The Stranger (Wounded Warrior, #2)

by Anna Del Mar

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

My feelings on this book are mixed. There were parts I enjoyed and some not so much. What I enjoyed were the action, the family drama (to an extent) and the romance. However, there were many aspects of the story that I had a difficult time wrapping my head around.

‘The Stranger’ is the second book in the Wounded Warrior series and can be read as a stand-alone. In this installment, we meet Summer Silva and Seth Erickson. Summer who is from Florida finds herself in Alaska searching for her sister who had gone off with some guy she met on the internet. What appeared to be an easy feat, on the face of it, would prove to be her most challenging task to date. Fortunately for her, a handsome yet broody stranger would come to her rescue when she least expected it.

Seth and Summer were fun characters. Their initial reaction to each other was hilarious, given the circumstances under which they met. In addition to the humour, their connection was explosive. This reaction continued throughout the story as such there was never a dull moment with these two. Summer is feisty and strong willed. She hates being told what to do, so you can imagine her reaction to Seth’s controlling attitude.

Seth is just as strong willed. He is protective by nature and a tad bit controlling. I would not consider his need for control to be over the top as its clear he knows when to step back. It’s apparent that this need for control stemmed from the effects of a horrifying accident which he was involved in, which has left him physically and emotionally scarred. He never expected to have that intense attraction to Summer. This had him re-evaluating his entire life. I thought they were perfect for each other. They each had their medical issues to contend with. He had PTSD, as a result of his accident while Summer had a sleeping disorder called Noctambulism (sleep-walking). These issues led to them avoiding intimate relationships as they both have experienced betrayal in the past as a result.
Although, I liked Summer there were times when her behaviour frustrated me. I could not for the life of me understand her nonchalance to the threat on her life. I know is possible for one not to be aware as to why someone would want to hurt you, but to brush it off and claim mistaken identity is reckless especially with the evidence staring you in the face.

The suspense was ok for the most part. The family drama was a bit over the top, although there were moments I could not help but laugh. Seth and Summer had a lot to contend with where this was concerned. Everywhere, they turned, there was something lurking around the corner waiting for them.

I enjoy stories that have paranormal elements, however, in this instance, I honestly did not see the need for it. I found it confusing and somewhat contrived.

Verdict: The story was ok, but it was not a favourite of mine. Would I continue the series? More than likely.