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stacyreads's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
laurenjodi's review against another edition
4.0
Crash & Burn
4 Stars (3.5 for "Crash" and 4 for "Burn")
Three years ago, LAPD Detective Scarlet Moreno and Officer Krista Hart were almost killed in a sting operation that went wrong. Now partners in a private investigation firm, Moreno & Hart find themselves in two very different, but just as deadly situations. Scarlet investigates the murders of several college students while Hart is hired to locate a missing witness.
This is the first writing collaboration between romantic suspense authors, Allison Brennan and Laura Griffin. While the stories are linked by setting and characters, they can also be read as separate novellas.
As short stories are not really my cup of tea, my expectations for this book were not all that high. Nevertheless, I was pleasantly surprised by the solid characterization and entertaining suspense plots although Griffin’s contribution, Burn, has a slight edge on Brennan’s Crash for a couple of reasons.
First, Crash is comprised of two unrelated subplots and there is simply too much going on all at once. In contrast, the story in Burn is more cohesive and intense, which results in a more gripping reading.
Second, the romantic element in both installments have similar love-hate relationships, but Krista and rival PI, RJ Flynn, have better chemistry than Scarlet and detective Alex Bishop.
All in all, the premise is compelling, the characters are well-developed within the format and the mysteries are interesting. I look forward to seeing what is up next for Moreno & Hart.
4 Stars (3.5 for "Crash" and 4 for "Burn")
Three years ago, LAPD Detective Scarlet Moreno and Officer Krista Hart were almost killed in a sting operation that went wrong. Now partners in a private investigation firm, Moreno & Hart find themselves in two very different, but just as deadly situations. Scarlet investigates the murders of several college students while Hart is hired to locate a missing witness.
This is the first writing collaboration between romantic suspense authors, Allison Brennan and Laura Griffin. While the stories are linked by setting and characters, they can also be read as separate novellas.
As short stories are not really my cup of tea, my expectations for this book were not all that high. Nevertheless, I was pleasantly surprised by the solid characterization and entertaining suspense plots although Griffin’s contribution, Burn, has a slight edge on Brennan’s Crash for a couple of reasons.
First, Crash is comprised of two unrelated subplots and there is simply too much going on all at once. In contrast, the story in Burn is more cohesive and intense, which results in a more gripping reading.
Second, the romantic element in both installments have similar love-hate relationships, but Krista and rival PI, RJ Flynn, have better chemistry than Scarlet and detective Alex Bishop.
All in all, the premise is compelling, the characters are well-developed within the format and the mysteries are interesting. I look forward to seeing what is up next for Moreno & Hart.
claudetteb's review against another edition
2.0
This isn't a collaboration. It's 2 short stories, one by each author, starring the same 2 PI chicks. The book by Laura Griffin is ok, but the one by Brennan is terrible! I won't waste any more time on these, and hope Laura Griffin doesn't waste too much time on them either.
amarieconnolly's review against another edition
4.0
3-3.5 stars for Allison Brennan's story, 4 stars for Laura Griffin's story. I enjoyed it enough to try the next in the series :)
elvang's review
3.0
3.5 stars
Not bad. Of the two ex-cops turned PI's, Scarlet Moreno is the better drawn character and story but the Krista Hart tale was fast paced and kept the reader on edge with the deadlines Hart was working under. Novella length stories are not my favourites and I had hoped that the two authors would write one story with the two characters.
Enjoyable enough that I will read the next installment of Moreno and Hart.
Not bad. Of the two ex-cops turned PI's, Scarlet Moreno is the better drawn character and story but the Krista Hart tale was fast paced and kept the reader on edge with the deadlines Hart was working under. Novella length stories are not my favourites and I had hoped that the two authors would write one story with the two characters.
Enjoyable enough that I will read the next installment of Moreno and Hart.
belle505's review
3.0
I like that it was split between the two heroines. Will continue on with series.
bookadventurer's review
3.0
This was fun. Two short novels, each by one of the authors, each narrated by one half of the eponymous PI duo. Sets the scene and sets up the romances that I suspect will follow in the next installments in the series. If you like the authors, you’ll probably enjoy this. If you like one of the authors but don’t know the other, this could act as a decent introduction.
bookgyrl's review
Read only the first half ot the book. The part of Scarlet Moreno. There is just not enough background information, character development etc to get really interested. Will not finish the rest.
On a positive note: it was clear the author is talented, but there was too much story for the pages.
On a positive note: it was clear the author is talented, but there was too much story for the pages.
imzadirose's review
3.0
Meh. Not what I was expecting. I thought it'd be a story they both write, like most collabs, but this was two separate stories. The first, I enjoyed the character and the stories, though the Whitney/Jim thing got on my nerves. The second story wasn't nearly as good, not as developed it seems, not as enjoyable. Dunno if I'll read the 2nd.
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