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Special Gifts
MIXED BLESSING
Elizabeth Hardy was afraid - afraid of her ability to see things she had no way of knowing, and afraid to risk her heart again. In Colonel Sam Oliver she found the one man who could give her courage - and tempt her to love once more.
Sam needed her help. A woman was missing, a woman who held the world's fate in her hands, and only Elizabeth could find out where she was. But the search would be a dangerous one, and even success might not assure Elizabeth of a future where she longed to be - in Sam's never-ending embrace.
Elizabeth Hardy was afraid - afraid of her ability to see things she had no way of knowing, and afraid to risk her heart again. In Colonel Sam Oliver she found the one man who could give her courage - and tempt her to love once more.
Sam needed her help. A woman was missing, a woman who held the world's fate in her hands, and only Elizabeth could find out where she was. But the search would be a dangerous one, and even success might not assure Elizabeth of a future where she longed to be - in Sam's never-ending embrace.
251 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
50 people are currently reading
341 people want to read
About the author
Anne Stuart
203 books2,063 followersAnne Stuart is a grandmaster of the genre, winner of Romance Writers of America's prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, survivor of more than thirty-five years in the romance business, and still just keeps getting better.
Her first novel was Barrett's Hill, a gothic romance published by Ballantine in 1974 when Anne had just turned 25. Since then she's written more gothics, regencies, romantic suspense, romantic adventure, series romance, suspense, historical romance, paranormal and mainstream contemporary romance for publishers such as Doubleday, Harlequin, Silhouette, Avon, Zebra, St. Martins Press, Berkley, Dell, Pocket Books and Fawcett.
She’s won numerous awards, appeared on most bestseller lists, and speaks all over the country. Her general outrageousness has gotten her on Entertainment Tonight, as well as in Vogue, People, USA Today, Women’s Day and countless other national newspapers and magazines.
When she’s not traveling, she’s at home in Northern Vermont with her luscious husband of thirty-six years, an empty nest, three cats, four sewing machines, and one Springer Spaniel, and when she’s not working she’s watching movies, listening to rock and roll (preferably Japanese) and spending far too much time quilting.
Anne Stuart also writes as Kristina Douglas.
Her first novel was Barrett's Hill, a gothic romance published by Ballantine in 1974 when Anne had just turned 25. Since then she's written more gothics, regencies, romantic suspense, romantic adventure, series romance, suspense, historical romance, paranormal and mainstream contemporary romance for publishers such as Doubleday, Harlequin, Silhouette, Avon, Zebra, St. Martins Press, Berkley, Dell, Pocket Books and Fawcett.
She’s won numerous awards, appeared on most bestseller lists, and speaks all over the country. Her general outrageousness has gotten her on Entertainment Tonight, as well as in Vogue, People, USA Today, Women’s Day and countless other national newspapers and magazines.
When she’s not traveling, she’s at home in Northern Vermont with her luscious husband of thirty-six years, an empty nest, three cats, four sewing machines, and one Springer Spaniel, and when she’s not working she’s watching movies, listening to rock and roll (preferably Japanese) and spending far too much time quilting.
Anne Stuart also writes as Kristina Douglas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
August 21, 2009
I think this was my first Anne Stuart book. It was love at first sight. I really gravitated towards this story about a reclusive woman who is tormented by her psychic ability to see dark events, and the mysterious, clearly dangerous, and very ruggedly-attractive man who comes to her hiding place from the world to get her help solving a kidnapping that may have national security implications. I don't really enjoy romance books where the characters are tracking a serial killer, unless they're really good. And this one was. For me they are too gritty, and the blood and death really overwhelms the book, and drowns out the romance. Not this one. Ms Stuart does a great job of weaving this story, making the focus is on the growing love between Elizabeth and Sam, but carrying the plot along so that you're invested in solving the murders taking place.
Elizabeth is reserved and quiet on the surface, but inwardly haunted by those terrible visions. Sam is a strong, enigmatic military man who's all about the mission. His vitality intimidates her, but also seduces her back to life again. Sam isn't too happy he has to work with such a quiet little mouse to get his mission accomplished. But he ends up falling for this mild-mannered and plain spinster woman when it's really at cross-purposes for his mission. He is not prepared for how much she comes to mean to him, especially when he has to put her life at risk to catch the killer he is after. Although Sam isn't as in your face dangerous as Ms. Stuart's later heroes (particularly in the Ice series), he is definitely a lethal man who will not hesitate to kill without mercy to protect Elizabeth and to achieve his mission.
It was great to read this story and watch Elizabeth come out of her shell, and see the strong, intense attraction between this unlikely couple unfold. Early on, Elizabeth has a vision about her and Sam, and a certain red dress that is pretty spicy, and you know that things are going to heat up. And Ms. Stuart really delivers on the romantic relationship in this book. That's what kept me reading despite the dark subject matter. It is really interesting how passionate the love scenes in these oldies can be without being explicit like the newer books. You feel all the emotions and the intensity even though a lot is left to the imagination.
I was hooked on Anne Stuart when I read this Silhouette Intimate Moments I checked out from the library so many moons ago (I used to read every single Silhouette Intimate Moment I could find at the library, and enjoyed almost all of them. Those were the days). It started a twenty-plus year relationship with my favorite author. She has brought so many hours of joy into my life. Nobody does romance as well as Anne Stuart in my book.
Elizabeth is reserved and quiet on the surface, but inwardly haunted by those terrible visions. Sam is a strong, enigmatic military man who's all about the mission. His vitality intimidates her, but also seduces her back to life again. Sam isn't too happy he has to work with such a quiet little mouse to get his mission accomplished. But he ends up falling for this mild-mannered and plain spinster woman when it's really at cross-purposes for his mission. He is not prepared for how much she comes to mean to him, especially when he has to put her life at risk to catch the killer he is after. Although Sam isn't as in your face dangerous as Ms. Stuart's later heroes (particularly in the Ice series), he is definitely a lethal man who will not hesitate to kill without mercy to protect Elizabeth and to achieve his mission.
It was great to read this story and watch Elizabeth come out of her shell, and see the strong, intense attraction between this unlikely couple unfold. Early on, Elizabeth has a vision about her and Sam, and a certain red dress that is pretty spicy, and you know that things are going to heat up. And Ms. Stuart really delivers on the romantic relationship in this book. That's what kept me reading despite the dark subject matter. It is really interesting how passionate the love scenes in these oldies can be without being explicit like the newer books. You feel all the emotions and the intensity even though a lot is left to the imagination.
I was hooked on Anne Stuart when I read this Silhouette Intimate Moments I checked out from the library so many moons ago (I used to read every single Silhouette Intimate Moment I could find at the library, and enjoyed almost all of them. Those were the days). It started a twenty-plus year relationship with my favorite author. She has brought so many hours of joy into my life. Nobody does romance as well as Anne Stuart in my book.
February 24, 2019
A solid 4 starrer!
For the absolutely convincing and sizzling chemistry and connection.
The sizzle is just as physical as is metaphysical.
Love the mean and cranky jerk posing as the H here. But despite his baiting behaviour towards the h, it's lovely to see him fall for a woman so out of his 'type range'. She's small and skinny - no curves to speak of (horror!), is plain and wears glasses. But worse, is into psychic hocus-pocus!
His calling her swami grates but then he's hiding a lot of secrets of his own. She's not a fake and is able to discern all his hard kept secrets in her 'crystal ball'.
All this, while we have an evil and unconscionable enemy plotting devastation of unimaginable proportions in the background.
For the absolutely convincing and sizzling chemistry and connection.
The sizzle is just as physical as is metaphysical.
Love the mean and cranky jerk posing as the H here. But despite his baiting behaviour towards the h, it's lovely to see him fall for a woman so out of his 'type range'. She's small and skinny - no curves to speak of (horror!), is plain and wears glasses. But worse, is into psychic hocus-pocus!
