Collateral Damage

Author: J.L. Saint

Genre: Sci-Fi / Fantasy Romance, Post-Apocalyptic

Reviewed by: Night Owl Reviews — by Talina

PERSONAL SUMMARY:

Lauren is caught in the crossfire of her ex-husbands betrayal and deceit that is stained with terrorism against his country. Lauren has no idea of the hell about to be unleashed on her. She has only one chance at proving she had nothing to do with her ex-husbands wrong doings against her country. That one chance is in the form of one Delta Force leader. With assassins hot on her trail, Lauren will have to think fast on her feet to help save herself and her twin sons. She’ll also have to work hard to keep her heart intact and closed to one sexy as hell Jack Hunter if she survives the trained killers that is.

SUMMARY: (taken from the publisher’s site)

One thing makes Jack Hunter invaluable to his Delta Force Team. The same trait that makes him suck at relationships. Single-minded focus on his career—and honing his ability to never miss a kill.

After a terrorist missile devastates his team and leaves him with only partial memory of a

a FUBARed rescue mission, he retains only one clear picture no one believes: the last face in his gunsight belonged to a prestigious American businessman. The man’s wife has to know something, but the only way to get to her is go AWOL.

After her husband trades his family to tango with double-Ds, Lauren Collins decides her dogs are better judges of character. She’s unaware how far her soon-to-be-ex’s web of deceit reaches—until the only thing between her, her sons and a killer is a wounded Delta soldier who activates her sorely neglected X-chromosome like nobody’s business.

Their instant attraction is kryptonite to Jack’s injury-dulled edge. Thrust into a world of peril, political treachery and treason, Lauren has no choice but to trust Jack with her life. Even if she and her sons survive, she’s not sure her heart will…

Contains a warrior who doesn’t hesitate to lay his body on the line, more than one emotional love story to tug at your heart, and chaos at Chuck E. Cheese.

FIRST LINE:

Pink Floyd’s “Time” hammered through Sergeant First Class Jack Hunter’s brain as he tightened his grip on the treadmill and ran harder, his heart pounding, his lungs burning.

PLOT:

Collateral Damage was one hell of a ride! One minute you just know what will happen only to have your know it all readers mind get a jolt of adrenaline from the plot twists you never saw coming. From cover to cover there was not one page that didn’t have you wanting to know what happened next. The author definitely paid attention to the plot points and threads, making sure they weaved seamlessly together to form a wonderful tale of manipulation, secrecy, betrayal and to top it all off — love. She also delved into the meaning of the two most haunting words I have ever read Collateral Damage. If you think about it, those two words can describe so much of what people are suffering and living through right now. While showing there is a price to pay for every action that is taken, the author also pointed out the one thing that is over looked at times — the feeling of being alive, the joy of falling in love, the joy of our children, the steel nerves of determination to not allow our freedom to be taken or our lives to be interrupted. And in my opinion she did a fabulous job of showing the excitement of life through her story. Ms. Saint has written a book that I hope leads to several more to come.

SETTING:

Collateral Damage takes place in the present day. Lauren and Jack’s story starts out in Washington D.C. then moves between Georgia, North Carolina, Dubai and a secluded reserve located in a section of the Peruvian Amazon Rain forest.

WRITING:

Ms. Saint has such a fabulous and strong voice. She lavishes her stories with the grit and truth that makes the story stick with you long after you’ve read the book. I loved her books under her other name, Jennifer St. Giles, and I will definitely be looking for her J.L. Saint books in the future.

CHARACTERS:

Lauren Collins brought a life force to the story that had me riveted to everything happening in the story. She showed a strength within her that made me stop and question how I would respond to the life threatening situations she was plunged into with her twin sons in tow. To follow her through the story and to ‘see’ her fall for the wounded warrior, a man that risked everything to help protect her from being collateral damage to her ex-husbands actions was an emotional journey. Her actions and beliefs in life have changed how I see my own life. And I admit, it is not often that a character can be so well written that they influence me enough to take a step back and consider my own inner beliefs and thoughts.

