Three Stars
I’ve been a fan of this series since book one and been intrigued by the mysterious character that was Sasha just as long. Always in the background, always alone; basically she’s Catwoman. But I had a hard time imagining how Ms. Bybee would make her seem like a real woman. After reading the book, I can see that my concerns were justified.
Sasha, a loner with a troubled past, has helped get her “friends” out of danger for years, and is now at a crossroads in her life. She decides to go back to the school where she grew up, a kind of military/special ops training school that has a bad apple or 12. She meets AJ, a regular guy with a semi-mysterious past and decides to help him look for his sister’s murderer.
I really liked how utterly unique this story was. It was a complete romantic suspense novel, which Ms. Bybee has dabbled in before, but never taken the full plunge. I was also left guessing about the culprit or culprits until the very end, which I enjoyed.
My least favorite part about this book, besides the utterly unrealistic heroine and general lack of romance, was how under-cooked the ending was. There were so many sloppy loose ends and quasi-explained subplots, it gave me a headache. I think the author got caught up in the action and intrigue of the story and didn’t give herself enough time for a conclusion. What’s going to happen with AJ’s parents? What are Sasha and AJ really doing now? What’s going to be the future of the school? All of these questions have vague answers. I think fans of the series deserve more.
Overall, this was a fun read, but you’ll enjoy it more if you realize that the romance is taking a back seat and then completely suspend your disbelief. I really hope Claire gets a book in the future!
**I received an ARC of this book in order to provide an honest review**
Romance Reader 