8 Heart Review: Behind the Lies by Robin Perini

Behind the Lies (Montgomery Justice #2)
Robin Perini

Page Count: 333
Release Date: 23 April 2013
Publisher: Montlake Romance (Amazon)
Source: Complimentary copy provided by author, via Book Monster Promotions, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review, as part of the Behind the Lies virtual book tour
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Of the six Montgomery brothers, golden-boy Zach has always walked on the wild side. He rocketed to fame playing a hero in a movie, but offscreen he's living in the shadows. Zach's dark secret: he leads a double life as a CIA operative. When a mission to stalk a terrorist goes horribly wrong, Zach's cover is blown. He's on the run and fighting to stay alive long enough to discover whom he can trust and who betrayed him.

Jenna Walters thought she'd married the 'perfect man' until she unearthed his terrible secret. Now, desperate to escape his crosshairs, she and her son take refuge in Zach's secret hideaway. Sparks fly between Zach and Jenna even as danger explodes around them.

From Afghanistan to Turkey to the mountains of Colorado, assassins track them and are closing in. Not only is Zach's life at stake, but now Jenna and her son are targets in this high stakes game.

Buy the book at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Books-A-Million

Review

[NOTE]: Click here to read my review of In Her Sights, the book that started the Montgomery Justice series. Both novels read fine stand-alone.

Behind the Lies is Zach's story; Zach, the third oldest Montgomery brother: a man of honor who doesn't always do what he wants... just the thing that's right. He happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time when Jenna Walters finally decides to make a run from her perilous life—young son in tow; Zach's strange desire to help the beautiful, troubled woman out, brings the two lost—and nearly hopeless—characters together, which just may change both of their lives forever.

The characters are so well portrayed and complex—definitely one of the highlights of this novel. Readers will fall in love with Zach as they discover that as solitary as he is, he deserves greater care and more love than he will accept. He doesn't show it, but he feels deeply; this gift—or curse—makes him a good actor but brings him hurt even he cannot recognize and that most do not even begin to understand.

Jenna has never been exposed to this kind of honorable male figure before. In the midst of escaping her past, her abusive marriage, and herself, she is both shell-shocked, and completely disoriented, that such a kind, honest, person would be willing to help save her and her son's lives. But her surprisingly strong instincts tell her Zach is more than a renown actor, more than a pretty face—he's hiding something from her, too. Could he just be another liar?

Perini's grasp of the pen is intelligent, articulate, and forms a great story but I don't think it's particularly affecting. I love how her fiction always has confidential government and military aspects, though. She expertly captures the deadliness of lies and the helplessness of someone forced to be acquainted with crime when there's nowhere left to run.

Behind the Lies connects characters from the first book into its story seamlessly, but still makes for a great stand-alone novel. I got a warm, tingly feeling revisiting the cast I was familiar with from In Her Sights. The loyalty and strength between the Montgomery brothers especially made my heart soar. I was also pleasantly surprised by how the book picks up on lingering family mystery, which isn't revealed, but heavily hinted on. Definitely something to look forward for in the next book.

One thing I wasn't fond of is the unrealistic scenario; I just can't grasp how such an emotionally detached and legally coveted character like Zach would suddenly risk all to help a random woman especially when he's got more pressing matters at hand. I really liked everything else, though, from the sizzling chemistry to the heartbreaking personal development.

Pros

Fabulous characterization // The Montgomery brothers........ // Pitch-perfect suspense and emotion // Super sexy romance!

Cons

Stylistically plain // Starts off slow // Unrealistic situation holistically... the individual scenes are so real and raw, but the entire way Zach and Jenna meet and stay together seems a little forced

Love

Jenna stepped to the stove, peering into the simmering pot. "So, a man who can cook, too? Are there any more surprises?"

Zach gave her a wicked wink. "None with a G rating."

Verdict

I enjoyed Behind the Lies, the second installment in the Montgomery Justice series much more than I did the first. The emotional turmoil and the hot attraction between Jenna and Zach definitely hit home. Robin Perini knows what she's doing, spinning a roller coaster ride of a romantic suspense about two fallen souls finding each other. I'm looking forward to trying the next book, for sure 

8 hearts: An engaging read; highly recommended (x)

2 Heart Review: Fire of the Raging Dragon by Don Brown

Fire of the Raging Dragon (Pacific Rim #2)
Don Brown

Page Count: 381
Release Date: 20 November 2012
Publisher: Zondervan (HarperCollins)
Source: Complimentary copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you!)
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

His country... or his daughter?

