Sandy M’s review of Mean Streak by Sandra Brown
Romantic Suspense published by Hodder & Stoughton 19 Aug 14
It’s been a while since I’ve read Sandra Brown, and I’m not going to let it be so long before I dig into the next book. I used to read her all the time, as I did Nora Roberts. With so many books, even my favorites sometimes get lost in the shuffle. I learned a couple of years ago that I’m not letting a Nora book get by me anymore. Now with this latest from Sandra Brown, I’ve vowed the same with her future stories. I’m not gonna miss a single one.
I love the way Ms. Brown uses deception in her books. Not only for her characters, but for the readers too. They go right along with the characters as the story progresses, never seeing the twists and turns coming. And, believe me, there are several eyebrow-raising twists in this story.
Emory Charbonneau is a pediatrician with partners in a thriving clinic. She also loves marathons and keeps herself in tip-top shape with plenty of practice. Her upcoming marathon is one she’s spearheaded, so she’s determined to be in even better condition so there’s no question she’ll finish the race. Taking a weekend from the clinic and her husband – after another heated argument – Emory heads to mountainous terrain to try out a few trails that should help in her mission.
But things go horribly wrong. Awaking in an unknown cabin hidden deep in the mountains and woods, Emory is faced with a man so mysterious he won’t even give her his name. Wary and cautious, though he promises to return her to civilization after the bad weather clears, she tries at every opportunity to escape her captivity. The man is a contradiction between word and deed, and he begins to fascinate – and arouse – her with little effort. When his “neighbors” intrude it could be a way out for her, but Emory quickly realizes these neighbors are the kind only a man like her rescuer can deal with – efficiently and effectively.
After days in his company, she now knows he’s a good man, despite his mysterious ways and silence. When she does return she discovers plenty of things to make her want to change her life. Her jerk of a husband is having an affair and her new knight in shining armor is wanted by the FBI. Now who can she trust?
I never thought I’d fall in love with a nameless hero, but Ms. Brown pulls this off spectacularly. He’s dangerous, but he’s also intense, sexy as hell, and kind-hearted when a situation warrants. Even with the FBI closing in, he’s a hero you pull for and hope all turns out well. Emory is a strong heroine with brains to boot. Her kind heart pulls her in directions she never imagined she’d go. I also love Rebecca, our hero’s sister, and the FBI agent Jack Connell. In fact, I’d love to see them get together in a book of their own. The two law enforcement officers who work on Emory’s case are also great secondary characters, pulling off both backwoods and good cop/bad cop personas with equal coolness.
Be sure to pick this book up. It will keep you guessing and turning you in circles throughout. Vintage Sandra Brown!
Grade: A+
Summary:
Dr. Emory Charbonneau, a pediatrician and marathon runner, disappears on a mountain road in North Carolina. By the time her husband Jeff, miffed over a recent argument, reports her missing, the trail has grown cold. Literally. Fog and ice encapsulate the mountainous wilderness and paralyze the search for her.
While police suspect Jeff of “instant divorce,” Emory, suffering from an unexplained head injury, regains consciousness and finds herself the captive of a man whose violent past is so dark that he won’t even tell her his name. She’s determined to escape him, and willing to take any risks necessary to survive.
Unexpectedly, however, the two have a dangerous encounter with people who adhere to a code of justice all their own. At the center of the dispute is a desperate young woman whom Emory can’t turn her back on, even if it means breaking the law.
As her husband’s deception is revealed, and the FBI closes in on her captor, Emory begins to wonder if the man with no name is, in fact, her rescuer.
Read an excerpt.
