Sandy M’s review of Safe at Last (Slow Burn, Book 3) by Maya Banks
Paranormal Romance published by Avon 23 June 15
I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in this series, so waiting for this third story amped my anticipation over the top. While the tenor of the series – psychic abilities and those who want that power for their own – is still the best part, and finding a long-lost love is always a favorite of mine, one of my all-time nitpicks – and one that also appeared in Ms. Banks’ KGI series – has crept into place here and intervened with my total enjoyment of this book.
Zack is a trusted member of Devereaux Security, and while the team is on location at an art gallery to prepare for their next assignment, he is stunned to see a painting of a place only he and his Gracie would know. Gracie disappeared twelve years ago without a word. He’s searched all that time to find her, to find out what happened, all to no avail. Lately he’s been telling himself it’s time to move on, more than a decade enough time to give to a puzzling and mysterious situation that doesn’t want to be solved for whatever reason. He’s not even sure she’s alive. So seeing this painting triggers something inside Zack and he goes ballistic, demanding answers of the gallery owner the man refuses to give. That’s when she walks in and the world comes to an abrupt halt for Zack.
It’s fear that freezes Anna-Grace into place when she spies Zack in the gallery. It’s taken her twelve years to trust the one main person in her life now and it’s taken only a second for that trust to be nearly decimated with Zack’s reappearance in her life. She’s tried to move past the horror of the violence she endured at the hands of his friends, all with his knowledge, just to get her out of his life. Not only did she lose her trust, but she lost her psychic ability as well – but not before their thoughts told her all she needed to know about the man she loved.
In keeping with the dark theme in this series, this is the story in a nutshell, and now both Zack and Gracie have to work, independently and together, to figure out who was responsible for tearing their lives apart. But this is also where my nitpick comes to the fore in full-blown irritation. While I realize both of these characters have a million unanswered questions from so long ago and they’ve dwelt on them over the years, I don’t need or want those questions thrown at me over and over and over again throughout the book. The repetition in this story is such a hindrance at times, it’s difficult to keep clear where the characters are in the story and where they’re going next. It’s such a shame, because this is a good story with likable and very sympathetic characters. This is so unexpected in this series and makes me wonder why it’s happening after so many years of successful writing by Ms. Banks.
The writing is still vintage Maya Banks, however. I love the psychic aspect of this series, and when the three female leads come together – over the objections of their alpha men – to take care of the evil still stalking them, those bad guys don’t stand a chance. What a wondrous thing the mind is when fighting evil. Then there’s the betrayal Zack uncovers and has to deal with. Evil in another form in his own backyard. And, of course, he has to win Gracie’s trust again, show her his love is still hers even after so long. At first the end seems kind of rushed, but then once their guards are down, the truth is out and their trust in back in place, it’s love that takes over. And, as they say, all you need is love. The rest falls away and life is good. These two will be just fine.
Despite my irritation with this repetition anomaly from Ms. Banks, I still like this book, once I got around all of that. I do wish there was more dialogue to move the story along as well. I hope there’s someone in Ms. Banks’ sphere of influence who will point this incongruity out to her, because it does affect the reading and enjoyment of her stories, and I have to assume she’s not seeing it at this point. Though I have no idea why a proofreader or someone else along the publication line either doesn’t see it or mention it. I know Maya’s got so many more books swirling around in her imagination, she’s a favorite author, and I want every one of her books to be as terrific as I know she can write them.
Grade: B-
Summary:
They say young love doesn’t last, but a girl from the wrong side of the tracks with unique abilities and the hometown golden boy were determined to defy the odds. For Zack Covington, Anna-Grace—his “Gracie”—was the one. Until one night forever alters the course of their future, when a devastated Gracie disappears without a trace, leaving Zack to agonize over what happened to the girl he loved. As the years pass, his desperate efforts to find her uncovered nothing.
Now working for Devereaux Security, he stumbles across a painting featuring a special place only he and Gracie would know. The image is too perfectly rendered for it to be coincidence. His Gracie must be alive. When he finally tracks her down, he is shocked—and heart-broken—to discover the wounded shell of the girl he once knew and still loves. Her psychic gifts are gone, and worse, she believes he betrayed her all those years ago.
Zack has enemies, and once his weakness is discovered, Gracie becomes a target for revenge. He’ll have to save her before he can earn her trust and her love. And he vows they’ll never be torn apart again.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
