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Wild Encounter
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ebook
First published August 1, 2012
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About the author
Nikki Logan
219 books76 followersAustralian, Nikki Logan, lives on the edge of a string of wetlands south of Perth, Western Australia with her partner and a menagerie of animals. She writes captivating, nature-based stories full of romance in descriptive natural environments for Harlequin Enterprises and Entangled Publishing. She believes the danger and richness of wild places perfectly mirror the passion and risk of falling in love.
Nikki wrote her first full-length book in 2007 ('Wild Encounter' a romantic suspense set in the wilds of Zambia amidst the wildlife smuggling industry) when she needed a project to fill six months of accrued annual leave. Well and truly bitten by the writing-bug, she wrote a number of category-length novels after her return to work and hasn’t stopped since. She’s written fifteen books for Harlequin and now Entangled as well.
Nikki’s determined to reveal through her writing what she finds so enriching, courageous and tenacious about wildlife. Writing nature-based romance is the perfect opportunity to blend what she loves reading with what she loves doing and maybe sneak beautiful creatures and their environments into fertile reader imaginations all over the world through beautiful love stories.
Nikki wrote her first full-length book in 2007 ('Wild Encounter' a romantic suspense set in the wilds of Zambia amidst the wildlife smuggling industry) when she needed a project to fill six months of accrued annual leave. Well and truly bitten by the writing-bug, she wrote a number of category-length novels after her return to work and hasn’t stopped since. She’s written fifteen books for Harlequin and now Entangled as well.
Nikki’s determined to reveal through her writing what she finds so enriching, courageous and tenacious about wildlife. Writing nature-based romance is the perfect opportunity to blend what she loves reading with what she loves doing and maybe sneak beautiful creatures and their environments into fertile reader imaginations all over the world through beautiful love stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
December 13, 2012
Wild Encounter has many of the things I love in a story. Thick suspense, an unlikely romance filled with tension, and a wonderful exotic setting. Add to that, pacing that keeps you glued to the pages. If it weren’t for work, I’d have read this in one sitting.
Clare Delany has spent the last two years working on a mission to relocate a pack of rare African Wild Dogs from Zimbabwe to Zambia, in an effort to keep them safe from poachers. When suddenly she and the dogs are kidnapped she has more than her two years of hard work to worry about. Staying alive is her prime concern now. Right away Clare assesses the situation, and aligns herself with the group’s “Alpha,” Simon. For some strange reason he seems concerned with her safety and protection, and Clare latches onto him to survive. Clare can’t help the growing attraction she feels for this charismatic man.
Simon is not too happy because a wrench has just been thrown into a mission he’s spent the last two years working on. He suddenly finds himself between his bottom-dweller associates, and an all-too beautiful woman who is now their hostage. Simon is not who he pretends to be but he can’t reveal his identity. He must find a way to get Clare out without ruining everything. Complicating things further are his growing feelings for Clare. He knows it’s wrong, but he can’t help it.
Wild Encounter was a gripping story!! Like I said before, if it wasn’t for work I would’ve sat and read this straight through. The story starts with a bang and doesn’t stop. I loved all the danger and twists. The relationship that builds between Simon and Clare is at first suspect. How can you know if your feelings are real when they bloom in such a high tension situation? But their attraction is undeniable. Can anyone say smoking hot sexual tension?!! Let me give you a taste:
“But know this, Clare. I am by far the most civilized man in this house, and given how badly I want to lock this door, rip those clothes off you, and not come out for a week—“
She stifled a gasp.
“—that should give you an indication of the sort of danger you’re inviting if you open the door to the others like you just did for me. Have I made myself clear?”
The amazing setting of the African bush was brought masterfully to life by Ms. Logan, and I felt like I was there. *sigh* I love animals, so I found the thought of Clare’s job thrilling. Well, maybe not all aspects. I’ve backpacked several times, and a week without running water is about my limit, lol.
Clare was a courageous and resourceful character. I was rooting for her the whole time. I admired and could easily relate to the fierce protectiveness she had for her animals. Even though I could see where Simon was coming from, I still wanted to smack him a few times. Still, like Clare, I was not immune to his pull:
Gentleness from him was almost her undoing. “Clare…” He groaned into her mouth and her breath came thick and fast, causing foggy light-headedness. He held her while she ran her hands over parts of him she didn’t know she’d been dying to feel. His chest. The swell of his biceps, the muscles of his back. How could one man feel so good? Such a wrong man.
Oh my.
So if you’re looking for a fast-paced, tension filled romance, with some mystery and suspense, look no further. This will not disappoint.
On a side note, I love the cover but Clare has brown eyes in the book and this woman’s are obviously green. If not for that I would think it was perfect for the story.
A copy was provided by Entangled Publishing through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
You can find this review and more The Readers Den.
Clare Delany has spent the last two years working on a mission to relocate a pack of rare African Wild Dogs from Zimbabwe to Zambia, in an effort to keep them safe from poachers. When suddenly she and the dogs are kidnapped she has more than her two years of hard work to worry about. Staying alive is her prime concern now. Right away Clare assesses the situation, and aligns herself with the group’s “Alpha,” Simon. For some strange reason he seems concerned with her safety and protection, and Clare latches onto him to survive. Clare can’t help the growing attraction she feels for this charismatic man.
Simon is not too happy because a wrench has just been thrown into a mission he’s spent the last two years working on. He suddenly finds himself between his bottom-dweller associates, and an all-too beautiful woman who is now their hostage. Simon is not who he pretends to be but he can’t reveal his identity. He must find a way to get Clare out without ruining everything. Complicating things further are his growing feelings for Clare. He knows it’s wrong, but he can’t help it.
Wild Encounter was a gripping story!! Like I said before, if it wasn’t for work I would’ve sat and read this straight through. The story starts with a bang and doesn’t stop. I loved all the danger and twists. The relationship that builds between Simon and Clare is at first suspect. How can you know if your feelings are real when they bloom in such a high tension situation? But their attraction is undeniable. Can anyone say smoking hot sexual tension?!! Let me give you a taste:
“But know this, Clare. I am by far the most civilized man in this house, and given how badly I want to lock this door, rip those clothes off you, and not come out for a week—“
She stifled a gasp.
“—that should give you an indication of the sort of danger you’re inviting if you open the door to the others like you just did for me. Have I made myself clear?”
The amazing setting of the African bush was brought masterfully to life by Ms. Logan, and I felt like I was there. *sigh* I love animals, so I found the thought of Clare’s job thrilling. Well, maybe not all aspects. I’ve backpacked several times, and a week without running water is about my limit, lol.
Clare was a courageous and resourceful character. I was rooting for her the whole time. I admired and could easily relate to the fierce protectiveness she had for her animals. Even though I could see where Simon was coming from, I still wanted to smack him a few times. Still, like Clare, I was not immune to his pull:
Gentleness from him was almost her undoing. “Clare…” He groaned into her mouth and her breath came thick and fast, causing foggy light-headedness. He held her while she ran her hands over parts of him she didn’t know she’d been dying to feel. His chest. The swell of his biceps, the muscles of his back. How could one man feel so good? Such a wrong man.
Oh my.
So if you’re looking for a fast-paced, tension filled romance, with some mystery and suspense, look no further. This will not disappoint.
On a side note, I love the cover but Clare has brown eyes in the book and this woman’s are obviously green. If not for that I would think it was perfect for the story.
A copy was provided by Entangled Publishing through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
You can find this review and more The Readers Den.
November 28, 2012
First rule of the wild : Never take your eye off a predator.
3.5 stars. Not gonna lie - I was sort of expecting a taboo kidnap book where there was some potential dub con or perhaps even a major Stockholm Syndrome situation going on. Whoops...I sort of missed the mark on guessing what this book was about.
Even so, I was still into this tale of a Safari-slash-kidnap-slash-bungled hostage situation book. This is a scenario I haven't read before.
The reason I took away half a star point is because if you remove the very cool layers of setting and scenario, the story itself is a basic contemp romance when it came to conflict and secrets.
The reason I rounded up though is because Simon is a hot Brit. It sort of makes me laugh inside of my own head (don't judge, I actually do this) whenever I find myself sympathetic toward the captor. Granted, this man is not a complete jackhole of a captor like we've seen in truly taboo books, so it's also easier to like him. I also laughed (in a less disturbing way) that Clare nicknamed him Alpha. He wasn't the most Alpha of Alphas, but hey, if someone's gonna be one, they might as well have the snazzy name to go with the job.