Jack was the perfect counterpart to Lauren. His soul is tormented and in need of someone strong enough to help him heal. His Delta Team is in need of a leader that is whole enough to lead them and Jack ‘DT’ Hunter is determined to be that leader once again. I won’t say anything else because I would be to tempted to spoil the book for you. Be warned though, DT is one sexy-as-hell warrior that will whisk your heart away!

Ms. Saint also did an excellent job in writing the antagonist. He’s a unique character with a twisted desire to only preserve the world for his son. BUT, you’ll have to read the book to find out just how sick, twisted and somewhat genius he really is. The depth of conflict and the supporting characters provide an exhilarating emotional ride, a story that is simply a must read.

LAST THOUGHTS:

After reading Collateral Damage I couldn’t help but stop and think about my own actions in life. Ms. Saint has brought to my attention just how blessed a life I live. This book has gone to my must keep pile and I look forward to reading the Silent Warrior series as each new book comes out. I also look forward to revisiting Jack and Lauren for another read soon!

Is anyone’s head spinning as fast as mine?  2011 moved so quickly that I feel as if I have been thrust into a time machine and propelled against my will into the future. Maybe finding that much needed job and completing Tactical Deception, Book Two in my Silent Warrior Series had something to do with the time warp, but I didn’t accomplish most of the things I set out to do in 2011 and wish I could turn back the hands of time so that more of the stories in my heart and in my head could already find life on the page.  This year, I am going to do my best to make that happen.

I am a writer who loves story, no matter the genre and have my heart in the past, present, and the future.  So I hope you get the chance to enjoy all of my novels because they are coming at you in a Big Way in 2012.

First up is new hope for my beloved gothics!  The Mistress of Trevelyan and His Dark Desires (The Trevelyan Series) are now available on Kindle.  Classic mystery and romance set in the demure, but sexy Victorian Age, where women emerged from the confines of culture and society to take control of their lives.  I grew up loving Mary Stewart, Victoria Holt, and Phyllis A. Whitney and love the tale of a romance wrapped up in a murder mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Samhain Publishing re-released Midnight Secrets and Darkest Dreams, the first two books of my Killdaren Series, sexy gothics with a touch of the paranormal.  Book three, Silken Shadows will be re-released in July of 2012.

In January, my scorching hot Weldon Brothers Series will get a new look.  So be on the watch for Jesse in Wild Irish and Jackson in Smooth Irish.  If you’ve never had a taste of a Southern Bad Boy Romance then you are definitely missing something good.

In February heart-pounding suspense and romance will take center stage with the release of my military thriller, Tactical Deception.  Roger and Mari plunge headfirst into a terrorist plot that is tearing the heart out of America.  This is the much awaited sequel to and I am so excited to be starting off 2012 with this no holds barred race into danger and love.

There’s more!  But I will save news about Tales from the Dark Domain: Aerik the Eternal, Bewitching the Wolf (Shadowmen Series Book 5), and Hot Irish (Weldon Brothers Series Book 3) for later!

Thanks to all who email me your support and post reviews.  I can’t tell you how much your words encourage me.  You give me hope.

Bring on the New Year!  And never give up on your dreams.  Remember everyday to Dream, Believe, Create, Inspire, Love, and Heal.

Jenni

HARD! HOT!  HEROIC!

Waving Hello from my writing rabbit hole.  Things have been fast and furious here at home as I try and get my head into Tactical Deception, Book two in my Silent Warrior Series (I think my new cover will definitely help rivet my attention to Roger and Mari’s story, or ***cough***cough *** he might be just another distraction.  Anyway back to the fast and furious train of thought.  I am doing edits for the Upcoming release of Darkest Dreams, Book Two in the Killdaren Series, as well as getting read for the RT Book Club Convention in LA.

