Sandy M’s review of Quinn (Undaunted Men, Book 1) by J.C. Cliff
Contemporary Romance published by J.C. Cliff 19 Feb 16
I chose to read this two-part book based on the description and blurb sent to me through email. I responded that I love to read alpha military heroes, thus this series sounded like a good one. For me, however, what was described and what I actually got are two totally different things.
The story actually starts okay. Quinn is contacted by a mob boss, one who Quinn owes a debt to. The man’s daughter is missing and needs Quinn’s help to find her. Quinn really doesn’t want to get that deeply involved with the mafia; they always take a few extra miles when given just an inch. However, he reluctantly agrees, throwing out his own terms in getting the job done. So he kicks his current flavor of the night out of the house – he’s a player to the max and has the sexist attitude to go with it – off Quinn goes to trek through forest and mountain to find a pregnant mafia princess.
Lexi is one those heroines who has been sheltered, is kind and gentle and really knows nothing of the world, even though she’s been around her mafia family all her life. Though she does use last bit when she needs to look a little smarter than she actually is. She’s in a bind at home. Her fiance is blackmailing her, supposedly has evidence she’s killed someone, so he’s going to get what he wants out of her while he can. A close friend, though, is willing to help her by giving her the means to disappear off the grid until things can be taken care of. He gives her a map for her journey though the wilderness, along with some supplies and just enough time to flee before the shit hits the fan.This woman knows absolutely nothing about hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, and anything else you need to know to survive in the great big wild. Why in the hell wouldn’t she go to her father, the mafia boss, the big kahuna, the main man, to get out of trouble? Oh, yeah, because then there wouldn’t be a story. I have a feeling a better story would have ensued if that’s the direction it would have gone, though.
So Quinn finds Lexi lickety-split. That’s his baliwick, you know, so almost a no-brainer to track her down. He turns on the charm and easily worms his way into keeping her company until she reaches her destination. Lexi has just a tiny bit of hesitation in letting this stranger tag along, but then she acquiesces, which tells me again she doesn’t use her brain much, and that is borne out over and over again in this book. She’s so wishy-washy, going from sweet to pissed off about the most inane things in nanoseconds. The biggest nitpick I have during this journey of theirs is they act like giggling teenagers instead of the grownups they are. Quinn is in his early to mid 30s, but he’s on the ground tickling Lexi and spewing purple prose left and right that no man – especially an alpha male – in his right mind would ever say. Two-dollar words are used, like in an effort to beef up the content, when fifty-cent words are a better bet. Orbs? Who thinks someone’s blue (or green or brown, whatever) orbs are the prettiest they’ve ever seen. Orbs are those mysterious lights you see in supposed paranormal photographs. How about eyes? That’s a good fifty-cent word.
The only part of this story, other than the beginning, that I even like a little is when Quinn does truly go into alpha military mode when he and his dog realize they’re being followed and then later when two men actually get their hands on Lexi. But those scenes are so short, it’s not enough to make up for the ground lost in the rest of the book. Also, the fact that these two fall in love at the drop of a hat, can’t tell the truth to one another no matter what despite the fact they love one another, and then even decide they hate the other when it looks at though betrayal is in the works. So much for love. I’d rather have had these two stick together against all the conflict instead of letting the conflict break them apart. It would make me believe in their love so much more.
I do like Amber, Quinn’s military dog. I like a man who loves his dog. I just wish he’s more of a man instead of a sexist jerk who suddenly changes into a different person when he meets the supposed love of his life. He spouts emotional drivel all over the place. I’d rather he be a man who doesn’t know how to utter one word when faced with all that emotion – or even bumbles it up some when he does try. That would be more endearing than anything he says to Lexi in all these pages. I think I’ll go out on a limb and say this book didn’t get much of a professional edit. I can’t see any editor letting this much and more getting by them.
Of course, this is all just me. Others could love a man like Quinn and the woman he lusts after. More power to them. I just find it all way over the top and much too difficult to believe. And be warned, this book ends on a cliffhanger, because the author herself loves them and she wants to live up to her name. I’m not a fan of them myself, but because I had both books, in this instance it didn’t bother me as much. And because I requested both books to review from that email I received, I did finish this one, though a number of times I wanted to set it down and not get back to it. I also read the second book, the review of which will be coming soon. Stay tuned.
Grade: D-
Summary:
Meet Quinn…one of the Undaunted Men
He doesn’t want to take the job, but he has no choice. He owes a debt to the Moretti mob, and last he checked, they don’t take no for an answer.
He takes a moment to soak in the information. A pregnant mafia princess, wanted for murder, and he’s supposed to track her down.
The professed father is a childhood friend, yet he’s considered a potential enemy of the family. This could get very interesting.
What starts out as a simple task, one that could easily take him one day to execute, has turned into so much more than he bargained for.
They’re each fighting their own personal demons, and it’s more than just a chase at hand. They both have secrets, hearts are on the line, and he resolves himself to go above and beyond the call of duty for reasons he can’t understand.
The last thing he ever intends on finding is an angel.
No excerpt available.
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