Sunday, January 31, 2016

Review: Shadow Fall (Tracers #9)

Shadow Fall (Tracers #9)

by Laura Griffin 

Blurb:
 Special Agent Tara Rushing arrives at a grisly murder scene and quickly discovers she’s got a serial killer on her hands. The killer is meticulous, making sure to wipe up even the smallest traces of evidence…but the Delphi Center experts are on the case.
The local sheriff has a suspect all picked out—ex-Marine and current security expert Liam Wolfe. Despite all her digging, Tara knows very little about Liam when she shows up at his sprawling Texas compound, which serves as headquarters for Wolfe Securities, and she’s surprised by her intense physical reaction to him.
As she and Liam grow closer, Tara finds herself depending on his skills and expertise to help her track a killer. But when another body turns up, Tara must decide if she can trust the man who’s quickly stealing her heart.
Themes:  Contemporary
Rating: 4 stars
Heat Rating: 
Review:
 The tracers have done it again.  These novels about amazing scientists and law enforcements individuals coming together to solve crimes and catch the sicko criminals that exist in this world are amazing and become more and more intense with each installment.  This novel revolves around a kick ass FBI Agent and the Spec Ops security expert that captures her attention.  This was a great novel of the procedures that lead law enforcement on wild goose chases and ultimately allow them to catch the bad guys.  It was great to see some of our favorite characters from previous novels as well as meeting some new guys.  I am really looking forward to seeing where Laura takes the series in the future.  If you haven’t read previous novels in the series you are missing out on a great series, but in the end this story stands alone in a big way and leads the readers on a merry chase to find the bad guy.  I will say that most romantic suspense is usually pretty easy for me to figure out long before the characters seem to, but as always Griffin manages to fool me right up until the truth comes out. 
FBI Agent Tara Rushing is sent to a small town in Texas when a high-profile former politico is murdered and the deck is stacked against her from the moment she steps into the case.  The biggest obstacle comes in the form of the sexy and irresistible security expert Liam Wolfe, the victim’s former bodyguard.  As the killer’s crimes grow, Tara has to decide who she can trust and whether what she feels for Liam is real or just a heightened response to the danger.  Liam on the other hand is determined to get Tara into his arms—and his bed—and none of the obstacles she puts between them can dissuade him from that desire.  Working together to find the killer could very well put them both into mortal danger, but the passion and emotion between them truly is strong enough to convince them to risk it all.
I enjoyed getting to know Tara a little more, even though I was a little upset that she felt she needed to pretend to be a tougher person just so others didn’t discount her in her work. She was obviously intelligent and beyond capable, but she always had to fight to get her opinion across and have the men in her group give her the respect she deserves.  While her instincts are definitely highly formed, she sometimes doubts herself just because her emotions play into those instincts.  The hardest lesson any woman can ever learn is that emotion combined with instinct is always stronger than just listening to your gut, because it is our emotions that truly allow us to formulate trustworthy opinions of those around us.   The way she really opens up with Liam, once he stops letting her hide from him, show her and the readers the true depth of her skill, natural ability, and empathy for others, which in the end is what allows her to solve the case and defeat the killer.  Liam on the other hand is an in your face and upfront kind of guy and when he meets Tara he knows just what he wants and isn’t afraid to go after it.  Being accused of murder doesn’t even seem to faze this guy, even when the one accusing him is the woman he’s lusting after.  Liam’s strength of character and honor make him a hero through and through, even when he’s being a bit arrogant and trying to tell Tara what to do.  All-in-all I love Liam and enjoyed getting to know him. 
Overall, Shadow Fall was an experience that I wouldn’t have missed for the world.  Griffin always manages to capture my interest and put my mind to work figuring out who the bad guy is, more than just enjoying the love between her H/h.  Liam and Tara were both interesting characters, each overcoming obstacles personally and professionally in order to find their place in the world.  Liam was a sweet but sometime arrogant badass that was willing to risk it all to keep Tara safe and in his life forever, even if she resisted him every step of the way.  Tara was a woman that I could see as a great role model for young women—strong, independent, brave, and gutsy.  I like seeing Tara find her footing and be able to stand up to and ultimately win against the local good ole boys who tried to trip her up.  The passion between Liam and Tara runs as a subtle undercurrent in each moment they are together and when they give into the heat, there is not denying these two have serious chemistry.  It was also interesting to see some previously loved characters and of course to meet some new ones (maybe they will be future heroes or heroines?) through both Tara and Liam.  I cannot wait to find out what’s coming next, but have no doubt it will be terrific as every other Tracers novel.

*eARC provided by publisher (via netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

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