If you are coming to LA please stop by the RT Club room and say hello to me.  I will either be at one of the signing tables or at the BetweenYourSheets.com table!  I am looking forward to the fun and to all of the great workshops being offered about the film industry this year.  If you find yourself up and going on Wed. then plan on stopping to hear me and Barry Eisler talk about Sex in the Gritty.  I know there are a dozen things I am forgetting to mention here, like the release of Midnight Secrets is coming up fast.  April 12th!!!

So I will pop in as I remember every this week and hope to see you in LA.  Meanwhile, meet Roger Weston in Tactical Deception!

Good intentions didn’t pave the road to hell.  They only lead a man to that fiery pit.  Razor blades pave it.  White hot razor blades to be exact.  Lt. Col. Roger Weston knew that for a fact.  His ass was shredded to ribbons, on fire, and things were about to get even worse.  General Dekker was on the warpath and every agency with an acronym was crawling up every ass they could, including Roger’s, which left him in one hell of a bad mood.

He glanced over at SFC’s Jack “DT” Hunter and Beck Walker.  Their grim expressions matched his.  They’d all been called to Dekker’s office.  Only Rico Santana would escape the ass chewing.  He was on medical leave and luckily had flown to Atlanta this morning.  Technically DT was on medical leave, too, but Dekker had called him in after hearing DT was in town.

Between the protesters today and the bomb threats a couple of weeks back, Ft. Bragg had become a circus and right or wrong Dekker was holding Roger and his men partially responsible.  Not only because he, DT and Beck had voluntarily stepped in the shit that was causing the stink now, but also because they’d deliberately kept Dekker in the dark about what was going down until it was too damn late to stop them.  That meant anytime Dekker caught flack from the fallout of their actions, he’d shove it in their faces.

And it wasn’t over yet.  Not by a long shot.

Spring is here and life is full of promise

Remember to Dream, Believe, Create, Inspire, Love and Heal

Love

Jennifer St. Giles/J.L. Saint/Jennifer Saints

Good Morning it is time to Breath, Dream, Create, Inspire, Love and Heal!  So go forth and spread the seeds as you make it through your day.  Be sure to stop by Publisher Weekly’s Beyond Her Book Blog by Barbara Vey.  She is having her 4th Annual Anniversary Bash and giving away a ton of prizes.   Today is for all of us mystery, suspense, and thriller writers out there!  I will be giving away two of J.L. Saint’s Collateral Damage books, two of Jennifer St. Giles Midnight Secrets Books, and two of Jennifer Saints Wild Irish books.!  PS I hear that Nathan Fillion and Alex O’Loughlin will be there…in body if not in mind.
 

Tomorrow  Not only will the sun come up but Jennifer St. Giles will be featured on Readers Entertainment.com.  I will be talking about Second Chances for love and Midnight Secrets, so stop by and share your second chance at love story.
 

I have recently dropped the ball in my seven suspenseful sentence Sundays so here are some SEXY Suspenseful Sentences from Midnight Secrets to make up for it!
 

“Knowing Sean’s picture hung in the shadows made me feel as if I’d entered his bedchamber. I tiptoed across the thick rug, smelling the lemon and beeswax scent lingering from the cleaning Bridget and I had given the room earlier. I also detected a hint of something else, and sniffed the air as I pulled from the shelf several of the Druid books that were mixed in with the vampire books. Mastery of Druid Magic. The Sacred and Profane Rites and Rituals of the Druids and their Children. The Druids’ Thirst for Humans.

“You surprise me. I thought it would take longer for you to meet me.”
“Oh!” I jumped in fright, sending the books flying as I juggled the candle. “Meet you?” Turning fast, I found myself face to face with Sean, or face to chest to be more accurate. This time the casual cotton of a white shirt lay soft and inviting across his broad shoulders and supple flesh. Warmth and mystery emanated from him, and I clenched my fist to keep from reaching out to touch him.To see his face, I had to tilt my head and retreat a step, which brought my back against the bookcase. Leaning toward me, he planted his hands on the shelf behind me, trapping me between his arms, blocking my escape. An escape I am sure I would have made, had my mind been capable of thought.
 