His calling her swami grates but then he's hiding a lot of secrets of his own. She's not a fake and is able to discern all his hard kept secrets in her 'crystal ball'.
All this, while we have an evil and unconscionable enemy plotting devastation of unimaginable proportions in the background.
July 20, 2011
Special Gifts was really good, it had a tough alpha hero and a psychic heroine.
Elizabeth has a gift, which has defined her whole life so now she uses it to help the Denver police when she can, while living in solitude like a nun in a cabin up in the mountains(left to her by her grandmother). She is hiding from life, she is frail, hardly eats, has no electricity and doesn't really know if she has a will to live.
Her gift has never helped when she needed it, she saw her parents death but no-one believed her when she was five, her aunt and uncle beat her thinking she was possessed and then her fiancee Alan drowned and she saw his death before.
While helping on a missing person's case she mentions the name The Spandau Corporation to Police Detective Phil Grayson and the normally sweet Phil can't wait to see her out. And then he calls his old army buddy, Intelligence officer Colonel Sam Oliver, you see this name is related to a super-secret program that failed and is related to terrorism.
Sam is of course a cynic in life, he's seen too much in his job and lost his wife as well. He doesn't do emotions and love, so he suspects that Elizabeth has something to do with it. He shows up at her house and tells her he is stranded, Elizabeth of course knows he is lying and she only has to touch him once. Despite not believing her, he invokes her sense of patriotism to make her help.
Elizabeth is no mouse, she may have been hiding out but in front of him and his verbal volleys she responds even when he is mocking her. She leads him to the cabin where she believes the woman was killed and then they are chased ending in Phil's death later that night.
Sam soon becomes a believer and takes her with him. You see, Sam also has flashes not like Elizabeth's but he does so when Elizabeth finds out she calls him a hypocrite. I enjoyed the book a lot, I loved seeing Elizabeth realize that she wanted to live, re-discover eating, dressing well and even protecting herself and doing something that was anathema to her.
Sam was one of those tough heroes but you knew he was falling for Elizabeth no matter how gruff he tried to act. There were some really sensual scenes as well.
Amazing read!
Rating 4.5
Elizabeth has a gift, which has defined her whole life so now she uses it to help the Denver police when she can, while living in solitude like a nun in a cabin up in the mountains(left to her by her grandmother). She is hiding from life, she is frail, hardly eats, has no electricity and doesn't really know if she has a will to live.
Her gift has never helped when she needed it, she saw her parents death but no-one believed her when she was five, her aunt and uncle beat her thinking she was possessed and then her fiancee Alan drowned and she saw his death before.
While helping on a missing person's case she mentions the name The Spandau Corporation to Police Detective Phil Grayson and the normally sweet Phil can't wait to see her out. And then he calls his old army buddy, Intelligence officer Colonel Sam Oliver, you see this name is related to a super-secret program that failed and is related to terrorism.
Sam is of course a cynic in life, he's seen too much in his job and lost his wife as well. He doesn't do emotions and love, so he suspects that Elizabeth has something to do with it. He shows up at her house and tells her he is stranded, Elizabeth of course knows he is lying and she only has to touch him once. Despite not believing her, he invokes her sense of patriotism to make her help.
Elizabeth is no mouse, she may have been hiding out but in front of him and his verbal volleys she responds even when he is mocking her. She leads him to the cabin where she believes the woman was killed and then they are chased ending in Phil's death later that night.
Sam soon becomes a believer and takes her with him. You see, Sam also has flashes not like Elizabeth's but he does so when Elizabeth finds out she calls him a hypocrite. I enjoyed the book a lot, I loved seeing Elizabeth realize that she wanted to live, re-discover eating, dressing well and even protecting herself and doing something that was anathema to her.
Sam was one of those tough heroes but you knew he was falling for Elizabeth no matter how gruff he tried to act. There were some really sensual scenes as well.
Amazing read!
Rating 4.5
November 16, 2019
3.5 STARS
Elizabeth Hardy has a gift .... or a curse sometimes. She's been working with the Sheriff in order to help solve the recent crimes of women who have gone missing. The daughter of the secretary of state has been gone several days .. a young housewife disappeared a week ago.
Elizabeth has had some visions, but not enough to locate either woman.
The Sheriff brings in an old friend, Sam Oliver. Tall, dark and deadly, and a Colonel in Army Intelligence. He doesn't believe in psychics ... and she doesn't trust him. But they are forced to work together if they are to stop a serial killer.
The more they discover in their investigation, the more questions they have ... and the more danger they face.. especially when she foresees Sam's death.
Credibility had to be stretched a bit, but it was still an entertaining read. It was nicely paced with bursts of fast action. The intimate moments between Elizabeth and Sam were very explicit and expressive.
Many thanks to the author / Belle Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this Romantic Suspense. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Elizabeth Hardy has a gift .... or a curse sometimes. She's been working with the Sheriff in order to help solve the recent crimes of women who have gone missing. The daughter of the secretary of state has been gone several days .. a young housewife disappeared a week ago.
Elizabeth has had some visions, but not enough to locate either woman.
The Sheriff brings in an old friend, Sam Oliver. Tall, dark and deadly, and a Colonel in Army Intelligence. He doesn't believe in psychics ... and she doesn't trust him. But they are forced to work together if they are to stop a serial killer.
The more they discover in their investigation, the more questions they have ... and the more danger they face.. especially when she foresees Sam's death.
Credibility had to be stretched a bit, but it was still an entertaining read. It was nicely paced with bursts of fast action. The intimate moments between Elizabeth and Sam were very explicit and expressive.
Many thanks to the author / Belle Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this Romantic Suspense. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
October 27, 2017
You can find this review in English below.
Esta historia tiene 250 páginas. Me he rendido en la página 170. Y es que ya no podía más. Estaba aburrida y cansada de saltar todos los agujeros que tiene la trama.
El coronel Sam Oliver es tu típico tío-alfa. Rudo, brusco, maleducado pero con su corazoncito, aunque éste está tan oculto que no se ve ni con una lupa. Trabaja para el gobierno, no recuerdo ya para qué rama, pero tiene luz verde para hacer todo lo que le dé la gana, como coger un vuelo comercial sin previa autorización y embarcar con su arma.
Elizabeth Hardy es tu típica damisela en apuros. Ha tenido una vida marcada por la tragedia. Un pasado con abusos, sin familia y con un don que la ha convertido en una paria dese su más tierna infancia. Y en este momento de su vida le da igual vivir que morir. Lleva una existencia lúgubre, solitaria y totalmente aislada del mundo. Pero todo cambia en cuanto Sam aparece en su vida y de repente tienen esa conexión mágica y electrificante (literalmente hablando) de la que estoy tan cansada y ya sólo puede pensar en cuando va a perder la virginidad con él. Tiene 29 años. Y ha estado prometida con anterioridad. A buen entendedor...
Y por cierto, ¿Cómo sabe una virgen qué se siente al echar un polvete? Porque una de sus visiones es provocada, breve y muy impactante y ella piensa, y cito: That brief, horrible glimpse into another world has been the psychic equivalent of a quickie. Fast and hard and emotionally devastating, all in an abnormally short period of time.
Bueno, bueno, bueno… ejem… ;p
Y después está el suspense. Todo gira en torno a la capacidad que tiene Elizabeth de soñar con muertes. Ya sean delitos o accidentes, pero nunca puede hacerlo a voluntad…hasta que el guión lo necesita.
Y sabe cuando está en presencia de alguien si va a ser una amenaza o no. Excepto cuando el guión lo necesita.
Y tiene un problema, que el contacto físico con otras personas provocan estos sueños, aunque esto deja de ocurrirle en cuanto el guión lo necesita.
Y nunca sueña con el futuro, siempre es en presente o pasado excepto cuando sueña (una vez por capítulo aproximadamente) que pierde la virginidad con Sam vestida de rojo. El vestido rojo es otro personaje más de la historia. Que cansada estoy del condenado vestidito rojo…
¿Puedes creerte que después de matar al malo y salir huyendo de casa lo primero que meten en la maleta es el dichoso vestido rojo? Grrrr….
