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False Security
Rachel Thomas longs for normalcy, but if she stops running she could die...or worse. Chased by a past that wishes to imprison her, haunted by dreams that seek to destroy her, Rachel finds solace in a love she could not predict. A love she cannot deter.
Mark Jacobson is the man who never needed love. He has his bookstore, his bachelorhood, and his freedom. In the moment he meets Rachel Thomas, he is swept into a world he never knew existed. One filled with the purest of love. One filled with betrayal, lies, and murder.
Now Rachel and Mark are forced to face her past. The truth may kill them both.
Mark Jacobson is the man who never needed love. He has his bookstore, his bachelorhood, and his freedom. In the moment he meets Rachel Thomas, he is swept into a world he never knew existed. One filled with the purest of love. One filled with betrayal, lies, and murder.
Now Rachel and Mark are forced to face her past. The truth may kill them both.
358 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 5, 2013
47 people are currently reading
574 people want to read
About the author
Angie Martin
54 books549 followersAwards:
Chrysalis ~ Honorable Mention -~ 2018 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards for Supernatural Thriller
Chrysalis ~ Voted one of the 50 Self-Published Books Worth Reading 2018 ~ ReadFreely
The Boys Club ~ Silver Medal Winner ~ 2015 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards for Suspense Fiction
The Boys Club ~ Voted one of the 50 Self-Published Books Worth Reading 2015 ~ ReadFreely
Conduit ~ Gold Medal Winner ~ 2014 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards for Paranormal Fiction
~~~
I live in the Inland Empire area of California with my husband and beloved pets. I also have sons off paving their own way in the world. I grew up in Wichita, Kansas and have lived all over the United States.
I have released several novels in the suspense/thriller, paranormal/supernatural thriller, and horror genres. I also have poetry and short story collections and have contributed short stories to multiple anthologies. Conduit has earned Bestseller on Amazon in the US and UK. Conduit, The Boys Club, and Chrysalis have all won highly respected awards, while Conduit, The Boys Club, and False Security have also had blogger and reader-voted awards bestowed upon them.
As a reader first, writer second, I love to discover new authors. My entire life has revolved around imaginary worlds contained within the covers of a book. My aunt introduced me to Stephen King and a little book called Christine in eighth grade, and my life was never the same. As a geek-extraordinaire, I love comics and graphic novels, and also review those, along with the occasional movie and book, as a guest contributor for Fanbase Press.
Chrysalis ~ Honorable Mention -~ 2018 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards for Supernatural Thriller
Chrysalis ~ Voted one of the 50 Self-Published Books Worth Reading 2018 ~ ReadFreely
The Boys Club ~ Silver Medal Winner ~ 2015 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards for Suspense Fiction
The Boys Club ~ Voted one of the 50 Self-Published Books Worth Reading 2015 ~ ReadFreely
Conduit ~ Gold Medal Winner ~ 2014 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards for Paranormal Fiction
~~~
I live in the Inland Empire area of California with my husband and beloved pets. I also have sons off paving their own way in the world. I grew up in Wichita, Kansas and have lived all over the United States.
I have released several novels in the suspense/thriller, paranormal/supernatural thriller, and horror genres. I also have poetry and short story collections and have contributed short stories to multiple anthologies. Conduit has earned Bestseller on Amazon in the US and UK. Conduit, The Boys Club, and Chrysalis have all won highly respected awards, while Conduit, The Boys Club, and False Security have also had blogger and reader-voted awards bestowed upon them.
As a reader first, writer second, I love to discover new authors. My entire life has revolved around imaginary worlds contained within the covers of a book. My aunt introduced me to Stephen King and a little book called Christine in eighth grade, and my life was never the same. As a geek-extraordinaire, I love comics and graphic novels, and also review those, along with the occasional movie and book, as a guest contributor for Fanbase Press.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
October 28, 2016
I enjoyed this one. It was a good romantic suspense with a solid story line and good characters.
Rachel Thomas is running from her past. When she meets the handsome Mark, she wonders if she will be able to take a chance on a relationship with him. However her past is quickly catching up with her, and it is deadly.
This book is set out into three parts. Part one is the present, part two goes back in time to when Rachel was a child and growing into a woman, and part three is the present again. I found part one a bit slow. I felt that suddenly all these characters were introduced and it was almost as though we were expected to know them already. The romance started off sweetly but seemed to fizzle. However, it totally picked up when it entered part two. Things started to make a lot more sense and almost magically came together, and I really started to get into it and enjoyed it.
I liked that the book addressed the issue of domestic violence, and there was a lot of action and suspense. The romance aspect was cute and I enjoyed listening to how her life developed and how she got into her situation. I really loved the characters, especially the nasty ones.
The audio book was good. I enjoyed the narrator, however I didn't like her portrayal of the male characters. They all sounded robotic and it was hard to tell them apart at times.
Would I recommend False Security?
If you are a fan of romantic suspense you will enjoy this book. It had some slower parts, but overall it was a solid, enjoyable story.
Many thanks to Cherry Hill Publishing for an audio version of False Security in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews check out my:
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Rachel Thomas is running from her past. When she meets the handsome Mark, she wonders if she will be able to take a chance on a relationship with him. However her past is quickly catching up with her, and it is deadly.
This book is set out into three parts. Part one is the present, part two goes back in time to when Rachel was a child and growing into a woman, and part three is the present again. I found part one a bit slow. I felt that suddenly all these characters were introduced and it was almost as though we were expected to know them already. The romance started off sweetly but seemed to fizzle. However, it totally picked up when it entered part two. Things started to make a lot more sense and almost magically came together, and I really started to get into it and enjoyed it.
I liked that the book addressed the issue of domestic violence, and there was a lot of action and suspense. The romance aspect was cute and I enjoyed listening to how her life developed and how she got into her situation. I really loved the characters, especially the nasty ones.
The audio book was good. I enjoyed the narrator, however I didn't like her portrayal of the male characters. They all sounded robotic and it was hard to tell them apart at times.
Would I recommend False Security?
If you are a fan of romantic suspense you will enjoy this book. It had some slower parts, but overall it was a solid, enjoyable story.
Many thanks to Cherry Hill Publishing for an audio version of False Security in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews check out my:
BLOG
December 22, 2019
Can I say that the story was much more interesting than I thought. The romance part was less and the story was more towards the thriller aspect of the story which was actually much more interesting.
January 23, 2014
False Security by Angie Martin is the kind of book I just couldn't stop reading. It's the haunting love story by Angie Martin, and this author knows how to get me hooked into a tale from the first page.
False Security is a haunting love story, but it is more than that—it is a story of compulsion, domination and battering.
The story begins with Rachel's dream of running. The dream recurs at key points in the story and is emblematic of the book’s meaning. For Rachel Thomas, the main character, has been in the thrall of evil minds and doing her best to escape for most of her life.
At the book's start, Rachel and her best friend Danielle are living in Wichita, Kansas where they teach martial arts to battered women. Her life begins to change, we think, when, reluctantly, Rachel agrees to a first date with an attractive man, Mark Jacobson. But we soon learn that Rachel has more than an ordinary dose of fear.
As the plot unfolds, it keeps us in its grip. We realize that Rachel and Danielle have been abruptly leaving towns for a long time. Rachel is adept at disguise and taking leave. As she weaves a life, trying to elude who or what or why becomes increasingly unclear. But soon the mystery surrounding her past unravels and along with Mark, we find ourselves in the center of a deadly front. The title, False Security, gives a clue.
