Security and rescue specialist Stella Silverstone returns home for the holidays to care for her ailing grandmother—and finds herself the target of a killer. Only the unexpected arrival of the rescue-team leader temporarily pulls her from the crosshairs. Once, Stella hoped Chance Miller would become more than her boss. But the widow's tragic past keeps her from giving him her heart—or embracing the Christmas season. Now with danger lurking in every corner of her grandmother's old Victorian home and family secrets hiding in the shadows, Stella is safe nowhere but with Chance. Only he can show her the joys of Christmas and the beauty of love…if he can keep her alive.
I discovered Shirlee McCoy's books late last year and have now been on a mission to read them all. For a solid week that's all I've read: her books. I've got a ways to go, but it is great . She is a master at inspirational suspense! I absolutely love these books and this series in particular. I've not read them in the proper order, but that doesn't take away from the story; I said that to say this: I've met Stella Silverstone and Chance in previous books and her character is one I've loved. Now, to read her own story has been great. These two characters are wonderful and the suspense is powerful. I highly recommend this book, this series and the author.
I just love this series! Somehow, even with the shorter word count, the author has managed to deliver the kind of reader satisfaction that comes from a longer romantic suspense like the O'Malley series by Dee Henderson or the Alaskan Courage series by Dani Pettrey.
McCoy has done a great job of creating memorable characters in the HEART team -- they provide continuity to the series, while allowing each member to take at turn at shining in his/her own story. No need to have read the previous ones in order to enjoy The Christmas Target, but I sure enjoyed catching up with some old friends.
"Stella Silverstone woke like she often did -- bathed in sweat, heart beating frantically, her body screaming for her to run or fight." Talk about a gripping opening line and what an introduction to Stella! She wakes up disoriented as her dream morphs into reality. And the action and suspense don't let up until the very last page. Neither does the romance -- the scrumptious second chance kind that made me weak in the knees. Stella's so prickly and aloof. Chance is the exact opposite. A man who knows what he wants and isn't afraid to patiently wait Stella out. Tenderness. Desire. Commitment. The man feels it all and he isn't afraid to show it. A deliciously satisfying read from start to finish.
I am not entirely sure where this book lands on the timeline for this series… But I guess that doesn’t matter too much if you are not reading the ENITRE thing like I slowly seem to be doing. Though I am not reading it in order by any means… This one is about Stella Silverstone, an ex-navel officer and medic. Stella is portrayed across ALL the novels she features in as this rough, no non-sense woman who takes her job extremely seriously and seems to feel like she has something to prove, like she’s just as good as, if not better, then the men. She is well respected by her colleagues in all the novels. This novel though, gives you a little more insight into the formable woman. It shows that she does have a softer side and she does love deeply and has fears and doubts. It shows a little bit as to why Stella has become the way she is. It’s decent. I wouldn’t call it mind blowing or revolutionary. I wouldn’t call the romance awful or divine. It was all just…okay. Minus the ending. I don’t like rushed relationships just so the reader can get the proposal or marriage scene. I like realistic, and I know Stella would be realistic, not what she was at the end of the book. Although, if the books are being written out of order, it’d explain the other book quite nicely and I’d actually mildly approve…
In Conclusion This book was okay. Decent…Average. Put downable, but totally pick-upable.
The Christmas Target is by Shirlee McCoy. It is a Love Inspired suspense by Harlequin. Stella Silverstone works for HEART and is a security and rescue specialist. However, now she is Stella Silverstone, granddaughter. She has returned home to care for her Grandmother who has been diagnosed as having the beginning of Alzheimer´s. Knowing she will be with her grandmother for a long while, she tried to put in her resignation from the company, but Chance Miller who runs HEART refuses to accept her resignation. He is convinced they can find enough work for her to do at home during research, etc. He is scheduled to arrive soon to talk it over with her. One night, Stella wakes up and instantly knows something is wrong. She can hear no noise, but something isn´t right. She gets up to check on her grandmother only to find she is not in bed. Stella goes downstairs to look in the living room and in the kitchen. She finds the back door open and realizes her grandmother has gone outside, probably in her house shoes and gown. Without grabbing her coat, she realizes her grandmother has gone outside. Can Stella find her before she freezes? When she gets near the creek, she thinks she should have waited for someone to help her or at least called. But her grandmother is the most important thing. She must be found. Before she goes further, she is hit over the head and she blacks out. Chance arrives a day early due to a storm coming in only to find Stella is not in the house and the house is wide open. He follows her tracks into the woods. How far could she have gone? Will he find Stell and her grandmother before they get more damaged?
This is the sixth book in the Mission:Rescue Series. I have loved this series and this book is amazing. This book is well written, fast paced, and full of action. You'll love the characters, I've been drawn to Stella and Chance since the first book and was thrilled to finally find out their story. Stella Silverstone is a security and rescue specialist for HEART. She has taken some time off to move home and help her grandmother after her grandfather's death. Suddenly she finds herself the target of a killer. Her boss and team's early arrival is all that saves her. Now she must face the family secrets that seem to be hiding all over her family home. Chance is her only hope. Chance Miller has loved Stella from the beginning of their relationship but the beautiful widow refuses to let him close to her and so he waits. When her life is threatened he must act. Can he keep her safe and show how much he cares? Can he give her hope in a world that is turned upside down? Can his love be enough to bring back the joy of Christmas, love, and hope for the future? A journey of two hearts caught up in the pain of the past. God has a plan for these two, a plan for a hope and a future. God has a plan for you too. Give Him your heart, your trust, and control of your life and watch Him work.
I thought the action in this novel was too hurried. I didn't find the heroine to be very likable; she was too hard. I think the author could have spent more time developing her characters, her plot, and the relationships between her characters. Shirlee McCoy is one of my favorite authors, but I didn't think this book was as good as some others she has written.
S sometimes you just have to read a book that makes you say "ahhh" when you finish it. That was this book. It had enough suspense to keep you guessing, enough interpersonal tension to make you want to say "get on with it". And of course everything played out to make a happy ending. This book is a good was to spend some time.
I thought this book was really intriguing and had me engaged the whole time. So much action in such a small book. Stella Silverstone was always trying to be in control but when she finds herself being attacked while she was out trying to find her grandma she realizes she is not in control. Not that she'll ever admit that to her fellow operative Chance Miller. Chance is not happy when he and his team arrive at Stella's place to find her and her grandma missing. He must find them fast as the winter storm is approaching at a rapid pace. Will they figure out who's trying to kill Stella and her Grandma before it's to late?