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mollywetta's review against another edition
2.0
I picked this up as a blind date with a book from The Ripped Bodice because it was described as "for fans of Scandal" but I ended up thinking it was pretty lukewarm. No actual suspense and little chemistry.
kate_and_books's review against another edition
4.0
Maybe you guys can remember the TV series Cold Case with detective Lilly Rush? I loved that series and still watch reruns when I can. But getting back to the review.
Here cold cases are solved but its better. Cause there are alpha males and kickarse plots.
Characters & Chemistry.
Emery Finn has based her life around solving what happened to her cousin, her best friend Tiffany. She thinks she has finally found a link that will break the case open. She has been searching for Wren. She is convinced that he/she/it has something to do with her cousin missing.
Emery is a strong character and she knows her boundaries when it comes to finding out the truth. She is loyal to the end and the culprit is closer to her than she thinks. Through book 5 I knew who dunnit but I still enjoyed trying to figure out how and why it was done.
Wren is The Fixer. You have a problem? He can help you. It is vigilante justice but we all know that the system doesn’t always work. He is a creep (according to Emery) he likes to call himself mysterious. He is a recluse, elusive and he never steps into the limelight until now. He doesn’t do anything he wants to do.
I adore Wren (Levi) and his social awkwardness and that he has problems with social cues. He is strong and although he thinks he doesn’t care it is quite the opposite. He at a very young age also experienced loss and since then hasn’t wanted any attention.
Emery & Wren don’t get off to a good start.
“We need to come to an understanding” “Uh-huh, well, maybe we should understand that this seat is already taken,” she said. “By?” “Literally anyone else who wants it.”
But even with the slight animosity at the beginning they have chemistry. But with Wren’s demons and his social ineptness and the cold case heating up they get closer. Emery relies on Wren although she doesn’t really know anything about him.
What I enjoyed most is the banter between these two.
Writing, Plot & Pace.
I love this author's writing. The story and characters are engaging, and I loved getting to know them. Compared to book 5 I feel as if the author had some struggles with this book here. She has everything to make this book a hit be it the suspense, the banter and especially romance and the in-depth characters. There was something that didn’t make it a 5 star but I can’t pinpoint it if I’m being honest. This is slow in the romance build-up which is what I need at the moment. There is no other woman drama.
One of kind plot here. Through reading book 5 I still didn’t anticipate some things. There was never a dull moment and I had a lot of fun with this book.
Verdict.
I read the The Protector (book 5) in the series and just knew I had to go back to the beginning cause when I met Wren in that book I knew that is book was gonna be good. I recommend this book so start the series as I can see awesome things coming.
Here cold cases are solved but its better. Cause there are alpha males and kickarse plots.
Characters & Chemistry.
Emery Finn has based her life around solving what happened to her cousin, her best friend Tiffany. She thinks she has finally found a link that will break the case open. She has been searching for Wren. She is convinced that he/she/it has something to do with her cousin missing.
Emery is a strong character and she knows her boundaries when it comes to finding out the truth. She is loyal to the end and the culprit is closer to her than she thinks. Through book 5 I knew who dunnit but I still enjoyed trying to figure out how and why it was done.
Wren is The Fixer. You have a problem? He can help you. It is vigilante justice but we all know that the system doesn’t always work. He is a creep (according to Emery) he likes to call himself mysterious. He is a recluse, elusive and he never steps into the limelight until now. He doesn’t do anything he wants to do.
I adore Wren (Levi) and his social awkwardness and that he has problems with social cues. He is strong and although he thinks he doesn’t care it is quite the opposite. He at a very young age also experienced loss and since then hasn’t wanted any attention.
Emery & Wren don’t get off to a good start.
“We need to come to an understanding” “Uh-huh, well, maybe we should understand that this seat is already taken,” she said. “By?” “Literally anyone else who wants it.”
But even with the slight animosity at the beginning they have chemistry. But with Wren’s demons and his social ineptness and the cold case heating up they get closer. Emery relies on Wren although she doesn’t really know anything about him.
What I enjoyed most is the banter between these two.
Writing, Plot & Pace.
I love this author's writing. The story and characters are engaging, and I loved getting to know them. Compared to book 5 I feel as if the author had some struggles with this book here. She has everything to make this book a hit be it the suspense, the banter and especially romance and the in-depth characters. There was something that didn’t make it a 5 star but I can’t pinpoint it if I’m being honest. This is slow in the romance build-up which is what I need at the moment. There is no other woman drama.