Moving from town to town doesn't rid Rachel of her recurring dream. If anything, it heightens her fear, certainly the fear we feel. To disclose more of the plot would spoil it, I’m afraid. But there are plenty of twists and turns, sudden violence and deadly surprises in this tightly woven plot. Rachel Thomas can't seem to feel safe.
There are moments of terror, moments of beauty, quiet moments of love, and seething times of terror. But in the end, False Security is a beautiful love story that you will not want to miss.
False Security is a haunting love story, but it is more than that—it is a story of compulsion, domination and battering.
The story begins with Rachel's dream of running. The dream recurs at key points in the story and is emblematic of the book’s meaning. For Rachel Thomas, the main character, has been in the thrall of evil minds and doing her best to escape for most of her life.
At the book's start, Rachel and her best friend Danielle are living in Wichita, Kansas where they teach martial arts to battered women. Her life begins to change, we think, when, reluctantly, Rachel agrees to a first date with an attractive man, Mark Jacobson. But we soon learn that Rachel has more than an ordinary dose of fear.
As the plot unfolds, it keeps us in its grip. We realize that Rachel and Danielle have been abruptly leaving towns for a long time. Rachel is adept at disguise and taking leave. As she weaves a life, trying to elude who or what or why becomes increasingly unclear. But soon the mystery surrounding her past unravels and along with Mark, we find ourselves in the center of a deadly front. The title, False Security, gives a clue.
Moving from town to town doesn't rid Rachel of her recurring dream. If anything, it heightens her fear, certainly the fear we feel. To disclose more of the plot would spoil it, I’m afraid. But there are plenty of twists and turns, sudden violence and deadly surprises in this tightly woven plot. Rachel Thomas can't seem to feel safe.
There are moments of terror, moments of beauty, quiet moments of love, and seething times of terror. But in the end, False Security is a beautiful love story that you will not want to miss.
January 29, 2014
I had a vision in my mind of what this book would be about once I read the prologue. I couldn't have been more wrong and more pleasantly surprised! False Security is the debut novel by author Angie Martin, but you would never know it was a debut when reading it. The writing is masterful and the way Martin weaves her tale is not only thrilling but also rich!
One thing I loved is how you think you're reading the story and you know the way it's going and then mid book she changes everything up and you're hit with a whole new version of the story. Very creative!
I found the story to be unique in every way. From the characters to why they are the way they are.
Each of the characters, down to ones you may only see for a very short portion of the story, has depth. Not only is this a suspense novel, but the romance aspects of it are fantastically written in a subtle yet enticing way. It really adds to the experience of reading this book.
For me, one of the most emotional parts of this story is Paul's recollection of the past. Of course, along with Rachel's ordeal as well.
I HIGHLY recommend this book if you like suspense and surprises.
Martin is a master at her craft and I cannot WAIT to read her next novel!
One thing I loved is how you think you're reading the story and you know the way it's going and then mid book she changes everything up and you're hit with a whole new version of the story. Very creative!
I found the story to be unique in every way. From the characters to why they are the way they are.
Each of the characters, down to ones you may only see for a very short portion of the story, has depth. Not only is this a suspense novel, but the romance aspects of it are fantastically written in a subtle yet enticing way. It really adds to the experience of reading this book.
For me, one of the most emotional parts of this story is Paul's recollection of the past. Of course, along with Rachel's ordeal as well.
I HIGHLY recommend this book if you like suspense and surprises.
Martin is a master at her craft and I cannot WAIT to read her next novel!
June 20, 2018
This book has truly been a labor of love for me. Originally published in print form in 2004, the book was heavily revised and re-released in Sept 2013. It's quite a journey, crossing several genres, but residing mostly in suspense with a strong love story. I hope you enjoy the book as much as I enjoyed writing it - twice! :)
You can also get the sequel to False Security - False Hope is the final chapter in Rachel Thomas's story.
You can also get the sequel to False Security - False Hope is the final chapter in Rachel Thomas's story.
February 21, 2014
This book has it all from start to finish. It has questions to be answered, secrets to be uncovered, and in the mix, characters to protect and be protected from. The suspense was there throughout the book, which was very well written in an engaging tone throughout never left my hands until the last page. Thoughtful and descriptive story. I loved it.
August 29, 2018
This is a captivating story that I did not want to put down. The author quickly drew me into this deftly woven story and had me staying up way too late to finish. I don’t want to give anything away so hesitate to say much. There is plenty of suspense, an unexpected romance, and moments of fear and terror that pour off the page. A well crafted story that is well worth reading.
June 12, 2016
I received this book from the author and the Indie Author Central group in exchange for a honest review.
NOTE: Review contains some spoilers!!!!!!
I really liked this book. The author definitely kept me guessing. I liked how the author went into the past to explain how the heroine turned into what she was.
Main Characters:
1. Mark (the hero) - He is described as a playboy with a different woman every week. When he meets the heroine for the first time, he gives all of that up. He was a considerate and caring person toward the heroine. He never pushed past the boundaries she put on their relationship. I loved how he was steadfast in his love for her even after finding out all of her secrets.
2. Rachel(the heroine) - I can understand how she evolved into the person she became. From the age of 10 when she went to live with her Uncle Paul, she was isolated and secluded from the outside world. She was definitely indoctrinated by Donovan. Donovan was a expert manipulator of people. Rachel and Donovan's relationship was Stockholm syndrome like to me. Rachel is so damaged emotionally that after Donovan recaptures her she convinces herself that she can re-fall in love with him and make their relationship work. She is resigned to her fate.
3. Donovan (abusive ex-boyfriend) - He owns a security company, but it is just a front for his criminal activities. He was a typical abuser. He hits her and then profusely apologizes. At the beginning of their relationship, he was kind and attentive. But once he had her in his clutches, he turned into a possessive and violent jerk.
4. Uncle Paul - He took Rachel in after her parent's death. He was Donovan's chief of security at his estate. I could not reconcile myself to like him. In one part of the book, he is taking care of her after she is whipped and he does not try to help her escape. I also did not like how he killed Jonathon Thomas. He could have just gone to his house and ran away with him. Jonathan was the only person at the time who helped Rachel escape Donovan.
The story is broken up into 3 parts:
Part 1 - Rachel has been on the run for 3 years from Donovan. She meets Mark at the bookstore he operates with his brother. He asks her out and eventually she accepts. They date for several months. Mark knows she is hiding something from him and he starts pressing her for answers. On the night she is going to tell him all, Donovan's thugs find her.
Part 2 - Starts back when Rachel first came to live with her Uncle Paul. It explains how she became a master criminal and her escape from Donovan.
Part 3 - Starts where part 1 left off. Mark and Rachel eventually have their HEA after traversing many hurdles and finally getting rid of Donovan.
Overall, a great suspenseful contemporary romance with a damaged heroine and a hero who will not give up on their love.
NOTE: Review contains some spoilers!!!!!!
I really liked this book. The author definitely kept me guessing. I liked how the author went into the past to explain how the heroine turned into what she was.
Main Characters:
1. Mark (the hero) - He is described as a playboy with a different woman every week. When he meets the heroine for the first time, he gives all of that up. He was a considerate and caring person toward the heroine. He never pushed past the boundaries she put on their relationship. I loved how he was steadfast in his love for her even after finding out all of her secrets.
2. Rachel(the heroine) - I can understand how she evolved into the person she became. From the age of 10 when she went to live with her Uncle Paul, she was isolated and secluded from the outside world. She was definitely indoctrinated by Donovan. Donovan was a expert manipulator of people. Rachel and Donovan's relationship was Stockholm syndrome like to me. Rachel is so damaged emotionally that after Donovan recaptures her she convinces herself that she can re-fall in love with him and make their relationship work. She is resigned to her fate.
