What do you think?
Rate this book
GO-Team #1
Troublemaker
A thrilling, fast-paced novel of romantic suspense from sensational New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Linda Howard.
For Morgan Yancy, an operative and team leader in a paramilitary group, nothing comes before his job. But when he’s ambushed and almost killed, his supervisor is determined to find out who’s after the members of his elite squad—and why. Due to worries that this unknown enemy will strike again, Morgan is sent to a remote location and told to lay low and stay vigilant. But between a tempting housemate he’s determined to protect and a deadly threat waiting in the shadows, keeping under the radar is proving to be his most dangerous mission yet.
The part-time police chief of a small West Virginian mountain town, Isabeau “Bo” Maran finally has her life figured out. She’s got friends, a dog, and a little money in the bank. Then Morgan Yancy shows up on her doorstep. Bo doesn’t need a mysterious man in her life—especially a troublemaker as enticing and secretive as Morgan.
The harder they fight the intense heat between them, the closer Morgan and Bo become, even though she knows he’s hiding from something. But discovering the truth could cost Bo more than she’s willing to give. And when Morgan’s cover is blown, it might just cost her life.
For Morgan Yancy, an operative and team leader in a paramilitary group, nothing comes before his job. But when he’s ambushed and almost killed, his supervisor is determined to find out who’s after the members of his elite squad—and why. Due to worries that this unknown enemy will strike again, Morgan is sent to a remote location and told to lay low and stay vigilant. But between a tempting housemate he’s determined to protect and a deadly threat waiting in the shadows, keeping under the radar is proving to be his most dangerous mission yet.
The part-time police chief of a small West Virginian mountain town, Isabeau “Bo” Maran finally has her life figured out. She’s got friends, a dog, and a little money in the bank. Then Morgan Yancy shows up on her doorstep. Bo doesn’t need a mysterious man in her life—especially a troublemaker as enticing and secretive as Morgan.
The harder they fight the intense heat between them, the closer Morgan and Bo become, even though she knows he’s hiding from something. But discovering the truth could cost Bo more than she’s willing to give. And when Morgan’s cover is blown, it might just cost her life.
384 pages, Paperback
First published May 10, 2016
1551 people are currently reading
6505 people want to read
About the author
Linda Howard
225 books7,151 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Linda S. Howington is an American best-selling romance author writing under the pseudonym Linda Howard. After 21 years of penning stories for her own enjoyment, she submitted a novel for publication which was very successful. Her first work was published by Silhouette in 1982. She is a charter member of Romance Writers of America and in 2005 Howard was awarded their Career Achievement Award.
Linda Howard lives in Gadsden, Alabama with her husband, Gary F. Howington, and two golden retrievers. She has three grown stepchildren and three grandchildren.
Linda S. Howington is an American best-selling romance author writing under the pseudonym Linda Howard. After 21 years of penning stories for her own enjoyment, she submitted a novel for publication which was very successful. Her first work was published by Silhouette in 1982. She is a charter member of Romance Writers of America and in 2005 Howard was awarded their Career Achievement Award.
Linda Howard lives in Gadsden, Alabama with her husband, Gary F. Howington, and two golden retrievers. She has three grown stepchildren and three grandchildren.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,046 reviews
June 25, 2024
2 Disappointing Stars!!
I hate that I am so disappointed with a Linda Howard book. When reading the book blurb I was so excited because it sounded like a classic Linda Howard book….I was sorely disappointed. I was expecting a book reminiscent of her “CIA Spies” books. What we get was basically the life of a beloved Golden Retriever in a small West Virginia town. Don’t get me wrong, I love dogs but I don’t want to read a whole book about a dog when I expected a book that was clearly tagged as a romantic suspense!
It started out strong, the first two chapters we’re introduced to Morgan Yancy, an operative and leader of a secret U.S. paramilitary group, who is ambushed and almost killed. When released from the hospital he is whisked away to his superior’s step-sisters isolated house in said small West Virginia town in order to gain his strength and recover from his injuries while they try to find out who wants him dead.
Isabeau “Bo” Maran is the town’s Police Chief, which is basically a “paperwork only” job she accepted to make a deal with the town, yet she finds herself in the middle of several town disputes. Bo isn’t too happy to have Morgan dropped on her doorstep, her life is just how she likes it, just her and her Golden Retriever Tricks, and he’s an inconvenience. They eventually get comfortable around one another but I felt no spark or connection between Bo and Morgan…..at all!!
There are twenty-seven chapters in this book and from chapter three to chapter twenty-four it’s allllll about Tricks, with a bit of Morgan, Bo, and town drama thrown in. That left five chapters of suspense and intrigue, hardly enough to satisfy me and overall very disappointing!
Morgan’s ambush story and who was behind it finally picks up at chapter twenty-five and I hate to say it, it was sort of anti-climactic. There was an HEA, but at this point nothing could save the read or bump up my rating.
Sadly, this will be the last new book I purchase from Linda Howard. When I need a fix, I’ll read some of my old favorites (and there are MANY) on her back list.
*I listened to the audio version and Tanya Eby is a fantastic narrator! It was her voice that kept me going, had I read the actual book I’m not sure I would have finished it*
I hate that I am so disappointed with a Linda Howard book. When reading the book blurb I was so excited because it sounded like a classic Linda Howard book….I was sorely disappointed. I was expecting a book reminiscent of her “CIA Spies” books. What we get was basically the life of a beloved Golden Retriever in a small West Virginia town. Don’t get me wrong, I love dogs but I don’t want to read a whole book about a dog when I expected a book that was clearly tagged as a romantic suspense!
It started out strong, the first two chapters we’re introduced to Morgan Yancy, an operative and leader of a secret U.S. paramilitary group, who is ambushed and almost killed. When released from the hospital he is whisked away to his superior’s step-sisters isolated house in said small West Virginia town in order to gain his strength and recover from his injuries while they try to find out who wants him dead.
Isabeau “Bo” Maran is the town’s Police Chief, which is basically a “paperwork only” job she accepted to make a deal with the town, yet she finds herself in the middle of several town disputes. Bo isn’t too happy to have Morgan dropped on her doorstep, her life is just how she likes it, just her and her Golden Retriever Tricks, and he’s an inconvenience. They eventually get comfortable around one another but I felt no spark or connection between Bo and Morgan…..at all!!
There are twenty-seven chapters in this book and from chapter three to chapter twenty-four it’s allllll about Tricks, with a bit of Morgan, Bo, and town drama thrown in. That left five chapters of suspense and intrigue, hardly enough to satisfy me and overall very disappointing!
Morgan’s ambush story and who was behind it finally picks up at chapter twenty-five and I hate to say it, it was sort of anti-climactic. There was an HEA, but at this point nothing could save the read or bump up my rating.
Sadly, this will be the last new book I purchase from Linda Howard. When I need a fix, I’ll read some of my old favorites (and there are MANY) on her back list.
*I listened to the audio version and Tanya Eby is a fantastic narrator! It was her voice that kept me going, had I read the actual book I’m not sure I would have finished it*
February 26, 2016
Troublemaker by Linda Howard
Troublemaker by Linda Howard is a 2016 William Morrow publication. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It is so nice to see a brand new romantic suspense novel by Linda Howard!
Morgan is a member of the exclusive GO-team, and an operative who has been shot, resulting in a heart attack, and is now in need of a place to lay low after his cover was compromised.
Bo is the chief of police in a small W. Virginia community, trying to pull herself out of a financial bind, and mostly living a quiet, peaceful life…until a man shows up at her home, obviously in pretty bad shape, claiming her former step-brother sent him. Initially, Bo was irate, but if she will simply allow the man to stay with her until he gets back in shape and the danger he is in has passed, she stands to earn enough money to pay off her debts.
This story is quintessential Linda Howard and I really enjoyed reading this romantic suspense novel written in the style I grew up with, but this story shows a new side of Ms. Howard, which is a little softer around the edges, shows more restraint by building the romantic tensity slowly, and allowing the mystery to float in the background for a while, then revving the suspense up to an action packed finale.
