Notice anything lately? Any genre trends? Well, I’m going to clue you in- ROMANTIC SUSPENSE is growing in popularity and I couldn’t be happier. I’m also very happy to be able to encourage to you to read Lindsay Cross’s Men of Mercy series. Now, to be honest, I have not read all of the 3rd book. I sped through book 1, Redemption River and Resurrection River and dove directly into book 3, Reckless River and my brain said… “I need you to give me a break”
The books in this series are intense, action packed, sexy as hell and so much fun to read. They are chock full of drama. Just when you think they’ve solved the problem, gotten out of the woods and said “I love you”…. BAM! Another wrinkle pops up. For some, I could see where you might find it a little too much drama, but frankly, I really enjoyed it.
Hunter James didn’t want or need redemption.
Until one mission turns his world upside down.
He left Mercy to fight for his country and escape a broken heart. Years later, he is hard. Cold. A man without mercy. Part of an elite Task Force, he tracks a brutal terrorist to his home town. And runs into the woman who betrayed him…
Evangeline Videl was destroyed when Hunter left. Determined to move on, she finds another man, but discovers too late the monster hidden beneath his smooth smile. Struggling to find the conviction to live, Evie finds her life spinning out of control.
Then Hunter returns…
Forced to band together to find the terrorist before its too late, Hunter and Evie must learn to forgive or risk losing the promise of redemption and their lives…
Sigh. Hunter James is absolutely swoon-worthy! Evie and Hunter have quite a history with each other and the feelings they have for each do not stay buried. These two have crazy hot chemistry and it’s pointless to even try to resist each other. Hunter goes back home thinking that Evie is involved in a something really bad and he is right but not for the reasons he thinks. Evie has been through so very much since Hunter left so many years ago and he has no idea what she has endured. While Hunter goes into the mission believing that he can do his job and not care for Evie anymore, he realizes that his need to love and protect Evie never went away. 4 stars
Purchase:
Ranger James accepted his best friend’s death like a good soldier. With guilt. Regret. Vengeance. But a forbidden desire keeps pulling him from his mission…
Desire for his best friend’s widow.
Killed in Action. That’s why Rachel Carter’s husband wasn’t coming home.
A war widow, alone and broke, Rachel struggles to revive her family’s crop dusting service to survive. Now she takes to the skies to find escape. Escape from the pain. From the guilt. From the earth-shattering desire for her husband’s best friend.
Rachel and Ranger can’t fight the attraction between them any longer. But one fateful night cleaves their new found love in two…
Can they find the will to fight for true love? Or will an evil so shocking destroy their lives for good?
You know how you start reading a series and in the first book you kind of have a hissy fit over the male MC? Kind of like I did over Hunter? Well, meet Ranger James. Good lord… Ranger James. We meet him in book 1 (along with the other members of their unit) and I knew immediately that he was going to have an interesting story. In Redemption River, you meet him and his childhood friend, Amy. She married Ranger and Hunter’s friend and fellow unit member Shane and lost him. She is coping with the death of her husband and some other factors. Enter sweet Ranger James who has loved her since they were teenagers. He has always tried to take care of her and feels that he needs to be the one to help her through this time. Now, I have to admit that Amy was a tad frustrating. She has always cared very much for Ranger and now that Shane is gone and she has grieved his loss, Ranger wants to make sure she knows how he feels (has always felt) about her. She too has had feelings for him, but she is afraid to give into those feelings. She wants to very much but extenuating circumstances cause her to hold him at arms length while wanting to rip his clothes off. So yeah, this one was full to the rim drama, action, and HOT SEX. 😉 4 stars
Purchase:
They say you can’t go home again. Jared Crowe never wanted to.
Home meant facing memories of abuse and neglect. Of dark closets and evil nightmares. Of his own relatives intent on killing him. But now his brother’s kidnapping forces him to face those demons. Only this time, Jared isn’t a scared little boy. He’s a full-grown Special Forces operative bent on revenge.
As a little girl, Sparrow Pickney risked her life to free two abused boys. As a grown woman Sparrow needs to earn a place in her adopted family’s business or be forced into a life of degradation. The chance to prove her family loyalty comes when she catches Jared spying on the compound and captures him.
When Jared sees his captor, he realizes she’s the girl of his dreams and vows to rescue her from a life of poverty. What Jared doesn’t know is Sparrow may not be the savior he remembers…but the one responsible for abducting and torturing his brother.
Jared is determined to find the truth. But that truth may be more than his heart can take.
Ok. So maybe I should’ve taken a break before I dove right into this one. I started it and it goes right into the action and intensity. Ms. Cross does not shy away from heavy subjects and Reckless River goes straight into Jared and Hoyt’s childhood and the challenges they faced. I really cannot wait to get back into this one and learn more at the brothers. After Reckless River, we get Hoyt’s book, which I cannot wait for because of who he is paired up with (you’ll understand when you read Ressurection River)
Purchase:
Ok, I think I’ve rambled on enough. In a nutshell, I’ve found a great romantic suspense author and series and I cannot wait to read more from her!!
Leave a Reply