"If it's survival you want, then you need to fight and kick and scream at every one of us, and that includes me." He pushed away from her and grabbed the chair with one powerful hand. "In fact, right now, I would say most especially me."
I should probably disclaimer this after adding in that quote : if you are the type of person who can't read taboo kidnap books like Comfort Food and Captive in the Dark, this is NOT like those books. Wild Encounter is definitely contemporary romance, not dark erotica. So if you're a little nervous, don't be. This alpha's bark is worse than his bite. The sex was the right level for the type of book that it was - nice and steamy but not over the top.
At first, I had issues with how fast Clare got attached to Simon. There was no real time given for Stockholm Syndrome to develop. However, when I read further into the book, I realized that a big portion of the story was not going to focus on the time in captivity, so there was a reason why the connection was rushed. Then, I was able to forgive something that I'd normally pick apart for being unbelievable.
"It's...You're frightened and alone and relying on me. You're desperate."
The blood in her veins congealed. "I am not desperate."
His smile was strained. "You're counting on me to get you out of here."
I liked the chemistry between Simon and Clare. You could tell that both people were struggling with their feelings and neither one was sure just how to proceed, given the situation. Simon's protectiveness of Clare that was lying under his rough exterior was even sweet at times.
Other than the story sort of going into basic contemp territory about midway through, I enjoyed the read. There were a few transitional errors here and there a couple of setting missteps (there was one instance where the country itself was called Africa), but overall, I think the setting was captured in such a way that I felt like I was right there along with the people. This is one book that I'm glad I didn't pass up.
This book was provided from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 12, 2012
Quick review:
Cover: Nice
Rating: NC-17
Steaminess HOT
Thumbs Up: 4
Overall: What a wild ride.
Characters: Well done.
Plot: Can some say, kidnapped much?
Page Turner: Yes
Series Cont.? N/A
Recommend: Yes
Book Boyfriend: Simon
SUMMARY (55 words or less)
Having not read the summary in a while, I wasn’t exactly clear on what was going to happen. I knew about the kidnapping, but I had no idea anything else. I think that was good. It wasn’t predictable for me. I really enjoyed this one and found myself reaching for it to read.
To see my full review and likeness of my book boyfriend, check out my blog post.
http://mybookboyfriend.blogspot.com/2...
Cover: Nice
Rating: NC-17
Steaminess HOT
Thumbs Up: 4
Overall: What a wild ride.
Characters: Well done.
Plot: Can some say, kidnapped much?
Page Turner: Yes
Series Cont.? N/A
Recommend: Yes
Book Boyfriend: Simon
SUMMARY (55 words or less)
Having not read the summary in a while, I wasn’t exactly clear on what was going to happen. I knew about the kidnapping, but I had no idea anything else. I think that was good. It wasn’t predictable for me. I really enjoyed this one and found myself reaching for it to read.
To see my full review and likeness of my book boyfriend, check out my blog post.
http://mybookboyfriend.blogspot.com/2...
December 17, 2012
CAUTION: Spoilers ahead.
I'm pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. What was seemingly just another case of Stockholm Syndrome and, or Lima Syndrome turned out to be so much more. If you go into this thinking that it would be just a book about poaching in Africa, then you'll be sorely wrong. And it's also another reason why this was such a surprise. The mystery surrounding why Clare's captors was determined to grab the African wild dogs in her care (other than the obvious) was definitely anything but predictable.
The book is a chock-ful of educational nuggets. I love reading an enjoyable story while taking a few pieces of knowledge in it as well. In this case, it was interesting to read about animal tracking in the wilderness of Africa. The author was also very proficient in drawing a clear landscape of the continent itself.
Clare Delaney was a gritty character who didn't shy away from any hairy situations - whether dealing with rancid, rank, stinky dogs or with rancid, rank, stinky men, she showed great chutzpah on either instances.
Simon deVries was the perfect double agent. He played the part well whether he was a man in a suit or a man in co-hoots with some degenerate characters. There's not a lot of books out there starring a British Secret Service hero so Simon deVries' stock was on the rise not only because his character was a novelty but he speaks with the sexiest accent known to man. Though I'd like to point out that the Alpha-to-the-max reference made by the author was slightly misleading, as he was far from the over-bearing alphas I've read before. He was protective, sure but he was definitely not pushy.
This book is not just an average romance book that you find in a grocery store - tackling a very different story arch that I have not read about before. The author offered mystery, albeit a very light one with a romance that was every bit as sweet as it was sexy.
I'm pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. What was seemingly just another case of Stockholm Syndrome and, or Lima Syndrome turned out to be so much more. If you go into this thinking that it would be just a book about poaching in Africa, then you'll be sorely wrong. And it's also another reason why this was such a surprise. The mystery surrounding why Clare's captors was determined to grab the African wild dogs in her care (other than the obvious) was definitely anything but predictable.
The book is a chock-ful of educational nuggets. I love reading an enjoyable story while taking a few pieces of knowledge in it as well. In this case, it was interesting to read about animal tracking in the wilderness of Africa. The author was also very proficient in drawing a clear landscape of the continent itself.
Clare Delaney was a gritty character who didn't shy away from any hairy situations - whether dealing with rancid, rank, stinky dogs or with rancid, rank, stinky men, she showed great chutzpah on either instances.
Simon deVries was the perfect double agent. He played the part well whether he was a man in a suit or a man in co-hoots with some degenerate characters. There's not a lot of books out there starring a British Secret Service hero so Simon deVries' stock was on the rise not only because his character was a novelty but he speaks with the sexiest accent known to man. Though I'd like to point out that the Alpha-to-the-max reference made by the author was slightly misleading, as he was far from the over-bearing alphas I've read before. He was protective, sure but he was definitely not pushy.
This book is not just an average romance book that you find in a grocery store - tackling a very different story arch that I have not read about before. The author offered mystery, albeit a very light one with a romance that was every bit as sweet as it was sexy.
October 18, 2012
My pace of reading has become so slow that it ain’t even funny anymore. That being said, Wild Encounter by Nikki Logan turned out to be exactly my kind of read, the kind of romantic suspense that I love to read. Intense with enough nail biting tension of the good and bad kind, with a hero that practically melted me on the spot with that intense grey eyes of his that just begs a woman to do all kind of things to him – and I mean it all in a very good way.
To read the rest of the review with quotes, please visit MBR's Realm of Romance
Rating=4.75/5
To read the rest of the review with quotes, please visit MBR's Realm of Romance
Rating=4.75/5
October 31, 2012
Originally published at Reading Reality
Most people know about "Stockholm Syndrome", where hostages "have positive feelings towards their captors, sometimes to the point of defending them." The syndrome is all about mistaking the lack of abuse from their captors, or, in the case of Clare and Simon in Wild Encounter, a particular captor, for an act of kindness. Or possibly more.
At least, that's what the shrink tells her after it's all over.
There's an inverse syndrome, the "Lima Syndrome." That's the version where the abductors develop sympathy for the hostages, sometimes to the point of letting them all go. Or, in the case of Wild Encounter, letting just the one hostage go.
And that's what Simon's superiors tell him he has after it's all over.
But what if they're wrong?
As romantic suspense, the start of this story is both amazing and slightly uncomfortable. Simon and a group of seriously bad dudes kidnap Clare by accident in order to get at the wild dogs her group is planning to release. She's just collateral damage. So are the dogs.
Can either of them be sure the attraction they feel for each other is real, and not a product of the situation?
Clare only knows that Simon is the only one of the crew who treats her half-way decently. He protects her from the others. Throwing her lot in with him, throwing herself at him, is her best chance for survival.
Until she can rescue herself. Which is exactly what she does. With wits and skill and intelligence. Brains over brawn. Whatever she feels for Simon, she takes him down, too. And escapes from ALL her captors. Including the one she's just spent an entire day in the sack with.
She drugs him comatose, along with the rest. His last act is to give her his gun. She drives far enough away before she brings back rescue that he has a chance to get away, she hopes. But that's all she can do for him, whoever he was.
Six months later she's back in Africa, because the dogs have been found on the wrong nature preserve, and she and her team have to relocate them after all. While she's happy to know that they survived, she's still emotionally scarred.
Then the British government sends a team to guard them, to prevent a repeat of the "embarrassing events" of the previous transfer, and there's Simon again. Clare finds out who he really is, and she's both stunned and angry. He's MI6 and her kidnapping nearly ruined his undercover case.