Also, on tap is the author’s trademark humor, but in this story she adds in a sweet small town romance element, and a loyal dog named Tricks, you will fall in love with.
I’m trying to remember if I have read a romantic suspense novel with this unique combination. It may seem like an odd pairing, but it works. Bo is a character I admired a lot because she has a high ranking position, and despite her sad background, she isn’t bitter, just cautious. I liked her attitude, the way she loves her job, her duties, and how she handled the situations she was faced with with aplomb and a respect for the people she works for.
Morgan is a bit of an enigma for a long while, but what I loved about his story was seeing him settle into the small town life, his companionship with Tricks, and how he falls in love with Bo. The change in him is interesting and fun to watch.
The suspense and mystery lies in the uncertainly of who Morgan’s enemies might be. It’s a real puzzle and it takes a long time for information to develop in this area, but once it does, things get tense in a hurry.
Linda Howard is an author I have followed for many years, and I have always liked her style, and have read many of her books. This story is pretty much what I would expect from her, only better. If you are a long time fan, I think you will be happy with this one. If you have yet to discover this author, this will be a nice introduction. This story will obviously appeal to romantic suspense lovers, but contemporary romance fans will like this one too.
Troublemaker by Linda Howard is a 2016 William Morrow publication. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It is so nice to see a brand new romantic suspense novel by Linda Howard!
Morgan is a member of the exclusive GO-team, and an operative who has been shot, resulting in a heart attack, and is now in need of a place to lay low after his cover was compromised.
Bo is the chief of police in a small W. Virginia community, trying to pull herself out of a financial bind, and mostly living a quiet, peaceful life…until a man shows up at her home, obviously in pretty bad shape, claiming her former step-brother sent him. Initially, Bo was irate, but if she will simply allow the man to stay with her until he gets back in shape and the danger he is in has passed, she stands to earn enough money to pay off her debts.
This story is quintessential Linda Howard and I really enjoyed reading this romantic suspense novel written in the style I grew up with, but this story shows a new side of Ms. Howard, which is a little softer around the edges, shows more restraint by building the romantic tensity slowly, and allowing the mystery to float in the background for a while, then revving the suspense up to an action packed finale.
Also, on tap is the author’s trademark humor, but in this story she adds in a sweet small town romance element, and a loyal dog named Tricks, you will fall in love with.
I’m trying to remember if I have read a romantic suspense novel with this unique combination. It may seem like an odd pairing, but it works. Bo is a character I admired a lot because she has a high ranking position, and despite her sad background, she isn’t bitter, just cautious. I liked her attitude, the way she loves her job, her duties, and how she handled the situations she was faced with with aplomb and a respect for the people she works for.
Morgan is a bit of an enigma for a long while, but what I loved about his story was seeing him settle into the small town life, his companionship with Tricks, and how he falls in love with Bo. The change in him is interesting and fun to watch.
The suspense and mystery lies in the uncertainly of who Morgan’s enemies might be. It’s a real puzzle and it takes a long time for information to develop in this area, but once it does, things get tense in a hurry.
Linda Howard is an author I have followed for many years, and I have always liked her style, and have read many of her books. This story is pretty much what I would expect from her, only better. If you are a long time fan, I think you will be happy with this one. If you have yet to discover this author, this will be a nice introduction. This story will obviously appeal to romantic suspense lovers, but contemporary romance fans will like this one too.
October 15, 2020
I'm glad I didn't read any reviews here before reading the book, because I would have missed hours of epic amusement had I gone by popular opinion. Agreed, the dog was more memorable than the protagonists and the plot was nothing new, but it was definitely entertaining. Can always count on LH for a fun read!
5 stars for Tricks and her awesome tricks (she totally deserved the prom-queen treatment), 4 for Morgan and Bo (The guy was pretty hot and chemistry was great) and 3 for the story.
So mean score = 4.
5 stars for Tricks and her awesome tricks (she totally deserved the prom-queen treatment), 4 for Morgan and Bo (The guy was pretty hot and chemistry was great) and 3 for the story.
So mean score = 4.
June 7, 2018
He was smiling down at her, a crooked smile that invited her to join in his amusement. “Is there a rule about how many celebratory kisses are allowed?”
“Yes. One.”
“What idiot wrote that rule?”
“I did.”
“Scratch the previous comment.”
As always, Linda Howard knows very well what the readers want, and she masterfully interweaves romance, humor, and a touch of suspense into this fantastic novel.
As her fan, I was so excited to dive into this book, but I must admit during the first few chapters, I had trouble getting into the story so I put it down and jumped into other books instead. After finishing those ones, I then considered getting back to this book. I thought that since I already started reading some pages, I might as well give this one another try. So I picked it up again and continue reading. Good thing I did, the story started picking up more in chapter 4 and it was getting better and better with each turning page. Somehow it managed to grab me firmly and kept me captivated throughout the rest of the book. And what surprised me the most was that this book, which I almost gave up, turned out to be my five-stars read by the end!
This was the story of two complete strangers thrown together under unpleasant circumstance. The leader of a GO-Team (Global Offensive), Morgan Yancy, was in very bad shape after being shot in the chest. He had almost died and coded twice during surgery. He needed a safe place to recuperate so he was sent to his boss’s former stepsister in a small town of Hamrickville, West Virginia. Morgan had to stay under the radar until his boss could find out about the person who had set up the ambush and why that person targeted him.
Chief of police, Isabeau Maran or Bo, is a solitary woman. She lives alone with her Golden Retriever, Tricks, in a barn several miles from town. Axel, her stepbrother, offered her money that would get her out of debt for good in exchange for letting Morgan stay with her, and she had to help look after him while he was recovering. She accepted his offer although she evidently wasn’t happy with Morgan staying in her house.
Morgan is intelligent, persistent, and reasonable. When facing problems, he sees them as challenges and tries to solve all of them. He is a man who always goes after what he wants. So, when he realized that he was so drawn to Bo and he could feel the intense chemistry sparking between them, he never fought his growing attraction to her. Instead he planned his strategy to win her heart and to prove that his feelings for her would never waver.
“I don’t give a shit about fair. I give a shit about you. Oh hell, that wasn’t very romantic, was it?” He bent his head a little to peer into her eyes. “Do you want romantic? I can try. I’m more of a see-it, want-it, go-for-it type of guy, and I did: see you, want you, go for you.”
Bo is smart, strong, honest, and she’s not a kind of woman who needs to be reassured about anything. When she found herself in danger of losing her heart to Morgan, she tried every way to guard it because she knew that when he fully recovered, he would go back to his dangerous world again, and she would be left heartbroken and alone.
There were many interesting things happened in the story as I read further into it. And finally when the pieces of the puzzle were starting to fall into place, how could Morgan set up a trap and catch the bad guy without risking Bo and Tricks’s lives?
The romance part was exceptionally good. Both of them weren’t instantly attracted to each other. If you’re looking for ‘love at first sight’, you won’t find it here. No insta-love. Their relationship had developed slowly but steadily. It took some time for them to get to know each other better. With each passing day, they felt more and more comfortable in each other’s company. It was so lovely seeing Morgan and Bo gradually fell in love. Between them, there were no games being played, no going back, and no blowing hot and cold.
If ever there had been a perfect picture of masculine sexual triumph, he was it. Her own mouth curved in a smile because the triumph was hers; she had put that look on his face, and she didn’t care if he ever realized it because this wasn’t about keeping score, it was about making each other happy.
The suspense part kept me thinking and guessing almost the whole time. I found the plot twists didn’t seem half as mind-blowing as I expected, still, it kept me on the edge of my seat waiting and anticipating for the next thing to happen. I personally wasn’t impressed with the outcome of the investigation, but what can I say? It seemed realistic enough for me to roll with it.
However, my review won’t be complete if I don’t tell you about Tricks and how much I loved her. She’s a very smart dog who almost stole the show. She’s by far one of the most adorable animal characters I’ve ever read. I got teary-eyed while reading the scene where . It was so emotional and I completely understood how Bo felt.