In the very near future, China, now the world's largest industrial producer and consumer of Mideast Oil, passes a law that all new cars manufactured in that nation will be operated on natural gas. Beneath the floor of the South China Sea, around the contested Spratly Islands, billions of gallons of natural gas wait to be mined. But at the center of the Spratlys, the remote but strategic island of Itu Aba is occupied by China's historic enemy, Taiwan.

When the new, power-hungry Chinese President, Tang Qhichen, orders Chinese Naval forces to attack Taiwanese forces on Itu Aba, U.S. President Douglas Surber responds, ordering the U.S. Seventh Fleet to try and quell a burgeoning naval showdown between the two Chinas. Aboard the submarine tender U.S.S. Emory S. Land, one of the first ships in the naval war zone, is Ensign Stephanie Surber, a recent Naval Academy graduate who is also the First Daughter of the United States. As the Emory S. Land steams into harm's way, Ensign Surber's life is gravely threatened. The President must make a decision. Will he take a stand against evil? Or will he save the life of his daughter?

Buy the book at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Sony eStore | Kobo | Publisher

Review

Heavy on US history, Chinese government, the military, and current American politics, Fire of the Raging Dragon was not an easy book for me. It's well written and well researched but lacks fluidity and definitely isn't composed in layman's terms. I have to be honest: a lot of what I read just passed over my head. I didn't know what I was reading, which may be more a demonstration of my horrendous lack of knowledge on anything to do with the Navy, than a critique on the author's style.

I did not like the tone, probably why I couldn't get into this second installment of the Pacific Rim series. It's very emotionally detached and dry. All I remember of it is a jumble of sentences; I felt dyslexic for about 230 pages, then I finally succumbed and had to put it down. I was a bit intimidated, and thoroughly distressed, as this was the first book I've ever reviewed that I haven't been able to finish. I am disappointed in myself because usually I'm a very determined reader and usually have no problem finishing and heavily criticizing a book I didn't like, but I'm also patting myself on the back for even getting through three-fifths of it. This was not easy on me!

The riveting legal dilemma surrounding recent smoking-gun evidence on a previously only-rumored black market did impress me, though. The crimes against humanity and dismissal of human rights demonstrates the horrific lengths some people would do for money under the Communist rule. Further, the US's dependence on China leaves the country in stalemate; President Surber can either address a moral issue and get his daughter back, or cut diplomatic ties with China forever—leaving his country to ruin.

Faith in the Lord is a big topic in Don Brown's novel, but it's not overly preachy. Aside from the random shouts to God during attack or fighting scenes, the Christian aspect hardly bothered me. There's also a misplaced (and unrequited) romance between Stephanie and hotpants Commander Bobby Roddick. Not sure why this had to be included, seemed strange for a Christian "man's novel," but it's the only thing I could even remotely connect to.

Pros

Realistic, expert political setting // A sure hit for US Armed Forces and Chinese government enthusiasts

Cons

Hard to understand most of it // Dense // Unintelligible political and military slang, including coordinates and commands that sounded like code... and in fact were code // Stylistically unimpressive // Very very very slow-paced

Verdict

On top of the advanced legislative lingo, there are various related characters and subplots in Fire of the Raging Dragon, rather than one solid story; these are extremely confusing and hard to keep track of. Unless you're like the author and have served in the Navy or have some other design of substantial experience, you'll have trouble following it too. I can think of many people whom this book would have thrilled, but unfortunately I am not one of them. The only military stories I seem to be able to handle are the ones with the chiseled abs of emotionally damaged but rock-hard soldier heroes *swoon* 

2 hearts: Not completely a lost cause, but could not finish; I did not enjoy this book (x)

6 Heart Review: In Her Sights by Robin Perini + Giveaway!

In Her Sights (Montgomery Justice #1)
Robin Perini

Page Count: 236
Release Date: 29 November 2011
Publisher: Montlake Romance (Amazon)
Source: Complimentary copy provided by author, via Book Monster Promotions, as part of the Behind the Lies virtual book tour
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Jasmine "Jazz" Parker, Jefferson County SWAT's only female sniper, can thread the eye of a needle with a bullet. But she carries with her a secret from her past that she thought she buried for good at the age of fifteen. Two years ago she even drove away the one man she believed she could love—ex-Army Ranger turned reporter Luke Montgomery—to keep her past hidden. But now, in a fleeting second, the time it takes for one clean shot, one perfect hit, to save the life of the governor's daughter, Jazz's world begins to crumble around her.

When Luke splashes her face and name across the front page of the newspaper, a vicious enemy from her past returns seeking vengeance without compromise. Jazz is forced to turn to the one man she can never have before she and everyone she cares about pays the ultimate price. Full of explosive action and almost unbearable suspense, In Her Sights is a relentless, steamy thriller surprisingly infused with soul and poignancy.

