Special Agent Sam Turner. Against his better judgment, Sam gets emotionally involved, determined to take down the double threat against Elizabeth—an ex desperate to get her back, despite a restraining order, and a psychopath bent on silencing her before she can identify him.
They set a trap to catch the killer—putting Elizabeth in his hands, with Sam desperate to save her. If he's lucky, he'll get his man . . . and the girl.
372 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 9, 2013
188 people are currently reading
700 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Ryan
50 books1,883 followersJennifer Ryan, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Hunted and McBrides Series, writes romantic suspense and contemporary small-town romances.
Jennifer lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and three children. When she isn’t writing a book, she’s reading one. Her obsession with both is often revealed in the state of her home, and how late dinner is to the table. When she finally leaves those fictional worlds, you’ll find her in the garden, playing in the dirt and daydreaming about people who live only in her head, until she puts them on paper.
Please visit her website at www.jennifer-ryan.com for information about upcoming releases.
Jennifer lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and three children. When she isn’t writing a book, she’s reading one. Her obsession with both is often revealed in the state of her home, and how late dinner is to the table. When she finally leaves those fictional worlds, you’ll find her in the garden, playing in the dirt and daydreaming about people who live only in her head, until she puts them on paper.
Please visit her website at www.jennifer-ryan.com for information about upcoming releases.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
April 28, 2013
Lucky Like Us is the second book in Jennifer Ryan’s The Hunted series. It’s fast paced, intriguing, sexy… a thoroughly engaging story.
On the Cover:I'm just going to get this out of the way, right up front: I wasn’t all that impressed with the first book in the series, so I hadn't planned on reading this one. It's not that it was awful, but it didn't WOW me enough to want to continue, but boy-oh-boy, am I glad I did! The writing is very good, the story and the relationship development flow at a believable pace and once I started reading, I didn’t want to put it down.
The Hunted series continues as Special Agent Sam Turner discovers that protecting the FBI's star witness is more difficult than he thought!
Bakery owner Elizabeth Hamilton's quiet life is filled with sweet treats, good friends, and a loving family. But all of that is about to turn sour when an odd sound draws her outside. There's a man lying unconscious in the street, a car speeding toward him. Without hesitation, she gets the man out of harm's way before they're run down.
Unwittingly, Elizabeth has put herself in the path of a serial murderer, and as the only one who can identify the FBI's Silver Fox Killer, she's ended up in the hospital with a target on her back.
All that stands between her and death is Special Agent Sam Turner. Against his better judgment, Sam gets emotionally involved, determined to take down the double threat against Elizabeth—an ex desperate to get her back, despite a restraining order, and a psychopath bent on silencing her before she can identify him.
They set a trap to catch the killer—putting Elizabeth in his hands, with Sam desperate to save her. If he's lucky, he'll get his man … and the girl.
I loved Sam and Elizabeth, both apart and as a couple. They’re compassionate, devoted to their friends and family, honorable to a fault, and compelling people with interesting lives who ‘fit’ together perfectly. It was great to revisit Jack and Jenna, and Caleb and Summer, as well as meeting new characters whose stories need to be told.
The bottom line: Ms. Ryan has really found her storytelling mojo with this installment of The Hunted series and I’m excitedly looking forward to reading the next book in the series, The Right Bride.
My thanks to Avon Books and Edelweiss for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 4, 2022
This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance
This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
First Impressions
Lucky Like Us is the second installment in the “Hunted” series and this is the FBI agent’s twin brother and I was really eager for his book. I was really hoping that this would be a win and it definitely was such a solid read and Jennifer Ryan just has a flair of writing that works so well for me. I was so intrigued to see how this story would be crafted and from the very beginning this book just was so intense and kept you on the edge, I really love how this author can just pull me so quickly into a story and It was such a quick fast read and the type of story that I wanted to stay up all night reading. I was drawn into this romance because it was so different from what I expected it to be. There is a level of intensity to their connection that was so unique, but I really loved the dynamic of a FBI agent as a hero and a heroine who is a baker but also runs in high society due to her family’s name. They make such a solid pair and this is the type of book that will captivate the reader so quickly.
Summary
Elizabeth Hamilton is a bakery owner and is always working to help others and baking treats for the homeless, the children’s hospitals, and for law enforcement. When she hears a pop sound out of her shop, she goes out to investigate and sees an FBI agent out cold, and a man trying to kill him, Elizabeth runs out to the scene to try to protect the agent and in the process of the fight she ends up shot and injured and barely alive. Elizabeth and Sam are both rushed to the hospital, both working on healing and recovering from their injuries. Elizabeth is the daughter of a high-profile judge and she has a very protective family and at first, they are bitter against Sam, but soon reason returns and they end up fighting for Sam. Sam, stays by Elizabeth’s side, protecting her and they build a connection as she is highly drugged but they communicate through hand-pressed signals, and it’s adorable. Once Elizabeth wakes, Sam is her protector and guardian as her life is in danger as she saw the face of the secret killer that Sam has been hunting, but through him protecting her they build a beautiful love connection, and Sam realizes how perfect Elizabeth is for a partner for a FBI agent but will he be able to protect the woman he loves…
What I Loved
Lucky Like Us was such a fun story and I really enjoyed the intensity that we get in the story. I honestly didn’t expect half the romance to be such a quiet assurance of a build-up in the romance. I really loved the family of Elizabeth that we are introduced to (and I believe her two brothers have books later in the series which I am stoked for) we also see a great mystery unfold with Sam and him being an FBI agent. We really see a side to be an FBI agent, and how lonely it can be for them. The romance between Sam and Elizabeth was so sweet and strong. They have an instant connection, and I loved how they had no reservations in embracing their bond and not letting fear get the best of them. Elizabeth makes the PERFECT heroine, I just loved how badass she is, she is a sweet and caring, but when it comes to people she loves, she is a fierce lion and so sassy when needed, I really enjoyed how accepting she is of Sam’s choice of career and just his is strength, and just stands by him so fiercely and it’s so beautiful and refreshing to have a heroine that has such strength for the hero when he really needs it.
What I Struggled With
There wasn’t really much, I wish there was more couple time on the page though, almost half of the book the heroine is drugged and not conscious so would have liked to have seen less time of that.
Overall View
I found Lucky Like Us to be is a superb installment that will leave the reader on edge, delivers intense emotion, and will have you cheering this couple on towards their happy ever after!
This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
First Impressions
Lucky Like Us is the second installment in the “Hunted” series and this is the FBI agent’s twin brother and I was really eager for his book. I was really hoping that this would be a win and it definitely was such a solid read and Jennifer Ryan just has a flair of writing that works so well for me. I was so intrigued to see how this story would be crafted and from the very beginning this book just was so intense and kept you on the edge, I really love how this author can just pull me so quickly into a story and It was such a quick fast read and the type of story that I wanted to stay up all night reading. I was drawn into this romance because it was so different from what I expected it to be. There is a level of intensity to their connection that was so unique, but I really loved the dynamic of a FBI agent as a hero and a heroine who is a baker but also runs in high society due to her family’s name. They make such a solid pair and this is the type of book that will captivate the reader so quickly.
Summary
Elizabeth Hamilton is a bakery owner and is always working to help others and baking treats for the homeless, the children’s hospitals, and for law enforcement. When she hears a pop sound out of her shop, she goes out to investigate and sees an FBI agent out cold, and a man trying to kill him, Elizabeth runs out to the scene to try to protect the agent and in the process of the fight she ends up shot and injured and barely alive. Elizabeth and Sam are both rushed to the hospital, both working on healing and recovering from their injuries. Elizabeth is the daughter of a high-profile judge and she has a very protective family and at first, they are bitter against Sam, but soon reason returns and they end up fighting for Sam. Sam, stays by Elizabeth’s side, protecting her and they build a connection as she is highly drugged but they communicate through hand-pressed signals, and it’s adorable. Once Elizabeth wakes, Sam is her protector and guardian as her life is in danger as she saw the face of the secret killer that Sam has been hunting, but through him protecting her they build a beautiful love connection, and Sam realizes how perfect Elizabeth is for a partner for a FBI agent but will he be able to protect the woman he loves…
What I Loved
Lucky Like Us was such a fun story and I really enjoyed the intensity that we get in the story. I honestly didn’t expect half the romance to be such a quiet assurance of a build-up in the romance. I really loved the family of Elizabeth that we are introduced to (and I believe her two brothers have books later in the series which I am stoked for) we also see a great mystery unfold with Sam and him being an FBI agent. We really see a side to be an FBI agent, and how lonely it can be for them. The romance between Sam and Elizabeth was so sweet and strong. They have an instant connection, and I loved how they had no reservations in embracing their bond and not letting fear get the best of them. Elizabeth makes the PERFECT heroine, I just loved how badass she is, she is a sweet and caring, but when it comes to people she loves, she is a fierce lion and so sassy when needed, I really enjoyed how accepting she is of Sam’s choice of career and just his is strength, and just stands by him so fiercely and it’s so beautiful and refreshing to have a heroine that has such strength for the hero when he really needs it.