By the way, this was a great and memorable read. I really enjoyed this one and ended up loving it. Highly recommended for romantic suspense fans!
“Yes. One.”
“What idiot wrote that rule?”
“I did.”
“Scratch the previous comment.”
As always, Linda Howard knows very well what the readers want, and she masterfully interweaves romance, humor, and a touch of suspense into this fantastic novel.
As her fan, I was so excited to dive into this book, but I must admit during the first few chapters, I had trouble getting into the story so I put it down and jumped into other books instead. After finishing those ones, I then considered getting back to this book. I thought that since I already started reading some pages, I might as well give this one another try. So I picked it up again and continue reading. Good thing I did, the story started picking up more in chapter 4 and it was getting better and better with each turning page. Somehow it managed to grab me firmly and kept me captivated throughout the rest of the book. And what surprised me the most was that this book, which I almost gave up, turned out to be my five-stars read by the end!
This was the story of two complete strangers thrown together under unpleasant circumstance. The leader of a GO-Team (Global Offensive), Morgan Yancy, was in very bad shape after being shot in the chest. He had almost died and coded twice during surgery. He needed a safe place to recuperate so he was sent to his boss’s former stepsister in a small town of Hamrickville, West Virginia. Morgan had to stay under the radar until his boss could find out about the person who had set up the ambush and why that person targeted him.
Chief of police, Isabeau Maran or Bo, is a solitary woman. She lives alone with her Golden Retriever, Tricks, in a barn several miles from town. Axel, her stepbrother, offered her money that would get her out of debt for good in exchange for letting Morgan stay with her, and she had to help look after him while he was recovering. She accepted his offer although she evidently wasn’t happy with Morgan staying in her house.
Morgan is intelligent, persistent, and reasonable. When facing problems, he sees them as challenges and tries to solve all of them. He is a man who always goes after what he wants. So, when he realized that he was so drawn to Bo and he could feel the intense chemistry sparking between them, he never fought his growing attraction to her. Instead he planned his strategy to win her heart and to prove that his feelings for her would never waver.
“I don’t give a shit about fair. I give a shit about you. Oh hell, that wasn’t very romantic, was it?” He bent his head a little to peer into her eyes. “Do you want romantic? I can try. I’m more of a see-it, want-it, go-for-it type of guy, and I did: see you, want you, go for you.”
Bo is smart, strong, honest, and she’s not a kind of woman who needs to be reassured about anything. When she found herself in danger of losing her heart to Morgan, she tried every way to guard it because she knew that when he fully recovered, he would go back to his dangerous world again, and she would be left heartbroken and alone.
There were many interesting things happened in the story as I read further into it. And finally when the pieces of the puzzle were starting to fall into place, how could Morgan set up a trap and catch the bad guy without risking Bo and Tricks’s lives?
The romance part was exceptionally good. Both of them weren’t instantly attracted to each other. If you’re looking for ‘love at first sight’, you won’t find it here. No insta-love. Their relationship had developed slowly but steadily. It took some time for them to get to know each other better. With each passing day, they felt more and more comfortable in each other’s company. It was so lovely seeing Morgan and Bo gradually fell in love. Between them, there were no games being played, no going back, and no blowing hot and cold.
If ever there had been a perfect picture of masculine sexual triumph, he was it. Her own mouth curved in a smile because the triumph was hers; she had put that look on his face, and she didn’t care if he ever realized it because this wasn’t about keeping score, it was about making each other happy.
The suspense part kept me thinking and guessing almost the whole time. I found the plot twists didn’t seem half as mind-blowing as I expected, still, it kept me on the edge of my seat waiting and anticipating for the next thing to happen. I personally wasn’t impressed with the outcome of the investigation, but what can I say? It seemed realistic enough for me to roll with it.
However, my review won’t be complete if I don’t tell you about Tricks and how much I loved her. She’s a very smart dog who almost stole the show. She’s by far one of the most adorable animal characters I’ve ever read. I got teary-eyed while reading the scene where . It was so emotional and I completely understood how Bo felt.
By the way, this was a great and memorable read. I really enjoyed this one and ended up loving it. Highly recommended for romantic suspense fans!
June 8, 2016
Vintage Linda Howard, but with an unforgettable golden retriever named Tricks as an additional character. I loved the intimacy of this book.
November 30, 2017
Welp! This was disappointing.
It had good bones, story-wise. Morgan is an elite paramilitary personnel who got ambushed and almost got killed. To lure out the people who put a hit on him, his supervisor sent him to his stepsister, Isabeau "Bo" Maran to recover, essentially setting himself up as bait.
I was into this. It sounded like the Linda Howard of old. Unfortunately, things never really got off the ground. The book didn't quite know what it was supposed to be. Is it supposed to be romantic suspense? Small town romance? Everything just sort of moved along without really delving deep into what is even happening and why should I even care about these characters.
I suppose I like the idea of Morgan and Bo building intimacy despite the fact that they're virtually strangers to each other. But Linda Howard was unable to convince me that these two are worth my time. I usually love Linda's brusque heroes who say they don't do "romance" but are loyal and loving and made me swoon anyway. Morgan is nothing like that. And Bo was just...ugh. I can't. I don't even want to finish my review now because I'm so disappointed.
ARC provided by the publisher
It had good bones, story-wise. Morgan is an elite paramilitary personnel who got ambushed and almost got killed. To lure out the people who put a hit on him, his supervisor sent him to his stepsister, Isabeau "Bo" Maran to recover, essentially setting himself up as bait.
I was into this. It sounded like the Linda Howard of old. Unfortunately, things never really got off the ground. The book didn't quite know what it was supposed to be. Is it supposed to be romantic suspense? Small town romance? Everything just sort of moved along without really delving deep into what is even happening and why should I even care about these characters.
I suppose I like the idea of Morgan and Bo building intimacy despite the fact that they're virtually strangers to each other. But Linda Howard was unable to convince me that these two are worth my time. I usually love Linda's brusque heroes who say they don't do "romance" but are loyal and loving and made me swoon anyway. Morgan is nothing like that. And Bo was just...ugh. I can't. I don't even want to finish my review now because I'm so disappointed.
ARC provided by the publisher
May 12, 2016
Just for fun I searched the name "Tricks" to see how many times the darn dog's name was said in this book. Over 500 times!!!
Drop the mic...
Did Linda Howard really write this? I sure do miss the Mr Perfect and After the Night style of writing. The men sizzled in those books. The sexual chemistry was off the charts good. This book only really focuses on the stupid dog. At the 50% mark Bo and Morgan had barely spoken to each other. Very two dimensional characters. I was so looking forward to this new release. Really bummed I paid $12.99 for this.
Drop the mic...
Did Linda Howard really write this? I sure do miss the Mr Perfect and After the Night style of writing. The men sizzled in those books. The sexual chemistry was off the charts good. This book only really focuses on the stupid dog. At the 50% mark Bo and Morgan had barely spoken to each other. Very two dimensional characters. I was so looking forward to this new release. Really bummed I paid $12.99 for this.
August 23, 2020
Geri captured my thoughts perfectly. This was not one of Howard's best.
April 22, 2017
Loved this romantic thriller! Great storyline and characters.Linda Howard is one of my favorite writers. Morgan Yancy is a operative team leader who is home on leave and gets jumped and stabbed by Russian operative. His team leader knows its only a matter of time before who ever wants Morgan dead will send someone to finish the job.so he sends Morgan to live with his step sister Bo, from along ago marriage. What happens when you take a man who's life is a dangerous and secretive and put him with a woman has kept the walls around her heart high and a golden retriever who is more human then dog!!! A great love story!!!!
April 10, 2018
The other reviewers were right. This is the story of Tricks the Golden Retriever and the bad things that happen to her people. LH obviously owns or owned a GR as she has the whole ridiculously playful, vain and loving personality of Golden nailed.
But this is actually a suspense/thriller so…
It’s not much of one. The hero is shot and sent to the heroine’s small town to recuperate and to trap the evil doers. After more Golden Retriever love, some small town shenanigans, small town intrigue and mucho macho passion the suspense portion kicks back in and its pretty weak.