All she knows is that in 6 months he never contacted her to let her know that he was alive, or who he really was. Or what their last night together might have meant. Or not.
His case isn't over. He can't even tell her what it's about. Or that he's not sure what their last night meant either. Was it all part of one syndrome or another, or was what they both did, part of something they both really felt? And will they survive long enough to clear up all the misunderstandings?
Escape Rating B: The pages absolutely fly by in this romantic suspense tale. The author conveys both the romance and the danger of her veterinarian-heroine's love-affair with her job and the places it takes her too, with deft insider knowledge.
It was terrific to see a woman rescue herself, not by muscle, but by brains. We need more heroines like Clare in romance. (Heck, we need more heroines like Clare as role-models in general!)
But, we're all left wondering how much of what Clare (and Simon) feel in the initial situation is real, and how much is part of the situation. The sex is jungle steamy, but are the emotions real? Those syndromes exist for very valid psychological reasons.
The angsting after Clare and Simon get back together is a bit, well, much. The misunderstandings are huge, and go on way too long. Either he can talk about it, or he can't. If MI6 says he's compromised, than he shouldn't be there. Or he's all there. Also, the nameless/faceless nature of the superiors who said he couldn't/shouldn't be involved with Clare took a bit away from the reasoning on that one. I wanted to see his memory of that actual dressing-down, if not the event itself to give that more punch.
Where would spy stories today be without the invention of the micro-chip? (I'm just saying...)
But all things considered, I liked these characters. A LOT. I wanted them to find a happy ending, and I was happy for them when they did. And the plot did keep me very much in suspense. I did not know who the bad guy was, or even why the bad guy was, until Clare figured it out. I love it when the suspense works as well as the romance.
Most people know about "Stockholm Syndrome", where hostages "have positive feelings towards their captors, sometimes to the point of defending them." The syndrome is all about mistaking the lack of abuse from their captors, or, in the case of Clare and Simon in Wild Encounter, a particular captor, for an act of kindness. Or possibly more.
At least, that's what the shrink tells her after it's all over.
There's an inverse syndrome, the "Lima Syndrome." That's the version where the abductors develop sympathy for the hostages, sometimes to the point of letting them all go. Or, in the case of Wild Encounter, letting just the one hostage go.
And that's what Simon's superiors tell him he has after it's all over.
But what if they're wrong?
As romantic suspense, the start of this story is both amazing and slightly uncomfortable. Simon and a group of seriously bad dudes kidnap Clare by accident in order to get at the wild dogs her group is planning to release. She's just collateral damage. So are the dogs.
Can either of them be sure the attraction they feel for each other is real, and not a product of the situation?
Clare only knows that Simon is the only one of the crew who treats her half-way decently. He protects her from the others. Throwing her lot in with him, throwing herself at him, is her best chance for survival.
Until she can rescue herself. Which is exactly what she does. With wits and skill and intelligence. Brains over brawn. Whatever she feels for Simon, she takes him down, too. And escapes from ALL her captors. Including the one she's just spent an entire day in the sack with.
She drugs him comatose, along with the rest. His last act is to give her his gun. She drives far enough away before she brings back rescue that he has a chance to get away, she hopes. But that's all she can do for him, whoever he was.
Six months later she's back in Africa, because the dogs have been found on the wrong nature preserve, and she and her team have to relocate them after all. While she's happy to know that they survived, she's still emotionally scarred.
Then the British government sends a team to guard them, to prevent a repeat of the "embarrassing events" of the previous transfer, and there's Simon again. Clare finds out who he really is, and she's both stunned and angry. He's MI6 and her kidnapping nearly ruined his undercover case.
All she knows is that in 6 months he never contacted her to let her know that he was alive, or who he really was. Or what their last night together might have meant. Or not.
His case isn't over. He can't even tell her what it's about. Or that he's not sure what their last night meant either. Was it all part of one syndrome or another, or was what they both did, part of something they both really felt? And will they survive long enough to clear up all the misunderstandings?
Escape Rating B: The pages absolutely fly by in this romantic suspense tale. The author conveys both the romance and the danger of her veterinarian-heroine's love-affair with her job and the places it takes her too, with deft insider knowledge.
It was terrific to see a woman rescue herself, not by muscle, but by brains. We need more heroines like Clare in romance. (Heck, we need more heroines like Clare as role-models in general!)
But, we're all left wondering how much of what Clare (and Simon) feel in the initial situation is real, and how much is part of the situation. The sex is jungle steamy, but are the emotions real? Those syndromes exist for very valid psychological reasons.
The angsting after Clare and Simon get back together is a bit, well, much. The misunderstandings are huge, and go on way too long. Either he can talk about it, or he can't. If MI6 says he's compromised, than he shouldn't be there. Or he's all there. Also, the nameless/faceless nature of the superiors who said he couldn't/shouldn't be involved with Clare took a bit away from the reasoning on that one. I wanted to see his memory of that actual dressing-down, if not the event itself to give that more punch.
Where would spy stories today be without the invention of the micro-chip? (I'm just saying...)
But all things considered, I liked these characters. A LOT. I wanted them to find a happy ending, and I was happy for them when they did. And the plot did keep me very much in suspense. I did not know who the bad guy was, or even why the bad guy was, until Clare figured it out. I love it when the suspense works as well as the romance.
November 2, 2012
This is the first Dead Sexy title that I have read. I am not normally a big romantic suspense fan, and I’m not sure why. Maybe because the field is becoming so crowded that I have no clue where to begin? Wild Encounter hit my radar because I recently enjoyed another Nikki Logan book, and because of these three words: African Wild Dogs. Yup, that sealed the deal for me. I think they are the coolest canines ever, with their mottled splashes of color and gigantic ears. I was hoping that the dogs would have more than just a cameo appearance, and was delighted when they did. The romance was even engaging, though Clare and Simon had a tough act to follow, sharing the limelight with the dogs (just kidding!).
Clare is in Zambia to release a pack of wild dogs, an important step in preserving the species in their native African habitat. The convoy is hijacked by ruthless thugs, and Clare has to put aside her fear in order to survive her awful ordeal. She is immediately drawn to the man she nicknames Alpha, and she puts her life in his hands. As he protects her from the vicious men holding her captive, she finds herself falling in love with him. A desperate bid for escape has her fleeing the farmhouse where she gave herself to Alpha, body and soul, and soon the ordeal is just a nightmare for her to work through. On a return trip to reclaim the dogs and release them at the wilderness preserve they were originally destined for, she has to relive her worst nightmare. Alpha is back, only now he’s in her camp, masquerading as her bodyguard!
The first half of the book details Clare’s kidnapping and captivity, and there are many parts of her ordeal that I found disturbing. Maybe this is why I don’t read much romantic suspense. Clare is physically abused by her captors, kicked and hit with brutal force. Only Alpha keeps her from being viciously raped. All of this was a bit too intense for me, so it’s a good thing the whisper of those African wild dogs kept me turning the pages. Clare relies on every bit of bravery that she possesses to outwit the smugglers and escape, but not before she finds herself desperately in love with Alpha.
Back home, Clare has months of therapy to endure. Does she love that guy, or was she suffering from the effects of Stockholm syndrome? Does it really matter, because the odds of ever seeing him again are about nil. Clare realizes that her infatuation with him is probably due to the nightmare she survived. The suffocating fear just stirred up emotions for the one kidnapper who was nice to her.
When her wild dogs are relocated, Clare is resigned that she will have to journey back to Africa and face her fears again to recapture and release the dogs as originally planned. But when she sees Alpha, aka super spy Simon, in the field camp, she freaks out. Justifiably. This tsunami of terror was one of the most moving scenes in the book. Clare thought she had put all of that behind her, only to find herself right back in the middle of danger. It takes a lot of courage on her part to accept that Simon is who he says, and not a cold-blooded murderer sent to finish the job he botched back at the farmhouse.
I enjoyed the last half of the book more than the beginning, and I think it’s because I could actually breathe again. I wasn’t as concerned that Clare was going to be victimized, though I knew that sooner or later the past would catch up with her. Since she was aware that Simon was a good guy, she was able to start working through her messed up feelings for him again, to try to put them into perspective, knowing that he wasn’t going to try to kill her. That awful week in the farmhouse also haunted Simon, and I liked that he was just as messed up about it as Clare was. He is a strong person, but having to live with violent, murdering scum for his case scarred him, too.
