Patriot Games - Tom Clancy (Putnam - Aug 1987)

As an American in London on vacation with his family, Jack Ryan never imagined his quick thinking would prevent an assassination attempt on Britain's royal family and earn him the gratitude of an entire nation—and the scorn of an ultra-left-wing faction of the IRA. Irish terrorist Sean Miller and his followers in the Ulster Liberation Army intend to make sure Ryan pays for his interference in blood. But he's not the only one they're after...

With the lives of his pregnant wife and young daughter in mortal danger, Ryan accepts a role as a CIA analyst in order to find Miller and shut down the ULA. Going head to head with a ruthless terrorist is a fool's errand, but Jack Ryan is the kind of man who will do whatever it takes to protect his family.

This was a reread of a book I read when it first came out, and several times since then. It starts with a bang as Jack, on a working vacation in London with his family, witnesses a kidnapping attempt on the royal family. His instinctive reaction stopped the attack and put him in the bullseye of revenge.

One of the things I enjoy most every time I read this book is the deft mixture of action, darkness, and humor. The opening attack sucks me into the story immediately, on the edge of my seat as Jack rushes into action. Clancy's descriptions are vivid enough that I can picture the events as they happen. The confusion at the scene felt realistic, and I could feel Jack's worry that he'd end up "stuck like a pig" when the good guys showed up. I always laugh at the scenes in the hospital as Jack deals with the doctors (including his wife) and other medical personnel. The scenes with various law enforcement personnel show Jack what he inadvertently got involved in and reveal his razor-sharp mind as he processes what he learns. The scenes with multiple members of the royal family are good, but my favorite is when he helps the prince work through his feelings about what happened. Though not particularly realistic, it is still a great scene.

As the book continues we get the viewpoints of both the bad guys and the good guys. Jack and his family return home, secure in the knowledge that the bad guy is in jail and terrorists have never attacked on American soil. But the tension ramps up as the bad guy escapes and assorted good guys get a bad feeling about what might happen. Jack is lured into the CIA's sphere as he tries to get a handle on the group behind the attack. Their fears are realized when Jack's wife and daughter are nearly killed in an attack, and only luck prevents Jack from being attacked too. I ached for Jack as he dealt with his feelings of guilt and fear by getting more involved in the case. Jack goes through a lot of self-examination as he tries to reconcile his need for justice with the anger and desire for revenge that he also feels.

The tension continues to build as the book follows the terrorists as they make plans for their next attack. The attention to detail was intriguing and as were the insights into the various players' motivations. At the same time we see the good guys as they try to assemble the pieces of the puzzle in time to stop whatever is planned.

The final confrontation was a nail-biter. It started easy, with the royal visit and some amusing banter between Jack, Robby, and the prince. The chaos of the attack was described so vividly that I felt as though I was there. The escape by boat was exciting, and their arrival at the Academy was tense but also had a few lighter moments. The pursuit of the last of the bad guys had me on the edge of my seat until it was all over. Jack faced a crossroads in his life, and it was interesting to see how he handled it. I loved the ending.

One of my favorite lines is as the Superintendent asks Robby who is aboard the ship: "Chief Znamirowski and the duty boat section, Captain Peters and some Marines, Doctor Ryan, and, uh, Captain Wales, sir, of the Royal Navy" "Is that where he is?..."

Once a Rebel - Mary Jo Putney (Zebra - Sept 2017)

Series: Rogues Redeemed (Book 2)

A ROGUE REDEEMED

As Washington burns, Callista Brooke is trapped in the battle between her native England and her adopted homeland. She is on the verge of losing everything, including her life, when a handsome Englishman cuts through the violent crowd to claim that she is his. Callie falls into her protector's arms, recognizing that he is no stranger, but the boy she'd once loved, a lifetime ago.

Lord George Gordon Audley had been Callie's best friend, and it was to Gordon she turned in desperation to avoid a loathsome arranged marriage. But the repercussions of his gallant attempt to rescue her sent Callie packing to Jamaica, and Gordon on a one way trip to the penal colony of Australia.

Against all odds, Gordon survived. Finding Callie is like reclaiming his tarnished soul, and once again he vows to do whatever is necessary to protect her and those she loves. But the innocent friendship they shared as children has become a dangerous passion that may save or destroy them when they challenge the aristocratic society that exiled them both . . .

This was a good friends to lovers story in a setting not often seen in Regency romance. Callie and Gordon were best friends growing up. When her father planned to marry her off to a Jamaican planter three times her age, Callie fled to Gordon for help. His idea for them to escape to Gretna Green did not go as planned, and they were quickly caught. In a heartbreaking scene, Gordon was nearly beaten to death, and Callie submits to save Gordon's life. She is sent off to Jamaica and Gordon ends up sent to the penal colony in Australia.

Fast forward fifteen years. Callie is a widow who fled from Jamaica to Washington DC to escape her brutal stepson, taking her late husband's illegitimate quadroon children and their grandparents with her. She created a successful life there as a dressmaker, but as the story opens, she is caught in the British invasion of Washington. Unfortunate timing places her in the midst of danger when an unexpected savior arrives just in time to save her life. Callie is stunned to see Gordon, who she believed was dead.

After many years and adventures, of which we get only hints, Gordon made it back to England. He now spends his time helping people out of tricky situations. He was asked to go to America and track down a widow for her family. They would like her to return to England, or if not, to be sure that she is safe and happy. The last thing he expected was for Callie to be that widow.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Callie and Gordon. Once they recovered from their surprise, they slipped easily back into their old friendship. But they are no longer children, and there is a new tension simmering under the surface. I loved seeing them get to know each other as adults. Callie has become a beautiful woman who is intelligent, independent, and determined. She doesn't trust easily and has no plans to marry again. Gordon is a man with many facets which comes in handy during this book. His happiness at finding Callie again made him realize that he wants to keep her in his life. There are two main obstacles. One is her determination not to marry, and the other is her reluctance to return to England. Because of their dysfunctional families, neither Gordon nor Callie has any real experience with love.

Gordon is the first to realize that what he feels for Callie is more than friendship and decides to use his time to woo Callie to his way of thinking. He also isn't above using little tastes of passion to show her the benefits of marrying him. Though adamantly opposed at first, changing circumstances and growing passion cause Callie to reconsider. I loved Gordon's patience as he slowly brought Callie to realize that they belonged together. I liked their support of each other on their return to England, where several surprises awaited them. But it took a near-tragedy for them to realize the depth of their feelings for each other. I liked the ending and seeing them accept the full measure of their love.

One of my favorite things about this book is the setting. Placing this book in Baltimore during the War of 1812 gave an added layer of drama to the story. It was fun to see Callie and Gordon jump back and forth between being British or American as the need arose. Gordon was especially good at exhibiting just the right attitude for the situation. I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptions of life in Baltimore as they prepared for the possible arrival of British soldiers. The vividness of the bombardment of Fort McHenry made me feel as though I was there. The identity of Callie's lawyer was unexpected and a nice touch.

There were two bits of mystery and danger that added to the tension of the book. The first was the reason that Callie fled Jamaica. Her husband's legitimate son was a greedy bully and his actions made it clear she and her adopted family were not safe. With the steps she took, she never expected Henry to pursue them, but was proved wrong. The confrontation with him was intense and had me on the edge of my seat until it was over. The second was the surprise inheritance that Gordon received on his arrival back in England. His trip back to his childhood home was emotional and full of both good and bad memories. Unexpected danger had me glued to the pages as once again Gordon was called on to save them from danger. I ached for him as he confronted the culprit to save himself and Callie.

I would have liked an epilogue to see their lives a few years down the road. I'm curious to see how things go for Callie's Baltimore family. Since this is part of a series, hopefully there will be updates in future books.

 

Lilac Lane - Sherryl Woods (Mira - Oct 2017)

Series: Chesapeake Shores (Book 14)

At the heart of Lilac Lane is Keira Malone, who raised her three children alone after her first marriage broke apart, and who, after years of guarding her heart, finally finds love again. But that love is short-lived when her fiancé suffers a fatal heart attack. Grieving and unsure of what's next, Keira agrees to move from Dublin to Chesapeake Shores, Maryland, to spend time with her daughter, Moira, and her new granddaughter, Kate, as well as to help her son-in-law, Luke, with his Irish pub, O'Briens.

Not wanting to live underfoot, she rents a charming cottage on Lilac Lane, replete with views of the ocean and her neighbor's thriving garden -- not to mention views of the neighbor himself. The neighbor is none other than Bryan Laramie, the brusque and moody chef at the pub, with whom Keira is constantly butting heads. But things get real when Bryan's long-lost daughter, whom he hasn't seen since she was a baby, shows up out of the blue. As Bryan and Keira each delve into their pasts, reopening wounds, the rest of the town is gearing up for the Fall Festival Irish Stew cook-off, and making no bones about whose side they're on. It's Kitchen Wars meets This is Your Life -- a recipe for disaster…or a new take on love?

Terrific book. It has been a long time since my last visit to Chesapeake Shores, but it was effortless to slide right back into it. This is the story of Keira, Moira's mother (The Summer Garden) and Bryan, the chef at Luke O'Brien's pub. Relations between Keira and Moira had been strained for a long time before they mended their relationship in the earlier book. Keira raised her three children on her own when her husband deserted her, leaving Keira somewhat bitter and wary of love. Just when she opened herself up again to the possibility, her fiancé died, leaving Keira grieving and lost. Worried about her mother, Moira stretches the truth with the help of her new O'Brien relatives and convinces Keira to come to Maryland, using baby Kate and the pub as the reasons for the visit. Moira really hopes to convince her mother to stay in Chesapeake Shores.

Bryan is the chef at the pub. He worked in both New York and Baltimore before coming to Chesapeake Shores. While not quite a loner, he mostly keeps to himself. He rules his kitchen, accepting interference only from his boss, Luke, and Nell O'Brien, the family matriarch who taught him the traditional Irish recipes served at the pub. The arrival of feisty and blunt Keira doesn't sit well with him, but he doesn't have much choice in the matter.

I liked both Keira and Bryan and the development of their relationship. In the beginning, it is very adversarial, as Keira takes her job of ensuring authenticity very seriously, but Bryan doesn't take her suggestions well. Things begin to change a little bit when Keira moves into the cottage next door to Bryan's house, and they discover that when they leave their work difference behind they get along very well. There were some terrific scenes of late-night chats over wine, and early mornings spent weeding Bryan's garden. The sparks of antagonism that flew between them begin to change to a different kind of sparks. But both Keira and Bryan have baggage that makes them resistant to those sparks. Keira's risked her heart twice and had it broken, though in different ways. Risking it again seems to be the height of folly, so she works hard to keep that little bit of distance between them. Bryan was married many years before but neglected his wife in his zeal to cement his career. His wife took their baby girl and left him without a word when she reached the end of her patience. Bryan has spent almost twenty years trying to find them. Having failed at marriage once, trying again is the last thing on his mind.

But Keira and Bryan aren't given the chance to fight their feelings for long. The O'Brien family is well-known for their tendency to interfere in the lives of those they care for. Everyone from Nell to Mick, right on down the line can see what is happening, and they all have ideas on how to bring the reluctant duo together. Nell comes up with the bright idea of a cooking competition, with the title of best Irish stew between Keira and Bryan up for grabs. I enjoyed the behind-the-scenes machinations of various O'Briens as they fan the flames of competition. Keira recognizes her growing feelings for Bryan, but her fears hold her back from saying anything. I loved the scene where Bryan finds out the truth and the twist that Keira throws into his declaration. I loved how the competition played out and their big moment at the end was fantastic.

In the midst of all this drama, Bryan receives the shock of his life. His long-lost daughter appears in Chesapeake Shores looking for answers. I loved seeing this side of Bryan as he and Deanna got to know each other. The scene where Deanna finally gets up the courage to face her father had me in tears. I also loved that Keira was there to support him. There are some sweet scenes as Keira helps smooth over the rough spots of their reunion.

As always, I love the secondary appearances of other characters. The bits with Moira and her attempts to balance family and career were realistic and moving. I loved the get-togethers at Sally's as the O'Brien women share their days, and how they embraced Keira as one of their own. I laughed out loud at Mick's antics during the buildup to the competition. Nell was a riot as she involved herself and others in her matchmaking. As Bryan and Keira's boss, Luke had quite the challenge in keeping the peace at the pub. And in the end, the entire town had a part in the romance between Bryan and Keira. It will be interesting to see if there will be further Chesapeake Shores books and who will star in them. I'm leaning toward Deanna, plus the frequent mentions of Keira's estranged sons leaves the door open for them also.