I had a hard time getting into this book. It wasn't until about halfway through that I was into it enough to want to keep reading. I didn't necessarily think it was bad, it just didn't trip my switches.Series note:I wouldn't necessarily say this series (so far) needs to be read in order, but there are probably benefits from doing so.Summary:Eve Garrett, co-partner in her family's security business, E.D.E.N., receives a mysterious message one night from her young friend Tiffany, saying the girl is in trouble. But when Eve goes to help her, she almost gets killed instead. Suddenly, not only is Tiffany apparently in trouble, but someone wants Eve dead as well. As she starts to investigate, Eve runs into Tyler "Mac" McClain, a guy she had a one night stand with in high school. He promised to call the next day...but never did and Eve has let the anger fester for all these years.When Mac sees Eve again, he's struck by the woman she's become, and by regret over how he treated her in high school. He quickly realizes, though, that it will take a lot to get past the walls she's put up. Thankfully, he'll have plenty of time to work on it as the two race - sometimes separately, sometimes together - to find Tiffany and avoid whoever wants Eve dead.Review:From pretty early on, this book kinda bored me with the constant antagonism between Mac and Eve. I like some angst in my romance, but 200 pages of these two battling back and forth got on my nerves. I got tired of reading Eve's snarky comments about Mac. Grant it, what he did to her was wrong, but it was 14 years ago! He was a dumb guy doing what dumb guys tended to do at that age. I just thought she was rather judgmental about him.Which made the romance rather flat for me. It had some serious heat when it finally progressed to that part, but I felt like something was missing from the emotional connection between the two. Like the just needed to seriously clear the air between them. And one thing that really bugged me was how Eve's miscarriage after their one-night stand in high school was treated. It's a big secret she's keeping and at the end, all there is is a one paragraph summary saying that night she told him about the baby and they cried together. Lame. That issue deserved a lot more space.The storyline was okay. I thought it flowed pretty well and the suspense was good. There are definitely some dark elements to certain parts of the story (the club Oracle thing). I wasn't entirely into the whole spoiled rich girl (Tiffany) thing, but I ended up liking the poor girl. So...I didn't think this book was as good as the first, but I didn't mind it. It was mostly a character thing that bugged me. I still plan to read more of this series.WARNING, this book contains: the near gang-rape of a supporting character
To the Limit was much more exciting and much more progressive than To the Edge had been. In fact, aside from some mutterings I made silently about the whole alpha-male 'tudes that were smoldering the men in this book (y'know, the whole "keep our women safe while we rush into danger" B.S., which, while commendable does sometimes bring an eye roll to more independent women), I had very few complaints about this book.I felt like there was a better balance between the suspense, the mystery, and the romance in this book as compared to the first. There isn't too much time spent on our two main characters brooding about their sexual frustrations and how much they want to get into each other's pants. But there was enough sexual and romantic tension revealed, bit-by-bit, as the two started growing on each other and eventually falling for each other.The story line was fairly intense and the mystery was well-rounded. This is definitely one of few Romantic Suspense novels I can stand behind. The chase across the States was exciting (for lack of a better word), although I kind of feel like the death threats were down-played just a bit. Either that, or Eve didn't seem to be taking them very seriously. Or maybe she was, but with her one-tracked mind on finding the missing girl, Tiffany, it seemed logical to her that the death threats weren't a priority... I guess.Mainly, the characters were charming and the romance was sizzling hot and and the relationship was fun. Because despite the fact that Mac was the typical brooding alpha with the typical heck-care, "I don't need love or care" type of male, he was also the arrogant smartass with a smart mouth... and in a good way.Eve Garrett proved to be just as tough, strong, smart, and resourceful as one expected from her, being part of a family of combat veterans and all. The fact that she was part of Secret Service was also a plus and her intelligent investigative skill was pretty admirable.The romance was heated with sparks and the chemistry was excellent with these two. It was really much more fun watching them trade barbs and banter while they watched each other's backs all the same. And it was great to see that there was an equal level of respect from each other -- Mac never questioned Eve's ability to get her job done and never tried to interfere with the usual patented "I'm the man, I've got this, you sit tight, Little Lady" attitude that you usually see in so many other crime thrillers like this. Their relationship wasn't just about the sparks, it was also a fairly agreeable partnership.Also, Eve Garrett is anything but a damsel in distress and I fully appreciate that.Without much else to say, I really DID find To the Limit very enjoyable.