Wild Encounter was a nice introduction to Entangled’s Dead Sexy line. While I don’t believe kidnapping stories will ever be a favorite of mine, I am interested in reading more suspense titles. Clare and Simon were both likeable characters, thrown together in frightening life and death situations. I don’t know how Clare managed to keep from keeling over from a heart attack. Really. I think I had about 3 mini heart attacks for her!
Grade: B
Clare is in Zambia to release a pack of wild dogs, an important step in preserving the species in their native African habitat. The convoy is hijacked by ruthless thugs, and Clare has to put aside her fear in order to survive her awful ordeal. She is immediately drawn to the man she nicknames Alpha, and she puts her life in his hands. As he protects her from the vicious men holding her captive, she finds herself falling in love with him. A desperate bid for escape has her fleeing the farmhouse where she gave herself to Alpha, body and soul, and soon the ordeal is just a nightmare for her to work through. On a return trip to reclaim the dogs and release them at the wilderness preserve they were originally destined for, she has to relive her worst nightmare. Alpha is back, only now he’s in her camp, masquerading as her bodyguard!
The first half of the book details Clare’s kidnapping and captivity, and there are many parts of her ordeal that I found disturbing. Maybe this is why I don’t read much romantic suspense. Clare is physically abused by her captors, kicked and hit with brutal force. Only Alpha keeps her from being viciously raped. All of this was a bit too intense for me, so it’s a good thing the whisper of those African wild dogs kept me turning the pages. Clare relies on every bit of bravery that she possesses to outwit the smugglers and escape, but not before she finds herself desperately in love with Alpha.
Back home, Clare has months of therapy to endure. Does she love that guy, or was she suffering from the effects of Stockholm syndrome? Does it really matter, because the odds of ever seeing him again are about nil. Clare realizes that her infatuation with him is probably due to the nightmare she survived. The suffocating fear just stirred up emotions for the one kidnapper who was nice to her.
When her wild dogs are relocated, Clare is resigned that she will have to journey back to Africa and face her fears again to recapture and release the dogs as originally planned. But when she sees Alpha, aka super spy Simon, in the field camp, she freaks out. Justifiably. This tsunami of terror was one of the most moving scenes in the book. Clare thought she had put all of that behind her, only to find herself right back in the middle of danger. It takes a lot of courage on her part to accept that Simon is who he says, and not a cold-blooded murderer sent to finish the job he botched back at the farmhouse.
I enjoyed the last half of the book more than the beginning, and I think it’s because I could actually breathe again. I wasn’t as concerned that Clare was going to be victimized, though I knew that sooner or later the past would catch up with her. Since she was aware that Simon was a good guy, she was able to start working through her messed up feelings for him again, to try to put them into perspective, knowing that he wasn’t going to try to kill her. That awful week in the farmhouse also haunted Simon, and I liked that he was just as messed up about it as Clare was. He is a strong person, but having to live with violent, murdering scum for his case scarred him, too.
Wild Encounter was a nice introduction to Entangled’s Dead Sexy line. While I don’t believe kidnapping stories will ever be a favorite of mine, I am interested in reading more suspense titles. Clare and Simon were both likeable characters, thrown together in frightening life and death situations. I don’t know how Clare managed to keep from keeling over from a heart attack. Really. I think I had about 3 mini heart attacks for her!
Grade: B
October 11, 2012
Wild Encounter Review on K-Books
I didn't really know what to expect when I started this book. I read a lot of Contemporary Romance novels but I am pretty new to the Romantic Suspense genre. I was completely and utterly drew in right from the start and ended up not putting the book down until I had finished. I just couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen.
Clare Delany is a vet on a mission to transport her precious wild dogs when her mission is hijacked by smugglers. Suddenly taken hostage by these criminals Claire's life has taken a turn for the worst. But when she meets one of her captors, nick-named Alpha she starts to fall hard. Can she trust him with her life and her heart? Simon is on a secret mission when he meets Claire. She complicated everything but he finds himself feeling things for her he hasn't felt in a long time. Can he protect her and let her go without blowing his mission and if he lets her go will he ever feel this way again? Two lives collide and one thing is for certain, things will never be the same again.
I instantly fell in love with this book. Right from the first chapter I was completely sucked into the story and couldn't wait to see what was going to happen. Right from the start you are dropped in the middle of an African society in Claire's shoes and you see the story mainly from Claire's POV. My heart was totally in my mouth and I was on the edge of my seat completely speechless during the hijacking and I couldn't believe what was happening so soon in the book and I loved that. In a lot of books there is a few chapters 'introduction' but in this book you are completely dropped right into the drama and I loved that. It really captures your attention and pulls you into the story straight away.
Claire is such an amazing lead character I genuinely love her. She is amazing. She is just a normal girl doing her everyday job when she is thrown into this crazy and dangerous situation and I love her reaction to it all. She is scared but still productive trying to find a way out of the situation herself rather than waiting around for someone else to save her. I really loved that she was more concerned about the wild dogs and what had happened to them than what happened to her. It really showed how amazing she was and how it wasn't "all about her".
Simon, Oh. My. Lord. I love him! He is amazing and I fell head over heels in love with him right from the start. The bad boy with a good streak or a good guy with a dominant bad boy streak? You don't really know which one until you read more but either way he is one of the most swoon-worthy boys ever. I adore him. He is so sweet and protective and will do anything to protect Claire. He is definitely a big Alpha-male that any girl would want to protect them. He is amazing and if you don't fall in love with him then well... there's something wrong with you.
I really loved this book and I was completely sucked in right from the start and couldn't put it down until I had finished the book and found out what happened. I couldn't put it down. Wild Encounter is definitely a 'one-sitting' kind of book. I fell in love with the characters and the setting and loved every moment of it. It was fantastic. If you are a fan of romance but need some action along with it this is definitely the perfect book for you.
I didn't really know what to expect when I started this book. I read a lot of Contemporary Romance novels but I am pretty new to the Romantic Suspense genre. I was completely and utterly drew in right from the start and ended up not putting the book down until I had finished. I just couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen.
Clare Delany is a vet on a mission to transport her precious wild dogs when her mission is hijacked by smugglers. Suddenly taken hostage by these criminals Claire's life has taken a turn for the worst. But when she meets one of her captors, nick-named Alpha she starts to fall hard. Can she trust him with her life and her heart? Simon is on a secret mission when he meets Claire. She complicated everything but he finds himself feeling things for her he hasn't felt in a long time. Can he protect her and let her go without blowing his mission and if he lets her go will he ever feel this way again? Two lives collide and one thing is for certain, things will never be the same again.
I instantly fell in love with this book. Right from the first chapter I was completely sucked into the story and couldn't wait to see what was going to happen. Right from the start you are dropped in the middle of an African society in Claire's shoes and you see the story mainly from Claire's POV. My heart was totally in my mouth and I was on the edge of my seat completely speechless during the hijacking and I couldn't believe what was happening so soon in the book and I loved that. In a lot of books there is a few chapters 'introduction' but in this book you are completely dropped right into the drama and I loved that. It really captures your attention and pulls you into the story straight away.
Claire is such an amazing lead character I genuinely love her. She is amazing. She is just a normal girl doing her everyday job when she is thrown into this crazy and dangerous situation and I love her reaction to it all. She is scared but still productive trying to find a way out of the situation herself rather than waiting around for someone else to save her. I really loved that she was more concerned about the wild dogs and what had happened to them than what happened to her. It really showed how amazing she was and how it wasn't "all about her".
Simon, Oh. My. Lord. I love him! He is amazing and I fell head over heels in love with him right from the start. The bad boy with a good streak or a good guy with a dominant bad boy streak? You don't really know which one until you read more but either way he is one of the most swoon-worthy boys ever. I adore him. He is so sweet and protective and will do anything to protect Claire. He is definitely a big Alpha-male that any girl would want to protect them. He is amazing and if you don't fall in love with him then well... there's something wrong with you.
I really loved this book and I was completely sucked in right from the start and couldn't put it down until I had finished the book and found out what happened. I couldn't put it down. Wild Encounter is definitely a 'one-sitting' kind of book. I fell in love with the characters and the setting and loved every moment of it. It was fantastic. If you are a fan of romance but need some action along with it this is definitely the perfect book for you.
October 29, 2012
Based off the synopsis, I thought that the story was solely going to revolve around Clare being held captive in Africa but that's only half of the story. Yes a good portion of the story is when Clare is being held captive by "Alpha" and his degenerates but the story continues after she escapes. So not only does she fight her confused feelings while being held against her will but after she escapes, she's still confused about her feelings towards the man who tried to protect her while in Africa. I thought the blending of the two time frames was really well done and added a lot more depth to the story.