Read for the dogginess of it all and the wonderful small town secondary characters. Loretta the police dispatcher was a great one…
Loretta slowly stood up, all six-feet-one and two hundred seventy-two pounds of her rising from behind the partition. Her chin was tucked, her eyes bright as she eyed him as if he were steak tartare and she was a starving lion.
"I'll bet my pussy against yours any day, hoss. If you want to know who I am, the name is Loretta Hobson, from out Lister Road. You've probably heard of my family? The Mean-As-Shit Hobsons? I'll take you on any day.
His head jerked back. Everyone in the county had heard of the Mean-As-Shit Hobsons. Cross a Hobson, and you were likely to find your house burned down, and that's if they were in a good mood. The worst part of it was they were pretty damn smart and had never been caught at anything.
But this is actually a suspense/thriller so…
It’s not much of one. The hero is shot and sent to the heroine’s small town to recuperate and to trap the evil doers. After more Golden Retriever love, some small town shenanigans, small town intrigue and mucho macho passion the suspense portion kicks back in and its pretty weak.
Read for the dogginess of it all and the wonderful small town secondary characters. Loretta the police dispatcher was a great one…
Loretta slowly stood up, all six-feet-one and two hundred seventy-two pounds of her rising from behind the partition. Her chin was tucked, her eyes bright as she eyed him as if he were steak tartare and she was a starving lion.
"I'll bet my pussy against yours any day, hoss. If you want to know who I am, the name is Loretta Hobson, from out Lister Road. You've probably heard of my family? The Mean-As-Shit Hobsons? I'll take you on any day.
His head jerked back. Everyone in the county had heard of the Mean-As-Shit Hobsons. Cross a Hobson, and you were likely to find your house burned down, and that's if they were in a good mood. The worst part of it was they were pretty damn smart and had never been caught at anything.
November 12, 2016
Linda Howard has been my go-to author for romantic suspense lately. I can’t get enough of her, and it doesn’t matter if the book was published twenty years ago or just releasing, she somehow nails the genre every time. Troublemaker pulled me in and kept me entertained the entire weekend!
Morgan Yancy is part of a top-secret, elite team ready to take down any threat to the US Government. He’s back in the country after a couple of months working and ready for some down time when trouble comes knocking on his door and almost kills him. He needs time to recuperate, and together with his team leader, Axel MacNamarra, Morgan needs to find out how he was targeted and why. They hatch a plan to hide him with Isabeau “Bo” Maran, the police-chief in a small West Virginian town, and lay a trap.
Morgan is thrust upon a reluctant Bo. She’s used to a solitary life with her vivacious dog, Tricks, and prefers it that way, but she can’t turn such a sick man away. As Morgan gets better and better they forge a bond and a mutual, fiery attraction begins to brew.
When I first started reading I had a little trouble with the amount of page time spent on Bo’s dog, Tricks, but she grew on me, and I think her antics were pretty entertaining. I dare any animal/dog lover not to fall for her.
The best part of the story to me was the gradual friendship-turned-romance between Morgan and Bo. Their romance felt powerful, yet realistic; not of the wish/fantasy fulfillment variety. I like that Ms. Howard rarely categorizes her main characters as model beautiful, rather, they have qualities that make them attractive and irresistible to the other lead character. Chemistry is at the root of all her romances, and Bo and Morgan’s built gradually, steadily, and believably.
I felt sucked into the story, and didn’t want to put it down for real-life. I wouldn’t say this is pulse pounding action, although, there are a few scenes of that here and there, but the characters and relationships are what reeled me in. I loved the small town aspect, complete with quirky secondary characters, and the dynamics that would only fly in a small, close-knit place. Linda Howard always manages to sneak in a few fun twists and turns that I’m not expecting to keep me on my toes, and Troublemaker was no exception.
I’m happy Ms. Howard has quite a large backlist of stories to pick from. It seems I can always turn to her if I’m in a book slump or vacillating over what I should read next. If you’re a fan of romantic suspense you must look her up!
A copy was kindly provided by William Morrow via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
This review is also posted at The Readers Den.
Morgan Yancy is part of a top-secret, elite team ready to take down any threat to the US Government. He’s back in the country after a couple of months working and ready for some down time when trouble comes knocking on his door and almost kills him. He needs time to recuperate, and together with his team leader, Axel MacNamarra, Morgan needs to find out how he was targeted and why. They hatch a plan to hide him with Isabeau “Bo” Maran, the police-chief in a small West Virginian town, and lay a trap.
Morgan is thrust upon a reluctant Bo. She’s used to a solitary life with her vivacious dog, Tricks, and prefers it that way, but she can’t turn such a sick man away. As Morgan gets better and better they forge a bond and a mutual, fiery attraction begins to brew.
When I first started reading I had a little trouble with the amount of page time spent on Bo’s dog, Tricks, but she grew on me, and I think her antics were pretty entertaining. I dare any animal/dog lover not to fall for her.
The best part of the story to me was the gradual friendship-turned-romance between Morgan and Bo. Their romance felt powerful, yet realistic; not of the wish/fantasy fulfillment variety. I like that Ms. Howard rarely categorizes her main characters as model beautiful, rather, they have qualities that make them attractive and irresistible to the other lead character. Chemistry is at the root of all her romances, and Bo and Morgan’s built gradually, steadily, and believably.
I felt sucked into the story, and didn’t want to put it down for real-life. I wouldn’t say this is pulse pounding action, although, there are a few scenes of that here and there, but the characters and relationships are what reeled me in. I loved the small town aspect, complete with quirky secondary characters, and the dynamics that would only fly in a small, close-knit place. Linda Howard always manages to sneak in a few fun twists and turns that I’m not expecting to keep me on my toes, and Troublemaker was no exception.
I’m happy Ms. Howard has quite a large backlist of stories to pick from. It seems I can always turn to her if I’m in a book slump or vacillating over what I should read next. If you’re a fan of romantic suspense you must look her up!
A copy was kindly provided by William Morrow via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
This review is also posted at The Readers Den.
March 15, 2020
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I thought that this was good. Years ago I read a ton of Linda Howard but I stopped picking up her books for one reason or another. I decided to give this one a try and I found that I do still enjoy her writing. I found this to be a really enjoyable listen.
I really only have one main complaint with this book. I can't believe that I am going to say this but too much of this book was about the dog. I love dogs. My world revolves around my three dogs and I have to admit that they are incredibly spoiled. I love it when dogs are a part of the story. This book took things a bit far even for me. I felt like I had spent hours listening to how Tricks liked to play catch, how smart she was, how she liked to be fed, where she thought she needed to sit in the car, and the list goes on. Do you see that cover? It should have had the dog in the foreground with the humans in the background because that would have been more accurate.
Now, on to the humans. Morgan works for an elite unit and is enjoying some time off at the start of the story. He is attacked near his own home comes close to losing his life. Once he has recovered enough to leave constant medical care, his supervisor arranges for him to go to the home of his step-sister, Bo, who lives in a small remote town. Bo is the part-time police chief of a small town. It's is an administrative position and she fills in the rest of her time with computer work out of her home. She does not expect to find an incredibly sick man on her doorstep but he is in such bad shape she can't bring herself to send him away.
There is a lot going on in this book. Not only do they need to figure out who is responsible for the attack on Morgan at the start of the book, but Bo also has some issues in town that prove to be more dangerous than she counted on. It did feel like nothing happened with the mystery of who was responsible for trying to kill Morgan for the majority of the book and then everything came together really quickly at the end of the story. Bo's situation in town filled in the main part of the book nicely.
I thought that Morgan and Bo worked well together. Morgan was pretty open and shared as much with Bo as he could. Morgan was in pretty rough shape for a long time in this story but when he started to recover he seemed to do so very quickly and that is when things started to heat up between the pair. I thought that they had good chemistry with each other and I liked them as a couple.
I thought that Tanya Eby did a good job with the narration. It did take me just a bit to get used to her voice but once I did, I had no complaints. She handled all of the character voices very well and was able to add a lot of emotion to the story. I had no problem listening to her voice for hours at a time.