It wasn’t, just at present.
 

The dampness of his hair and the smooth line of his jaw, combined with the fresh scent of soap and spice, told me he’d just come from his bath. We stood so close I could count the flecks of green and gold in the irises of his eyes. Having all of his dangerous male appeal so unexpectedly close disconcerted me to the point that all I did was stare at him. The only thing keeping his body from pressing into mine as it had during his kiss was the flickering candle in my unsteady hand.
He blew the candle out.”

Tactical Deception is coming along slowly, but nicely and I look forward to sharing tidbits of that soon.  Have a great day today and don’t forget to Believe, Dream, Create, Inspire, Love, and Heal.

Jenni

Is he her darkest dream… or her most terrifying nightmare?
 

Today, drum roll please, I am unveiling the fabulous new cover for Midnight Secrets, my April 12, 2011 ebook rerelease from Samhain Publishing, a sexy murder mystery that will chill your spine one moment then curl your toes the next.  This is the first book in my Killdaren Series about cursed brothers who encounter sisters determined to find truth and love even even in the face death.
 

In preparation for this release my seven suspenseful sentences will now come from Midnight Secrets.  For a longer excerpt of when Sean holds Cassie at gunpoint you’ll have to revisit Week 2 of Seven Suspenseful Sentence Sunday.   To set the stage for you, Cassie has gone undercover as a maid in a castle to discover the truth behind her cousin Mary’s death, a quest that will cost her more than she ever dreamed.
 

“The sound grew insistently louder until I realized I wasn’t dreaming and the screeching was coming from outside.
 

Rushing to the window, I saw the glass roof of the gargoyle-guarded building glow like an eerie sun. That’s were the sound was coming from. As I stared with my heart pounding, the noise suddenly died.
 

What had it been? Had it been a woman crying for help? Then the light from the building flickered wildly, as if a huge moth had been pinned over a flame and someone stood watching it flutter in helpless torment.”

Order here.
 

If you pre-order on Amazon or Barnes and Noble then make sure you put Samhain Publishing along with Midnight Secrets and Jennifer St. Giles into the search window.  You want the copy with this fabulous cover.
 

Update on me.  The clock measures seconds but I swear a week goes by with every tick.  I won’t even get into the tock part.  You’ll see on my Facebook page that I ventured out to hear the band Personal Favorite rock a college bar in Athens, Georgia and I was really impressed.  Chris, the son of my BFF, Jacquie-fantastic writer-D’Alessandro, was the drummer.  Chris’s friend Gray played base guitar, and his friend John sang and played the electric guitar.  You won’t have heard of them yet, but I hope you do someday.  They were awesome.
 

Waiting to hear about the job for the cancer center.  I want to be part of a ground breaking program to bring wellness writing classes online to patients.  I could merge both my nursing and writing skills in an awesome way, so please send prayers and all of the positive energy you can imagine my way for this to happen.   If this doesn’t workout I may strike out on my own and do this, but it would be so much better to be part of the amazing group of people at this cancer wellness center.
 

And lastly, besides the “I’ve got more to do than I can possibly get done” situation, I have a new-for-me concept kicking around in my brain amid the dozens of unwritten stories hounding me.  That concept revolves around the idea of energy and the world around me.  We all project and attract it.  I decided that yesterday, after having a glass of iced tea dumped in my lap at a restaurant by the waiter that I need to find a way to change what I attract from the universe toward me fast.  Feel free to share your ideas with me.
 

Go Forth, Dream, Believe Create, and Inspire.
 

Forgive the typos and have a great day.
 

Jenni

Good Morning!  I hope everyone is well out there in cyberland.  The sun is shining bright and I just know spring will be a wonderful thing this year.  I’m a spring/summer person, always have been, must be from my Floridian roots.  Any way, I feel energetic and determined to get things done.
 