Clare is a really strong willed person who would do anything for her dogs. When their convoy gets intercepted by Alpha and his team, she immediately takes offense in the back of the transport vehicle and is ready to take on anyone who comes at her and her dogs. Not to mention throughout the entire time that she is help captive she verbally battles against Alpha every chance she gets. She wasn't a kick-ass character but she didn't roll over and take it either.
Now maybe I'm just strange but I liked Alpha from the beginning. It probably didn't hurt that we got his point of view as things were unfolding. There was just something about him that I just couldn't hate and I don't know what it was. He was subtle in the way he tried to protect her from the others but he wasn't babying her either. However, those few times where one of the others would get close enough to Clare to harm her, Alpha was right there in their face. Like I said, there was just something about the guy.
This story is full of suspense and sexual tension that not even a machete could cut through it. It held me entranced from the beginning and wouldn't let go until the last page. I liked that the author didn't just stick with one story line but transitioned into three separate time frames in the story. I'm not a huge romantic suspense person but I loved this story and I look forward to reading more from Nikki.
Favorite part...
"This was a man who pledged to keep her alive, who had touched her and kissed her and loved her like no man had done before. A man who had lain on the dirty floor of an abandoned farmhouse, drugged to the eyeballs, but still managed to croak two words at her as she flew out the door to freedom. 'Good girl.'"
Clare is a really strong willed person who would do anything for her dogs. When their convoy gets intercepted by Alpha and his team, she immediately takes offense in the back of the transport vehicle and is ready to take on anyone who comes at her and her dogs. Not to mention throughout the entire time that she is help captive she verbally battles against Alpha every chance she gets. She wasn't a kick-ass character but she didn't roll over and take it either.
Now maybe I'm just strange but I liked Alpha from the beginning. It probably didn't hurt that we got his point of view as things were unfolding. There was just something about him that I just couldn't hate and I don't know what it was. He was subtle in the way he tried to protect her from the others but he wasn't babying her either. However, those few times where one of the others would get close enough to Clare to harm her, Alpha was right there in their face. Like I said, there was just something about the guy.
This story is full of suspense and sexual tension that not even a machete could cut through it. It held me entranced from the beginning and wouldn't let go until the last page. I liked that the author didn't just stick with one story line but transitioned into three separate time frames in the story. I'm not a huge romantic suspense person but I loved this story and I look forward to reading more from Nikki.
Favorite part...
"This was a man who pledged to keep her alive, who had touched her and kissed her and loved her like no man had done before. A man who had lain on the dirty floor of an abandoned farmhouse, drugged to the eyeballs, but still managed to croak two words at her as she flew out the door to freedom. 'Good girl.'"
October 29, 2012
During a trip to release wild African dogs into a new habitat, vet Clare Delaney is accidently kidnapped. Her captors didn’t realize Clare was riding in the back with the dogs and now have an unexpected complication to their plan. She has seen them and needs to be eliminated. She immediately realizes that her life is in extreme peril. Assessing her captors, Clare senses that the “alpha” of this outlaw pack seems sympathetic to her survival. She decides that he is her only hope of coming out of this alive and will do anything to use this for her benefit.
Simon deVries, pack alpha, can tell the little spit fire Clare is attempting to use him for escape. He is torn between his mission and saving the life of this intriguing woman.
Passions ignite and life altering decisions must be made but at what cost?
Nikki Logan provides an enchanting tale, a stimulating adventure. The plot thickens and twist unexpectedly supplying an impressive read.
I enjoy this story but had trouble believing that after everything this strong character, Clare, persevered that she would have intimate relations with someone responsible for allowing a large amount of her torment. That being said, Wild Encounter held my attention and had me invested in the ultimate outcome so I give it 4 stars.
This copy of Wild Encounter was given to me by Netgalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC in exchange for an honest review. Published October 22, 2012.
For more reviews http://tometender.blogspot.com
Simon deVries, pack alpha, can tell the little spit fire Clare is attempting to use him for escape. He is torn between his mission and saving the life of this intriguing woman.
Passions ignite and life altering decisions must be made but at what cost?
Nikki Logan provides an enchanting tale, a stimulating adventure. The plot thickens and twist unexpectedly supplying an impressive read.
I enjoy this story but had trouble believing that after everything this strong character, Clare, persevered that she would have intimate relations with someone responsible for allowing a large amount of her torment. That being said, Wild Encounter held my attention and had me invested in the ultimate outcome so I give it 4 stars.
This copy of Wild Encounter was given to me by Netgalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC in exchange for an honest review. Published October 22, 2012.
For more reviews http://tometender.blogspot.com
February 4, 2014
It was ok. A vet gets kidnapped, does what she needs to do to survive, and then has to deal with the fallout.
When she returns to Africa to find the wild dog pack, she finds out her captor was undercover. Now what to do? Were his feelings real? Were hers? Or was it just Stockholm Syndrome?
The plot kept me guessing but the hero and heroine needed to spend more time together. I don't see myself re-reading this.
When she returns to Africa to find the wild dog pack, she finds out her captor was undercover. Now what to do? Were his feelings real? Were hers? Or was it just Stockholm Syndrome?
The plot kept me guessing but the hero and heroine needed to spend more time together. I don't see myself re-reading this.
September 13, 2012
Cover and then the blurb are what attracted me to the book. Once I dug in I enjoyed the story, the pace, the characters. Even found myself hoping there are going to be more stories in this world of secret missions Nikki Logan has created.
November 3, 2012
I liked it. Review soon. :)
March 6, 2019
Finally finished a romance novel after many many failed attempts. I loved this book! Honestly, for me it was the first half that I thought was absolute perfection (that part is five stars hands-down). The second half I thought was a great idea - I really liked that Nikki Logan provided an opportunity to see the MCs' relationship develop outside of the captive/hostage relationship they were initially thrown into. I just wish the execution was more like the first half of the book (i.e. more banter between the MCs and more sexual tension). The second half seemed to be dragged out in my opinion because the characters weren't really interacting as much as they should and therefore their relationship wasn't really developing as much as it could. So that second half was more three stars for me (averaging at 4). The last few pages where the MCs sort of confess all I thought was also sort of unneeded. It felt like they were figuratively spoon-feeding each other and the readers. I prefer when a couple's love develops naturally throughout the book rather than have them confess all at the end - seems more believable to me. Still I loved that first part so much this book still deserves at least four stars.
November 1, 2017
It's not about werewolfs as I thought. :(
November 6, 2012
Wildlife Veterinarian Clare Delaney thought her job was almost over. All they had to do was transport the pack of wild dogs to their new location. She decided to travel with them in the transport truck to make sure they didn’t wake up from the sedation too early. Once they were dropped off and acclimated to their new surroundings, she could return home to Boston. What she hadn’t expected was to have the transport intercepted and hijacked with her aboard.
She might not know why the hijackers took her dogs, but she does understand animal behavior and she knows that the man in front of her is the Alpha of this group and that he doesn’t seem to want to hurt her…his cohorts are another story. Maybe she can befriend the Alpha and get him to help her escape, even if she has to seduce him into it. It seems wrong for her to really want to seduce a man who in reality kidnapped her, but the air sizzles whenever they are together.
Clare escapes her captors by her cunning and sheer determination, and six months later she returns to Africa to locate her wild dog pack and finally bring them to their new location. Her courage falters as everything about this trip reminds her of her hellish week of captivity, especially when the Alpha shows up at her camp and introduces himself as Simon deVries, and she learns that he is not the man that she thought he was.
Although she is excited to see him again, Clare is now plagued by the thought that Simon is now just using her, a living eyewitness to the smugglers’ actions, to ferret out the others, and that he didn’t feel the spark between them. Clare feels like she’s being watched, but will Simon protect her again or leave her helpless, live bait for his trap?
THOUGHTS:
This was an intense story. This was the type of story that affected my sleep because I just couldn’t stop thinking about what was going to happen next, and I hopped out of bed the next morning to pick it up again. It was absolutely gripping.
It is always a question when you find a new author, and a new publishing house, of just how far and how dark the story will go. A story of a pretty young woman kept hostage by a group of lowlife criminals could get really violent. I will say that our heroine Clare takes more than one beating at the hands of her captors, but the author keeps the story out of the darker ranges.