Buy the book at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Review

This first installment of the Montgomery Justice series follows the reunion of Luke, the second-to-youngest Montgomery brother, with his long-lost lover, Jazz. Luke has always known Jazz to be distant, to always push people away, but only when she reenters his life, does he begin to discover the darkest crevices of a secret she's kept hidden since age 15, when it resurfaces to haunt her 12 years later.

In Her Sights didn't feel any different from your regular Harlequin Intrigue with its forced plot, predictable villain, and at least one character with a "haunting past"... in other words, pretty unmemorable. Then I looked the author up and saw she was a Harlequin Intrigue regular. How's that for sniper-like intuition?

The relationship is painfully unrealistic. The wistfulness of an old flame is portrayed well, but the fact that they still have feelings for each other and then go about pursuing a relationship is too predictable, too trite. However, the love scenes are sizzling! Perini knows how to write steamy in the bedroom (and out).

I liked Luke as an alpha hero, but there isn't much about him that made me want to fall in love with him. He's strong, handsome, caring... but isn't every ex-military romance hero these days? His "deep dark secret" is supposed to be touching, but just seems overused. I wanted to like him, but he's just too poorly developed of a character. As for Jasmine, I was able to relate to her pain and her fears, and do admire her; she's a mature woman who's tough to break, always with a barrier of protection she wears like a veil. She knows her life isn't made of happy endings, but as much as I respected her poise and courage, she's quite dislikable. She doesn't seem particularly nice or welcoming, and is rather bitchy and has a big head because she is the only female SWAT member and all. The author overall just did a poor job at portraying her personality.

Jasmine's whole life has been carefully calculated and painstakingly hidden, but this façade falls apart when her identity and her career careen out of her sights. Her faith has the chance of being restored when the only man who's believed in her unconditionally gives her hope, strength, and most of all, belonging. But there's a personal vendetta out to get her, that might not be so gracious as to let that happen.

While the sabotage and Jazz's past is frightening, the plot's lack of structure is awful. The characters are tolerable, but the plot just... the villain's identity and the mystery of it all just pop out of nowhere! There's no connection, no foreshadowing, no suspense or element of surprise... it's just a random person connected to a vaguely mentioned secondary character, which made the story overall terribly anticlimactic.

There are also very subtle, but rather misplaced Christian sentiments; instead of a strong, continuous undertone, the characters randomly burst into prayer in times of danger—a fair warning for those of you who can't stand that.

[UPDATE]: Click here to read my review of Behind the Lies, the second book in the Montgomery Justice series. I liked it significantly better, just saying ;)

Pros

Intricate plot // HOT chemistry between Jazz and Luke // The Montgomery brothers—I could get used to them! // Articulate, intelligent style // Emotional pain seems very real // Likable (but not lovable) characters

Cons

Forgettable, forced plot; your typical Harlequin // Mystery seems random // Characters are tolerable, but underdeveloped and not at all affecting // Not exactly a Christian novel, but still has haphazard Christian references // Anticlimactic and not suspenseful // Unrealistic relationship

Love

"There is no light, Jasmine. Not unless you count the moon."

Luke's velvet baritone sent shivers through her. She hadn't forgotten what his whisper sounded like in the dark. She wished to God she had.

Verdict

Robin Perini spins a decent romantic suspense about reignited fires, bitter secrets of the past, and hearts that wander back to true loves in the first of her Montgomery Justice series. I liked In Her Sights enough—the swirling unknown, precise SWAT details, and Luke and Jazz's scorching encounters make for a great story—but overall was not impressed, due to the anticlimax, random mystery, and stilted relationship. I wouldn't separate this book out as extraordinary because it's not particularly gripping or dangerous—just another series romance, more than anything  

6 hearts: Satisfying for a first read, but I'm not going back (x)

Giveaway!

Thanks to Book Monster Promotions and the author, we have one copy of In Her Sights to give away! The winner gets to choose print or eBook, and if you've already read this one, Robin is happy to provide the second book, Behind the Lies, as a substitute. All you have to do is leave a comment telling me what you think about my review and the book to win. Be sure to include your email address!

Remember to make your words meaningful. One-worded comments and solely "thanks for the giveaway" will not be eligible for entry!

Rules and Disclosure:

Giveaway ends May 2nd at 11.59 (your time).

Open to internationally! Woohoo!
Winners have 48 hours to claim their prize once they are chosen, or else their prize will be forfeited and a new winner will be chosen.

Although I do select winners, I am in no way responsible for the prizes, nor for shipping and handling.

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Good luck!