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Harp Security #3
Echoes
Who is she?
A single photo of herself as an infant on a beach, taken before the date on her birth certificate, throws everything Calliope Pearson knows about herself into question. Hoping to find answers, she takes advantage of her job as a travel writer to make a reservation at the Caribbean island resort in the picture.
Resort security chief Mac Brody distrusts Callie on sight. After all, she looks exactly like his deceitful missing wife, Nikki, who owns half the resort. But when Nikki’s found dead, Mac's facing murder charges, and he’s sure that Callie must hold the key to proving his innocence.
The deeper Callie and Mac dive into the mystery of her past, the more bodies surface. And they’ll have to learn to trust each other, or become victims of a dark danger neither could've imagined…
A single photo of herself as an infant on a beach, taken before the date on her birth certificate, throws everything Calliope Pearson knows about herself into question. Hoping to find answers, she takes advantage of her job as a travel writer to make a reservation at the Caribbean island resort in the picture.
Resort security chief Mac Brody distrusts Callie on sight. After all, she looks exactly like his deceitful missing wife, Nikki, who owns half the resort. But when Nikki’s found dead, Mac's facing murder charges, and he’s sure that Callie must hold the key to proving his innocence.
The deeper Callie and Mac dive into the mystery of her past, the more bodies surface. And they’ll have to learn to trust each other, or become victims of a dark danger neither could've imagined…
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 17, 2015
25 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Laura K. Curtis
14 books48 followersLaura K. Curtis does everything backwards. As a child, she was extremely serious, so now that she’s chronologically an adult, she feels perfectly justified in acting the fool. She started teaching at age fifteen, then decided to go back to school herself at thirty.
Laura has written four romantic suspense novels, two contemporary romances, and is moving into the arena of the Gothic (because she doesn't have enough on her plate).
Laura has taught middle school social studies, high school literature, and college-level rhetoric, all with relative success. She’s also a full-on Mac geek who spent years as a consultant and running an academic computing lab. The only thing she completely failed at in the field of education was attempting to teach obedience to her pack of Irish Terriers. Currently, she lives in Westchester, NY, with her husband and two insane Irish Terriers who have taught her how easily love can coincide with the desire to kill.
Laura has written four romantic suspense novels, two contemporary romances, and is moving into the arena of the Gothic (because she doesn't have enough on her plate).
Laura has taught middle school social studies, high school literature, and college-level rhetoric, all with relative success. She’s also a full-on Mac geek who spent years as a consultant and running an academic computing lab. The only thing she completely failed at in the field of education was attempting to teach obedience to her pack of Irish Terriers. Currently, she lives in Westchester, NY, with her husband and two insane Irish Terriers who have taught her how easily love can coincide with the desire to kill.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 13, 2015
Echoes is set on the sun soaked island of St Martins in the Caribbean, there are gorgeous beaches, topless French sunbathers, holiday naps and cute little bars and restaurants. It’s also an island full of secrets and intrigue. We’re talking eccentric millionaires, arms dealers, the odd body washing onshore. And much like a daytime tabloid talk show, it’s never quite clear who one’s biological father is.
Travel writer Callie is using a stint on the Island to dig into the mystery of her past that somehow connects her to the island. Her only clue is an old family photograph. Callie has a pretty packed schedule, a mystery to solve, an article to write and a vacation to have. There’s no time for a holiday romance. Or is there?
The hero Mac is absolutely sex on a stick, we’re talking a hot security chief, with a background as ex-cop from Atlanta and ex army. He’s got green eyes and a scar from a knife fight.
Unfortunately when Mac meets Callie, he’s not impressed. It doesn’t help matters that she bears a creepy resemblance to his missing wife (awkward, right?). So it’s not surprising that Mac rubs Callie the wrong way, but pretty soon, he’s rubbing her the right way. There’s obviously more to the story with Mac’s missing wife. The two become closer when they are thrust into a crazy situation and find themselves on the run.
Of course all the life in peril stuff immediately sets their libidos raging. Even Callie’s resemblance to his missing wife doesn’t turn out to be a deal breaker for Mac. The situation starts to get sexy.
Mac is a self-confessed adrenaline junkie and Callie is soon wondering if what they share is even real, or if the guy just has a hard on for danger. Now there’s a relationship problem!
Some of the romance has to be put aside as the suspense takes centre stage. It’s all a bit James Bond. High action. Glamorous settings. Yachts, cars, and explosions. An insane super villain with dubious hench man and shoddy dealings. Tons of high tech gadgets. At one point, Callie is even forced to hide a tracker up her hoo-hah! That’s right, the action is non-stop!
Echoes is packed with mysteries and palpable suspense. There is a sexy romance and an even sexier hero. For lovers of suspense romance, this is an entertaining, thrilling read.
Travel writer Callie is using a stint on the Island to dig into the mystery of her past that somehow connects her to the island. Her only clue is an old family photograph. Callie has a pretty packed schedule, a mystery to solve, an article to write and a vacation to have. There’s no time for a holiday romance. Or is there?
The hero Mac is absolutely sex on a stick, we’re talking a hot security chief, with a background as ex-cop from Atlanta and ex army. He’s got green eyes and a scar from a knife fight.
Unfortunately when Mac meets Callie, he’s not impressed. It doesn’t help matters that she bears a creepy resemblance to his missing wife (awkward, right?). So it’s not surprising that Mac rubs Callie the wrong way, but pretty soon, he’s rubbing her the right way. There’s obviously more to the story with Mac’s missing wife. The two become closer when they are thrust into a crazy situation and find themselves on the run.
Of course all the life in peril stuff immediately sets their libidos raging. Even Callie’s resemblance to his missing wife doesn’t turn out to be a deal breaker for Mac. The situation starts to get sexy.
He had always been the same – when his system was in gear, as it was now, he fired on all cylinders. Sex, violence, danger … For Mac it was ready for one, ready for all. He’d do well to remember that his reaction to the woman beside him had less to do with her than with the situation. He’d let go of her the minute she seemed steady on her feet.
Mac is a self-confessed adrenaline junkie and Callie is soon wondering if what they share is even real, or if the guy just has a hard on for danger. Now there’s a relationship problem!
Some of the romance has to be put aside as the suspense takes centre stage. It’s all a bit James Bond. High action. Glamorous settings. Yachts, cars, and explosions. An insane super villain with dubious hench man and shoddy dealings. Tons of high tech gadgets. At one point, Callie is even forced to hide a tracker up her hoo-hah! That’s right, the action is non-stop!
Echoes is packed with mysteries and palpable suspense. There is a sexy romance and an even sexier hero. For lovers of suspense romance, this is an entertaining, thrilling read.
January 8, 2016
I have to say up front that this book was so innovative in the way it unfolded, I was RIVETED and simply couldn't put it down. I had to plug my tablet in because it got down to 16% charge and I wasn't ready to stop reading.
Fair warning to you Harrys out there... you can't skip to the end and find out whodunnit - it's not that kind of a mystery. In fact, when the story took a sharp turn a bit more than halfway through, I was shocked at the revelation - and yet there was no lack of tension just getting "let in" on a bit of the secret.
You've got to be a pretty secure writer to trust your readers enough for that. Give them what seems to be a big payoff in favor of an even bigger one later on.
But truly, it was the journey that was the best part. Sometimes it's not point A, or B, or even M that makes one fall in love with an artist's work - sometimes it's just the line you draw between them.
Laura's lines flow beautifully. Taught in some places, flowing in others, but in all areas... just right.