I’ve had an inspiring week.  Blasted myself out of hibernation and went to a book signing at Piedmont Hospital’s Cancer Wellness Center.  Nancy Waldeck, author of the Taste and Savor Cookbook, had a wonderful mini-buffet of her recipes as well as shared her path toward making her book-dream come true.  I highly recommend this tasty treasure and will be using the delicious, healthy recipes and wine tips myself daily.  They are that easy.  Writing doesn’t leave time for hours in the kitchen, nor for blogging either.  So, here’s the seven suspenseful sentences from Collateral Damage for today and I will be back later this week with some great news and the fabulous cover for my April release, a historical suspense, Midnight Secrets.
 

“Jack frowned and fisted his hands, feeling as frustrated with his current situation as he did with his flashbacks to Lebanon.
Lauren looked up at him. “You’re serious about going to Brazil?”
 

“I think I’ll call her first, see what she says, how she reacts to my questions, okay.”
 

Lauren nodded, her relief evident.
 

Suddenly pain stabbed a hot dagger into Jack’s brain followed by a loud pop. The bullet plowing into his skull had come out of nowhere, his knees buckled, and a dark tunnel swallowed him alive.”

With Jack shot, and a killer walking her way, Lauren will have to think fast.
 

Who is watching the Grammy’s tonight?
 

As Always,
 

Go Forth. Dream. Believe. Create. Inspire. Love.
 

Jenni

Five Star Review for Smooth Irish
 

THIS REVIEW WAS WRITTEN FOR: NIGHT OWL REVIEWS
Smooth Irish ~ The Weldon Brothers Series Book 2 by Jennifer Saints
RELEASE DATE: May 20, 2009
CATEGORY: Contemporary Romance
MY RATING: Five Stars
*This ebook was provided to me by the author for review
 

PERSONAL SUMMARY:
Nan Miller needed to stick to her plan to reach her goals in life, and last she checked those plans didn’t include a sexy, dark haired, sultry eyed man. The only thing she forgot to calculate into her plan was the determination of one smooth bad boy looking to have his way. Jackson Weldon was comfortable behind his wall against the world. But when sexy Nan Miller walks into his life he’s not sure he can resist from getting close to her tempting curves and sweet lips.
 

SUMMARY: (blurb taken from publisher’s site)
Four years ago a tragedy made Jackson Weldon turn his back on life.  He wanted nothing more than doing a gig with his guitar every now and then to put a sandwich on his plate and gas in his tank.  But a few dates with Nan Miller several months ago had him finally wanting something more.  Her in his bed.  Only she walked before that happened and his hunger for her alone has grown until he can’t think of anything but her.
 

Nan has lived her life by a plan and she isn’t about to mess it up by getting involved with a man going nowhere.  That’s why she walked out on Jackson, seventy one days ago.  Only, she can’t get him out of her mind or escape him in her dreams, night or day.  So when he comes riding in on his Harley again, she wonders if she should take him up on his offer for an uninhibited weekend.  But their no strings ride leads them both to an end that changes everything they ever believed they wanted or deserved out of life.
 

READ AN EXCERPT HERE
DOWNLOAD TWO FREE CHAPTERS HERE

FIRST LINE:
Nan Miller smiled back at the baby blue staring her way and winked. “So, hot stuff, how about a date?”

PLOT:
Another wonderful graphic romance e-book filled with photographs that help satisfy the imagination and show the story.
 

After reading Wild Irish, I was eager to start the second book in the Weldon Brothers Series, Smooth Irish.  The real to life connections between the characters formed a beautiful story that dealt with the pain of loss, family, and ultimately love. From this love the author painted a tale of how love can heal and soothe a wounded heart. She took a crippled soul unwilling to accept the support and love of his family reach out to him, hit him over the head with  feelings he didn’t want to recognize, then made damn sure his brothers were stubborn enough to give him an old fashion thrashing when nothing else worked. The intense emotions that flowed through the book pulled me in from the beginning and carried me to the finale. The author pulled together a solid plot with all the right ingredients — one handsome, sensual, and caring hero, one sexy and stubborn heroine, sexual tension and fantasy play that wrecked  havoc on my nerves and a beautiful ending that every romance reader will love! Much like the first book, Smooth Irish is not an erotica read, but the heat simmers across the pages when Jackson and Nan find out just how much chemistry they share.
 