3. Donovan (abusive ex-boyfriend) - He owns a security company, but it is just a front for his criminal activities. He was a typical abuser. He hits her and then profusely apologizes. At the beginning of their relationship, he was kind and attentive. But once he had her in his clutches, he turned into a possessive and violent jerk.
4. Uncle Paul - He took Rachel in after her parent's death. He was Donovan's chief of security at his estate. I could not reconcile myself to like him. In one part of the book, he is taking care of her after she is whipped and he does not try to help her escape. I also did not like how he killed Jonathon Thomas. He could have just gone to his house and ran away with him. Jonathan was the only person at the time who helped Rachel escape Donovan.
The story is broken up into 3 parts:
Part 1 - Rachel has been on the run for 3 years from Donovan. She meets Mark at the bookstore he operates with his brother. He asks her out and eventually she accepts. They date for several months. Mark knows she is hiding something from him and he starts pressing her for answers. On the night she is going to tell him all, Donovan's thugs find her.
Part 2 - Starts back when Rachel first came to live with her Uncle Paul. It explains how she became a master criminal and her escape from Donovan.
Part 3 - Starts where part 1 left off. Mark and Rachel eventually have their HEA after traversing many hurdles and finally getting rid of Donovan.
Overall, a great suspenseful contemporary romance with a damaged heroine and a hero who will not give up on their love.
April 12, 2014
I was given a copy of False Security by this author for an honest review.
First of all, let me start out saying that this book has an intriguing story. The author throws a lot of surprises along the way and keeps you guessing.
What I liked about this story:
-I enjoyed the author’s writing- I didn’t notice any grammatical errors. Kudos to the author for doing it right!
-I also enjoyed the way the author told the story. She had three different “parts” in the book, which came together nicely.
-The two characters I really was drawn to were Danielle and Jonathan. I know they were side characters, but they were my favorite.
-I liked how the author kept you guessing and at the edge of your seat- honestly, a lot happens in the book that I never saw coming. The author was able to bring out emotions out of me- actually, I found myself in tears at one particular part of the story.
-I enjoyed how the author indirectly brings psychology into this story. (for example, how helpless and battered you feel when you’re physically and mentally abused) There were times when I found myself analyzing the main character’s actions and choices to try to understand them.
What I didn’t like about the story:
-There were things that happened in the story that were too dark for me. It just wasn’t my thing. I didn’t enjoy that Rachel wasn’t strong enough to follow her values and her beliefs- to do the right thing.
-The ending was too quick for me. I’m not sure if there’s going to be a sequel?
So what’s my overall take? I definitely recommend reading it. Like I say, it’s a unique and intriguing story. Also, it’s refreshing to read a well-written novel. Great job! And I strongly encourage a sequel to this story! If there's a sequel, I think a lot of things could be tied together. :)
First of all, let me start out saying that this book has an intriguing story. The author throws a lot of surprises along the way and keeps you guessing.
What I liked about this story:
-I enjoyed the author’s writing- I didn’t notice any grammatical errors. Kudos to the author for doing it right!
-I also enjoyed the way the author told the story. She had three different “parts” in the book, which came together nicely.
-The two characters I really was drawn to were Danielle and Jonathan. I know they were side characters, but they were my favorite.
-I liked how the author kept you guessing and at the edge of your seat- honestly, a lot happens in the book that I never saw coming. The author was able to bring out emotions out of me- actually, I found myself in tears at one particular part of the story.
-I enjoyed how the author indirectly brings psychology into this story. (for example, how helpless and battered you feel when you’re physically and mentally abused) There were times when I found myself analyzing the main character’s actions and choices to try to understand them.
What I didn’t like about the story:
-There were things that happened in the story that were too dark for me. It just wasn’t my thing. I didn’t enjoy that Rachel wasn’t strong enough to follow her values and her beliefs- to do the right thing.
-The ending was too quick for me. I’m not sure if there’s going to be a sequel?
So what’s my overall take? I definitely recommend reading it. Like I say, it’s a unique and intriguing story. Also, it’s refreshing to read a well-written novel. Great job! And I strongly encourage a sequel to this story! If there's a sequel, I think a lot of things could be tied together. :)
April 22, 2015
This story is written in three parts. In the first part, we’re introduced to Rachel who has a secret and mysterious past. Who is she running from? Against her better judgment and all her fears, she starts a romance with Mark, a man who always thought of himself as a bachelor.
I won’t go into the other parts of the story, as that’s for you to discover. Even though the first part doesn’t have much action in it, as we’re discovering who Rachel and Mark are, the story is so well-written time passes by quickly as you read along. Angie Martin gives just enough clues in the first part to keep you turning the pages, wanting to know more. And there is an explosive revelation at the end of part one. One that Mark wasn’t prepared for.
As I read through parts two and three and learned about Donovan and his character, I kept thinking, what was it that turned him from the benevolent person to the abuser he ended up? Was the abuser always there, but he was able to curtail it by never letting himself become vulnerable by loving someone else? So this story is also about abusive relationships and the denial of their partners.
I really enjoyed this story, and Martin did a fabulous job getting me to feel her characters. I can’t wait to read the sequel. I highly recommend this story and give it 5 feathers.
I won’t go into the other parts of the story, as that’s for you to discover. Even though the first part doesn’t have much action in it, as we’re discovering who Rachel and Mark are, the story is so well-written time passes by quickly as you read along. Angie Martin gives just enough clues in the first part to keep you turning the pages, wanting to know more. And there is an explosive revelation at the end of part one. One that Mark wasn’t prepared for.
As I read through parts two and three and learned about Donovan and his character, I kept thinking, what was it that turned him from the benevolent person to the abuser he ended up? Was the abuser always there, but he was able to curtail it by never letting himself become vulnerable by loving someone else? So this story is also about abusive relationships and the denial of their partners.
I really enjoyed this story, and Martin did a fabulous job getting me to feel her characters. I can’t wait to read the sequel. I highly recommend this story and give it 5 feathers.
August 27, 2016
One of my favourite things about this novel was how unique the h – Rachel – was in her experiences [no, I will not give details/spoilers], not merely in the things done to her, but the things she has done herself. Very refreshing. Also, the novel is structured in an unusual way, with flashbacks and flash-forwards, making the reading of it intriguing.
The tautness of the thriller would have been well served by more severe editing, IMO. I found the pacing slow. However, considering that I have Ms. Martin’s next novel – Conduit – on my TBR, my opinion seems moot . . . even to myself.
For my random thoughts on writing, visit my blog.
The tautness of the thriller would have been well served by more severe editing, IMO. I found the pacing slow. However, considering that I have Ms. Martin’s next novel – Conduit – on my TBR, my opinion seems moot . . . even to myself.
For my random thoughts on writing, visit my blog.
February 8, 2014
I received a copy from the author in exchange for a review.
I enjoyed this book. The author did a great job of building suspense especially in the beginning. I was wondering what was Rachel's secret. This was one the reasons why this book was a page-turner. The main characters and the plot were also well-developed.
I was a little thrown off with Part 2 since it was back in the past, but I understood the style after I finished reading it. The details all fit together nicely with just the right amount of background information. Since the book was well-written, I was still turning pages to the end.
Overall, this book have great suspense and wonderful characters.
I enjoyed this book. The author did a great job of building suspense especially in the beginning. I was wondering what was Rachel's secret. This was one the reasons why this book was a page-turner. The main characters and the plot were also well-developed.
I was a little thrown off with Part 2 since it was back in the past, but I understood the style after I finished reading it. The details all fit together nicely with just the right amount of background information. Since the book was well-written, I was still turning pages to the end.
Overall, this book have great suspense and wonderful characters.