If you're a fan of Romantic Suspense, read this book. I can't wait for Harp Security #2!
Fair warning to you Harrys out there... you can't skip to the end and find out whodunnit - it's not that kind of a mystery. In fact, when the story took a sharp turn a bit more than halfway through, I was shocked at the revelation - and yet there was no lack of tension just getting "let in" on a bit of the secret.
You've got to be a pretty secure writer to trust your readers enough for that. Give them what seems to be a big payoff in favor of an even bigger one later on.
But truly, it was the journey that was the best part. Sometimes it's not point A, or B, or even M that makes one fall in love with an artist's work - sometimes it's just the line you draw between them.
Laura's lines flow beautifully. Taught in some places, flowing in others, but in all areas... just right.
If you're a fan of Romantic Suspense, read this book. I can't wait for Harp Security #2!
Read
February 23, 2016Nothing wrong with it per se, and it will find its audience it just wasn't my thing.
March 19, 2015
First, that cover. WHAT was Berkley thinking? If I weren't already a fan of Curtis's books, I would have taken one look at that cover and kept going. It's so poorly done and cheap looking. This is one of those times when you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.
Okay, with that complaint out of the way, time for the story. Callie's father died recently and in going through his belongings, she found a picture that has engendered many questions. She takes a trip to St. Martin in the Caribbean to search for answers. Almost instantly, she's drawn into a second mystery: her uncanny resemblance to the hotel co-owner and missing wife of the hotel security chief. She's met by suspicion and distrust and shortly after arriving, her room at the luxurious resort is burglarized. Events escalate from there and it isn't long before she's running for her life and wondering how her life got so crazy:
Oh. My. God. What had happened to her life? When had she become the person the police chased and strange men shot at?
Of course, there's an attraction between Callie and Mac. Mac, I must say, started out by being rude, arrogant, and obnoxious. He does later redeem himself but at first he was a real ass. He doesn't trust her but that hardly excuses his rudeness, an example of which can be found in the excerpt below. At times I found the attraction between them to be a little squicky as he seriously believes her to be his missing wife's sister. Uh, dude? I know in some countries and in some eras it is/was common to hook up with a dead mate's sibling, but you're really going to jump from your missing wife's bed to the bed of a woman who may possibly be your sister-in-law? Ick. But that's me, and you may feel differently. Familial relationships aside, Callie and Mac are good together. They're passionate but not stupid, although their relationship does move quickly. Mac is very much an alpha male while Callie is his equal. She's his partner and she gives as good as she gets. As for whether or not Callie and Mac's wife Nikki are actually sisters, well, read the book. :D
There are mysteries galore and the story gets complicated, with many interconnected threads to keep track of. At times, there was too much going on but if you like mysteries, conspiracies and action, you'll probably like "Echoes". I particularly enjoyed Callie's search into her past and the connections to Nikki. It was sick and twisted and much too viable. Later elements of the mystery were more of a stretch for me but not over the top. Curtis weaves them all together and ties up the various threads, though there is one loose thread at the end. Perhaps it will be addressed in the next book?
Callie is smart, resourceful, loyal, compassionate, and able and willing to kick butt and to rescue herself. But she's also able and willing to accept help; she knows she's in over her head and accepts help from Mac and later Nash, the owner of Harp Security. Nash and Mac are former military teammates and while they aren't close, Mac knows he needs Nash's help. Lots of cooperation going on this book. Except for the bad guys; they refuse to cooperate with the good guys and they don't always cooperate with each other. But that's okay, a little dissension among the villains can be a good thing. But, hoo boy, Curtis does like to torture her heroines. Though Callie gets off easy compared to Tara Jean in Curtis's book, "Lost".
"Echoes" gives us mysteries, action, suspense, romance, sexy times, and an island I'd give almost anything to visit right now (I'm so sick of winter). Callie is someone I'd like to call a friend and Mac is sexy, brooding, dangerous, and more of an adrenaline junkie than I could live with. But he's not a bad book boyfriend. I loved the Harp Security team, their quirks, their resources, and their willingness to jump in but to be smart about doing it. Stupid heroics are not how they work. I'm ready for the next Harp Security book, which should be out later this year.
Okay, with that complaint out of the way, time for the story. Callie's father died recently and in going through his belongings, she found a picture that has engendered many questions. She takes a trip to St. Martin in the Caribbean to search for answers. Almost instantly, she's drawn into a second mystery: her uncanny resemblance to the hotel co-owner and missing wife of the hotel security chief. She's met by suspicion and distrust and shortly after arriving, her room at the luxurious resort is burglarized. Events escalate from there and it isn't long before she's running for her life and wondering how her life got so crazy:
Oh. My. God. What had happened to her life? When had she become the person the police chased and strange men shot at?
Of course, there's an attraction between Callie and Mac. Mac, I must say, started out by being rude, arrogant, and obnoxious. He does later redeem himself but at first he was a real ass. He doesn't trust her but that hardly excuses his rudeness, an example of which can be found in the excerpt below. At times I found the attraction between them to be a little squicky as he seriously believes her to be his missing wife's sister. Uh, dude? I know in some countries and in some eras it is/was common to hook up with a dead mate's sibling, but you're really going to jump from your missing wife's bed to the bed of a woman who may possibly be your sister-in-law? Ick. But that's me, and you may feel differently. Familial relationships aside, Callie and Mac are good together. They're passionate but not stupid, although their relationship does move quickly. Mac is very much an alpha male while Callie is his equal. She's his partner and she gives as good as she gets. As for whether or not Callie and Mac's wife Nikki are actually sisters, well, read the book. :D
There are mysteries galore and the story gets complicated, with many interconnected threads to keep track of. At times, there was too much going on but if you like mysteries, conspiracies and action, you'll probably like "Echoes". I particularly enjoyed Callie's search into her past and the connections to Nikki. It was sick and twisted and much too viable. Later elements of the mystery were more of a stretch for me but not over the top. Curtis weaves them all together and ties up the various threads, though there is one loose thread at the end. Perhaps it will be addressed in the next book?
Callie is smart, resourceful, loyal, compassionate, and able and willing to kick butt and to rescue herself. But she's also able and willing to accept help; she knows she's in over her head and accepts help from Mac and later Nash, the owner of Harp Security. Nash and Mac are former military teammates and while they aren't close, Mac knows he needs Nash's help. Lots of cooperation going on this book. Except for the bad guys; they refuse to cooperate with the good guys and they don't always cooperate with each other. But that's okay, a little dissension among the villains can be a good thing. But, hoo boy, Curtis does like to torture her heroines. Though Callie gets off easy compared to Tara Jean in Curtis's book, "Lost".
"Echoes" gives us mysteries, action, suspense, romance, sexy times, and an island I'd give almost anything to visit right now (I'm so sick of winter). Callie is someone I'd like to call a friend and Mac is sexy, brooding, dangerous, and more of an adrenaline junkie than I could live with. But he's not a bad book boyfriend. I loved the Harp Security team, their quirks, their resources, and their willingness to jump in but to be smart about doing it. Stupid heroics are not how they work. I'm ready for the next Harp Security book, which should be out later this year.
March 21, 2015
Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley.
