5 Stars for Maverick!

(by Malissa Coy, Reads All The Books Blog)

Amazon link:

 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0148UYTS6/?tag=irishwincom-20

So it is an established fact that I love this author and the In The Company of Snipers series, each of these characters have taken up residence in my heart and have become special 'friends' to me, as you all well know Harley being my long time favorite.  That said, Irish Winters, you have ruined me with Maverick, ruined me in the very best of ways. 

I went into Maverick with some trepidation, much like I did when I got my hands on Gabe's book, (yeah, these last two in the series have been hard reads) I couldn't see how you were gong to make this work.  These books have always been about The T.E.A.M., yes each book revolves around one couple but in the end it is always about the family that is Alex Stewarts hand picked group of dedicated, more often than not broken ex Marines and Soldiers.  So when I read the synopsis, when I knew that Maverick was literally walking away from The T.E.A.M. I couldn't fathom how this would all work out.  How can you take The T.E.A.M. out of the equation?  I am so very happy to tell you, with out really telling you anything at all because I just don't want to give it away, that it all works and it works beautifully.  Maverick's book has burrowed itself right up next to Harley's in my heart and the best part about that is how unexpected it was. 

You've heard me say in the past that reading a particular book was like watching a movie and not that I couldn't see this one as a movie but there was something even more powerful about Maverick's story.  It was like seeing snap shots of pictures, of having been in those moments, having lived them, breathed them, and loved in them.  This book was plain and simple, visually stunning.  Irish's words and descriptions roll like waves across your mind, painting pictures so clear and beautiful that I not only spent half my read with emotional tears in my eyes but also having eyes that were glassy with unshed tears from the simple beauty that was before me.  The imagery was literally breath-taking to me.

"The sound of hooves on hard-packed dirt drew nearer.  In seconds, galloping draft horses, their heads held high with manes tossing in the breeze, zeroed in on the gate.  Most were the same reddish-brown with black manes as Star, but one was nearly pearlescent with a white mane, the dappling on its hide nearly imperceptible.  A glossy, coal black fellow with a coat that glistened in the early evening light galloped in."

Not only was Irish able to take my breath away visually but emotionally I was lost to the story.  Maverick will both melt and break your heart.  China, what an amazing character she is.  Strong, beautiful, so unbelievably caring...you fall in love with her the moment she crosses the first page and Kyrie...what a sweet baby girl, I can't even go there with you guys with out tearing up again. 

Irish Winters took a risk with this one.  Her evil characters are the kind of evil that makes you skin crawl, they are the kind of characters that if not done just right can ruin a book because they are so hard to comprehend, their behavior so hurtful, cruel, and ugly...if not done well they could have simply come off as unbelievable and outlandish but Irish nails it with this pair.  As far as Leezel I have never both hated a character so much and wished for them to some how be 'fixed', of course only to rot in jail...but that is a whole different thing, haha.  Separating a good portion of the story from The T.E.A.M. was also a big risk as well, but it truly works out beautifully and coming back to them all in the second half of the book only makes seeing them all again that much sweeter.  Getting to catch up a little on each of our favorite couples and seeing them all rallying around one another just brought a smile to my face, a sorely needed one...this book is a tear jerker, but in the best kind of way. 

I hope that you will pick up this book, it can be read as a stand-alone but I HIGHLY suggest reading the whole series from book 1 onward.  If you chose not to you won't be disappointed, you won't be confused but you will be missing out on some wonderful moments.  These books are for anyone with a love of Contemporary Romance.  They are military based characters, but that doesn't always play a huge roll in each book.  There is quite a bit of action and suspense and of course love....they are in the end beautiful love stories that revolve around an ever growing and wonderful family of friends! 

Today instead of just leaving you with a ~ Happy Reading~ I'd like to take a moment to say thank you to all our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen.  The men and women who have fought for our country and for their own countries are in my heart and thoughts today, Veteran's Day!  I hope that you each might take a moment to thank a Veteran or Active Duty Service man or woman today.  Thank you to Irish for writing such wonderful stories about Military Veterans, especially the ones that struggle the most after their service (Harley, you will always make my heart hurt and smile), and also for about the people who love them though it all! 

So from my Military Family to yours:

~ HAPPY VETERANS DAY ~

And 

~ HAPPY READING ~ 

On Saturday and Sunday, November 14th and 15th in celebration of Veteran's Day Irish is also making book 8 in her In The Company of Snipers series, GABE free!  Make sure to hop on over to Amazon and get it! 

