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Runaway
RUNAWAY is a lightly rewritten and updated version of a previously published book entitled PURSUIT, published under the name Elizabeth Jennings.
Navy Seal Matt Sanders is slowly putting himself together after being almost mortally wounded in battle. He's sick of hospitals, so a nowhere town in Baja, California, seems like the perfect place to lick his wounds. It's the last place he expects to find the most beautiful woman he's ever seen.
She's hurt, too--but haunted as she is, she watches over him like a guardian angel. But the feelings she inspires in him are anything but angelic.
Then Matt finds out that she's on the run, and keeping secrets that could get her killed--and he's having none of it. No one is threatening his angel. Not on his watch.
Heiress Charlotte Court is on the lam, wrongly accused of murder, and running from her father's killer. She's in no condition to let herself be tempted by a man--not even one as tough, gorgeous and compelling as Matt Sanders. He fascinates her, allures her, and she can't resist his pull--but she can't open her heart to him.
Then he'd be in the crosshairs, too.
It's a stalemate--until a deadly killer comes to town...
Navy Seal Matt Sanders is slowly putting himself together after being almost mortally wounded in battle. He's sick of hospitals, so a nowhere town in Baja, California, seems like the perfect place to lick his wounds. It's the last place he expects to find the most beautiful woman he's ever seen.
She's hurt, too--but haunted as she is, she watches over him like a guardian angel. But the feelings she inspires in him are anything but angelic.
Then Matt finds out that she's on the run, and keeping secrets that could get her killed--and he's having none of it. No one is threatening his angel. Not on his watch.
Heiress Charlotte Court is on the lam, wrongly accused of murder, and running from her father's killer. She's in no condition to let herself be tempted by a man--not even one as tough, gorgeous and compelling as Matt Sanders. He fascinates her, allures her, and she can't resist his pull--but she can't open her heart to him.
Then he'd be in the crosshairs, too.
It's a stalemate--until a deadly killer comes to town...
321 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 1999
46 people are currently reading
1269 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Marie Rice
57 books1,610 followersLisa Marie Rice is eternally 30 years old and will never age. She is tall and willowy and beautiful. Men drop at her feet like ripe pears. She has won every major book prize in the world. She is a black belt with advanced degrees in archaeology, nuclear physics, and Tibetan literature. She is a concert pianist. Did I mention her Nobel Prize? Of course, Lisa Marie Rice is a virtual woman and exists only at the keyboard when writing erotic romance. She disappears when the monitor winks off.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
April 4, 2019
Actual Rating: 2.5 stars
It’s ok, a nice story.
I have a few problems with this book:
- Sometimes the writer rants on and on.
- There are a few points of view telling the story. I wasn't interested in the parts narrated from other characters POVs, so I have to admit that I skimmed over those, skipping some sections at times to get to the two main characters POVs, it was their side of the story I cared about after all.
- The romantic relationship happens in just a few days. It is way, way too fast and according to how the story was told, it could perfectly have evolved throughout a longer period of time, which to me, would have given it more credibility and depth. However, the way it is, it’s almost like instant love, Matt’s feelings and thoughts towards Charlotte are way too intense when they had only just started to talk to each other. I think that the short period of time in which their love evolves is not only disserviceable to the story but also completely and utterly unnecessary.
- It reminded me to another book from this author written under the name of Lisa Marie Rice called Woman on the Run.
It’s ok, a nice story.
I have a few problems with this book:
- Sometimes the writer rants on and on.
- There are a few points of view telling the story. I wasn't interested in the parts narrated from other characters POVs, so I have to admit that I skimmed over those, skipping some sections at times to get to the two main characters POVs, it was their side of the story I cared about after all.
- The romantic relationship happens in just a few days. It is way, way too fast and according to how the story was told, it could perfectly have evolved throughout a longer period of time, which to me, would have given it more credibility and depth. However, the way it is, it’s almost like instant love, Matt’s feelings and thoughts towards Charlotte are way too intense when they had only just started to talk to each other. I think that the short period of time in which their love evolves is not only disserviceable to the story but also completely and utterly unnecessary.
- It reminded me to another book from this author written under the name of Lisa Marie Rice called Woman on the Run.
November 21, 2015
I sure do love a wounded hero!
I borrowed this book from a friend, and feeling badly that it was taking me so long to get to it, I almost returned it, unread. I’m very pleased that I decided, instead, to put other things aside and spend some time with Matthew Sanders, an amazing alpha hero, and Charlotte Court, a strong, independent heroine, because this story was well worth the time invested in reading it.
I’ve read books by Lisa Marie Rice, who also writes as Elizabeth Jennings, and really enjoyed them. I could see and feel a slight difference between the writing styles, which really intrigued me because I just assumed that an author, no matter what name they wrote under, would still write the same way. But I found that Pursuit, while still a good read, was much more intense in its character roles. What I mean to say is that the villains in this book were over the top sick in the head and some of the things they did made my stomach churn. While there weren’t many such instances, I think it’s important to point this out for those who would prefer not to read about what sick, greedy, evil men are capable of.
Robert Haines has been working for Charlotte Court’s father for some time, and makes quite a healthy salary, but as is often the case, healthy just isn’t good enough. He’d tried all the usual ways to move himself up the pay scale – making himself indispensible, wooing the heiress daughter of the Court empire’s owner, murdering said owner and framing said daughter – but nothing is going his way. Realizing that he’s going to have to take drastic measures, he hires a hit man to dispose of Charlotte because time is running out and he needs this all tidied up if he hopes to win a Pentagon contract and earn a few billion big ones.
Named after the gun, Barrett has the reputation of being the best hit-man in the business. His list of satisfied clients goes on and on and includes some really big names. Of course, he isn’t the kind of man you’d find listed in the Yellow Pages under Assassins ‘R Us but still, with such impeccable references via word of mouth, Barrett could ask for – and get – huge dollar amounts for his services. He’s good at what he does - dealing in death, and has no doubt he’ll find his target. Charlotte who, realizing she’s been set up for her father’s murder, is on the run and Barrett has no qualms about doing whatever he has to do to find her. Between Barrett and Haines, I’ve read some of the more disturbing scenes I’ve come across in any book.
The 'framed for murder/on the run storyline isn't terribly original, but still, it was well written, given enough twists and turns to keep it interesting and exciting. There were a couple of eye rolling moments, but overall the story was great!
I really loved the way the relationship developed between Matt and Charlotte. Matt was definitely alpha, and yet, he knew how to control his intensity and those made for some very interesting moments. I came to respect him as not only a protector, but a caring, honorable man. He knew when to give Charlotte her space and when to demand her compliance. He needed to watch over her, to keep her safe, because her life and his heart depended on it.
Charlotte had grown up quite wealthy, but she wasn’t spoiled, and didn’t take that wealth for granted. She knew the importance of helping others, and she was genuinely a kind, caring, generous person. The thing I think I really liked most about her was that, while she was strong and independent, intelligent and very cautious, she wasn’t a “too stupid to live” heroine. She knew when she needed help and accepted it. This made Charlotte an interesting, exciting and totally believable character.
The bottom line, if you’re looking for a suspenseful, romantic, sexy read, check out Pursuit. It might just be what you’re looking for.
October 9, 2011
I'm a fan of Lisa Marie Rice's work, so I'm glad to say that I also enjoyed my first read of her writing as Elizabeth Jennings.
Matt was the typical LMR hero: all it took was one look - at a distance, no less! - and he fell for Charlotte. From that moment on, he decided she was "the one" and, as soon as he was good and ready, moved in with her and went into full protective mode. Put it like that, one could think Matt was nothing more than a dominant and pushy alpha, but that would be wrong. He was actually sweet and romantic in his silent "courtship" of Charlotte, leaving those small gifts at her doorstep while giving both of them time to heal themselves before finally meeting. Awww...
Charlotte was a bit stronger than the typical LMR heroine, who's usually defenseless and totally dependent on the hero for her protection. Matt's help was most welcome, of course, but Charlotte actually had done a decent job escaping her hometown and taking care of herself before she met him. Did she manage to fool the assassin hired to track her down? No, but she gave him a good run for his money. Not to mention the final showdown... :)
There were a lot of scenes from the villains' POV, and I found myself skimming through some of them. Okay, I got the point, it was important to show what the villains were doing in their pursuit of Charlotte and how close they were to find her, but I didn't need a step-by-step account of their actions. I made the same "complaint" when I read book:Woman on the Run|922119] and I heard one of her Dangerous books, that I haven't read yet, has the same "problem", so I'm beginning to think LMR likes this writing style. I only wish she toned it down.
Note: Matt had a friend, Tom Reich, that I wouldn't mind seeing again. As of now, LMR hasn't written "his" book and, as far as I know, doesn't have immediate plans to do so, but one can only hope... ;)[
Matt was the typical LMR hero: all it took was one look - at a distance, no less! - and he fell for Charlotte. From that moment on, he decided she was "the one" and, as soon as he was good and ready, moved in with her and went into full protective mode. Put it like that, one could think Matt was nothing more than a dominant and pushy alpha, but that would be wrong. He was actually sweet and romantic in his silent "courtship" of Charlotte, leaving those small gifts at her doorstep while giving both of them time to heal themselves before finally meeting. Awww...
Charlotte was a bit stronger than the typical LMR heroine, who's usually defenseless and totally dependent on the hero for her protection. Matt's help was most welcome, of course, but Charlotte actually had done a decent job escaping her hometown and taking care of herself before she met him. Did she manage to fool the assassin hired to track her down? No, but she gave him a good run for his money. Not to mention the final showdown... :)
There were a lot of scenes from the villains' POV, and I found myself skimming through some of them. Okay, I got the point, it was important to show what the villains were doing in their pursuit of Charlotte and how close they were to find her, but I didn't need a step-by-step account of their actions. I made the same "complaint" when I read book:Woman on the Run|922119] and I heard one of her Dangerous books, that I haven't read yet, has the same "problem", so I'm beginning to think LMR likes this writing style. I only wish she toned it down.
Note: Matt had a friend, Tom Reich, that I wouldn't mind seeing again. As of now, LMR hasn't written "his" book and, as far as I know, doesn't have immediate plans to do so, but one can only hope... ;)[
March 23, 2008
A beautiful heiress in hiding and on the run from a crime she's accused of but didn't commit. A seriously wounded Navy SEAL trying to put both his body and life back together. These two are the hero and heroine of Elizabeth Jennings'(aka Ellora's Cave author Lisa Marie Rice) fantastic new romantic suspense, "Pursuit".
Charlotte Court is on the run from an unthinkable crime she didn't commit. Wounded and with no one to turn to or trust, she makes her way from New York to the Mexican coast by her wits alone. While recovering from her wounds, she notices an attractive man on the beach who is in worse shape than she is. She watches him day after day from her terrace while he tries to rehabilitate himself by swimming and exercising on the beach. He becomes a source of inspiration for her and gives her a feeling of hope.
Former Navy SEAL Matt Sanders literally died and was brought back to life following a mission in Afghanistan months ago. Just out of a VA hospital, he decides to take a buddy up on his offer and rehabilitate at his place along the beach in Mexico. While swimming and working out, he notices the beautiful lady with the sad eyes watching him. He thinks of her as his guardian angel and that gives him the strength to persevere.
When Matt saves Charlotte's life following an accident, it becomes clear to him that he wants her in his life forever. But will Charlotte ever trust him enough to tell him what's troubling her?
I loved this taut little romantic suspense! It had all the elements I like: a woman on the run living by her wits, a rough, yet romantic hero, and a couple of creepy bad guys after the heroine. If you've ever read any of Lisa Marie Rice's books, you know how her heroes tend to be: they see the girl and they want her--no doubts. They know what they want and go after it! That's how Matt was; as soon as he saw Charlotte he knew he wanted her, and not only in a sexual way. And Charlotte and Matt had a little romantic courtship that when on for a couple of days before they actually met face to face, and it brought a few tears to my eyes. This was a very satisfying and sexy romantic suspense, with an explosive ending! It also appears to have the potential be a possible start of a series similar to Suzanne Brockmann's 'Troubleshooters'. I certainly hope so--I would love to read more about Matt and his former Navy SEAL buddies!
Charlotte Court is on the run from an unthinkable crime she didn't commit. Wounded and with no one to turn to or trust, she makes her way from New York to the Mexican coast by her wits alone. While recovering from her wounds, she notices an attractive man on the beach who is in worse shape than she is. She watches him day after day from her terrace while he tries to rehabilitate himself by swimming and exercising on the beach. He becomes a source of inspiration for her and gives her a feeling of hope.
Former Navy SEAL Matt Sanders literally died and was brought back to life following a mission in Afghanistan months ago. Just out of a VA hospital, he decides to take a buddy up on his offer and rehabilitate at his place along the beach in Mexico. While swimming and working out, he notices the beautiful lady with the sad eyes watching him. He thinks of her as his guardian angel and that gives him the strength to persevere.
When Matt saves Charlotte's life following an accident, it becomes clear to him that he wants her in his life forever. But will Charlotte ever trust him enough to tell him what's troubling her?
I loved this taut little romantic suspense! It had all the elements I like: a woman on the run living by her wits, a rough, yet romantic hero, and a couple of creepy bad guys after the heroine. If you've ever read any of Lisa Marie Rice's books, you know how her heroes tend to be: they see the girl and they want her--no doubts. They know what they want and go after it! That's how Matt was; as soon as he saw Charlotte he knew he wanted her, and not only in a sexual way. And Charlotte and Matt had a little romantic courtship that when on for a couple of days before they actually met face to face, and it brought a few tears to my eyes. This was a very satisfying and sexy romantic suspense, with an explosive ending! It also appears to have the potential be a possible start of a series similar to Suzanne Brockmann's 'Troubleshooters'. I certainly hope so--I would love to read more about Matt and his former Navy SEAL buddies!
July 5, 2022
Fast-paced romantic suspense with a touch of erotica, written by Elizabeth Jennings, aka Lisa Marie Rice. In my view, this is the best book written under the Jennings pen-name, and better than most of the erotica written under Rice, because, while it sizzles eventually, the passion does not overwhelm the plot and the relationship develops gradually and believably.
It would be a 4 star story for me, but there was too much violence and mutilation. I skipped over those parts. Too much focus on the psycho killer.
Plot with broad spoilers Heiress Charlotte Court witnesses the murder of her father. She knows the murderer, Robert Haine, CEO of Court Industries. Haine frames Charlotte for the murder, so she flees to Mexico. She meets Matt Sanders, an injured Navy SEAL. Charlotte bonds with him in spirit, since they are both injured and despairing. When Matt learns that Charlotte is in danger, he teaches her to shoot a gun and to swim. Eventually, Matt and Charlotte confront Haine and his henchman.
The plot was fairly decent, but the best part was seeing Charlotte fight back.
Characterization: Fairly one-dimensional, with totally "good" protagonists, brave and loyal and passionate. Of course, Charlotte is a beauty, Lol. The villains are painted pitch black. Really evil. However, at least the characterization is consistent. The main characters acted in alignment with their values and experiences, as portrayed in the narrative, with no jarring inconsistencies. I sympathized with this gutsy but sensitive artist who watched her beloved father die an unnatural death, tried to intervene, and was framed for his murder.
Relationship Development: The love affair between Charlotte and Matt was yummy -- a slow, sweet progression, moving from compassion and encouragement to friendly little homemade gifts, to shared meals and steamy kisses, and finally to scorching intimacy. The lovemaking came later in the story. It felt nicely paced, not like sex at first sight. The sex was fairly graphic.
Best Parts: I thought the author did a great job portraying Charlotte's feelings of rising tension, fear, pain and exhaustion, as well as her determination to bring Haine to justice. I especially liked the parts where Charlotte had to flee the country, It reminded me of some Linda Howard hide-away scenes.
Three Quibbles: Too much time describing how a cat and another character were mutilated. Too grisly for me, and frankly, not really suited to this genre. Also, I feel that Charlotte could have told Matt her secret sooner. Also, Charlotte painted world-class gallery-ready portraits and landscapes in a matter of a few days. Huh? It takes weeks and even months to paint a portrait. The same kind of "instant art" occurs in Dangerous Passion, another enjoyable erotic suspense written under her alias Lisa Marie Rice.
This book is somewhat reminiscent of another enjoyable erotic suspense written by LMR, involving a woman in the FBI witness protection program, pursued by murderers and protected by an ex Navy Seal. See Woman on the Run.
**********
Content: Fairly explicit M/F sex, grizzly violence, profanity and cussing (too much for my taste), few if any typos
**********
It would be a 4 star story for me, but there was too much violence and mutilation. I skipped over those parts. Too much focus on the psycho killer.
Plot with broad spoilers Heiress Charlotte Court witnesses the murder of her father. She knows the murderer, Robert Haine, CEO of Court Industries. Haine frames Charlotte for the murder, so she flees to Mexico. She meets Matt Sanders, an injured Navy SEAL. Charlotte bonds with him in spirit, since they are both injured and despairing. When Matt learns that Charlotte is in danger, he teaches her to shoot a gun and to swim. Eventually, Matt and Charlotte confront Haine and his henchman.
The plot was fairly decent, but the best part was seeing Charlotte fight back.
Characterization: Fairly one-dimensional, with totally "good" protagonists, brave and loyal and passionate. Of course, Charlotte is a beauty, Lol. The villains are painted pitch black. Really evil. However, at least the characterization is consistent. The main characters acted in alignment with their values and experiences, as portrayed in the narrative, with no jarring inconsistencies. I sympathized with this gutsy but sensitive artist who watched her beloved father die an unnatural death, tried to intervene, and was framed for his murder.
Relationship Development: The love affair between Charlotte and Matt was yummy -- a slow, sweet progression, moving from compassion and encouragement to friendly little homemade gifts, to shared meals and steamy kisses, and finally to scorching intimacy. The lovemaking came later in the story. It felt nicely paced, not like sex at first sight. The sex was fairly graphic.
Best Parts: I thought the author did a great job portraying Charlotte's feelings of rising tension, fear, pain and exhaustion, as well as her determination to bring Haine to justice. I especially liked the parts where Charlotte had to flee the country, It reminded me of some Linda Howard hide-away scenes.
Three Quibbles: Too much time describing how a cat and another character were mutilated. Too grisly for me, and frankly, not really suited to this genre. Also, I feel that Charlotte could have told Matt her secret sooner. Also, Charlotte painted world-class gallery-ready portraits and landscapes in a matter of a few days. Huh? It takes weeks and even months to paint a portrait. The same kind of "instant art" occurs in Dangerous Passion, another enjoyable erotic suspense written under her alias Lisa Marie Rice.
This book is somewhat reminiscent of another enjoyable erotic suspense written by LMR, involving a woman in the FBI witness protection program, pursued by murderers and protected by an ex Navy Seal. See Woman on the Run.
**********
Content: Fairly explicit M/F sex, grizzly violence, profanity and cussing (too much for my taste), few if any typos
**********
April 2, 2008
I am so glad I read this book. I had no idea that Lisa Marie Rice also wrote under the name Elizabeth Jennings. I love her erotic novels and am thrilled that I can now satisfy myself while waiting for her latest offering by reading all the Elizabeth Jennings books I've missed.
Charlotte is in trouble, wounded, and on the run. Her old sheltered and cosseted life just a memory now. She's concentrating all her energies on surviving and certainly doesn't have time for a man.
Matt is rebuilding his own life. His was torn apart just like his body during his last mission in Afghanistan. He's reached his lowest ebb and just when he thinks there's nothing left to live for...he sees her. His Angel. He doesn't know her name, who she is, what she does. But he does know she's survived something terrible. When he finds out how terrible, there's nothing he won't do to help her and avenge her.
What a pair. What a story. Whatever name she writes under, Jennings/Rice can yank you into the world of her characters with ease. It's not until the book is done and the story told, and then you surface back into the real world with your heart thumping. Absolutely fabulous.
Charlotte is in trouble, wounded, and on the run. Her old sheltered and cosseted life just a memory now. She's concentrating all her energies on surviving and certainly doesn't have time for a man.
Matt is rebuilding his own life. His was torn apart just like his body during his last mission in Afghanistan. He's reached his lowest ebb and just when he thinks there's nothing left to live for...he sees her. His Angel. He doesn't know her name, who she is, what she does. But he does know she's survived something terrible. When he finds out how terrible, there's nothing he won't do to help her and avenge her.
What a pair. What a story. Whatever name she writes under, Jennings/Rice can yank you into the world of her characters with ease. It's not until the book is done and the story told, and then you surface back into the real world with your heart thumping. Absolutely fabulous.
July 22, 2010
**slight spoilers **
This is my first Elizabeth Jennings. I love the way she writes. You're drawn into the story from the very first page with a really demented man who's greed makes him not only dangerous but evil. In order to get "everything he wants" he needs the heroine Charlotte out of the way - permanently. A failed attempt to kill her begins the real action in this story.
Catherine's on the run and she's injured. A botched attempt on her life leaves her running for her life, living on the run and almost dying of her injuries before landing in a little seaside town in Mexico. Her first day there, she sleeps 24 hours straight. She's sick, brokenhearted and experiencing absolute fear for the first time in her life. She trusts no one. Its while sitting on the veranda of her rented apartment that she first sees the hero.
