Shannon C.’s review of In the Arms of the Wind by Charlotte Boyett-Compo
Romantic suspense eBook released by Ellora’s Cave 6 Jun 08
I tried, I really did, to get through this book. Charlotte Boyett-Compo seems to be one of those authors I really ought to like, but this one not only made no sense, it featured a character I profoundly disliked. It doesn’t help that Sybil warned me I would hate this book. I obviously should have listened to her.
Firstly, the premise. When I requested this book for review, I thought that the premise of a man sworn to kill the woman he’s attracted to would be compelling. And maybe it could be. But I don’t think it’s the kind of story I’m ever likely to read again. Our “hero” Danny is a police officer who has strong family ties to a criminal element. He claims that all he’s wanted to do is be a cop, but he can’t get out of the family, and for me, that doesn’t speak of angst so much as it does a man who ultimately lacks much of a spine.
And his idea of courting the heroine? Letting her know that he’s abused his privileges as a cop by looking up background information on her, which he reveals to her. The heroine, predictably, thinks this is sweet and it cements her lurve. Me, I find my skin crawling and I want to reach into the book and get a restraining order.
The heroine, Kaycee, is your typical romance heroine, by which I mean she is a svelte twenty-something whose mental age is somewhere around 62. She’s fairly unremarkable, although she does try to be smart by installing the best security system she can afford. But that’s still not enough, because she is, after all, dating Danny. As for the two of them together… I guess what they have is chemistry. There seems to be a paranormal connection between the two of them that came out of left field, but when I read the first sex scene, all I could do was laugh helplessly.
I got about a third of the way through the book, and couldn’t finish. I could ignore a lot of things, but the creepiness of the hero makes this one too disturbing for me to even finish.
Grade: DNF
Summary:
Kaycee Connor was in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong man. Listening to her date being assassinated as she hid in his safe room, she would never forget the chilling words that had come from the killer’s lips.
Assigned to investigate the brutal crime, Police Detective Daniel Gallagher took one look at Kaycee and lost his heart. Trembling, terrified, her eyes filled with hurt, she made Danny feel things he had thought died long ago. Wanting to protect her, to keep her out of harm’s way, he’ll do whatever it takes to shield her from danger even if it means going up against a powerful crime family.
Hot passion brews like a hurricane along the Georgia coast as Danny and Kaycee weather the storm of desire flooding through their bodies. While the flashing lightning, lashing winds and driving rain whip their yearning to fever pitch, a treacherous enemy lies in wait to blow the lovers apart.
Reader Advisory: Story includes a non-consensual male/male scene. However, while the scene is non-detailed, the post-emotional aspects are shared with the reader.
Read an excerpt.