SETTING:
Smooth Irish took place in the sweet southern city of Savannah, Georgia where the weather is beautiful one day and fatal the next.
 

WRITING:
In my review of book one, Wild Irish, I mention that Ms. Saints has taken her pseudonyms and made each one unique, as if three different people were writing under each name instead of one author. I don’t know how she can do it, but she does. Ms. Saint has created a wonderful series filled with her signature style for attention to detail while bringing out the more sultry side of her muse. The wit and charm each character brings to each story adds a flair that makes me want to pick up the next book immediately after finishing the last. I still love all the southern expressions sprinkled throughout both Wild Irish and Smooth Irish. Many of them will make you laugh and others will make you shake your head in understanding. And yes, southern mamas have no fear of breaking out the water hose when needed!
 

CHARACTERS:
Growing up, Nan Miller didn’t have the strong family support she knew the Weldon family gave each other –no matter if they wanted it or not. She emitted a strength I wish I had. She was a stubborn, determined, and kind hearted southern lady that knew what she wanted. From an early age she had to work hard to climb above the hardships she suffered as a child. Much of that child hood molded the woman she grew into. I saw her as someone that needed to find a connection to love and until Jackson, only found that through her care giving as a maternity nurse. Through her actions with those under her care, her gentle nature with her love for plants and her deep understanding for Jackson’s pain, I found a heroine that I just loved.
 

From book one I was intrigued with Jackson Weldon. Always shunning the attention of others, I imagined his a hard case to crack. But as I read Smooth Irish I found that underneath his rough and tough exterior he hid from the world a man in need of someone stubborn and strong enough to deal with the pain that haunted him and then push him past it. I found it hard to read how such a strong man could be brought to his knees, but on the flip side it was rewarding to follow his story as he pulled himself up with the help of his family and the strength of love.
 

LAST THOUGHTS:
I absolutely loved this book! The characters, the plot, the emotions…all of it. Smooth Irish is a wonderful addition to the Weldon Brothers Series. I recommend this book to anyone that loves to read about wounded heroes and heroines strong enough to heal their souls. I am already wanting the next installment!!
 

READ MY REVIEW FOR BOOK ONE ~ WILD IRISH
 

WHO IS AUTHOR JENNIFER SAINTS:
USA Today Bestselling Author, Jennifer St. Giles writes Contemporary Paranormal and Gothic-Paranormal Historicals.  As J.L. Saint, she writes Contemporary Suspense/Thrillers and  as Jennifer Saints she writes Contemporary Romance, in the form of the first ever “Graphic” Novels (photos depicting scenes from the book with super hot models) for BetweenYourSheets.com.
 

Former nurse and homeschooling mother of three, Jennifer has won a number of awards for writing excellence including, two National Reader’s Choice Awards, two-time Maggie Award Winner, Daphne du Maurier Award winner, Romance Writers’ of America’s Golden Heart Award, along with RT Book Club’s Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Historical Gothic/Mystery of 2006.  She lives in a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia with a boat load of kids and pets who make the household the wildest most wonderful Grand Central Station in existence.
 

You can check J.L. Saint — and all her writing alter egos — out at her site HERE.
 

MY RATING: Five Stars

Read my rating scale HERE.

Until next time…HAPPY READING!!!

Talina

Hot news to share!!  First I hope everyone is warm, toasty, and preparing for Superbowl fun.  This week, I will be short and to the point, so everyone can have a tidbit of Collateral Damage and still get ready for the day.  One thing that makes sports events, movies, and books so much fun is that they are shared experiences with a great number of people.  So if you love a book, a movie, a TV show, a play then share it and tell a friend.  Word of mouth is how bestsellers and blockbusters are made.
 