*Aviso: Algunos pequeños spoilers a la vista*
El colmo ya ha sido la escena en la que ella tiene un momento TSTL y deja al malo entrar en casa (esta es una de esas veces en la que su radar falla por exigencias del guión) y lo mata (era su vida o la de él) y los malos que están fuera dejan que Sam entre a rescatarla, la meta en un coche y se vayan (¿¿??) Es entonces cuando los persiguen para matarlos y hacen volar el coche en el que ya no iban… Uhmm, esto no es un agujero, esto es una mina a cielo abierto.
Aquí lo dejo.
***
This story is 250 pages long. I quit at page 170. I was not able to take it anymore. I was bored and exhausted of jumping to save the plot holes.
Colonel Sam Oliver is your typical alpha-male. Rude, brusque, crude but with his little heart, although it is so hidden that you can´t see it even with a magnifying glass. He works for the government, I do not remember with which branch, but he has green light to do everything he wants, such as catching a commercial flight without prior authorization and boarding with his gun.
Elizabeth Hardy is your typical damsel in distress. She has had a life marked by tragedy. A past with abuse, without a family and with a gift that has made a pariah out of her since her tender childhood. And at this point in her life, she does not care if she lives or dies. She lives a lugubrious existence, solitary and totally isolated from the world. But everything changes as soon as Sam appears in her life and suddenly they have that magical and electrifying connection (literally) of which I am so tired of, and it seems she can only think about when will she lose her virginity to him. She is 29 years old. And she had a fiancé sometime ago. A word to the wise…
And by the way, how does a virgin know what it feels like a quickie? Because one of her visions is provoked, brief and very shocking and she thinks, and I quote: That brief, horrible glimpse into another world has been the psychic equivalent of a quickie. Fast and hard and emotionally devastating, all in an abnormally short period of time.
Well, well, well… Ahem… ;p
And then there's the suspense. It all revolves around Elizabeth's ability to dream about death. It can be crimes or accidents, but she can never do it at will ... until the script needs it.
And she knows when she is in the presence of someone who will be a threat to her. Except when the script needs it.
And she has a problem, that the physical contact with other people causes these dreams , although this stops happening as soon as the script needs it.
And she never dreams of the future, always about the present or the past, except when she dreams (once per chapter) that she loses her virginity to Sam while dressed in red. The red dress is another character in the story. How tired I am of the darned red dress ...
Can you believe that after killing the bad guy and running away from home, the first thing they put in the suitcase is the miserable red dress? Grrrr ....
*Warning: Minors spoilers ahoy!*
But the icing on the cake has been the scene in which she has a TSTL moment and let the bad guy went into the house (this is one of those times in which her radar fails her because the script needed it) and killed him (it was her life or his) and the bad guys outside let Sam in to rescue her, put her into the car and leave (??)
It´s then when the baddies pursued them to kill them making their car go up in flames when they were not there anymore, of course. Hmm, that isn´t a hole in the plot, that´s an open pit mine in the plot.
This is as far as I´ll go.
Esta historia tiene 250 páginas. Me he rendido en la página 170. Y es que ya no podía más. Estaba aburrida y cansada de saltar todos los agujeros que tiene la trama.
El coronel Sam Oliver es tu típico tío-alfa. Rudo, brusco, maleducado pero con su corazoncito, aunque éste está tan oculto que no se ve ni con una lupa. Trabaja para el gobierno, no recuerdo ya para qué rama, pero tiene luz verde para hacer todo lo que le dé la gana, como coger un vuelo comercial sin previa autorización y embarcar con su arma.
Elizabeth Hardy es tu típica damisela en apuros. Ha tenido una vida marcada por la tragedia. Un pasado con abusos, sin familia y con un don que la ha convertido en una paria dese su más tierna infancia. Y en este momento de su vida le da igual vivir que morir. Lleva una existencia lúgubre, solitaria y totalmente aislada del mundo. Pero todo cambia en cuanto Sam aparece en su vida y de repente tienen esa conexión mágica y electrificante (literalmente hablando) de la que estoy tan cansada y ya sólo puede pensar en cuando va a perder la virginidad con él. Tiene 29 años. Y ha estado prometida con anterioridad. A buen entendedor...
Y por cierto, ¿Cómo sabe una virgen qué se siente al echar un polvete? Porque una de sus visiones es provocada, breve y muy impactante y ella piensa, y cito: That brief, horrible glimpse into another world has been the psychic equivalent of a quickie. Fast and hard and emotionally devastating, all in an abnormally short period of time.
Bueno, bueno, bueno… ejem… ;p
Y después está el suspense. Todo gira en torno a la capacidad que tiene Elizabeth de soñar con muertes. Ya sean delitos o accidentes, pero nunca puede hacerlo a voluntad…hasta que el guión lo necesita.
Y sabe cuando está en presencia de alguien si va a ser una amenaza o no. Excepto cuando el guión lo necesita.
Y tiene un problema, que el contacto físico con otras personas provocan estos sueños, aunque esto deja de ocurrirle en cuanto el guión lo necesita.
Y nunca sueña con el futuro, siempre es en presente o pasado excepto cuando sueña (una vez por capítulo aproximadamente) que pierde la virginidad con Sam vestida de rojo. El vestido rojo es otro personaje más de la historia. Que cansada estoy del condenado vestidito rojo…
¿Puedes creerte que después de matar al malo y salir huyendo de casa lo primero que meten en la maleta es el dichoso vestido rojo? Grrrr….
*Aviso: Algunos pequeños spoilers a la vista*
El colmo ya ha sido la escena en la que ella tiene un momento TSTL y deja al malo entrar en casa (esta es una de esas veces en la que su radar falla por exigencias del guión) y lo mata (era su vida o la de él) y los malos que están fuera dejan que Sam entre a rescatarla, la meta en un coche y se vayan (¿¿??) Es entonces cuando los persiguen para matarlos y hacen volar el coche en el que ya no iban… Uhmm, esto no es un agujero, esto es una mina a cielo abierto.
Aquí lo dejo.
***
This story is 250 pages long. I quit at page 170. I was not able to take it anymore. I was bored and exhausted of jumping to save the plot holes.
Colonel Sam Oliver is your typical alpha-male. Rude, brusque, crude but with his little heart, although it is so hidden that you can´t see it even with a magnifying glass. He works for the government, I do not remember with which branch, but he has green light to do everything he wants, such as catching a commercial flight without prior authorization and boarding with his gun.
Elizabeth Hardy is your typical damsel in distress. She has had a life marked by tragedy. A past with abuse, without a family and with a gift that has made a pariah out of her since her tender childhood. And at this point in her life, she does not care if she lives or dies. She lives a lugubrious existence, solitary and totally isolated from the world. But everything changes as soon as Sam appears in her life and suddenly they have that magical and electrifying connection (literally) of which I am so tired of, and it seems she can only think about when will she lose her virginity to him. She is 29 years old. And she had a fiancé sometime ago. A word to the wise…
And by the way, how does a virgin know what it feels like a quickie? Because one of her visions is provoked, brief and very shocking and she thinks, and I quote: That brief, horrible glimpse into another world has been the psychic equivalent of a quickie. Fast and hard and emotionally devastating, all in an abnormally short period of time.
Well, well, well… Ahem… ;p
And then there's the suspense. It all revolves around Elizabeth's ability to dream about death. It can be crimes or accidents, but she can never do it at will ... until the script needs it.
And she knows when she is in the presence of someone who will be a threat to her. Except when the script needs it.
And she has a problem, that the physical contact with other people causes these dreams , although this stops happening as soon as the script needs it.
And she never dreams of the future, always about the present or the past, except when she dreams (once per chapter) that she loses her virginity to Sam while dressed in red. The red dress is another character in the story. How tired I am of the darned red dress ...
