ADULT title
Blurb:
Anna del Mar's explosive, sexy debut novel in the Wounded Warrior series, perfect for fans of Lisa Marie Rice and Lora Leigh—the story of a woman desperate to escape her dangerous past and the navy SEAL who would lay down his life to save her
Ash Hunter knows what it is to run. A SEAL gravely injured in Afghanistan, he's gone AWOL from the military hospital. Physically and mentally scarred, he returns home to his grandmother's isolated cottage—and finds a beautiful, haunted stranger inside.
Like recognizes like.
Lia Stewart's in hiding from the cartel she barely escaped alive, holed up in this small Rocky Mountain town. Surviving, but only just. Helping the wounded warrior on her doorstep is the right thing to do…it's loving him that might get them both killed.
Soon, Ash realizes he's not the only one tormented by the past. Pushing the limits of his broken body, testing the boundaries of her shattered soul, he'll protect Lia until his last breath.
This book is approximately 97,000 words
My review:
5 out of 5 stars
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“The Asset” by Anna del Mar is part of the ‘Wounded Warrior’
series and is a romantic suspense story that follows Lia Stuart who unwillingly
acquires a roommate/tenant named Asher (Ash) Hunter and his Wounded Warrior
dog, Neil. Finding a way to help Ash
heal from some of his wounds forces Lia to expose far more of her own issues
than she is comfortable with, and their burgeoning relationship may have fatal
consequences.
The unexpected twists to this exciting story kept me enthralled
until the last fascinating word. One
should be forewarned that this is a very gritty story with sometimes
gut-wrenching scenes that evoke the price paid by those who go to war, and
sometimes paid by those who are innocents in an evil situation. I love the way the author vividly creates
tension-filled situations that show the strength that each of these characters
has acquired while craftily revealing snippets of background that has shaped
them. The reader is buffeted by tension
and fear throughout the story yet a wonderful sense of camaraderie and
affection is gradually coaxed into being, just as occurs within the story
itself. I had not realized at first that
I had already encountered this author’s dexterity at presenting vivid and
tortured characters, but once I made the connection to her fantasy books, the
‘Stonewiser’ series, I was reminded of how memorable her characters have been
for me.
I always have a soft spot for stories that feature military
heroes who are trying to find a way to deal with the horrors they have dealt
with and rejoice when they find someone to help ease their burdens. The connection that forms over a common issue
of PTSD is both heartbreaking and a beautiful unfolding to observe. The combination of the therapy dog who is
able to use his training to treat both of the main characters, the wry humor
that breaks up the tension at times (e.g. vet treating the vet), the poignant
flashbacks, and the persistence and determination that are hallmarks of the
characters’ personalities make this a wonderful start to the series and I can
only hope that future stories continue to showcase such compelling characters
in equally exciting and mesmerizing situations.
A copy of this title was provided to me for review which has been submitted to Night Owl Reviews
I sometimes like to read stories that evoke strong emotions from me. Sounds like an interesting book. Thanks for the review.
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