Finn Hardy has watched his brothers find love -- and felt left behind. He's not sure he's ready to settle down -- but he'd at least like the option. Emma Pritchard has a tortured past. Her father is a notorious child molester, her brother a convicted felon. She only has herself to rely on now. That's why she doesn't need -- or want -- anyone to protect her. While running a security job at the local boat show, Finn is taken with the comely Emma, who is working as a local boat model. When a man tries to attack her with a vial of acid, the police naturally assume it has something to do with her family. Finn is torn. Emma doesn't seem to want his help -- even though she clearly needs it. As circumstances become more dire, and the attacks on Emma become more dangerous, Finn finds himself in the crosshairs of a fire-happy madman. Emma doesn't know what to do. She's drawn to Finn, but she's promised never to trust anyone again. With her life in constant jeopardy, though, she has no choice but to accept Hardy Brothers Security's protection -- and all the love the extended family has to offer. Finn has no intention of letting Emma get hurt -- but it's his heart that's really in danger. For her part, Emma is keeping a secret -- one she's sure that Finn can't handle. When it comes to light, will Finn be able to accept the true magnitude of Emma's past -- and the horrific legacy of her family? And will all that even matter when death closes in?
This is the third book in the Hardy Brothers Security series.
Another easy read. I do think the suspense is getting better, but it was still pretty obvious.
I liked Finn and Emma better than the last couple (Grady and Sophie) but James and Mandy are still the stars of the series.
I wish Finn and Emma had an opportunity for more closure. These last two books have just left me hanging. Totally HFN. I like HEAs! I understand they continue into the remaining books, but I do not have the patience to read 17 books to get an HEA.
But this is still an easy series to read if you are looking for low angst, pretty much insta-lust, light suspense and witty banter. These couple do seem real. Their conversations and thoughts and insecurities feel real (for the most part).
Plot: Finn is at a show as an employee, protecting a large dianomnd, when he meets Emma, one of the models. She doesn't seem to like him very much and he finds her prickly. But when she is attacked, he can't help but to protect her, even if she doesn't want that. As they get to know each other, the troubles of her past reveal themselves and he finds himself more and more drawn to the beautiful but troubled woman. Her past is rushing toward her though and they might both be helpless to stop it.
Commentary: This one actually made me cry (the scene where she believes Finni is ending things with her). I felt so sad for poor Emma. She expected people to hate her because of what happened with her father. She had accepted that it was her due to to take the hate and blame that people threw her way, even though she too was a child an a victim when it happened.
Finn has the hump, now he's the only brother without a girlfriend and unlike the older two he's been ready and waiting for that special someone. Sent out to guard a diamond during a boat show he finds himself intrigued by Emma Pritchard, modelling to pay her way through college.
She's aloof, and dismissive of Finn's interest at first but after he protects her from an acid attack from an unknown assailant her guard drops. It drops further when the attending police appear to blame her for the attack and are hostile towards her. It's not Emma's fault but a terrible past and having a father who committed a heinous crime seems to make everyone around her feel free to hold her responsible for her father's actions.
Finn knows most of the story and he falls in love with her nonetheless but Emma's holding back.. will her darkest secret send Finn running, never to look back? Ultimately can he see past it and save her life as the attacks continue each becoming increasingly more dangerous?
This Private Investigator Mystery is captivating. Finn Hardy, the youngest of the Hardy brothers, meets Emma Pritchard, a show model, while he is guarding an exhibit at a boat show. She gets attacked by a madman, so Finn offers to help, but in a foolhardy manner, she declines. He stubbornly refuses to be refused. As they work together to solve her situation, the attraction/rejection theme becomes more intense.
The back-and-forth between Finn and Emma helps make the story more interesting. Because of her family's background, there are some potential abuse response triggers. Nevertheless, tracking down the perpetrator proves to be entertaining. The romance ends favorably. Overall, an excellent story.
I have read many of lily Harper harts novels, but this one was very difficult to read. Too many details about things that are grisly and just plain disgusting. I almost skipped this one when I read the cover, but wanting to keep to the series and the brothers' love stories, I went against my senses and read it. If you have a strong constitution for news stories of the worlds evils, you should only be mildly uncomfortable with this story. For those of us who have seen horror personally, perhaps you should skip this one.
I'm a big fan of this series and while I liked this book, I think I enjoyed book 2 more. Once again, I just love the characters. It's a bit of an understatement to say that Emma has been through a lot, certainly far more than anyone should have to deal with this. This was addressed with both Emma and Finn, but I was just expecting a bit more. I understand this is a series and it will likely be brought up again down the road, but it just seemed to me that there should have been more development around it.
Once again, James and Mandy (my favorite couple!) played a big part on this book, and I'm so excited to see how their relationship progresses. While Grady and Sophie were present in this book, there was very little focus or development on them. I understand that it must be challenging to give all couples adequate focus, especially since this was really Finn and Emma's story, but I was just expecting a little bit more of Sophie and Grady.
All of that said, I enjoyed the mystery and can't wait to see what happens in book 4!
I liked this book even though I had a few hiccups about it. I really don't like Mandy (even though I know this book was about Finn and Emma). I think Mandy is bossy, overbearing, and self-absorbed.
So having said that, I liked the rest of the book.
Spoiler...
Why didn't anyone suggest to Emma that she see a psychiatrist or therapist? Lord know she went through enough. No one could go through that without professional help. And yes, I know she is a fictional character....LOL.
an emotionally fragile sexual assault and abuse survivor is stalked by another of her abusive dad's victims. the rescuer falls in love with her and she finds live and healing with him.