April 13, 2014
Wow! Talk about creep factor. A possessive older man and a beautiful, much younger woman...you think you know where this is headed, but you really don't. I had a hard time putting this one down. I love to read suspense novels because I like to be on the edge of my seat. This one certainly didn't disappoint! Can't wait to read Ms. Martin's next novel.
February 7, 2016
Since Mrs. Martin requested reviews from readers, I thought I would oblige.
While I enjoy parts of this book immensely, it feels like this novel missed its story. The heroine was very well defined and--most importantly--interesting. She grabbed me from the moment of her introduction and I wanted to know her story. However, there were a few issues with the romance part of the novel itself.
The novel is divided into three parts. In the first part, our heroine (Rachel) lives in a small town in Kansas with her best friend, Danielle. She teaches self-defense classes to women at a shelter and she reads a lot, which is how she meets her future beau, Mark, who owns a bookstore with his older brother, Greg.
Here comes issue #1: Mark. The author does her best to introduce her hero a little. His parents, who were not so great--mom drank, dad was always on the road--died when Mark was pretty young. Greg, who is older by 10 years, acted as Mark's parent. Mark also has a best friend, James, who is quite frankly pretty obnoxious and as far as I can tell, his only goal was to introduce some information about Rachel's past. The trouble with Mark is not that he's not nice, but that there's so little about him to make him stand out on the page. What doesn't help either is the actual romance with Rachel. In short, Rachel comes into the store regularly. Each time, Mark recommends a book and they chat a little. Finally, after a few of those exchanges, Mark asks Rachel out for coffee. She says no, but later, he finds her waiting for him next to his car. She says yes. They have coffee at her place. They kiss and then BOOM, next chapter: we're two months into the relationship.
Which is issue #2: Rachel and Mark's relationship is not very well defined as we approach part 2. Rachel is not who she says she is--something we discover in part 1. We know something bad happened in her past. We know her parents died when she was 10. We know she's running away from someone, moving from place to place, changing her identity and her appearance. And we know that she met Danielle teaching her self-defense. When the past resurfaces in Rachel's life, Danielle is killed, Rachel is taken back to North California by a man named Donovan and his cronies and, of course, poor ill-defined Mark is kidnapped right along with her. At Donovan's estate, a man named Paul comes into Mark's room, asks what he knows about Rachel, and then proceeds to tell him who Rachel is.
Here comes issue #3. The second part kicks off. And this is the biggest issue for me because Part 2 is the story that wants to be told. Part 2 is the best part of the book, the page-turner. Actually, Part 2 should've been the whole book. In that section, we discover that Paul is Rachel's uncle, her father's brother. After her parents die, killed by a drunk driver, Paul becomes Rachel's guardian. Rachel is 10. Paul brings her to Donovan's estate. It's a huge, isolated property in Northern California. Donovan King is a big name in the security industry, but we discover it's only a front for what he really does: thievery and contract killing. Rachel is home-schooled by Paul, but also schooled in Donovan's secret business. She becomes a master in opening safes, so she starts going out on jobs when she's a teenager. She's infatued with Donovan and finally manages to make him see her as more than a little girl and they become lovers when she's 19. Donovan is her senior by a good 20 years. When Paul finds out, he warns her against it, but Rachel is so sheltered (she only goes out of the estate to go on jobs) that of course, she thinks she's in love with Donovan. And as a reader, that love is absolutely believable. How could Rachel know any different? And up to that point, despite his illegal dealings, Donovan is good to her. Of course, as you can imagine, he's not so good in the end. After a failed job, Rachel comes home and gets hit by Donovan. He apologizes later, but that moment is the turning point of their relationship. Donovan sees her as a possession and can explode in anger in unpredictable ways and at unpredictable times.
Four years into this relationship, Donovan finally takes Rachel out on real date. It's a black tie affair, a fundraiser for a senator, and there she meets Donavan's biggest competitor in the his legit security field: Jonathan Thomas. Which brings me to issue #4: Jonathan is Rachel's true match. That's the romance this story so desperately wants to tell. Donavan & Rachel are placed at the same table as Jonathan's. He is smitten by Rachel, she also finds herself attracted to him. They share a dance (forced by Jonathan). Donovan is not happy. Things escalate for Rachel from that point on. She starts to question her relationship with Donovan. She also has to deal with another member of the security team, Eric, who takes issue with her because they share the same specialty: cracking safes. Meanwhile, Jonathan hires a PI to find out about Rachel, discovers she fell off the grid at age 10 when her uncle, who had fallen off the grid himself a few years prior, became her guardian. Jonathan realises that Rachel is basically Donovan's property. He sets up a professional meeting with Donovan at his estate but arrives earlier to catch Rachel doing a security round. They talk about their mutual attraction, they kiss, she pushes him away but Eric sees and exagerates the story when he tells Donovan. You can guess that this will not end well. I won't say more because I've already spoiled things enough as it is (hehe).
And now we are at issue #5: Part 3 where we get back to Mark and Paul. That's when, as a reader, I felt betrayed. The story I wanted was Jonathan/Rachel/Donovan. Meeting Jonathan made Mark (who was already not that well-defined) pale in comparison. So the resolution of the book left me unsatisfied.
So... this is why False Security is a three-star novel for me. There was a great story there, a story that wanted to be told and that story got passed over and, as a reader, I felt gypped.
While I enjoy parts of this book immensely, it feels like this novel missed its story. The heroine was very well defined and--most importantly--interesting. She grabbed me from the moment of her introduction and I wanted to know her story. However, there were a few issues with the romance part of the novel itself.
The novel is divided into three parts. In the first part, our heroine (Rachel) lives in a small town in Kansas with her best friend, Danielle. She teaches self-defense classes to women at a shelter and she reads a lot, which is how she meets her future beau, Mark, who owns a bookstore with his older brother, Greg.
Here comes issue #1: Mark. The author does her best to introduce her hero a little. His parents, who were not so great--mom drank, dad was always on the road--died when Mark was pretty young. Greg, who is older by 10 years, acted as Mark's parent. Mark also has a best friend, James, who is quite frankly pretty obnoxious and as far as I can tell, his only goal was to introduce some information about Rachel's past. The trouble with Mark is not that he's not nice, but that there's so little about him to make him stand out on the page. What doesn't help either is the actual romance with Rachel. In short, Rachel comes into the store regularly. Each time, Mark recommends a book and they chat a little. Finally, after a few of those exchanges, Mark asks Rachel out for coffee. She says no, but later, he finds her waiting for him next to his car. She says yes. They have coffee at her place. They kiss and then BOOM, next chapter: we're two months into the relationship.
Which is issue #2: Rachel and Mark's relationship is not very well defined as we approach part 2. Rachel is not who she says she is--something we discover in part 1. We know something bad happened in her past. We know her parents died when she was 10. We know she's running away from someone, moving from place to place, changing her identity and her appearance. And we know that she met Danielle teaching her self-defense. When the past resurfaces in Rachel's life, Danielle is killed, Rachel is taken back to North California by a man named Donovan and his cronies and, of course, poor ill-defined Mark is kidnapped right along with her. At Donovan's estate, a man named Paul comes into Mark's room, asks what he knows about Rachel, and then proceeds to tell him who Rachel is.