One of kind plot here. Through reading book 5 I still didn’t anticipate some things. There was never a dull moment and I had a lot of fun with this book.
Verdict.
I read the The Protector (book 5) in the series and just knew I had to go back to the beginning cause when I met Wren in that book I knew that is book was gonna be good. I recommend this book so start the series as I can see awesome things coming.
bookloverchelle's review against another edition
4.0
A really great start to a brand new series from HelenKay Dimon. For years Emery has been searching for answers in the disappearance of her cousin. When new evidence gives her just a name, Wren, she'll stop at nothing to uncover what he has to do with her cousin. Wren likes his secrecy and cannot have Emery poking her nose in his business. What starts as a face to face to warn her away leaves Wren thrown. There's just something about Emery that leaves him wanting to know more even if frustration is his key emotion. Emery knows just how he feels, for every answer he provides she has three more questions. As they work together to uncover the mystery of her cousin what started as business becomes very personal. I absolutely loved the banter between Emery and Wren, how he tries so hard to be overbearing and dominating but Emery will have none of it. It's hilarious how he's almost pouty that she will put up with none of his crap and is not at all intimidated by him like his employees are. I loved the connection between these two, how it grew through the story, and how they worked to uncover answers. I'm really excited to see where this series goes but will be very impatient for the next release. Great read!
*I received a copy from the publisher for early review
**HelenKay Dimon is a personal friend, take this review however you choose.
*I received a copy from the publisher for early review
**HelenKay Dimon is a personal friend, take this review however you choose.
msmattoon's review
4.0
This was an interesting story of a loner who is a "fixer" and the journalist who wants answers about the long-ago disappearance of her cousin. I liked the characters, but I can understand the frustration of some reviewers with the implied autism of the love interest. I did guess fairly easily what happened to the cousin, but that didn't affect my enjoyment of the book.
I really liked their names, Wren & Emery and the explanation for Wren's name.
I really liked their names, Wren & Emery and the explanation for Wren's name.
angela_evans's review against another edition
5.0
HelenKay Dimon weaves a story so rich with detail and heavy with emotion you will not be able to put it down, so clear your calendar and put on a pot of coffee because you won't regret it.
aboutthatstory's review against another edition
5.0
When I read the synopsis for this book I totally fell in love and was super excited to read it. Not only did I love it, it surpassed my expectations! It had an excellent storyline with a great feel to it, I was hooked!
Seriously, right from the beginning I was hanging on every word. Since this was romantic suspense, in my head I was expecting intensity but what I got surprised me and I loved it. It had this light, fun vibe happening that had me smiling. Wren and Emery where great characters. They had awesome verbal sparring going on that was challenging and entertaining. One of my favorite things is animosity between characters so this was perfect for me.
I loved Emery so much. I loved how strong she was and her perseverance and dedication. The woman is the definition of determined, it was great. Wren was equally fantastic. Closed off but protective, I loved learning all of his details. I really liked Wren’s history and how it was laid out, keeping me guessing and wanting more. I was on edge of my seat as he opened up. It was really fantastic seeing him grow and step outside of his comfort zone. Both Emery and Wren had amazing chemistry and loved watching it build. It was fun and sweet and passionate (and oh so hot!).
The story involving Emery's past was great too. I loved all the suspense and the challenge that it brought to their growing relationship. While I did think the story story was light in a fun, witty, verbally combative way, there was a good bit of tension too as the story unfolds and all the pieces come together. It was a really solid story and I thought the writing was excellent. Really great details and great pace, it flowed nicely. I was excited while reading and couldn't turn the page fast enough.
I loved Wren’s friend Garrett and the relationship they had. Anything that has to do with manly friendships and male bonding I'm a big fan of and I loved everything I got. I am just so impressed and excited for more. This was a fantastic introduction to the series and I love all the possibilities that could come next. Sign me up for the next story!
This was great romantic suspense, not only that, it was just fun and sexy with intriguing characters, solid storyline, and a fantastic build. Frankly, the lighter vibe was refreshing! It was everything I could have asked for.
Seriously, right from the beginning I was hanging on every word. Since this was romantic suspense, in my head I was expecting intensity but what I got surprised me and I loved it. It had this light, fun vibe happening that had me smiling. Wren and Emery where great characters. They had awesome verbal sparring going on that was challenging and entertaining. One of my favorite things is animosity between characters so this was perfect for me.