Matt is a former Navy SEAL who was nearly mortally wounded in Afghanistan. He's spent months in a coma and is truly the walking wounded. He's come to Mexico, a shell of a man both mentally and physically, to try to figure out what to do now that his "life" as a SEAL is over. On the first day he is in Mexico, he hobbles down to the beach on crutches (which takes an excruciatingly long time because of the sand) and swims out into the ocean. He's actually contemplating just swimming out as far as he can and letting the ocean take him when he sees a woman watching him from shore. Something about the way she looks at him makes him think she's as haunted as he is, and coming out of his fog, he swims back to shore. When he finally makes it he's exhausted, but when he looks up she's still watching him and he smiles.
For the next few weeks, they continue this unusual courtship: Matt working out in the water to get his strength back, Charlotte watching over him like a sentinel. There's no verbal interaction between them at this point but its probably one of the sweetest things you'll ever read. He leaves fish on her doorstep. She paints him pictures and leaves them at the dive shop he's living at. Eventually they meet during a storm when Matt saves Charlotte's life when she falls into the water.
I adored Matt. He's a fighter. He's an alpha but not in the usual sense. I really can't describe it, its something you'd just have to read. He calls Charlotte his angel from the beginning, even before he knew her. When he realizes something big and nasty is going on with Charlotte, he doesn't back down. He's in it for the long haul.
Charlotte was an unusual character. I liked her but I didn't love her. She's super rich but lives a fairly non-Paris Hilton lifestyle. She loves her father, she paints, she works for charity. While on the run, she's much more of a trooper than you would give someone of her social status credit for. She's evolved from heiress Charlotte to everyday woman Charlotte. Even though she knows Matt would protect her with his life and she feels safe with him, she still refuses to tell him who she really is or the story of how she came to be in Mexico, other than to say she was injured and the man is still alive. She frustrated me greatly.
I would have given this book 5 stars but for my frustration with Charlotte and for Matt constantly thinking or saying how gorgeous Charlotte was. I don't mind a beautiful heroine but the incessant reminder of it irks me.
A-
This is my first Elizabeth Jennings. I love the way she writes. You're drawn into the story from the very first page with a really demented man who's greed makes him not only dangerous but evil. In order to get "everything he wants" he needs the heroine Charlotte out of the way - permanently. A failed attempt to kill her begins the real action in this story.
Catherine's on the run and she's injured. A botched attempt on her life leaves her running for her life, living on the run and almost dying of her injuries before landing in a little seaside town in Mexico. Her first day there, she sleeps 24 hours straight. She's sick, brokenhearted and experiencing absolute fear for the first time in her life. She trusts no one. Its while sitting on the veranda of her rented apartment that she first sees the hero.
Matt is a former Navy SEAL who was nearly mortally wounded in Afghanistan. He's spent months in a coma and is truly the walking wounded. He's come to Mexico, a shell of a man both mentally and physically, to try to figure out what to do now that his "life" as a SEAL is over. On the first day he is in Mexico, he hobbles down to the beach on crutches (which takes an excruciatingly long time because of the sand) and swims out into the ocean. He's actually contemplating just swimming out as far as he can and letting the ocean take him when he sees a woman watching him from shore. Something about the way she looks at him makes him think she's as haunted as he is, and coming out of his fog, he swims back to shore. When he finally makes it he's exhausted, but when he looks up she's still watching him and he smiles.
For the next few weeks, they continue this unusual courtship: Matt working out in the water to get his strength back, Charlotte watching over him like a sentinel. There's no verbal interaction between them at this point but its probably one of the sweetest things you'll ever read. He leaves fish on her doorstep. She paints him pictures and leaves them at the dive shop he's living at. Eventually they meet during a storm when Matt saves Charlotte's life when she falls into the water.
I adored Matt. He's a fighter. He's an alpha but not in the usual sense. I really can't describe it, its something you'd just have to read. He calls Charlotte his angel from the beginning, even before he knew her. When he realizes something big and nasty is going on with Charlotte, he doesn't back down. He's in it for the long haul.
Charlotte was an unusual character. I liked her but I didn't love her. She's super rich but lives a fairly non-Paris Hilton lifestyle. She loves her father, she paints, she works for charity. While on the run, she's much more of a trooper than you would give someone of her social status credit for. She's evolved from heiress Charlotte to everyday woman Charlotte. Even though she knows Matt would protect her with his life and she feels safe with him, she still refuses to tell him who she really is or the story of how she came to be in Mexico, other than to say she was injured and the man is still alive. She frustrated me greatly.
I would have given this book 5 stars but for my frustration with Charlotte and for Matt constantly thinking or saying how gorgeous Charlotte was. I don't mind a beautiful heroine but the incessant reminder of it irks me.
A-
March 29, 2008
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. Wonderful characters and very nicely written. I see this becoming a series: bodyguard, former military now in private security-type business/series. The author has a similar writing style to Cherry Adair--a lot of wordsmithing. I laughed at some of the metaphors. If you are looking for a steamy romance, it's not here; great story, great characters, great writing.
Refreshing to read a story where the main characters are attracted to each other and they immediately build upon that attraction. The story revolves around them as they get to know each other more. Matt was such a nice guy. I loved it when he started telling Charlotte how they would spend their day, then realized he needed to put more words into it....cute. Charlotte didn't say much, but when she did, she spoke volumes.
Uplifting read that left me smiling... ;-)
Refreshing to read a story where the main characters are attracted to each other and they immediately build upon that attraction. The story revolves around them as they get to know each other more. Matt was such a nice guy. I loved it when he started telling Charlotte how they would spend their day, then realized he needed to put more words into it....cute. Charlotte didn't say much, but when she did, she spoke volumes.
Uplifting read that left me smiling... ;-)
August 14, 2010
Wow! My first Elizabeth Jennings book and I was totally in love! Elizabeth Jennings also writes as Lisa-Marie Rice and I love her books as well! She's a brilliant writer in either names. I managed to stumble onto Elizabeth Jennings by accident and am waiting patiently for Ms Jenning's newest book Shadows at Midnight to arrive in the post.
Heiress Charlotte Court is on the run for her life. She's just witnessed her ill and dying father's murder and been shot. She manages to make it across the border to Mexico, and creates a new identity for herself and finds a saviour in the arms of ex-Navy SEAL Matt Sanders. Matt's been badly wounded and is trying to recover from his injuries. Charlotte spends two months watching Matt train and get his body back to it's former self.
Matt thinks of Charlotte as his guardian angel, always watching out for him. Matt yearns to protect Charlotte and replace her pain with pleasure. But Charlotte can't trust anyone, not even someone she's starting to love. She knows she's a target and out of sight, a soulless killer is zeroing in on his prey.
I really enjoyed reading Pursuit I wasn't quite sure what to expect other than a romantic suspense story. Pursuit has everything you'd want in a classic romantic suspense! I enjoyed this just as much as I enjoy one of Nora Robert's romantic suspense's.
Matt is an amazing hero, I thought he was everything Charlotte could needed and wanted in a guy. He was so well written I feel a little bit in love myself! I really enjoyed reading how Matt would push himself to get better and how Charlotte would sit out on her balcony and watch Matt every day as he pushed himself harder and harder to get back into shape and to be the man he was before he was hurt and nearly died.
I really felt for Charlotte and her situation and how strong and brave she was trying to deal with everything that had happened to her.
Pursuit is brilliantly written and a fabulous read. I wish every romantic suspense was as good as this one!
Heiress Charlotte Court is on the run for her life. She's just witnessed her ill and dying father's murder and been shot. She manages to make it across the border to Mexico, and creates a new identity for herself and finds a saviour in the arms of ex-Navy SEAL Matt Sanders. Matt's been badly wounded and is trying to recover from his injuries. Charlotte spends two months watching Matt train and get his body back to it's former self.
Matt thinks of Charlotte as his guardian angel, always watching out for him. Matt yearns to protect Charlotte and replace her pain with pleasure. But Charlotte can't trust anyone, not even someone she's starting to love. She knows she's a target and out of sight, a soulless killer is zeroing in on his prey.
I really enjoyed reading Pursuit I wasn't quite sure what to expect other than a romantic suspense story. Pursuit has everything you'd want in a classic romantic suspense! I enjoyed this just as much as I enjoy one of Nora Robert's romantic suspense's.
Matt is an amazing hero, I thought he was everything Charlotte could needed and wanted in a guy. He was so well written I feel a little bit in love myself! I really enjoyed reading how Matt would push himself to get better and how Charlotte would sit out on her balcony and watch Matt every day as he pushed himself harder and harder to get back into shape and to be the man he was before he was hurt and nearly died.
I really felt for Charlotte and her situation and how strong and brave she was trying to deal with everything that had happened to her.
Pursuit is brilliantly written and a fabulous read. I wish every romantic suspense was as good as this one!
July 16, 2009
This book started great. The power-and-money-thirsty CEO having the owner of the company killed and blaming it all on the daughter of said company owner, because she scorned his advances. What more could you want? Well, maybe the haughty heiress running for her life across the country with a bullet-hole in her shoulder, with no money, no hope for help (being framed for her father’s murder and all), crossing the Mexican border with her maid’s passport. Oh, and constantly chased by a hired killer.
It sounds great, doesn’t it?
Pity, the whole suspense thingy lasted only until the heiress settled in a picturesque little Mexican town. The third day of her stay she saw a broken man on the beach, a man who’s apparently escaped death just like her – and turned out to be the hero of this story, two months later they met face to face as he fished her out of the sea…And we slowly trudged forward.
I need my romantic suspense novels to keep the suspense throughout the course of the story. This one failed miserably to keep me intrigued. If it weren’t for all-too brief glimpses of the hired gun (aptly named Barrett) methodically searching for Charlotte, though the track’s been cold for two months, and slowly narrowing down her options, I would’ve probably given up altogether.
The initial premise was great, but the author failed in executing it. Any slower and the plot would be moving backward. The characters were rather flat, I didn’t like neither of the two and kept hoping for the killer to catch up with the chick sooner. The lukewarm tension between Charlotte and matt simply ruined the already non-existent suspense until I had nothing else to look forward to than some bedroom action – which never came!
And in the end I was robbed of the grand finale as well. It seemed rushed, without the usual (and much needed) climax-building. And it was definitely too easy and over too soon. And the epilogue was completely redundant.
Disappointing.
It sounds great, doesn’t it?
Pity, the whole suspense thingy lasted only until the heiress settled in a picturesque little Mexican town. The third day of her stay she saw a broken man on the beach, a man who’s apparently escaped death just like her – and turned out to be the hero of this story, two months later they met face to face as he fished her out of the sea…And we slowly trudged forward.
I need my romantic suspense novels to keep the suspense throughout the course of the story. This one failed miserably to keep me intrigued. If it weren’t for all-too brief glimpses of the hired gun (aptly named Barrett) methodically searching for Charlotte, though the track’s been cold for two months, and slowly narrowing down her options, I would’ve probably given up altogether.