Can you believe that after killing the bad guy and running away from home, the first thing they put in the suitcase is the miserable red dress? Grrrr ....
*Warning: Minors spoilers ahoy!*
But the icing on the cake has been the scene in which she has a TSTL moment and let the bad guy went into the house (this is one of those times in which her radar fails her because the script needed it) and killed him (it was her life or his) and the bad guys outside let Sam in to rescue her, put her into the car and leave (??)
It´s then when the baddies pursued them to kill them making their car go up in flames when they were not there anymore, of course. Hmm, that isn´t a hole in the plot, that´s an open pit mine in the plot.
This is as far as I´ll go.
June 20, 2019
"Special Gifts" is the story of Elizabeth and Sam.
A psychic who can see death..
A skeptical CIA agent..
A deadly serial killer on the loose..
In this thrilling read, we see our emotionally strong, yet fragile and tortured heroine who is tormented by her visions of gore, and her inability to save those affected. She repents by helping out the police, until a string of women go missing, and her insight makes her a suspect..
Secret agent Sam does not believe in hocus-pocus. Yet the delicate looking woman treads on his boundaries, much to his resentment. When they lose a confidant and have to run for their lives, it's their newfound faith and love that might be the only thing that could save them..
A super engaging read with likable characters, loads of action and drama, sizzling hot lovemaking, angst, adventures and the hope for a HEA.
Kept me hooked from page 1!
Safe
4/5
A psychic who can see death..
A skeptical CIA agent..
A deadly serial killer on the loose..
In this thrilling read, we see our emotionally strong, yet fragile and tortured heroine who is tormented by her visions of gore, and her inability to save those affected. She repents by helping out the police, until a string of women go missing, and her insight makes her a suspect..
Secret agent Sam does not believe in hocus-pocus. Yet the delicate looking woman treads on his boundaries, much to his resentment. When they lose a confidant and have to run for their lives, it's their newfound faith and love that might be the only thing that could save them..
A super engaging read with likable characters, loads of action and drama, sizzling hot lovemaking, angst, adventures and the hope for a HEA.
Kept me hooked from page 1!
Safe
4/5
June 23, 2017
I can't believe I am going to say this but I actually loved an Anne Stuart novel and I even loved the H! He is a lot like her other A$$HAT, oops I mean alpha, heroes but he actually was a great guy. He didn't even have sex with some other random woman during the whole book. He didn't think of other women's breasts, legs, sex, etc. when he was with her. I was shocked. Who is this Anne Stuart? LOL She scares me actually alot, but this was a great book. It was about a woman with visions who is helping the cops find a serial killer but then terrorists show up and interrupt the party and there is a sociopathic blonde politicians daughter who is batsh#t crazy and likes pain. There is a murder and lots of Johnny Walker Red being drank (not just in the book, I also drank it while reading) and of course beer nuts and pizza. Oh and some kind of noodles. You don't want to miss this one for sure.
July 14, 2025
DNF halfway thru — interesting premise, I would’ve preferred the novel WITHOUT the romance tho. Which isn’t very good for a romantic suspense novel.
January 15, 2020
Years and years ago-30 to 40 years maybe-my favorite author was Anne Stuart. I used to hunt for her books because I knew I would get a really good story and more often than not, the hero would be dark and brooding and I appreciated that. Not that I can remember much, but I think there was usually a mystery or danger involved. When I saw this book on Net Galley there was no way I was passing it up, even though I knew there was a good chance I had read it way back when as it was a re-release. And yes, it ended up being a reread with only a few parts that I still could remember. I can honestly say that the delight here was in how well the story still holds up all these years later.
Elizabeth Hardy is a psychic and sometimes donates her readings to a detective from Denver. Only when completely necessary. When she sees something in a vision and mentions it to the detective it causes her whole life to be turned upside down. Detective Phil Grayson knows he has to call his friend in Washington and tell him about what is mentioned. They had both worked for a clandestine organization that should have been defunct for ten years, but obviously isn’t. His friend is on his way immediately to Denver. Of course Elizabeth knows nothing about this because her vision was about a missing and presumed dead woman. When Sam Oliver arrives at her home in a rural area outside the city, he pretty much pushes his way into Elizabeth’s life. He doesn’t believe in psychics and he thinks she is either a con artist or somehow involved in the evil organization. So it’s on. He has to prove her a fake or figure out what she is up to. Only, she’s not a fake and she has no clue about the organization.
I really liked Elizabeth a lot. She’s like a waif or something, skin and bones, with long hair, not beautiful(that was refreshing for a change)and possesses a real psychic gift. A gift that knocks her on her butt after a vision. She does not receive any compensation for her work. She’s had a tragedy in her life that she is working through. Sam Oliver is a big deal in Washington. He wears a uniform when in Washington, but honestly I can’t remember what his actual job was. He has access to a private plane so he’s kind of important. He’s single, with a big build and major fighting skills. He too, has had a tragedy in his life. He has a major chip on his shoulder and honestly I didn’t like him much at first. He did grow on me the further I got into the story.
The story was well written with a really intricate plot line. The kind you really have to pay attention to, to continue understanding what you are reading. If that makes sense. There are some villains and one particularly bad one. There’s also a really good and sensual romance-the kind with lots of chemistry and tension so thick you can cut it with a knife at times. The book also features an exciting, suspenseful mystery, murders, kidnappings, and road chases, among other crimes. To make it even more interesting, the action changes to other locations.
I recommend this to adult romantic suspense readers-especially ones that won’t notice the lack of cell phone mentions. This is Stuart at her best. (Originally posted on Delighted Reader)
Elizabeth Hardy is a psychic and sometimes donates her readings to a detective from Denver. Only when completely necessary. When she sees something in a vision and mentions it to the detective it causes her whole life to be turned upside down. Detective Phil Grayson knows he has to call his friend in Washington and tell him about what is mentioned. They had both worked for a clandestine organization that should have been defunct for ten years, but obviously isn’t. His friend is on his way immediately to Denver. Of course Elizabeth knows nothing about this because her vision was about a missing and presumed dead woman. When Sam Oliver arrives at her home in a rural area outside the city, he pretty much pushes his way into Elizabeth’s life. He doesn’t believe in psychics and he thinks she is either a con artist or somehow involved in the evil organization. So it’s on. He has to prove her a fake or figure out what she is up to. Only, she’s not a fake and she has no clue about the organization.
I really liked Elizabeth a lot. She’s like a waif or something, skin and bones, with long hair, not beautiful(that was refreshing for a change)and possesses a real psychic gift. A gift that knocks her on her butt after a vision. She does not receive any compensation for her work. She’s had a tragedy in her life that she is working through. Sam Oliver is a big deal in Washington. He wears a uniform when in Washington, but honestly I can’t remember what his actual job was. He has access to a private plane so he’s kind of important. He’s single, with a big build and major fighting skills. He too, has had a tragedy in his life. He has a major chip on his shoulder and honestly I didn’t like him much at first. He did grow on me the further I got into the story.
The story was well written with a really intricate plot line. The kind you really have to pay attention to, to continue understanding what you are reading. If that makes sense. There are some villains and one particularly bad one. There’s also a really good and sensual romance-the kind with lots of chemistry and tension so thick you can cut it with a knife at times. The book also features an exciting, suspenseful mystery, murders, kidnappings, and road chases, among other crimes. To make it even more interesting, the action changes to other locations.
