Limecello’s review of Tasting Fear by Shannon McKenna
Romantic suspense published by Brava on 1 Aug 2009

Shannon McKenna is one of my favorite authors. So much in fact, that I read her books despite the fact that I generally try to avoid Romantic Suspense. I have all of Shannon McKenna’s back list. Some, duplicates even. She may be the only author I can say that for. It is thus, regretfully, that I say that I found Tasting Fear to be… well… average. As Sybil likes to say, [C] is good at the pond! But fair or not, as Ms. McKenna is one of my favorite authors, I don’t expect “good.” I expect excellent. Consequently, I have to say I’m glad I got this book from the library. Will I eventually buy it? Likely – after all, I hate having incomplete “collections.” But since I’ve already read it, I won’t mind waiting for this to come out as a mass market paperback.

Outside the Limit

Nancy D’Onofrio has a cute story. I get that she’s the oldest, and her personality really is the stereotypical “oldest sibling” – very responsible, staid, proper, and… well burdened. This seems to be a common trend in Ms. McKenna’s stories. I felt that Nancy’s story was a bit short changed, because much of the plot was laid out in her novella. Then again, it didn’t matter too much because Nancy was a rather static character. Unfortunately, Liam was as well.

Liam Knightly is…a character I had a hard time labeling. He’s a carpenter, but apparently comfortable engaging with assailants in the middle of the night. The background given that his step dad taught him some self defense and that he’s done additional training seemed almost insufficient for what he was dealing with. Of course the big bad hero has to win the day – but I didn’t find it that believable. Or memorable. I liked the story, but I didn’t think about it much after reading it.

Liam is, however, very sweet. I liked that he tried to get Nancy to chill out, and to think of herself before others (something she had to do). He is very caring, and the two of them work… they just didn’t wow me.

Grade: C-

Ask for More

I liked Nell’s story most- I felt the most drawn to it, and the characters. Nell D’Onofrio is interesting. She’s almost two different people, really. Nell is a waitress, and … a graduate student, trying to get her PhD. I think I liked this story the most because I liked Nell in spite of herself. She’s so uncertain and well, she’s focusing on poetry. So not my thing. I shouldn’t really have found her character relatable, but I did. It also helps that I really liked Duncan Burke. That, and Nell has confidence in her work, and asserts herself and says what she wants – or deserves – in a relationship, or at least inter personal relations.

Duncan Burke, the hero is ex military, a businessman extraordinaire, and a conundrum. He’s emotionally stunted. There’s something about the way Ms. McKenna writes her heroes, that I generally find very appealing. I find myself willing to forgive any number of sins, because… well he’s trying so hard. Much like a puppy, but a large breed, with very sharp teeth. One that wants to play with you, but may accidentally rip your arm to shreds. There’s a scene where Duncan follows Nell around Manhattan. Really, he’s stalking her – which would be extremely creepy, other than he’s doing it to make sure she’s safe. That, and he wanted to apologize for being a jerk, but freaks out and doesn’t approach her once he sees she’s crying. (And then he conveniently prevents her from being kidnapped by being around.) Maybe its twisted, but I enjoyed Duncan following Nell- and why he ended up doing it.

I love that Duncan was so capable, and willing to own who he is. Duncan throws his money around to protect Nell and her sisters, and he doesn’t do it to be show off, its simply his personality. Also, it showed his determination because his goal is keeping Nell safe and happy, and money will achieve that goal. I think it really helped that Nell and Duncan had a relationship before their story begins. Or, at least had known each other, albeit minimally. I felt that what they did and how they interacted with their siblings, and other characters helped develop their personalities. I found Nell and Duncan the most memorable, and likable. The secondary characters here and their reactions helped build the story as well.

I think I also like that Nell and Duncan split up for a period- and Nell is basically able to hold her own. She and Duncan work because they want to.

Grade: C+

Ready or Not

Vivi D’Onofrio’s character is interesting. She’s an artist that hasn’t been living up to her full potential due to some events in her past. Maybe it’s just that I’m over the tragic abused heroine, or the way in which Vivi dealt with it. She just seemed so needy and abrasive. There are a lot of exclamation points when she speaks, and it seemed that she went out of her way to project an image, and then was annoyed when people bought into it.

Jack Kendrick is a jerk. There really is no other term that fits him, and I never thought he entirely redeemed himself. (At least the other heroes grovelled nicely or did some other act.) Yes, Jack steps in and saves the day, but he’s pretty cruel to Vivi, and is possibly the most emotionally damaged character. I think Jack’s back story and history is the most interesting. It’s very telling, and could have been the basis of a novel in and of itself. Nevertheless it doesn’t excuse the way he judges Vivi, and comes to the wrong conclusion. I really like that Jack was so into flowers. Conveniently his expertise helps solve the final mystery. (It seemed a little pat, although Ms. McKenna does give him the foundation for his love of plants.)

I felt that Vivi and Jack’s interaction, at least sexually seemed forced. They seemed to connect on a purely physical level, if that – and only on a physical level. I know they end up together, but I suppose I never exactly saw the why of it.

Grade: C-

In the end, this book was something like a shadow of Ms. McKenna’s other books. Good, but there wasn’t a major draw. The freak you out, and rip your heart out factor wasn’t there. Of course there’s the generally strong and capable heroine who just has this one situation she needs help with, and the convenient appearance of the uber hero. He’s rather inept emotionally, extremely attractive and fit, very sexual, very attracted to the heroine, doesn’t believe in love, and can take down three attackers with a handicap. The villain in the book wasn’t that believable, and seemed… a bit too extreme. He’s too one dimensional and insane and gross. There wasn’t much plot, and I felt like a lot of the book was just waiting for the end to come. For some authors, they just don’t write novellas as well as novels. Personally I don’t think that’s the case with Ms. McKenna, because some of her novellas are my favorite romances ever. These three, however, won’t make that list. Sad.

I believe Ms. McKenna’s next book will be Kevin McCloud’s. Dare I say I hope that will be the last of the series? (And I’d like to note here that I love this series.) I have to say I’m a little apprehensive. Kevin’s book could be one of the best… or a flop. I’ve of course got my fingers crossed for the former. If you’re into Romantic Suspense, I’d say give this book a read. (Or Erotic Romance as well.) However, if you’re looking to read Ms. McKenna’s books – I’d recommend starting with a different story.

Grade: C-

BLOOD WILL TELL

Nancy . . . Nell . . . Vivi . . . Three sisters who know there is no force on earth greater than love . . . unless it is the desire for vengeance. When their adored foster mother is murdered, the D’Onofrio women come together to hunt for her murderer—and track down a family legacy gone missing; rare, priceless art from the Renaissance, a treasure worth killing for. The law can only do so much and the three sisters are on their own—until three mysterious men get involved . . .

Startled to find a brawny stranger at her mother’s house, Nancy is even more surprised at the heat of passion that flares between them. Liam is intense and instantly protective. But is it wise to trust him with every secret? Her sister Nell has turned to Duncan, her new boss, for help. He’s an expert on the dark underworld of cyberspace, where other clues may lurk. And Duncan is so sexy its scary. All Nell ahs to do is say the hardest word of all: yes. But what about the youngest of the D’Onofrios, the wild and wilful Vivi? She’s on the verge of falling in love with Jack, who’s all about fierce vigilance . . .

The sisters embrace the ultimate in passion as danger stalks them all. Unknown and unseen, the killer is very, very near . . .