User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
I'm not going to lie - I wanted to like this book. Marketed as a suspense thriller type, I thought it would be a good read with steamy scenes, a chase, some bad guys - you get the picture. And in the beginning, this book had promise. Beth is on the run from a husband who's not yet an ex (but really should be) and ends up in Jack's new place. Jack just happens to be an ex-cop with a busted knee.
The problems come pretty soon after the introduction. The main reason? I found the pacing to be slow and the build-up of mystery to be lackluster. About halfway through, I found my mind starting to wander from the story, mostly because I was pretty sure I had figured everything out.
And I had. The key points that I realized back then were all revealed in the last quarter of the book. Add to all this an odd supernatural-type of effect and I felt like the book was trying too hard.
I'm giving it 2 stars because the idea was there; it just needs to be more focused, possibly edited down to the important aspects of the plot. Also because I borrowed this book from the Kindle library and didn't pay for it.
Rating: really liked it
Sooooo, this is another case of DNF @ 39% bc I know it's never going to surpass 3 stars for me. So why waste time on just so-so?
It started out fine with Beth's near-death experience with Richard, but then it just takes too long to get anywhere. Or maybe this is my no-patience day.
Didn't sleep well last night, so that could affect my rating and patience as well...
Rating: really liked it
Just some thoughts...
I have read Melinda Leigh before and was looking forward to starting this series.
Initially I liked the story and characters but was quickly irritated by the immediate attraction that developed between Elizabeth and Jack. They are both older characters and I was hoping for a more mature romance. My complaint is not only how quickly the attraction developed between the H/h, but that it didn't seem realistic to the characters. She's on the run from an abusive husband. She's described as pale, underweight and jumpy. I can see where he becomes suspicious of her immediately based on cop's gut instinct and protective of her and her family at the same time. This worked for me. What didn't work was the set-up of thong panties and his juvenile reaction to them.
And in regards to her side, I'm not sure that an abused woman on the run would be thinking of him sexually so quickly. It just didn't fit. And for me personally the thong panties just seemed all wrong. You're on the run with children, one being a pre-teen son and you even share the bed with your daughter. I just don't see hanging thong underwear in the bathroom as standard operating procedure. Nope. I would have thought some boy cut briefs that could be thrown in the washer/dryer would be more the mom thing. (Sorry, this just hit me as "off" and came up more than once.)
It was also excessive when every male has to notice this pale, underweight and jumpy female sexually. Now I get the one guy like to target the weak...
OK - enough about that rant...
The book moved a little slow, but I did like the plot and the characters. There are two suspense plot lines - one is the abduction and killing of women and the other is the secret that has forced Elizabeth on the run. Both were developed well and wove together well within the story. The primary and secondary characters were nicely developed and I like Ms. Leigh's writing voice. And I really liked Jack's dog who was woven into the story really well! She did have a slight paranormal aspect to one character that was built up and then kind of fell a little flat. And there was one scene that had me thinking along the lines of TV audience saying "don't go out there", but I was able to deal with it.
I did enjoy the read and I intend to continue reading this series.
3.5 Stars
Rating: really liked it
This is a middle-age soccer mom romance fantasy masquerading as a thriller.
Which is fine if you're into that sort of thing. The reason I couldn't put it down was because I wanted to see how many cliches could possibly be shoved into a single 300 page book.
The prose is light and readable, so I might pick up another one of her stories one of these days, but since she has already used every single cliche known to man, it may be difficult for her to find source material.
Characters are mostly two-dimensional. Her ex-husband bad guy was actually offensive he was so unbelievable, but she redeemed herself with her politics. A little bit.
Finally, I enjoy a good sex scene as much as the next person with a pulse, but I had to skim this 16-pager... it was so cliche I couldn't stand it.
I realize this is exactly some people's cup of tea, given the overall 4-star rating, but Charlaine Harris is highbrow lit compared to this.
Rating: really liked it
Having already read some ML stories I expected so much more from this but it just didn't deliver. It was well written and I still enjoyed the story but it lacked the drive, the oomph making it run of the mill type of read.....Hoping the next one delivers more.
Rating: really liked it
I really enjoyed this one :)
Rating: really liked it
Wow, what a well done Romantic Suspense novel. Twist, turns, intrigue...had me glued to the pages (or tablet in my case). Every character, not our hero, had suspicion woven into their story.