Here comes issue #3. The second part kicks off. And this is the biggest issue for me because Part 2 is the story that wants to be told. Part 2 is the best part of the book, the page-turner. Actually, Part 2 should've been the whole book. In that section, we discover that Paul is Rachel's uncle, her father's brother. After her parents die, killed by a drunk driver, Paul becomes Rachel's guardian. Rachel is 10. Paul brings her to Donovan's estate. It's a huge, isolated property in Northern California. Donovan King is a big name in the security industry, but we discover it's only a front for what he really does: thievery and contract killing. Rachel is home-schooled by Paul, but also schooled in Donovan's secret business. She becomes a master in opening safes, so she starts going out on jobs when she's a teenager. She's infatued with Donovan and finally manages to make him see her as more than a little girl and they become lovers when she's 19. Donovan is her senior by a good 20 years. When Paul finds out, he warns her against it, but Rachel is so sheltered (she only goes out of the estate to go on jobs) that of course, she thinks she's in love with Donovan. And as a reader, that love is absolutely believable. How could Rachel know any different? And up to that point, despite his illegal dealings, Donovan is good to her. Of course, as you can imagine, he's not so good in the end. After a failed job, Rachel comes home and gets hit by Donovan. He apologizes later, but that moment is the turning point of their relationship. Donovan sees her as a possession and can explode in anger in unpredictable ways and at unpredictable times.
Four years into this relationship, Donovan finally takes Rachel out on real date. It's a black tie affair, a fundraiser for a senator, and there she meets Donavan's biggest competitor in the his legit security field: Jonathan Thomas. Which brings me to issue #4: Jonathan is Rachel's true match. That's the romance this story so desperately wants to tell. Donavan & Rachel are placed at the same table as Jonathan's. He is smitten by Rachel, she also finds herself attracted to him. They share a dance (forced by Jonathan). Donovan is not happy. Things escalate for Rachel from that point on. She starts to question her relationship with Donovan. She also has to deal with another member of the security team, Eric, who takes issue with her because they share the same specialty: cracking safes. Meanwhile, Jonathan hires a PI to find out about Rachel, discovers she fell off the grid at age 10 when her uncle, who had fallen off the grid himself a few years prior, became her guardian. Jonathan realises that Rachel is basically Donovan's property. He sets up a professional meeting with Donovan at his estate but arrives earlier to catch Rachel doing a security round. They talk about their mutual attraction, they kiss, she pushes him away but Eric sees and exagerates the story when he tells Donovan. You can guess that this will not end well. I won't say more because I've already spoiled things enough as it is (hehe).
And now we are at issue #5: Part 3 where we get back to Mark and Paul. That's when, as a reader, I felt betrayed. The story I wanted was Jonathan/Rachel/Donovan. Meeting Jonathan made Mark (who was already not that well-defined) pale in comparison. So the resolution of the book left me unsatisfied.
So... this is why False Security is a three-star novel for me. There was a great story there, a story that wanted to be told and that story got passed over and, as a reader, I felt gypped.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2018
Heart-pounding, stupefying horror in a psychological thriller
That Does it. Angie Martin has just hit the top of my list with False Security. I have never read a thriller that was more moving, more enthralling, more horrifying, or more realistic. No paranormal elements, no special ops hero interventions, nothing but an ordinary young man, Mark, who falls for a quiet and very reclusive young woman, Rachel. It takes nearly the full length of the novel to unravel who Rachel is, and exactly the same timespan to grasp WHY, and that's where the horror lies. I don't do spoilers, and there is no element of Martin's exquisitely plotted novel that isn't a spoiler. I can say only that if close encounters of the criminal kind fascinate you, if the persistent threat of unimaginable evil enthralls you, if shock and suspense keep you glued to your e-reader, False Security will blow your mind. With its near-photographic clarity and relentless detail, Martin's brilliant tale tale of love and evil will haunt you long after you finish reading. My thanks to Bookspsrout for the ARC, and this is my voluntary, independent and uncompensated opinion.
That Does it. Angie Martin has just hit the top of my list with False Security. I have never read a thriller that was more moving, more enthralling, more horrifying, or more realistic. No paranormal elements, no special ops hero interventions, nothing but an ordinary young man, Mark, who falls for a quiet and very reclusive young woman, Rachel. It takes nearly the full length of the novel to unravel who Rachel is, and exactly the same timespan to grasp WHY, and that's where the horror lies. I don't do spoilers, and there is no element of Martin's exquisitely plotted novel that isn't a spoiler. I can say only that if close encounters of the criminal kind fascinate you, if the persistent threat of unimaginable evil enthralls you, if shock and suspense keep you glued to your e-reader, False Security will blow your mind. With its near-photographic clarity and relentless detail, Martin's brilliant tale tale of love and evil will haunt you long after you finish reading. My thanks to Bookspsrout for the ARC, and this is my voluntary, independent and uncompensated opinion.
April 6, 2014
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Jacobson brothers, Mark and Gregg, had an emotionally absent father growing up, so Gregg being 10 years older took on the role after Mark's birth. They own a bookstore ....that's it I'm in love, it's official I'm hooked!
Gregg is married and their first child is on the way, whereas Mark is a bachelor and a little more guarded when it comes to matters of the heart, that is until Rachel moves into the neighborhood and visits the bookstore almost daily!
There's a spark between them initially which intensifies each time Rachel is in the bookstore....can't wait to see how this pans out and Rachel has secrets ...
Rachel and her friend/roomate volunteer at a shelter for battered women, and I think a lot of its got to do with their past. Poor Rachel is haunted by nightmares that wake her up screaming :O
Her past is lurking in the shadows waiting to pounce! I wish she'd tell Mark, he already senses she's hiding something and he'll protect her, she just needs to trust ♥
Things are starting to heat up! Mark and Rachel reached a milestone in their relationship and truths are starting to surface. Trouble is on its way to Kansas .... Rachel's dark past ....
Slowly little pieces of the puzzle are falling into place. I think its time Rachel starts talking, people are starting to make assumptions which can have some dire effects. I appreciate that James is looking out for Mark but honestly its between him and Rachel, and he shouldn't go into a situation with preconceived ideas. Anyhow, Rachel is going to tell Mark about her past, and he seems prepared to stick with her and love her through her nightmares and healing process. As fate would have it "they" get to him first to get to Rachel :(
I nearly fell off my chair, these guys are BAD ASS! I'm not sure if we're allowed to cuss, but Donovan is one sick #$@*!!!! A psychopath with gentleman tendencies, my skin crawls at the thought of what he has in store for Mark and Rachel!
Poor Mark wakes up in unfamiliar surroundings, bruised and battered and recovering from a drug hangover! So he's imprisoned by people that are beyond frightening, with no idea who, what, where, or why. He's just seen somebody being killed in cold blood and where's Rachel?! The suspense has me walking on a tight rope ...eeeeek! Fortunately, one of these douche bags have a conscience and is on Mark's side and is devising a plan to save their lives!
Mini cliff hanger as Paul is about to reveal all to Mark we hit rewind to 16 years earlier and I'm like???? Oh well no place to start like the beginning ....
16 years ago .......
My heart breaks for Rachel the little girl, sitting at school, crying and orphaned :'( all I want to do is pick her up and cuddle her and tell her it will be alright. After the funeral she moves to California with her uncle Paul. I fell in love with the estate as soon as I was introduced to the library (what a surprise that these philistines have some culture) just listen to this " .... bookshelves built into the walls. ...several leather reading chairs....wooden ladders set on rails .....slim spiral staircase reached for the second floor" I think I've died and gone to heaven lol. I still despise Donovan, but I love his library♥its only now that I realize Donovan is older than Rachel. I thought they were the same age. Warning bells are going off when she's not allowed to return to mainstream school, she doesn't even leave the estate, she's being isolated!
As she grows older her real education starts, a frightening one at that! She goes on a very important job for Donovan, but it feels like she's walking into the lions den!
So the cycle of abuse starts. ... a back hand, justification, remorse, and guilt . Donovan is extremely possessive and to him, Rachel is a trophy, he owns her. This girl has officially started the dance with death.
