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Meltdown
"I'm in this thing until I decide I'm out. You got that?"
With terrorists hot on her heels, nuclear chemist Zoe Wilkinson races to elude capture. The last person she expects help from is her ex-boyfriend Cooper Kennedy. But when their plane crashes, stranding them in the desert, the stifling heat pales in comparison to the scorching desire Zoe still feels….
On undercover assignment for the navy, Coop can't believe the woman who ruined his life is back. Zoe's always been trouble. And nothing's changed—not even the consuming lust she sets off in him. But when Zoe's kidnapped, Coop must race against the clock to protect the woman he loves.
With terrorists hot on her heels, nuclear chemist Zoe Wilkinson races to elude capture. The last person she expects help from is her ex-boyfriend Cooper Kennedy. But when their plane crashes, stranding them in the desert, the stifling heat pales in comparison to the scorching desire Zoe still feels….
On undercover assignment for the navy, Coop can't believe the woman who ruined his life is back. Zoe's always been trouble. And nothing's changed—not even the consuming lust she sets off in him. But when Zoe's kidnapped, Coop must race against the clock to protect the woman he loves.
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 27, 2010
1 person is currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Gail Barrett
44 books37 followersThe nuns in my Catholic elementary school always said that each of us has a gift, a reason we were put here on earth. Our job is to discover what that purpose is. Well, I knew early on that I was meant to be a writer. Who else would spend her childhood grinding sparkling rocks into fairy dust and convince her friends it was real? Or daydream her way through elementary school, spend high school reading philosophy and playing the bagpipes, and then head off to Spain during college to live the writer's life?
After four years in Madrid I straggled back home, broke but fluent in Spanish, and discovered that I'd acquired a marketable skill. So instead of writing, I began teaching Spanish. I also married a Coast Guard Officer and followed him around the country as he rescued ships and saved lives.
The years passed. We had two sons. I earned my master's degree and continued teaching, which I really enjoyed. We met interesting people and acquired a quirky dog.
But the desire to write kept lurking in my mind. That was my dream, what I knew I'd been destined to do -- and yet, I had never done it. Then one day I made a decision. If I wanted to become a published author, I had to stop fantasizing about writing and actually do it.
So I began my first book –- and discovered that writing a saleable novel was much harder than I'd dreamed. Fortunately, I inherited a healthy dose of Irish stubbornness, a strong mid-western work ethic and a love of challenges that helped me persevere.
So here I am at last, just as the nuns instructed and right where I hoped I would be –- writing stories about characters struggling along their own paths of self-discovery. I hope you enjoy their journey home.
After four years in Madrid I straggled back home, broke but fluent in Spanish, and discovered that I'd acquired a marketable skill. So instead of writing, I began teaching Spanish. I also married a Coast Guard Officer and followed him around the country as he rescued ships and saved lives.
The years passed. We had two sons. I earned my master's degree and continued teaching, which I really enjoyed. We met interesting people and acquired a quirky dog.
But the desire to write kept lurking in my mind. That was my dream, what I knew I'd been destined to do -- and yet, I had never done it. Then one day I made a decision. If I wanted to become a published author, I had to stop fantasizing about writing and actually do it.
So I began my first book –- and discovered that writing a saleable novel was much harder than I'd dreamed. Fortunately, I inherited a healthy dose of Irish stubbornness, a strong mid-western work ethic and a love of challenges that helped me persevere.
So here I am at last, just as the nuns instructed and right where I hoped I would be –- writing stories about characters struggling along their own paths of self-discovery. I hope you enjoy their journey home.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 7, 2010
I enjoyed this romantic suspense from a very talented author. Zoe and Cooper were a believable, engaging pair with a love-entangled past, racing the clock to save the world and each other.
