Manhunt by Lillie Spencer – a Review

Manhunt by Lillie Spencer – a Review

Description:
Sometimes you have to forget it all to remember what really matters. Michael Brennan’s life and career come to an abrupt halt when he receives a phone call telling him the love of his life, Nikki Wright, is in the hospital after another attack by her ex-boyfriend Sebastian Cross. Rushing back to Hershey, PA, Michael turns up at Nikki’s hospital bedside covered in Sebastian’s blood and telling her they have to leave immediately. Though her injuries have induced amnesia, Nikki inherently feels she can trust this man with her life. Soon, they find themselves on the run from both their own troubled pasts and authorities hunting for Sebastian’s killer. But with each new day and each touch drawing her further into Michael’s embrace, Nikki remembers more about this fugitive she once loved, and who still loves her enough to risk everything to protect her and keep her safe.

Review:

Manhunt by Lillie Spencer is her first novel, which is romance suspense.    It is a story of Nikki, who wakes up in the hospital badly beaten by her abusive boyfriend, and has no memory of how she got there.  The story also belongs to Michael, her ex-boyfriend, but who is still very much in love with Nikki. and is still her best friend, as he rushes to her aid.   It is Michael, who left his job as a doctor in the hospital, when he gets the call about Nikki, to rush to her aid.  But Michael makes a detour to find Sebastian, the one who beat up Nikki. 

The next time we see Michael he rushes into Nikki’s room, having been told she has amnesia and doesn’t know anyone.  Michael lifts her off the bed, disconnects the cords, and though Nikki fights him not knowing who he is, he calms her and tells her to trust him.  For whatever reason, that even Nikki doesn’t know, she allows him to take her away.

From that point on, they are on the run.  Sebastian is found dead.  There is a manhunt on for Michael, who is suspected of killing Sebastian, and kidnapping Nikki.  Though the intense manhunt is on, we are treated to a very nice romance between formers lover Nikki and Michael.  It is Michael who refuses to tell Nikki anything of the past, as he wants her to gradually remember on her own. 

Lillie Spencer does a good job showing how much Michael loves and has always loved Nikki.  How Michael broke Nikki’s heart, when he went away to school to become a doctor.  Unfortunately for Nikki, she became involved with childhood friend Sebastian, who was a mean and jealous abuser.  But the first half of the book, is both of them on the run from the law, and Nikki slowly beginning to remember things from her childhood, and remembering how she felt about Michael. Their romance was nice to see, and the love they felt for one another was beautifully done, even though the memories bring back for both of them the past relationship with Sebastian, their own flawed family, the friendship between Michael, Nikki, Jeremy, Christian and Sophia.  All these returning memories opens the door for Michael and Nikki to love each other passionately.  Their love scenes were well written by Spencer, showing the passion, love, and pure sexual intensity.

The second half of the book was when they decided to return home and give themselves up.  Michael is arrested for murder, and a trial will decide their fate.

Lillie Spencer has created an excellent romance filled story, with suspense, intense moments, a exciting ending, and some wonderful characters.  Michael and Nikki belonged together.  Christian was an awesome friend to both, as was his wife Sophia ( I loved Christian the best). Jeremy was also a good adopted brother, and friend.  It is this family spirit, and the love of all to stand together that makes this a good story.  I thought some scenes in the first half could have been shortened, moving it along a bit better, but overall this was an excellent first novel for Lillie Spencer.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Author

 

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The Witness by Nora Roberts – a Review

The Witness by Nora Roberts – a Review

I have always been a fan of Nora Roberts.  She was one of my first adult authors I’ve ever read way back when.  After the university and all the work and studying was done Nora was the first author I turned too and got me back into reading for the joy of it.  So every time I pick up a Nora Roberts book it feels like going home to me and this book was no different.  I enjoyed The Witness from beginning to end.  It was a book that had me turning the page to see what would happen next.  I couldn’t put the book down and the flow of the story just sweeps you along. One of the things I like about Nora’s writing is her ability to intrigue the reader from the get go.  The way she introduces the main character and sets the backdrop of the story never fails to amaze me.  It gets me hooked from the first chapter and keeps me that way to the end, and always wanting more.  For me that’s the sign of a seasoned pro in the writing industry.

