Books: Warriors series (R, S)
Marliss Melton's Warriors series is yet another entry in the world of military romance. (*=keeper)
*Forget Me Not After spending a year in a North Korean prison and being pronounced officially Killed in Action, Gabe Renault has just returned home to his wife (Helen) and her teenage daughter (Mallory). Physically and emotionally scarred, he suffers from PTSD and has forgotten everything from the last three years, including his relationship with his family. As Gabe struggles to recover from his amnesia, Helen worries that he will again become the emotionally distant workaholic he was before he disappeared. As they struggle to redefine their marriage, Gabe realizes someone is trying to kill him so he won't remember that last fateful mission-- or the identity of a traitor on his team.
This is truly the hero's story. He struggles with his scars and lack of physical strength, but also secretly fears he is losing his mind and worries the attempts on his life are all in his imagination. He wants to return to his SEAL team, but also wants a satisfying marriage and is willing to let Helen pace their relationship and become comfortable having him back in her life. This story balanced the intimate details of G&H's getting reacquainted, Gabe's emerging relationship with Mallory, and a well-paced suspense plot. Even though this is the first in the series, it didn't end with a cliffhanger, but instead left a few loose ends at a good stopping point until the next book.
This book presents strong characters and story, although the author did take rub me the wrong way with the whole condom issue; Gabe and Helen never once discussed birth control, even though for most of the story she is determined to leave him as soon as his memories return (and therefore probably has no desire to have his baby). Despite this glaring omission, I still give it an A.
In the Dark This novel follows Hannah Geary, a woman with important information about the traitor from the first novel. She and Navy SEAL Luther Lindstrom go on the run to find the missing data that will prove their case. Of course, they also fall in love along the way, even though each of them feels the relationship will be difficult to reconcile with their long-term goals. Both the romance and the intrigue stuff was great, even if I did guess the criminal mastermind early on.
Complaints: the secondary romance. I enjoy it when an author can juggle multiple love stories, but it did NOT work here. Sebastian Leon, another SEAL, has agreed to get the woman he loves pregnant (no strings attached) in the hope that regular nookie will make Leila fall in love with him. The plan itself is just sad, but it gets worse. Even after Leila tells him she was married to a controlling man from a male-dominant culture, Sebastian is determined to "convince her" she wants him, even though she has stated clearly that her plans don't include him. Apparently, because of his Mexican heritage, he is allowed to do whatever he wants in the name of love? Okay, not only is that offensive, but it is used to cover a veneer of almost stalker-like activity; at one point, Sebastian actually sabotages Leila's car so he can rescue her from the situation. Run, Leila, run!!!
Despite the obvious weakness of Sebastian's plan, trying to conceive also means using no birth control whatsoever. They have unprotected sex the first time they meet and continue to do so, but never discuss STD's or previous sexual history. Come on, people! It's like Russian roulette, but with orgasms! I could live with it in the first novel because those characters were foolish but married, but I have to deduct points on the stalker issue and the condom issue this time. Grade: B+
Time to Run This time, one of the SEALs is helping a woman and her child escape from her abusive husband. A good story with heartwarming portrayals of the characters, but it didn't have the oomph of the first novel. Oh, and about the condom issue (you know I had to go there). The heroine tells her studly SEAL they don't need a condom because her tubes are tied. Umm, hello? He just came back from Thailand and Malaysia. You don't know where that thing has been. Wrap it up!
I read this book so I could finish the series so far. I don't think I'll bother with the next one. Grade: B-
*Forget Me Not After spending a year in a North Korean prison and being pronounced officially Killed in Action, Gabe Renault has just returned home to his wife (Helen) and her teenage daughter (Mallory). Physically and emotionally scarred, he suffers from PTSD and has forgotten everything from the last three years, including his relationship with his family. As Gabe struggles to recover from his amnesia, Helen worries that he will again become the emotionally distant workaholic he was before he disappeared. As they struggle to redefine their marriage, Gabe realizes someone is trying to kill him so he won't remember that last fateful mission-- or the identity of a traitor on his team.
This is truly the hero's story. He struggles with his scars and lack of physical strength, but also secretly fears he is losing his mind and worries the attempts on his life are all in his imagination. He wants to return to his SEAL team, but also wants a satisfying marriage and is willing to let Helen pace their relationship and become comfortable having him back in her life. This story balanced the intimate details of G&H's getting reacquainted, Gabe's emerging relationship with Mallory, and a well-paced suspense plot. Even though this is the first in the series, it didn't end with a cliffhanger, but instead left a few loose ends at a good stopping point until the next book.
This book presents strong characters and story, although the author did take rub me the wrong way with the whole condom issue; Gabe and Helen never once discussed birth control, even though for most of the story she is determined to leave him as soon as his memories return (and therefore probably has no desire to have his baby). Despite this glaring omission, I still give it an A.
In the Dark This novel follows Hannah Geary, a woman with important information about the traitor from the first novel. She and Navy SEAL Luther Lindstrom go on the run to find the missing data that will prove their case. Of course, they also fall in love along the way, even though each of them feels the relationship will be difficult to reconcile with their long-term goals. Both the romance and the intrigue stuff was great, even if I did guess the criminal mastermind early on.
Complaints: the secondary romance. I enjoy it when an author can juggle multiple love stories, but it did NOT work here. Sebastian Leon, another SEAL, has agreed to get the woman he loves pregnant (no strings attached) in the hope that regular nookie will make Leila fall in love with him. The plan itself is just sad, but it gets worse. Even after Leila tells him she was married to a controlling man from a male-dominant culture, Sebastian is determined to "convince her" she wants him, even though she has stated clearly that her plans don't include him. Apparently, because of his Mexican heritage, he is allowed to do whatever he wants in the name of love? Okay, not only is that offensive, but it is used to cover a veneer of almost stalker-like activity; at one point, Sebastian actually sabotages Leila's car so he can rescue her from the situation. Run, Leila, run!!!
Despite the obvious weakness of Sebastian's plan, trying to conceive also means using no birth control whatsoever. They have unprotected sex the first time they meet and continue to do so, but never discuss STD's or previous sexual history. Come on, people! It's like Russian roulette, but with orgasms! I could live with it in the first novel because those characters were foolish but married, but I have to deduct points on the stalker issue and the condom issue this time. Grade: B+
Time to Run This time, one of the SEALs is helping a woman and her child escape from her abusive husband. A good story with heartwarming portrayals of the characters, but it didn't have the oomph of the first novel. Oh, and about the condom issue (you know I had to go there). The heroine tells her studly SEAL they don't need a condom because her tubes are tied. Umm, hello? He just came back from Thailand and Malaysia. You don't know where that thing has been. Wrap it up!
I read this book so I could finish the series so far. I don't think I'll bother with the next one. Grade: B-
posted by JJ at 12:00 PM