I think that readers who enjoy romantic suspense and love dogs will enjoy this one. I didn't think that this was Linda Howard's best work but it was an enjoyable story. I wouldn't hesitate to read more of her work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from William Morrow via Edelweiss and borrowed a copy of the audiobook from my local library.
Initial Thoughts
This was probably closer to 3.5 stars but I am going with 3 for now. I love dogs. I have 3 dogs that mean the world to me and I do adjust my life quite often to meet their needs. I love dogs in books so it pains me to say that there was just too much of the dog in this book. If I talked about my 3 dogs as much as this book talked about, Tricks, nobody would want to be around me. I feel like the book was 50% about the dog with the rest of the story taking a back seat.
I liked Bo and Morgan well enough. It seemed like the book kind of forgot that Morgan was in danger for the bulk of the story until it came back into focus at the very end. Morgan went from being quite frail to almost superhero status in a blink of an eye which seemed odd to me. I thought that the story was interesting enough to keep me going. I listened to this story and thought that Tanya Eby did an acceptable job with the narration.
I thought that this was good. Years ago I read a ton of Linda Howard but I stopped picking up her books for one reason or another. I decided to give this one a try and I found that I do still enjoy her writing. I found this to be a really enjoyable listen.
I really only have one main complaint with this book. I can't believe that I am going to say this but too much of this book was about the dog. I love dogs. My world revolves around my three dogs and I have to admit that they are incredibly spoiled. I love it when dogs are a part of the story. This book took things a bit far even for me. I felt like I had spent hours listening to how Tricks liked to play catch, how smart she was, how she liked to be fed, where she thought she needed to sit in the car, and the list goes on. Do you see that cover? It should have had the dog in the foreground with the humans in the background because that would have been more accurate.
Now, on to the humans. Morgan works for an elite unit and is enjoying some time off at the start of the story. He is attacked near his own home comes close to losing his life. Once he has recovered enough to leave constant medical care, his supervisor arranges for him to go to the home of his step-sister, Bo, who lives in a small remote town. Bo is the part-time police chief of a small town. It's is an administrative position and she fills in the rest of her time with computer work out of her home. She does not expect to find an incredibly sick man on her doorstep but he is in such bad shape she can't bring herself to send him away.
There is a lot going on in this book. Not only do they need to figure out who is responsible for the attack on Morgan at the start of the book, but Bo also has some issues in town that prove to be more dangerous than she counted on. It did feel like nothing happened with the mystery of who was responsible for trying to kill Morgan for the majority of the book and then everything came together really quickly at the end of the story. Bo's situation in town filled in the main part of the book nicely.
I thought that Morgan and Bo worked well together. Morgan was pretty open and shared as much with Bo as he could. Morgan was in pretty rough shape for a long time in this story but when he started to recover he seemed to do so very quickly and that is when things started to heat up between the pair. I thought that they had good chemistry with each other and I liked them as a couple.
I thought that Tanya Eby did a good job with the narration. It did take me just a bit to get used to her voice but once I did, I had no complaints. She handled all of the character voices very well and was able to add a lot of emotion to the story. I had no problem listening to her voice for hours at a time.
I think that readers who enjoy romantic suspense and love dogs will enjoy this one. I didn't think that this was Linda Howard's best work but it was an enjoyable story. I wouldn't hesitate to read more of her work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from William Morrow via Edelweiss and borrowed a copy of the audiobook from my local library.
Initial Thoughts
This was probably closer to 3.5 stars but I am going with 3 for now. I love dogs. I have 3 dogs that mean the world to me and I do adjust my life quite often to meet their needs. I love dogs in books so it pains me to say that there was just too much of the dog in this book. If I talked about my 3 dogs as much as this book talked about, Tricks, nobody would want to be around me. I feel like the book was 50% about the dog with the rest of the story taking a back seat.
I liked Bo and Morgan well enough. It seemed like the book kind of forgot that Morgan was in danger for the bulk of the story until it came back into focus at the very end. Morgan went from being quite frail to almost superhero status in a blink of an eye which seemed odd to me. I thought that the story was interesting enough to keep me going. I listened to this story and thought that Tanya Eby did an acceptable job with the narration.
May 26, 2016
I was so looking forward to this one and even bumped it to the top of my stack of books to read. And it was such an incredible let down.
The plot was flat. There was some suspense at the first of the book, a tiny dap in the middle and then a brief attempt at the end. That was it. The rest of the story was basically a day to day journal of Tricks the Golden Retriever interacting with the characters of the books. Don't get me wrong, Tricks as a character is adorable. Goldens are one of my favorite dogs and there were many times in the story when I would smile at something that reminded me of my own Golden (whom I adore, adore adore!).
But I wasn't expecting a diary of a Golden Retriever. I have already read one by Dean Koontz which was really good, about his own Golden and would recommend if that is what you are looking for.
The characters were well developed, they just didn't really do anything except revolve around Tricks. They had so much more potential than that. I liked Morgan, he was a really good "hero" type and I liked his struggle to get fit after getting shot and being put out of commission. I liked Bo except when something would happen and she would freak and her reaction mentally would be "as slow as molasses". The "as slow as molasses" was taken straight from the book - twice. I did like the slow boil of the relationship between Morgan and Bo and thought it was given a fair amount of page time. There also were really good supporting characters, they were fairly well developed - they just didn't do anything.
In addition to the minimal appearance of the suspense plot, I had actually had issues with it as well. It just didn't work for me as I argued with myself that it would happen that way.
The story was about a 2.5 Stars for me and although I was tempting to round down to represent my disappointment, I found myself rounding up.
The plot was flat. There was some suspense at the first of the book, a tiny dap in the middle and then a brief attempt at the end. That was it. The rest of the story was basically a day to day journal of Tricks the Golden Retriever interacting with the characters of the books. Don't get me wrong, Tricks as a character is adorable. Goldens are one of my favorite dogs and there were many times in the story when I would smile at something that reminded me of my own Golden (whom I adore, adore adore!).
But I wasn't expecting a diary of a Golden Retriever. I have already read one by Dean Koontz which was really good, about his own Golden and would recommend if that is what you are looking for.
The characters were well developed, they just didn't really do anything except revolve around Tricks. They had so much more potential than that. I liked Morgan, he was a really good "hero" type and I liked his struggle to get fit after getting shot and being put out of commission. I liked Bo except when something would happen and she would freak and her reaction mentally would be "as slow as molasses". The "as slow as molasses" was taken straight from the book - twice. I did like the slow boil of the relationship between Morgan and Bo and thought it was given a fair amount of page time. There also were really good supporting characters, they were fairly well developed - they just didn't do anything.
In addition to the minimal appearance of the suspense plot, I had actually had issues with it as well. It just didn't work for me as I argued with myself that it would happen that way.
The story was about a 2.5 Stars for me and although I was tempting to round down to represent my disappointment, I found myself rounding up.
May 14, 2016
I am a dog owner- and i get it. They are adorable, very intelligent, and always upto some mischief.
But this book was not a romance. There was a bit of a thriller plotline, but honestly, Marley and Me is a better book to read.
This book was completely about the dog, and the dog's relationship with everyone.
But this book was not a romance. There was a bit of a thriller plotline, but honestly, Marley and Me is a better book to read.
This book was completely about the dog, and the dog's relationship with everyone.
May 20, 2016
Just okay. Not up to Linda Howard's gold standard. Seemed like an offering from a midlister instead. There was none of the sparkling humor between the hero and heroine or high tension in the mystery plot that I've come to expect. Okay storyline. I thought there was way too much of the super smart dog. The heroine's reactions concerning the dog were over the top. Seemed like they were the reactions I would have expected a person to have about their child instead. I know some people really love their dogs but it just didn't work for me.
June 8, 2016
Actual rating: 3.7
Full review to come
March 21, 2018
3.5*
Linda just be honest with me! Was this you when you were writing the Troublemaker?
Because I've never read a book where a dog was the main character.
Meet Tricks.
She's the main character and this book revolves around her.