Clare is a very strong heroine and doesn’t just sit around wringing her hands waiting for someone to come save her, much to the frustration of Simon, who is trying to keep her safe, since the others in the group would just as soon kill her since they think she’s a threat to them. She keeps a level head and doesn’t just jump to conclusions without thinking things through.
I downloaded a review copy of this book, which is like a library download and it will disappear after a few weeks. I will be buying my own copy of this story. It is definitely a story which stays with you and one I will enjoy re-reading.
Received ARC from netgalley.com, courtesy of the publisher. Thank you.
See more at http://ebookobsessed.com
She might not know why the hijackers took her dogs, but she does understand animal behavior and she knows that the man in front of her is the Alpha of this group and that he doesn’t seem to want to hurt her…his cohorts are another story. Maybe she can befriend the Alpha and get him to help her escape, even if she has to seduce him into it. It seems wrong for her to really want to seduce a man who in reality kidnapped her, but the air sizzles whenever they are together.
Clare escapes her captors by her cunning and sheer determination, and six months later she returns to Africa to locate her wild dog pack and finally bring them to their new location. Her courage falters as everything about this trip reminds her of her hellish week of captivity, especially when the Alpha shows up at her camp and introduces himself as Simon deVries, and she learns that he is not the man that she thought he was.
Although she is excited to see him again, Clare is now plagued by the thought that Simon is now just using her, a living eyewitness to the smugglers’ actions, to ferret out the others, and that he didn’t feel the spark between them. Clare feels like she’s being watched, but will Simon protect her again or leave her helpless, live bait for his trap?
THOUGHTS:
This was an intense story. This was the type of story that affected my sleep because I just couldn’t stop thinking about what was going to happen next, and I hopped out of bed the next morning to pick it up again. It was absolutely gripping.
It is always a question when you find a new author, and a new publishing house, of just how far and how dark the story will go. A story of a pretty young woman kept hostage by a group of lowlife criminals could get really violent. I will say that our heroine Clare takes more than one beating at the hands of her captors, but the author keeps the story out of the darker ranges.
Clare is a very strong heroine and doesn’t just sit around wringing her hands waiting for someone to come save her, much to the frustration of Simon, who is trying to keep her safe, since the others in the group would just as soon kill her since they think she’s a threat to them. She keeps a level head and doesn’t just jump to conclusions without thinking things through.
I downloaded a review copy of this book, which is like a library download and it will disappear after a few weeks. I will be buying my own copy of this story. It is definitely a story which stays with you and one I will enjoy re-reading.
Received ARC from netgalley.com, courtesy of the publisher. Thank you.
See more at http://ebookobsessed.com
October 17, 2012
My Review:
Whoa! This book was so good and so completely different from everything that is out on the market right now. First the setting: wilds of Africa, tracking wild dogs. Then the suspense story line: It continued to surprise me with the many twists and turns. Then the romance: Love, LoVe, LOVED Claire and Simon together! OMG! This was such a good book.
Claire is a veterinarian who works with a charity organization in Africa. During a wild dog transport where she was in the back monitoring the sedated dogs, the vehicle she is in is hijacked. She was never supposed to be part of the scheme, but suddenly finds herself as a captive. She names each of the men in her mind and the one that works to keep her safe is Alpha. BUT Claire is pretty smart and manages to save herself before Alpha has the chance....that event takes place though after the two have made an incredible connection. Then it's up to Claire to sort out whether she truly had feelings for the man after the fact. A man that she she may have left for dead (she sedated him) or condemned to death with the other men when she escapes. That's all she knows for 6 months as she tries to recover and find a center in her life again...but then he shows back up.
*gah* This book was so good. It has a super-high emotional drama because there is so much riding on everything that is going on between these two...life and death, careers, etc. This is not JUST about their feelings. This thing between them has far-reaching affects and neither one of them are sure how much of what they are feeling is true vs. it just being something that can be accrued to the fact that they were in extremely unusual high-stakes circumstances. This is the kind of story that I love and Nikki Logan wrote it extremely well.
And that's just the romance. The suspense was equally amazing. I had NO IDEA where this story was going to go and it continued to shock the heck out of me with its many twists and turns. I loved how Claire continued to use her brains, while at the same time, I was cursing Simon for not sharing more with her up-front about what was going on. She doesn't ever get the true story of what/why this is all happening to her either until Simon FINALLY reveals it to her. I do have to admit though that I LOVED Mac's actions at the very end of the novel to help bring everyone together. LOVED that part of the story.
This is a great example of romantic suspense done really well. This is only my second book that I've read from Entangled Publishing's new Dead Sexy line, but I have to admit, both books I've read have blown me away. *Note to self: add more of these books to my TBR pile.
Whoa! This book was so good and so completely different from everything that is out on the market right now. First the setting: wilds of Africa, tracking wild dogs. Then the suspense story line: It continued to surprise me with the many twists and turns. Then the romance: Love, LoVe, LOVED Claire and Simon together! OMG! This was such a good book.
Claire is a veterinarian who works with a charity organization in Africa. During a wild dog transport where she was in the back monitoring the sedated dogs, the vehicle she is in is hijacked. She was never supposed to be part of the scheme, but suddenly finds herself as a captive. She names each of the men in her mind and the one that works to keep her safe is Alpha. BUT Claire is pretty smart and manages to save herself before Alpha has the chance....that event takes place though after the two have made an incredible connection. Then it's up to Claire to sort out whether she truly had feelings for the man after the fact. A man that she she may have left for dead (she sedated him) or condemned to death with the other men when she escapes. That's all she knows for 6 months as she tries to recover and find a center in her life again...but then he shows back up.
*gah* This book was so good. It has a super-high emotional drama because there is so much riding on everything that is going on between these two...life and death, careers, etc. This is not JUST about their feelings. This thing between them has far-reaching affects and neither one of them are sure how much of what they are feeling is true vs. it just being something that can be accrued to the fact that they were in extremely unusual high-stakes circumstances. This is the kind of story that I love and Nikki Logan wrote it extremely well.
And that's just the romance. The suspense was equally amazing. I had NO IDEA where this story was going to go and it continued to shock the heck out of me with its many twists and turns. I loved how Claire continued to use her brains, while at the same time, I was cursing Simon for not sharing more with her up-front about what was going on. She doesn't ever get the true story of what/why this is all happening to her either until Simon FINALLY reveals it to her. I do have to admit though that I LOVED Mac's actions at the very end of the novel to help bring everyone together. LOVED that part of the story.
This is a great example of romantic suspense done really well. This is only my second book that I've read from Entangled Publishing's new Dead Sexy line, but I have to admit, both books I've read have blown me away. *Note to self: add more of these books to my TBR pile.
December 28, 2025
2018 & 2020 = DNF
2023 = skimmed some to write a review
2 stars means it's okay, just not for me.
The book blurb makes this romantic suspense sound really good. If it had been written better, maybe it would've been an enjoyable read.
Unfortunately, the sentences are choppy, wordy, and overly complex, with too many em dashes. Honestly, it gave me a headache, so I had to skim through parts. I need stories that are clear and easy to follow.
I included excerpts in the review to keep myself from ever trying to read it again.
😵💫 Book Excerpts:
2023 = skimmed some to write a review
2 stars means it's okay, just not for me.
The book blurb makes this romantic suspense sound really good. If it had been written better, maybe it would've been an enjoyable read.
Unfortunately, the sentences are choppy, wordy, and overly complex, with too many em dashes. Honestly, it gave me a headache, so I had to skim through parts. I need stories that are clear and easy to follow.
I included excerpts in the review to keep myself from ever trying to read it again.
😵💫 Book Excerpts:
Tucked comfortably into the straw a safe distance from the fourteen deeply sedated African Wild Dogs, she'd grown half-hypnotized by the rhythmic rocking as WildLyfe's transporter bumped along the highway, roused only by a brief cargo check as they'd crossed the border from Zimbabwe into neighboring Zambia.
Pins and needles sliced through her feet as she lurched―half-blinded by the rich African light after her long, dark confinement―past the truck with her beloved dogs and up the rocky track.
He repositioned her more securely against him, tossing her like a child in his arms, and walked back toward the vehicle―a traditional African bakkie, three quarters rust―that was surrounded by her captors.
She craned her neck and got a flash of a bald head behind the wheel of the transporter―the fifth man―before Alpha pushed past the others, straight toward a dilapidated farmhouse.
Her head ached from clenching her teeth and her tongue peeled off her gummy palate.
She'd been working hard to keep the fear at bay, channeling the natural chemicals pumping through her to keep her responses acute. She hadn't wanted all that norepinephrine wasted on hysteria.
