A review by savage_book_review
Be Still My Heart by Emily McIntire, Sav R. Miller

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Lincoln Porter is just trying to keep his late father's floundering lobster business afloat and keep himself to himself. Which is made all the harder when a body is caught up in his traps. A police investigation ensues, with Lincoln as an obvious suspect. But no matter how much he wants to stay away, something draws him to the lead detective on the case and, once he looks into her eyes, his past, present and future collide.. 

This is the first of Emily McIntire's books I've read outside the 'Never After series, so I wasn't completely sure what to expect going in. I have conflicting views which I can't really explain... I LOVE her storytelling, and I really enjoy reading her books - I get all the vibes and the feels from the characters and the plots are generally great. In fact, I'd say she's one of my favourite authors. But at the same time I'm never completely sold on her actual writing. It's like I totally get what she's trying to do and my brain compensates for the fact that I don't necessarily get everything I need from just the words on the page. Does that make any sense at all? I don't know. But this book falls squarely into that description. 

The imagery it evokes really feels like the set up for one of those Scandinavian crime dramas - small community, abandoned (sort of) lighthouse, outsider cop come to investigate grizzly unalivings, loner main character who might or might not be a bad guy, and a mystery within a mystery. It's so atmospheric! I could really easily picture the setting and the various scenes in my head, and the reader's mood is absolutely shifted accordingly. 

Lincoln and Sloane, our main characters, have sparks flying from the moment they meet. I don't think their chemistry is entirely consistent throughout, but when it's on, it's ON. It's immediately obvious where things are going to lead between them (for the most part), so you're just happy to be along for the ride. The romantic element is the glue that holds the story together, but at the same time there is enough of an intrigue about these characters and the crimes being committed that it's fot the potential for wider appeal. And of course there are a few spicy moments to saitaiate your (and the characters') need to break the tension. Individually, I think Lincoln is a fine broody male, and he's the one I'd like to see more of - his history is interesting and I'd love to read a prequel! Sloane I didn't find as alluring, but as the book progresses you can't help but be drawn into her story. 

I wasn't as enamoured by the supporting cast; there's quite a lot of stock characters. They have been given personalities and do play their roles well enough, but they don't quite add enough to the world we're in to make it fully real. 

Returning to the plot, I did enjoy the layering of the current case over the old mystery that still haunts Lincoln, but it is clear where the authors' hearts and specialties lie. The criminal element does run like a thread throughout everything, but equally there are moments where it feels like the writers forgot about their instigating event and suddenly jerk back to attention by throwing in a new body. The 'old' case is far more interesting than the new in my opinion, and I did enjoy how that slowly unravelled. 

Overall, I did like this book, but it does reinforce that contemporary dark(ish) romance isn't really my genre (I like my fictional men with wings, or shadows, or magic, or all three). For those who do like it though, I'm certain that this would be a great book for you!
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