Why?! Why do I do this to myself? I seriously cannot handle suspense! The next time I try to read a romantic suspense novel, I expect someone to stop me!!! :D
I like Callie from the start and all throughout the book. I was thoroughly surprised that not once did she do something that I would have considered Too Stupid To Live. Usually, a heroine, no matter how smart, will do something epically stupid and it makes me really dislike her for a while. Sometimes it even ruins her for the rest of the book for me. I was so happy that Callie never did anything like that. And I wouldn't say that she was really all that street savvy so it was that much more surprising that she didn't screw up big time! Sure, her dad was a diplomat so she's been to tons of different countries but other than being well traveled, she was a bit sheltered, in my opinion (not being well traveled myself). Now don't get me wrong - I'm NOT trying to say that she made zero mistakes, because she absolutely did. But she never did anything so stupid that I hated her for it or that made me see her in a negative light. I hope I'm getting my point across because it was so awesome and she impressed me so much!
Mac was a pretty great hero, too. He starts off as VERY unlikable...like for REAL! He calls Callie fat and boring pretty much the minute he meets her (she's neither) and I was so pissed at him for that. Yes, he said it in French and he was assuming she didn't speak French (she did) but wow, it was just so damn ignorant. Callie got over it way before I did. I'd have to say that I was at least 50% through the book before my attitude about him began to improve. But I can seriously hold a grudge though so maybe that was just my own issue... LOL! Finally I started liking him. I liked that he was a bad ass (obviously), even though his bad assery is a little hidden. I mean, it's not obvious, you know? He's head of security at a luxury resort which, in and of itself, is maybe not super bad ass. But as the book progresses, more and more of his skills are revealed and that was pretty cool. My only complaint was that I think there must have been more to Mac's history than was revealed and I think it might have been pretty interesting. I don't think that it will be revealed in a future book and that would be a shame if there really WAS more to his story.
Since this is a romantic suspense, the romance is a little on the thin side when compared to my usual books. But the dang excitement and tension sucked me in so much that I didn't care. I enjoyed the fact that Callie started out not trusting Mac at all and slowly developed that trust and respect. Even better, the same can be said for Mac in regards to Callie. It's such fun to have a hero respect a heroine for her abilities. Callie is able to take care of herself pretty well, I thought, and although she's no 'Jane' Bond, Mac was impressed by what she, a regular person, could handle on her own. That in itself is a little romantic if you ask me!
I would recommend this book for readers who are newer to the romantic suspense genre. I feel like I'm still new to it and I enjoyed it but readers who love this genre may require...more. I think I figured out who the bad guy was pretty quickly but I'm a cynical person so that may not be the case with every reader. So if you require complex mysteries and lots of misdirects and red herrings, this may not be the book for you. A huge portion of the story involves DNA and genetics. I don't believe that a familiarity with those subjects is required but there was a section that I had to re-read a couple of times to ensure I understood the implications, etc. That part of the story/mystery is a little complex but I really enjoyed it. This book was a lot of fun and WAY too exciting for me but I'm a self proclaimed wimp! LOL! I would definitely read more books from this author and I think this book was a great one to try.
Why?! Why do I do this to myself? I seriously cannot handle suspense! The next time I try to read a romantic suspense novel, I expect someone to stop me!!! :D
I like Callie from the start and all throughout the book. I was thoroughly surprised that not once did she do something that I would have considered Too Stupid To Live. Usually, a heroine, no matter how smart, will do something epically stupid and it makes me really dislike her for a while. Sometimes it even ruins her for the rest of the book for me. I was so happy that Callie never did anything like that. And I wouldn't say that she was really all that street savvy so it was that much more surprising that she didn't screw up big time! Sure, her dad was a diplomat so she's been to tons of different countries but other than being well traveled, she was a bit sheltered, in my opinion (not being well traveled myself). Now don't get me wrong - I'm NOT trying to say that she made zero mistakes, because she absolutely did. But she never did anything so stupid that I hated her for it or that made me see her in a negative light. I hope I'm getting my point across because it was so awesome and she impressed me so much!
Mac was a pretty great hero, too. He starts off as VERY unlikable...like for REAL! He calls Callie fat and boring pretty much the minute he meets her (she's neither) and I was so pissed at him for that. Yes, he said it in French and he was assuming she didn't speak French (she did) but wow, it was just so damn ignorant. Callie got over it way before I did. I'd have to say that I was at least 50% through the book before my attitude about him began to improve. But I can seriously hold a grudge though so maybe that was just my own issue... LOL! Finally I started liking him. I liked that he was a bad ass (obviously), even though his bad assery is a little hidden. I mean, it's not obvious, you know? He's head of security at a luxury resort which, in and of itself, is maybe not super bad ass. But as the book progresses, more and more of his skills are revealed and that was pretty cool. My only complaint was that I think there must have been more to Mac's history than was revealed and I think it might have been pretty interesting. I don't think that it will be revealed in a future book and that would be a shame if there really WAS more to his story.
Since this is a romantic suspense, the romance is a little on the thin side when compared to my usual books. But the dang excitement and tension sucked me in so much that I didn't care. I enjoyed the fact that Callie started out not trusting Mac at all and slowly developed that trust and respect. Even better, the same can be said for Mac in regards to Callie. It's such fun to have a hero respect a heroine for her abilities. Callie is able to take care of herself pretty well, I thought, and although she's no 'Jane' Bond, Mac was impressed by what she, a regular person, could handle on her own. That in itself is a little romantic if you ask me!
I would recommend this book for readers who are newer to the romantic suspense genre. I feel like I'm still new to it and I enjoyed it but readers who love this genre may require...more. I think I figured out who the bad guy was pretty quickly but I'm a cynical person so that may not be the case with every reader. So if you require complex mysteries and lots of misdirects and red herrings, this may not be the book for you. A huge portion of the story involves DNA and genetics. I don't believe that a familiarity with those subjects is required but there was a section that I had to re-read a couple of times to ensure I understood the implications, etc. That part of the story/mystery is a little complex but I really enjoyed it. This book was a lot of fun and WAY too exciting for me but I'm a self proclaimed wimp! LOL! I would definitely read more books from this author and I think this book was a great one to try.
April 4, 2015
Reviewed for Confessions From Romaholics
Review copy kindly provided by Intermix in exchange for a honest review
Echoes is interesting story however expect a little bit craziness with the storyline. Don’t get me wrong it is intriguing storyline for a romantic suspense but the connections between the characters……
Our heroine Callie has come to beautiful St Martin in the Caribbean on a mission under the guise of her job as a travel writer. To discover the truth about her birth thanks to a picture she found that goes against everything she knows about herself . However behind the French/Dutch island hides a number of secrets that threaten to turn the island upside down. Callie thinks is a simple mystery, however once she arrives on the island and checks into the island resort she come to write article about it. It soon comes apparent that she part of a twisted dark game involving one of the owners and her husband.
Our hero Mac, believes he is part of a con by Nikki his beautiful wife who used him time after time again. He is grateful that he escape his past , however he can’t help that Callie is here to spite him. As Nikki is missing and it is something she would do. This ex-cop /ex-army can’t help thinks so as inbreed into him, but what seems a simple mistake turns in a riveting suspenseful mystery as it soon become apparent this is none one f Nikki’s games and she actually missing , presumed dead .
Thrown into a crazy situation and only knowing each other for a couple of days, Mac and Callie soon come to trust each other and rub each the right way as it not simple as it first seemed. Echoes spanning two regions and gives a story that you won’t forget in a hurry. It’s way more action then you think and until the end you don’t know how exactly this is going to end with all on the line. . Mac reminds of one those movie characters we get in the spy thriller movies he lives for this stuff and Callie seems to be dragged along. However the author soon comes to show us that she no withering flower as she gets herself into a world that she least expects when she arrived.