My news!:  I’m the Week long SPOTLIGHT author for readersentertainment.com. Check me out starting on Monday for fun, prizes, and uh-oh a secret or two about me!
 

My light-bulb realization this week:  Time may fly when you’re having fun, but it freaking breaks the sound barrier when you have a deadline.
 

Now to seven more suspenseful sentences from Collateral Damage!
 

Keeping the shooter in his sight had seemed the better option, but with his position blown, practically zero cover, and the bastard still functional, Jack realized he’d played the wrong hand. They were now at a standoff unless he—
 

WTF? Jack caught the gleaming glint of something being thrown at the house Lauren was in. It bounced off the brick and clinked over the stone toward the patio furniture and the huge stone hearth of the outdoor fireplace. When smoke didn’t immediately spew and the attacker took off running with a limp, Jack’s heart hammered in dread. A grenade?
 

Out of time, Jack rolled like an unfurling whip away from the garden just before a blast shattered glass in a blinding flash.
 

If you love it! Share it!
 

Go forth. Dream, Believe, Create, Inspire, and Love
 

J.L. Saint aka Jennifer St. Giles aka Jennifer Saints

WILD IRISH

4.75 STARS

From Night Owl Reviews

Author: Jennifer Saints

Reviewed by: Talina

PERSONAL SUMMARY:

Determined to keep her head held high, Alexi Jordan leaves her two timing groom at the alter without a second glance. Only she didn’t count on the knight in shining armor from her past to whisk her away and show her what she almost missed out on. Now if she could only convince herself not to fall in love with him again while solving the mystery behind who was out to kill her.

SUMMARY: (BLURB TAKEN FROM THE PUBLISHER’S SITE)

Twelve years ago wrong side of the tracks bad boy, Jesse Weldon, was framed for a crime he didn’t commit by the blue-blooded Jordan family. Now he’s back in Savannah with his highly successful security company to put the Weldon name on the right side of the tracks. Unfortunately, before he can even make a move in that direction, he runs into Alexandria Jordan and ends up making the same mistake he did before. He succumbs to her allure, but this time, he plans on getting her out of his system for good and walking away.

Except for a few wild moments with Jesse at seventeen, Alexi Jordan has followed the life expected of her. But a Wedding Day betrayal from her blue-blooded fiancé has her running from her life and right into the arms of the man she’d never forgotten, Jesse. Yet as she forges a new future for herself amid the scandal of her aborted wedding, Alexi finds herself the target of a twisted killer and both her and Jesse’s days are now numbered.

FIRST LINE:

He was hard and smooth all over, Alexandria Jordan thought as her gaze focused on the broadness of the man’s chest and the nuances of light and shadow playing upon muscle and flesh.

PLOT:

What a unique way to deliver a story book! I have never read a book that has beautiful photographs that help show the story. While the story is excellent without the photographs, they did add another level of sensuality and connection to the story. Definitely worth all the work and effort that went behind adding all those beautiful photos to the story.

When I stepped into Wild Irish, it was like going home. Being from a southern Irish family, I connected with this story and it’s characters instantly. Jennifer Saints has written a story rich with southern flavor and attitude. She didn’t miss the fact that being southern is an art! The author took a wild and sensual bad boy, tempted him with a southern princess, and delivered a passionate romance riddled with a mystery that left me wondering who would be out to kill Alexandria Jordan. While the passion was high between Jesse and Alexi, the author also weaved a lot of emotion into the story that showed us who exactly the hero and heroine were. Through the there actions and the people they cared for, I got to ‘see’ them both from within, making me care for each of them and the ending they would have. I also enjoyed the fantasies lived out between the hero and heroine. They gave the story an sensual touch making me want to continue reading to find out more. While not an erotic read, the author added a spice to the romance that scorched the pages, but with an eloquence that I would love to see in more books.

SETTING:

Wild Irish took place in the hot and humid city of Savannah, Georgia with a couple of short escapes to a small villa in France. The trips were picture perfect might I add!

