Review: Needs a Better Timeline, but still Good
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 7, 2014
I really enjoyed this story.  I'm not really a big contemporary romance reader, but I do read books from that genre from time to time.  I was in the mood for a sexy cowboy type, with a protective streak a mile wide, and that is exactly what I got with this book.  When Mia Matthews tries to leave her control freak, abusive husband, the sick bastard attacks her with a knife and beats her so badly, that he kills their unborn child and darn near kills Mia.  Sexy Texas Ranger, Alex Townsend is assigned to Mia's case.  There is a mutual attraction between the two, but for obvious reasons it goes nowhere...Alex needs to keep things professional; Mia is in no condition to even think of another relationship.  After psycho boy is convicted and sent to prison, Alex and Mia go their separate ways.Six months after he is sent to prison, Mia's now ex-husband breaks out of prison.  As soon as he is told about the prison break, Alex realizes that the ex will go after Mia (those sickos always do.)  Alex pretty much assigns himself as Mia's personal bodyguard, and the story quickly develops from there.  When the two reconnect, the mutual attraction between them is immediately rekindled.  Mia wants no part of falling in love ever again.  As for Alex, well he tries to keep things professional, and fails dismally.  LOL  The plot is chock full of excitement with all the ex-husband's various attempts to get to Mia.  While the book is well written and the story thoroughly engaging, I did have a problem with the timeline--and from many of the other reviews that I read, I see I'm not the only one.One issue I had with the timeline was the relatively short period of time that elapsed between the ex's conviction and his prison break...six months.  In my view, six months was too short of a time period for Mia to be ready to have a serious relationship with anyone, especially when you consider the extreme abuse she had suffered at her ex's hands, and the trauma she had to endure during his trial, conviction, and subsequent sentencing (some DV victims are never ready for another relationship, sadly.)  I realize that everyone heals at a different pace, but I would have been more convinced that the love Mia felt for Alex was real, and not simply a case of "hero worship", had she been given more time to heal and reclaim her sense of self.  The sick bastard's escape could have easily been two or three years after his conviction, and it would not have altered the story in any way.Furthermore, a longer imprisonment would have made it more believable that ex-hubby picked up so many "skills" in prison...he'd only been in six months, but during that short period of time he'd become something of a big shot among the prisoners, had learned patience, and only God knows what else.  I mean he'd only been in for SIX months; the timing here, as with Mia's readiness to have a relationship with Alex, is not impossible, but is vulnerable to the readers willingness to accept it...if the reader will not, or cannot, believe it then the story sucks; if the reader is willing and able to believe it then the story is good.The other problem I had with the timeline, is the short period of time during which the events of the story occur...two days!  In the first twenty-four hour period after Mia's ex escapes prison, there are two murders, a couple attempts to shoot Alex, a kidnapping, and arson.  Furthermore, during that same twenty-four hour period, Alex and Mia have sex and each realize they are in love with the other...although there is no confession of love as yet.  I'm not sure why Ms. Herron felt it necessary to shove so much action within such an extremely short period of time.  IMHO, the time period could have easily been extended without having any significant effect on the story...rather than an event occur later the same day, it could readily have occurred the next day.Nonetheless, the story that unfolds is thoroughly engaging.  Happily I was so enthralled with the plot, that I was able to overlook the timeline issue.  But for that issue, I would have given this book 5 stars.  If you think the timeline of the story would not be an problem for you, then I say this book is definitely worth reading.  I plan to read the next book in the series, Safe by His Side.  I have it ready to go!  Happy reading! Oh FYI, this is not a clean romance.