How many toys does she have,
how smart she is,
how pretty she is,
You get the point.
The romance and the suspense were on the sideline, but I loved it. I love the H and the h. Their relationship was honest with no unnecessary drama or misunderstanding. There was no insta-love and no OW/OM drama whatsoever. The H was especially yummy. All alpha, protective and bad-ass, a paramilitary hunk.
IMO, it was a bit slow-paced and if it weren't for the weird dog plot, I would give more *. Still, I'm going to round on 4* as I adore Linda's writing style and overall enjoyed this book.
Linda just be honest with me! Was this you when you were writing the Troublemaker?
Because I've never read a book where a dog was the main character.
Meet Tricks.
She's the main character and this book revolves around her.
How many toys does she have,
how smart she is,
how pretty she is,
You get the point.
The romance and the suspense were on the sideline, but I loved it. I love the H and the h. Their relationship was honest with no unnecessary drama or misunderstanding. There was no insta-love and no OW/OM drama whatsoever. The H was especially yummy. All alpha, protective and bad-ass, a paramilitary hunk.
IMO, it was a bit slow-paced and if it weren't for the weird dog plot, I would give more *. Still, I'm going to round on 4* as I adore Linda's writing style and overall enjoyed this book.
June 19, 2018
The dog saved the book! 🐕 Some of the book was over-the-top romance but the over all story was interesting. But the best part was definitely the cool dog.
July 8, 2016
I'm so disappointed and sorry to say that I didn't much like Troublemaker. I finished but it didn't work for me as either a romance or a thriller. As practically everyone has noted, the woman+dog love story is front and center. Bo's dog love is really an obsession, as her life is built around serving her doggy overlord. A little bit too far off for my taste. I have no doubt that Bo would have dumped Morgan in a hot minute if he hadn't been willing to step aside for her one true love, Tricks The Dog. I also don't doubt that if Bo ever has to choose between dog and lover...well, tough luck, guy. I never believed in the human love affair.
I'm a devoted Linda Howard reader. I am happy to have so many of her beloved oldies that I've read over and over again -- and will be rereading them for as long as I'm able. I know I'll never again read Troublemaker and that says it all.
As for the audiobook, I almost didn't buy it because I'm not a fan of narrator Tanya Eby. She's an uninspired, bland reader who gives male characters the dreaded doofus voice. So, she didn't help. Next time I'll listen to myself when I say, "But Self, you don't like Tanya Eby."
I'm a devoted Linda Howard reader. I am happy to have so many of her beloved oldies that I've read over and over again -- and will be rereading them for as long as I'm able. I know I'll never again read Troublemaker and that says it all.
As for the audiobook, I almost didn't buy it because I'm not a fan of narrator Tanya Eby. She's an uninspired, bland reader who gives male characters the dreaded doofus voice. So, she didn't help. Next time I'll listen to myself when I say, "But Self, you don't like Tanya Eby."
June 19, 2022
3.75 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
If you loved "The Search" by Nora Roberts then this one is for you!!!!....mainly because of "Tricks" a golden retriever and she is clearly the star of the show in this Romantic suspense and adventure novel which is mostly set within the confines of a small town.
I certainly loved the heroine in this story plenty....and I also rather enjoyed the storyline....so here we are yet another entertaining read by Ms. Howard though maybe not necessarily one of my most favorites... which at this point are fairly numerous ...as she is most definitely a favorite author of mine .
p.s. I really do recommend reading the Nora Roberts novel... especially if you are a dog lover. 💜
If you loved "The Search" by Nora Roberts then this one is for you!!!!....mainly because of "Tricks" a golden retriever and she is clearly the star of the show in this Romantic suspense and adventure novel which is mostly set within the confines of a small town.
I certainly loved the heroine in this story plenty....and I also rather enjoyed the storyline....so here we are yet another entertaining read by Ms. Howard though maybe not necessarily one of my most favorites... which at this point are fairly numerous ...as she is most definitely a favorite author of mine .
p.s. I really do recommend reading the Nora Roberts novel... especially if you are a dog lover. 💜
April 24, 2025
4 Stars for Troublemaker: Go-Team, Book 1 (audiobook) by Linda Howard read by Tanya Eby.
An elite operative is nearly killed and needs a safe place to recover. His boss decides to sends him to the bosses step sister’s house in a small town where it should be safe as they are trying to figure out who’s behind the assassination attempt. The step sister can’t stand her step brother and can’t believe what he’s trying to saddle her with. But she’s willing to be nursemaid for a lot of money. And slowly these enemies become lovers and so much more.
An elite operative is nearly killed and needs a safe place to recover. His boss decides to sends him to the bosses step sister’s house in a small town where it should be safe as they are trying to figure out who’s behind the assassination attempt. The step sister can’t stand her step brother and can’t believe what he’s trying to saddle her with. But she’s willing to be nursemaid for a lot of money. And slowly these enemies become lovers and so much more.
May 31, 2016
I felt very fortunate to get this book on publication day. Also fortunate to be able to start it immediately. This book is classic, really, really fantastic Linda Howard. 5+++ stars to start, unfortunately is bogs in the middle and the sentimentality is off the charts. Now, I will admit that I am predisposed to like the works of those authors I really like, so you should take that into account here, this is really a pity 4-star rate, which for anyone else would probably be a 3-star rate.
If you are a fan of LH early series John Medina/CIA Spies and Kell Sabin/Rescues you, like me will love the concept of this book. She is back in the Spec Ops world with the GO-Teams headed by Axel MacNamara who is determined to find out who hacked his computer system and tried to kill his best operative. His plan may also put his ex step-sister, Bo, in danger.
Morgan is just back from a 7 month mission and is sorely in need of decompression. After sleeping for 24 hours he takes a day to go fishing. As he arrives back home after fishing he is ambushed, shot in the chest and left with a lengthy recovery ahead of him. Morgan has no idea why this has happened or who is behind it. Axel sends him to his ex step-sister in a small town in West Virginia, and goes about setting a trap.
Bo is Chief of Police, but it is really an administrative position, no real police training or work is involved. She is not happy when Morgan shows up on her door step, but he is a breath away from collapsing and the money Axel offers, well, everyone has a price. Bo's life is settled and she insists she is happy with her golden retriever, Tricks, her friends and her jobs that just pay the bills. Men are not wanted or needed. Her childhood with a mother who was married seven times and her one failed marriage have left her with very high walls around her heart and the only one allowed in is Tricks.
Tricks is a remarkable dog and Bo loves her very much, as over 50% of the book is going to tell you. In the end LH redeems this story and the end is almost as good as the beginning, if you can stick with it that long.
If you are a fan of LH early series John Medina/CIA Spies and Kell Sabin/Rescues you, like me will love the concept of this book. She is back in the Spec Ops world with the GO-Teams headed by Axel MacNamara who is determined to find out who hacked his computer system and tried to kill his best operative. His plan may also put his ex step-sister, Bo, in danger.
Morgan is just back from a 7 month mission and is sorely in need of decompression. After sleeping for 24 hours he takes a day to go fishing. As he arrives back home after fishing he is ambushed, shot in the chest and left with a lengthy recovery ahead of him. Morgan has no idea why this has happened or who is behind it. Axel sends him to his ex step-sister in a small town in West Virginia, and goes about setting a trap.
Bo is Chief of Police, but it is really an administrative position, no real police training or work is involved. She is not happy when Morgan shows up on her door step, but he is a breath away from collapsing and the money Axel offers, well, everyone has a price. Bo's life is settled and she insists she is happy with her golden retriever, Tricks, her friends and her jobs that just pay the bills. Men are not wanted or needed. Her childhood with a mother who was married seven times and her one failed marriage have left her with very high walls around her heart and the only one allowed in is Tricks.
Tricks is a remarkable dog and Bo loves her very much, as over 50% of the book is going to tell you. In the end LH redeems this story and the end is almost as good as the beginning, if you can stick with it that long.