I recommend this to adult romantic suspense readers-especially ones that won’t notice the lack of cell phone mentions. This is Stuart at her best. (Originally posted on Delighted Reader)
July 24, 2024
Intensely dark and depressing, enemies-to-lovers, romantic suspense novel from 1990
Elizabeth Hardy is a 29-year-old virgin who gets extremely accurate visions, both predicting murders and revealing where the body can be located after a murder has been committed. She hates her gift, because it is emotionally and physically debilitating to constantly be exposed to bloody murders. Because of these visions, she is unhealthily underweight, and she does not get adequate rest. They have also put a major crimp in any possible romantic aspirations, because up until the present day, she can barely stand to be kissed. She doesn't, in fact, like to be touched in general, because she never knows when it will trigger one of her visions. After she failed to save her fiance's life two years ago, when she had received a vision of his impending death and did nothing to stop it, she moved far away from her home in Virginia to a small town in Colorado. There, as a means of metaphorically lancing a psychic wound, she has been working with the local police chief to solve various murders she has seen in her visions. The latest case is a string of murders by a brutal serial killer.
Sam Oliver is an Army colonel, whose mission of many years has been Army Intelligence (AI). His age is not given, but the average age of Army colonels is 30-40 years old, so I am guessing he is no older than about 39, given that he has no gray hair. Sam comes into Elizabeth's life when one of her visions reveals the name of a worldwide terrorist conspiracy that Sam has been fighting against for well over a decade, and the police chief, who was an old AI comrade of Sam's, calls him up about it. At first Sam is convinced that Elizabeth is involved in the big conspiracy. But, gradually, over the 10 days of story time in which they work together to take down the bad guys, it becomes obvious to him that she is innocent, and her psychic gift is real.
This is a novel of approximately 50,000 words, which was originally published by Harlequin as a short, contemporary romance in 1990. As a result of its limited page space, the story starts with a bang, dumping the FMC, Elizabeth, into the vicious path of the terrorist conspiracy, which has worldwide potential to destabilize many countries, including the USA. Elizabeth and Sam, in keeping with a common trope in the romantic-suspense genre (which was relatively new when this book was written), must work together to save the world. They cannot be sure who can be trusted, among the personnel of the state department, the Army, and multiple spy agencies in the USA, all of which, apparently, have been infiltrated by bad guys who are involved in the conspiracy. We do not learn the full extent of this conspiracy until the climax, when there is a cliche villain monologue. (This cliche is still frequently used by romantic-suspense authors, who began writing in the same era as AS, most notably, Jayne Ann Krentz, because it is so convenient, and the vast majority of romance readers do not tend to be nearly as picky about suspense cliches as fans of the actual suspense genre.)
For most of this book, Sam sends very mixed signals to Elizabeth, treating her disparagingly for at least a third of the book, while still wanting to take her to bed. There are multiple, crucial action scenes which involve one of the most irritating tropes of the romantic-suspense genre, for me personally, in which the bad guys get to the FMC, in this case, Elizabeth, because she makes a stupid decision. For Elizabeth, that stupid decision always involves ignoring a powerful psychic warning.
In that regard, it greatly bothered me that, having lived with this gruesome talent most of her life, and having been shown over and over again how accurate it is, Elizabeth keeps doubting her talent when it could save her life or someone else's. There are plenty of other ways that Elizabeth could have been plausibly dumped into heated action besides unsympathetically presenting her as a dithering idiot.
This novel was written 34 years ago, back when romance novels didn't typically have an epilogue, so there is an extremely quick, slapdash wrapup of the huge conspiracy plot. We are also expected to accept, for purposes of an equally slapdash, romantic HEA, that Sam, unlike his murdered friend Phil, who didn't manage to escape from the consequences of his AI past, will glide off into the sunset with Elizabeth, without a single cloud of spycraft danger impinging on his sunny horizon.
This novel is the third time this week in which I regret using one of my Audible credits to obtain access to the audiobook version of a novel I am gambling on being outstanding, based on reading the first few sample chapters on Amazon. As it turns out, even though this is a relatively short book, because audiobook narration takes four times as long to experience as reading a book in Kindle format, it felt as if it took me forever to wade through this novel. Mainly because this book has not a single lighthearted moment. It's just gloom and doom virtually every second of the story. It was exhausting, rather than pleasantly entertaining.
Elizabeth Hardy is a 29-year-old virgin who gets extremely accurate visions, both predicting murders and revealing where the body can be located after a murder has been committed. She hates her gift, because it is emotionally and physically debilitating to constantly be exposed to bloody murders. Because of these visions, she is unhealthily underweight, and she does not get adequate rest. They have also put a major crimp in any possible romantic aspirations, because up until the present day, she can barely stand to be kissed. She doesn't, in fact, like to be touched in general, because she never knows when it will trigger one of her visions. After she failed to save her fiance's life two years ago, when she had received a vision of his impending death and did nothing to stop it, she moved far away from her home in Virginia to a small town in Colorado. There, as a means of metaphorically lancing a psychic wound, she has been working with the local police chief to solve various murders she has seen in her visions. The latest case is a string of murders by a brutal serial killer.
Sam Oliver is an Army colonel, whose mission of many years has been Army Intelligence (AI). His age is not given, but the average age of Army colonels is 30-40 years old, so I am guessing he is no older than about 39, given that he has no gray hair. Sam comes into Elizabeth's life when one of her visions reveals the name of a worldwide terrorist conspiracy that Sam has been fighting against for well over a decade, and the police chief, who was an old AI comrade of Sam's, calls him up about it. At first Sam is convinced that Elizabeth is involved in the big conspiracy. But, gradually, over the 10 days of story time in which they work together to take down the bad guys, it becomes obvious to him that she is innocent, and her psychic gift is real.
This is a novel of approximately 50,000 words, which was originally published by Harlequin as a short, contemporary romance in 1990. As a result of its limited page space, the story starts with a bang, dumping the FMC, Elizabeth, into the vicious path of the terrorist conspiracy, which has worldwide potential to destabilize many countries, including the USA. Elizabeth and Sam, in keeping with a common trope in the romantic-suspense genre (which was relatively new when this book was written), must work together to save the world. They cannot be sure who can be trusted, among the personnel of the state department, the Army, and multiple spy agencies in the USA, all of which, apparently, have been infiltrated by bad guys who are involved in the conspiracy. We do not learn the full extent of this conspiracy until the climax, when there is a cliche villain monologue. (This cliche is still frequently used by romantic-suspense authors, who began writing in the same era as AS, most notably, Jayne Ann Krentz, because it is so convenient, and the vast majority of romance readers do not tend to be nearly as picky about suspense cliches as fans of the actual suspense genre.)
For most of this book, Sam sends very mixed signals to Elizabeth, treating her disparagingly for at least a third of the book, while still wanting to take her to bed. There are multiple, crucial action scenes which involve one of the most irritating tropes of the romantic-suspense genre, for me personally, in which the bad guys get to the FMC, in this case, Elizabeth, because she makes a stupid decision. For Elizabeth, that stupid decision always involves ignoring a powerful psychic warning.
In that regard, it greatly bothered me that, having lived with this gruesome talent most of her life, and having been shown over and over again how accurate it is, Elizabeth keeps doubting her talent when it could save her life or someone else's. There are plenty of other ways that Elizabeth could have been plausibly dumped into heated action besides unsympathetically presenting her as a dithering idiot.
This novel was written 34 years ago, back when romance novels didn't typically have an epilogue, so there is an extremely quick, slapdash wrapup of the huge conspiracy plot. We are also expected to accept, for purposes of an equally slapdash, romantic HEA, that Sam, unlike his murdered friend Phil, who didn't manage to escape from the consequences of his AI past, will glide off into the sunset with Elizabeth, without a single cloud of spycraft danger impinging on his sunny horizon.
This novel is the third time this week in which I regret using one of my Audible credits to obtain access to the audiobook version of a novel I am gambling on being outstanding, based on reading the first few sample chapters on Amazon. As it turns out, even though this is a relatively short book, because audiobook narration takes four times as long to experience as reading a book in Kindle format, it felt as if it took me forever to wade through this novel. Mainly because this book has not a single lighthearted moment. It's just gloom and doom virtually every second of the story. It was exhausting, rather than pleasantly entertaining.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2020
4.5 Stars
This book was first published under the Silhouette line back in 1990. I am assuming it is being re-released with a new cover.