WRITING:

Given the Ms. Saints has three pseudonyms, I thought I would be reading a book that was much like her other books under her different names. I was pleasantly surprised to find out her writing style was very unique to this book and her pseudonym, Jennifer Saints. Her signature flair for detail never faltered; however she added a wit and charm that made her work stand out among her other books as distinctive. And the use of those southern expressions was pure gold!

CHARACTERS:

Alexandria ‘Alexi’ Jordan was a character that reminded me of where I came from. A southern lady with a hidden wild streak running down the middle waiting for the perfect bad boy to come along and show her how to let loose and have fun. A very responsible, loving woman, that cared for those around her and one special little girl in particular that held her heart. Through that little girl I got a glimpse of what unselfishness in meant to look like. A lesson lies within Alexi’s character and story that I found very touching and motivating.

Alexi’s love interest is no less that the perfect gentleman in my eyes. Not that kind of gentleman that won’t risk giving a lady a kiss for propriety, no, the kind of gentleman that has enough guts to reach out kiss a lady to true happiness because he knows it will make her smile. That is the kind of gentleman Jesse Weldon is. A man that protects reaches out even though he knows he shouldn’t, and has a heart the size of Texas. And on the flip side, he is like all southern men, straight to the point and stubborn. That stubbornness is what gets him every time he realizes he is falling into something he doesn’t believe in — love. It was fun to watch him squirm and struggle against the pull of one Alexi Jordan!

LAST THOUGHTS:

Wild Irish is a beautiful story of love and family with a twisted plot filled with mystery. I enjoyed following both characters through discovering their feelings for one another and through unraveling who was behind all the attacks. I already have book two in my hands, waiting for me to dive in! The Weldon Brothers are going to be one hell of a series to follow.

The Price of Freedom is Eternal Vigilance—
 

I put this quote, that is often attributed to Thomas Jefferson, at the beginning of Collateral Damage because to me these seven words say so much about the world in which we live.  The statement captures  just how frail freedom is within the political and economic storms that constantly bombard humanity and how easily it can be lost.
 

I am not necessarily political, but I do have my beliefs, of which I will share two tenets.  One, as a human being I have a responsibility to be generally aware of what is happening in the world around me.  Two, freedom is essential to the human spirit.  I won’t get into my reasons as to why, but just to say it is.  This week, the events playing out in Egypt and rippling though a number of other middle-eastern countries, have once again brought home to me just how tenuous freedom in the world is, and how easily everything can change in the blink of an eye.  I pray for these countries and for their freedom.
 

Now for my Seven Suspenseful Sentences! from Collateral Damage!
 

Jack calculated that he’d wasted three of the thirty seconds it would take the spinning grenade of what he prayed to God was only CS gas to fill the room and practically incapacitate them both. Already Jack’s eyes seemed to burn. Apparently the bastard outside wasn’t aiming to kill Lauren, but to take her hostage—somehow an even scarier scenario because that meant they wanted something from her. Wanted something that they didn’t find when they’d destroyed the house. Wanted it bad too. He swung on his heel, reaching Lauren quickly.
 

“Come on.”

What is happening with me this week?   A mixed bag of ups and downs.  I haven’t heard back from a job interview that I’d hoped for, but do have another appointment next week for something that might even work out better with my writing goals.  I absolutely must find a job, but I cannot give up writing.  It’s part of my heart and soul.
 

I happily finished the final edits on Midnight Secrets which will be available from Samhain in April.  I sadly have not finished working on taxes.  My screenplay proposal did not finish in the top ten for a much coveted contest prize.  I’ve had my emotional ups and downs this week as well.  But all in all the sun is blasting my little corner of the world this weekend, giving us a warm sixty to sixty-five degrees outside, so I am just going to bask in that simple joy, have a BBQ with the kids, and pray that the miracles I need to happen will while I work hard to make my dreams come true.
 

So after you eat, pray, love this sunny day.
 

Go Forth, be thankful, and love freedom.
 

JL Saint aka Jennifer St. Giles, aka Jennifer Saints