May 20, 2016
Shadow's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
What's not to love about Linda Howard's Troublemaker? It features a hot Alpha special ops hero, a strong, smart, independent heroine, and a bright, funny diva of a golden retriever named Tricks. Weave in a suspenseful plot that keeps you turning the pages, a host of delightful secondary characters, a surprising love story, along with laugh out loud humor and you have a winning combination.
When Special Ops agent Morgan Yancy was shot in an ambush, it raised all kinds of all red flags because no one could understand who shot him or why. Weak and helpless after open heart surgery to repair the wound and an ensuing bout of pneumonia his boss sends him to the one place no one would find him-to his step sister, Isabeau “Bo” Moran in West Virginia.
Having a very sick man fetch up at her isolated mountain cabin sends all kinds of warning bells for Bo, who has emotionally isolated herself from people. It doesn't help that he is sent by her hated step-brother, Alex. They were only siblings for a few months when she was 13 and he was 18, but the animosity generated by those few months has lasted a lifetime. However, its obvious that her unwanted guest isn't capable of going further, and with the incentive of thousands of dollars deposited in her bank account, she agrees to take care of Morgan. Alex also sets a trap to see if they can find the people behind his assailant.
As Morgan recovers his strength, he finds himself attracted to Bo's strength and logic-and to her dog. Bo also feels the attraction, but she knows Morgan will move on as soon as the trap is sprung and she resists the pull. Can these two very different people actually find a relationship together while avoiding the danger hanging over them?
I loved all the characters but especially Tricks. I saw so much of some of my dogs in her antics, and the humor she brought to the story was remarkable.
Overall, this was a totally delightful read, a return to the good solid story telling that makes Linda Howard such a favorite author.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
What's not to love about Linda Howard's Troublemaker? It features a hot Alpha special ops hero, a strong, smart, independent heroine, and a bright, funny diva of a golden retriever named Tricks. Weave in a suspenseful plot that keeps you turning the pages, a host of delightful secondary characters, a surprising love story, along with laugh out loud humor and you have a winning combination.
When Special Ops agent Morgan Yancy was shot in an ambush, it raised all kinds of all red flags because no one could understand who shot him or why. Weak and helpless after open heart surgery to repair the wound and an ensuing bout of pneumonia his boss sends him to the one place no one would find him-to his step sister, Isabeau “Bo” Moran in West Virginia.
Having a very sick man fetch up at her isolated mountain cabin sends all kinds of warning bells for Bo, who has emotionally isolated herself from people. It doesn't help that he is sent by her hated step-brother, Alex. They were only siblings for a few months when she was 13 and he was 18, but the animosity generated by those few months has lasted a lifetime. However, its obvious that her unwanted guest isn't capable of going further, and with the incentive of thousands of dollars deposited in her bank account, she agrees to take care of Morgan. Alex also sets a trap to see if they can find the people behind his assailant.
As Morgan recovers his strength, he finds himself attracted to Bo's strength and logic-and to her dog. Bo also feels the attraction, but she knows Morgan will move on as soon as the trap is sprung and she resists the pull. Can these two very different people actually find a relationship together while avoiding the danger hanging over them?
I loved all the characters but especially Tricks. I saw so much of some of my dogs in her antics, and the humor she brought to the story was remarkable.
Overall, this was a totally delightful read, a return to the good solid story telling that makes Linda Howard such a favorite author.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
February 10, 2017
This book was classic Linda Howard, and I loved it.
I loved Isabeau “Bo” Maran, who is your typical Linda Howard heroine, tough and kickass. She got stuck in the small town in West Virginia because she made some bad investments, but ended up finding a home, friends and a wonderful dog. As always it’s refreshing to find a book where the heroine is the one afraid of love.
Morgan was a real bad ass and I loved him. When he was sent to Bo’s house, he was supposed to hide and recover from almost dying after being shot by an unknown enemy, while his boss tried to figure out why he was targeted. But instead he fell in love with a woman and her dog.
Their romance was a very slow burn which I enjoyed. I loved that they first got to know each other while Morgan was healing and became friends before they became lovers. Their chemistry was wonderful and their falling in love very believable and romantic.
My favorite part of this book was Bo’s dog, Trixie! She’s so smart and so adorable, and I really want a Trixie of my own….
The plot was great. Linda Howard is so good at writing captivating romantic suspense, and this book was no different. As typical with a small town romance, the secondary characters were wonderful, and added a lot of fun and very entertaining moments.
Linda Howard is one of my go-to authors when I’m in the mood for a great RS, and once again she has written a winner. She balances the romance and the suspense so well, and I really enjoyed this book. A definite must read for all Linda Howard fans.
June 16, 2016
I usually love romances that include dogs (and other pets) as significant characters. They interact with and reveal important facets about the human characters. However, in this book the dog overwhelmed the story and the characters. With each page I began to dread having to read about the dog's (Tricks) each snort, food treat, walk, bowl of water, and clever antic. It was incessant and distracting. An otherwise interesting romantic suspense story got lost in the weeds, and would have benefited from some pointed editing.
November 11, 2016
2.5 stars At least 50 pages too many devoted to the dog. And "fast-paced," "thrilling?" Really?
There are the bones for a good book here, but there's a tonal issue and lack of focus that runs this story off the rails. And again--cute dog, but even a lighthearted Kristen Higgans book doesn't spend this much time obsessively detailing the dog. Linda Howard used to write fantastic romantic suspense, romance novels, and historical romances. No idea how her last few books have missed to mark so badly.
There are the bones for a good book here, but there's a tonal issue and lack of focus that runs this story off the rails. And again--cute dog, but even a lighthearted Kristen Higgans book doesn't spend this much time obsessively detailing the dog. Linda Howard used to write fantastic romantic suspense, romance novels, and historical romances. No idea how her last few books have missed to mark so badly.
December 26, 2016
I'd like to start this off by saying that I'm a
huge
fan of Linda Howard. Ever since I read Mr. Perfect, a copy of which I have in paperback, I became addicted to her writing. She seemed to have an innate sense of when to pull back on the romance and introduce spine-tingling doses of terror! The suspense was always woven effortlessly throughout the plot, and although for the most part we knew who the bad guy was, how he would meet his end was still a mystery. The steady build towards the climax was definitely felt. If I were to sum up her work in one word, it would be
intense
.
This book wasn't intense. As interesting and as entertaining as many will find the story of Morgan (government mercenary) and Isabeau (administrative Chief of Police), this story had more of a contemporary feel than a suspenseful one. It started off strong and along the lines of what I expected, with Morgan being ambushed, shot and in critical condition. However, once Bo (Isabeau) was introduced, I felt the vibe of the story change. The plot seemed to be more about Tricks the dog (Isabeau's) than about Morgan and the situation he found himself a victim to. It was a bit off-putting, if I were to be honest, but once I accepted this change, I found that I was able to enjoy how everything developed.
So was I disappointed? In a way, but that's only because I went into this book with certain expectations. It worked out and I really liked the story once I removed those expectations. If I could offer some advice to future readers of this story: go into this with an open mind and heart and allow Linda Howard, an accomplished master of the pen, to take you off the beaten path.
Release Date: December 27, 2016
Genre: Romantic Suspense
POV: Dual - 3rd person
Steam: 2 out of 5
Series or Standalone: Standalone
Publisher: HarperCollins
This book wasn't intense. As interesting and as entertaining as many will find the story of Morgan (government mercenary) and Isabeau (administrative Chief of Police), this story had more of a contemporary feel than a suspenseful one. It started off strong and along the lines of what I expected, with Morgan being ambushed, shot and in critical condition. However, once Bo (Isabeau) was introduced, I felt the vibe of the story change. The plot seemed to be more about Tricks the dog (Isabeau's) than about Morgan and the situation he found himself a victim to. It was a bit off-putting, if I were to be honest, but once I accepted this change, I found that I was able to enjoy how everything developed.
So was I disappointed? In a way, but that's only because I went into this book with certain expectations. It worked out and I really liked the story once I removed those expectations. If I could offer some advice to future readers of this story: go into this with an open mind and heart and allow Linda Howard, an accomplished master of the pen, to take you off the beaten path.