It fun romantic suspense and what I to change things up a lit. The romance is a secondary but important . I enjoy this author’s descriptive style, I was whisked away from the autumn weather here to the beautiful tropics.
4 couples, I wish I could give it higher rating but the connections and the flimsy reasons for certain things .It annoyed me that Callie could potential be Nikki’s relative and it found it weird for her forming an interest so quickly in Mac. Mac knew Nikki only for 8 months and he just only asked for a divorce shortly before this story begins Callie should have questioned his past. Thrown in the fact he was only it for what Nikki offered, the rush he missed from his previous lives in the police force and army. I had to wonder if history was repeating itself. It just came on two strong for my liking.
For more of my reviews, visit Confessions From Romaholics.And drop by the blog's Facebook page
Review copy kindly provided by Intermix in exchange for a honest review
Echoes is interesting story however expect a little bit craziness with the storyline. Don’t get me wrong it is intriguing storyline for a romantic suspense but the connections between the characters……
Our heroine Callie has come to beautiful St Martin in the Caribbean on a mission under the guise of her job as a travel writer. To discover the truth about her birth thanks to a picture she found that goes against everything she knows about herself . However behind the French/Dutch island hides a number of secrets that threaten to turn the island upside down. Callie thinks is a simple mystery, however once she arrives on the island and checks into the island resort she come to write article about it. It soon comes apparent that she part of a twisted dark game involving one of the owners and her husband.
Our hero Mac, believes he is part of a con by Nikki his beautiful wife who used him time after time again. He is grateful that he escape his past , however he can’t help that Callie is here to spite him. As Nikki is missing and it is something she would do. This ex-cop /ex-army can’t help thinks so as inbreed into him, but what seems a simple mistake turns in a riveting suspenseful mystery as it soon become apparent this is none one f Nikki’s games and she actually missing , presumed dead .
Thrown into a crazy situation and only knowing each other for a couple of days, Mac and Callie soon come to trust each other and rub each the right way as it not simple as it first seemed. Echoes spanning two regions and gives a story that you won’t forget in a hurry. It’s way more action then you think and until the end you don’t know how exactly this is going to end with all on the line. . Mac reminds of one those movie characters we get in the spy thriller movies he lives for this stuff and Callie seems to be dragged along. However the author soon comes to show us that she no withering flower as she gets herself into a world that she least expects when she arrived.
It fun romantic suspense and what I to change things up a lit. The romance is a secondary but important . I enjoy this author’s descriptive style, I was whisked away from the autumn weather here to the beautiful tropics.
4 couples, I wish I could give it higher rating but the connections and the flimsy reasons for certain things .It annoyed me that Callie could potential be Nikki’s relative and it found it weird for her forming an interest so quickly in Mac. Mac knew Nikki only for 8 months and he just only asked for a divorce shortly before this story begins Callie should have questioned his past. Thrown in the fact he was only it for what Nikki offered, the rush he missed from his previous lives in the police force and army. I had to wonder if history was repeating itself. It just came on two strong for my liking.
For more of my reviews, visit Confessions From Romaholics.And drop by the blog's Facebook page
April 15, 2015
Review can also be found on my blog, After Hours at Lilybloombooks
One of the many things I love most about blogging in stumbling upon new books and new authors. Laura K. Curtis is not an author that I have read before - but her book Echoes will not be my last.
There are many elements to this story. There is a mystery, romance and suspense as well. Individually, these plot lines were written remarkably well; keeping me guessing and on my toes all the while, smiling because of the building romance between Mac and Calliope. Together though, it all blends into one very high stakes, action packed story!
Have you seen the show Motive? Where the killer is obvious and shown from the beginning and the detectives have to find out what the motive was? That's kind of how Echoes was for me. I figured out the killer early - and my suspicions were confirmed pretty early on in the book. As the reader, you don't know why and as the pieces come together it paints a very sad, disturbing picture. We even get the killers POV from time to time.
My heart went out to Calliope. Her world was literally thrown upside down and she was quickly trust into a game of cat and mouse. She was researching a mystery herself - not knowing that her many questions and curious nature would continue to put her in harm's way. She is tough, smart and very strong. Her attraction to Mac was light at first, but she slowly opened up to him, letting her walls down.
Mac was hard to get a good read on at first. I mean, his wife is missing - presumed dead - and he shows hardly any emotion to it. As his relationship with his wife slowly comes to light, I had a little bit more understanding.
As the romance between Calliope and Mac gets underfoot, I started to question the attraction and emotion from them both, especially Mac. Mac admits that he is an adrenaline junkie - and the situation they were thrust into would have his adrenaline pumping ten fold. I do believe that intense situations can bring people together, so it just works!
Overall - I thoroughly enjoyed Echoes. Intense, action packed and full of suspense - I highly recommend it.
*I received a copy of this book from Publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*
One of the many things I love most about blogging in stumbling upon new books and new authors. Laura K. Curtis is not an author that I have read before - but her book Echoes will not be my last.
There are many elements to this story. There is a mystery, romance and suspense as well. Individually, these plot lines were written remarkably well; keeping me guessing and on my toes all the while, smiling because of the building romance between Mac and Calliope. Together though, it all blends into one very high stakes, action packed story!
Have you seen the show Motive? Where the killer is obvious and shown from the beginning and the detectives have to find out what the motive was? That's kind of how Echoes was for me. I figured out the killer early - and my suspicions were confirmed pretty early on in the book. As the reader, you don't know why and as the pieces come together it paints a very sad, disturbing picture. We even get the killers POV from time to time.
My heart went out to Calliope. Her world was literally thrown upside down and she was quickly trust into a game of cat and mouse. She was researching a mystery herself - not knowing that her many questions and curious nature would continue to put her in harm's way. She is tough, smart and very strong. Her attraction to Mac was light at first, but she slowly opened up to him, letting her walls down.
Mac was hard to get a good read on at first. I mean, his wife is missing - presumed dead - and he shows hardly any emotion to it. As his relationship with his wife slowly comes to light, I had a little bit more understanding.
As the romance between Calliope and Mac gets underfoot, I started to question the attraction and emotion from them both, especially Mac. Mac admits that he is an adrenaline junkie - and the situation they were thrust into would have his adrenaline pumping ten fold. I do believe that intense situations can bring people together, so it just works!
Overall - I thoroughly enjoyed Echoes. Intense, action packed and full of suspense - I highly recommend it.
*I received a copy of this book from Publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*
March 1, 2015
Callie Pearson is a travel writer who traveled the world with her father when she was younger. After his death, she discovered a mysterious photo that indicated that she was born before the date on her birth certificate and somewhere different than she thought. She needs to find out what happened and what secrets her parents were keeping.
Callie travels to the lovely island of St. Martin's and discovers a whole secret history and finds herself in all sorts of danger. From the crazy person who wants to use her body parts to cure his imperfections to the arms dealer who thinks she knows more than she does, Callie finds herself in well over her head in danger.
When she arrives at the resort that is in her mysterious picture, she meets two men. John Lewis is the charismatic older man who owns the resort. Mac Brody is the head of security. Mac distrusts her immediately because of her resemblance to his missing wife. Lewis's response to her is more difficult to categorize. When danger threatens it is Mac Brody - former Atlanta cop and former soldier - who comes to her rescue as they try to find out about Callie's past and Mac's wife's disappearance.