What I Struggled With
There wasn’t really much, I wish there was more couple time on the page though, almost half of the book the heroine is drugged and not conscious so would have liked to have seen less time of that.
Overall View
I found Lucky Like Us to be is a superb installment that will leave the reader on edge, delivers intense emotion, and will have you cheering this couple on towards their happy ever after!
August 7, 2019
2.5 LOWLY STARS
Another unintentional re-read, but this time I’m not happy that I forgot this book – recalling it would have allowed me to steer clear of it.
Elizabeth Hamilton, comes from a wealthy family who are very down to earth and always try to do the right think, so when she sees a man hurt and lying on street outside her bakery, she goes to help, in doing so she saves the life of special agent Sam Turner (the twin brother of Jack Turner from Saved by the Rancher) and in doing some gains the attention of a killer only she can identify.
Sam and Elizabeth don’t spend much time together (when both are conscious) until about the 55% mark, after another attempt on her life is made and after she wakes up from the coma – although Sam is beside her talking to her whilst he waits for her to wake up. The lack of interaction between them in addition to how the author depicted events, meant that Sam’s protective instincts and the bond that developed between them didn’t feel all that real. I know this is a work of fiction, reality is meant to be left at the door, and I’ve read books on other planets, with vampires and mermaids and been so enraptured that the world the authors have created comes alive, feeling real – but with this the book I can’t say the same happened.
The familiarity between Sam and Elizabeth near the onset of the book, over the phone just felt off, I don’t know why but it just didn’t work for me. Nevertheless, around the 56% mark their banter and interactions did amuse me. I also liked Elizabeth’s smarts and strength, I very much enjoyed how she put a certain FBI agent in his place.
I didn’t feel the intensity between Sam and Elizabeth – it didn’t spark off the page. Also, there were times when the writing didn’t flow well and felt a tad off.
I really wanted to like this book more than I did.
Potential Triggers:
Another unintentional re-read, but this time I’m not happy that I forgot this book – recalling it would have allowed me to steer clear of it.
Elizabeth Hamilton, comes from a wealthy family who are very down to earth and always try to do the right think, so when she sees a man hurt and lying on street outside her bakery, she goes to help, in doing so she saves the life of special agent Sam Turner (the twin brother of Jack Turner from Saved by the Rancher) and in doing some gains the attention of a killer only she can identify.
Sam and Elizabeth don’t spend much time together (when both are conscious) until about the 55% mark, after another attempt on her life is made and after she wakes up from the coma – although Sam is beside her talking to her whilst he waits for her to wake up. The lack of interaction between them in addition to how the author depicted events, meant that Sam’s protective instincts and the bond that developed between them didn’t feel all that real. I know this is a work of fiction, reality is meant to be left at the door, and I’ve read books on other planets, with vampires and mermaids and been so enraptured that the world the authors have created comes alive, feeling real – but with this the book I can’t say the same happened.
The familiarity between Sam and Elizabeth near the onset of the book, over the phone just felt off, I don’t know why but it just didn’t work for me. Nevertheless, around the 56% mark their banter and interactions did amuse me. I also liked Elizabeth’s smarts and strength, I very much enjoyed how she put a certain FBI agent in his place.
I didn’t feel the intensity between Sam and Elizabeth – it didn’t spark off the page. Also, there were times when the writing didn’t flow well and felt a tad off.
I really wanted to like this book more than I did.
Potential Triggers:
March 18, 2014
It was hard not to like this one. I really liked how Elizabeth, having not a clue what was going on, still went out to save Sam. The aftermath at the hospital was sweet. It seemed like they made a connection in the crazy events, but during the healing is where they cemented it. It was fun to see both families care for Elizabeth and Sam, but really funny to see Elizabeth's give Sam a hard time, as most of the time it was done in jest.
I thought the best part of the book was when Tyler was teasing Sam and made him realize that he loved Elizabeth, he was struck dumb.
I was very glad to see a happy ending because at one point I wasn't sure. Sam had to do a horrible thing to save Elizabeth and in the immediate aftermath I really wasn't sure he was in his right mind, wasn't sure he would listen to Tyler and Jack, and was afraid that he would take things too far.
I thought the best part of the book was when Tyler was teasing Sam and made him realize that he loved Elizabeth, he was struck dumb.
I was very glad to see a happy ending because at one point I wasn't sure. Sam had to do a horrible thing to save Elizabeth and in the immediate aftermath I really wasn't sure he was in his right mind, wasn't sure he would listen to Tyler and Jack, and was afraid that he would take things too far.
March 19, 2023
Sam had no idea what hit him. Literally. Elizabeth was strong, determined, sweet, caring, understanding, and smart. She did what had to be done. She was that woman. I knew that Sam would need a woman that could match him in every way. I loved this paring. I loved her family they loved her, cared for her, and stood by her. This one was drama, suspense, and romance. The draw between the two was clear and strong. Great addition to the series and onward I go to the next one.
April 9, 2018
Suspenseful romance I love them definitely five stars. This is not an interracial romance but it’s very good.
February 18, 2014
I picked up Lucky Like Us on sale a while ago but just got around to reading it. Although the series is sequential, the book works fine as a stand-alone. I didn’t read the first book in the series but if you like to read series books in order, read Saved by the Rancher first. Saved by the Rancher is Jack and Jenna’s story and both play supporting roles in Lucky Like Us.
I've been reading a lot of romantic suspense lately and I thought I was going to really like Lucky Like Us but it fell a little short of my expectations. I liked the connection between Sam and Elizabeth and how it developed as they both were recovering from their injuries. I also liked that Sam was so protective of Elizabeth and thought it was funny when he introduced himself as her fiance.
“Assaulting an FBI agent is against the law, number one. Number two, she’s not marrying you, because she’s marrying me.” He didn’t know why he said it, probably to piss the guy off, and hopefully make him understand Elizabeth certainly wasn’t his. He threw the guy off with little effort when his statements stunned Dickweed momentarily. “Number three, I better not find you in here again, or hear you’ve been here, or you’ll regret it.”
I should have liked this book more, it had all the right ingredients to be a four star read but a couple things just didn't work for me. First, I didn't care for the third person point of view. I think dual points of view may have worked better for me. That is obviously just a personal preference. The biggeset complaint I have though was that a lot of the dialogue between characters seemed unnatural, especially in the first part of the book. Many of the conversations just didn't seem to flow like a normal conversation would. Even knowing that Elizabeth's family was well off and upper class, no one speaks that formally all the time. It just didn't feel "real".
“Patrick. I’m so glad you’re here. She’s still in surgery.” His mother transferred her grip from his dad to him and held tight, probably thanking God he was safe and sound.
“You said in the message she’d been hurt and to get here. I’m here. Now somebody tell me what’s happened to my sister.”
Patrick, their younger brother, Daniel, and Elizabeth had their family squabbles and petty rivalries, but they were friends. They talked often and looked after each other. He’d had several girlfriends who wished he’d talk to them as much as he talked to his sister.
Patrick listened intently as Kay and Deputy Director Davies filled him in on what happened. The looks on his parents’ faces said it all. Elizabeth was barely hanging on.
“My God. Will she be okay?”
I don't know. Perhaps other readers won't think of a bad soap opera when reading over it like I did but some of the exchanges just seemed very stiff to me.
Overall, the story was okay but I really had a hard time getting over the dialogue issue. Because of that, I don't think I'm going to continue with this series right now. If I had the chance to read the first book, Saved by the Rancher, I may give it a try at some point. It's hard for me to resist a damsel in distress story line but I'm not adding it to my TBR list at this time and I probably wouldn't pay to read it. A 3.25 "could have been so much better" READ for me.
I've been reading a lot of romantic suspense lately and I thought I was going to really like Lucky Like Us but it fell a little short of my expectations. I liked the connection between Sam and Elizabeth and how it developed as they both were recovering from their injuries. I also liked that Sam was so protective of Elizabeth and thought it was funny when he introduced himself as her fiance.
“Assaulting an FBI agent is against the law, number one. Number two, she’s not marrying you, because she’s marrying me.” He didn’t know why he said it, probably to piss the guy off, and hopefully make him understand Elizabeth certainly wasn’t his. He threw the guy off with little effort when his statements stunned Dickweed momentarily. “Number three, I better not find you in here again, or hear you’ve been here, or you’ll regret it.”