The initial premise was great, but the author failed in executing it. Any slower and the plot would be moving backward. The characters were rather flat, I didn’t like neither of the two and kept hoping for the killer to catch up with the chick sooner. The lukewarm tension between Charlotte and matt simply ruined the already non-existent suspense until I had nothing else to look forward to than some bedroom action – which never came!
And in the end I was robbed of the grand finale as well. It seemed rushed, without the usual (and much needed) climax-building. And it was definitely too easy and over too soon. And the epilogue was completely redundant.
Disappointing.
February 4, 2014
3.5/5; 4 stars; B+
This is my first book by this author writing as Elizabeth Jennings. I've read several books by her pseudonym, Lisa Marie Rice, and enjoyed them. If you don't like as much steam in your stories as Rice puts in, then try Elizabeth Jennings. I thought the story was balanced nicely between romantic suspense and thriller.
I'm not a fan of the style of writing where the POV is constantly flipping between two people/locations but in this book Jennings makes it work very smoothly.
As much as this is suspense/thriller type story, it is also one of healing and self discovery. I like it when characters grow and get their lives on track throughout the course of the book and in this one it was sweet to see how both Matt and Charlotte came back from the brink of disaster and found each other.
This is my first book by this author writing as Elizabeth Jennings. I've read several books by her pseudonym, Lisa Marie Rice, and enjoyed them. If you don't like as much steam in your stories as Rice puts in, then try Elizabeth Jennings. I thought the story was balanced nicely between romantic suspense and thriller.
I'm not a fan of the style of writing where the POV is constantly flipping between two people/locations but in this book Jennings makes it work very smoothly.
As much as this is suspense/thriller type story, it is also one of healing and self discovery. I like it when characters grow and get their lives on track throughout the course of the book and in this one it was sweet to see how both Matt and Charlotte came back from the brink of disaster and found each other.
March 24, 2023
Nayeli - per RFS
.
Non importava. Sapeva solo che ogni giorno tranquillo e sereno in cui dipingeva e vegliava sul suo guerriero ferito era un giorno in cui diventava più forte.
Charlotte è un’ereditiera che si prende cura del padre malato. Tradita da un socio d’affari troppo avido, assiste all’omicidio del genitore e fugge prima di essere colpita a sua volta. Nelle prime pagine ci addentriamo nel suo senso di terrore e solitudine del sentirsi braccata. Ferita, si nasconde oltreconfine cercando il modo di riabilitare il suo nome.
Lì, sulla spiaggia di fronte alla sua veranda, vede Matt, un Navy Seal che ha passato l’inferno: appena uscito dal coma dopo una missione, non sa da dove iniziare per ricostruire la sua vita ed è tentato di mollare, ma l’angelo biondo che gli compare da lontano nel momento di maggior scoramento gli dà forza e un nuovo motivo per tenere duro.
Nell’uomo zoppicante che, ostinato, ha impiegato tre ore per fare dieci flessioni, Charlotte riconosce un’anima in pena quanto la sua, un guerriero ferito così tenace da darle forza e un senso di protezione del quale sente estremo bisogno.
Una bella donna che lo guardava da una terrazza sopra la spiaggia. C’erano tristezza e consapevolezza nel suo sguardo, come se capisse tutto quello che gli passava per la testa. Il che era folle. Nemmeno lui capiva tutto quello che gli passava per la testa. Ma c’era stata una connessione inconfondibile tra loro, onde magnetiche così forti da essere quasi visibili.
La fuga di una ragazza che ha assistito a un omicidio e che nel luogo in cui si rifugia incontra l’amore potrebbe sembrare una trama d’azione già vista, eppure l’autrice ha evitato ogni cliché ponendo l’attenzione sul dramma dei protagonisti, sulla fatica del rimettersi in piedi, sul modo lento e sinergico con cui si sostengono uno all’altra. Ma un altro elemento che differenzia la storia dai soliti thriller sono anche l’empatia e la stima che arriviamo a sviluppare nei confronti del killer assoldato per trovare la testimone, di cui arriviamo ad apprezzare le abilità, la pazienza, la minuzia.
La parte del cervello di Charlotte che era più antica del pensiero cosciente le stava dicendo che era al sicuro con lui. Addormentandosi tra le sue braccia, il suo corpo gli stava comunicando che si fidava di lui. “Non posso parlarne.” La sua testa, però, ancora non si fidava.
Charlotte e Matt sono, in modo diverso ma simmetrico, feriti nel corpo e traditi dalla vita. Con tenacia e coraggio scelgono di resistere, di rimettersi in sesto, ritrovano la forza fisica e interiore affrontando un percorso di rinascita. Essere spettatori l’uno del percorso dell’altro, pur da lontano, li aiuta a tenere duro, ad avere fiducia del futuro, a farsi forza.
Questo legame tra anime affini diventa sempre più magnetico, tenero, caldo, e passeranno dal guardarsi da lontano a un avvicinamento progressivo, fino ad avvinghiarsi totalmente, una volta che Matt farà sua la missione di proteggere Charlotte da chiunque la insegua dalle ombre del suo passato.
Il desiderio che provava per Charlotte adesso era intriso di un feroce senso di protezione che, nella sua testa, gli faceva saltare il corteggiamento. Lui era già oltre. Quella donna magica era in pericolo ed era sua. Sua da proteggere e sua da possedere.
Matt è un personaggio davvero affascinante. Paziente e perspicace, si rivela un buon ascoltatore, attento e capace di adeguare i gesti per mettere l’interlocutore a proprio agio e avvicinarla senza far suonare i campanelli d’allarme, che a causa della fuga sono molto sensibili.
Non si mosse, aspettò solo pazientemente, la grande mano aperta, pronta a ricevere la sua. Lentamente, come se stesse attraversando qualcosa di molto più pesante dell’aria, una densa mescolanza di tempo, disperazione e paura, Charlotte gli tese la mano tremante. A un soffio dal toccarlo, esitò. Matt aspettò immobile. Sembrava che potesse aspettare per sempre. Alla fine, lei mise la mano nella sua, tremando. Per il freddo. Per la stanchezza. Per la paura.
Meravigliosa la penna della Rice, così attenta e accurata sulle sfumature, che si tratti di sesso (in questo volume non tanto, a dire la verità) o di toccarsi l’anima, comprendersi, intuirsi, essere affini uno all’altro. Il fascino di Matt, il suo essere sexy, dominante, tenace, tutta la sua forza d’animo, la costanza e la pazienza ci conquistano dopo poche semplici pennellate: basta che lei lo noti zoppicare fino allo stremo, senza mai arrendersi.
E sono davvero potenti le caratterizzazioni, che non solo hanno reso pulsanti e multisfaccettati i protagonisti, ma sono riuscite a rendere affascinante perfino l’antagonista Barrett, il killer all’inseguimento di Charlotte, del quale apprezziamo l’acutezza e la professionalità, oltre all’abilità nel profiling e nel tracciare i movimenti delle sue prede in fuga.
Tutto questo si ottiene con una grande cura dei particolari e l’uso di tutti i colori delle parole, cosa che non compromette affatto il tasso di adrenalina e il ritmo del romanzo, grazie alla solida trama poliziesca. Il cattivo, infatti, si riorganizza per portare a termine l’obiettivo, alimentando un senso di aspettativa e di suspence che crescerà fino alla risoluzione finale.
Aveva fatto da scorta tre volte nella sua vita e non aveva mai abbassato la guardia. Aveva sempre svolto il suo lavoro in modo più che professionale. Ora, invece, si era distratto, sprecando tempo e concentrazione a chiedersi da chi stesse scappando Charlotte, quando era del tutto insignificante. La cosa importante era che Matt doveva essere pronto per lui, ogni secondo di ogni giorno. Distrarsi avrebbe potuto farli uccidere entrambi. E in quel momento si rese conto di quanto lei gli stesse incasinando la testa.
Una storia diversa da ciò che mi aspettavo, ma assolutamente convincente e coinvolgente. Forse il tasso di passione non è alle stelle, ma ho adorato il fascino di un uomo perspicace, protettivo, che sente un legame da subito con una donna che lo guarda da lontano mentre lui recupera le forze e si lecca le ferite facendo il meglio che può senza mai mollare, per quanto poco fosse rispetto alla piena forma.
Trovo che l’autrice sia stata fantastica nel dipingere con pochi tratti il fascino di personaggi che non sono impulsivi e d’azione, ma pazienti e ottimi strateghi (sia Matt che Bennett hanno questa abilità): attenti ai dettagli, capaci di immaginare i background delle persone di cui si stanno occupando o di prevedere le mosse dell’avversario con largo anticipo.
Se la suspense è ben sostenuta dalle capacità di pianificazione e di scouting dei personaggi, la trama romantica procede più lentamente, a piccole dolcissime dosi. Matt riesce ad avvicinarsi piano alla ragazza gentile dal cuore troppo grande per un mondo di assassini opportunisti, conquistando la sua fiducia con fatica, nonostante le dimostri in ogni modo di essere onesto e affidabile.
Matt si mosse in avanti, lo sguardo congelato sulle sue labbra. Stava per baciarla. Lei lo voleva? Sì, no, sì, no… La mano di Charlotte premette delicatamente sul suo petto. Non lo stava respingendo, tenne solo la mano in posizione mentre lui si spostava in avanti. Quel gesto, però, ebbe l’effetto di fermarlo, anche se non era proprio un segnale di stop. E neppure un “Vai”. Il viso di Matt scese verso il suo, sempre più vicino… ma, invece di baciarla sulla bocca, le premette le labbra dietro l’orecchio.
Finale purtroppo un po’ affrettato, che se da un lato rappresenta un culmine esplosivo a un crescendo dal ritmo serrato, dall’altro butta via qualche buon elemento su cui si sarebbe potuto costruire qualcosa di più minuzioso (penso alla caratterizzazione di Matt, per molti versi simmetrica a quella di Barrett, che avrebbe potuto svilupparsi in epilogo più complesso).
Maledizione, tutto il suo corpo era una zona erogena. Tutto in lui la eccitava: la sua stazza, la sua forza, la sua assoluta mascolinità. Chiuse gli occhi. Era così bello toccarlo che guardarlo quasi la distraeva.
.
Non importava. Sapeva solo che ogni giorno tranquillo e sereno in cui dipingeva e vegliava sul suo guerriero ferito era un giorno in cui diventava più forte.
Charlotte è un’ereditiera che si prende cura del padre malato. Tradita da un socio d’affari troppo avido, assiste all’omicidio del genitore e fugge prima di essere colpita a sua volta. Nelle prime pagine ci addentriamo nel suo senso di terrore e solitudine del sentirsi braccata. Ferita, si nasconde oltreconfine cercando il modo di riabilitare il suo nome.