This romantic suspense title had a sort of vintage feel for me despite the current technology talked about in the book. It reminded me of the Isabelle Holland romances I read in the 1980s. I liked the characters. I thought Callie and Mac's romance was realistic and done well. I liked the setting. I would be interested in reading more books in this series.
Callie travels to the lovely island of St. Martin's and discovers a whole secret history and finds herself in all sorts of danger. From the crazy person who wants to use her body parts to cure his imperfections to the arms dealer who thinks she knows more than she does, Callie finds herself in well over her head in danger.
When she arrives at the resort that is in her mysterious picture, she meets two men. John Lewis is the charismatic older man who owns the resort. Mac Brody is the head of security. Mac distrusts her immediately because of her resemblance to his missing wife. Lewis's response to her is more difficult to categorize. When danger threatens it is Mac Brody - former Atlanta cop and former soldier - who comes to her rescue as they try to find out about Callie's past and Mac's wife's disappearance.
This romantic suspense title had a sort of vintage feel for me despite the current technology talked about in the book. It reminded me of the Isabelle Holland romances I read in the 1980s. I liked the characters. I thought Callie and Mac's romance was realistic and done well. I liked the setting. I would be interested in reading more books in this series.
September 25, 2021
Oh this was such a great book. I honestly could not stop reading it from the time I started. And I think I am going to read more of Laura Curtis's work after this. My gosh, when Callie jumped into the pot, she jumped into the thick of things. There was so much action constantly happening. And the story moved ahead fast. This is a fast-paced book. Things happen fast. And it took me some time to make the leap from reading cozy mysteries to a proper thriller. But once I had made that leap, it was easier to catch up and follow what was happening. There is some adrenaline-fueled lust between the MCs which I had expected and I didn't mind.
Callie's life completely takes a U turn when she decides to go to St. Martin for a holiday. She has her reasons to find more about her past and this quest of hers completely changes her life.
The only few issues in the book was that there isn't much life interaction that gets shared between the two MCs. I mean you're showing them as a romantic interest, so it has to be something that isn't fueled by lust and circumstance. I mean sure they do share stuff, but somehow that didn't make me feel like that should make someone fall in love, with either of them. That was the only huge negative point.
But that's because everything happens so fast in the book, things escalate quickly, and so the characters are forced to move. And there's only so much you can talk when someone is chasing you or things go down south. So, I don't particularly hold it against the story. Just that it was a convenient and expected sort of a turn for the story to take.
The second point I hold against the story is how conveniently things sort themselves out in the end. With everything else getting explained for so long, I think the ending could have been stretched a little. But this is cherry picking. I am quite happy with the story as it is. It was a very enjoyable read.
Thank you NetGalley for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Callie's life completely takes a U turn when she decides to go to St. Martin for a holiday. She has her reasons to find more about her past and this quest of hers completely changes her life.
The only few issues in the book was that there isn't much life interaction that gets shared between the two MCs. I mean you're showing them as a romantic interest, so it has to be something that isn't fueled by lust and circumstance. I mean sure they do share stuff, but somehow that didn't make me feel like that should make someone fall in love, with either of them. That was the only huge negative point.
But that's because everything happens so fast in the book, things escalate quickly, and so the characters are forced to move. And there's only so much you can talk when someone is chasing you or things go down south. So, I don't particularly hold it against the story. Just that it was a convenient and expected sort of a turn for the story to take.
The second point I hold against the story is how conveniently things sort themselves out in the end. With everything else getting explained for so long, I think the ending could have been stretched a little. But this is cherry picking. I am quite happy with the story as it is. It was a very enjoyable read.
Thank you NetGalley for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 9, 2023
This was hell of the drive! Really intense, so many turns, so much action. And definitely confirm that some people out there are mental! It's just mad what's happening in people's heads!
August 21, 2023
I listened to the audiobook. This was so good! Action, romance, huge mystery! Characters were great. Narrator was wonderful!
March 28, 2015
4.25 stars-
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 17, 2015
Who is she?
A single photo of herself as an infant on a beach, taken before the date on her birth certificate, throws everything Calliope Pearson knows about herself into question. Hoping to find answers, she takes advantage of her job as a travel writer to make a reservation at the Caribbean island resort in the picture.
Resort security chief Mac Brody distrusts Callie on sight. After all, she looks exactly like his deceitful missing wife, Nikki, who owns half the resort. But when Nikki’s found dead, Mac's facing murder charges, and he’s sure that Callie must hold the key to proving his innocence.
The deeper Callie and Mac dive into the mystery of her past, the more bodies surface. And they’ll have to learn to trust each other, or become victims of a dark danger neither could've imagined…
~~~
REVIEW: 4.25 stars--ECHOES is the first installment in Laura K. Curtis’s new, contemporary, adult Harp Security romantic suspense series. This is resort security chief and former police officer Mac Brody, and journalist/travel writer Calliope ‘Callie’ Pearson’s storyline.
Told from several third person perspectives, the storyline follows travel writer Callie Pearson to the Paradis Hotel in St. Martin, French West Indies, as she sets out to uncover the truth behind a picture she discovered following the death of her father. The image of Callie and her parents, taken in front of the Paradis Hotel, is dated prior to Callie’s birth and she has no memory of ever having vacationed on or visited the Caribbean Islands. What ensues is a case of false accusations, betrayal, heartbreak and murder.
Mac Brody’s wife, Nikki Lewis, is missing. A former soldier and police officer with the Atlanta Police Department, Mac is the current head of security at Paradis Hotel, and his wife (co owner of Paradis Hotel) has been missing for nine days. When Callie Pearson, a woman with a strikingly close resemblance to his wife, shows up at the same hotel where Mac is employed, suspicion begins to cloud everyone’s mind. A series of break-ins, thefts and attempts on Callie’s life will find Mac protecting the woman he knows nothing about. Enter Nikki’s brother John Lewis, local law enforcement, a family tree that continues to grow, and rumored connections to drugs and murder, and the storyline takes on a new direction.
The relationship between Callie and Mac begins acrimoniously. Mac does not trust Callie; her timing in regards to Nikki’s disappearance is suspect; and the numerous attacks directed at Callie all point to questionable probabilities. When Callie’s friends back home are targeted, Mac knows that Callie is as much a victim as everyone else. When the threats against Callie increase, Mac becomes Callie’s guardian and protector, leaving our couple together both day and night. The romance scenes are intimate and seductive; there is no erotic sexual imagery.
The secondary and supporting characters include a number of island employees as well as Nikki’s brother John Lewis. We are also introduced to Mac’s former army buddy Nash Harper, owner and head of Harp Security, as well as several members of the Harp Security family. There is some definite history between Mac and Nash, one that does not go unnoticed by Callie.
The world building follows a path of clues that lead to a series of connected murders and a psychotic killer. The Harp Security personnel are slowly revealed as well as Nash’s connections, available fire power, and the vehicles needed to transport his charges-all over the world. From exotic island locations to New York, and yachts on the sea, our couple will travel in style while the world around them slowly implodes. Mac will be offered a position within the firm-a position that places Mac closer to the woman with whom he has fallen in love.
ECHOES is a captivating and wonderful storyline of family secrets and dangerous pasts; a suspense-filled tale of one man’s obsession with perfection, and another man’s history of lies and deceit. There are moments of betrayal and pain; heartbreak and loss; revelations and a final resolve. Laura K Curtis will pull you into a family mystery where the sins of the father will be revealed one missing person and dead body-at a time.
Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 17, 2015
Who is she?
A single photo of herself as an infant on a beach, taken before the date on her birth certificate, throws everything Calliope Pearson knows about herself into question. Hoping to find answers, she takes advantage of her job as a travel writer to make a reservation at the Caribbean island resort in the picture.
Resort security chief Mac Brody distrusts Callie on sight. After all, she looks exactly like his deceitful missing wife, Nikki, who owns half the resort. But when Nikki’s found dead, Mac's facing murder charges, and he’s sure that Callie must hold the key to proving his innocence.
The deeper Callie and Mac dive into the mystery of her past, the more bodies surface. And they’ll have to learn to trust each other, or become victims of a dark danger neither could've imagined…
~~~
REVIEW: 4.25 stars--ECHOES is the first installment in Laura K. Curtis’s new, contemporary, adult Harp Security romantic suspense series. This is resort security chief and former police officer Mac Brody, and journalist/travel writer Calliope ‘Callie’ Pearson’s storyline.
Told from several third person perspectives, the storyline follows travel writer Callie Pearson to the Paradis Hotel in St. Martin, French West Indies, as she sets out to uncover the truth behind a picture she discovered following the death of her father. The image of Callie and her parents, taken in front of the Paradis Hotel, is dated prior to Callie’s birth and she has no memory of ever having vacationed on or visited the Caribbean Islands. What ensues is a case of false accusations, betrayal, heartbreak and murder.
Mac Brody’s wife, Nikki Lewis, is missing. A former soldier and police officer with the Atlanta Police Department, Mac is the current head of security at Paradis Hotel, and his wife (co owner of Paradis Hotel) has been missing for nine days. When Callie Pearson, a woman with a strikingly close resemblance to his wife, shows up at the same hotel where Mac is employed, suspicion begins to cloud everyone’s mind. A series of break-ins, thefts and attempts on Callie’s life will find Mac protecting the woman he knows nothing about. Enter Nikki’s brother John Lewis, local law enforcement, a family tree that continues to grow, and rumored connections to drugs and murder, and the storyline takes on a new direction.
The relationship between Callie and Mac begins acrimoniously. Mac does not trust Callie; her timing in regards to Nikki’s disappearance is suspect; and the numerous attacks directed at Callie all point to questionable probabilities. When Callie’s friends back home are targeted, Mac knows that Callie is as much a victim as everyone else. When the threats against Callie increase, Mac becomes Callie’s guardian and protector, leaving our couple together both day and night. The romance scenes are intimate and seductive; there is no erotic sexual imagery.
The secondary and supporting characters include a number of island employees as well as Nikki’s brother John Lewis. We are also introduced to Mac’s former army buddy Nash Harper, owner and head of Harp Security, as well as several members of the Harp Security family. There is some definite history between Mac and Nash, one that does not go unnoticed by Callie.
The world building follows a path of clues that lead to a series of connected murders and a psychotic killer. The Harp Security personnel are slowly revealed as well as Nash’s connections, available fire power, and the vehicles needed to transport his charges-all over the world. From exotic island locations to New York, and yachts on the sea, our couple will travel in style while the world around them slowly implodes. Mac will be offered a position within the firm-a position that places Mac closer to the woman with whom he has fallen in love.
ECHOES is a captivating and wonderful storyline of family secrets and dangerous pasts; a suspense-filled tale of one man’s obsession with perfection, and another man’s history of lies and deceit. There are moments of betrayal and pain; heartbreak and loss; revelations and a final resolve. Laura K Curtis will pull you into a family mystery where the sins of the father will be revealed one missing person and dead body-at a time.
Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley
June 11, 2015
Callie is a successful travel writer, but when her father passes away, she feels adrift. While going through his possessions, she finds a picture from the past that has no explanation, but raises too many questions. Callie sets down a path to discover the secrets her father had hidden, a path she has no idea where it will take her.
This is the second Laura Curtis book I have read and I have to say she is fast becoming one of my favorite romantic suspense authors (up there with Julie Garwood’s Heartbreaker, which is my all time favorite romantic suspense). She writes compelling characters that you root for as well as twisted convoluted plots that are not easily guessed. And yes, there is romance and sexual tension, but it does not take over the book and it is not over the top turning the story into an erotica. The heart of the book is a mystery and it was well played out. I found it interesting that the identity of the killer was revealed around half way through the book, but the motivations behind their actions were much more convoluted and not explained until the end. I personally had a few suspects in mind, so I was not shocked at the identity since they had been my number one choice. I had a few theories as to the why, but the author did a good job drawing it out. I was afraid the book would become boring after the identity was known, but the author kept the plot moving with tons of action, danger and suspense. There are some gritty issues and gory details described, so don’t read this if you are looking for a cozy, light mystery.
The book alternates viewpoints between Callie and Mac, with just a hint of the killer’s point of view thrown in. Callie was a resourceful character, able to adapt to most situations, or at least fake it well. She appeared to be a blah kind of person to be perfectly honest at the start of the story, but then she revealed that she had hidden skills and quirks that made her very interesting. There were moments when her need to be independent warred with her survival instincts (common sense, perhaps?) but luckily she choose correctly. Mac, the hero/love interest was a complete tool at the start of the book, but I guess he needs some slack due to his missing wife and all. He turned out to be the ideal man (in my opinion) who would risk it all to help Callie out and get to the bottom of the danger. They made a good team as well as an interesting couple. The insight into the killer was crazy, with their thoughts seemingly so irrational it was hard to match the inner voice with the public image of said killer.
I enjoyed this title and will read anything else the author writes. I absolutely loved the ending and could not be any happier about how the events played out. After reading the book, I see that it is the first a new series which is exciting. The book had some intriguing side characters that I would like to know more about (hint hint Nash and Travis who I lurv!), so hopefully they will be the main characters next since Callie and Mac played out their adventure.
I received this title from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
For more reviews visit my blog http://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/
This is the second Laura Curtis book I have read and I have to say she is fast becoming one of my favorite romantic suspense authors (up there with Julie Garwood’s Heartbreaker, which is my all time favorite romantic suspense). She writes compelling characters that you root for as well as twisted convoluted plots that are not easily guessed. And yes, there is romance and sexual tension, but it does not take over the book and it is not over the top turning the story into an erotica. The heart of the book is a mystery and it was well played out. I found it interesting that the identity of the killer was revealed around half way through the book, but the motivations behind their actions were much more convoluted and not explained until the end. I personally had a few suspects in mind, so I was not shocked at the identity since they had been my number one choice. I had a few theories as to the why, but the author did a good job drawing it out. I was afraid the book would become boring after the identity was known, but the author kept the plot moving with tons of action, danger and suspense. There are some gritty issues and gory details described, so don’t read this if you are looking for a cozy, light mystery.
The book alternates viewpoints between Callie and Mac, with just a hint of the killer’s point of view thrown in. Callie was a resourceful character, able to adapt to most situations, or at least fake it well. She appeared to be a blah kind of person to be perfectly honest at the start of the story, but then she revealed that she had hidden skills and quirks that made her very interesting. There were moments when her need to be independent warred with her survival instincts (common sense, perhaps?) but luckily she choose correctly. Mac, the hero/love interest was a complete tool at the start of the book, but I guess he needs some slack due to his missing wife and all. He turned out to be the ideal man (in my opinion) who would risk it all to help Callie out and get to the bottom of the danger. They made a good team as well as an interesting couple. The insight into the killer was crazy, with their thoughts seemingly so irrational it was hard to match the inner voice with the public image of said killer.
