Monday, February 4, 2019

Review - - The Conspiracy


The Conspiracy
By Kat Martin
Maximum Security - Book 1
Publisher: HQN
Release Date: January 22, 2019
Reviewed by PJ



Harper Winston’s brother has disappeared. Pursuing his dream of sailing the Caribbean, Michael hasn’t responded to texts or emails in days. When even the Coast Guard can’t find him, Harper is forced to take desperate measures. Which means going to Chase Garrett, once her brother’s best friend, now the only man she can trust…or so she hopes.

As the successful owner of Maximum Security, Chase has learned to trust his gut. He knows Harper’s father is mixed up in a deadly business, and suspects there’s more to Michael’s disappearance than meets the eye. Getting involved again with the Winstons goes against everything he stands for, yet old loyalties die hard. As the case draws him closer to Harper and deeper into the Winstons’ snarled crime family, he is forced to put everything on the line to keep Harper safe…and both of them alive.


My thoughts:

The Conspiracy launches Kat Martin's new series with taut suspense, steamy romance, and plenty of action. I really enjoyed that action. Martin takes readers from Texas to a Caribbean resort and, finally, into the jungles of South America as Harper and Chase race against time to discover what happened to Harper's brother. There are plenty of twists and turns along the way that kept me involved with the story, even after the reveal of who is behind Michael's abduction.  

I had kind of a push-pull relationship with the romance. There's plenty of desire between Chase and Harper and I do love the "best friend of older brother" trope but I also had a few issues with them along the way. There's one scene in particular (no spoilers) that made me very uneasy but I did buy into their eventual HEA. While the primary focus of this book is on Chase and Harper, a secondary romance also unfolds as the story progresses. This romance includes a scene that I'm still trying to figure out why the author felt was necessary. Maybe she was going for an erotic edge, or shock value, but it didn't have that effect on me. In fact, it was disturbing enough that I had to set the book aside for several days before I could continue reading, which is a shame because I really did enjoy the rest of the book. 

Those few issues aside, The Conspiracy is a fast-paced, twisty race against time filled with danger, action, betrayal, and desire that sets the stage for what looks to be another winning series by Kat Martin. 


Do you enjoy books that take readers to exotic, danger-filled locations?

What's your favorite romance trope?

One randomly chosen person posting a comment before 11:00 PM, February 6 will receive a copy of a book from Kat Martin's AGAINST series. (U.S. only)


 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39929060-the-conspiracy?


Check Kat Martin's website for more information and monthly contests. 

9 comments:

  1. Novels with exotic locales and adventures are an escape for me. Romance topic is to meet later in life.

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  2. Books which are descriptive and give me the suspense that occurs in dangerous and out of the way locales are always fascinating. A trope that interests me is a old school one. The boy next door in our modern world.

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  3. I love going to exotic, danger-filled locations via a book and my armchair. It is funny since I am not particularly adventuresome myself!

    Had to think about your question about favorite romance trope and at first I didn't think I really had one, but I kind of like the bookworm gets her man, if that is considered a trope.

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  4. I've read most of Kat's Against series, so I'mm interested in more of her books.

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  5. I love reading about exotic places with lots of adventure with twists and turns. It helps that there is a HEA. Favorite trope is second chance.

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  6. I do! I enjoy suspense and historicals. Just picked up one of her books!!

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  7. I'm just boring as I only like reading historicals set in England or Scotland.

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  8. I love Kat Martin's books. I love exotic location cause it's like a little getaway in my mind.
    Favorite romance troupe is Sports and brothers best friend or best friends brother.

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  9. I’m really looking forward to both the Kleypas book and the return of Long to historical romance...YAY!!! While I have really enjoyed her contemporary series, I have mourned not having any historicals from her in recent years.

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