It was the he-man of a squirm.
His eyes spat like fat in a pan.
Her senses swam with his proximity and she struggled in vain against the current of his surging energy. A powerful masculine energy that threatened to break through her need to hold herself aloof.
August 12, 2016
Rating: 3.5 stars
Not having read the blurb first, I wasn’t sure what I was getting into…and this story was certainly a wild ride! The story, which starts out with a kidnapping, quickly turns into a love story with lots of action and bad guys to keep things interesting.
Clare is a strong heroine, who finds herself kidnapped by who she thinks are poachers. As she comes up with a plan to escape, she can’t deny the very real attraction that she has to one of her captors – a man she has named “Alpha” who seems to be trying to protect her. And after she gets free, she not only needs to deal with the trauma of her kidnapping, but she must come to terms with her feelings about “Alpha” and determine if it was Stockholm syndrome or if it was something real.
When Simon deVries goes undercover to stop a crime ring, the last thing he needs is the complication of having to protect Clare when she gets taken hostage by the group he has infiltrated. And when he finds himself trying to deny the attraction he feels towards her, his job becomes even more difficult since he can’t blow his cover and compromise the mission by revealing his true identity to her. Not being able to resist Clare, Simon gives in to his feelings for her.
After Clare escapes, and circumstances bring Simon and Clare face to face, truths will be revealed and deceptions will be uncovered, and with danger lurking close by, Clare and Simon find themselves trying to survive not only the bad guys, but their feelings for one another.
I enjoyed this story, it had a nice mix of romance, suspense, and action. There were some steamy scenes and I liked the fact that the violence of the situation wasn’t brushed over, which leant a more real and gritty feel to the story. There was definitely some angst and trust issues, and lots of things that were going on behind the scenes that drove the story. The local African settings and the wild dogs added a great back-drop to the story.
A fun, quick read that had its emotional ups and downs all wrapped up in a great mystery.
Reviewed as part of eARC of Love, International Style boxed set received from the Publisher.
Not having read the blurb first, I wasn’t sure what I was getting into…and this story was certainly a wild ride! The story, which starts out with a kidnapping, quickly turns into a love story with lots of action and bad guys to keep things interesting.
Clare is a strong heroine, who finds herself kidnapped by who she thinks are poachers. As she comes up with a plan to escape, she can’t deny the very real attraction that she has to one of her captors – a man she has named “Alpha” who seems to be trying to protect her. And after she gets free, she not only needs to deal with the trauma of her kidnapping, but she must come to terms with her feelings about “Alpha” and determine if it was Stockholm syndrome or if it was something real.
When Simon deVries goes undercover to stop a crime ring, the last thing he needs is the complication of having to protect Clare when she gets taken hostage by the group he has infiltrated. And when he finds himself trying to deny the attraction he feels towards her, his job becomes even more difficult since he can’t blow his cover and compromise the mission by revealing his true identity to her. Not being able to resist Clare, Simon gives in to his feelings for her.
After Clare escapes, and circumstances bring Simon and Clare face to face, truths will be revealed and deceptions will be uncovered, and with danger lurking close by, Clare and Simon find themselves trying to survive not only the bad guys, but their feelings for one another.
I enjoyed this story, it had a nice mix of romance, suspense, and action. There were some steamy scenes and I liked the fact that the violence of the situation wasn’t brushed over, which leant a more real and gritty feel to the story. There was definitely some angst and trust issues, and lots of things that were going on behind the scenes that drove the story. The local African settings and the wild dogs added a great back-drop to the story.
A fun, quick read that had its emotional ups and downs all wrapped up in a great mystery.
Reviewed as part of eARC of Love, International Style boxed set received from the Publisher.
February 20, 2013
(** May contain some spoilers **)
Loved it!
This book has it's flaws, but I really enjoyed it. finished in 2 days.
After reading approximately 50 books involving a "Hostage-captor bonding", I really enjoy when a book moves this theme away from the cliches - which is exactly what this book does.
So Clare, a feisty wildlife veterinarian, is hijacked while trasporting a pack of sedated wild dogs, by 3 phsycopaths and 1 not-so-much criminals. Not like most toher books I've read in this ganre - her ordeal is very realistically described as a hellish one, excluding the chemistry she has with one of her captors, which, for reasons unknown to her, seems keen on keeping her safe. so something happens between them, and then she escapes, only to have another encounter with him 6 months later under different circumstances - and for me, that's when it got different and interesting:
1. I loved how the "Kidnapper Simon" isn't described as the all-in, hard core, noble and gallant kidnapper. During the captivity, he treats her more like a boot-camp sargent (he's quite mean, but does so to help her survive). He's intense, but you can see why she falls for him.
2. I LOVED how both Clare and Simon's emmotional journeis are described - it's not just the superficial "I'm madly in love and f**k the circumstances". She remains uncertain, for a large potion of the book, whether she really had feelings for him or is it the Stockhom Syndrom talking. in addition - the author didn't donwplay the trauma Clare suffered (nightmares, PTSD symptoms etc.), in love with the kidnapper as she may be. He, in return, feels guilty, wondering if he took adevantage of her, wondering if he really has feeling for her or is he currently "Suffering" from a case of Lima Syndrome, and uncertain whether she really liked him or just used him (justifiably) to keep herself alive. these dillemas make the character much more human, deep and relateable, and makes it much easier to understand their actions.
3. The supporting characters are great tuch as well.
4. Simon being british is a great touch!
So bottom line - I really enjoyed it, and would diffinitly read it again when I'm in a bad mood.
Loved it!
This book has it's flaws, but I really enjoyed it. finished in 2 days.
After reading approximately 50 books involving a "Hostage-captor bonding", I really enjoy when a book moves this theme away from the cliches - which is exactly what this book does.
So Clare, a feisty wildlife veterinarian, is hijacked while trasporting a pack of sedated wild dogs, by 3 phsycopaths and 1 not-so-much criminals. Not like most toher books I've read in this ganre - her ordeal is very realistically described as a hellish one, excluding the chemistry she has with one of her captors, which, for reasons unknown to her, seems keen on keeping her safe. so something happens between them, and then she escapes, only to have another encounter with him 6 months later under different circumstances - and for me, that's when it got different and interesting:
1. I loved how the "Kidnapper Simon" isn't described as the all-in, hard core, noble and gallant kidnapper. During the captivity, he treats her more like a boot-camp sargent (he's quite mean, but does so to help her survive). He's intense, but you can see why she falls for him.
2. I LOVED how both Clare and Simon's emmotional journeis are described - it's not just the superficial "I'm madly in love and f**k the circumstances". She remains uncertain, for a large potion of the book, whether she really had feelings for him or is it the Stockhom Syndrom talking. in addition - the author didn't donwplay the trauma Clare suffered (nightmares, PTSD symptoms etc.), in love with the kidnapper as she may be. He, in return, feels guilty, wondering if he took adevantage of her, wondering if he really has feeling for her or is he currently "Suffering" from a case of Lima Syndrome, and uncertain whether she really liked him or just used him (justifiably) to keep herself alive. these dillemas make the character much more human, deep and relateable, and makes it much easier to understand their actions.
3. The supporting characters are great tuch as well.
4. Simon being british is a great touch!
So bottom line - I really enjoyed it, and would diffinitly read it again when I'm in a bad mood.
September 24, 2012
Synopsis: "A wildlife release mission in Africa turns deadly when the convoy is hijacked by smugglers, and veterinarian Clare Delaney is taken hostage. Terrified for her life and her animals, the intrepid Clare establishes a rapport with the man she believes is the criminals’ leader, and reluctantly finds herself under his protection...and falling hard for the enigmatic man.
Alpha-to-the-max Simon deVries sees right through his sexy captive’s attempt to seduce her way to freedom. So when their simmering attraction flares into true passion, it takes them both by surprise. Now he’s torn between completing his secret mission and letting her escape without telling her his true identity. He knows if he lets her go, he will be risking his career, his life...and his heart."
My Review: Wild Encounter grabs you and drags you in, at least it did me. It is filled with danger and attraction. I enjoyed the setting of the book and the way surprises kept coming. I did feel Clare kind of odd, one minute she is a helpless victim then the next she is strong and confident. I wasn't sure which is the act and which is who she is really suppose to be. But Simon was a clear cut and well thought out character you could rely on. The storyline was interesting, while you kind of expected certain events that are common in romance novels, there were also some unexpected surprises. It really read like a suspense/thriller with a splash of romance. I would love to have a little Novella to find out how everything ended up for not only Clare and Simon but also the wild dogs, and WildLyfe (the company Clare works for).
