5/23/22
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Even though I love Julie Garwood and the world she has built around the Buchanan- Renard series, I struggled to find the desire to read this book when I found out who the main characters were going to be. But once I got started, I grew to love Michael and Isabel. The book was filled with chemistry, humor and great characters but also a few bumps along the way.
Grace Under Fire attempts to follow the formula for the previous books in the series but doesn’t quite nail it. There is something off about the mystery aspects of the story. And since I still find it a really good read, I am hesitant to explain in detail for fear of spoiling the book. I will say this though, the mystery in the beginning felt like a jumbled scenario at first but towards the end it felt lackluster.
Especially when compared to the previous books and how well-crafted the mystery and killer aspects were. For instance, Killjoy book 3 in this series and my favorite, was practically a master class in merging the mystery and romance genres. Both sides of that story felt fully fleshed out and woven together beautifully. Whereas in “Grace Under Fire” the mystery sometimes feels like it was haphazardly thrown together and with the exception for a handful of scenes, it feels almost unnecessary. Yes, it does initially push our main characters together but for what feels like the first 60 % of the book they are actually brought together for other reasons. And because of those reasons the Mystery and Scotland related parts are on the backburner and sometimes a bit forgettable.
The characters have some pretty solid and believable chemistry and are fun to read. I enjoyed Isabel’s strengths, sense of humor and her drive to find her place not only in the family but in life. She was an easy heroine to like. She doesn’t turn into a whimpering mess when Michael does stuff to push her away and she knows that she is worth loving. But I felt a few of her traits were overstated to the point that it was kind of unbelievable and just shy of annoying. For example, how EVERYONE she meets magically opens up to her because she is willing to listen. It was made out to be such a big deal and shocking for her friends to witness, which is fine, except for every time it happens it is made out that way. So, it loses quite a bit of its impact.
Michael Buchanan is a twenty-eight-year-old former Navy Seal, Lawyer and soon to be FBI agent. Add in the fact that he graduated college at twenty and it’s easy to see he is an overachiever. Now the above-mentioned résumé had me rolling my eyes skyward. But thankfully this is something addressed by Isabel in what is one of the funniest moments in the book. No, I am not going to spoil it by sharing a quote from the book, you got to read it for yourself. Overall, as the Hero of the story he is a solid character. He is likeable and has pretty good reasoning behind his actions. And the banter between himself and Isabel is so much fun to read.
Overall, I am glad I read this book. It surprised me and reminded me that things aren’t always what they seem. Plus, I got to revisit characters that I loved from past books and fall in love with two more. This also serves as a reminder to me that I have yet to not enjoy a book written by Julie Garwood. And aside from my previous mentioned nitpicks I enjoyed it enough that I didn’t put it down once I started and I can’t wait to buy a copy to go on my bookshelf.
*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Official Synopsis:
Michael Buchanan will need every bit of his extensive skill set when he appoints himself as bodyguard to a woman determined not to need one in this thrilling new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Garwood.
Grace Isabel MacKenna had a hundred things to do today. Killing someone wasn’t one of them. It was supposed to be a quick visit to Boston for the Buchanan anniversary party, then on to Scotland to collect an inheritance. She checks into her hotel and then decides to go for a brisk walk. But after getting lost, she ends up with a wounded man stumbling into her arms—and his shooter coming after them both. When she fires back in self-defense, she doesn’t expect him to drop dead. After Isabel endures an interrogation by police, she is free to go, thanks to the Buchanans dispatching former Navy SEAL and now lawyer Michael Buchanan to assist her.
Isabel knows she should be grateful for Michael’s help, but since she’s harbored an extreme dislike for him for years, gratitude is difficult to muster. Michael has appointed himself her de facto guardian, and she’s stuck with him despite their constant bickering and sizzling attraction. Even when Isabel goes to Scotland to claim her inheritance, Michael follows her—but he isn’t the only thing she can’t shake. Mysterious threats against Isabel surface, and before they can deal with their growing feelings for each other, Michael and Isabel must first survive.
Grace Isabel MacKenna had a hundred things to do today. Killing someone wasn’t one of them. It was supposed to be a quick visit to Boston for the Buchanan anniversary party, then on to Scotland to collect an inheritance. She checks into her hotel and then decides to go for a brisk walk. But after getting lost, she ends up with a wounded man stumbling into her arms—and his shooter coming after them both. When she fires back in self-defense, she doesn’t expect him to drop dead. After Isabel endures an interrogation by police, she is free to go, thanks to the Buchanans dispatching former Navy SEAL and now lawyer Michael Buchanan to assist her.
Isabel knows she should be grateful for Michael’s help, but since she’s harbored an extreme dislike for him for years, gratitude is difficult to muster. Michael has appointed himself her de facto guardian, and she’s stuck with him despite their constant bickering and sizzling attraction. Even when Isabel goes to Scotland to claim her inheritance, Michael follows her—but he isn’t the only thing she can’t shake. Mysterious threats against Isabel surface, and before they can deal with their growing feelings for each other, Michael and Isabel must first survive.
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