I should have liked this book more, it had all the right ingredients to be a four star read but a couple things just didn't work for me. First, I didn't care for the third person point of view. I think dual points of view may have worked better for me. That is obviously just a personal preference. The biggeset complaint I have though was that a lot of the dialogue between characters seemed unnatural, especially in the first part of the book. Many of the conversations just didn't seem to flow like a normal conversation would. Even knowing that Elizabeth's family was well off and upper class, no one speaks that formally all the time. It just didn't feel "real".
“Patrick. I’m so glad you’re here. She’s still in surgery.” His mother transferred her grip from his dad to him and held tight, probably thanking God he was safe and sound.
“You said in the message she’d been hurt and to get here. I’m here. Now somebody tell me what’s happened to my sister.”
Patrick, their younger brother, Daniel, and Elizabeth had their family squabbles and petty rivalries, but they were friends. They talked often and looked after each other. He’d had several girlfriends who wished he’d talk to them as much as he talked to his sister.
Patrick listened intently as Kay and Deputy Director Davies filled him in on what happened. The looks on his parents’ faces said it all. Elizabeth was barely hanging on.
“My God. Will she be okay?”
I don't know. Perhaps other readers won't think of a bad soap opera when reading over it like I did but some of the exchanges just seemed very stiff to me.
Overall, the story was okay but I really had a hard time getting over the dialogue issue. Because of that, I don't think I'm going to continue with this series right now. If I had the chance to read the first book, Saved by the Rancher, I may give it a try at some point. It's hard for me to resist a damsel in distress story line but I'm not adding it to my TBR list at this time and I probably wouldn't pay to read it. A 3.25 "could have been so much better" READ for me.
March 21, 2017
I first met the Sam Turner character the hero of Lucky Like Us as the loyal twin brother of Jack Turner in Saved by a Rancher when he helped Jack and Jenna put an end to Jenna’s ex-husband’s reign of terror against her. Then again in At Wolf Ranch when he helped Gabe and Ella put her murderous uncle behind bars. He seemed like a really good guy so I was looking forward to reading his story. I wanted to love this book but the best I could do was like it. Oh, like any red blooded male I couldn’t help but love Elizabeth the heroine and perfect woman. But Sam, he was such an emotional mess of guilt driven self-loathing, so insecure and out of touch with his own feelings, needing everyone, his family, his partner and even Elizabeth to prop him up while he tried to drive them away, that he moved the needle from sympathetic to annoying. Hell the man didn’t even recognize he was in love with Elizabeth until Tyler hit him over the head with it three-quarters of the way through the book.
Are we supposed to believe that the FBI believed that using a rent-a-cop to protect their only witness able to identify a brilliant serial killer while she was in the hospital was supposed to be sufficient? This after her not so brilliant stalker was able to slide past a similar guard while she was in ICU? Could they be that stupid? And if there was already a restraining order out on the stalker why wasn't he arrested after going to the ICU to see her? This was all just implausible.
Then there’s Sam and Elizabeth’s post coital conversation after their first time when she has to convince Sam she has enough of her own life that she won’t resent his job causing long absences away from her. This is supposed to be a romance/suspense book. Where’s the romance when two people make it clear to one another that their careers and their causes take priority over their relationship with one another? Color me stupid but I’ve always felt that when you’re in a committed relationship the other person is supposed to be the most important thing in your life, not your job and that means spending quality time together. So when they have kids where does parenting fall into the list of priorities for them? Are they going to let the help raise them while they go on with their busy, demanding careers? And about that first time. In every Ryan book I’ve read even when the heroine is on birth control the hero always continues to use a condom which I’ve never really understood. Let’s face it condoms may be a necessary evil at times but the sex is much better, more intimate without one. But in this love scene Sam is unprepared and Elizabeth still urges him on saying she’s on the pill even though she's aware having just been released from the hospital after several weeks she hasn’t’ taken the pill for weeks. I half expected part of the HEA to be Elizabeth telling Sam she was pregnant. And since she tells him she hasn’t been with anyone since college, why was she on the pill?
Then there’s the Tyler/Morgan deal. Is this book supposed to be about Sam and Elizabeth or Tyler and Morgan because at times I wasn’t sure. Okay so since I’m late to the party of reading Ms. Ryan’s books I already knew there was a book for Tyler and Morgan later in the series. Maybe she even plans an entire series based around the crime solving psychic? And its not as if I’m not interested in them, its just that there was nothing subtle about her attempt to introduce their budding relationship in a big way in this book to promote theirs.
Then there’s the ***Spoiler Alert*** so called trap to catch the Silver Fox that Director Davis, Tyler and Elizabeth cooked up. The excuse for not keeping Sam in the loop until the last possible moment was an eye roller convention that didn’t really make any sense. Then we’ll put a wire on her and let her actually get close to this homicidal maniac to see if we can get him to confess because what could possible go wrong with that plan? And as much as I love Jenna, WTF, she knows Elizabeth is going to a charity dinner to be bait for a killer and she wants to talk about a business opportunity like it can’t wait until after the killer is caught? And quite honestly Jenna’s generosity was so over the top even it was annoying. I thought it was over the top in her and Jack’s book where she lavishes expensive gifts on everyone and then essentially sets up Jack, Caleb, Summer and their children for life even before she and Jack are engaged, but in this one she basically gives Sam a penthouse in San Francisco along with building him a luxury home on the family ranch back in Colorado? I don’t care if she’s richer than god, where’s your pride Sam?
And lastly I know this is a romance novel and it made for a romantic ending but did anyone think to suggest to Elizabeth and Sam before they rushed down the aisle to wedded bliss, that maybe since they’d only known each other for a few weeks and it had been under incredibly stressful situations, that just maybe this wasn’t the best time to make such important life decisions about their future? The best her mother could do was suggest she wait a couple of more weeks until her face healed for her wedding pictures and her father, the sage Federal Circuit Court Judge couldn’t see the wisdom in suggesting they wait even if he thought from the beginning that Sam was the man for his Ellie girl? I love a HEA as much as the next person which is pretty much why I read romance novels but I still think allowing some time between the engagement and wedding to allow some normalcy in their lives would have been a more realistic way to lead into the HEA.
Despite all of my above criticisms this was still an enjoyable book which is why I gave it 3 stars. The lowest I’ve ever grade a Jennifer Ryan book but hardly a failing grade. The Elizabeth character as I said was wonderful. The connection she and Sam felt for one another even when she was nearly comatose was heartwarming. While Sam was an emotional mess his desire to protect Elizabeth was never in question. Tyler and Elizabeth’s parents and brothers were interesting secondary characters. Pretty sure her brothers will get their own books. We get to spend more time with Jack, Jenna, Caleb, Summer and their kids and see a short way into their future in the epilogue which was great. As I said, I liked the book but just didn’t full on love it.
Are we supposed to believe that the FBI believed that using a rent-a-cop to protect their only witness able to identify a brilliant serial killer while she was in the hospital was supposed to be sufficient? This after her not so brilliant stalker was able to slide past a similar guard while she was in ICU? Could they be that stupid? And if there was already a restraining order out on the stalker why wasn't he arrested after going to the ICU to see her? This was all just implausible.
Then there’s Sam and Elizabeth’s post coital conversation after their first time when she has to convince Sam she has enough of her own life that she won’t resent his job causing long absences away from her. This is supposed to be a romance/suspense book. Where’s the romance when two people make it clear to one another that their careers and their causes take priority over their relationship with one another? Color me stupid but I’ve always felt that when you’re in a committed relationship the other person is supposed to be the most important thing in your life, not your job and that means spending quality time together. So when they have kids where does parenting fall into the list of priorities for them? Are they going to let the help raise them while they go on with their busy, demanding careers? And about that first time. In every Ryan book I’ve read even when the heroine is on birth control the hero always continues to use a condom which I’ve never really understood. Let’s face it condoms may be a necessary evil at times but the sex is much better, more intimate without one. But in this love scene Sam is unprepared and Elizabeth still urges him on saying she’s on the pill even though she's aware having just been released from the hospital after several weeks she hasn’t’ taken the pill for weeks. I half expected part of the HEA to be Elizabeth telling Sam she was pregnant. And since she tells him she hasn’t been with anyone since college, why was she on the pill?
Then there’s the Tyler/Morgan deal. Is this book supposed to be about Sam and Elizabeth or Tyler and Morgan because at times I wasn’t sure. Okay so since I’m late to the party of reading Ms. Ryan’s books I already knew there was a book for Tyler and Morgan later in the series. Maybe she even plans an entire series based around the crime solving psychic? And its not as if I’m not interested in them, its just that there was nothing subtle about her attempt to introduce their budding relationship in a big way in this book to promote theirs.