5 Stars for Taylor!

From the Marvelous Malissa Coy  aka Reads All The Books

REVIEW

You all know that In the Company of Snipers is one of my favorite romance series out there.  I love the heart of all of Irish's Hero's, their struggles and triumphs, their fight to come home from war and blend back into society.  I have ached with them, cried with them, railed against the injustice of it all as I watched their worlds evolve and change while they struggled to move forward.  I have seen beautiful strong women come into each of their lives and bring them back from the brink of madness, despair, and heart ache.  I have watched these couples fight, kill, and cry for one another.  I have watched them love and hate and I have loved each of them for it.  Their stories touch our souls and I hope encourages each of us to consider the Soldiers around us.  Are the stories in this series exaggerated or a bit over the top, yes, but that is what makes them entertaining.  What isn't exaggerated is the feelings and issues that these Soldiers bring back with them and I adore that about Irish's characters.  The feelings are raw and real and they suck you in and make you think and feel.  Taylor's story while a bit of a departure from the original feel of the series was for me still no less emotional or raw.  

While Taylor does have challenges that come from his time in the service it felt like he had a better control over his 'demons' from that time than our past Heroes.  Now I think that is simply because he had a life time of misery to live before he ever stepped foot in a combat zone.  Taylor is a scarred man, his childhood has left him feeling broken, unworthy, and unlovable.  He made me want to let go of Harley long enough to wrap him up in my arms with a kiss to his forehead and softly whispered words of praise in his ear...and if someone can get me to let go of Harley you know it's serious.  *wink*  

I feel like I say this a lot with Irish's books but I don't want to go into too many details about the story itself because there are so many pivotal points where things shift and change that if I give you details it could ruin the story line and the suspense.  Talking of suspense, this book is chock full of it, right from the first few pages.  I have to admit that those first few pages had me confused.  I kept trying to figure out what was going on.  Did I forget something from the last book, Rory?  Did, I miss a few pages?  No, Irish just plain threw me right to the wolves with this one, haha.  If you are expecting a slow build up, forget it, this story starts out full throttle and doesn't really slow down until the final pages.  

Let's talk Gracie.  I loved Gracie.  I loved that this is a woman who takes her promises and duty seriously, a woman who has this amazing heart that is open so wide to everyone that you can't help but fall in love with her.  She is a gentle soul that will fight to her last breath for those she loves and she won't give up.  She is exactly the woman Taylor needed, a woman that won't let him quit, a woman that can prove that he is worthy of love, that he was worthy of waiting for.  One of my favorite things about this story is that we really got to know Taylor and Gracie as a couple.  We have these beautiful moments of history between the two of them that will make you heart melt.  Their love is not a fast paced fall into bed kind of love, but this simple, quiet, beautiful love built on the solid ground of history and the promise of the future.  I promise it will make more sense as you read the story but with these two characters you can truly see their spirit through out the book and with their history I think that is so important to this story.  Their spirits move throughout the entire book and even though it is full of heart breaking moments and suspense there is this calmness that just washes across you and centers you to these two main characters.  The fact that Irish was able to evoke that feeling from me leaves me in a bit of awe and I have to wonder if she felt this quiet sense of peace as she wrote the words.  

Final note before I begin to wax poetic...I was so glad to see Alex back strong in the forefront of the story.  He is always there in the back ground, but I really felt like in this story he was a true presence and I think we needed his assertive personality to balance out the other characters, particularly Taylor's dad, who should be glad Taylor found Gracie and not me, because General, you'd have likely found an arrow in your chest a long time ago...just saying.  I also loved the appearance of past characters and future ones, hellooooo Gabe.  I'll end by saying that anyone that could make me almost want to unwrap myself from Harley is worth some of your time and Taylor, he's a contender!  

This is a great read for anyone looking for a sweet romance with a complex hero, a determined heroine, and a suspenseful and heart wrenching story.  It's not a overly difficult read but as with many of these books there are tough moments, ones that will bring tears to your eyes. This one is no exception and one part of the story line in particular can be tough to get through. Your heart will truly ache for the White Hawk family, but it is pivotal to the story line and Irish does the family and the story justice.  Taylor can be read as a stand alone but the epilogue will give away a few spoilers if you haven't read the series from the beginning so go in with caution if you choose to start here. 

~Happy Reading~