Sunday, June 2, 2013

Book Review: Backlash by Karyn Good

Blurb:

What he’s sworn to protect, she’s willing to sacrifice to save those she loves...

When dedicated teacher Lily Wheeler interrupts a vicious gang attack on one of her students, she vows it won’t happen again. But her rash interference puts her in the path of a cold-blooded killer and the constable tracking him—a man she has little reason to trust, but can never forget.

Constable Chase Porter returned to Aspen Lake to see justice done, not renew old acquaintances. But when he rescues the woman he once loved from a volatile situation, he realizes his feelings for Lily haven’t lessened over the years.

Now, the dangerous killer Chase has sworn to capture has Lily in his sights. Can Chase and Lilly learn to trust each other again before it’s too late—or will old insecurities jeopardize their future?

Review:



Backlash is a contemporary suspense novel set is a small town. The story is a fresh take on "good girl falls for bad boy and gets her heart broken". Karyn Good does an excellent job of creating realistic characters and crafting a compelling plot. She manages to keep the story interesting, which is essential when handling a romantic trope such as "All Girls Want Bad Boys".

The heroine, Lily Wheeler, is a determined school teacher who comes across one of her students being threatened in the parking lot by gang members. She makes a courageous attempt to protect the boy, but it is the timely arrival of police officer Chase Porter that really saves the day. The mystery behind why a dangerous gang is interested in a small town thirteen-year-old boy serves an intriguing element. The gang threat helps drive the entire plot and serves as the central source of external conflict within the story.

Lily loved Chase when they were teenagers, but he broke her heart. Following a single night of passion, he walked out on her without a word of explanation. Ten years later, it is clear that Lily has never truly recovered from the heartbreak and her reunion with Chase vaults her right back into an intense physical and emotional attraction.  

Lily is a great character. She is compassionate and brave. Although there are times when she behaves with a remarkable lack of common sense for a grown, college educated woman. Her repeated determined efforts to protect her student are laudable, but it frustrated me when she argued endlessly with Chase for attempting to do his job.

Chase is a hunky, emotionally unavailable cop who grew up in an abusive household, the son of an alcoholic father. As the story begins, he is abrupt, almost callous, and Lily's initial attempts to connect with him are painful. However, Chase feels more than he shows and eventually his attraction to and concern for Lily overpower his fear of attachment.

Amidst the high-stakes danger of the gang case, Lily and Chase fall in love again. Love scenes are sensual without being explicit and the hero and heroine share a sizzling chemistry. Fans of the romantic suspense genre will find Backlash to be a Can't-Put-Down read.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.



Backlash can be bought at:
Kobo 

Where to find Karyn Good on the web:
Email: karyngoodauthor@gmail.com

1 comment:

  1. Oh, I've wanted to read this one for a long time. I love stories involving an old flame. Great review!

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