Beth Baker lost her 1st husband, a firefighter, not to the job but a car accident. A widow with two kids. No family. Senator Richard Baker saw as the perfect 'wife' a widow of a hero. Mother of 2. Alone. Only she wasn't as submissive to his demands as he thought and when she walks in and discovers just one of his dirty secrets, she must fight for her life and her children's and flee. Running for her safety.
Somehow she finds her way to PA. Only to discover the secluded job she found may no longer be available as Danny, an elderly man, passed away. Luckily, former Philly cop, and nephew, Jack O’Malley. He notices immediately the fear, the jumpiness, the secrets. He intends to find out what the story is, when he does, he will be willing to do anything to keep her, her son, and her daughter save.
Throw in a PA serial killer, a dirty corrupt politician and his more vile father, a hit man, and a slew of pervy towns fold, you will be on your seat trying to figure out who is the biggest threat to Beth and her kids.
Rating: really liked it
2.5 stars
Rating: really liked it
If I'd read this book before I read all of Melinda Leigh's Morgan Dane books, I probably would've enjoyed it much more. As it was, however, I enjoyed this the least out of all the books I've read by this author to date. I went into this one knowing that it wasn't up to par with the series, knowing that it was one of, if not the first thing, the author has ever published. However, I still couldn't help but feel disappointed by it.
There are some things that I absolutely adore about the Morgan Dane series. First, the H isn't a manho and there is absolutely no mention of OW from his past. The series also features a strong h who I really admire. She isn't a slave to her libido and and she doesn't notice how studly the H is during really inopportune times. The intimate scenes are all fade to black, which I also really appreciate. There isn't any OTT drama and the characters also take necessary precautions. In other words, they don't act like they have no brains.
Unfortunately, none of these aforementioned elements were present in the book She Can Run. The H is nearing 50 and has never had a serious relationship. The way he mentions offhandedly the he hasn't gotten laid in a couple of months made it seem like that wasn't normal for him. He also mentions that he's been sexually active since he was at least 17, so that means he's been sleeping around for three decades. No thanks.
The h seriously made me mad. She's on the run for her life, her husband has tried to and is still trying to kill her, and she can't help but notice how hot the H is. Maybe the thought slipped through one time. Fine. She's only human. But to notice it every time he's around? When someone is trying to kill her? No. Just no. Have some control, woman. You're not just a sack of hormones.
Then there's the OTT drama. There are three separate characters who are out to get the h. It's a wonder she hasn't had a nervous breakdown by now. That, by the way, is the only thing I liked about her. Back to the baddies: they're all trying to torture and kill her, kidnap, rape and kill her, or simply have their skeevy way with her. I would not want to live in this town. It seems like it's full of creepers. And knowing that the h is in danger, the H leaves her alone constantly. Sure, he has a top-of-the-line security system installed, but still. Then, surprise surprise: she gets attacked. This happens more than once.
Ugh. I'm sorry. I just couldn't with this book. I tried to like it, but I'm not sure if I can continue on with this kind of story. I do think that every installment of the Scarlet Falls series was better than this book. I might just stick with Morgan Dane and Lance. I adore those two. I guess it's hard to live up to the best.
Rating: really liked it
Originally posted at: http://www.longandshortreviews.blogsp...
She walks in on her husband then gasps. Next thing she knows, she's
running for her life. This is a story that starts out with a bang and
doesn't let up. Its quick pace brings a reader along on a suspenseful ride.
Will Beth Baker and her kids outrun the senator? He has all the power and
money, and he must stop Beth permanently or risk his secret getting out.
Beth shows up at the home of a nice old man who hired her to be his estate
keeper. She doesn't expect to find him dead. Jack O'Malley, a cop retired
due to an injury, greets her in his uncle's place. He inherited the estate
and wants Beth to stay on. They grow close, but she doesn't tell him her
real name and the fact that she's running.
Beth is tough. She shows her courageous nature often and is easy to like and admire. Jack is charming. He doesn¹t push Beth because he sees her acting brave in the face of an intolerable situation. Tender, sensuous emotions develop between them.
To add to the tension, there¹s a serial killer on the loose, and his next
target is Beth.
This story is written well. The subplot fits in nicely with the main one to
keep things rolling. The romance is endearing. She Can Run is a
page-turner as attempts are made on Beth's life. A dash of the paranormal is thrown in with the introduction of Beth's psychic uncle when he receives his visions. The bad guys are despicable, but how many exactly are there? A surprise awaits readers at the end.
Readers of romantic suspense would most certainly enjoy this exciting story.