I loved Emery so much. I loved how strong she was and her perseverance and dedication. The woman is the definition of determined, it was great. Wren was equally fantastic. Closed off but protective, I loved learning all of his details. I really liked Wren’s history and how it was laid out, keeping me guessing and wanting more. I was on edge of my seat as he opened up. It was really fantastic seeing him grow and step outside of his comfort zone. Both Emery and Wren had amazing chemistry and loved watching it build. It was fun and sweet and passionate (and oh so hot!).
The story involving Emery's past was great too. I loved all the suspense and the challenge that it brought to their growing relationship. While I did think the story story was light in a fun, witty, verbally combative way, there was a good bit of tension too as the story unfolds and all the pieces come together. It was a really solid story and I thought the writing was excellent. Really great details and great pace, it flowed nicely. I was excited while reading and couldn't turn the page fast enough.
I loved Wren’s friend Garrett and the relationship they had. Anything that has to do with manly friendships and male bonding I'm a big fan of and I loved everything I got. I am just so impressed and excited for more. This was a fantastic introduction to the series and I love all the possibilities that could come next. Sign me up for the next story!
This was great romantic suspense, not only that, it was just fun and sexy with intriguing characters, solid storyline, and a fantastic build. Frankly, the lighter vibe was refreshing! It was everything I could have asked for.
nadiareadsstuff's review against another edition
4.0
Solid 4 stars... Never read anything from this author but had been waiting for this one to be released and it didn't disappoint. The romance was definitely there and it was sexy, but it was tasteful and didn't feel the need to be raunchy with the details, which I appreciate. Their banter was stellar and the plot well though out, even though I kinda figured out the whodunit midway through. Can't wait to read the next story in the series... Perhaps Garrett? I really love Garrett .
laneylegz's review
4.0
Emery has been on a life long quest to find out what happened to her cousin Tiffany who disappeared when they were in their teens. Working in the missing persons field she has discreetly investigated for years and now has stumbled upon a name in the files listed as Wren. Searching for Wren proves to be a problem.
Wren is a fixer and he's lived most of his life in the shadows and under secret identities while carrying out jobs for clients that need problems "fixed". He values his privacy, solitude, & not being sociable or having many friends.
The two collide when Wren steps out of his privacy to warn Emery off of trying to find Wren. She won't be deterred and a weird relationship starts. She's not cowed by his controlling, stoic, uncommon behavior and he finds himself not knowing how to handle feelings he's never had before. Emery's life is threatened and Wren assigns himself her bodyguard and pools resources to get to the bottom of Tiffany's disappearance. The more they dig the more an old family friend and Emery's father try to get them to quit. A collision course is happening while investigating and trying to figure out the relationship they are in with each other, Wren & Emery have a lot of circumstances to overcome as they get closer to the truth about Tiffany
Wren is a fixer and he's lived most of his life in the shadows and under secret identities while carrying out jobs for clients that need problems "fixed". He values his privacy, solitude, & not being sociable or having many friends.
The two collide when Wren steps out of his privacy to warn Emery off of trying to find Wren. She won't be deterred and a weird relationship starts. She's not cowed by his controlling, stoic, uncommon behavior and he finds himself not knowing how to handle feelings he's never had before. Emery's life is threatened and Wren assigns himself her bodyguard and pools resources to get to the bottom of Tiffany's disappearance. The more they dig the more an old family friend and Emery's father try to get them to quit. A collision course is happening while investigating and trying to figure out the relationship they are in with each other, Wren & Emery have a lot of circumstances to overcome as they get closer to the truth about Tiffany
viktoriya's review
2.0
It's a little sad that this book and I didn't quite get along. I never really bought the relationship between Emery and Wren (a/k/a Levy, a/k/a Brian). If felt very forced and didn't flow naturally and when the sexy times started happening, I just wanted to yawn. Wren's character is supposed to be alpha-male, but 5 pages into a story he became as soft as a noodle. Emery was just boring to me and I didn't care about her at all. Even the mystery wasn't that mysterious at all. I knew within the first 30 pages who did it . I kept reading in hopes that there is a plot twist and I would be proven wrong, but no, I was right.
Spoiler
yes, her father killed Emery's cousin, Tiffany, and disposed of her bodywhiskeyinthejar's review against another edition
3.0
“We need to talk about her. We need to have answers.” She did. Down to her soul. The guilt. The not knowing. Waking up every day thinking Tiffany could be one of those poor women chained to a bed somewhere in some sick bastard’s basement, unable to get out.