Then there’s the ***Spoiler Alert*** so called trap to catch the Silver Fox that Director Davis, Tyler and Elizabeth cooked up. The excuse for not keeping Sam in the loop until the last possible moment was an eye roller convention that didn’t really make any sense. Then we’ll put a wire on her and let her actually get close to this homicidal maniac to see if we can get him to confess because what could possible go wrong with that plan? And as much as I love Jenna, WTF, she knows Elizabeth is going to a charity dinner to be bait for a killer and she wants to talk about a business opportunity like it can’t wait until after the killer is caught? And quite honestly Jenna’s generosity was so over the top even it was annoying. I thought it was over the top in her and Jack’s book where she lavishes expensive gifts on everyone and then essentially sets up Jack, Caleb, Summer and their children for life even before she and Jack are engaged, but in this one she basically gives Sam a penthouse in San Francisco along with building him a luxury home on the family ranch back in Colorado? I don’t care if she’s richer than god, where’s your pride Sam?
And lastly I know this is a romance novel and it made for a romantic ending but did anyone think to suggest to Elizabeth and Sam before they rushed down the aisle to wedded bliss, that maybe since they’d only known each other for a few weeks and it had been under incredibly stressful situations, that just maybe this wasn’t the best time to make such important life decisions about their future? The best her mother could do was suggest she wait a couple of more weeks until her face healed for her wedding pictures and her father, the sage Federal Circuit Court Judge couldn’t see the wisdom in suggesting they wait even if he thought from the beginning that Sam was the man for his Ellie girl? I love a HEA as much as the next person which is pretty much why I read romance novels but I still think allowing some time between the engagement and wedding to allow some normalcy in their lives would have been a more realistic way to lead into the HEA.
Despite all of my above criticisms this was still an enjoyable book which is why I gave it 3 stars. The lowest I’ve ever grade a Jennifer Ryan book but hardly a failing grade. The Elizabeth character as I said was wonderful. The connection she and Sam felt for one another even when she was nearly comatose was heartwarming. While Sam was an emotional mess his desire to protect Elizabeth was never in question. Tyler and Elizabeth’s parents and brothers were interesting secondary characters. Pretty sure her brothers will get their own books. We get to spend more time with Jack, Jenna, Caleb, Summer and their kids and see a short way into their future in the epilogue which was great. As I said, I liked the book but just didn’t full on love it.
February 15, 2015
I actually ended up liking "Lucky Like Us" more than I thought I would. I really loved the first half of the novel where Elizabeth is unconscious three-quarters of the time. I know that sounds odd that the female protagonist is only present in an unconscious state, but it actually made for a better suspense and romance novel. It was something different which is also a plus in my books. I liked Sam's character; how protective Sam was of Liz from the moment he woke up; and how they communicated with each other, almost in sync with one another. What was really different from so many other romance-suspense novels is that I actually liked every member of the Hamilton family (father, mother, brothers), and their family dynamics. I also liked Sam's family and friends. They all reached out to Sam giving him care and support to help him realize that he's not responsible for Liz being in the hospital, even making him feel important to them. It was actually nice and refreshing to like every member of both families, instead of hating one person or another. For a while I kept waiting for a family member to yell and scream and puff their chest out declaring that Sam is no good for Liz, then destroying Sam's personal and professional life creating havoc, all of which never happened.
While I did enjoy the story, there were a few issues I had with it. Even though I really liked Sam, I wasn't a huge fan of Liz. She was just a little too perfect. Not only is she stunning, she's smart, intelligent, has a degree, owns her own successful bakery with people lining up around the block, is beyond wealthy, gives to charity every week, can put an FBI Supervisor in his place, and is totally understanding of Sam's job. She's also loved by all and can do no harm. In the Epilogue she's breastfeeding her baby in one arm while taking out a hot pie from the oven. Give me a break! How goody-goody and perfect can one be? She doesn't even have any insecurities! I'm surprised there's no statue erected of her. (cue eye-rolls)
The ending was beyond cheesy. While knowing each other for only a month and with her being a coma for more than half that time, they're both throwing out "I love you." Then of course Sam proposes to Liz and her answer is "Yes," and "let's get married next Saturday." Shocker. (cue eye rolls)
Along with Liz being in danger from a serial killer, she's also got a stalker who is totally obsessed with her. I thought this was a good subplot, but I didn't think it was well-developed. Perhaps more dedicated to this story would have made the novel a better read. Even the way he was caught was kind of boring.
As for the FBI agents, seriously, how stupid can they be?
Liz's description of the serial killer:
"Next to his left eye, he has a small mole just under the lower lid near the corner. His hair is brown, cut short with a touch of grey at the temple. He reminded me of a banker or businessman. Maybe a lawyer. You know, someone who has to look very presentable."
"I’ve seen him somewhere before."
I understand that the agents don't want to circulate the killer's description in fear the killer may cut and run. Why didn't the agents have Liz look at all the society pages (newspapers, photos, magazines, etc.) from the last couple of years as she's part of that elite uber-rich circle of people where it's possible the killer may have attended one or many of them? Even better, why not ask her parents as they attend more galas and charities than Liz does? For that matter, why not ask her entire family?
The FBI agents are given a clue that the killer is "hiding in plain site." Guess what? They're at a loss as to it's meaning. Seriously? Are they all fucking idiots?! I know this is a work of fiction but come on! It really pisses me off when authors think their readers are complete morons and will accept and believe whatever bullshit they write. Give us a little credit.
With Liz's life being in danger, instead of having two female FBI agents accompany her to the ladies room, they send her off alone, and we all know, without fail, she'll be grabbed and/or attacked by the killer - which of course happens.
Besides reading the H/h POV, we're also reading POV of several others; all of which kept jumping back and forth from one person to the next all in the same chapter. In fact there were chapters with three POV. There were no lines, stars, or any kind of symbol to indicate the POV change. Talk about confusing. Why the author wrote it this way is beyond me. Talk about irritating.
In the end, it's still a pretty good story. I just didn't think it was great as other readers found it to be, but to each his/her own. If, however, you're still interested in reading this novel, it's currently listed on Amazon for $1.08 which honestly is a steal. Hey, you might end up loving it.
While I did enjoy the story, there were a few issues I had with it. Even though I really liked Sam, I wasn't a huge fan of Liz. She was just a little too perfect. Not only is she stunning, she's smart, intelligent, has a degree, owns her own successful bakery with people lining up around the block, is beyond wealthy, gives to charity every week, can put an FBI Supervisor in his place, and is totally understanding of Sam's job. She's also loved by all and can do no harm. In the Epilogue she's breastfeeding her baby in one arm while taking out a hot pie from the oven. Give me a break! How goody-goody and perfect can one be? She doesn't even have any insecurities! I'm surprised there's no statue erected of her. (cue eye-rolls)
The ending was beyond cheesy. While knowing each other for only a month and with her being a coma for more than half that time, they're both throwing out "I love you." Then of course Sam proposes to Liz and her answer is "Yes," and "let's get married next Saturday." Shocker. (cue eye rolls)
Along with Liz being in danger from a serial killer, she's also got a stalker who is totally obsessed with her. I thought this was a good subplot, but I didn't think it was well-developed. Perhaps more dedicated to this story would have made the novel a better read. Even the way he was caught was kind of boring.
As for the FBI agents, seriously, how stupid can they be?
Liz's description of the serial killer:
"Next to his left eye, he has a small mole just under the lower lid near the corner. His hair is brown, cut short with a touch of grey at the temple. He reminded me of a banker or businessman. Maybe a lawyer. You know, someone who has to look very presentable."
"I’ve seen him somewhere before."
I understand that the agents don't want to circulate the killer's description in fear the killer may cut and run. Why didn't the agents have Liz look at all the society pages (newspapers, photos, magazines, etc.) from the last couple of years as she's part of that elite uber-rich circle of people where it's possible the killer may have attended one or many of them? Even better, why not ask her parents as they attend more galas and charities than Liz does? For that matter, why not ask her entire family?
The FBI agents are given a clue that the killer is "hiding in plain site." Guess what? They're at a loss as to it's meaning. Seriously? Are they all fucking idiots?! I know this is a work of fiction but come on! It really pisses me off when authors think their readers are complete morons and will accept and believe whatever bullshit they write. Give us a little credit.
With Liz's life being in danger, instead of having two female FBI agents accompany her to the ladies room, they send her off alone, and we all know, without fail, she'll be grabbed and/or attacked by the killer - which of course happens.
Besides reading the H/h POV, we're also reading POV of several others; all of which kept jumping back and forth from one person to the next all in the same chapter. In fact there were chapters with three POV. There were no lines, stars, or any kind of symbol to indicate the POV change. Talk about confusing. Why the author wrote it this way is beyond me. Talk about irritating.
