Part Bodyguard story, part behind the scenes TV show, with a dash of the paranormal, Survival Instinct is all romantic suspense!
Chloe is a unique character. She can hear other peoples' thoughts. Instead of letting it make her crazy, she uses it to be a better, more creative writing for her TV show, "Days End". Shane has just left the Army and is readjusting to life as a civilian. His first job? Help Days End with its security now that they are getting threats and bloody knives in actors dressing rooms.
Anytime a character can hear voices, its easy to assume they would know who the killer is. However, the problem isn't hearing their thoughts, its figuring out who the thoughts are coming from when you are surrounded by tons of people making a TV show! This kept the mystery alive for a bit which was interesting. Shane and Chloe have a bit of 'instant attraction' that neither wants to act on. Chloe really just wants Shane gone because she can't focus when he is around. But, oddly enough, she can't hear his thoughts either.
I struggled to get into the book right away, which is unusual for me when I pick up a Janie Crouch book. Usually, she hooks me right away. It took a bit longer for me to settle into this story and I can't exactly put my finger on why. Maybe it was might ambivalence about Chloe and Shane. It could have been the comparisons my mind kept making to the Southern Vampire series by Charlaine Harris (vastly different in most ways, but strikingly similar in a few key ways). Either way, this was a slower start for me. However, once it really got going (around the 35% mark for me), it just took off and I was totally hooked.
Danger, mystery, and the supernatural take over and hone the characters Survival Instincts for sure! I was intrigued and curious while reading and Crouch kept me wondering about all the voices in Chloe's head.
- POV: 3rd
- Tears: no
- Trope: paranormal powers, protector
- Triggers: none
- Series/Standalone: stand alone (part of an interconnected series of stand alones)
- Cliffhanger: no
- HEA: yes
Books by Katie Reus, Susan Stoker, Jennifer Ryan...then you will probably like Survival Instinct!
See full review on The Book Disciple