This had a bit of a different feel and texture than the usual romantic suspense/mystery, slower because this was about solving a decades old case but I enjoyed it for the most part because of the something new feel.
Our hero is quite different from the over-saturated with take control alpha, he was a solid quiet, composed, with some anti-social coloring. I can't say I ever felt like I "knew" him because of this little bit of dry, little bit of aloofness but he was also refreshing. I really liked the heroine and how she meshed with him, they played off each other very well.
“You still scare me a little.” She didn’t know why she admitted that, but it was absolutely true. There was no mistaking his smile now.
“The feeling is mutual.”
They had this slow dry heat thing that really worked but I just didn't get to see or completely feel them together because of the murder mystery components taking control of the story. The heroine is still searching for her cousin that went missing when she was a teenager and recently finding the hero's name in the case files leads her to him and has the hero being captivated against will for her and helping with the case.
“I got the impression you were attracted to me.”
“I’ll rein it in and say simply, yes.”
Her finger pressed into his wrist and his wild heartbeat thumped against her skin. She took that as a very good sign. “And if you didn’t rein it in this time?”
“The need to strip you naked and spread you out on that mattress is kicking my ass.” What was she even saying before that?
“Subtle.”
“There’s nothing subtle about how much I want you.”
They had chemistry but the hero ultimately remained too closed off in some ways for me, I felt walled off from him. The search for what happened to her cousin is crux of the story but it felt a little sluggish in the middle and had an ending that was fairly obvious and a bit announced and abruptly left.
She could fight her own battles, but it was pretty sexy to have a guy who wanted to stand up and help.
Dimon's writing draws me (I like how she writes the dynamics between the hero and heroine) and I like her voice but there also seems to be a feeling of things not quite clicking; her procedural writing is great but maybe some of the emotional aspect is missing for me? Either way, I'll keep reading her and I'll keep going with this series as I've already read one in it and liked it. If you're looking for romantic suspense that has a little bit of a different feel to it, this could be a change of pace.
Her spirit reeled him in and drove him mad.
I had to include this quote because of how deep in my soul I have felt this way before:
Caroline had the whole balanced-life, good-person combination down. By comparison, Emery felt like an unmade bed.
This had a bit of a different feel and texture than the usual romantic suspense/mystery, slower because this was about solving a decades old case but I enjoyed it for the most part because of the something new feel.
Our hero is quite different from the over-saturated with take control alpha, he was a solid quiet, composed, with some anti-social coloring. I can't say I ever felt like I "knew" him because of this little bit of dry, little bit of aloofness but he was also refreshing. I really liked the heroine and how she meshed with him, they played off each other very well.
“You still scare me a little.” She didn’t know why she admitted that, but it was absolutely true. There was no mistaking his smile now.
“The feeling is mutual.”
They had this slow dry heat thing that really worked but I just didn't get to see or completely feel them together because of the murder mystery components taking control of the story. The heroine is still searching for her cousin that went missing when she was a teenager and recently finding the hero's name in the case files leads her to him and has the hero being captivated against will for her and helping with the case.
“I got the impression you were attracted to me.”
“I’ll rein it in and say simply, yes.”
Her finger pressed into his wrist and his wild heartbeat thumped against her skin. She took that as a very good sign. “And if you didn’t rein it in this time?”
“The need to strip you naked and spread you out on that mattress is kicking my ass.” What was she even saying before that?
“Subtle.”
“There’s nothing subtle about how much I want you.”
They had chemistry but the hero ultimately remained too closed off in some ways for me, I felt walled off from him. The search for what happened to her cousin is crux of the story but it felt a little sluggish in the middle and had an ending that was fairly obvious and a bit announced and abruptly left.
She could fight her own battles, but it was pretty sexy to have a guy who wanted to stand up and help.
Dimon's writing draws me (I like how she writes the dynamics between the hero and heroine) and I like her voice but there also seems to be a feeling of things not quite clicking; her procedural writing is great but maybe some of the emotional aspect is missing for me? Either way, I'll keep reading her and I'll keep going with this series as I've already read one in it and liked it. If you're looking for romantic suspense that has a little bit of a different feel to it, this could be a change of pace.
Her spirit reeled him in and drove him mad.
I had to include this quote because of how deep in my soul I have felt this way before:
Caroline had the whole balanced-life, good-person combination down. By comparison, Emery felt like an unmade bed.