This story certainly didn’t get rusty with age.
Elizabeth Hardy works with a local investigator to uncover insights into unsolved cases. She has a sort of psychic gift that assists her. Intuitive flashes and key details come forth to her but not without a price. Her health suffers after every psychic encounter.
Sam Oliver comes in after one of Elizabeth’s intuitive insights brings forth the code name of a government’s covert group which has now been taken over by terrorists. Elizabeth’s missing person case and the one Sam is working on overlap. Apparently, the missing girl looks very similar to the President’s daughter and she is also on the missing list.
Sam was not a likable guy most of the time during this story. I am not certain had I been in Elizabeth’s shoes, I would have chosen the same path she did.
This is a bit of a hate to love story with a happy ending which I always like. Good stuff.
If you love a good romantic suspense mystery, you have to check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
This book was first published under the Silhouette line back in 1990. I am assuming it is being re-released with a new cover.
This story certainly didn’t get rusty with age.
Elizabeth Hardy works with a local investigator to uncover insights into unsolved cases. She has a sort of psychic gift that assists her. Intuitive flashes and key details come forth to her but not without a price. Her health suffers after every psychic encounter.
Sam Oliver comes in after one of Elizabeth’s intuitive insights brings forth the code name of a government’s covert group which has now been taken over by terrorists. Elizabeth’s missing person case and the one Sam is working on overlap. Apparently, the missing girl looks very similar to the President’s daughter and she is also on the missing list.
Sam was not a likable guy most of the time during this story. I am not certain had I been in Elizabeth’s shoes, I would have chosen the same path she did.
This is a bit of a hate to love story with a happy ending which I always like. Good stuff.
If you love a good romantic suspense mystery, you have to check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
November 18, 2019
Note... The book I read was a reprint and possibly updated version of this story
I received a copy of this book to read through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. Special Gifts by Anne Stuart is a romantic suspense novel. Elizabeth Hardy has the gift of sight, alone with no family and few friends so she’s been using her abilities to help the local police force to try and solve a series of brutal murders by the Colorado Slasher. When she mentions seeing a name on a truck at the crime scene in one of her visions Detective Phil Grayson calls his old army buddy Col Sam Oliver because what they had thought was just a serial killer has now been tied to a worldwide terrorist organization. Skeptical that Elizabeth’s visions are real and not sure she isn’t a mole Sam not one to trust anyone finds that she is the only one he can trust as they race against time to stop the terrorists. Anne Stuart never fails to write an enthralling story.
Medium Steam. Publishing Date August 23, 2019. #NetGalley #SpecialGifts #AnneStuart #RomanticSuspense #bookstagram #mysteryandthriller #BellBridgeBooks #BelleBooksInc
I received a copy of this book to read through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. Special Gifts by Anne Stuart is a romantic suspense novel. Elizabeth Hardy has the gift of sight, alone with no family and few friends so she’s been using her abilities to help the local police force to try and solve a series of brutal murders by the Colorado Slasher. When she mentions seeing a name on a truck at the crime scene in one of her visions Detective Phil Grayson calls his old army buddy Col Sam Oliver because what they had thought was just a serial killer has now been tied to a worldwide terrorist organization. Skeptical that Elizabeth’s visions are real and not sure she isn’t a mole Sam not one to trust anyone finds that she is the only one he can trust as they race against time to stop the terrorists. Anne Stuart never fails to write an enthralling story.
Medium Steam. Publishing Date August 23, 2019. #NetGalley #SpecialGifts #AnneStuart #RomanticSuspense #bookstagram #mysteryandthriller #BellBridgeBooks #BelleBooksInc
February 26, 2020
This was a republish of an older book that I believe I had read long ago. It was a cool walk down memory lane for sure. I do wish there had been more "magic". I got kind of tired of the same cold veins and frozen pale face though. I didn't feel the love connection but I enjoyed the "bad guys" pov which is rare in books, so that was cool. Thanks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 9, 2020
Special Gifts is an early Anne Stuart work that shows the direction her later books take, especially in the character of Sam-- the cold, alpha hero and the brutal job he does. This work isn't as polished as her later works, but was still entertaining. For much better examples of Stuart's trademark heroes and dangerous plots, try her Ice series.
June 12, 2018
a great read!
a hidden gem, a definite keeper...lol I think I'm starting to like this author, I haven't read much by her, but am going to start now!!
5++ stars!
a hidden gem, a definite keeper...lol I think I'm starting to like this author, I haven't read much by her, but am going to start now!!
5++ stars!
November 29, 2019
Special Gifts by Anne Stuart
Vintage romance that stands the test of time. I thought I was getting a book by one of my favorite authors only to find out that perhaps I have not read any of this author’s books before and find that sad...really very sad. Why? I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read another by this author! That said...just did some sleuthing and it seems I may have read and enjoyed some of this author’s previous books but had to refresh my memory as to which ones...and after the refreshing can remember those books well. Definitely glad I read this book and revisited some other previously read books as a result.
This book has a bit of the paranormal going on with Elizabeth Hardy “seeing things” that are unsettling for her but helpful to the police in solving cases. When she sees something “big” the detective she is with calls in a buddy and the story takes a chilling turn. Sure, Elizabeth was helping with a serial murder case with a butcher fiend but with the word she threw out it brings on international implications that bring the government into play.
What I liked:
* Elizabeth: she was much stronger than she appeared to be at first and I really liked the way her character developed as the story progressed.
* Sam: he seemed mean at first and rather obnoxious but he grew on me as the story got further along and by the end I really liked him a lot.
* Phil: A good man – would have enjoyed knowing him better
* Danny: Intriguing fellow – would love to read a story based on his character
* The pace and plotting
* The fact the story resonated even thirty years later – timeless
What I did not like:
* The Spandau group...and the people affiliated with it
* The corrupt within and outside of the government
* When the last page was finished and I wanted to know how Sam & Elizabeth ended up – would have loved an epilogue
Thank you to NetGalley and Belle Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
Vintage romance that stands the test of time. I thought I was getting a book by one of my favorite authors only to find out that perhaps I have not read any of this author’s books before and find that sad...really very sad. Why? I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read another by this author! That said...just did some sleuthing and it seems I may have read and enjoyed some of this author’s previous books but had to refresh my memory as to which ones...and after the refreshing can remember those books well. Definitely glad I read this book and revisited some other previously read books as a result.
This book has a bit of the paranormal going on with Elizabeth Hardy “seeing things” that are unsettling for her but helpful to the police in solving cases. When she sees something “big” the detective she is with calls in a buddy and the story takes a chilling turn. Sure, Elizabeth was helping with a serial murder case with a butcher fiend but with the word she threw out it brings on international implications that bring the government into play.
What I liked:
* Elizabeth: she was much stronger than she appeared to be at first and I really liked the way her character developed as the story progressed.
* Sam: he seemed mean at first and rather obnoxious but he grew on me as the story got further along and by the end I really liked him a lot.
* Phil: A good man – would have enjoyed knowing him better
* Danny: Intriguing fellow – would love to read a story based on his character
* The pace and plotting
* The fact the story resonated even thirty years later – timeless
What I did not like:
* The Spandau group...and the people affiliated with it
* The corrupt within and outside of the government
* When the last page was finished and I wanted to know how Sam & Elizabeth ended up – would have loved an epilogue
Thank you to NetGalley and Belle Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
December 13, 2020
Worth re-reading ...
November 21, 2019
It's been a while since I read an Anne Stuart book. Special Gifts was an entertaining read with an alpha hero and a psychic heroine.
Elizabeth Hardy has lived with her powers of sensing and seeing things from a very young age and most times the trances leave her drained and deprived. She helps the local police force as much as she can. Sam Oliver, an Army Intelligence Colonel, on the other hand, has no use for frauds and tricksters which is what he considers Elizabeth to be. But he is forced to change his opinion as there is a killer on the loose and he's after Sam and Elizabeth. The action moves from Vancouver to Washington and then Venice forcing Sam and Elizabeth to work together to find the killer before he finishes with them.
