Sandy M’s review of High Risk (Adrenaline, Book 1) by Vivian Arend
Contemporary Romance published by Berkley 5 Mar 13
I’ve enjoyed Vivian Arend’s paranormals, but she’s outdone herself with this new contemporary series. It’s edgy, tense, and sensual as all get-out.
I really like the way the book begins, a prologue with Rebecca and her boyfriend/climbing partner on a rescue when all hell breaks loose. This sets the tone for the rest of the book as Rebecca tries to get her life back in order while reconnecting with a lover she’s never forgotten.
After having been released from any responsibility in the accident in which Dane died, she’s left Yellowstone and is now in Banff, taking on an instructor position at an elite boot camp/training center, the very same place where her career began. There she comes face to face with Marcus Landers, the man she had a brief affair with seven years before. The spark is still there between them, and while Becki isn’t sure it’s a smart move to get involved again, Marcus is all for it and makes plans to have her back in his bed.
Becki remembers nothing of the accident, but she has dreams in which she, little by little, remembers more and more of it. By day she helps Marcus train his LIFELINE members, keeping them sharp and on their toes, before the next training center class begins. I really enjoyed learning along with these team members how they go about their rescues, the intensity of their training and the trust there has to be among them. Becki is humbled these men and women look beyond her recent troubles and are willing to also trust her.
The same is true of Marcus. He also had an accident, losing his hand and, thus, his career. But working with his brother David at the center, while keeping LIFELINE up and running, keeps a lot of the residuals at bay. Having Becki in his life again is another reason to keep going; though Marcus is a pretty amazing man, not letting a little thing like losing a limb getting him down too much. Working with her during the team’s training will also help him because it’s been too long since he’s done rescue work himself. Though there’s a sexual attraction between them, they also need that trust so important in relationships. Marcus is the one to be proactive in helping Becki regain her memories, something that is holding her back in every aspect of her career. While Marcus does suffer his own demons due to his accident, he’s not as in dire need as Becki, but she does help when his depression takes hold.
There isn’t a lot of rescue action in this book. That’s mostly done through Becki’s dreams, and there is one rescue near the end of the book, which made me wish there’d been more, but I realize this first book is about building the relationships not only with Marcus and Becki but also the team. This team learns a few lessons under Becki’s hand, so it’s going to be exciting to see what Ms. Arend does with that. Marcus and Becki do have a healthy sexual relationship that evolves over the course of the book. There’s doubt and vulnerabilities on both sides, but they try to talk things through when possible. When they spend time together at an isolated cabin near the end of the book, difficult decisions must be made, and these two work together quite well.
A very nice start to a series that can be exciting if done right, and I think Ms. Arend is the author who can do that.
Grade: B+
Summary:
LIFELINE: An elite search-and-rescue squad based out of Banff, Alberta. Specializing in high-risk rescue missions, this team goes wherever the job takes them…
Rebecca James was once revered for her devil-may-care attitude and back country survival skills. But ever since she lost her partner in a fatal accident, patches of her memory have been missing. And until she can recall those final, tragic moments before the accident, she can’t move on.Since Marcus Landers was permanently injured during a mission, all his energies have been focused on his Lifeline team. When Becki—whom he had an intense affair with seven years ago—arrives in Banff, he’s inspired to reignite the spark they once had. Their mutual ardor slowly awakens Becki’s dormant, haunting memories.
New truths surface until Becki must at last confront her greatest fear. Remembering the past might mean a future without the man she loves…
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
