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Showing posts with label When the Mission Ends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label When the Mission Ends. Show all posts
Monday, May 13, 2013
Review: Operation: Endurance by Christi Snow
Operation: Endurance
Author: Christi Snow
Release Date: April 28, 2013
Publisher: self-published
When the Mission Ends #3
ISBN: #978-1484042779
Genre: Military/suspense Romance
Format(s): Paperback (330 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Author
About the book:
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They had a single night of passion before he deployed on a risky mission.
18 hours on a mission gone very wrong was all it took to shatter all their hopes and dreams.
The hero:
He survived 6 months of captivity and torture, kept alive by dreams of her.
The heroine:
She thought he was dead and moved on only to have her world fall apart once again.
Two people who have been hurt more than any two people should ever have to suffer. Can they find redemption and healing with each other or will another threat shatter what’s left of them?
A tortured hero.
A grieving heroine.
A serial rapist who won’t give up.
What B is talking about:
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Having recently lost her fiancé in a shooting, Julie Hyatt isn’t exactly coping well. She feels guilty and lonely, and wants nothing more than to bury herself in work and wedding plans for her best friend. But, when her new neighbor, the same man she fell hard for before he was deployed overseas, moves in, she’s faced with the truth of her feelings for him, even though wanting him as badly as she does seems so wrong.
After surviving six months of torture when his plane crashed during a mission, Chris Robertson returned home to find that the woman he’d been living for believed him dead and had moved on with another man. Now that he’s getting better, fate has given him another chance to win her heart, if only she weren’t still hurting from the loss of her fiancé. But, when he and Julie become the target of a madman, Chris refuses to be anywhere other than by her side, and settling for friendship will be more difficult than either of them thought possible.
One thing I’ve learned about the When the Mission Ends series is that the central group of friends in the stories definitely falls within the “cursed” category. Plane crashes, vengeful mafia reprisals, stalkers, and so on plague these characters in every book. So much strife could easily overshadow both the relationships and suspenseful aspects of the story, but Ms. Snow gives her characters extraordinary fortitude and a believable and incredibly strong bond with one another that allows them to persevere through all the difficulties that come their way. These friendships are some of my favorite parts of Operation: Endurance, in particular, often being the primary source of levity in an otherwise sinister and unsettling tale.
Operation: Endurance is certainly the darkest of these stories I’ve read yet, and may not be for everyone based on that alone. Julie is being stalked by a serial rapist whose crimes are narrated from his perspective, and so, are very detailed and graphic. No mere puppet, this rapist thoroughly believes in what he’s doing. He sees himself, not as a victim, and therefore incapable of controlling his actions, but as a savior with a purpose and a death wish of his own.
While the crimes committed in Operation: Endurance are disturbing, there are plenty of highly suspenseful moments that push the story along at a brisk pace and kept me worrying a great deal for the main characters. Although I had my suspicions about the villain’s identity fairly early in the narrative, Ms. Snow introduced enough well rounded secondary characters that I second-guessed myself several times throughout the story. I was pulled back into the story again and again this way, and it served the additional purpose of giving these characters more layers to their personalities and making them seem more vibrant as a result.
Perhaps the strongest part of the story is the romance between Julie and Chris. They have both been through so much, and considering all the characters have been put through the wringer in some way or other, that’s saying quite a lot. Despite all the attempts they both make to shield themselves from the pain that would surely be caused by admitting their true feelings, they simply can’t resist one another. It is their shared, secret past, combined with the inevitable scars that are the mark of true survivors that makes them absolutely perfect for one another. Ms. Snow is very gifted when it comes to erotic tension, and when Julie and Chris finally give in to their mutual desire, she absolutely delivers.
When the Mission Ends is a great series, and I’ve really enjoyed getting to know these characters. While the graphic nature of the rape scenes was a bit too strong for my tastes, I appreciate that they were necessary in order to create a monster like the one in this story. Julie and Chris are one of my favorite pairings so far, and I enjoyed seeing them make their way back into each others’ hearts tremendously. Operation: Endurance is an important addition to the series, and I was more relieved than I thought I’d be to see hints about the next novel. I’m not sure what else might be in store for this resilient and devoted group of friends, but I’m excited to find out.
B’s Rating:
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Liked it a lot - recommend (B+)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
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Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Review: Before the Mission Begins by Christi Snow
Before The Mission Begins
Author: Christi Snow
Release Date: Feb. 11, 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
When The Mission Ends Series, Prequel
Genre: Military Romance
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Author
About the book:
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Before his mission began, he went home. 24 hours to say goodbye to his twin sister.
Instead he found her. A girl that was nothing like the one he thought he knew.
They have 24 hours. 24 hours before he deploys on an extremely dangerous mission. 24 hours together in a freak West Texas snowstorm. 24 hours that will have to get them both through the awful next year.
When the resident good-girl decides to take on the visiting bad-boy, 24 hours is all it takes to change their lives forever.
This is the story of the 24 hours that no one knew ever occurred…until now.
What B is talking about:
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Julie Hyatt’s OCD, as well as the shadows from her past, has controlled her for far too long. So, when an unfortunate kitchen mishap leads her sister to suggest she completely reinvent herself, Julie decides it’s advice worth taking. But, a physical metamorphosis can be far easier than changing who you truly are, and Julie discovers that for some things she’ll need the help of a good man. And when the gorgeous man she’s fantasized about for ages happens appear, quite literally, overnight, she knows she’d be a fool to let the opportunity slip away.