April 13, 2010
It’s a sad thing when a story exists merely because of the actions of a minor character. In this case a scientist who duped both hero and heroine eight years ago, stole the work of his own granddaughter, calmly stood by when his daughter and son-in-law were killed…But said scientist only appeared "on set" toward the end in one or two scenes (just to confirm his egocentricity) and promptly died.
Without him, there would be no story, and even what there was wasn’t anything memorable. Forgettable characters, no chemistry, forgettable suspense, forgettable plot...Forgettable.
Without him, there would be no story, and even what there was wasn’t anything memorable. Forgettable characters, no chemistry, forgettable suspense, forgettable plot...Forgettable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2017
SRS #1610 = 3+ stars
July 31, 2013
"Meltdown" is a rockin' reunion romance with a well-paced, involving suspense story line. Author Gail Barrett keeps the romance sweet and steamy, the pace pleasingly persistent, and the action and adventure are awesome! When nuclear chemist Zoe Wilkinson's physicist grandfather is kidnapped, she finds herself also hunted as she searches for a missing flash drive, the key to her grandfather's safe release. She never expects help to come in the handsome form of her former love, Navy pilot Cooper Kennedy. An escape flight comes to an abrupt halt when their small plane crashes in the desert, and they are forced to fight for survival just as they fight their still-burning deep mutual attraction. Coop and Zoe were so very young when they first fell in love, each with hopes and dreams of a bright and fulfilling future. They were forced apart by lies and manipulations from someone with a hidden agenda, and the years of separation have left their mark. However, theirs was a real love and a true passion, and the embers have never died out. Forced to face their past and hoping to somehow find a future together, Coop and Zoe struggle to overcome the danger that threatens to destroy not only their love, but the safety of mankind and the world itself. A terrific romantic suspense read from a talented author, "Meltdown" would make a fabulous film adventure! A hunky hero, a feisty female, a looming threat to life as we know it, and a hot and heartfelt reunion romance. Do I hear Hollywood calling?
August 21, 2011
Zoe's a scientist on the run--her grandfather (and fellow researcher) has been kidnapped, and armed thugs are on her tail. The last person she expects to see much less get help from is Cooper, her ex-boyfriend. But help her he does...
Coop's got his own agenda--now a Navy pilot with some wrongs to right, he's been sent to keep an eye out for Zoe's grandfather. Along the way, he realizes that his feelings for Zoe had never gone away--they still share an incendiary chemistry, and his protective streak puts him sometimes at odds with his orders.
A fast-paced read, Ms. Barrett's story kept me turning the pages even as sometimes I rolled my eyes at Zoe's stubborn insistence to rescue her only remaining family and Coop's lack of resistance to Zoe's plight.
Coop's got his own agenda--now a Navy pilot with some wrongs to right, he's been sent to keep an eye out for Zoe's grandfather. Along the way, he realizes that his feelings for Zoe had never gone away--they still share an incendiary chemistry, and his protective streak puts him sometimes at odds with his orders.
A fast-paced read, Ms. Barrett's story kept me turning the pages even as sometimes I rolled my eyes at Zoe's stubborn insistence to rescue her only remaining family and Coop's lack of resistance to Zoe's plight.
June 25, 2010
Nuclear chemist Zoe Wilkinson is running for her life. From the government,Navy, FBI, and terrorists who want her grandfather's scandisk that will change the world. When her ex boyfriend Coop Kennedy ends up helping her, not by his choice at first, he starts questioning his loyalty to the Navy and how his really feels about Zoe. Together they escape terrorist while searching for the disk and find out just what really caused them to break up 8 years ago. I enjoyed the beginning and middle, but the end had a little to much scientific info that took away from the story to me. I liked the romance between Zoe and Coop.
January 21, 2014
Meltdown was a predictable but very readable romantic suspense. A couple of plot points didn't quite make sense and some phrases and thoughts were noticeably repeated throughout the writing , but I liked the two main characters and rooted for their relationship. It was a quick read for an afternoon escape. Readers of romantic suspense should enjoy it.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews