Silent Threat by Dana MartonMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Three and a half stars.
This started really well, Cole Makani Hunter is a former SEAL, partially deaf and with his right arm non-functioning, he has been sent undercover to a new age rehab centre for vets to discover who (staff or patient) is transmitting military secrets to someone in the Yemen.
Annie Murray is an ecotherapist working part-time at the Hope Hill rehab centre in Broslin Pennsylvania. Her treatment consists of helping vets get back in touch with nature through barefoot walks in the woods and drawing analogies between the men with their issues and nature. Whilst at first Annie was a bit new-age hippy dippy for my taste, and Cole wasn't wrong when he called her a tree-hugger, she grew on me. Brought up by a single mother, ostracised and criticised by her maternal grandfather - who she nevertheless continues to care for - and with unresolved issues with her cousin Kelly, Annie tries to make life better for everyone around her and runs an animal sanctuary in her yard.
Annie and Cole have a LOT of back story, it made me wonder whether they had featured in previous books by Dana Marton in different series. Either way, it was good that both had histories and experiences which moulded their lives but didn't overrun them - in other words it wasn't all angst-angst-angst like a YA/NA novel.
Annie has a stalker. I liked the suspense of not knowing who the stalker was and guessing at each character, I also liked the way in which the two stories: Cole's traitor and Annie's stalker wove together. I liked the development of the romantic relationship and the way in which Annie's therapy methods helped Cole deal with his issues whilst not being a miracle cure-all. I even liked the extended epilogue. My only gripe was that the climax felt a bit rushed, I even reread it this morning to see whether I had been mistaken when I read it last night but I remain slightly disappointed that the ending felt rushed rather than the steady build up of tension that usually happens with a romantic suspense.
Overall, I like Dana Marton's novels, she writes interesting characters who aren't all traditionally beautiful and perfect, Cole's initial description of Annie is WAY less than flattering. Also, its funny which is unusual in romantic suspense. Cole and Annie have some really nice banter going on between them, I especially liked when Annie was able to laugh at herself.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
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