Review: Energized by Mary Behre

Energized by Mary Behre
Series: Tidewater, Book 3
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Romantic Suspense with Paranormal Elements
ISBN: 9780425282007
Release Date: August 4, 2015
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N

She’s searching for a sign…
Hannah Halloran has always believed in her gift. The things she sees through her psychic touch have never led her wrong before. Not when they led her to an unforgettable night with a sexy marine at a bar. Not when she felt a need to leave her home and find the sisters she barely knows. And not now, when she is an unwilling witness to a brutal murder…

He’s ready to show her…
All Niall Graham wants is some peace. He’s recovering from the horrors of war, struggling to save his family’s restaurant, and desperate to forget Hannah, the beautiful woman who left him with memories of a mind-blowing night together and a bogus phone number. But a quiet life is hard to manage—especially when Hannah strides back into his restaurant with the news that a serial killer is on the loose and lurking closer than anyone could have guessed…

Energized is a deliciously addictive romantic suspense that will have Tidewater fans old and new reading late into the night. Hannah and Niall’s story is fast-paced and exciting, thanks to Mary Behre’s gift for blending heart-pounding action with a sweet, yet steamy romance.

In Energized, the youngest “crifted” Scott sister finds her way home to Tidewater. After the death of their mother, the three Scott sisters were separated. The youngest, Hannah, grew up with two loving adoptive parents, but she wants to connect with her sisters who she hasn’t seen since she was three. However, it isn’t her sisters Hannah runs into upon reaching Tidewater, but former Marine Niall Graham, the one-night stand Hannah hasn’t been able to get out of her mind. Sparks once again fly between the two, but Niall is determined to keep his emotional distance from Hannah, especially since she doesn’t plan to remain in Tidewater for long. Fate has other plans for the two, and when Hannah has a psychometric vision of a serial killer on the loose, Niall is drawn to protect her. In Energized, the sexual tension is palpable and it was pure pleasure to watch Niall and Hannah’s chemistry practically explode off the page. Though there’s quite a bit of push-pull in their burgeoning relationship, you can’t help but be drawn into the romance. Niall is gruff and not one to let his guard down, but he’s also got a good heart and a protective soul. Hannah brings light into his world, and her innate charm and spirit make her a compelling heroine. Separately and together, Niall and Hannah are fascinating and that’s what makes Energized such an appealing read.

Threading through Energized is the serial killer plot, and Ms. Behre keeps this storyline hopping. I loved watching the dark and twisted puzzle pieces fall into place, and the additional paranormal element of Hannah’s “crift” only served to make the suspense more compelling. Add in multiple family connections and entwining relationships with secondary characters and Energized is a truly “full” book, but one that also manages to be light on its feet.

Energized is the third full-length book in the Tidewater series, but it can be read as a standalone. Past Tidewater heroes and heroines play strong supporting roles, which was a treat, but I must admit the characters who intrigued me the most were the as-yet unmatched security specialists, Ryan and Ian. Here’s hoping Ms. Behre has books in store for them, for I’d love to return to Tidewater. While I wait, I’ll definitely be re-reading Energized, for Hannah and Niall are a compelling pair I’m excited to revisit.


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Read More

Review: Harmonized by Mary Behre

Harmonized by Mary Behre
Series: Tidewater, Book 2.5
Publisher: InterMix
Genre: Romantic Suspense with Paranormal Elements
ISBN: 9780698197992
Release Date: July 21, 2015
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N

After nearly dying on assignment, Tidewater police officer Zig Harmon has been awarded the Silver Star and desk duty. But handling every case that walks through the door while his entire department is out hunting a serial killer is nothing compared to dealing with his former flame, Karma De La Cruz.

As much as she hates it, Karma knows that her best chance of finding the kidnapped baby haunting her visions is the man she once left behind. Forced to work together, Karma and Zig start to realize that they may have let go of something incredible. But now, time is running out, both for the missing infant and for their chance to start again…

A frantic search for a missing baby reunites two lovers in Harmonized. Zig and Karma’s story is fast-paced and addictive, so much so that I hated it whenever I had to put down my Kindle.

Zig was in love with Karma back when they were in college, and when she left him without a word it broke his heart. Eight years later, she’s back in his life and desperate for his help. Everyone thinks Karma’s friend killed her child in a botched suicide attempt, but Karma can see auras and knows the baby is alive. With the mother in a coma and all supernatural signs pointing to the baby running out of time, Karma turns to Zig, a cop who knows the truth of her gift and is willing to do everything he can to help her. Author Mary Behre has a deft hand with the paranormal, and I was fascinated by Karma’s abilities and how they added another facet to the suspense storyline. The mystery/suspense plot could have benefited from being fleshed out in a slightly longer format, but as it stands it definitely kept the book hopping.

Karma and Zig’s romance weaves perfectly with the suspense plotline. It’s clear the two of them never fell out of love, despite their years apart. Though there are hurt feelings and trust issues that must be overcome, it’s easy to see that Karma and Zig are meant to be. While I enjoyed their love story, I did feel it was a bit rushed. Perhaps with more page time, the romance could have been better fleshed out. Even taking this into account, I was rooting for Karma and Zig to make it and the two of them did make me smile.

Harmonized is a novella set in Ms. Behre’s Tidewater series, but it can be read as a standalone. There are some spoilers for the first book, Spirited, where Zig was a supporting character. I haven’t yet read Spirited, but I thoroughly enjoyed seeing its hero and heroine after their happily ever after in this story. More importantly, Ms. Behre drops some hints as to what might be coming for the next Tidewater book and that has me excited. The Tidewater series is an excellent blend of paranormal and suspense and Harmonized is the perfect story to tide (no pun intended) readers over until the next novel, Energized, is released.


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Read More

Review: Guarded by Mary Behre

Guarded by Mary Behre
Series: Tidewater, Book 2
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Romantic Suspense with Paranormal Elements
ISBN: 9780425268629
Release Date: August 5, 2014
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N

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…

Guarded is a stellar romantic thriller! Mary Behre’s second Tidewater novel was so engaging that I didn’t want to put it down for a moment.

Shelley is a veterinarian gifted with the ability to communicate with animals. A blessing for her, since she’s been left time and again by the people she’s loved and now only lets animals into her heart. But when Shelley learns that someone has been kidnapping animals from the local zoo, she digs into her past and contacts Dev Jones. Dev has always been in the friend zone where Shelley is concerned, but all that changes when they meet again. It’s easy to like both Shelley and Dev; they both have big hearts and are protective by nature. Their past history paves the way for a smooth friends-to-lovers transition and the ensuing romantic storyline was wonderful to watch unfold. Their biggest problem is Shelley’s unwillingness to trust others to stay, but Ms. Behre does an excellent job of showing exactly why Shelley is so wary.

The mystery of who is kidnapping wild animals and why adds intrigue to Guarded. I loved the twists and turns the story took, and I eagerly followed Shelley and Dev as they unraveled the mystery. With numerous lives on the line, multiple suspects, and a killer who’s setting Shelley up to take the fall, there’s ample danger to be found in Guarded. Shelley does have a propensity for jumping into dangerous situations without thinking things all the way through – something that detracted from the story a touch – but aside from that I pretty much loved everything about this book.

Some books are simply a joy to read, and Guarded was such a story for me. Mary Behre is definitely a romantic suspense author to watch, and I can’t wait to go back and read the first Tidewater novel, Spirited.


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Read More