Lì, sulla spiaggia di fronte alla sua veranda, vede Matt, un Navy Seal che ha passato l’inferno: appena uscito dal coma dopo una missione, non sa da dove iniziare per ricostruire la sua vita ed è tentato di mollare, ma l’angelo biondo che gli compare da lontano nel momento di maggior scoramento gli dà forza e un nuovo motivo per tenere duro.
Nell’uomo zoppicante che, ostinato, ha impiegato tre ore per fare dieci flessioni, Charlotte riconosce un’anima in pena quanto la sua, un guerriero ferito così tenace da darle forza e un senso di protezione del quale sente estremo bisogno.
Una bella donna che lo guardava da una terrazza sopra la spiaggia. C’erano tristezza e consapevolezza nel suo sguardo, come se capisse tutto quello che gli passava per la testa. Il che era folle. Nemmeno lui capiva tutto quello che gli passava per la testa. Ma c’era stata una connessione inconfondibile tra loro, onde magnetiche così forti da essere quasi visibili.
La fuga di una ragazza che ha assistito a un omicidio e che nel luogo in cui si rifugia incontra l’amore potrebbe sembrare una trama d’azione già vista, eppure l’autrice ha evitato ogni cliché ponendo l’attenzione sul dramma dei protagonisti, sulla fatica del rimettersi in piedi, sul modo lento e sinergico con cui si sostengono uno all’altra. Ma un altro elemento che differenzia la storia dai soliti thriller sono anche l’empatia e la stima che arriviamo a sviluppare nei confronti del killer assoldato per trovare la testimone, di cui arriviamo ad apprezzare le abilità, la pazienza, la minuzia.
La parte del cervello di Charlotte che era più antica del pensiero cosciente le stava dicendo che era al sicuro con lui. Addormentandosi tra le sue braccia, il suo corpo gli stava comunicando che si fidava di lui. “Non posso parlarne.” La sua testa, però, ancora non si fidava.
Charlotte e Matt sono, in modo diverso ma simmetrico, feriti nel corpo e traditi dalla vita. Con tenacia e coraggio scelgono di resistere, di rimettersi in sesto, ritrovano la forza fisica e interiore affrontando un percorso di rinascita. Essere spettatori l’uno del percorso dell’altro, pur da lontano, li aiuta a tenere duro, ad avere fiducia del futuro, a farsi forza.
Questo legame tra anime affini diventa sempre più magnetico, tenero, caldo, e passeranno dal guardarsi da lontano a un avvicinamento progressivo, fino ad avvinghiarsi totalmente, una volta che Matt farà sua la missione di proteggere Charlotte da chiunque la insegua dalle ombre del suo passato.
Il desiderio che provava per Charlotte adesso era intriso di un feroce senso di protezione che, nella sua testa, gli faceva saltare il corteggiamento. Lui era già oltre. Quella donna magica era in pericolo ed era sua. Sua da proteggere e sua da possedere.
Matt è un personaggio davvero affascinante. Paziente e perspicace, si rivela un buon ascoltatore, attento e capace di adeguare i gesti per mettere l’interlocutore a proprio agio e avvicinarla senza far suonare i campanelli d’allarme, che a causa della fuga sono molto sensibili.
Non si mosse, aspettò solo pazientemente, la grande mano aperta, pronta a ricevere la sua. Lentamente, come se stesse attraversando qualcosa di molto più pesante dell’aria, una densa mescolanza di tempo, disperazione e paura, Charlotte gli tese la mano tremante. A un soffio dal toccarlo, esitò. Matt aspettò immobile. Sembrava che potesse aspettare per sempre. Alla fine, lei mise la mano nella sua, tremando. Per il freddo. Per la stanchezza. Per la paura.
Meravigliosa la penna della Rice, così attenta e accurata sulle sfumature, che si tratti di sesso (in questo volume non tanto, a dire la verità) o di toccarsi l’anima, comprendersi, intuirsi, essere affini uno all’altro. Il fascino di Matt, il suo essere sexy, dominante, tenace, tutta la sua forza d’animo, la costanza e la pazienza ci conquistano dopo poche semplici pennellate: basta che lei lo noti zoppicare fino allo stremo, senza mai arrendersi.
E sono davvero potenti le caratterizzazioni, che non solo hanno reso pulsanti e multisfaccettati i protagonisti, ma sono riuscite a rendere affascinante perfino l’antagonista Barrett, il killer all’inseguimento di Charlotte, del quale apprezziamo l’acutezza e la professionalità, oltre all’abilità nel profiling e nel tracciare i movimenti delle sue prede in fuga.
Tutto questo si ottiene con una grande cura dei particolari e l’uso di tutti i colori delle parole, cosa che non compromette affatto il tasso di adrenalina e il ritmo del romanzo, grazie alla solida trama poliziesca. Il cattivo, infatti, si riorganizza per portare a termine l’obiettivo, alimentando un senso di aspettativa e di suspence che crescerà fino alla risoluzione finale.
Aveva fatto da scorta tre volte nella sua vita e non aveva mai abbassato la guardia. Aveva sempre svolto il suo lavoro in modo più che professionale. Ora, invece, si era distratto, sprecando tempo e concentrazione a chiedersi da chi stesse scappando Charlotte, quando era del tutto insignificante. La cosa importante era che Matt doveva essere pronto per lui, ogni secondo di ogni giorno. Distrarsi avrebbe potuto farli uccidere entrambi. E in quel momento si rese conto di quanto lei gli stesse incasinando la testa.
Una storia diversa da ciò che mi aspettavo, ma assolutamente convincente e coinvolgente. Forse il tasso di passione non è alle stelle, ma ho adorato il fascino di un uomo perspicace, protettivo, che sente un legame da subito con una donna che lo guarda da lontano mentre lui recupera le forze e si lecca le ferite facendo il meglio che può senza mai mollare, per quanto poco fosse rispetto alla piena forma.
Trovo che l’autrice sia stata fantastica nel dipingere con pochi tratti il fascino di personaggi che non sono impulsivi e d’azione, ma pazienti e ottimi strateghi (sia Matt che Bennett hanno questa abilità): attenti ai dettagli, capaci di immaginare i background delle persone di cui si stanno occupando o di prevedere le mosse dell’avversario con largo anticipo.
Se la suspense è ben sostenuta dalle capacità di pianificazione e di scouting dei personaggi, la trama romantica procede più lentamente, a piccole dolcissime dosi. Matt riesce ad avvicinarsi piano alla ragazza gentile dal cuore troppo grande per un mondo di assassini opportunisti, conquistando la sua fiducia con fatica, nonostante le dimostri in ogni modo di essere onesto e affidabile.
Matt si mosse in avanti, lo sguardo congelato sulle sue labbra. Stava per baciarla. Lei lo voleva? Sì, no, sì, no… La mano di Charlotte premette delicatamente sul suo petto. Non lo stava respingendo, tenne solo la mano in posizione mentre lui si spostava in avanti. Quel gesto, però, ebbe l’effetto di fermarlo, anche se non era proprio un segnale di stop. E neppure un “Vai”. Il viso di Matt scese verso il suo, sempre più vicino… ma, invece di baciarla sulla bocca, le premette le labbra dietro l’orecchio.
Finale purtroppo un po’ affrettato, che se da un lato rappresenta un culmine esplosivo a un crescendo dal ritmo serrato, dall’altro butta via qualche buon elemento su cui si sarebbe potuto costruire qualcosa di più minuzioso (penso alla caratterizzazione di Matt, per molti versi simmetrica a quella di Barrett, che avrebbe potuto svilupparsi in epilogo più complesso).
Maledizione, tutto il suo corpo era una zona erogena. Tutto in lui la eccitava: la sua stazza, la sua forza, la sua assoluta mascolinità. Chiuse gli occhi. Era così bello toccarlo che guardarlo quasi la distraeva.
August 28, 2016
Very suspenseful with a really horrible villain. Contains some villain parts that may offend some readers and I felt slightly let down at how it ended for the villain but the romance between the two main characters was heart-wrenching and touching for me.
June 16, 2017
DNF. This book started out slow to begin with but once I got to the cat killing scene I was done. It was completely unnecessary and total sick. After that I didn't think it was worth wasting my time finishing the story.
February 18, 2011
4 Stars Romantic Suspense
34 year old Lieutenant Commander Matthew Sanders (Matt) is an ex-navy SEAL who has served in the worst hell holes of the world to protect his country. A man who has led groups of special ops soldiers through the worst and stickiest of situations, Matt’s life in special ops is brought to a grounding halt when he is injured whilst on duty in Afghanistan. Matt takes his broken body up to Baja Sur Mexico to heal from injuries that had nearly taken his life and meets his guardian angel, the woman who changes everything in his life for good.
Heiress Charlotte Court is the uber beautiful and artist daughter of Phillip Court of the Court Industries. Charlotte had been away in art school in Italy when her father who is as down-to-earth and impractical as they come had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Leaving her carefree world behind to take care of her father, Charlotte is pursued by the ambitious and cunning CEO of Court Industries Robert Haine who believes that the vast wealth is wasted on the Courts who really do not appreciate money and the finer things in life that it brings along. Haine’s plan is a dangerous one, to seduce Charlotte into his life, marry her and in turn inherit the billions to her name once her father is dead and gone. But Charlotte who is just more than a pretty face ignores his attempts and finally drives Haine to take matters into his own hands to claim the ownership of the Court Industries once and for all.
On the fateful night when Charlotte’s world is turned upside down, in a span of a few minutes, she witnesses the murder of her father and takes a bullet to her shoulder before survival instincts kick in and Charlotte runs for her life. With nowhere to go and no one to turn to, with the police on an all out manhunt for Charlotte in association with the murder of the most precious person in her life, Charlotte has no choice but to run – and run is what she does from upstate New York to the beaches of Mexico.
It is on her 3rd day in Mexico that she eyes Matt, struggling to put one foot in front of the other just by sheer force of will and this is how a fragile bond between two broken people are formed; two people who have already been to hell and back, forced to endure what would have brought down a normal person.
From the moment Matt eyes his beautiful and broken Guardian Angel, he is smitten to the extent that everything else that surrounds him ceases to exist. And when Matt gets his chance to get up close and personal with his Angel, the protective instincts that kick in full throttle takes him by surprise and Matt wouldn’t have it any other way. With Charlotte refusing to divulge why and who it is that she is running from, Matt does the next best thing – toughen his Angel up so that she would be able to protect herself if the need arises, though he has no intention of leaving her side even for a minute.
But Haine has a more cunning plan in effect as he deploys one of the most lethal weapons that the US government has trained to-date, to hunt and kill the lone woman who stands in his way of inheriting a company which he turned around from the brink of bankruptcy, a legacy worth billions of dollars which he figures rightfully belongs to him.
