Reviewed by leelu92 on
Romance to suspense/mystery ratio. How much time does the author spend on the romance? How much time is spent developing the suspense/ mystery? Many times, a reader will encounter an instalove situation, and while that can be enjoyable, some readers feel that it’s just not realistic. For me, an enjoyable romantic suspense book must have a well- developed conflict and bad guy. Otherwise, it isn’t as enjoyable.
2. The female main character. A strong heroine is not only desired in a compelling romantic suspense novel but absolutely necessary. However, often the heroine is labeled the damsel in distress or oft nicknamed TSTL (Too Stupid To Live). We all have read those characters, they hear a noise in the garage, go check it out, and OMG…she gets kidnapped! Once said DID (Damsel in Distress) is taken or finds herself in some kind of trouble she breaks down, cries a lot, makes very little or no effort to get herself out of the situation. In a nutshell, she waits for the hero to ride in on his white horse and rescue her.
Let’s be honest, these are all valid criticisms. Well, they used to be. I know that at least in my experience these kinds of heroines are becoming fewer and far between. That’s not to say that they aren’t still out there and that there is something wrong with reading and enjoying those characterizations, I don’t mind them enough to not read a book because of it.
DIDs are becoming fewer and farther between it’s because the authors I read, consistently, like, Kimberly Kincaid are writing strong, capable and kickass heroines. In Kincaid’s newest release, In Too Deep, she delivers not only a loving and very caring heroine but a woman who stands up for herself and those around her when the going gets tough. Oh yeah, Luke Slater is totally swoon-worthy, too.
Quinn is an easy to like female character who does not fall prey to those worn out romantic suspense downfalls; she’s a rational human being who feels fear and sadness and expresses it. In fact, while helping with rookie firefighter, Luke, with his EMS training, she has developed quite a crush on him.
“But between Slater’s broad, muscular shoulders and the killer combination of his light brown skin and piercing blue eyes that were gorgeous enough to render a girl’s panties useless, she really couldn’t deny the truth. The longer she and Slater worked together, the more she wanted to turn that bad idea into a very. Very. Good. Time.”
She always makes sure that she treats him in a professional manner and that he is getting the most out of his training and she also recognizes that he somewhat of a closed book.
While training to be a firefighter, Luke decides to add EMS training as well and Quinn, who is helping him, is the one woman he cannot keep at arm's length. Luke purposely keeps to himself, while devoting himself to caring for his grandmother and younger sister. After losing his parents when he was younger, he tends to focus on taking care of others and on NOT connecting with other people on a deeper level any more than he has to. He is not an alpha jerk, by any means, he protects himself from enduring anymore heartache and pain. The chink in his armor is Quinn. She is funny, caring, smart, sexy and tough and Luke respects her.
“And that was the problem, right there. He was a dumbass. He didn’t just like Quinn in a casual friends, good co-workers, she’s-helping-me-with-my-training kind of way. Nope. He was attracted to her. From the minute he’d clapped eyes on Quinn on his very first day as a rookie, Luke had had this reckless desire to kiss her.”
The tipping point for Quinn and Luke’s feelings occur when they are forced into a very dangerous and harrowing situation involving a local gang leader. Frankly, I was surprised that Kincaid dove in so quickly and placed her main characters in such peril. But by doing so, it sets up the momentum for the rest of the book and how Luke and Quinn deal with what happened to them. Not mention how they take care of each other during the kidnapping is moving.
Slater splayed his fingers wider, each fingertip pressing in that firm, quiet way of his. His chest rose and fell against hers, his left side flush with her right. Somehow, Quinn inhaled again, matching the rhythm of his breaths. They would be her last ones. Slater’s too, and—“Easy.”
Like the touch, his whisper was calm, steady. Shifting just slightly, he wrapped his other arm around her rib cage, his mouth coming to rest just shy of her temple. “There. Breathe.”
Another sometimes used criticism is the use of sex as a fix all. Hero and heroine are scared, angry, jacked up from adrenaline, so some time beneath the sheets will magically cure what ails ya. Kincaid does not push her characters in that direction. Quinn and Luke recognize that as good as might feel; it’s not the answer. Plus, for Luke, he’d be letting Quinn into his circle of trust and that is a big no-no.
Meanwhile, the suspense aspect is humming right along. Many of the Station Seventeen and law enforcement officials that have been seen in previous books are working on the case that Quinn and Luke find themselves right smack dab in the middle of. Ice, the gang leader that kidnapped them has aligned himself with a real big bad who traffics guns. Ice has no desire to see that opportunity go south. Therefore, Quinn and Luke must be eliminated or even worse their friends and family members are in danger.
Back to the sexy times. When Quinn and Luke do consummate their feelings for each other and give in, it feels perfectly natural. They’ve cultivated a partnership through Luke’s EMS training, so the feelings they give in to, are in no way considered instalove. And once they break the seal on the sexytimes, well, it’s on like…well, not Donkey Kong but, they enjoy themselves A LOT.
While In Too Deep is the third book in the Station Seventeen series, it can be read as a standalone easily. I’ll warn you though, once you read one book in this series, you’ll want to binge read them all!
If you’re in the mood for a whip-smart, well- paced, super sexy (fans self) romantic suspense novel with a loveable and swoon-worthy hero and a kickass but caring heroine, In Too Deep is precisely what you need.
*Copy for review provided by publisher.
Review originally posted on Heroes and Heartbreakers.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 17 October, 2017: Finished reading
- 17 October, 2017: Reviewed