With only 48 hours left until he’s redeployed on a secret mission, Chris Robertson only intended to stay at his twin sister’s house long enough tell her goodbye in person. His plans take a decidedly more interesting turn, however, when his sister’s friend, who’s sexy, and funny, and nearly unrecognizable, happens to be house sitting instead. When Julie asks him for a favor that could change everything between them, though, he learns that what he wants most may not be the freedom he’s always found piloting jets, but someone warm and caring, and right in front of him.
I first saw Julie and Chris in the previous novel, Operation Endeavor, and their interactions were saturated with a deeper story than we were allowed to see. The two were clearly dealing with a shared history that left them both with much, much more to say to one another. This backstory is the perfect answer to those questions, while the knowledge of where they’re headed makes me hope they’ll both find happiness in the next book.
Chris and Julie fit together perfectly in this story, both in their personalities, as well as their desire for one another. Chris is a good guy, and has the patience to wait out the ghosts Julie has been carrying around with her for years. Once he decides that he’s the perfect one to give Julie what she needs, though, their situation begins to shift into something much more warm and satisfying.
Before the Mission Begins is a very short, sweet story that answers some longstanding questions about Julie and Chris’s past that I very much hoped would be addressed. It is a snapshot of an unexpectedly perfect day in the lives of two characters who both need and deserve it, especially given the trials that lay ahead for them both. Although it does provide a tender, sexy beginning for Julie and Chris, Ms. Snow has timed their tale perfectly to keep me anxious and eager to see where she’ll take them next. If you’re a fan of the series already, Before the Mission Begins is a must-read, and works well in the suggested reading order. If you’re new to the series, this story is a great prequel as well as an enjoyable standalone.
B’s Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Review: Operation Endeavor by Christi Snow
Operation Endeavor
Author: Christi Snow
Release Date: Dec. 31, 2012
Publisher: self-published
When the Mission Ends Book 2
ISBN: #978-1481035613
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Format(s): paperback (340 pages), e-book
Book Source: Author
About the book:
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Colton Robertson left his career in the Air Force…
…to come home and help his family heal. Unfortunately, his reception was not quite what he’d hoped for and he ended up as roommate to hippy dippy yoga instructor Penelope Pruitt.
Penelope has spent her life under the restrictive thumb of her parents and she doesn’t want to do the same with the straight-laced, serious Colton. But when it becomes apparent that Penelope’s life is in danger, Colton won’t settle for anyone else protecting Penelope besides him.
Opposites attract and that’s definitely the case with Colton and Penelope. On the surface, they don’t have anything in common, but as the sparks fly and the danger ramps up, their passion is inevitable.
What B is talking about:
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As if trying to deal with one sibling that’s hurting and angry isn’t difficult enough, Colton Robertson finds himself faced with the wrath of both twins. Having practically raised his younger brother and sister after their parents’ death, he’s quickly discovering that giving up control when they need him isn’t easy. But if he doesn’t get out from under his sister’s roof and into a place of his own, things will get a lot worse for the three of them—and fast. So, when Cassie’s flighty, yoga-loving friend, Penelope, suddenly finds herself in need of a roommate for her loft, Colton takes her up on the offer.
Penelope Pruitt is a self-sufficient, intelligent woman with a few hidden talents, who’s sacrificed plenty to live her life on her own terms. If playing the part of Cassie’s flaky best friend works to keep people from asking too many questions she’d rather not answer, so be it. But, when one of her employees goes missing, and mysterious threats begin piling up, she’ll have to come clean and learn to trust her own heart in order to save those she loves.
Operation Endeavor was a pleasant surprise to read, and the story itself unfolded very nicely. While certain aspects of the novel I was able to predict with some accuracy, there were plenty of others that kept me guessing and happily turning pages. I enjoyed Operation Endeavor as much for its suspense and mystery as I did for the romantic encounters of the two main characters, and was appalled as the bad guys began to reveal themselves towards the end.
As far as main characters go, Penelope and Colton are a lot of fun. They’re both hiding their true natures from those around them, and realize that, as they get to know one another, each is exactly what the other needs. That’s not to say that everything runs smoothly throughout Operation Endeavor. Both Penelope’s independence and Colton’s over-protectiveness create a steady stream of conflict between the two, yet they are both willing to compromise in order to make their new relationship work. And between Penelope’s free spirit, and Colton’s inner Alpha male, the sexual sparks flare brightly and fairly often.
One of my favorite things about reading authors who are new to me is finding myself in unknown territory, as well as being able to follow along wherever the story leads without any preconceived ideas based on past experiences. In Operation Endeavor, Ms. Snow has written a sexy, entertaining mystery that was a pleasure to read. Although there’s clearly some missing background on a few of the characters (and I’d love to know more about them), this story reads very well as a standalone. Colton and Penelope have a comfortable feel to them, without seeming obvious, and the balance between tension and humor was maintained throughout. This is definitely a series I’ll be adding to my list of “must-follows,” and I’m looking forward to the next novel due out in April, as well as a prequel novella due out in February 2013.
B’s Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Purchase Info:
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