I enjoyed this title and will read anything else the author writes. I absolutely loved the ending and could not be any happier about how the events played out. After reading the book, I see that it is the first a new series which is exciting. The book had some intriguing side characters that I would like to know more about (hint hint Nash and Travis who I lurv!), so hopefully they will be the main characters next since Callie and Mac played out their adventure.
I received this title from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
For more reviews visit my blog http://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/
March 22, 2015
Originally given 3.5 hearts at Rookie Romance.
After her father dies, Callie discovers a photo of herself taken when she was just a baby at a Caribbean resort. Except the photo is dated for before she was born. Curious about the photo and determined to find answers, Callie books into the same resort under the guise of writing a travel article, but she has a strange welcome when it turns out she uncannily resembles the missing owner.
Before she knows it, Callie is thrust into a life or death situation as it becomes apparent that she's tangled up in a web larger than she could have imagined. With Mac, the resort security chief and husband to the missing owner, she becomes embroiled in a fight for the truth and her life.
Callie lives a relatively uneventful life before she arrives on the island of St. Martin's. She's quietly intelligent and maintains a calm facade, even under the stressful situations she undergoes through the story. I so enjoyed that Callie is a sensible heroine who isn't too stubborn or proud to accept help when it becomes clear she's in over her head, instead she works with Mac and Harp security.
Mac is kind of a dick to Callie at first. His soon-to-be-ex-wife goes missing and then Callie turns up who looks so similar to her, he's unsurprisingly suspicious and mistrustful of Callie. As Mac gets to know Callie, his protective instincts come out around her which is really sweet. He's ex-army and an ex-cop so he's strong and resourceful, definitely someone you want on your side. He's sexy and pretty much a badass, but he's also patient and caring with Callie as they get plunged further into danger.
Callie and Mac's romance is complicated to say the least. Firstly, there's the possibility that she's related to his wife. Mac and Nikki are pretty much estranged but it's still a little close for comfort. Then there's the whole shebang with Nikki's murder and the mystery they start to unravel as a result. But they become closer and their attraction grows as they work together to figure out what the heck is going on. They had a pretty sizzling chemistry, although Callie is understandably worried that the attraction for Mac is kind of adrenaline-based since he's an admitted adrenaline junkie and they have spent most of their relationship on the run trying not to be killed.
The plot is rather intricately weaved and I enjoyed that we were given the answers piece by piece until we get the full picture later in the story. I did sometimes feel that it was a bit too convoluted and a lot going on at once, but I pretty much followed it most of the time.
Overall, this is a gripping romantic suspense story that definitely grabs your attention. I'm very intrigued to read more from the series after being introduced to several member of Harp security in this book.
*I received a review copy from the publisher, via NetGalley, for my honest opinion. Thank you!
After her father dies, Callie discovers a photo of herself taken when she was just a baby at a Caribbean resort. Except the photo is dated for before she was born. Curious about the photo and determined to find answers, Callie books into the same resort under the guise of writing a travel article, but she has a strange welcome when it turns out she uncannily resembles the missing owner.
Before she knows it, Callie is thrust into a life or death situation as it becomes apparent that she's tangled up in a web larger than she could have imagined. With Mac, the resort security chief and husband to the missing owner, she becomes embroiled in a fight for the truth and her life.
Callie lives a relatively uneventful life before she arrives on the island of St. Martin's. She's quietly intelligent and maintains a calm facade, even under the stressful situations she undergoes through the story. I so enjoyed that Callie is a sensible heroine who isn't too stubborn or proud to accept help when it becomes clear she's in over her head, instead she works with Mac and Harp security.
Mac is kind of a dick to Callie at first. His soon-to-be-ex-wife goes missing and then Callie turns up who looks so similar to her, he's unsurprisingly suspicious and mistrustful of Callie. As Mac gets to know Callie, his protective instincts come out around her which is really sweet. He's ex-army and an ex-cop so he's strong and resourceful, definitely someone you want on your side. He's sexy and pretty much a badass, but he's also patient and caring with Callie as they get plunged further into danger.
Callie and Mac's romance is complicated to say the least. Firstly, there's the possibility that she's related to his wife. Mac and Nikki are pretty much estranged but it's still a little close for comfort. Then there's the whole shebang with Nikki's murder and the mystery they start to unravel as a result. But they become closer and their attraction grows as they work together to figure out what the heck is going on. They had a pretty sizzling chemistry, although Callie is understandably worried that the attraction for Mac is kind of adrenaline-based since he's an admitted adrenaline junkie and they have spent most of their relationship on the run trying not to be killed.
The plot is rather intricately weaved and I enjoyed that we were given the answers piece by piece until we get the full picture later in the story. I did sometimes feel that it was a bit too convoluted and a lot going on at once, but I pretty much followed it most of the time.
Overall, this is a gripping romantic suspense story that definitely grabs your attention. I'm very intrigued to read more from the series after being introduced to several member of Harp security in this book.
*I received a review copy from the publisher, via NetGalley, for my honest opinion. Thank you!
June 28, 2015
I received a review copy of this book through NetGalley for the purposes of writing a review.
Firstly, this had a very interesting beginning that grabbed my attention! I was drawn into the story from the start. Throughout the story we are given three major points of view - the male protagonist, the female lead and an initially unknown villain. Starting off with the villain's point of view was strong, and definitely set the tone for the story before laying out the scene.
Callie Pearson, a respected journalist has travelled to the Paradis resort on the Island of St Martins, presumably to write a travel article. However, as we learn along the way, she has a secret agenda: to learn about a secret in her family's past, which was hinted at in a photograph she found which belonged to her late father. Her search for answers collides with the local mystery of a missing woman (Nikki) who bears a curious resemblance to Callie, and who also happens to be the estranged wife of Mac, a security expert who also resides at the resort.
As the story progresses, we learn that there are no simple answers to this puzzle. In fact, there are so many elements to this mystery that at times I felt as though the impact of the revelations were blunted. There came a point where it almost seemed a bit too complex.
Callie was a character easy to root for. A sweet character, perhaps with her own little insecurities, less than perfect (and that is so refreshing!) who is inherently good. Mac, a slightly darker character, certainly with less faith in humanity than Callie but nonetheless a strong male lead as established from the start. For the most part his character was consistent, though given his behaviour and thoughts that we are shown I found the revelation of how he ended up with Nikki (his wife) in the first place a little difficult to grasp, even though we are given an explanation.
I enjoyed the progression of Callie and Mac's relationship. I like that it wasn't drawn out or exaggerated. In the tense circumstances surrounding their interactions, its moments of intensity made it all the more authentic.
All in all, it definitely did keep me intrigued, though a slightly simplified plot might have enhanced the enjoyment of the story. A four star read for me.
Firstly, this had a very interesting beginning that grabbed my attention! I was drawn into the story from the start. Throughout the story we are given three major points of view - the male protagonist, the female lead and an initially unknown villain. Starting off with the villain's point of view was strong, and definitely set the tone for the story before laying out the scene.
Callie Pearson, a respected journalist has travelled to the Paradis resort on the Island of St Martins, presumably to write a travel article. However, as we learn along the way, she has a secret agenda: to learn about a secret in her family's past, which was hinted at in a photograph she found which belonged to her late father. Her search for answers collides with the local mystery of a missing woman (Nikki) who bears a curious resemblance to Callie, and who also happens to be the estranged wife of Mac, a security expert who also resides at the resort.