What do You think about To The Limit (2005)?
Another fast paced, suspenseful and action packed read in Cindy Gerard’s 2nd book of her Bodyguards Series.A short summary - The story is about two people, who share a past history, having to team up together in saving a billionaire’s daughter who has disappeared. During the journey, the two protagonists will rediscover each other, having to deal with the attraction for each other which began years before.Eve Garrett, a former Secret Service agent, who together with her brothers set up E.D.E.N, a private security firm, is such a refreshing change from the damsel in distress norm. She’s beautiful, sensual, smart, strong, assertive and independent and can take care of herself without any help for a man. It’s refreshing to have some women portrayed more than just a fill-in to the macho alpha males as seen in a large number of books and this author does it really well here.Tyler “Mac” McClain is a strong and fabulous alpha hero, whose life is in a pretty mess right now. A former cop with the Chicago police, he was forced to leave after being injured, set up his own private investigation firm. Divorced with a small child, who he seldom gets to see, he’s trying to make enough money to pay the child support, he’s thankful when he’s offered a job to finding a billionaire’s missing daughter, whose life is believed to be in danger.When Eve & Mac meet up again…wow!!!! Their relationship just takes off!!Mac is determined to get Eve back into his life and into his bed – naturally!!!!! Stupid man…why did he ever think he could forget someone like her???So it begins…the sexual tension build-up heats up and their chemistry together is explosive. And I loved the sharp, smart and so clever dialogue between the two. Amazing character development. They are compelling and so believable that you are immediately drawn into their lives – appearances made by some of the characters from the previous book and who I am sure will have their own story soon. I was completely drawn to Eve & Mac, two people who had loved and lost, feeling hurt and distrustful after previous experiences in their lives and who ultimately find happiness together…at last…as it was meant to be from the beginning.I am enjoying this series and will definitely continue reading the next books and if you are a lover of great romance suspense I do suggest you read it.
—Alex is The Romance Fox
LOLNever againMY EYESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSWhat a mess.-people falling in love within a week-thinking about marriage in that same time span-stupid alpha males (they gotta be done right and this book failed)-the chick falling in love again with a guy.. who she had a crush on in high school who basically took her virginity and ran off-a grown man thinking the best sex of his life (before he went at it with the same chick as an adult) was when he was 18... that bothers me.. I am not sure how most people will feel about it. The same goes for the girl. Again she was a virgin.-A girl whose been emotionally abused finding love out of nowhere. Dude at least let her trust people again before making her magically fall in love with one of the dudes who in a round about way was one of her kidnappers. I DONT FUCKING CARE THAT HE NEVER INDULGED IN THE ACTUAL ABUSE. HE WITNESSED IT AND DID NOTHING and basically 'did not understand why she would do that to herself'. Fuck you man. -Bad mystery-Bad everythingBasically if you're even contemplating reading this, read it for the laughs, not because you're actually going to get something out of it.
—Rashika (is tired)
You seldom come across (or I seldom come across) a romantic suspense novel with a strong, capable heroine who knows her limitations but also knows how to handle herself and won't be bullied into submission by an alpha male. You also don't easily find heroes who accept that their heroine knows how to take care of herself, even if he doesn't like it. In To the Limit, Ms. Gerard created 2 fantastic characters with strong personalities that didn't overwhelm each other. It was a great book. I loved it and everything about it. The author balanced the romance and the suspense well (a difficult feat, in my opinion). It was action packed and full of interesting and relevant supporting characters that were different enough that they didn't all combine and become confused in my head. I don't usually enjoy romantic suspense, but I have very much enjoyed both books I've read by Ms. Gerard. I definitely plan on reading more by her.
—Crystal S
