Review: Dual Review - Pre & Post Author updates to the story.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 23, 2014
I originally read this when it was released and then picked it up again after I was told about the changes made to the story that came about from feedback from readers.  Having loved the blurb so much and felt like this story had such great potential, I decided to read the updated version.  Below is my review of the new updated version and the original review is also posted below.Secondary Review after revisions were made and Title was updated: 4 StarsInvincible was revised recently and comes packed with not only a dual point of view but some twists to the story-line that I was not expecting at all.Normally when an author revises their book I don’t go back to read the updated version. But with Invincible, I felt that I just needed to. There was something so magnetic about the blurb of this story and I needed to see if the revised version with the added dual point of views and the new plot twist could recapture that same level of excitement.The gist of the story remains the same and the changes that revolve around the twist to the story-line are not something that I will touch upon, beyond that it worked – really, really well. The addition of Annie’s point of view also gave a new insight into her character, although Patrick had his own emotional hang-ups, Annie was the one that had suffered. Getting into her head was much needed, it allowed a little deeper connection to the character and to her story. I think for the most part on my initial read of the story – everything felt like it was just Patrick’s story and that Annie was there, but not so much a main character. Giving Annie a stronger voice throughout this story enhanced the story for me.There were still a few moments towards the end where I felt like I was reading a book on fast forward, however the added twists to the story-line explained some of the need for Patrick to move as quickly as he did.After reading both versions of this story and looking back at my original review, I think part of me was looking to find a much darker anti-hero type in Patrick. A man that might have goodness at his core, but the kind of man that had buried it years ago – waiting for someone to be willing to work hard enough to uncover the man he was meant to be. With the second reading, Patrick seemed like much more of cautious hero, who at the core always wanted something beyond what he had. Being a SEAL was his life and that was enough for him at the time, but he wanted to have someone by his side, waiting for him to come home. That version of Patrick made an appearance in this revised book and it worked better with the direction of the story.Original Review: 3.5 StarsPatrick is a Navy Seal, a man that has dedicated his life to serve his country. Nothing else matters. He has no woman at home waiting for him, praying for his safe return. Beyond his mother the only thing he has is his oath as a soldier and his brothers. When he walks into the brothel he never expected the words that came from her mouth, he never expected to believe her."I never made any commitments - except to my country and to my men. Sleeping with a prostitute was the definition of safe sex to me."Annie was just a teenage girl on a cruise with her boyfriend when she was taken. Five years later she's a junkie and a whore; bought to be used. When she's done with Patrick, there is something about him that gives her hope."My name is Annie Hamilton. I'm an American citizen. I was kidnapped from a cruise ship five years ago. You're my last hope. Please save me."Patrick knew he could face punishment if he went rogue to save her, but he also knew that if he followed the rules, the red tape would take too much time and her life was at stake. He wished he could have taken her that night, but he had to deploy and there was no time to execute his mission. Returning for her was his only plan. But when he returns to find the brothel burnt to the ground he and two of his brothers go in search for her - to rescue her - to bring her home.I am a little torn over this story. I absolutely loved the blurb to this story; I had my expectations set to dizzying heights. I didn't expect the story to play out quite like it did; more sweet than stubborn and damaged. I loved the dedication that he had to what he was doing and being a soldier meant that even if he wanted to erase those words from his memory; he just couldn't do it. But the breakneck speed in which the end of this story occurred had me a little disappointed. It just seemed like he went from screaming NO to wanting to give her everything; without really any clear idea of how he got to that point. I understood that an event in his past made him feel a certain way, but that wasn't played up enough to really explain his reluctance at for the majority of this book but it was mentioned enough to make me question the 180 towards the end. Another 20/25 pages would have allowed the ending more time to settle in and feel less rushed for me. (most of this was resolved for me in the updated story)I loved the idea of this story. Soldier gets bj from whore only to discover she was kidnapped and sold into the sex trade... Soldier who never wanted more than his missions is now attached to a woman that he saved, said woman can't go back to the life she had - the people that can't look at her without seeing five years of her being used... and even the twist thrown in at the end added the drama and suspense that the first part of the story was missing - I am not sure if the next story will be based on one of the other Seals or if they'll continue on with their story, I just know that it didn't feel complete yet. There is just a bit more to this story needed to really bring it to the proper conclusion.Overall I enjoyed this story, I was dying to get my hands on it and have to admit some of my feeling of being let down is due to the excitement over what is one of the most intriguing blurbs I've seen in a while (those things suck me in just like a pretty