This was a good thriller in the romantic suspense genre with the psychic abilities of Elizabeth adding to the story. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
Elizabeth Hardy has lived with her powers of sensing and seeing things from a very young age and most times the trances leave her drained and deprived. She helps the local police force as much as she can. Sam Oliver, an Army Intelligence Colonel, on the other hand, has no use for frauds and tricksters which is what he considers Elizabeth to be. But he is forced to change his opinion as there is a killer on the loose and he's after Sam and Elizabeth. The action moves from Vancouver to Washington and then Venice forcing Sam and Elizabeth to work together to find the killer before he finishes with them.
This was a good thriller in the romantic suspense genre with the psychic abilities of Elizabeth adding to the story. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
Read
July 7, 2011I read this because I read a review raving about the book and the hero. If I had read it in 1990, the date it was released, I'd have liked it. Instead, it brought into focus how much romance has changed in the last 20 years.
Sam is so dominant--a my-way-or-the-highway type of guy. He decides Elizabeth doesn't really need her glasses and he doesn't like them, so he takes them off her and crumples them up. So she spends the rest of the book not being able to see well. In the beginning they hate each other and don't even try to be nice to each other--yet they both want to have sex. And towards the end of the book Sam finds Elizabeth, who's been captured by the bad guys. She's bound and gagged. He's angry with her because she got herself into this situation. He comes in and pulls the gag from her mouth. '"I ought to let them kill you," he said coldly.' Then he kisses her. Amazing that we used to find these kinds of heros romantic, huh?
Sam is so dominant--a my-way-or-the-highway type of guy. He decides Elizabeth doesn't really need her glasses and he doesn't like them, so he takes them off her and crumples them up. So she spends the rest of the book not being able to see well. In the beginning they hate each other and don't even try to be nice to each other--yet they both want to have sex. And towards the end of the book Sam finds Elizabeth, who's been captured by the bad guys. She's bound and gagged. He's angry with her because she got herself into this situation. He comes in and pulls the gag from her mouth. '"I ought to let them kill you," he said coldly.' Then he kisses her. Amazing that we used to find these kinds of heros romantic, huh?
February 9, 2020
This is one of those books that is neither bad nor good. I could see a lot of potential and there were moments I enjoyed, but it never really caught my interest. I didn’t hate any of it, but I didn’t love it either.
I think the overall plot was where most of my interest died. I am not much for detective novels, which I can’t really fault the book for since that is really only on me. Yet, the detective theme wasn’t all there was as there was romance with an enemies to lovers theme and suspense as well. Now, that I usually like very much in books and that’s where I also feel that it fell a bit short. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed them not liking each other with all the bickering and sly comments. It added some personality and excitement to the story and it built up nice enough to them starting to ... not get along per say since they never really got there, but them getting together and falling for each other. However, there was just something missing for me to get fully on board with the romance.
I don’t know if it was the writing style at that time (the book is thirty years old after all), if there was something lacking in their personalities or something else, but the romance didn’t have as much depth and intrigue as I would have liked. Although the buildup was good it was also a bit hard to follow. They hated each other, then they didn’t, then they bickered, then they got along, then they didn’t trust each other, then they made love. It was difficult to see where they stood with each other and what brought this hot and cold behavior on. In a sense it made it more dramatic, but at the same time I feel like it was the reason why I didn’t enjoy the romance as much either, since it also removed some depth from it, never giving them the room to work on their emotions.
Since I’m not into the detective genre I will not let that effect my rating on this book. What has effected it however is the unexplainable in the whole case. I feel like I never got an explanation as to why the villains (as I will call them in this review since I don’t remember the corporation’s name) did what they did. I mean, we got why they needed Sheri and what they were going to do after that. But why were they doing it? Why was Ali involved? What did he gain from it other than embarrassing the American government? Never understanding the villains goal with their whole scheme left me a bit unsatisfied with the conclusion. Also, one of my biggest pet peeves in books is a villain monologue where the villain wastes time giving away their plan or information. And what do you know, that is exactly what Ali does. To put it lightly, it makes it a bit unrealistic, since he is supposed to be perceived as a smart guy getting away with being a serial killer. The whole monologue contradicts that smartness.
I tried to keep an open mind reading this book, one reason the detective theme and the other reason the book’s age. Now, I never really felt that the book was out of time while I read it, but still. Maybe this was how books were written at that time and that’s why I’m not so into it. Either way I think three stars is fitting for Special Gifts.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I think the overall plot was where most of my interest died. I am not much for detective novels, which I can’t really fault the book for since that is really only on me. Yet, the detective theme wasn’t all there was as there was romance with an enemies to lovers theme and suspense as well. Now, that I usually like very much in books and that’s where I also feel that it fell a bit short. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed them not liking each other with all the bickering and sly comments. It added some personality and excitement to the story and it built up nice enough to them starting to ... not get along per say since they never really got there, but them getting together and falling for each other. However, there was just something missing for me to get fully on board with the romance.
I don’t know if it was the writing style at that time (the book is thirty years old after all), if there was something lacking in their personalities or something else, but the romance didn’t have as much depth and intrigue as I would have liked. Although the buildup was good it was also a bit hard to follow. They hated each other, then they didn’t, then they bickered, then they got along, then they didn’t trust each other, then they made love. It was difficult to see where they stood with each other and what brought this hot and cold behavior on. In a sense it made it more dramatic, but at the same time I feel like it was the reason why I didn’t enjoy the romance as much either, since it also removed some depth from it, never giving them the room to work on their emotions.
Since I’m not into the detective genre I will not let that effect my rating on this book. What has effected it however is the unexplainable in the whole case. I feel like I never got an explanation as to why the villains (as I will call them in this review since I don’t remember the corporation’s name) did what they did. I mean, we got why they needed Sheri and what they were going to do after that. But why were they doing it? Why was Ali involved? What did he gain from it other than embarrassing the American government? Never understanding the villains goal with their whole scheme left me a bit unsatisfied with the conclusion. Also, one of my biggest pet peeves in books is a villain monologue where the villain wastes time giving away their plan or information. And what do you know, that is exactly what Ali does. To put it lightly, it makes it a bit unrealistic, since he is supposed to be perceived as a smart guy getting away with being a serial killer. The whole monologue contradicts that smartness.
I tried to keep an open mind reading this book, one reason the detective theme and the other reason the book’s age. Now, I never really felt that the book was out of time while I read it, but still. Maybe this was how books were written at that time and that’s why I’m not so into it. Either way I think three stars is fitting for Special Gifts.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 16, 2019
ARC courtesy of Netgalley
I didn't realize when I requested this one from Netgalley that it was a reissue by Bell Bridge Books of a very old Stuart title, one first published in 1990 under the Silhouette Intimate Moments imprint. It was a finalist for the RITA award for romantic suspense in 1991.
I've read many of Stuart's more recent books, and often find them both compelling yet disturbing, with their anti-hero male leads. This one, however, has a good guy male lead: an Army Intelligence officer (Sam Oliver) who comes to help out a former colleague turned police detective on a missing person's case that appears to involve a group that's an old nemesis of United States. The detective finds out about the connection through Elizabeth Hardy, a young woman who has psychic visions. When Sam hears this, he treats Elizabeth with demeaning scorn, despite his attraction to her. There's lots of physical grabbing, manhandling, and "I know you want me" type dialogue. At one point, because he decides that she doesn't really need her glasses, that they're a disguise, he pulls them off her and breaks them. Major signs of dated, Old Skool romance hero here.