The last few chapters are suspense filled and nail biting!
All in all a good read. Violent ,dark and frightening at times!
★★★★
4-Bombs
Reviewed by Heidi
The Jacobson brothers, Mark and Gregg, had an emotionally absent father growing up, so Gregg being 10 years older took on the role after Mark's birth. They own a bookstore ....that's it I'm in love, it's official I'm hooked!
Gregg is married and their first child is on the way, whereas Mark is a bachelor and a little more guarded when it comes to matters of the heart, that is until Rachel moves into the neighborhood and visits the bookstore almost daily!
There's a spark between them initially which intensifies each time Rachel is in the bookstore....can't wait to see how this pans out and Rachel has secrets ...
Rachel and her friend/roomate volunteer at a shelter for battered women, and I think a lot of its got to do with their past. Poor Rachel is haunted by nightmares that wake her up screaming :O
Her past is lurking in the shadows waiting to pounce! I wish she'd tell Mark, he already senses she's hiding something and he'll protect her, she just needs to trust ♥
Things are starting to heat up! Mark and Rachel reached a milestone in their relationship and truths are starting to surface. Trouble is on its way to Kansas .... Rachel's dark past ....
Slowly little pieces of the puzzle are falling into place. I think its time Rachel starts talking, people are starting to make assumptions which can have some dire effects. I appreciate that James is looking out for Mark but honestly its between him and Rachel, and he shouldn't go into a situation with preconceived ideas. Anyhow, Rachel is going to tell Mark about her past, and he seems prepared to stick with her and love her through her nightmares and healing process. As fate would have it "they" get to him first to get to Rachel :(
I nearly fell off my chair, these guys are BAD ASS! I'm not sure if we're allowed to cuss, but Donovan is one sick #$@*!!!! A psychopath with gentleman tendencies, my skin crawls at the thought of what he has in store for Mark and Rachel!
Poor Mark wakes up in unfamiliar surroundings, bruised and battered and recovering from a drug hangover! So he's imprisoned by people that are beyond frightening, with no idea who, what, where, or why. He's just seen somebody being killed in cold blood and where's Rachel?! The suspense has me walking on a tight rope ...eeeeek! Fortunately, one of these douche bags have a conscience and is on Mark's side and is devising a plan to save their lives!
Mini cliff hanger as Paul is about to reveal all to Mark we hit rewind to 16 years earlier and I'm like???? Oh well no place to start like the beginning ....
16 years ago .......
My heart breaks for Rachel the little girl, sitting at school, crying and orphaned :'( all I want to do is pick her up and cuddle her and tell her it will be alright. After the funeral she moves to California with her uncle Paul. I fell in love with the estate as soon as I was introduced to the library (what a surprise that these philistines have some culture) just listen to this " .... bookshelves built into the walls. ...several leather reading chairs....wooden ladders set on rails .....slim spiral staircase reached for the second floor" I think I've died and gone to heaven lol. I still despise Donovan, but I love his library♥its only now that I realize Donovan is older than Rachel. I thought they were the same age. Warning bells are going off when she's not allowed to return to mainstream school, she doesn't even leave the estate, she's being isolated!
As she grows older her real education starts, a frightening one at that! She goes on a very important job for Donovan, but it feels like she's walking into the lions den!
So the cycle of abuse starts. ... a back hand, justification, remorse, and guilt . Donovan is extremely possessive and to him, Rachel is a trophy, he owns her. This girl has officially started the dance with death.
The last few chapters are suspense filled and nail biting!
All in all a good read. Violent ,dark and frightening at times!
★★★★
4-Bombs
Reviewed by Heidi
December 10, 2014
The Jacobson brothers , Mark and Gregg had an emotionally absent father growing up so Gregg being 10 years older took on the role after Mark's birth. They own a bookstore ....that's it I'm in love , it's official I'm hooked !
Gregg is married and their first child is on the way whereas Mark is a bachelor and a little more guarded when it comes to matters of the heart , that is until Rachel moves into the neighbourhood and visits the bookstore almost daily !
There's a spark between them initially which intensifies each time Rachel is in the bookstore....cant wait to see how this pans out and Rachel has secrets ...
Rachel and her friend/roomate volunteer at a shelter for batteted woman and I think alot of its got to do with their past .Poor Rachel is haunted by nighmares that wake her up screaming :O
Her past is lurking in the shadows waiting to pounce! I wish she'd tell Mark , he already senses she's hiding something and he'll protect her , she just needs to trust ♥
Things are starting to heat up! Mark and Rachel reached a milestone in their relationship and truths are starting to surface . Trouble is on its way to Kansas .... Rachel's dark past ....
Slowly little pieces of the puzzle are falling into place. I think its time Rachel starts talking , people are starting to make assumptions which can have some dire effects .I appreciate that James is looking out for Mark but honestly its between him and Rachel and he shouldn't go into a situation with pre conceived ideas . Anyhow , Rachel is going to tell Mark about her past and he seems prepared to stick with her and love her through her nightmares and healing process. As fate would have it "they" get to him first to get to Rachel :(
I nearly fell off my chair , these guys are BAD ASS ! I'm not sure if we're allowed to cuss but Donovan is one sick #$@*!!!! A psychopath with gentleman tendancies , my skin crawls at the thought of what he has in store for Mark and Rachel !
Poor Mark wakes up in unfamiliar surroundings , bruised and battered and recovering from a drug hangover ! So he's imprisoned by people that are beyond frightening , with no idea who , what, where or why. He's just seen somebody being killed in cold blood and where's Rachel ?! The suspense has me walking on a tight rope ...eeeeek! Fortuneately one of these douche bags have a conscience and is on Mark's side and is devising a plan to save their lives !
Mini cliff hanger as Paul is about to reveal all to Mark we hit rewind to 16 years earlier and I'm like ???? Oh well no place to start like the beginning ....
16 years ago .......
My heart breaks for Rachel the little girl , sitting at school ,crying and orphaned :'( all I want to do is pick her up and cuddle her and tell her it will be alright . After the funeral she moves to Calafornia with her uncle Paul. I fell in love with the estate as soon as I was introduced to the library (what a surprise that these philistines have some culture) just listen to this " .... bookshelves built into the walls. ...several leather reading chairs....wooden ladders set on rails .....slim spiral staircase reached for the second floor" I think I've died and gone to heaven lol. I still despise Donovan but I love his library♥its only now that I realise Donovan is older than Rachel I thought they were the same age. Warning bells are going off when she's not allowed to return to mainstream school , she doesn't even leave the estate ,she's being isolated !
As she grows older her real education starts , a frightening one at that ! She goes on a very important job Donovan but it feels like she's walking into the lions den!
So the cycle of abuse starts. ... a back hand ,justification, remorese and guilt . Donovan is extremely possessive and to him, Rachel is a trophy , he owns her.This girl has officially started the dance with death.
The last few chapters are suspense filled and nail biting!
All in all a good read. Violent ,dark and frightening at times!
★★★★
Gregg is married and their first child is on the way whereas Mark is a bachelor and a little more guarded when it comes to matters of the heart , that is until Rachel moves into the neighbourhood and visits the bookstore almost daily !
There's a spark between them initially which intensifies each time Rachel is in the bookstore....cant wait to see how this pans out and Rachel has secrets ...
Rachel and her friend/roomate volunteer at a shelter for batteted woman and I think alot of its got to do with their past .Poor Rachel is haunted by nighmares that wake her up screaming :O
Her past is lurking in the shadows waiting to pounce! I wish she'd tell Mark , he already senses she's hiding something and he'll protect her , she just needs to trust ♥
Things are starting to heat up! Mark and Rachel reached a milestone in their relationship and truths are starting to surface . Trouble is on its way to Kansas .... Rachel's dark past ....