Rating: really liked it
Leaving this at 10% because of trigger. Not a big fan of psychopath who kidnaps random women for torture and killing....
Rating: really liked it
WOW such a good read full of twists and turns from the very first chapter I like the fact that it had someone that see visions in the story to it gave it that something extra very hard to put down.
Rating: really liked it
A beautiful woman in an abusive marriage to a powerful politician has found out his dark secret that would destroy his career ... so she escapes from him with her two children, knowing he will hunt her down and attempt to kill her. She needs a safe place to hide, enter a retired sexy police detective whose Pennsylvania countryside home becomes her safe haven. Mix in a serial killer who hunts down women and sadistically murders them, and now has the politician's wife in his sights. In She Can Run, a thrilling combination of murder, intrigue and passion will have the reader sitting on the edge of their seat.
Beth Baker is in an abusive marriage, and her husband Richard is a powerful Congressman from Pennsylvania. She accidentally discovers a dark secret about her husband that would ruin his promising political career, and he won't allow that, so she escapes from the Main Line mansion in Philadelphia with her two children from a previous marriage, to her Uncle James' tavern in Virginia. Her uncle helps her hide for ten months, and provides her with a new identity, Beth Markham, but her husband's men are closing in on her hiding spot, so she once again has to flee for a new safe haven. Her uncle helped her secure a caretaker's position with an old acquaintance, who has a country estate in the middle of Pennsylvania, but once she gets there she finds out that her new boss, Danny O'Malley has passed away and his nephew, retired police detective Jack O'Malley has inherited the estate. Always prepared to run on a moments notice, Beth doesn't know what to do now, but Jack is willing to allow her and the children to stay. Jack is suspicious that Beth is running from someone or something, and he is determined to find out what it is ... but along the way he discovers that he is starting to have feelings for the beautiful woman. At the same time, there is a serial killer on the loose, and the sadistic killer now has Beth in his sights. Can Jack protect the woman he desires and her children, and keep them safe? Will Beth's estranged husband find her and silence her for good? Will the serial killer get his next prey? Find out what happens next in She Can Run.
She Can Run is a fast-paced, riveting romantic thriller that is filled with so many suspenseful twists and turns, it will keep the reader sitting on the edge of their seats. This debut novel by author Melinda Leigh is very well written, and the storyline has an intriguing multi-layer of suspense and romance that kept me turning the pages. I really enjoyed the multiple storylines, there was plenty of intrigue and action, while the romance portion added a nice balancing act. The characters were very well developed, I loved how the author intertwined their relationships within the storyline, especially the relationship between Beth and Jack.
If you are a fan of romantic suspense thrillers, this novel is right up your alley, the riveting intrigue of the storyline will not disappoint you.
RATING: 5 STARS *****
Disclaimer: As a book reviewer for The Romance Reviews, I have been given an ARC edition of this novel, at no cost to me, for my honest review.
This book review is originally written for The Romance Reviews (TRR). http://www.theromancereviews.com/view...
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
Rating: really liked it
The book was good and I have to say that Henry is my favorite character in this book. That is how to write a really good part for a dog. I just don't care for writers who think that animals deserve to be the focus of the book.
Beth is on the run and she, and her kids are hiding from a very powerful man. Beth's husband, Richard, is a US Congressman, his father is a former Senator and the family is filthy rich. Oh, and, he tried to kill her. Beth takes a job with a elderly man as caretaker for his horses and property. When she arrives, she finds he has died. His nephew, Jack, is a cop who is now the heir. Jack realizes that Beth is hiding something and that she and the kids are scared to death.
Jack is coping with the sudden death of his Uncle Danny and his career ending accident when Beth and her kids land on his doorstep. He decides to let her stay and tries to make her feel safe, without even knowing what she is afraid of.
There is also a serial killer on the loose and he has targeted Beth. I had the baddie from the beginning. I think I'm just getting better at spotting them.
3 1/2-Stars
Rating: really liked it
Romantic suspense debut by Melinda Leigh that hits the ground running. A not-so-nice politician with a big secret, a wife who knows the secret and is running for her life, and a cop on medical leave who never expected a case of this magnitude to fall in his lap. And then there's the Riverside Murderer who is on the loose in the countryside of Pennsylvania adding another level to the suspense. Of course, it wouldn't be "romantic" suspense without a HEA for a couple who really needed it. This book handles that point just fine as well. In the end, all the elements come together for an extremely well-plotted thriller. I am eager to see what this new-to-me author hands us next.