In The Witness, Nora sets the stage early.  She pulls you in with the main character Elizabeth Fitch, a.k.a Abigail Lowery, I’ll explain this a bit later, I promise.  😉  Elizabeth is a kid genius, born to a power hungry and driven to succeed parent.  Her life is basically dictated to her by her mother, the poor girl can’t do a thing without consulting her mother and the life schedule she’s created for the poor girl.  In doing so, her mother causes Elizabeth to grow up before her time, and do something no teenager should ever have to do.  Fight for her life to survive every day for the rest of her life.  Elizabeth rebels against her miserable life on one fateful weekend, and the events that unfold after are fast paced, suspenseful, and heartbreaking, with a bit of romance thrown in for good measure.  Nora leads the reader on a suspense filled romantic journey that doesn’t disappoint. 

Elizabeth finally felt like she was a normal teenager, going shopping with a friend, using fake I.D.’s to get into a bar, dancing and kissing a cute boy, but never once realizing the danger she and her friend would be in.  After witnessing a murder by the Russian mob, Elizabeth manages to escape and make it to the cops, where she is placed into protective custody until they can get her into the witness protection program.  However, things don’t go as planned and thanks to some dirty cops, Elizabeth’s life is once again placed in danger. Once again Elizabeth finds herself on the run and her newest friends and protectors dead. 

Fast-forward 12 years where we meet Abigail Lowery who is living a secluded life in the Ozarks and hiding out from the Russian mob.  Yes you guessed it, Miss Lowery is the very same Elizabeth Fitch who has been on the run these past 12 years, changing identities, jobs and leading a life that no one should have to live.   A life lived in fear that one day the mob will find her and do away with her to keep their secrets safe.  Living in fear and hiding, Abigail never dreamed of living a normal life, one where she wouldn’t always be looking over her shoulder.  However, things begin to change for her as she slowly starts to put down roots in the little town of Bicksford out in the Ozarks.

Enter police chief Brooks Gleason, who has recently returned home himself.  Being the ever observant police chief that he is, Brooks can’t help but notice Abigail’s secluded lifestyle and non-existent connections to Bickford’s residents and everyday goings on. Her lifestyle has not only peaked the interest of the police chief, but the residents as well.  It’s through Brooks’ pursuit of Abigail’s affections that we get to see more of what Abigail has lived through and her reluctance to never get close to another human being. Her only friend and constant companion is her guard dog Bert.  As we get a better look into Abigail’s life, one can’t help but feel heartbroken for the 16 year old girl who lost her teenage years to a horrible event, and then never really being able to live the way she wanted to live as an adult.  Brooks sees through her and realizes that something dangerous plagues Abigail’s life and is patient with her, allowing her the chance to come to terms with everything, trust another person and start to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Even though Abigail is strong, smart, skilled and quite capable of taking care of herself, she is also vulnerable and scared that one day her life will be cut short.  Thanks to Brooks and his ever steady, calm and patient personality Abigail opens up to him and tells him everything about her life.  Together they come up with a plan that will allow Elizabeth to get the justice she’s wanted all these years, put the past to rest and free her from her self-induced prison of a life.  As the events leading up to the ending unfold, we get to see classic Nora Roberts and are shocked by what happens.  It’s an ending that you don’t see coming, because Nora does a bang up job with it and it’s also a fitting ending to a story that has been filled with suspense, drama, humour, heartbreak and romance. 

If you are a Nora Roberts fan then this is a must read.  If you aren’t already a fan of Nora, then this is an excellent book to introduce you to her writing and wonderful imagination and storytelling abilities.  It’s a story that will have you on the edge of your seat wanting to know what’s happening next, but at the same time enjoying the romance that Nora so skillfully weaves throughout the danger and mystery that surrounds our heroine Abigail Lowery, a.k.a Elizabeth Fitch. 

Reviewed by Marcie

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