In the end, it's still a pretty good story. I just didn't think it was great as other readers found it to be, but to each his/her own. If, however, you're still interested in reading this novel, it's currently listed on Amazon for $1.08 which honestly is a steal. Hey, you might end up loving it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2013
I started this series with Lucky Like Us because I enjoy reading books with a protagonist working in a Police/Security Role like FBI Special Agent Sam Turner who stars in this story. Sam and his partner Tyler Reed are working undercover to catch a serial killer known as the “Silver Fox” when the book opens. Early in the story, the killer catches Sam off guard, poisons, and beats him in the middle of a warehouse district where Elizabeth Hamilton resides.
When Elizabeth hears noises outside of her house, she rushes out to find Sam, barely conscious, lying in the street. When she realizes someone is trying to kill him, she risks her own life to protect his. During this intense encounter, “Silver Fox” brutally attacks Elizabeth for intervening, and, in her desperation to fight back, she removes his facial mask revealing his face. The attack ends with both Sam and Elizabeth sustaining life-threatening injuries and left for dead. Fortunately, they are rescued in time and both survive.
The hospital serves as the setting for much of the story as both Sam and Elizabeth recuperate from their injuries. The pace slows down and more attention is given to character development and the relationship that develops between Sam and Elizabeth as they recover and bond over their shared traumatic ordeal. Once Sam learns he accidentally shot the woman who saved his life, he feels responsible for her well-being and spends a lot of time by Elizabeth’s bedside. Even though she is heavily sedated and constantly in and out of consciousness, they still manage to connect on a deeper level; his calming voice and warm touch soothe her anxiety and distract her from the pain, while her concern, understanding, and acceptance of him draws him even closer to her.
Elizabeth is one of my favorite heroines. She comes from an affluent family, owns a successful bakery, and spends much of her time involved in philanthropic activities. Initially, I expected her to be fragile, passive, and dependent upon others to take care of her, especially in her vulnerable condition. However, this woman is intelligent and strong, both emotionally and physically. She takes action when needed and never once pities her situation. Overall, she is calm, rational, and determined to have a normal life once again, even though she knows the “Silver Fox” is determined to see her dead since she is the only one who can identify him.
Once she recovers, she takes an active role to help apprehend the “Silver Fox,” even risking her life again by setting herself up as bait to lure the killer into the open. However, while waiting to catch the serial killer, Elizabeth is also being stalked by a “wannabe” boyfriend whose disturbing behavior continues to escalate. Although she understands the gravity of her situation regarding the serial killer, I was surprised at how easily she dismissed this stalker who begins to pose a serious threat to her well-being.
The romance and suspense of the plot accelerate once Elizabeth is released from the hospital. Arrangements are made for Sam to resume his role in the investigation by protecting Elizabeth until her life is no longer in danger. As their relationship develops, the attraction between them intensifies into a full-blown passionate love affair. The lines of professional duty and personal interest become blurred once Sam and Elizabeth begin acting like a couple. Although none of the characters seem to see this as an issue, I do think it has a negative impact on how the FBI proceeds with the investigation. For example, when Elizabeth realizes that she knows the killer, she and Tyler work together to set a trap for him. They intentionally keep Sam out of the loop, not letting him know the real identity of the killer and about their about their plan to trap him at a charity event until the last minute. Did they do this because they thought Sam’s personal involvement with Elizabeth would hinder their operation to apprehend the killer? Since Sam is officially part of the investigation, I thought he should have been fully aware of all aspects of the case in order to do his job.
Nevertheless, an unpredictable and exciting climax occurs when Elizabeth does come face-to-face with “Silver Fox,” who is determined to eliminate her once and for all. The story continues after the climatic outcome, bringing up more questions to pique my interest until the end.
I received a copy of Lucky Like Us from the author in exchange for an honest review.
When Elizabeth hears noises outside of her house, she rushes out to find Sam, barely conscious, lying in the street. When she realizes someone is trying to kill him, she risks her own life to protect his. During this intense encounter, “Silver Fox” brutally attacks Elizabeth for intervening, and, in her desperation to fight back, she removes his facial mask revealing his face. The attack ends with both Sam and Elizabeth sustaining life-threatening injuries and left for dead. Fortunately, they are rescued in time and both survive.
The hospital serves as the setting for much of the story as both Sam and Elizabeth recuperate from their injuries. The pace slows down and more attention is given to character development and the relationship that develops between Sam and Elizabeth as they recover and bond over their shared traumatic ordeal. Once Sam learns he accidentally shot the woman who saved his life, he feels responsible for her well-being and spends a lot of time by Elizabeth’s bedside. Even though she is heavily sedated and constantly in and out of consciousness, they still manage to connect on a deeper level; his calming voice and warm touch soothe her anxiety and distract her from the pain, while her concern, understanding, and acceptance of him draws him even closer to her.
Elizabeth is one of my favorite heroines. She comes from an affluent family, owns a successful bakery, and spends much of her time involved in philanthropic activities. Initially, I expected her to be fragile, passive, and dependent upon others to take care of her, especially in her vulnerable condition. However, this woman is intelligent and strong, both emotionally and physically. She takes action when needed and never once pities her situation. Overall, she is calm, rational, and determined to have a normal life once again, even though she knows the “Silver Fox” is determined to see her dead since she is the only one who can identify him.
Once she recovers, she takes an active role to help apprehend the “Silver Fox,” even risking her life again by setting herself up as bait to lure the killer into the open. However, while waiting to catch the serial killer, Elizabeth is also being stalked by a “wannabe” boyfriend whose disturbing behavior continues to escalate. Although she understands the gravity of her situation regarding the serial killer, I was surprised at how easily she dismissed this stalker who begins to pose a serious threat to her well-being.
The romance and suspense of the plot accelerate once Elizabeth is released from the hospital. Arrangements are made for Sam to resume his role in the investigation by protecting Elizabeth until her life is no longer in danger. As their relationship develops, the attraction between them intensifies into a full-blown passionate love affair. The lines of professional duty and personal interest become blurred once Sam and Elizabeth begin acting like a couple. Although none of the characters seem to see this as an issue, I do think it has a negative impact on how the FBI proceeds with the investigation. For example, when Elizabeth realizes that she knows the killer, she and Tyler work together to set a trap for him. They intentionally keep Sam out of the loop, not letting him know the real identity of the killer and about their about their plan to trap him at a charity event until the last minute. Did they do this because they thought Sam’s personal involvement with Elizabeth would hinder their operation to apprehend the killer? Since Sam is officially part of the investigation, I thought he should have been fully aware of all aspects of the case in order to do his job.
Nevertheless, an unpredictable and exciting climax occurs when Elizabeth does come face-to-face with “Silver Fox,” who is determined to eliminate her once and for all. The story continues after the climatic outcome, bringing up more questions to pique my interest until the end.
I received a copy of Lucky Like Us from the author in exchange for an honest review.
April 14, 2013
Originally published at Reading Reality
In this second entry in Jennifer Ryan's Hunted series, her heroine is also being stalked by an ex with creepy motives.
But there are two key differences between Lucky Like Us and Saved By the Rancher that make Lucky Like Us a much better story.
Elizabeth Hamilton, the heroine of Lucky Like Us, starts out the story by saving the hero, Sam Turner. She saves the FBI Agent's life from a serial killer who nearly kills them both. It's a refreshing role-reversal that she saves his life before he saves hers.
Second, and even more important, Elizabeth Hamilton was never abused by her creepazoid ex. He didn't get a chance to even become her boyfriend, let alone her ex-boyfriend. Her sense of self-preservation kicked in way too early for that, and good on her. She was a bit naive about his stalkerism, but she was spot on when she figured out that the jerk was only interested in her for her wealth and connections, and not for herself.
The Hamiltons are very wealthy, and her father is an influential judge. Everyone in her family can be reckoned among the rich and relatively famous. Elizabeth wants to be loved for herself, and if that isn't possible, she'll settle for being surrounded by friends.
Then Sam Turner falls into her life, along with his pursuit of the man the FBI has dubbed "The Silver Fox Killer". When she rushes into the street to rescue Sam, she tears off the killer's mask, making herself his prime target. He leaves her beaten, shot and sliced. She has his face etched in her memory and his DNA under her fingernails.
And that's where the long road to recovery begins. Elizabeth is at death's door. Sam has been poisoned. The police almost don't find them in time.
Protecting Elizabeth, saving her, becomes the most important thing that Sam Turner has left to do. He's been close to burnout for two years. Watching this brave and beautiful woman fight for her life because she protected him is almost more than he can bear, so he dedicates himself to protecting her.