Slowly little pieces of the puzzle are falling into place. I think its time Rachel starts talking , people are starting to make assumptions which can have some dire effects .I appreciate that James is looking out for Mark but honestly its between him and Rachel and he shouldn't go into a situation with pre conceived ideas . Anyhow , Rachel is going to tell Mark about her past and he seems prepared to stick with her and love her through her nightmares and healing process. As fate would have it "they" get to him first to get to Rachel :(
I nearly fell off my chair , these guys are BAD ASS ! I'm not sure if we're allowed to cuss but Donovan is one sick #$@*!!!! A psychopath with gentleman tendancies , my skin crawls at the thought of what he has in store for Mark and Rachel !
Poor Mark wakes up in unfamiliar surroundings , bruised and battered and recovering from a drug hangover ! So he's imprisoned by people that are beyond frightening , with no idea who , what, where or why. He's just seen somebody being killed in cold blood and where's Rachel ?! The suspense has me walking on a tight rope ...eeeeek! Fortuneately one of these douche bags have a conscience and is on Mark's side and is devising a plan to save their lives !
Mini cliff hanger as Paul is about to reveal all to Mark we hit rewind to 16 years earlier and I'm like ???? Oh well no place to start like the beginning ....
16 years ago .......
My heart breaks for Rachel the little girl , sitting at school ,crying and orphaned :'( all I want to do is pick her up and cuddle her and tell her it will be alright . After the funeral she moves to Calafornia with her uncle Paul. I fell in love with the estate as soon as I was introduced to the library (what a surprise that these philistines have some culture) just listen to this " .... bookshelves built into the walls. ...several leather reading chairs....wooden ladders set on rails .....slim spiral staircase reached for the second floor" I think I've died and gone to heaven lol. I still despise Donovan but I love his library♥its only now that I realise Donovan is older than Rachel I thought they were the same age. Warning bells are going off when she's not allowed to return to mainstream school , she doesn't even leave the estate ,she's being isolated !
As she grows older her real education starts , a frightening one at that ! She goes on a very important job Donovan but it feels like she's walking into the lions den!
So the cycle of abuse starts. ... a back hand ,justification, remorese and guilt . Donovan is extremely possessive and to him, Rachel is a trophy , he owns her.This girl has officially started the dance with death.
The last few chapters are suspense filled and nail biting!
All in all a good read. Violent ,dark and frightening at times!
★★★★
July 24, 2021
2 Stars - Over all, I think the book was alright. I really don't have any major issues with it, but the collection of small things that bugged me all summed up into two stars.
The small issues:
The characters were a little too perfect, and the story just a bit too much. I tend to like things to be slightly more on the realistic side. Not that I mind magic and immortal creatures or anything, but by realistic I mean the characters' actions and responses. I repeated the phrase "Oh COME on" many times throughout the book when the good guys were just too kind and caring and perceptive and beautiful, the damsel tough and Bad A yet completely helpless at the perfect times (like how she's rendered helpless when it comes to kitchen appliances. Really?), and so beautiful everyone falls in love at first sight, and the bad guys just a little too perfectly evil and powerful and persuasive and beautiful. It's too much.
I also think the way this book was written out-of-chronological order wasn't TOO bad, but it had the potential to be way better and less confusing. There wasn't enough of her past in the beginning (and what little bits there were were too vague and confusing), and in the middle there was WAY too much past. That chunk was so long, I honestly forgot that Mark was the name of the dude from the beginning. But then when they brought it back to the present, the book was pretty much over. IDK I just felt like it could have been done better.
One more little thing that bothered me was the book's lack of description of characters and WAAAY too much description of rooms and house decor. Sometimes I wouldn't know what people looked like until like, halfway through the book. Sometimes she didn't even describe their appearance like, at all. And then she spent SO much time describing the layout of a house or a room and all of the furnishings in it. Like, for example, there was one scene that was in a hotel suite and she used up a whole page just describing the furniture in the living room, and the character didn't even do anything in that room! She went into another room, did what she was there to do, and then left and never went back! It's like in Les Mis where the author talks about the French sewers for several pages. I don't care! Life and death is on the line, and I don't need to know that there's two white leather couches pushed together in an L shape and that there's an armchair with light blue upholstery on the other side with a pretty glass tabl- NO. STOP. UGH.
It was just too dramatic and too cheezy for me.
The small issues:
The characters were a little too perfect, and the story just a bit too much. I tend to like things to be slightly more on the realistic side. Not that I mind magic and immortal creatures or anything, but by realistic I mean the characters' actions and responses. I repeated the phrase "Oh COME on" many times throughout the book when the good guys were just too kind and caring and perceptive and beautiful, the damsel tough and Bad A yet completely helpless at the perfect times (like how she's rendered helpless when it comes to kitchen appliances. Really?), and so beautiful everyone falls in love at first sight, and the bad guys just a little too perfectly evil and powerful and persuasive and beautiful. It's too much.
I also think the way this book was written out-of-chronological order wasn't TOO bad, but it had the potential to be way better and less confusing. There wasn't enough of her past in the beginning (and what little bits there were were too vague and confusing), and in the middle there was WAY too much past. That chunk was so long, I honestly forgot that Mark was the name of the dude from the beginning. But then when they brought it back to the present, the book was pretty much over. IDK I just felt like it could have been done better.
One more little thing that bothered me was the book's lack of description of characters and WAAAY too much description of rooms and house decor. Sometimes I wouldn't know what people looked like until like, halfway through the book. Sometimes she didn't even describe their appearance like, at all. And then she spent SO much time describing the layout of a house or a room and all of the furnishings in it. Like, for example, there was one scene that was in a hotel suite and she used up a whole page just describing the furniture in the living room, and the character didn't even do anything in that room! She went into another room, did what she was there to do, and then left and never went back! It's like in Les Mis where the author talks about the French sewers for several pages. I don't care! Life and death is on the line, and I don't need to know that there's two white leather couches pushed together in an L shape and that there's an armchair with light blue upholstery on the other side with a pretty glass tabl- NO. STOP. UGH.
It was just too dramatic and too cheezy for me.
May 22, 2014
FALSE SECURITY is a thrilling novel by Angie Martin. The story starts with a man meeting a woman and wanting to date her, but there's something hidden in the past of the woman's life. She sleeps with a gun, has horrifying nightmares and just as you think you understand her secrets, another twist in the plot means that you still have a lot to learn. It is not until you meet her captor that you start to understand why Rachel has been running all these years, and then you are taken back in time to the one truth that Mark knows about her - the death of her parents.
I found myself itching to get to the part where Rachel had left her abuser to escape, knowing that she would never fully be safe. Even when she is able to escape a second time, there is still that knowledge that he will not rest until he is dead to make sure that she stays with him and no one else, using any tactic necessary.
Overall a thrilling and exciting story that is well written and will keep you guessing until the end. Whilst the ending itself is open ended, I am sure that there will be a sequel to keep the readers on edge. Highly recommended to those who love crime, psychological thrillers and a good love story.
I found myself itching to get to the part where Rachel had left her abuser to escape, knowing that she would never fully be safe. Even when she is able to escape a second time, there is still that knowledge that he will not rest until he is dead to make sure that she stays with him and no one else, using any tactic necessary.
Overall a thrilling and exciting story that is well written and will keep you guessing until the end. Whilst the ending itself is open ended, I am sure that there will be a sequel to keep the readers on edge. Highly recommended to those who love crime, psychological thrillers and a good love story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2014
This fascinating book has a way of taking the reader by the hand and welcomes you right in. There is a realistic feel to it that kept me interested and wanting to more. There is nothing fancy about the writing which makes it easy to follow and get lost into the suspenseful narrative.