Similar to books by Lisa Marie Rice, what captured me the most even with this story is how she brings to life every single scene/moment in the story. From the larger than life hero Matt to the beautiful and fragile heroine Charlotte to the sizzling attraction between them, I couldn’t have asked for a more eloquent characterization nor description. And Matt proved to be just the kind of hero that anyone who is on the run for their life would want by their side. His strength which he tones down in spades for the woman he loves; and his firm stand on using whatever means by his side to protect her at all costs is something to be savored in any hero. And Charlotte’s art; I felt like I was in the room with her whilst she was lost in creating beautiful artifacts which would stand the tests of time, the detailed descriptions which I believe has got something to do with the fact that the author herself spent so much time in Italy amongst such talented people who were trying to make a name for themselves in the competitive world of artists.
Though the underlying story is quite the same where the heroine is beautiful, hero is besotted right from the very beginning and in the end love triumphs all, I still loved this story which grabbed me right from the very start. There are subtle differences however to the stories that are authored under Lisa Marie Rice to this one. Books under LMR tends to be more about the intense connection between the hero and heroine such that the air practically vibrates with electricity whenever they both come into contact. However in this story even though the romance aspect is not placed on a back burner, the suspense aspect of the story is given as much attention and time in the story making it balanced in terms of romance and suspense.
Recommended for fans of Lisa Marie Rice who haven’t tried out books authored under Elizabeth Jennings, and those who love their romantic suspense with a larger than life hero who would lay down his life to protect the woman he loves.
34 year old Lieutenant Commander Matthew Sanders (Matt) is an ex-navy SEAL who has served in the worst hell holes of the world to protect his country. A man who has led groups of special ops soldiers through the worst and stickiest of situations, Matt’s life in special ops is brought to a grounding halt when he is injured whilst on duty in Afghanistan. Matt takes his broken body up to Baja Sur Mexico to heal from injuries that had nearly taken his life and meets his guardian angel, the woman who changes everything in his life for good.
Heiress Charlotte Court is the uber beautiful and artist daughter of Phillip Court of the Court Industries. Charlotte had been away in art school in Italy when her father who is as down-to-earth and impractical as they come had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Leaving her carefree world behind to take care of her father, Charlotte is pursued by the ambitious and cunning CEO of Court Industries Robert Haine who believes that the vast wealth is wasted on the Courts who really do not appreciate money and the finer things in life that it brings along. Haine’s plan is a dangerous one, to seduce Charlotte into his life, marry her and in turn inherit the billions to her name once her father is dead and gone. But Charlotte who is just more than a pretty face ignores his attempts and finally drives Haine to take matters into his own hands to claim the ownership of the Court Industries once and for all.
On the fateful night when Charlotte’s world is turned upside down, in a span of a few minutes, she witnesses the murder of her father and takes a bullet to her shoulder before survival instincts kick in and Charlotte runs for her life. With nowhere to go and no one to turn to, with the police on an all out manhunt for Charlotte in association with the murder of the most precious person in her life, Charlotte has no choice but to run – and run is what she does from upstate New York to the beaches of Mexico.
It is on her 3rd day in Mexico that she eyes Matt, struggling to put one foot in front of the other just by sheer force of will and this is how a fragile bond between two broken people are formed; two people who have already been to hell and back, forced to endure what would have brought down a normal person.
From the moment Matt eyes his beautiful and broken Guardian Angel, he is smitten to the extent that everything else that surrounds him ceases to exist. And when Matt gets his chance to get up close and personal with his Angel, the protective instincts that kick in full throttle takes him by surprise and Matt wouldn’t have it any other way. With Charlotte refusing to divulge why and who it is that she is running from, Matt does the next best thing – toughen his Angel up so that she would be able to protect herself if the need arises, though he has no intention of leaving her side even for a minute.
But Haine has a more cunning plan in effect as he deploys one of the most lethal weapons that the US government has trained to-date, to hunt and kill the lone woman who stands in his way of inheriting a company which he turned around from the brink of bankruptcy, a legacy worth billions of dollars which he figures rightfully belongs to him.
Similar to books by Lisa Marie Rice, what captured me the most even with this story is how she brings to life every single scene/moment in the story. From the larger than life hero Matt to the beautiful and fragile heroine Charlotte to the sizzling attraction between them, I couldn’t have asked for a more eloquent characterization nor description. And Matt proved to be just the kind of hero that anyone who is on the run for their life would want by their side. His strength which he tones down in spades for the woman he loves; and his firm stand on using whatever means by his side to protect her at all costs is something to be savored in any hero. And Charlotte’s art; I felt like I was in the room with her whilst she was lost in creating beautiful artifacts which would stand the tests of time, the detailed descriptions which I believe has got something to do with the fact that the author herself spent so much time in Italy amongst such talented people who were trying to make a name for themselves in the competitive world of artists.
Though the underlying story is quite the same where the heroine is beautiful, hero is besotted right from the very beginning and in the end love triumphs all, I still loved this story which grabbed me right from the very start. There are subtle differences however to the stories that are authored under Lisa Marie Rice to this one. Books under LMR tends to be more about the intense connection between the hero and heroine such that the air practically vibrates with electricity whenever they both come into contact. However in this story even though the romance aspect is not placed on a back burner, the suspense aspect of the story is given as much attention and time in the story making it balanced in terms of romance and suspense.
Recommended for fans of Lisa Marie Rice who haven’t tried out books authored under Elizabeth Jennings, and those who love their romantic suspense with a larger than life hero who would lay down his life to protect the woman he loves.
April 8, 2023
3.5
"Si sentiva un gentiluomo in smoking. Un cavaliere in armatura splendente con la sua amata. Ogni cliché dei libri: dannazione, era proprio lui! Tutto preso da una donna, il cuore che perdeva un battito quando lei gli sorrideva, disposto a guadare fiumi per lei, scalare montagne, uccidere draghi. Disposto ad ammazzare per lei. A morire per lei."
Se confronto gli ultimi libri letti della Rice con i primi, sembrano quasi due autrici completamente differenti. Tantissimi anni fa, quando l'ho scoperta, i suoi libri erano estremamente adrenalinici e hot, a volte anche troppo (letteralmente, saltavano a letto senza nemmeno le presentazioni tra poco XD), mentre ora ha adottato uno stile decisamente più lento e riflessivo, quasi da slow burn. Intendiamoci, non è che sia necessariamente un male questo cambio di rotta, ci regala storie più dolci e posate, più introspettive, e tuttavia anche un poco più noiose (forse perché appunto non è il suo stile di fabbrica e deve ancora padroneggiarlo) e a farne le spese sono proprio le scene di passione che sono decisamente più freddine e poco entusiasmanti. In generale comunque mi piace sempre leggere i suoi libri ma mi manca la vecchia scintilla ç_ç
"Erano dove si erano diretti da quando l’aveva salvata dai neri tentacoli del mare. Forse si stavano dirigendo lì dal giorno in cui l’aveva visto stagliarsi contro il sole al tramonto: il guscio spezzato di un uomo che traeva forza da una donna ferita e in fuga.
Le aveva salvato la vita. Nel modo più primitivo che c’era, fin nelle ossa e nel sangue, lei era sua."
"Si sentiva un gentiluomo in smoking. Un cavaliere in armatura splendente con la sua amata. Ogni cliché dei libri: dannazione, era proprio lui! Tutto preso da una donna, il cuore che perdeva un battito quando lei gli sorrideva, disposto a guadare fiumi per lei, scalare montagne, uccidere draghi. Disposto ad ammazzare per lei. A morire per lei."
Se confronto gli ultimi libri letti della Rice con i primi, sembrano quasi due autrici completamente differenti. Tantissimi anni fa, quando l'ho scoperta, i suoi libri erano estremamente adrenalinici e hot, a volte anche troppo (letteralmente, saltavano a letto senza nemmeno le presentazioni tra poco XD), mentre ora ha adottato uno stile decisamente più lento e riflessivo, quasi da slow burn. Intendiamoci, non è che sia necessariamente un male questo cambio di rotta, ci regala storie più dolci e posate, più introspettive, e tuttavia anche un poco più noiose (forse perché appunto non è il suo stile di fabbrica e deve ancora padroneggiarlo) e a farne le spese sono proprio le scene di passione che sono decisamente più freddine e poco entusiasmanti. In generale comunque mi piace sempre leggere i suoi libri ma mi manca la vecchia scintilla ç_ç
"Erano dove si erano diretti da quando l’aveva salvata dai neri tentacoli del mare. Forse si stavano dirigendo lì dal giorno in cui l’aveva visto stagliarsi contro il sole al tramonto: il guscio spezzato di un uomo che traeva forza da una donna ferita e in fuga.
Le aveva salvato la vita. Nel modo più primitivo che c’era, fin nelle ossa e nel sangue, lei era sua."
September 18, 2010
PURSUIT – Elizabeth Jennings
5 stars
I’ve never read Lisa Marie Rice novels so had no idea what to expect from the heroes or heroines.
The main plot is about a heiress who is on the run for a murder she did not commit. She ends up in a little town in Mexico where she lives in relative anonymity. Simultaneously, a seriously wounded Navy SEAL chap goes to the same town to rehabilitate himself . He is a shadow of his former self.
They are both lonely lost souls trying to exorcise their past demons and rebuild their lives, they see each other from afar and they seem to have this kindred spirit connection. He sees her as her guardian angel and she sees him as her saviour. They have a tentative courtship with Charlotte unable to trust him at first about her situation and Matt being perceptive and persuasive in nature helps her to confide in him.
Matt, the hero is very alpha male but an unusual one which I like. He is truly an awe inspiring hero who pushes himself to the limit to get back into physical and mental shape. He is angst-ridden because the Navy SEALS was his life and now ponders what he is going to do next. You can’t help but feel his pain and fall for him at the same time. You got to read it to understand his character. He also chivalrous, gracious, charming and abit of a rough diamond in relation to Charlotte’s sophistication. He has a sensitive side and understands that when a woman needs her space, he will step back when necessary. He gives her time to adjust in their relationship and isn’t too pushy when he he’s dying to get her into bed with him. He is also shrewd at cajoling Charlotte to learning tasks to protect herself when she is reluctant.
Charlotte is very rich but not in the spoilt sense, and lives quite a simple life in Mexico, she believes in helping humanity and is totally devoted to her father and she is most happy carefree when painting and is smart when planning her escape. She is also quite an naive when dealing with business of her paintings and when trying to save Matt from drowning. I believe Matt and Charlotte had great chemistry together and sexual tension, although she is her own person, she needs a strong man to look after her and Matt is protective and possessive without being aggressively arrogant. I thought the build up to their love scenes was quite sweet and raunchy.
The bad guys are superb and the build up to locating the heroine is great but is abit tedious at times. The other character Tom Reich seems intriguing too. I liked Lenny’s comic character, I wished I knew about more about his life. The setting of the location was lovely, one felt you were there in this delightful town and the characters were lively and colourful. My tiny criticism is that I thought the ending was a bit rushed and I would have liked an epilogue.
