Friday, January 24, 2014

REVIEW: SHE CAN SCREAM BY MELINDA LEIGH

In one moment, high school teacher and single mother Brooke Davenport interrupts a vicious assault, saves a young woman’s life, and attracts the attention of a serial killer.
Sixteen years ago, Brooke lost her roommate to a brutal murder. Now she teaches women’s self-defense, still trying to heal from the guilt and grief that plague her. Convinced the predator knows his victims and is stalking his prey online, she is determined to find him before he strikes again. Her brother’s friend, Luke has the computer expertise to help. But Brooke’s unexpected desire for Luke complicates her investigation, and her fixation with the case provokes a deadly reaction from the killer.
Injured in terrorist bombing overseas, computer expert Luke Holloway is still haunted by flashbacks of his young assistant’s death in the explosion. But Luke can’t refuse the request of a deployed friend to look after his sister, Brooke. Taking on responsibility for Brooke’s safety threatens Luke’s tenuous recovery, especially after he develops feelings for her that transcend a promise to a friend. When Brooke saves a young girl from a brutal assault and becomes a killer’s obsession, Luke vows to protect her at all costs.
Kindle Edition359 pages
Published September 17th 2013
Source: eGalley received from publisher via Netgalley in exchange for review
Purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Our Review---

I was excited to see this one at the top our weekly reads because while I enjoy the contemporary/new adult romances that we read, I also love changing things up and reading other things...like suspenseful thrillers (with a little romantic tension thrown in).

Oh my! Me too! I wasn't sure what to expect, but I knew right from the first page it was going to be a wild ride. People we have the killer's point of view. And it is CREEPY and awesome. I was impressed with how well written and believable those parts are.

This was my first opportunity to read anything by Melinda Leigh and I will definitely pick up the other books in this series. The pacing and writing and dialogue were all spot on. Agreed, capt'n. 

As you can see by the synopsis this novel is about a serial killer and the girls he "hunts". Brooke becomes part of the hunted when she interrupts an abduction/rape/murder and really, really bad things begin to happen. Brooke and Luke team up to keep her family safe while trying to figure out who this psycho is (all the while trying to fend off the building sexual tension between them).

I liked how things developed between them. Luke has his own problems and hang ups with getting back to his life after an explosion leaves him injured. He comes back to town to be with his grandmother and wants to help out his best friend's sister. Little does she know he's always had a crush on her. Things get interesting between them, but I liked that the main story and suspense always was in the forefront so it wasn't like the cheesy horror flick with people having sex at the stupidest of times. 

I loved reading something more suspenseful and seeing things through multiple perspectives (the killer, Brooke, Luke, and Maddie to name a few). Having the various viewpoints helped amp up the tension without giving away who he was. The ending came swiftly and there is no cliffhanger and I felt wholly satisfied with how it all came together at the end. Me too! I believed in everything that was happening. I loved Brooke. I loved her kids. I really freaking loved how it portrayed that some sicko CAN and WILL use your social media against you, so I hope that any parent who reads this realizes that this is really freaky! Check your kids facebook often! *Ok, down from soapbox* Loved this book! 

Shelley: 4 Stars
Courtney: 4 Stars


About the Author---
Melinda Leigh is a fully recovered banker. A life-long lover of books, she started writing when her youngest child entered first grade as a way to preserve her sanity. in 2007, she joined Romance Writers of America, learned a few things about writing a book, and decided the process was way more fun than analyzing financial statements. It was time to get serious about making her hobby a career. She began submitting her work in 2008. In 2009 she signed with an agent, who sold Melinda’s debut romantic suspense novel, SHE CAN RUN, in 2010 to Montlake Romance.

SHE CAN RUN released in November 2011 and became the #1 Bestseller in Kindle Romantic Suspense. SHE CAN RUN has been nominated for a 2012 Thriller Award for Best First Novel.

Melinda is also an avid martial artist. She holds a 2nd degree black belt in Kenpo Karate, studies Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and teaches women’s self-defense. She lives in a messy house in the suburbs with her husband, two teenagers, a couple of dogs and one neurotic cat with an inexplicable fear of ceiling fans. With such a pleasant life, she has no explanation for the sometimes dark and disturbing nature of her imagination.

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