Reviewer: Holly Guarded by Mary Behre
Series: Tidewater #2
Publisher: Penguin
Publication Date: August 5th 2014
Genres: Fiction
Pages: 320
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Series Rating:
She’s given up on finding love…
Veterinarian Shelley Morgan has always preferred animals to humans, and not simply because she can communicate with them psychically. Unlike most people she’s known, animals have never broken her heart. But after six months in her new town, some of her favorite four-legged companions begin disappearing from the local zoo. Determined to track down the animals and their thief, the telepathic vet decides to investigate, unknowingly delving into a deadly mystery…
He’s ready to make her heart go wild…
Although his bear-like physique has been an advantage in the Tidewater Police Department, Dev Jones’s size often intimidates people. Only Shelley has seen past his massive build to the intelligent man inside, but that was years ago. So when she contacts him requesting his help to solve a series of animal kidnappings, he’s eager to reconnect with her. But the thefts escalate to murder and all the evidence points to Shelley as the killer, and Dev faces a devastating choice: forsake his career or risk losing the woman he’s grown to love…
I was in as soon as I read “vet who talks to animals”. I love these types of paranormals.
Dev has been in love with Shelley since college. Unfortunately she was always his best friend’s girl and therefore completely off limits. Five years after graduating, however, she’s no longer with his ex-best friend and she needs his help solving a mystery. It must be fate. Unfortunately, Shelley is even more guarded now than she used to be and he’s going to need all his skills to break down her defenses – especially after he explains he has found her estranged sister and wants to introduce them.
Shelley seemed likable in the beginning, but she quickly went downhill. She was a martyr and often rushed head-long into danger without thinking. Her “everyone leaves me” mantra could have worked, but coupled with her immature behavior just made her seem weak and whiny. Whereas Dev was strong and level-headed. He listened well and seemed the steady-sort. I couldn’t help but love him. Her ability to speak to animals wasn’t as interesting as I’d hoped it would be. I wish she’d had a deeper connection to them.
Her reunion with her sister was lukewarm at best. For adults, both women were hanging onto some really childish things. Stuff said in anger as a child shouldn’t be held onto as a mantra into adulthood. Still, I did like seeing them fall back into sisterly behavior, despite all the years they were separated.
The mystery plot was predictable, though I readily admit romantic suspense isn’t my forte. Usually when there’s a paranormal element I can set aside my aversion, but this read more like a contemporary than a paranormal, so I judged it more harshly than I would have done otherwise.
The one aspect I completely loved was the side-plot featuring an orphan name Beau. He was adorable and I was really rooting for him and Shelley to come together. I was surprised at the twist his side of the plot took and my heart broke for him.
2.75 out of 5
This book is available from Berkley. You can buy it here or here in e-format.