Alpha-to-the-max Simon deVries sees right through his sexy captive’s attempt to seduce her way to freedom. So when their simmering attraction flares into true passion, it takes them both by surprise. Now he’s torn between completing his secret mission and letting her escape without telling her his true identity. He knows if he lets her go, he will be risking his career, his life...and his heart."
My Review: Wild Encounter grabs you and drags you in, at least it did me. It is filled with danger and attraction. I enjoyed the setting of the book and the way surprises kept coming. I did feel Clare kind of odd, one minute she is a helpless victim then the next she is strong and confident. I wasn't sure which is the act and which is who she is really suppose to be. But Simon was a clear cut and well thought out character you could rely on. The storyline was interesting, while you kind of expected certain events that are common in romance novels, there were also some unexpected surprises. It really read like a suspense/thriller with a splash of romance. I would love to have a little Novella to find out how everything ended up for not only Clare and Simon but also the wild dogs, and WildLyfe (the company Clare works for).
September 27, 2012
Full Review: http://lifeasabookaddict.blogspot.com...
Clare Delaney is determined and capable veterinarian who gets thrust into one of the worst situations you can be in while on a release mission in Africa. Hijacked by a group of smugglers while she is in the back of a convoy with a pack of sedated wild dogs, she begins to fear for not just her life, but for the dogs as well. She is taken hostage by the smugglers and it is then that she picks out who she believes to be the leader and names him Alpha. She tries to connect with Alpha in the hopes that once she develops some kind of rapport with him, he won’t be so willing to kill her. She is desperate and is willing to attempt to even use seduction as a means of escape.
Alpha, whose actual name is Simon, sees through her plans to seduce and calls her on it. Even though he knows what she is trying to do, the more time they spend together the more there is an attraction that begins to develop with these two. But Simon has a job to do (which remains a mystery at first), and finding Clare in the back of that convoy put a big hole in his plan big time. Now is has to figure out a way to keep Clare safe and still do the job he has planned. Not an easy task.
Clare and Simon are not sure how much they can trust the other, and they struggle with that issue as they start to realize their feelings.
Clare Delaney is determined and capable veterinarian who gets thrust into one of the worst situations you can be in while on a release mission in Africa. Hijacked by a group of smugglers while she is in the back of a convoy with a pack of sedated wild dogs, she begins to fear for not just her life, but for the dogs as well. She is taken hostage by the smugglers and it is then that she picks out who she believes to be the leader and names him Alpha. She tries to connect with Alpha in the hopes that once she develops some kind of rapport with him, he won’t be so willing to kill her. She is desperate and is willing to attempt to even use seduction as a means of escape.
Alpha, whose actual name is Simon, sees through her plans to seduce and calls her on it. Even though he knows what she is trying to do, the more time they spend together the more there is an attraction that begins to develop with these two. But Simon has a job to do (which remains a mystery at first), and finding Clare in the back of that convoy put a big hole in his plan big time. Now is has to figure out a way to keep Clare safe and still do the job he has planned. Not an easy task.
Clare and Simon are not sure how much they can trust the other, and they struggle with that issue as they start to realize their feelings.
November 1, 2012
I was seduced by the synopsis that seemed to promise action and romance.
This is exactly what I got. A well-written novel with plot twists and a nice love story. Even a Stockholm syndrome which leads to a romantic happy ending.
Maybe a little flutter on the second expedition to Africa where I wondered if the characters would enter into a secret relationship... but the author put me back on track with scenes alternating hot and cold that kept me going.
I spent a good time with some muscular scenes that spice up a little the story and gives credibility to the hostage situation.
Perfect reading to combat the cold and be transported under the African sun.
Lucie
http://newbooksonmyselves.blogspot.fr...
This is exactly what I got. A well-written novel with plot twists and a nice love story. Even a Stockholm syndrome which leads to a romantic happy ending.
Maybe a little flutter on the second expedition to Africa where I wondered if the characters would enter into a secret relationship... but the author put me back on track with scenes alternating hot and cold that kept me going.
I spent a good time with some muscular scenes that spice up a little the story and gives credibility to the hostage situation.
Perfect reading to combat the cold and be transported under the African sun.
Lucie
http://newbooksonmyselves.blogspot.fr...
April 25, 2016
Wildlife worker, Clare Delaney is captured with her African Wild Dogs. She calls the leader, Alpha, who does protect her from the rougher men of the group. However, she takes things into her own hands and plans her escape. What follows in an emotional roller coaster ride for both Clare and Alpha, with danger abound.
Clare is a strong but vulnerable character and Alpha is an onion. Logan peels back the layers in a rhythm that hitches up as the novel progresses. The romance is at is centre but so are the questions of survival, duty and trust. And the wilderness is very much another character in the story - beautiful and vast.
If you like romance, action, suspense and nature, you'll love this book.
Clare is a strong but vulnerable character and Alpha is an onion. Logan peels back the layers in a rhythm that hitches up as the novel progresses. The romance is at is centre but so are the questions of survival, duty and trust. And the wilderness is very much another character in the story - beautiful and vast.
If you like romance, action, suspense and nature, you'll love this book.
October 20, 2012
Wild Encounter is a Romance Suspense set in Africa. The plot kept me guessing and the pace was quick. The story switched POV between the two main characters, Clare and Simon, and I liked experiencing the story from their different perspectives. This was one of those books that made me squirm a bit as I didn’t like the circumstances around how the romance element was introduced and that made it difficult to buy into the story as a whole…at first...
Read the full review as posted at The Bookpushers on Oct 23rd, 2012: http://thebookpushers.com/2012/10/23/...
Read the full review as posted at The Bookpushers on Oct 23rd, 2012: http://thebookpushers.com/2012/10/23/...
December 26, 2012
Loved it! It was the wild dogs that got me interested, having had a bit to do with them. I therefore wanted to see if the African setting felt authentic and how it worked in with the romantic suspense. Both were stellar, the atmosphere just permeating the pages while the sexual chemistry sizzled.
The plot had a real twist to it which had me guessing all the way until everything was revealed, leading, ultimately, to a great pay-off ending. I think Nikki Logan did a tremendous job. I'll definitely be looking out for more of her work.
The plot had a real twist to it which had me guessing all the way until everything was revealed, leading, ultimately, to a great pay-off ending. I think Nikki Logan did a tremendous job. I'll definitely be looking out for more of her work.
April 4, 2014
This book had a great premise (heroine held hostage by undercover hero). Also, the setting and plot were somewhat original: this was taking place in the African plains, and the heroine is a wildlife expert. So far, so good. But once the heroine is captured and meets the hero, things get silly. In the middle of this abduction, she actually thinks about seducing him and has ridiculous thoughts like, "He doesn't stand a chance." Puh-leez! No one would think such stupid things during a hostage situation. Also, the hero kept making dumb mistakes, and he was supposed to be a super-spy. Ugh.
July 17, 2015
While on a summer vacation, I needed a quick, smutty, exciting book. "Wild Encounter" scratched that itch perfectly for me. I finished it in two days.
This book had a flowing storyline, interesting characters, and an exciting setting. Clare and Simon's chemistry jumped right out of the pages and made me swoon.
There were definitely points where things got cheesy and bit over the top, but sometimes that's just what you need.
If you're looking for an easy read that keeps you guessing and makes your heart beat a bit faster, this is the one for you.
This book had a flowing storyline, interesting characters, and an exciting setting. Clare and Simon's chemistry jumped right out of the pages and made me swoon.
There were definitely points where things got cheesy and bit over the top, but sometimes that's just what you need.
If you're looking for an easy read that keeps you guessing and makes your heart beat a bit faster, this is the one for you.
March 3, 2013
I really enjoyed this story of a woman who is accidentally kidnapped when she travels to Africa to help release a pack of wild dogs. I enjoyed the suspense, and the relationship that developed between Clare Delaney and one of her kidnappers, Simon DeVries. Clare struggled over her chemistry with Simon, although he was not what he seemed. I liked the characters, storyline, and setting of this book. They all added together to create an enjoyable story.
December 9, 2012
My official review for The Romance Reviews:
WILD ENCOUNTER is a magnificent piece of work as it entertains and delights while it keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Read the full review.
WILD ENCOUNTER is a magnificent piece of work as it entertains and delights while it keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Read the full review.
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