For her part, Elizabeth is typical downtrodden category romance heroine of the 80's-90's type: she hates how Sam treats her, recognizes that he'll always put the greater good ahead of anyone else, and doesn't want to have sex with him. But she falls for him anyways, since, when you're a virgin in a category romance, you always fall in love with the guy who deflowers you. She makes several STTL moves, to keep the plot moving along and put herself in danger, allowing the more experienced and manly Sam to save her
Reminds me of why I gave up reading category romances when I was in college (shortly before this one was originally published)—for the most part, they're ickily sexist.
Reader, beware!
I didn't realize when I requested this one from Netgalley that it was a reissue by Bell Bridge Books of a very old Stuart title, one first published in 1990 under the Silhouette Intimate Moments imprint. It was a finalist for the RITA award for romantic suspense in 1991.
I've read many of Stuart's more recent books, and often find them both compelling yet disturbing, with their anti-hero male leads. This one, however, has a good guy male lead: an Army Intelligence officer (Sam Oliver) who comes to help out a former colleague turned police detective on a missing person's case that appears to involve a group that's an old nemesis of United States. The detective finds out about the connection through Elizabeth Hardy, a young woman who has psychic visions. When Sam hears this, he treats Elizabeth with demeaning scorn, despite his attraction to her. There's lots of physical grabbing, manhandling, and "I know you want me" type dialogue. At one point, because he decides that she doesn't really need her glasses, that they're a disguise, he pulls them off her and breaks them. Major signs of dated, Old Skool romance hero here.
For her part, Elizabeth is typical downtrodden category romance heroine of the 80's-90's type: she hates how Sam treats her, recognizes that he'll always put the greater good ahead of anyone else, and doesn't want to have sex with him. But she falls for him anyways, since, when you're a virgin in a category romance, you always fall in love with the guy who deflowers you. She makes several STTL moves, to keep the plot moving along and put herself in danger, allowing the more experienced and manly Sam to save her
Reminds me of why I gave up reading category romances when I was in college (shortly before this one was originally published)—for the most part, they're ickily sexist.
Reader, beware!
August 10, 2024
I think it's just not for me because it's outdated - very true to the genre of the 80s/90s
Genres, settings, categories, themes: 90s romance (M/F), romantic suspense, paranormal (psychic)
💗 Tropes: 💗
> Armed Forces / Military
> Danger
> Enemies to Lovers
> Hurt/Comfort
> Virgin (problematic trope)
> Grieving Lover & Widower
all about tropes here
Series/Sequencing Style: standalone
Format: ebook
🔽🔽🔽
❗CW/Triggers:❗alphahole, murder, sexism, outdated content/tone
🔽🔽🔽
📝 Review/Notes 📝
Swami is a male Hindu teacher so a weird nickname for him to give her.
The H is kind of shitty…calling her a fraud and hating her when He also decides a lot for her like smashing her glasses when she actually does mildly need them.
By the time I wrote out any notes on the book, I could barely remember details aside from how it was all pretty ridiculous and landed somewhere around 1-2 stars for me.
Genres, settings, categories, themes: 90s romance (M/F), romantic suspense, paranormal (psychic)
💗 Tropes: 💗
> Armed Forces / Military
> Danger
> Enemies to Lovers
> Hurt/Comfort
> Virgin (problematic trope)
> Grieving Lover & Widower
all about tropes here
Series/Sequencing Style: standalone
Format: ebook
🔽🔽🔽
❗CW/Triggers:❗alphahole, murder, sexism, outdated content/tone
🔽🔽🔽
📝 Review/Notes 📝
Swami is a male Hindu teacher so a weird nickname for him to give her.
The H is kind of shitty…calling her a fraud and hating her when He also decides a lot for her like smashing her glasses when she actually does mildly need them.
By the time I wrote out any notes on the book, I could barely remember details aside from how it was all pretty ridiculous and landed somewhere around 1-2 stars for me.
November 27, 2019
This was a great introduction to a new author for me! I loved how the romance and suspense were blended. Nothing too explicit in either genre for those who are squeamish. And even though you know who the bad guy is fairly early, you have to keep reading in order to find out his agenda. I would have liked more to the ending re the romance side as it seemed to resolve too quickly for me. Despite having been written in 1990, the story doesn’t feel dated (other than the telephone reference) although romance stories have definitely evolved from this. This book has definitely got me interested in more by this author!
I received a free copy from Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.
I received a free copy from Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.
January 2, 2020
Elizabeth Hardy is living in seclusion in Colorado. She assists local police but she pays a terrible toll. One of her visions results in her police contacting Colonel Sam Oliver who thinks Elizabeth is a fraud, he doesn’t believe in psychics. Cicmstances require Elizabeth and Sam to work together.
This book was previously published in 1990. I hadn’t read it before and was glad for the opportunity to read it now. There was plenty of suspense along with a romance. I would recommend this book to readers. Thank you to net galley for a copy for a fair review.
This book was previously published in 1990. I hadn’t read it before and was glad for the opportunity to read it now. There was plenty of suspense along with a romance. I would recommend this book to readers. Thank you to net galley for a copy for a fair review.
January 7, 2020
Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a pretty good mystery romance novel. Liz has pyschic abilities that she utilizes to help find the killer of several women. She meets Sam who is suspicious of her abilities but ultimately cannot deny their usefulness. They have an immediate connection that they initially fight but proves to powerful to deny. Although I wasn't crazy about Liz's fragile, depressing state she does come around to show a stronger sense of self and willingness to live.
Overall a romance worth reading.
This was a pretty good mystery romance novel. Liz has pyschic abilities that she utilizes to help find the killer of several women. She meets Sam who is suspicious of her abilities but ultimately cannot deny their usefulness. They have an immediate connection that they initially fight but proves to powerful to deny. Although I wasn't crazy about Liz's fragile, depressing state she does come around to show a stronger sense of self and willingness to live.
Overall a romance worth reading.
December 1, 2019
An excellent romantic suspense with a bit of paranormal. It's gripping and entertaining and I rooted for the characters.
I loved the romance and the mystery, solid and well crafted.
The cast of characters is well thought and likeable.
My impression is that the author left the ending somehow open so there could be another book with this characters.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I loved the romance and the mystery, solid and well crafted.
The cast of characters is well thought and likeable.
My impression is that the author left the ending somehow open so there could be another book with this characters.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
December 17, 2019
This was such n enjoyable read. Elizabeth is a kind and caring woman with special talent. Sam is dominating, lethal and can be a bit of a jerk. There is a lot of intrigue and suspense. The author’s description of the scenery was vivid. I felt as though I was floating along the canals. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
September 15, 2023
I've read many of Ms. Stuart's historical romances, but this is the first contemporary romance book, though I think it's older. Elizabeth Hardy is a psychic who helps the police in Denver. They're trying to track down a serial killer. Sam Oliver, a Army intelligence officer, becomes involved when they discover ties to a terrorist organization.
There's a lot of murder and mayhem as they travel from Denver to Washington DC to Venice. It's a fast read and an enjoyable way to pass the time.
There's a lot of murder and mayhem as they travel from Denver to Washington DC to Venice. It's a fast read and an enjoyable way to pass the time.
October 8, 2023
very enjoyable
I worry when a character in a novel is psychic, because it often makes the character more fantastical and less real. I found this character believable, and I got my good happy ending.
These days, I don’t like to be scared too much to the point where I have to put the book down. This novel had just enough tension to bridge the more scary points yet keep me reading.
I worry when a character in a novel is psychic, because it often makes the character more fantastical and less real. I found this character believable, and I got my good happy ending.
These days, I don’t like to be scared too much to the point where I have to put the book down. This novel had just enough tension to bridge the more scary points yet keep me reading.
January 23, 2024
These OG Anne Stuart books are something else. On one hand, you never know exactly what you’ll get besides romance. Her storylines differ wildly from one another. They are enjoyable reads, but it’s hard to dismiss how dated they are. I’d give it a higher rating if I liked the characters better. This one, along with many of her other books have such domineering men. But I enjoyed it enough. Kind of fun and funny to read.
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