As the story progresses, we learn that there are no simple answers to this puzzle. In fact, there are so many elements to this mystery that at times I felt as though the impact of the revelations were blunted. There came a point where it almost seemed a bit too complex.
Callie was a character easy to root for. A sweet character, perhaps with her own little insecurities, less than perfect (and that is so refreshing!) who is inherently good. Mac, a slightly darker character, certainly with less faith in humanity than Callie but nonetheless a strong male lead as established from the start. For the most part his character was consistent, though given his behaviour and thoughts that we are shown I found the revelation of how he ended up with Nikki (his wife) in the first place a little difficult to grasp, even though we are given an explanation.
I enjoyed the progression of Callie and Mac's relationship. I like that it wasn't drawn out or exaggerated. In the tense circumstances surrounding their interactions, its moments of intensity made it all the more authentic.
All in all, it definitely did keep me intrigued, though a slightly simplified plot might have enhanced the enjoyment of the story. A four star read for me.
February 8, 2015
After Callie's father died , she had a clearout of his things and came across a hidden photo of herself as an infant on a holiday resort, the thing is this normally wouldn't be strange but the photo was taken a month before Callie was even supposedly born. Using her skills as a journalist and the advantage of a travel journalist. She pitches a story to the TravelMag of a hotel resort article at the Carribean Island Resort owned by the Lewis Siblings. Her editor approves and she's off, but when she arrives at the resort - strange things have already started occuring as one of the owners Nikki Lewis has gone missing and her husband Mac is the prime suspect. When Callie arrives, it's like Mac has seen a ghost as Callie looks like a younger version of Nikki - they could almost be twins. As Callie digs further into her past history and the photo , she finds herself also looking at Nikki's past and discovers that Nikki was John's half-sister and that apparently Nikki's mother had an affair. Did she have an affair with Callie's father ? When a dead body washes ashore and Callie is forced to take a DNA sample, more oddities appear and it turns out that she was in fact Nikki's half-sister and that Callie -who always thought she was an only child , has in fact a handful of half-siblings out there. How is that possible when the only parents she ever knew about were her own ? What happens next will throw Callie into a fight for her life and force her survival skills as she discovers someone is killing off her half-siblings and she may be next on the list .
Echoes turned out to go a whole step further than I originally thought when I picked up the book as I was just hoping for a casual adopted at birth or mystery child storyline but instead got half-siblings galore and a action-packed thriller.
If you love Switched at Birth and Unknown Sibling stories with the hint of a thrill , then check out Echoes by Laura Curtis.
Echoes turned out to go a whole step further than I originally thought when I picked up the book as I was just hoping for a casual adopted at birth or mystery child storyline but instead got half-siblings galore and a action-packed thriller.
If you love Switched at Birth and Unknown Sibling stories with the hint of a thrill , then check out Echoes by Laura Curtis.
March 23, 2015
Murder mystery, that turns out to be so much more than expected.
The tropical setting of the story is amazing, alluring. It gives a great picture of the way the rich and famous vacationed, and ultimately, committed some heinous crimes.
Mac, the hero is attractive, truly sexy, true alpha male. Callie is cultured, traveled the world, she is independent, stands up for herself, can protect herself, and defend herself in a fight. Together they are a great team, the attraction is palpable, the romance is realistic, steamy, and tender. Just the fact that Callie looks like Mac's missing wife, makes things a bit awkward at first!
The mystery that starts to unravel in the story is not only scary and grim, it's rather unthinkable. Based on one picture, and suspicious mind, Callie runs into a thirty year old crime, that has had horrendous results. The facts that are revealed are plentiful, and at times confusing. The action that takes place is fierce, cruel, and bloody.
The villain is barbaric and brutal. I am glad the author left his intentions as vague as they were, since that was already enough for me, they were so savage.
The story is captivating, there's not only the thirty year old crime spree to be solved, but also arms dealing, drug dealing, mobsters, and military buddies fighting against them. It has so many twists and turns, and most of them completely unexpected, it kept me on the edge of the seat, and hanging on into every word. This truly is a thrill ride for romantic suspense junkies, like me!
~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side
booksandspoons.weebly.com/book-blog
The tropical setting of the story is amazing, alluring. It gives a great picture of the way the rich and famous vacationed, and ultimately, committed some heinous crimes.
Mac, the hero is attractive, truly sexy, true alpha male. Callie is cultured, traveled the world, she is independent, stands up for herself, can protect herself, and defend herself in a fight. Together they are a great team, the attraction is palpable, the romance is realistic, steamy, and tender. Just the fact that Callie looks like Mac's missing wife, makes things a bit awkward at first!
The mystery that starts to unravel in the story is not only scary and grim, it's rather unthinkable. Based on one picture, and suspicious mind, Callie runs into a thirty year old crime, that has had horrendous results. The facts that are revealed are plentiful, and at times confusing. The action that takes place is fierce, cruel, and bloody.
The villain is barbaric and brutal. I am glad the author left his intentions as vague as they were, since that was already enough for me, they were so savage.
The story is captivating, there's not only the thirty year old crime spree to be solved, but also arms dealing, drug dealing, mobsters, and military buddies fighting against them. It has so many twists and turns, and most of them completely unexpected, it kept me on the edge of the seat, and hanging on into every word. This truly is a thrill ride for romantic suspense junkies, like me!
~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side
booksandspoons.weebly.com/book-blog
March 16, 2015
I really liked this book but I got it as an ARC and I wish I would behave known it was the third book in a series because I would have either read the first two or just not agreed to read this one because I feel the first two may have help make what was going on with this killer make sense because I am still not sure why the killer did what he did and hope it was explained in the earlier books I did not read. So with saying that I am just going to review this book on it's merits alone but keep mind I strongly feel the other books may need to be read in order to get the full impact the author wants the reader to experience.
As a single book I liked the romance between Mac and Callie. I also enjoyed how well the team of Nash, Travis and Mac worked together even with the tension between Mac and Nash. The storyline was very well written and would have been even better if I was able to follow it in the entire trilogy.
Overall a good book that I am giving four out of five stars and that is only because I was not warned that it was the final book in a trilogy and I feel I missed major parts of the story due to how it was marketed.
As a single book I liked the romance between Mac and Callie. I also enjoyed how well the team of Nash, Travis and Mac worked together even with the tension between Mac and Nash. The storyline was very well written and would have been even better if I was able to follow it in the entire trilogy.
Overall a good book that I am giving four out of five stars and that is only because I was not warned that it was the final book in a trilogy and I feel I missed major parts of the story due to how it was marketed.
October 27, 2015
Received a copy of the title in exchange for an honest review.
This book takes place in the beautiful area of St. Martin -- and having been there, it was so easy to see.
I absolutely love when books take a character who doesn't trust what they see, and watch their opinion thaw -- and Mac and his thoughts on Callie were no different. The romance was done well, and the suspense was on par, keeping me interested in reading more.
This book takes place in the beautiful area of St. Martin -- and having been there, it was so easy to see.
I absolutely love when books take a character who doesn't trust what they see, and watch their opinion thaw -- and Mac and his thoughts on Callie were no different. The romance was done well, and the suspense was on par, keeping me interested in reading more.
May 15, 2015
This story just failed to engage me I'm afraid. It was well written, but I just couldn't get fully behind the characters so this one didn't work for me.
June 18, 2015
This was a decent book. It drug a little at times though.
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