They save each other. They bring each other back from the brink. And hopefully, they'll catch a killer.
Escape Rating B+: Lucky Like Us worked better for me than Saved By the Rancher because Elizabeth doesn't start the story in a state of extreme psychological trauma. She is being hunted by someone, multiple someones, but neither of them is her multiple-times abuser. In other words, Elizabeth falling in love with Sam doesn't make my head explode.
It's not that her would-be ex wasn't planning to abuse her, but he hadn't done it yet. She doesn't have that damage to heal that made the relatively quick sexual relationship in Saved by the Rancher seem implausible.
There is a certain amount of insta-love in Lucky Like Us. Sam and Elizabeth fall in love during the time while Elizabeth is unconscious most of the time, and Sam is still recovering from burnout. They latch onto each other in a time of shared crisis, when they are both feeling extremely lucky to be alive.
Sam feels responsible for Elizabeth's injuries, and Elizabeth feels like Sam is interested in her for a reason other than her family's wealth and influence. He is very protective, at least in part because he feels guilty.
But this story works. They are both hurting, and they come together to heal each other. Well done!
In this second entry in Jennifer Ryan's Hunted series, her heroine is also being stalked by an ex with creepy motives.
But there are two key differences between Lucky Like Us and Saved By the Rancher that make Lucky Like Us a much better story.
Elizabeth Hamilton, the heroine of Lucky Like Us, starts out the story by saving the hero, Sam Turner. She saves the FBI Agent's life from a serial killer who nearly kills them both. It's a refreshing role-reversal that she saves his life before he saves hers.
Second, and even more important, Elizabeth Hamilton was never abused by her creepazoid ex. He didn't get a chance to even become her boyfriend, let alone her ex-boyfriend. Her sense of self-preservation kicked in way too early for that, and good on her. She was a bit naive about his stalkerism, but she was spot on when she figured out that the jerk was only interested in her for her wealth and connections, and not for herself.
The Hamiltons are very wealthy, and her father is an influential judge. Everyone in her family can be reckoned among the rich and relatively famous. Elizabeth wants to be loved for herself, and if that isn't possible, she'll settle for being surrounded by friends.
Then Sam Turner falls into her life, along with his pursuit of the man the FBI has dubbed "The Silver Fox Killer". When she rushes into the street to rescue Sam, she tears off the killer's mask, making herself his prime target. He leaves her beaten, shot and sliced. She has his face etched in her memory and his DNA under her fingernails.
And that's where the long road to recovery begins. Elizabeth is at death's door. Sam has been poisoned. The police almost don't find them in time.
Protecting Elizabeth, saving her, becomes the most important thing that Sam Turner has left to do. He's been close to burnout for two years. Watching this brave and beautiful woman fight for her life because she protected him is almost more than he can bear, so he dedicates himself to protecting her.
They save each other. They bring each other back from the brink. And hopefully, they'll catch a killer.
Escape Rating B+: Lucky Like Us worked better for me than Saved By the Rancher because Elizabeth doesn't start the story in a state of extreme psychological trauma. She is being hunted by someone, multiple someones, but neither of them is her multiple-times abuser. In other words, Elizabeth falling in love with Sam doesn't make my head explode.
It's not that her would-be ex wasn't planning to abuse her, but he hadn't done it yet. She doesn't have that damage to heal that made the relatively quick sexual relationship in Saved by the Rancher seem implausible.
There is a certain amount of insta-love in Lucky Like Us. Sam and Elizabeth fall in love during the time while Elizabeth is unconscious most of the time, and Sam is still recovering from burnout. They latch onto each other in a time of shared crisis, when they are both feeling extremely lucky to be alive.
Sam feels responsible for Elizabeth's injuries, and Elizabeth feels like Sam is interested in her for a reason other than her family's wealth and influence. He is very protective, at least in part because he feels guilty.
But this story works. They are both hurting, and they come together to heal each other. Well done!
July 23, 2016
Curiosity is a dangerous thing. Why do I say this? Because I honestly didn’t expect to read this book after having such a problem with the first one, Saved by the Rancher. I can admit, however, to being intrigued by the sudden appearance of the mysterious twin brother of Jack, who just happened to be an FBI agent who rushed in and helped saved the day. So when the Addicts were told there would be another story, I was hesitant yet willing. What can I say, I’m a total sucker for talk, dark, and mysterious FBI agents who are at the center of hot mess stories.
I was very surprised and pleased this book was better than the first in the series. There were a few of the same problems as before, the biggest being unrealistic character behavior. Especially by Sam in regards to Elizabeth. They hadn’t officially met, and Elizabeth had been unable to communicate except through finger tapping, yet our hero was already deeply connected to her? So involved he feels comfortable kissing her while she is unconscious?!
Admittedly, it only lasted seconds, but still. For me, it bordered on Stephen King Misery creepy and not romantic. Of course, once she is out of the hospital–after another attempt on her life that put her in a coma–she went home and two days later was sleeping with Sam. What? Did I miss the part where her wounds had completely healed and she could move around comfortably? I’m sorry, it was hard to believe a woman recently shot, beaten, and two or three days out a coma would be physically well for sex.
Again, this issue was in the first book, but was (thankfully) not as prevalent in Lucky Like Us. Maybe if there had been more detail setting up certain actions and reactions I would not have been bothered. There were other minor issues I had, such as points of view shifting without sufficient transitions and some added touches that didn’t fit in with romantic suspense angle, but the overall tone and feel of the story was good.
As much as it seems I found nothing but faults with this book, I really did enjoy it. Besides the above mentioned moments, it played out much more reasonably and seemed, for the most part, plausible and realistic. I wasn’t kicked out of the story as often; I was truly invested in Sam and Elizabeth’s story. As well as their friends and family. This story provided the emotional connection that I missed in the first book. I will definitely read the next book, The Right Bride, when it releases April 30.
[NOTE: I want to mention the covers on this series. What is up with them? At first glance, you think this book is going to be a straight contemporary. The more you read on, the more you realize these are romantic suspense. If I had purchased this book solely on the cover, I would have been disappointed as it in no way reflects the roller coaster of action in this book. Just sayin'.]
*review copy provided by publisher via Edelweiss
I was very surprised and pleased this book was better than the first in the series. There were a few of the same problems as before, the biggest being unrealistic character behavior. Especially by Sam in regards to Elizabeth. They hadn’t officially met, and Elizabeth had been unable to communicate except through finger tapping, yet our hero was already deeply connected to her? So involved he feels comfortable kissing her while she is unconscious?!
Admittedly, it only lasted seconds, but still. For me, it bordered on Stephen King Misery creepy and not romantic. Of course, once she is out of the hospital–after another attempt on her life that put her in a coma–she went home and two days later was sleeping with Sam. What? Did I miss the part where her wounds had completely healed and she could move around comfortably? I’m sorry, it was hard to believe a woman recently shot, beaten, and two or three days out a coma would be physically well for sex.
Again, this issue was in the first book, but was (thankfully) not as prevalent in Lucky Like Us. Maybe if there had been more detail setting up certain actions and reactions I would not have been bothered. There were other minor issues I had, such as points of view shifting without sufficient transitions and some added touches that didn’t fit in with romantic suspense angle, but the overall tone and feel of the story was good.
As much as it seems I found nothing but faults with this book, I really did enjoy it. Besides the above mentioned moments, it played out much more reasonably and seemed, for the most part, plausible and realistic. I wasn’t kicked out of the story as often; I was truly invested in Sam and Elizabeth’s story. As well as their friends and family. This story provided the emotional connection that I missed in the first book. I will definitely read the next book, The Right Bride, when it releases April 30.
[NOTE: I want to mention the covers on this series. What is up with them? At first glance, you think this book is going to be a straight contemporary. The more you read on, the more you realize these are romantic suspense. If I had purchased this book solely on the cover, I would have been disappointed as it in no way reflects the roller coaster of action in this book. Just sayin'.]
*review copy provided by publisher via Edelweiss
June 8, 2013
I have loved this series of books. I read them out of order, but didn’t feel like I lost anything, because each book stood on its own.
This book starts out with Elizabeth baking in her kitchen while talking to her friend on the phone. She hears a noise outside. She goes out to find Sam a FBI agent laying on the ground, in the road. Sam was on a case that had gone very wrong. He was drugged and kidnapped. He managed to get out of the car, but the serial killer Sam was after, was not about to just let Sam get away. Elizabeth managed to roll Sam who was unconscious under her car before the serial killer rammed into her car. He got out and attacked her. She fought back with everything she had, and got his sky mask off so she could see his face. He managed to shot her, and stab. He left when he heard sirens approaching.
