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Heiress Charlotte Court is on the run. A shocking betrayal has led to her father’s murder, and an injured Charlotte must leave her wealthy home to find a safe place to hide from the false accusations that brand her a killer. Making her way across the border to a small town in Mexico, Charlotte creates a new identity for herself and finds a safe haven in the arms of Matt Sanders, a former Navy SEAL. Clinically dead after a mission gone wrong, he is miraculously brought back to life and spends a difficult time in rehabilitation. Looking for a fresh start away from the horrific memories of his past, he escapes to Mexico, where he meets Charlotte. Almost immediately he realizes that she is hiding something and longs to protect her. Will Charlotte trust him before it is too late? PURSUIT is Elizabeth Jennings’ first romantic suspense novel, and as such, it is a strong debut. Ms. Jennings offers readers a fresh new voice in the romantic suspense genre, and I truly enjoyed her vibrant writing style and vivid descriptions. However, as a long-time reader of romantic suspense books, I was disappointed in the lack of action in this story. Charlotte comes off as a passive character. On the run, determined to hide, she sticks her head in the sand rather than fight back and try to clear her name. I wanted her to take the reins in the story, rather than waiting for danger to find her. Most of the book is dedicated to Charlotte and Matt’s romance, which is a wonderful part of the story, but so separate from the suspense that this book could have very well been labeled a contemporary romance. The only suspense we get is when we are in the hired killer’s point of view, but he doesn’t interact with Charlotte until the very end of the book. When he does, everything is wrapped up with a neat little bow and with very little fanfare. The chemistry between Matt and Charlotte is sizzling, and I loved how Ms. Jennings immerses readers in the sights and sounds of the little Mexican village, but billed as a romantic suspense, I felt their was a distinct lack of balance between the two key ingredients. Still, I believe Ms. Jennings is an author to keep an eye on, and look forward to checking out her future endeavors.
Reviewed by Cindy |
PURSUIT
Posted April 2008 |
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