All in all a great suspense story and very charming romance with a lovely H/h you're cheering for all the way to the end. This book is going in to my permanent RS collection
5 stars
I’ve never read Lisa Marie Rice novels so had no idea what to expect from the heroes or heroines.
The main plot is about a heiress who is on the run for a murder she did not commit. She ends up in a little town in Mexico where she lives in relative anonymity. Simultaneously, a seriously wounded Navy SEAL chap goes to the same town to rehabilitate himself . He is a shadow of his former self.
They are both lonely lost souls trying to exorcise their past demons and rebuild their lives, they see each other from afar and they seem to have this kindred spirit connection. He sees her as her guardian angel and she sees him as her saviour. They have a tentative courtship with Charlotte unable to trust him at first about her situation and Matt being perceptive and persuasive in nature helps her to confide in him.
Matt, the hero is very alpha male but an unusual one which I like. He is truly an awe inspiring hero who pushes himself to the limit to get back into physical and mental shape. He is angst-ridden because the Navy SEALS was his life and now ponders what he is going to do next. You can’t help but feel his pain and fall for him at the same time. You got to read it to understand his character. He also chivalrous, gracious, charming and abit of a rough diamond in relation to Charlotte’s sophistication. He has a sensitive side and understands that when a woman needs her space, he will step back when necessary. He gives her time to adjust in their relationship and isn’t too pushy when he he’s dying to get her into bed with him. He is also shrewd at cajoling Charlotte to learning tasks to protect herself when she is reluctant.
Charlotte is very rich but not in the spoilt sense, and lives quite a simple life in Mexico, she believes in helping humanity and is totally devoted to her father and she is most happy carefree when painting and is smart when planning her escape. She is also quite an naive when dealing with business of her paintings and when trying to save Matt from drowning. I believe Matt and Charlotte had great chemistry together and sexual tension, although she is her own person, she needs a strong man to look after her and Matt is protective and possessive without being aggressively arrogant. I thought the build up to their love scenes was quite sweet and raunchy.
The bad guys are superb and the build up to locating the heroine is great but is abit tedious at times. The other character Tom Reich seems intriguing too. I liked Lenny’s comic character, I wished I knew about more about his life. The setting of the location was lovely, one felt you were there in this delightful town and the characters were lively and colourful. My tiny criticism is that I thought the ending was a bit rushed and I would have liked an epilogue.
All in all a great suspense story and very charming romance with a lovely H/h you're cheering for all the way to the end. This book is going in to my permanent RS collection
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
dnf
January 29, 2022It a nice safe book.
But I wasn’t impressed.
It was a snooze fest.
But I wasn’t impressed.
It was a snooze fest.
December 30, 2014
Pursuit
4 Stars
Charlotte Court goes on the run after being set up for her father’s murder. While in hiding in a picturesque town in Mexico, Charlotte meets former Navy SEAL, Matt Sanders who is recuperating from his own trauma. The two grow closer as the threats from Charlotte’s past loom nearer and nearer.
Charlotte is an intelligent and resourceful heroine and Matt is a scarred and sexy SEAL. Their chemistry is excellent, and the development of their relationship is intense and often breathtaking. That said, Matt can be quite overbearing, and the actual consummation of his and Charlotte’s sexual relationship is rather tepid.
Both the hero and the villain are built up as intense warriors and brilliant strategists, but the final confrontation between them is lackluster. Nevertheless, the bad guy’s demise is quite satisfactory, particularly due to the fact that it is .
The writing style is straightforward and minimalistic at times, but the pacing flows smoothly and keeps the reader engaged. There are two gruesome scenes that some readers might find disturbing. The first is completely unnecessary as it adds nothing to the developing storyline or to the main villain’s characterization while the second is central to the plot and doesn’t actually come close to similarly gritty scenes in books by Karen Rose or Karin Slaughter.
All in all, an entertaining read with a solid suspense tale and a truly touching romance.
4 Stars
Charlotte Court goes on the run after being set up for her father’s murder. While in hiding in a picturesque town in Mexico, Charlotte meets former Navy SEAL, Matt Sanders who is recuperating from his own trauma. The two grow closer as the threats from Charlotte’s past loom nearer and nearer.
Charlotte is an intelligent and resourceful heroine and Matt is a scarred and sexy SEAL. Their chemistry is excellent, and the development of their relationship is intense and often breathtaking. That said, Matt can be quite overbearing, and the actual consummation of his and Charlotte’s sexual relationship is rather tepid.
Both the hero and the villain are built up as intense warriors and brilliant strategists, but the final confrontation between them is lackluster. Nevertheless, the bad guy’s demise is quite satisfactory, particularly due to the fact that it is .
The writing style is straightforward and minimalistic at times, but the pacing flows smoothly and keeps the reader engaged. There are two gruesome scenes that some readers might find disturbing. The first is completely unnecessary as it adds nothing to the developing storyline or to the main villain’s characterization while the second is central to the plot and doesn’t actually come close to similarly gritty scenes in books by Karen Rose or Karin Slaughter.
All in all, an entertaining read with a solid suspense tale and a truly touching romance.
August 6, 2010
Well I decided to finish this book, and I'm glad I did. Matt and Charlotte are great characters stuck in a silly story. Matt is your typical uber-alpha male. He's a lot like any other Lisa Marie Rice hero except in his feeling for Charlotte. He doesn't take one look at her and decide he'll spend the rest of his life protecting her. Their feelings for each other, to me, felt genuine. It's the way the meet and why they feel the way they do that moved me. It's beautifully written and I won't spoil it by telling how they come across each other.
Charlotte is on the run from incredibly stupid and irritating bad guys. She's a pampered princess, but yet she can outrun the bad guys and survive some bad stuff. That irritated me. The problem with this book is that pages and pages are wasted on non-sense. Pages and pages about how she wouldn't sleep with bad guy #1 and now he hates her. Pages and pages about all the bad gratuitous violence that bad guy #2 has done in his line of work (being a bad guy). Pages and pages about bad guy #2's disguises. It's a waste. It added nothing to the story. I get that we needed a bad guy and a suspense story line, but this was poorly done.
It took away from the enjoyable characters. But I finished it because I liked them enough to want to.
I'm not sure if I'd recommend this to everyone, but ifyou are a LMR fan, then you'd probably enjoy this story.
Charlotte is on the run from incredibly stupid and irritating bad guys. She's a pampered princess, but yet she can outrun the bad guys and survive some bad stuff. That irritated me. The problem with this book is that pages and pages are wasted on non-sense. Pages and pages about how she wouldn't sleep with bad guy #1 and now he hates her. Pages and pages about all the bad gratuitous violence that bad guy #2 has done in his line of work (being a bad guy). Pages and pages about bad guy #2's disguises. It's a waste. It added nothing to the story. I get that we needed a bad guy and a suspense story line, but this was poorly done.
It took away from the enjoyable characters. But I finished it because I liked them enough to want to.
I'm not sure if I'd recommend this to everyone, but ifyou are a LMR fan, then you'd probably enjoy this story.
July 18, 2008
I felt the same about Elizabeth Jenning's Pursuit as I did about her books as Lisa Marie Rice - unsatisfying despite a promising blurb. Coitus Interruptus is usually annoying whether in real life or in romantic novels but now, I think coitus preventus is worse. Matt is dying to get his dick in Charlotte but she "doesn't want penetration right now" but her vagina "flutters" when Matt touches her. This is happening in the last few pages of the book so that gives you an idea how annoying the whole book was for me.
I was asked about a gruesome part and I'm guessing this must be where the villain cut off Molly's fingertips. She's unconscious so she didn't feel it but no, that wasn't as bad as some other scenes I've read in other books, like Karen Rose or even one of Shannon McKenna's or one called Bad Girl by Michele Jaffe (a great book, btw).
That scene was the only portion of this book that had any suspense. The rest of it was quiet and uneventful despite the circumstances surrounding Charlotte. The suspense and tension wasn't communicated to me, unfortunately, and neither did this book make it as a romance.
I was asked about a gruesome part and I'm guessing this must be where the villain cut off Molly's fingertips. She's unconscious so she didn't feel it but no, that wasn't as bad as some other scenes I've read in other books, like Karen Rose or even one of Shannon McKenna's or one called Bad Girl by Michele Jaffe (a great book, btw).
That scene was the only portion of this book that had any suspense. The rest of it was quiet and uneventful despite the circumstances surrounding Charlotte. The suspense and tension wasn't communicated to me, unfortunately, and neither did this book make it as a romance.
April 14, 2010
Well, I read this book knowing it was written by 'aka Lisa Marie Rice'. She is one of my favorites. This one didn't disappoint on that score. I love the author's writing style and the type of characters she creates. A lovely, strong female who isn't afraid to fight for herself but who will also allow her man to step in and help protect her. A male who is nothing but respectful and loving towards his woman, along with all the yummy alpha male stuff too. No major break ups, misunderstandings, miscommunications, etc.
I liked how the story flowed. I think one review I read said their romance went way too fast. I don't agree. Yes, they 'connected' pretty early on in the book but I feel it was done very nicely and they didn't even have sex until way later in the story. Until she was comfortable with him. So I though it was all done with her typical talent for story telling. I would have liked more love scenes, but I guess that's where her other 'pen name' comes in and takes care of that genre for us! But nonetheless, a very romantic and intriguing book. Really enjoyed it!!
I liked how the story flowed. I think one review I read said their romance went way too fast. I don't agree. Yes, they 'connected' pretty early on in the book but I feel it was done very nicely and they didn't even have sex until way later in the story. Until she was comfortable with him. So I though it was all done with her typical talent for story telling. I would have liked more love scenes, but I guess that's where her other 'pen name' comes in and takes care of that genre for us! But nonetheless, a very romantic and intriguing book. Really enjoyed it!!
February 10, 2012
3 1/2 stars
There were parts of this book that I really liked.
Likable characters, great imaging and a sexy SEXY dude!
Others parts, not so much.
It was a little too wordy for me, LOTS of narration and inner-musings.
I also wanted more time with the H/h. It was fun to get inside the bad guy's head but fewer pages would have been plenty.
And the ending was WAY too rushed. The story had been so detailed and descriptive prior to the end, that it didn't fit. I'm guessing the publisher made her shorten it up?
There were parts of this book that I really liked.
Likable characters, great imaging and a sexy SEXY dude!
Others parts, not so much.
It was a little too wordy for me, LOTS of narration and inner-musings.
I also wanted more time with the H/h. It was fun to get inside the bad guy's head but fewer pages would have been plenty.
And the ending was WAY too rushed. The story had been so detailed and descriptive prior to the end, that it didn't fit. I'm guessing the publisher made her shorten it up?
January 31, 2011
I really liked this book. Loved the hero and the heroine, although I thought she hung to her secrets a little too long. It resolved a little too easy and a little too quickly - I would have liked more at the end. Overall, very good!