Release Date: December 27, 2016
Genre: Romantic Suspense
POV: Dual - 3rd person
Steam: 2 out of 5
Series or Standalone: Standalone
Publisher: HarperCollins
June 4, 2017
3.5 'needs another edit' Stars. I don't know whether to call this RS or not. The first 10% and the last 10% were solid, suspense action; but all the story in between was full-on small town romance. Both were enjoyable enough, but I’m not sure how well they worked together. I'll have to do a reread of the final book.
Morgan has just come home after a mission with the shadowy paramilitary group he works for, when someone tries to kill him. Desperately wounded, and not knowing who was behind the attempt on his life, Morgan’s group leader sends him to his stepsister Bo’s mountain home in West Virginia to heal while his team tried to flush out the bad guys. Once in the mountain town, the story focuses on the typical small town stuff; including nosy neighbors, gossipy townsfolk, small town drama...and the blossoming relationship between Morgan and Bo.
One thing I really enjoyed in the story was Tricks, Bo’s Golden Retriever. Far from being a prop piece in the story, as children and dogs often are, she was instead an interesting and fully fleshed character, a firmly integrated part of the storyline. I also learned a couple of things. One was that in West Virginia, the Chief of Police (which Bo was) is often a strictly administrative position. I also learned that ‘Naked Pig Beer’ from Alabama is real, because I looked it up. LH is from Alabama, and I don't know if that was a shout-out to the Back Forty Microbrewery Company, or if Howard might be part owner.
This was vintage LH, but not quite; not her best work, but certainly much better than what she has been writing the last few years. The story definitely needs another round of edits before publication, and I hesitate to use the book title, as I understand it may be changed. The middle part of the book dragged just a little, and the story ran on too long. Another good edit should take care of that issue, however, and there is plenty of time for that before the book is released in June.
Morgan has just come home after a mission with the shadowy paramilitary group he works for, when someone tries to kill him. Desperately wounded, and not knowing who was behind the attempt on his life, Morgan’s group leader sends him to his stepsister Bo’s mountain home in West Virginia to heal while his team tried to flush out the bad guys. Once in the mountain town, the story focuses on the typical small town stuff; including nosy neighbors, gossipy townsfolk, small town drama...and the blossoming relationship between Morgan and Bo.
One thing I really enjoyed in the story was Tricks, Bo’s Golden Retriever. Far from being a prop piece in the story, as children and dogs often are, she was instead an interesting and fully fleshed character, a firmly integrated part of the storyline. I also learned a couple of things. One was that in West Virginia, the Chief of Police (which Bo was) is often a strictly administrative position. I also learned that ‘Naked Pig Beer’ from Alabama is real, because I looked it up. LH is from Alabama, and I don't know if that was a shout-out to the Back Forty Microbrewery Company, or if Howard might be part owner.
This was vintage LH, but not quite; not her best work, but certainly much better than what she has been writing the last few years. The story definitely needs another round of edits before publication, and I hesitate to use the book title, as I understand it may be changed. The middle part of the book dragged just a little, and the story ran on too long. Another good edit should take care of that issue, however, and there is plenty of time for that before the book is released in June.
August 11, 2023
4/5 stars
Pues me ha gustado, y mira que no tenía muchas esperanzas a pesar de que esta autora me gusta mucho.
Casualmente, el libro anterior que leí fue La testigo de Nora Roberts, y me he quedado muy sorprendida por las similitudes que existen entre las dos novelas. Ambas protagonistas viven aisladas, pero en este caso Bo no huye de un pasado traumático. Ambas tienen como mascotas un perro. En cuanto al personaje masculino, en La testigo es policía y en este libro es agente secreto. Ambos son guapos, encantadores, altos, fuertes, derrochan pasión y tienen el pito grande. En ambos libros hay un peligro inminente, que si bien en La testigo no acaba de llegar, en este llega pero no acaba.
A pesar de todo, Amenaza entre las sombras me ha gustado más que La testigo. Los personajes son más entrañables, el perro es más simpático, la gente del pueblo más adorable, y la relación de los personajes más normal. Se hace más llevadero y es más entretenido. No se me ha hecho largo ni me he aburrido en ninguna parte. Sinceramente, todo ha ocurrido cuando tenía que ocurrir. Quizá el altercado entre los habitantes del pueblo se hace algo más pesado, pero lo compensa siendo rápido de leer.
Recomendable como lectura ligera y entretenida.
PD: Maria Clara, si está leyendo esto, te recomiendo este libro, ya que con el de Nora Roberts te quedaste con mal sabor.
Pues me ha gustado, y mira que no tenía muchas esperanzas a pesar de que esta autora me gusta mucho.
Casualmente, el libro anterior que leí fue La testigo de Nora Roberts, y me he quedado muy sorprendida por las similitudes que existen entre las dos novelas. Ambas protagonistas viven aisladas, pero en este caso Bo no huye de un pasado traumático. Ambas tienen como mascotas un perro. En cuanto al personaje masculino, en La testigo es policía y en este libro es agente secreto. Ambos son guapos, encantadores, altos, fuertes, derrochan pasión y tienen el pito grande. En ambos libros hay un peligro inminente, que si bien en La testigo no acaba de llegar, en este llega pero no acaba.
A pesar de todo, Amenaza entre las sombras me ha gustado más que La testigo. Los personajes son más entrañables, el perro es más simpático, la gente del pueblo más adorable, y la relación de los personajes más normal. Se hace más llevadero y es más entretenido. No se me ha hecho largo ni me he aburrido en ninguna parte. Sinceramente, todo ha ocurrido cuando tenía que ocurrir. Quizá el altercado entre los habitantes del pueblo se hace algo más pesado, pero lo compensa siendo rápido de leer.
Recomendable como lectura ligera y entretenida.
PD: Maria Clara, si está leyendo esto, te recomiendo este libro, ya que con el de Nora Roberts te quedaste con mal sabor.
December 24, 2016
I enjoyed but I think calling it a rom suspense was over reach. C+
Troublemaker is the first book in a new romance suspense series by Linda Howard that revolves around a group of men involved in black ops. Morgan Yancy is part of this group-called GO Teams- that cleans up “situations” the government wants handled quietly. Ambushed and wounded during his downtime, his boss sends him to an ex- sibling in small town in West Virginia to recuperate and hide while the group tries to discover who was sent to kill Yancy and why. While there, Morgan finds himself falling in love with the town, the residents, a dog, and the dog’s owner-Isabeau.
I haven’t read Linda Howard in a while. I loved her earlier books but in recent years she went very heavy on the suspense and extremely weak on the romance and I found it not to my taste. I was surprised to see her starting a new romance suspense series and decided to give it a try. I enjoyed overall but was amazed at the lack of suspense, action, and mystery involved in the story. We spend 95% of our time watching Morgan and (Bo) slowly build a relationship. I enjoyed the small town’s eccentricity and the small subplot invoked but couldn’t help be disappointed that the mystery is solved in what amounts to a single conversation. The dog, Tricks, was better developed and had more scene time.
Troublemaker is the first book in a new romance suspense series by Linda Howard that revolves around a group of men involved in black ops. Morgan Yancy is part of this group-called GO Teams- that cleans up “situations” the government wants handled quietly. Ambushed and wounded during his downtime, his boss sends him to an ex- sibling in small town in West Virginia to recuperate and hide while the group tries to discover who was sent to kill Yancy and why. While there, Morgan finds himself falling in love with the town, the residents, a dog, and the dog’s owner-Isabeau.
I haven’t read Linda Howard in a while. I loved her earlier books but in recent years she went very heavy on the suspense and extremely weak on the romance and I found it not to my taste. I was surprised to see her starting a new romance suspense series and decided to give it a try. I enjoyed overall but was amazed at the lack of suspense, action, and mystery involved in the story. We spend 95% of our time watching Morgan and (Bo) slowly build a relationship. I enjoyed the small town’s eccentricity and the small subplot invoked but couldn’t help be disappointed that the mystery is solved in what amounts to a single conversation. The dog, Tricks, was better developed and had more scene time.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,046 reviews