Posts Tagged ‘j.l. saint’
Open the Flood Gates!
March 10, 2012 | 
Author Before I delve into the release of book two in my Silent Warrior Series, first let me share a wonderful experience I was honored to have just a few weeks ago. Southwest Florida Romance Writers had their annual conference and was gracious enough to invite me to be their keynote speaker. They welcomed me with open arms and are a great group to connect with. So if you find yourself anywhere near Fort Myers and have an interest in writing then this group is a must. With top New York editors, on the money agents and great workshops given by hot authors Linnea Sinclair and Stacy Kade the conference was a success and inspiration. When first asked to speak, I wondered if I had anything worthwhile to share with everyone. I’m not a NYT bestseller, a great oratory, nor can I tell a joke without mangling it beyond recognition. But after searching deep I realized that my journey and struggles as a writer were all that I needed. And in the telling of that story, I found the answer to what has driven to write and keep on writing despite the many obstacles, disappointments, and the seemingly lack of stellar success over the years. First I realized that I had an unfailing hope in my heart to write and keep on writing. A hope that’s born from my love of story and from my belief that love is the greatest gift that can be given and received. Emily Dickinson’s verse eloquently describes it all.
“Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops at all..”
Great stories bring hope to the heart and with every story I write, I strive to deliver that to my reader. To give the hope of love. To give the hope that good conquers evil. To give the hope that there is light in the darkness, heroes in the battles, and healing to be found within the sharing of our hearts.
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Top Pick Review for Collateral Damage
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!
Alexander Killdaren
Alexander Killdaren as described by Andromeda Andrews
My voice caught in my throat as I was about to comment that Gemini’s nose was already irrevocably red, even though it wasn’t. The sound of horse’s hooves on the shore along with the act of everyone around me turning and gasping with awe and fear told me that he had arrived to the docks. Lord Alexander Killdaren.
Though the mystery surrounding Mary’s death had been solved, the murder of Lady Helen Kennedy eight years ago had not been. Since Sean Killdaren and Lord Alexander Killdaren were the last ones to see her alive and a witness had seen one of them leaving the scene of the murder, a dark cloud of suspicion hung over their lives. To this day the villagers gave the Killdaren twins a wide berth. Neither Cassie nor I believed the rumors. She was sure Sean was innocent and I was convinced Lord Alexander was, too.
Big Thrill Interview From International Thriller Writers
Collateral Damage by J.L. Saint
By Virna DePaul on November 30, 2010 at The Big Thrill
Virna DePaulI interviewed J.L. Saint about her new ebook original, Collateral Damage, a romantic suspense with Samhain Publishing, Ltd. With the world on the edge of war, one wounded Delta Soldier and one desperate woman are at the center of a horrific plot and running for their lives. As they unravel the deceit, they are thrust into a race to save her children and stop a global meltdown into anarchy.
Previous reviews of Saint’s works, which she published under the name Jennifer St. Giles, have routinely commented on her masterful ability to weave suspense and emotion:
“St. Giles’s story ripples with tension.”–Publishers Weekly
“Raw emotions give way to desperate choices, which adds up to breathless reading pleasure.” –Romantic Times
Sexually charged romance that satisfies whether you’re seeking suspense or passion.” –Romantic Times
“Fast paced, full of mystery, and…danger. I couldn’t put the book down.” —A Romance Review.com