June 7, 2012
Didn't finish this one, by the halfway point, the hero, heroine and plot just were getting too over the top for me.
February 11, 2025
**MINOR SPOILERS**
This is a standalone book.
When Charlotte’s wealthy father is dying of cancer, Charlotte walks into the room as someone is murdering him. She is shot and goes on the run. The murder was arranged by the head of the family company, Robert, who wants to steal the company for his own.
Matt is a navy SEAL who was shot in Afghanistan while saving his team and was severely injured. He had almost died and went into a coma and now faces a long recovery. He is discharged from the military and has not decided on what to do next. Matt is a military hero and had been willing to die for his teammates. He had honor and courage.
Matt and Charlotte meet in Mexico. Charlotte hides out and Matt is recovering from his injury. He thinks of her as a guardian angel as she watches him rebuild his body. When he finds out she was shot, he feels protective and wants to slay dragons for her. She feels protective of him as he regains his strength and is impressed by his determination to recover.
The POV changes during the story between Matt, Charlotte, Robert, and a hired killer, Barrett. It is easy to tell when the POV changes. Most of the book happens over a few days.
I like the way Matt is protective of Charlotte. He is dedicated to her very early in the story. Charlotte has a similar feeling about him. There were times I felt that Matt was a little bossy towards Charlotte, but she does press back in her own way. I also liked that she was part of the resolution of the story.
Early in the story, the author mentions that Matt has bedded beautiful women but that he finds something special about Charlotte. Authors often make this type of comment and I have come to dislike it. The book was written in 2008 so I will give it a pass, but it just seems to establish the man’s bona fides as a stud. I prefer an emphasis on character and decency rather than “my hero has slept around but can be discriminating”. I also did not care for it when Matt thought about women he picked up in a bar that looked good in a dark bar but not so good the next morning. It seemed both cliched and a bit cheap.
When the author first introduces Matt, he is in the hospital and falls flat on his face because he is weak and recently awakened from a coma. A week later, he is in Mexico able to walk and swim though it takes great effort. His recovery is remarkable. When Charlotte nearly drowns, she is nearly frozen (surprising in Mexico) and he is barely affected.
After Matt rescues her, he brings her back to her home and basically decides to move in with her without asking. When she falls asleep, he climbs in bed with her because she does not warm up. When she wakes up, she is ok with him being naked in bed with her. They had officially met the night before. I guess it was possible because they had been watching each other for a month, but I think the author should have said a bit more about why she was accepting of it. Also, she does not object to his moving in, but the author says nothing about her thought process about it. I definitely think a conversation about it should have been included.
There was also a scene where Charlotte closes up her vag**a. That is not something you read every day.
For a rich woman, it was surprising to me that Charlotte did not have resources of her own to fight that she was being framed. I thought she could have contacted federal agents, a private investigator, friends, a defense lawyer, etc. Spoiler…in the end, it was one of Matt’s friends that helped her.
I thought the author did a good job describing Charlotte’s art.
This is the first book I have read by the author. I thought the book was ok, but I do not plan to continue reading the author’s books.
This is a standalone book.
When Charlotte’s wealthy father is dying of cancer, Charlotte walks into the room as someone is murdering him. She is shot and goes on the run. The murder was arranged by the head of the family company, Robert, who wants to steal the company for his own.
Matt is a navy SEAL who was shot in Afghanistan while saving his team and was severely injured. He had almost died and went into a coma and now faces a long recovery. He is discharged from the military and has not decided on what to do next. Matt is a military hero and had been willing to die for his teammates. He had honor and courage.
Matt and Charlotte meet in Mexico. Charlotte hides out and Matt is recovering from his injury. He thinks of her as a guardian angel as she watches him rebuild his body. When he finds out she was shot, he feels protective and wants to slay dragons for her. She feels protective of him as he regains his strength and is impressed by his determination to recover.
The POV changes during the story between Matt, Charlotte, Robert, and a hired killer, Barrett. It is easy to tell when the POV changes. Most of the book happens over a few days.
I like the way Matt is protective of Charlotte. He is dedicated to her very early in the story. Charlotte has a similar feeling about him. There were times I felt that Matt was a little bossy towards Charlotte, but she does press back in her own way. I also liked that she was part of the resolution of the story.
Early in the story, the author mentions that Matt has bedded beautiful women but that he finds something special about Charlotte. Authors often make this type of comment and I have come to dislike it. The book was written in 2008 so I will give it a pass, but it just seems to establish the man’s bona fides as a stud. I prefer an emphasis on character and decency rather than “my hero has slept around but can be discriminating”. I also did not care for it when Matt thought about women he picked up in a bar that looked good in a dark bar but not so good the next morning. It seemed both cliched and a bit cheap.
When the author first introduces Matt, he is in the hospital and falls flat on his face because he is weak and recently awakened from a coma. A week later, he is in Mexico able to walk and swim though it takes great effort. His recovery is remarkable. When Charlotte nearly drowns, she is nearly frozen (surprising in Mexico) and he is barely affected.
After Matt rescues her, he brings her back to her home and basically decides to move in with her without asking. When she falls asleep, he climbs in bed with her because she does not warm up. When she wakes up, she is ok with him being naked in bed with her. They had officially met the night before. I guess it was possible because they had been watching each other for a month, but I think the author should have said a bit more about why she was accepting of it. Also, she does not object to his moving in, but the author says nothing about her thought process about it. I definitely think a conversation about it should have been included.
There was also a scene where Charlotte closes up her vag**a. That is not something you read every day.
For a rich woman, it was surprising to me that Charlotte did not have resources of her own to fight that she was being framed. I thought she could have contacted federal agents, a private investigator, friends, a defense lawyer, etc. Spoiler…in the end, it was one of Matt’s friends that helped her.
I thought the author did a good job describing Charlotte’s art.
This is the first book I have read by the author. I thought the book was ok, but I do not plan to continue reading the author’s books.
March 12, 2022
I don't know why I read it. It could be a short story easily.
Why we are reading pov of the shooter? He's not the main antagonist nor protagonist. Just a hired killer. Why he matters? That was so useless. We got 1/2 pov of Matt and Charlotte and 4/5 of barret and others. Is this book about Charlotte and her runaway life or barret and how he found her? Just wtf?
And Charlotte so determined to clear her name revenge and all while not doing anything. She just hid and checked up what was happening time to time. How would you get revenge that way? And her not telling matt was bullshit. They had the build up before having sex entirely. So of course she should have trusted him at that point.
And the first time she backed out of having sex...... I'm still confused about what I read...... Did Matt actually said that if Charlotte refused her second time thn he'll kiss the idea of protecting her goodbye?! Am I getting it right? That if she refuse again he'll just what? Leave her? Knowing she's in danger? It's not like she wanted his help in first place? I still can't fathom what I read.
Why we are reading pov of the shooter? He's not the main antagonist nor protagonist. Just a hired killer. Why he matters? That was so useless. We got 1/2 pov of Matt and Charlotte and 4/5 of barret and others. Is this book about Charlotte and her runaway life or barret and how he found her? Just wtf?
And Charlotte so determined to clear her name revenge and all while not doing anything. She just hid and checked up what was happening time to time. How would you get revenge that way? And her not telling matt was bullshit. They had the build up before having sex entirely. So of course she should have trusted him at that point.
And the first time she backed out of having sex...... I'm still confused about what I read...... Did Matt actually said that if Charlotte refused her second time thn he'll kiss the idea of protecting her goodbye?! Am I getting it right? That if she refuse again he'll just what? Leave her? Knowing she's in danger? It's not like she wanted his help in first place? I still can't fathom what I read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2022
This is not my favorite Lisa Marie Rice book. It took too long for the hero and heroine to be physically intimate.
Also I had a few issues with the heroine making dumb decisions.
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
She is in hiding. Her face has been plastered all over the media for killing her father (she is innocent).
So what does she do? She goes to a concert with tons of people around. YOU NEED TO AVOID PEOPLE WHO MIGHT RECOGNIZE YOU WHEN YOU ARE HIDING.
Then she talks to an art dealer and tells him she studied at a very exclusive school and they know the same teachers. YOU ARE IN HIDING YOU DON'T TALK TO STRANGERS.
Because she sold a painting of her maid, the bad guy assassin finds her. DON'T SELL PICTURES OF PEOPLE WHO CAN BE CONNECTED TO YOU.
Hero tells her not to open the door as he is in the shower. What does she do? OPENS THE DOOR WITHOUT RECOGNIZING THE PERSON ON THE OTHER SIDE. Of course, it is the bad guy who almost kills her and then shoots hero. She has to shoot the assassin with a gun hidden in a drawer in her house.
Also I had a few issues with the heroine making dumb decisions.
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
She is in hiding. Her face has been plastered all over the media for killing her father (she is innocent).
So what does she do? She goes to a concert with tons of people around. YOU NEED TO AVOID PEOPLE WHO MIGHT RECOGNIZE YOU WHEN YOU ARE HIDING.
Then she talks to an art dealer and tells him she studied at a very exclusive school and they know the same teachers. YOU ARE IN HIDING YOU DON'T TALK TO STRANGERS.
Because she sold a painting of her maid, the bad guy assassin finds her. DON'T SELL PICTURES OF PEOPLE WHO CAN BE CONNECTED TO YOU.
Hero tells her not to open the door as he is in the shower. What does she do? OPENS THE DOOR WITHOUT RECOGNIZING THE PERSON ON THE OTHER SIDE. Of course, it is the bad guy who almost kills her and then shoots hero. She has to shoot the assassin with a gun hidden in a drawer in her house.
September 24, 2017
This wasn't for me, I think. It contained more fragile heroine and protective alpha male than I can handle. I have a hard time with romantic suspense - honestly, I'm a huge wuss about violence, suspense, and gore, plus often romantic suspense has those ultra-protective heroes who don't listen to the heroine when she objects to things because they "must protect their woman". It's not that I think I'm too fancy for these things, but I think... it just goes a little bit too far for me, I think I typically want the heroine to be closer to the hero's equal or I can't really enjoy it, and the hero starts to feel like another overwhelming obstacle for the heroine to overcome to feel safe.
Perfectly decent writing though, if you like romantic suspense and this type of hero!
Perfectly decent writing though, if you like romantic suspense and this type of hero!
February 13, 2019
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I really enjoyed this book! I love the main characters: Charlotte and Matt. Both have been broken, but they are recovering together in San Luis, Mexico. My only complaint was the killer and the man who hired him took up too much of the book for my taste. I just skimmed most of that.
I really enjoyed this book! I love the main characters: Charlotte and Matt. Both have been broken, but they are recovering together in San Luis, Mexico. My only complaint was the killer and the man who hired him took up too much of the book for my taste. I just skimmed most of that.
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