Sam and Elizabeth were placed in the same hospital room. Elizabeth was out of it for almost a week. She couldn’t open her eyes, but she felt safe hearing Sam’s voice. Sam would just sit and talk to her. She would squeeze his hand once for a yes, and twice for a no. I think it was then that the two feel in love with one another. I thought this was a beautiful romance.
Sam and his partner Taylor were assigned to protect and watch her after she was released from the hospital. She was the only person that had ever seen the face of the serial killer that they were after. This book had parts that kept me on the edge of my seat.
I really enjoyed this book, and I think the author is a very talented writer! I look forward to reading more books by Jennifer Ryan.
This book starts out with Elizabeth baking in her kitchen while talking to her friend on the phone. She hears a noise outside. She goes out to find Sam a FBI agent laying on the ground, in the road. Sam was on a case that had gone very wrong. He was drugged and kidnapped. He managed to get out of the car, but the serial killer Sam was after, was not about to just let Sam get away. Elizabeth managed to roll Sam who was unconscious under her car before the serial killer rammed into her car. He got out and attacked her. She fought back with everything she had, and got his sky mask off so she could see his face. He managed to shot her, and stab. He left when he heard sirens approaching.
Sam and Elizabeth were placed in the same hospital room. Elizabeth was out of it for almost a week. She couldn’t open her eyes, but she felt safe hearing Sam’s voice. Sam would just sit and talk to her. She would squeeze his hand once for a yes, and twice for a no. I think it was then that the two feel in love with one another. I thought this was a beautiful romance.
Sam and his partner Taylor were assigned to protect and watch her after she was released from the hospital. She was the only person that had ever seen the face of the serial killer that they were after. This book had parts that kept me on the edge of my seat.
I really enjoyed this book, and I think the author is a very talented writer! I look forward to reading more books by Jennifer Ryan.
February 20, 2016
The second in the Hunted series.
This book follows Sam, Jack's identical twin, as he works on an FBI case. Circumstances put Elizabeth Hamilton in the crosshairs of a killer, and saving Sam's life in the process. Elizabeth is severely injured (as is Sam) and the strangers share a hospital room while recovering.
This book was a touch annoying because Elizabeth was unconscious for so much of it, and Sam fell in love with her anyways. As did Jack. And Jenna. And the entire FBI. Uh, huh. Sure.
Elizabeth is so loveable that she also has a stalker after her. Oh, and she's rich with a very important family name. Her father is a very important judge. She's the "black sheep" of her family, but not in a bad way... just that she opened her own wildly successful business instead of being a lawyer.
Yup. Yup. Ok...
Ridiculousness aside, I did enjoy the book. It's a fast, easy read, and if I were a beach-going person, I would imagine these are the types of books that one would read at the beach. The most intriguing thing about this book is the introduction of Tyler and Morgan. I am very interested in reading more about Morgan and was happily surprised to see that Chasing Morgan is the 4th book in this series.
This book follows Sam, Jack's identical twin, as he works on an FBI case. Circumstances put Elizabeth Hamilton in the crosshairs of a killer, and saving Sam's life in the process. Elizabeth is severely injured (as is Sam) and the strangers share a hospital room while recovering.
This book was a touch annoying because Elizabeth was unconscious for so much of it, and Sam fell in love with her anyways. As did Jack. And Jenna. And the entire FBI. Uh, huh. Sure.
Elizabeth is so loveable that she also has a stalker after her. Oh, and she's rich with a very important family name. Her father is a very important judge. She's the "black sheep" of her family, but not in a bad way... just that she opened her own wildly successful business instead of being a lawyer.
Yup. Yup. Ok...
Ridiculousness aside, I did enjoy the book. It's a fast, easy read, and if I were a beach-going person, I would imagine these are the types of books that one would read at the beach. The most intriguing thing about this book is the introduction of Tyler and Morgan. I am very interested in reading more about Morgan and was happily surprised to see that Chasing Morgan is the 4th book in this series.
November 1, 2016
4.5 estrelas
Ler este livro foi uma verdadeira lufada de ar fresca! Desde o início prendeu-me com a sua doçura e meiguice; foi tão fácil apaixonar-me por Sam e Elizabeth, adorei ler a sua história, comoveu-me a forma como se estabeleceu um laço forte entre eles, dois perfeitos desconhecidos, enquanto ela esteve no hospital, inconsciente e ele lhe falava. Também adorei as famílias de ambos, são tão fofos e estão sempre ali uns pelos outros. Não esquecendo Tyler, o parceiro de Sam e como é intrigante a história com Morgan, uma mulher praticamente desconhecida, aparentemente com poderes psíquicos, que de vez em quando contacta com Tyler para deixar pistas para desvendar os seus casos.
Só não arredondo para 5 estrelas porque na segunda metade a ação fica mais parada e a captura do assassino no final foi muito fácil e não muito convincente.
Definitivamente, uma série a ter debaixo de olho e espero ler o segundo livro entretanto.
Ler este livro foi uma verdadeira lufada de ar fresca! Desde o início prendeu-me com a sua doçura e meiguice; foi tão fácil apaixonar-me por Sam e Elizabeth, adorei ler a sua história, comoveu-me a forma como se estabeleceu um laço forte entre eles, dois perfeitos desconhecidos, enquanto ela esteve no hospital, inconsciente e ele lhe falava. Também adorei as famílias de ambos, são tão fofos e estão sempre ali uns pelos outros. Não esquecendo Tyler, o parceiro de Sam e como é intrigante a história com Morgan, uma mulher praticamente desconhecida, aparentemente com poderes psíquicos, que de vez em quando contacta com Tyler para deixar pistas para desvendar os seus casos.
Só não arredondo para 5 estrelas porque na segunda metade a ação fica mais parada e a captura do assassino no final foi muito fácil e não muito convincente.
Definitivamente, uma série a ter debaixo de olho e espero ler o segundo livro entretanto.
July 3, 2016
Another hunter dead, such a great story . Elizabeth saw a man in her alley what would she do she went to check on him and when a car came towards them she saved him. Sam was going to meet a man who had information unfortunately he was hunted and was left for dead. Elizabeth being the kind hearted women she did was she could to save him, in the process she now became hunted, half of the story was her in the hospital but it was great because that is were Sam and Elizabeth relationship starts to form and they get to know each other better. This was filled with suspense as well as seeing a relationship start to form between Morgan and Tyler can't wait for their book.
October 25, 2024
This was the first Jennifer Ryan book I ever read several years ago. I reread this book every couple of years. After I read this book I read every Jennifer Ryan book I could find. She is an excellent romantic suspense writer. I highly recommend all her books.
May 18, 2021
Awesome read. Perfect amount of suspense and romance. Great writing and storytelling with a perfect group of characters you want to know more about. I highly recommend this one
April 2, 2018
So I get this story and Saved by the Rancher confused because the brothers are twins but their suffering over not being able to protect the women they love is intense to the same degree.
So Sam and Elizabeth meet because she is a selfless protector of all the things and he's been drugged. What follows is a very intense and fast connection between two people because of a serial killer.
Elizabeth cracks me up because she bakes when she's stressed, which means she's always baking. I don't know how to discuss this story. In a way this novel is about Sam and how being with Elizabeth and her family helps him to heal. Sam likes that they love her so much. She is basically the glue that keeps the family together.
Sam is burning out and fast. He has a lot of guilt because he feels responsible for what happened to Elizabeth. So he stays with her throughout her hospital stay. And somehow they fall into a relationship. I actually believe that they would be together. I was sympathetic to how hard it would be for Sam to maintain a relationship with all the undercover work he has to do.
I don't have much to say. Their relationship is fast and intense. There are multiple factors trying to keep them apart and that includes their own issues. Mostly Sam's issues. I enjoyed their story.
So Sam and Elizabeth meet because she is a selfless protector of all the things and he's been drugged. What follows is a very intense and fast connection between two people because of a serial killer.
Elizabeth cracks me up because she bakes when she's stressed, which means she's always baking. I don't know how to discuss this story. In a way this novel is about Sam and how being with Elizabeth and her family helps him to heal. Sam likes that they love her so much. She is basically the glue that keeps the family together.
Sam is burning out and fast. He has a lot of guilt because he feels responsible for what happened to Elizabeth. So he stays with her throughout her hospital stay. And somehow they fall into a relationship. I actually believe that they would be together. I was sympathetic to how hard it would be for Sam to maintain a relationship with all the undercover work he has to do.
I don't have much to say. Their relationship is fast and intense. There are multiple factors trying to keep them apart and that includes their own issues. Mostly Sam's issues. I enjoyed their story.
June 1, 2022
3.5 romantic thriller
There are a number of errors that irritated, site instead of sight etc. As well as mixed tense. Lazy editing.
There are no real potential triggers although there is reference to attempted kidnap.