False Security is a well written suspenseful ride. What an emotional intriguing read. I devoured this book in just one sitting because I wanted to know what would happen next. The mysteries caught my attention and glued me to the pages. So fun. This story has a great plot with many sides. The romantic aspect was really touching and added to this powerful plot. I was intrigued by Rachel and her secrets.
"Despite knowing her relationship with Mark was the cause of the dream, Rachel could not bring herself to stop seeing him. He drew her to him in a way she could not explain or control. Even though she knew the time would come when she must leave him, she couldn't bring herself to entertain the thought of her life without him."
May 17, 2014
I found it difficult to put down this novel once I began to read it in earnest. Rachel's gripping story takes on a twist that I didn't expect. As a woman, it became easy to put myself in her shoes. She was strong, yet vulnerable, with a difficult past to overcome and a new man in her life who cared for her. In the end, I began to care for her as well and became eager to see her succeed.
The author uses flashbacks and writing that does not occur in chronological order, but it is done so masterfully that it keeps the reader in suspense. I loved that aspect of the story. I loved the way that it made the novel flow and that we were left guessing about the present during our ride into the past.
More than once, I felt raw with emotion. Do read this while being prepared for the story to touch on the themes of abuse. It is heartwrenching and completely realistic, done in a flawless way that invokes feelings for the characters involved.
I'm absolutely chuffed to know there's a sequel in store for this novel. Can't wait to read it!
The author uses flashbacks and writing that does not occur in chronological order, but it is done so masterfully that it keeps the reader in suspense. I loved that aspect of the story. I loved the way that it made the novel flow and that we were left guessing about the present during our ride into the past.
More than once, I felt raw with emotion. Do read this while being prepared for the story to touch on the themes of abuse. It is heartwrenching and completely realistic, done in a flawless way that invokes feelings for the characters involved.
I'm absolutely chuffed to know there's a sequel in store for this novel. Can't wait to read it!
April 11, 2017
False Security is an excellent read! Through the prologue you meet Rachel. She is running from something, but what? Yout meet Mark, who seems like a normal man, owns and runs his own book store business. Mark is interested in a young lady who comes in regularly, Rachel. Rachel seems to be stand-offish around men. Mark goes to Rachel's house for coffee which she doesn't know how to use a coffee machine. Mark also notices 2 deadbolt locks and a chain lock on the front door. Rachel says it was the elderly owner who but the locks on the doors.
Rachel seems like a nice young lady, but, she's hiding something from Mark. Mark can't figure out why she won't trust him. Rachel starts having nightmares after dating Mark.
We soon learn of new characters who are looking for Rachel, wondering where she is.
Will something happen to Rachel?
This book takes us through Rachel's past, what has happened with her, and why someone is after her. Will Rachel be able to make a future with Mark?
Rachel seems like a nice young lady, but, she's hiding something from Mark. Mark can't figure out why she won't trust him. Rachel starts having nightmares after dating Mark.
We soon learn of new characters who are looking for Rachel, wondering where she is.
Will something happen to Rachel?
This book takes us through Rachel's past, what has happened with her, and why someone is after her. Will Rachel be able to make a future with Mark?
February 24, 2014
Oh. My. God! What a gripping emotional rollercoaster. The story of Rachel absorbed me in the second I started to read False Security. Her secret and the mystery surrounding her past kept me guessing almost until the end and her fear, beyond any normal fear, spread from the pages, wrapping me in and making me bite all my nails.
I felt pure terror at places and yet I have to thank the author for balancing the story so magnificently and pacing it so that the reader has time to breathe before diving into the mysterious life of Rachel’s again.
Yet, this is so much more than just a thriller. The plot develops and grows with every page and with every page the darkness in the story gets a bit lighter. Suspense gets mixed with love and where is love is always hope, too. So if you’re hungry for a thriller spiced with romance, this book is definitely for you!
I felt pure terror at places and yet I have to thank the author for balancing the story so magnificently and pacing it so that the reader has time to breathe before diving into the mysterious life of Rachel’s again.
Yet, this is so much more than just a thriller. The plot develops and grows with every page and with every page the darkness in the story gets a bit lighter. Suspense gets mixed with love and where is love is always hope, too. So if you’re hungry for a thriller spiced with romance, this book is definitely for you!
September 16, 2014
This novel was well-written and thought provoking. The first part of the book is about Rachel Thomas, a girl who keeps multiple locks on her door, teaches women self-defense, and keeps a loaded gun in the house. She believes that she jeopardizes the life of any and all of her friends so she keeps relationships to a minimum. But what to do about the cute book shop owner she has fallen in love with?
The second part of the book goes back to the beginning of Rachel's strange life after her parents were killed in a car accident, and why there are scars on her back.
The third and last part of the book comes back to the present and introduces us to the horror who wants to control her. The action continues to the very last page.
Highly recommended for those who love a good suspense book.
The author gave me a copy of this book for a fair and honest review.
The second part of the book goes back to the beginning of Rachel's strange life after her parents were killed in a car accident, and why there are scars on her back.
The third and last part of the book comes back to the present and introduces us to the horror who wants to control her. The action continues to the very last page.
Highly recommended for those who love a good suspense book.
The author gave me a copy of this book for a fair and honest review.
February 3, 2015
Let me first start off by saying, I don't normally read books with a lot of suspense in it. Since this is considered a romantic suspense I decided to give it a try. Boy, am I glad I did. I loved this book so much. I started the book thinking, "Oh I can probably guess what will happen," I was so wrong. It felt good read a book that I didn't already have it planned out in my mind what would happen. I did not expect anything that happened and I was on the edge of my seat from the first to last page. This is also the first book of Angie Martin's that I have read, but most definitely will not be the last. Angie's writing is purely brilliant. Can't wait to read False Hope!!!
February 19, 2014
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my fair and honest review. I am definitely not one who has time to sit down and read a novel, but the suspense of this book made it hard to put down. I related to the main character of the story in more ways than I liked to admit. Reading this novel, that was so well written, made me want to reach out and protect Rachel. This book has suspense, but it also has that romance that every woman longs for. It was a very good book. I look forward to reading Angie Martin's next book Conduit.
February 26, 2014
Kudos to Angie Martin for a brilliant book! Suspense, intrigue and romance are interwoven effortlessly. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. She’s developed her characters so well through the book, that you feel connected to them. An insightful look at the reality of an abusive relationship. The book crosses several genres and would be a good read as suspense, romance or even a mystery novel. Personally, I hate romance but the mystery kept me glued to the book. I just had to know what happened at the end! Great job, Angie! Looking forward to Conduit.
October 12, 2014
OK, so first off I read Ms Martin's other work, Conduit, first. But her writing style is as clear as crystal and I knew two paragraphs in that this was going to be a good read too. And I was right. There's suspense and intrigue throughout the plot, depth to the characters and enough action to literally keep my heart racing through the end. I'm slightly annoyed no one thought to kill Donovan (I mean, really, compared to everything else would that have been so bad?) but apart from that I can't fault the story. I'd love to know if there was going to be a sequel to this.
February 2, 2015
You think you know, but you'll never guess
This book is an unpredictable whirlwind of twists and turns. You really FEEL for the main character. Angie's writing rings true for trials of a difficult past and she does an amazing job of helping her readers relate! Not a book to pass up.
This book is an unpredictable whirlwind of twists and turns. You really FEEL for the main character. Angie's writing rings true for trials of a difficult past and she does an amazing job of helping her readers relate! Not a book to pass up.
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