There is quite a bit of violence towards women. It seems the author likes to inflict numerous wounds, the bloodier the better.
The characterisation is okay, enough to allow the reader to form a connection.
Elizabeth is engaging, a strong female lead with an individual personality.
Sam is an equally prominent character with his own personality traits that draw the reader into the story.
The plotline meanders a bit before getting back on track, personally I felt Jarred was a wasted character, he was irrelevant to the plotline.
The book is a quick read but does lack any depth, I don't think I cared overmuch what happened to any of them. It felt formulaic and naive.
If you are a fan of the genre you would probably enjoy the book.
What I have found is an error when the book downloaded that brings up the cover page as you move forward after the ending, that takes you right back to the beginning of the book. You have to use the slider to get to the end in order to leave feedback.
There are a number of errors that irritated, site instead of sight etc. As well as mixed tense. Lazy editing.
There are no real potential triggers although there is reference to attempted kidnap.
There is quite a bit of violence towards women. It seems the author likes to inflict numerous wounds, the bloodier the better.
The characterisation is okay, enough to allow the reader to form a connection.
Elizabeth is engaging, a strong female lead with an individual personality.
Sam is an equally prominent character with his own personality traits that draw the reader into the story.
The plotline meanders a bit before getting back on track, personally I felt Jarred was a wasted character, he was irrelevant to the plotline.
The book is a quick read but does lack any depth, I don't think I cared overmuch what happened to any of them. It felt formulaic and naive.
If you are a fan of the genre you would probably enjoy the book.
What I have found is an error when the book downloaded that brings up the cover page as you move forward after the ending, that takes you right back to the beginning of the book. You have to use the slider to get to the end in order to leave feedback.
July 18, 2017
The Hunted series continues as Special Agent Sam Turner discovers that protecting the FBI's star witness is more difficult than he thought!
Bakery owner Elizabeth Hamilton's quiet life is filled with sweet treats, good friends, and a loving family. But all of that is about to turn sour when an odd sound draws her outside. There's a man lying unconscious in the street, a car speeding toward him. Without hesitation, she gets the man out of harm's way before they're run down.
Unwittingly, Elizabeth has put herself in the path of a serial murderer, and as the only one who can identify the FBI's Silver Fox Killer, she's ended up in the hospital with a target on her back.
All that stands between her and death is Special Agent Sam Turner. Against his better judgment, Sam gets emotionally involved, determined to take down the double threat against Elizabeth—an ex desperate to get her back, despite a restraining order, and a psychopath bent on silencing her before she can identify him.
They set a trap to catch the killer—putting Elizabeth in his hands, with Sam desperate to save her. If he's lucky, he'll get his man … and the girl
Bakery owner Elizabeth Hamilton's quiet life is filled with sweet treats, good friends, and a loving family. But all of that is about to turn sour when an odd sound draws her outside. There's a man lying unconscious in the street, a car speeding toward him. Without hesitation, she gets the man out of harm's way before they're run down.
Unwittingly, Elizabeth has put herself in the path of a serial murderer, and as the only one who can identify the FBI's Silver Fox Killer, she's ended up in the hospital with a target on her back.
All that stands between her and death is Special Agent Sam Turner. Against his better judgment, Sam gets emotionally involved, determined to take down the double threat against Elizabeth—an ex desperate to get her back, despite a restraining order, and a psychopath bent on silencing her before she can identify him.
They set a trap to catch the killer—putting Elizabeth in his hands, with Sam desperate to save her. If he's lucky, he'll get his man … and the girl
June 6, 2025
This book did not hit quite as much as the first book did in this standalone series. The first book read as a sort of silly, don't-take-it-too-serious, over-the-top romance drama story, where the writing and story development weren't the best, but I had an enjoyable time nonetheless. So I had similar expectations for this one, but this book's love story was just odd and so much more cringe. The dialogue and inner thoughts from "the unknown attacker" definitely needed a lot of work — it was corny and cringy, and not in a good way. The marriage jokes the characters went on with were too rushed. The forceful lust comments that the characters made were also too rushed. It made me think that the male character had some sort of fragile body fetish or something. I could understand having the male character make comments like "she's still so beautiful," but them getting down and dirty the first day she gets released from the hospital (when was even released early and still need to recover a lot more) was just weird. It's one of those books that I'll definitely forget about and wouldn't recommend to others. The first one was just as ‘silly’ but executed much, much better.
July 19, 2019
I can't say Lucky Like Us is a terrible book, because it's not, but it also didn't amaze me. It started off great, with a gripping action scene, but that was just about the highest point in the story. After that, I felt that the plot turned flat and not even the fact that I wanted to know who the Silver Fox was, was enough to keep me interested. In addition, the constant changing of view points from one character to another was confusing. I don't mind changing view points, but in this case even the secondary characters were sharing all their thoughts and it was just too much to keep track of.
Lucky Like Us is book two in the Hunted series by Jennifer Ryan and in the future I will try to go through the other books to see if I can enjoy them a bit more.
Lucky Like Us is book two in the Hunted series by Jennifer Ryan and in the future I will try to go through the other books to see if I can enjoy them a bit more.
October 30, 2018
I realize we’re only into book two in the series, but I’m beginning to wonder if this is going to be a common theme: heroines who get themselves hurt doing stupid sh*t. I liked the way it’s handled better in this book than the previous one. The first time Elizabeth is injured it’s in the very noble gesture of protecting Sam. And while the final time she risks her life is by her own design, at least she does it knowing she has FBI back-up to protect her. I also really appreciated that this pair waited most of the book before becoming intimate. There was time to build a deeply believable connection between them. I am intrigued to continue with the next book in the series.
November 18, 2020
This is my favorite Jennifer Ryan book so far. I love that the female character is quick witted and full of humor.
That said, WHY do authors have to make main characters sexless woman who have never orgasmed without the man in the book? It didn't add to the story, it was a totally random addition that didn't fit in at all, it's not realistic, and it just makes me a little sick. Why does a woman have to be chaste and incapable of orgasm on her own? There's no way a woman as powerful as this one hasn't had more lovers and figured out how to please herself. C'mon, Ryan.
That said, WHY do authors have to make main characters sexless woman who have never orgasmed without the man in the book? It didn't add to the story, it was a totally random addition that didn't fit in at all, it's not realistic, and it just makes me a little sick. Why does a woman have to be chaste and incapable of orgasm on her own? There's no way a woman as powerful as this one hasn't had more lovers and figured out how to please herself. C'mon, Ryan.
April 2, 2018
Elizabeth and Sam have a rocky road. Sam is on the trail of a serial murder, assassin for hire involved in insurance schemes. Elizabeth is the daughter to a prominent federal Judge who owns and operates a bakery. Their paths cross when she helps him escape from the murder who has drugged the FBI agent, but that move his crosshairs to her as the only person who can identify him. Pick up this book to find out if love can really grow under such stressful circumstances.
September 10, 2020
Minus the good-grief covers, these aren't bad. The author handles mysteries reasonably well, and the characters are distinguishable from each other. The romance is like any other suspenseful romance novel - entirely based on lust rather than actually people getting to know each other. (And am I the only person that thinks that falling in love with someone in a coma is a little weird?)
If you're going to read a novel by this author, this isn't the one.
If you're going to read a novel by this author, this isn't the one.
dnf
January 6, 2021DNF at 60%. Is this even a romance novel? This book begins with the hero and the heroine getting beat up and landing in the hospital. The heroine is in a coma for most of the book and communicates by tapping the hero’s wrist. There’s a vignette chapter where the hero’s partner solves a murder and talks to a psychic. I just don’t really believe these people could be in love, when they haven’t spent time in the same room and conscious.
September 7, 2023
Listened to the audiobook.
This is the 2nd in a series. It was better than the 1st in this series, but still rather predictable & mostly too good to be true. The heroine is being attacked by 2 different psychotics.
It strains credibility how quickly the love interest/attraction develops, liked that the heroine exhibited strength and smarts.
Liked the storytelling style, but would prefer a "meatier" story.
This is the 2nd in a series. It was better than the 1st in this series, but still rather predictable & mostly too good to be true. The heroine is being attacked by 2 different psychotics.
It strains credibility how quickly the love interest/attraction develops, liked that the heroine exhibited strength and smarts.
Liked the storytelling style, but would prefer a "meatier" story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2021
Wonderful
This was very well written. The characters were built perfectly and resulted in all the feels for every single one of them. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book considering the first book was good and the second one was great. I’m betting book three will be fantastic and the books will just keep getting better.
This was very well written. The characters were built perfectly and resulted in all the feels for every single one of them. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book considering the first book was good and the second one was great. I’m betting book three will be fantastic and the books will just keep getting better.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews