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Bartlett Brothers #2
Freedom's Price
Could a revolutionary used to running wild win the heart of a world-weary journalist?Liam Bartlett had nearly lost his life in San Salustiano, and for five years the correspondent had done his best to silence his ghosts. But when Marisala Bolivar arrived in Boston, all his memories returned—along with a white-hot hunger for the young rebel who'd hidden him and kept him alive! Marisala ached for Liam's touch, so long forbidden but now hers to fight for with a woman's fierce need. Could a love once forged in fire at last burn true?In this unforgettably sensual love story, Suzanne Brockmann creates a portrait of two daredevil survivors, tested by sorrow and bound by destiny to heal each other's wounds. A flame who beckoned him out of the darkness, she understood his pain as no one ever would, but could he soothe her hidden scars by offering her his soul?
242 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 5, 1998
30 people are currently reading
493 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne Brockmann
253 books3,568 followersAfter childhood plans to become the captain of a starship didn’t pan out, Suzanne Brockmann took her fascination with military history, her respect for the men and women who serve, her reverence for diversity, and her love of storytelling, and explored brave new worlds as a bestselling romance author.
Over the past thirty years she has written sixty-three novels, including her award-winning Troubleshooters series about Navy SEAL heroes and the women—and sometimes men—who win their hearts. Her personal favorite is the one where her most popular character, gay FBI agent Jules Cassidy, wins his happily-ever-after and marries the man of his dreams. Called All Through the Night, this mainstream romance novel with a hero and a hero hit the New York Times hardcover fiction bestseller list. In 2007, Suz donated all of her earnings from this book, in perpetuity, to MassEquality, to help win and preserve equal marriage rights in Massachusetts.
In addition to writing books, Suz writes and produces indie movies and TV including the award-winning romantic comedy The Perfect Wedding. Her recent feature, Out of Body, is streaming on Amazon Prime.
In 2018, Suz was given the Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award from the Romance Writers of America. Her latest projects are Blame It on Rio (Tall, Dark & Dangerous # 14), available in print and e-book from Suzanne Brockmann Books, and Marriage of Inconvenience, a six-episode LBGTQ rom-com TV series, streaming on Dekkoo in April 2023.
Over the past thirty years she has written sixty-three novels, including her award-winning Troubleshooters series about Navy SEAL heroes and the women—and sometimes men—who win their hearts. Her personal favorite is the one where her most popular character, gay FBI agent Jules Cassidy, wins his happily-ever-after and marries the man of his dreams. Called All Through the Night, this mainstream romance novel with a hero and a hero hit the New York Times hardcover fiction bestseller list. In 2007, Suz donated all of her earnings from this book, in perpetuity, to MassEquality, to help win and preserve equal marriage rights in Massachusetts.
In addition to writing books, Suz writes and produces indie movies and TV including the award-winning romantic comedy The Perfect Wedding. Her recent feature, Out of Body, is streaming on Amazon Prime.
In 2018, Suz was given the Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award from the Romance Writers of America. Her latest projects are Blame It on Rio (Tall, Dark & Dangerous # 14), available in print and e-book from Suzanne Brockmann Books, and Marriage of Inconvenience, a six-episode LBGTQ rom-com TV series, streaming on Dekkoo in April 2023.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
June 10, 2014
Opening Line:"I'm sorry, we have no record of a Mary... Mara... Marisala."
This is another great Brockmann quickie that although originally published in 1998 and just 229 pages still feels fresh and complete. I’m just loving her older, stand-alone romances which can be finished in an afternoon and give you everything you’re looking for in a contemporary romance.
FREEDOM’S PRICE is the companion book to Forbidden (which is also great) and here we get the other Bartlett brothers story. We first met Liam when his older (sexy cowboy) brother Cal went all trouble-shooterish and rescued him out of a third world prison. Since then I’ve been very curious about how Liam’s story would unfold. Plus I have a thing for complicated, tortured heroes and after years in prison I knew he was going to be one of those fabulous heroes. I also knew that it would take a very special woman to reach him and in former freedom fighter Marisala, he gets his match.
Because of the first book I’d expected Liam’s story to be a romantic suspense. So I was a little surprised when Brockmann set this up as a somewhat comedic, category romance with our heroes meeting in Boston and Liam posing as guardian to Marisala while she attends college. Liam and Marisala shared a past in war torn San Salustiano and she was partly responsible for keeping him alive however at the time she was a teenager.
I guess I expected their story to revolve around Liam rescuing Marisala from the jungle and in-between dodging bullets and bad guys he’d realize that she was a woman and he loved her--or something like that. Instead they order pizza, go shopping and apartment hunting all the while pretending that they’re not attracted to other. What about the war I wondered? What about my tortured hero? Anyways once I came to terms with what this story was going to be about I really enjoyed it (and I still got a tortured hero)
Five years have passed since Liam’s rescue form the jungle and although his injuries have healed he is still scarred and tormented on the inside. Suffering from nightmares, claustrophobia and writers block this is one journalist on the edge. The last thing he needs is to have the past forced back on him and of all the people to be entrusted with it just had to be Marisala. He’s never forgotten the beautiful solider and its all he can do to keep his hands to himself. Of course she’s not helping matters, determined that they would make fabulous lovers.
Marisala is a fantastic alpha heroine; she’s spunky, aggressive and feels that life is worth yelling about unlike Liam who is suffering in silence. Between all the angst there is also a great comedic undertone with Marisala bringing stray dogs and misplaced people into Liam’s once tranquil home. The sexual attraction between our couple is palpable however we of course get several misunderstandings before they can find their HEA including a couple of sigh and oh no she/he didn’t moments. A recommended read. Cheers
~3.5~
This is another great Brockmann quickie that although originally published in 1998 and just 229 pages still feels fresh and complete. I’m just loving her older, stand-alone romances which can be finished in an afternoon and give you everything you’re looking for in a contemporary romance.
FREEDOM’S PRICE is the companion book to Forbidden (which is also great) and here we get the other Bartlett brothers story. We first met Liam when his older (sexy cowboy) brother Cal went all trouble-shooterish and rescued him out of a third world prison. Since then I’ve been very curious about how Liam’s story would unfold. Plus I have a thing for complicated, tortured heroes and after years in prison I knew he was going to be one of those fabulous heroes. I also knew that it would take a very special woman to reach him and in former freedom fighter Marisala, he gets his match.
Because of the first book I’d expected Liam’s story to be a romantic suspense. So I was a little surprised when Brockmann set this up as a somewhat comedic, category romance with our heroes meeting in Boston and Liam posing as guardian to Marisala while she attends college. Liam and Marisala shared a past in war torn San Salustiano and she was partly responsible for keeping him alive however at the time she was a teenager.
I guess I expected their story to revolve around Liam rescuing Marisala from the jungle and in-between dodging bullets and bad guys he’d realize that she was a woman and he loved her--or something like that. Instead they order pizza, go shopping and apartment hunting all the while pretending that they’re not attracted to other. What about the war I wondered? What about my tortured hero? Anyways once I came to terms with what this story was going to be about I really enjoyed it (and I still got a tortured hero)
Five years have passed since Liam’s rescue form the jungle and although his injuries have healed he is still scarred and tormented on the inside. Suffering from nightmares, claustrophobia and writers block this is one journalist on the edge. The last thing he needs is to have the past forced back on him and of all the people to be entrusted with it just had to be Marisala. He’s never forgotten the beautiful solider and its all he can do to keep his hands to himself. Of course she’s not helping matters, determined that they would make fabulous lovers.
Marisala is a fantastic alpha heroine; she’s spunky, aggressive and feels that life is worth yelling about unlike Liam who is suffering in silence. Between all the angst there is also a great comedic undertone with Marisala bringing stray dogs and misplaced people into Liam’s once tranquil home. The sexual attraction between our couple is palpable however we of course get several misunderstandings before they can find their HEA including a couple of sigh and oh no she/he didn’t moments. A recommended read. Cheers
~3.5~
August 28, 2008
This is the sequel to Forbidden. The premise is so interesting, the execution is just not. I found this book really tedious, which is disappointing because I think Brockmann is one of the better writers in the genre. There's a lot of manufactured drama stemming from the fact that the characters never talk to each other about what's going on in their heads. In the hero, Liam, this is understandable; he went through really scary trauma that he's unwilling to talk about. In Marisala, it's just dumb. She spends the first half of the book being stupidly stubborn and then the second half of the book being totally submissive to Liam because that's what she thinks he wants (when it so clearly isn't) and I kind of just wanted to smack her. So much interesting stuff to explore here, and that's where we go, to the Big Misunderstanding that boils down to a stupid miscommunication? Ugh, no.
April 2, 2008
Typical Suzanne Brockmann romance--I can always count on her for a good story, although this is a pretty short one. I'll admit, the hero's declaration of love to the heroine in his newspaper column got to me! *sniff*
January 19, 2017
First, let me say that I really like Suzanne Brockmann's Seal series, but to repeat what a previous reviewer said, "Oy vey"! This was a clunker. I am not going to revisit the Liam and Mara show, but suffice to say Mara is one of the most irritating heroines ever and I have read Barbara Cartland.
Mara is supposed to be a strong, independent women, but comes across as an obnoxious and overbearing know-it-all. It's not enough for her to experience life her own way, but Liam has to as well. She pitches a fit about wearing a dress as it is a violation of her moral code and ability to be loved for who she is. I could go on, but I want to ditch her as quickly as possible.
In all fairness, my antipathy may be a result of listening rather than reading the book, although the narrator did a good job.
Ms. Brockmann, if you are reading this, I am sorry. I love your other books: The Admiral's Bride, Prince Joe Prince Joe, etc...
Mara is supposed to be a strong, independent women, but comes across as an obnoxious and overbearing know-it-all. It's not enough for her to experience life her own way, but Liam has to as well. She pitches a fit about wearing a dress as it is a violation of her moral code and ability to be loved for who she is. I could go on, but I want to ditch her as quickly as possible.
In all fairness, my antipathy may be a result of listening rather than reading the book, although the narrator did a good job.
Ms. Brockmann, if you are reading this, I am sorry. I love your other books: The Admiral's Bride, Prince Joe Prince Joe, etc...
October 13, 2009
I don't like the heroine in this book. There is just something about her that didn't go well with me. Maybe it was influenced by the reader. She just comes off as annoying.
Rare for me to dislike a Brockmanm's book, but this one falls into that category.
Rare for me to dislike a Brockmanm's book, but this one falls into that category.
June 19, 2009
This is the continuation of the story in Forbidden by JR. Though I think that I liked forbidden a little more, I thought that this was good too. I enjoyed that there wasn't a quick and neet fix for Liam now that he has returned to the States after being held in Prison for two years in the Jungle.
Liam Bartlett is living in boston after his rescue from Prison in the Jungle of a small Island country that was in a civil war. Now the girl that he became so close to and saved his life on the island has come to boston to go to college and Liam has agreed to be her so called guardian. though Marisola is now 22. He is just hopeing that he will be able to put aside his attraction for her and be able to keep their freindship just that.
Marisola, once a freedom fighter for her country, has come to America to get an education, but to also follow up on her attraction for Liam. When he was held prisoner and she and her fellow fighters rescued him, she found herself falling for him. but neither of them was in a position to act on their attraction. but she also knew that Liam thought that she was just too young for him, being only 15. When she sees Liam at the airport she is still attracted just as before. But after spending time with him she finds that he may be the same man, but he isn't the same personaltiy. He has hidden himself away for years trying to avoid his feelings about what happened to him. Marisola knows that if he will talk about it he would be able to recover and go on with his life.
Liam Bartlett is living in boston after his rescue from Prison in the Jungle of a small Island country that was in a civil war. Now the girl that he became so close to and saved his life on the island has come to boston to go to college and Liam has agreed to be her so called guardian. though Marisola is now 22. He is just hopeing that he will be able to put aside his attraction for her and be able to keep their freindship just that.
Marisola, once a freedom fighter for her country, has come to America to get an education, but to also follow up on her attraction for Liam. When he was held prisoner and she and her fellow fighters rescued him, she found herself falling for him. but neither of them was in a position to act on their attraction. but she also knew that Liam thought that she was just too young for him, being only 15. When she sees Liam at the airport she is still attracted just as before. But after spending time with him she finds that he may be the same man, but he isn't the same personaltiy. He has hidden himself away for years trying to avoid his feelings about what happened to him. Marisola knows that if he will talk about it he would be able to recover and go on with his life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2010
An okay book. Not one of Brockmann's best but it is one of her early books and it's really short so it's not like there's much time to really develop a big theme. Liam was a prisoner on the island of San Salustiano for over eighteen months seven years ago. He was rescued, in part, by Marisala Bolivar who was a teenager at the time. He fell in love with her but she was just a child.
Now, all grown up, her uncle has sent her to the United States to get an education. He's asked Liam to help smooth her path, in essence, to be her guardian.
Marisala had also had a crush on Liam. But she got over it... or so she thought. until she saw Liam again. Of course, they have things they have to work through. Liam is still having nightmares about his time in prison and has a wicked case of writer's block (he's a journalist). He refuses to talk to anyone about what he's been through and it's eating him up inside. Plus, he has this whole, "I want her but I shouldn't and that's bad" vibe going on.
Marisala is coming from a country where women are second class citizens. She thinks that Liam wants her to act like a "proper" woman. While she loves him, she doesn't want to live her life like that. So she leaves. He gets over his writer's block in time to write an article proclaiming his love and they live happily ever after.
Now, all grown up, her uncle has sent her to the United States to get an education. He's asked Liam to help smooth her path, in essence, to be her guardian.
Marisala had also had a crush on Liam. But she got over it... or so she thought. until she saw Liam again. Of course, they have things they have to work through. Liam is still having nightmares about his time in prison and has a wicked case of writer's block (he's a journalist). He refuses to talk to anyone about what he's been through and it's eating him up inside. Plus, he has this whole, "I want her but I shouldn't and that's bad" vibe going on.
Marisala is coming from a country where women are second class citizens. She thinks that Liam wants her to act like a "proper" woman. While she loves him, she doesn't want to live her life like that. So she leaves. He gets over his writer's block in time to write an article proclaiming his love and they live happily ever after.
February 3, 2015
Genre Contemporary Romance
MC1 Liam Bartlett
MC2 Marisala Bolivar
Storyline
Liam returns to Boston after being tortured & held in a foreign prison, but his life is limbo. When Marisala comes to Boston to attend college, she shakes things up a little. Liam had fallen in love with her after her rebel group had rescued him from the prison, but she had only been 17 & off limits so he'd left her alone & only been a friend to her & her uncle. Now she's all grown up & she doesn't want to be just his friend any more.
Conflict
No external conflict. All conflict is from Liam internalizing his feelings & burying his pain.
My Thoughts
I like a good hurt/comfort story, but am not a fan of the communication breakdown/misunderstanding trope & there's a lot of that in this story.
MC1 Liam Bartlett
MC2 Marisala Bolivar
Storyline
Liam returns to Boston after being tortured & held in a foreign prison, but his life is limbo. When Marisala comes to Boston to attend college, she shakes things up a little. Liam had fallen in love with her after her rebel group had rescued him from the prison, but she had only been 17 & off limits so he'd left her alone & only been a friend to her & her uncle. Now she's all grown up & she doesn't want to be just his friend any more.
Conflict
No external conflict. All conflict is from Liam internalizing his feelings & burying his pain.
My Thoughts
I like a good hurt/comfort story, but am not a fan of the communication breakdown/misunderstanding trope & there's a lot of that in this story.
September 30, 2012
I liked this book all right, but parts were just too disturbing to belong in a romance novel. It's admittedly a fine line between the amount of gritty reality that's acceptable in an escapist romance and that which is just too much, but parts of this book crossed that line for me.
October 16, 2023
I knew the series would be a bit dated but decided to listen to the series anyways. The first in the series was decent enough with minimal eye rolls. This story was bad from beginning to end. We never really get any details on how Liam ended up a foreign prison, what he went through other than one brief story, and his entire experience on the island; so he was just a damaged, boring character. Marisala was obnoxious; everything had to be from her point of view and if you didn't agree with her way of thinking you were wrong. I found the character to be a spoiled brat who wouldn't have a simple conversation with Liam to clear things up. It was just annoying all the way around and there was no real story other than the "romance" between these two so nothing to divert from their idiotic behavior.
December 6, 2019
Liam Bartlett had nearly lost his life in San Salustiano, and for five years the correspondent had done his best to silence his ghosts. But when Marisala Bolivar arrived in Boston, all his memories returned--along with a white-hot hunger for the young rebel who'd hidden him and kept him alive! Marisala ached for Liam's touch, so long forbidden but now hers to fight for with a woman's fierce need. Could a love once forged in fire at last burn true? In this unforgettably sensual love story, Suzanne Brockmann creates a portrait of two daredevil survivors, tested by sorrow and bound by destiny to heal each other's wounds. A flame who beckoned him out of the darkness, she understood his pain as no one ever would, but could he soothe her hidden scars by offering her his soul?
October 29, 2017
Still holds up
I love Suzanne Brockmann. She's one of my all time favorite writers. I read this book in the good old 90's and I'm happy to say that it still holds up. I loved Mara's sense of humor and her quick wit. I loved how Liam thought he was the "mature adult" in the relationship only to have Mara flip that misconception on its head with just a simple phrase or even with just a look! Oh how I love to read strong women characters and Brockmann never disappoints! Looking for well written incredible characters? Read any (and I do mean ANY) of her books! You'll be hooked and want to devour her entire catalog - like I have!
I love Suzanne Brockmann. She's one of my all time favorite writers. I read this book in the good old 90's and I'm happy to say that it still holds up. I loved Mara's sense of humor and her quick wit. I loved how Liam thought he was the "mature adult" in the relationship only to have Mara flip that misconception on its head with just a simple phrase or even with just a look! Oh how I love to read strong women characters and Brockmann never disappoints! Looking for well written incredible characters? Read any (and I do mean ANY) of her books! You'll be hooked and want to devour her entire catalog - like I have!
December 7, 2025
มันก็กึ่งๆ สนุกไม่สนุกอะ
เฉยๆ จะว่าปวดใจก็พูดไม่ได้เต็มปาก
เพราะเข้าใจความลำบากของพระเอก
และนางเองก็บ้านป่าเมืองเถื่อนมาก
ไม่ชอบตรงเอาคนแปลกหน้ามาแบบไม่บอกก่อน
ถึงอยากจะสื่อว่านางเอกไม่ค่อยศิวิไลซ์ก็เถอะ
ส่วนอาการที่พระเอกเป็นก็น่ากลัว ตอนที่บอกว่า
อยากลืมให้หมด ทั้งเรื่องนางเอกด้วย
แถมหยุดการติดต่อไปตั้ง 5 ปี
กึเป็นนางเอกคือไม่รอแล้วอะ สิ้นหวังเกิน
แถมกุหวังอยากอ่านเรื่องพี่ชายมาก
แต่ไม่มีเล้ยยยยย มีจิ่งนึง
เฉยๆ จะว่าปวดใจก็พูดไม่ได้เต็มปาก
เพราะเข้าใจความลำบากของพระเอก
และนางเองก็บ้านป่าเมืองเถื่อนมาก
ไม่ชอบตรงเอาคนแปลกหน้ามาแบบไม่บอกก่อน
ถึงอยากจะสื่อว่านางเอกไม่ค่อยศิวิไลซ์ก็เถอะ
ส่วนอาการที่พระเอกเป็นก็น่ากลัว ตอนที่บอกว่า
อยากลืมให้หมด ทั้งเรื่องนางเอกด้วย
แถมหยุดการติดต่อไปตั้ง 5 ปี
กึเป็นนางเอกคือไม่รอแล้วอะ สิ้นหวังเกิน
แถมกุหวังอยากอ่านเรื่องพี่ชายมาก
แต่ไม่มีเล้ยยยยย มีจิ่งนึง
September 9, 2017
Tormented & Frustrated
The main character Mara even having her name Americanized realized her friend & lover was not sharing himself with her. Classic story told forever - to really love someone you have to be in relationship at 100% with no reservations.
The main character Mara even having her name Americanized realized her friend & lover was not sharing himself with her. Classic story told forever - to really love someone you have to be in relationship at 100% with no reservations.
January 17, 2018
I really wanted to read this story to find out more about Liam. I just couldn't get into the story. I felt it was missing some key component to take it to the next level of which I'm used to with Suzanne Brockmann's books.
August 17, 2021
An oldie and a goodie. I liked the first one a little better but this was mostly good. Maybe I was annoyed that the communication was not good. I mean, c'mon! They fought together and were traumatized together. It shouldn't be been such a struggle to express basic thoughts and feelings.
December 28, 2017
The story of Marisella and Liam
I loved this book!!! It had conflicts and 'Will they ever get together?' I had a tough time to put down the book!!!
I loved this book!!! It had conflicts and 'Will they ever get together?' I had a tough time to put down the book!!!
March 30, 2018
Nice romance
September 22, 2018
Liam was a mess who wasn't in any shape to get into a serious relationship. Marisala, on the other hand, was unbelievably well-adjusted for someone who spent years as a child soldier.
February 15, 2021
Retro-good
Real newspapers, landlines and love. What’s not to like? Friends who love each other and finally admit it and triumph.
Real newspapers, landlines and love. What’s not to like? Friends who love each other and finally admit it and triumph.
Read
May 15, 2021DNF. Just felt weird with the age and life differences.
April 15, 2011
I was very interesting to see what would happen with this one when we got the big reveal in the last few pages of the last book, this book fast forwards 5 years for the end of it.
Liam is still have issues from being held hostage, beaten and tortured. Marisala, the girl that helped save him, comes to Boston for school, now that she is all grown up at 22. Her uncle hopes that Liam can teach her grace and social skills, essentially bury the warrior and outspoken rebel she was in the war.
Marisala's coming to Boston starts to crack the white knuckle hold Liam has on his psyche, he is walking a tight rope trying to keep the horrible past in the past, along with his attraction to Marisala. When he was with her it was very inappropriate, but now, it is still inappropriate and he fights it hard.
I liked watching Marisala shake up Liam's world. He really needed to face his past as it is affecting every facet of her present. What I didn't like was seeing Marisala change into something she thought Liam wanted, it was like trying to cage a wild animal. I was happy to see when Marisala broke out of her cage and yelled at Liam. It was an ugly, gritty, and brutally honest scene, one in which Liam was forced to face everything. His solution was one that will have you in tears.
Liam is still have issues from being held hostage, beaten and tortured. Marisala, the girl that helped save him, comes to Boston for school, now that she is all grown up at 22. Her uncle hopes that Liam can teach her grace and social skills, essentially bury the warrior and outspoken rebel she was in the war.
Marisala's coming to Boston starts to crack the white knuckle hold Liam has on his psyche, he is walking a tight rope trying to keep the horrible past in the past, along with his attraction to Marisala. When he was with her it was very inappropriate, but now, it is still inappropriate and he fights it hard.
I liked watching Marisala shake up Liam's world. He really needed to face his past as it is affecting every facet of her present. What I didn't like was seeing Marisala change into something she thought Liam wanted, it was like trying to cage a wild animal. I was happy to see when Marisala broke out of her cage and yelled at Liam. It was an ugly, gritty, and brutally honest scene, one in which Liam was forced to face everything. His solution was one that will have you in tears.
March 4, 2016
The hero is a journalist who visited the heroine's Central American island home to talk with her politician uncle and father about the problems there and wound up first, hiding in the jungle with the heroine's guerrilla forces and then in prison before he's broken out and returned to the US. All this is backstory. Now that the bad guys have been defeated on her island country, the heroine's uncle has sent her to the US to go to college in Boston where the hero now lives. He's asked the hero not just to keep an eye out for her, but to civilize her. Turn her back into an innocent girl instead of the tough guerrilla fighter leader she is, which of course infuriates her when she finds out, and is also impossible. Anyway, because uncle forgot to send in her housing paperwork, she has no dorm room and the hero invites her to stay with him till she can find an apartment --which is tricky at the start of the school year. And the Real story begins. He's still tormented by the torture he endured back on the island. She's a little lost and trying to figure out who she is now that the war is over. It's got angst oozing out its pores, and Brockmann makes you feel every bit of it. I wish I could identify how she does it. Good read, definitely.
November 22, 2013
I am very disappointed in this early romance by Suzanne Brockmann. I have read several of her early works and loved them all, until this one. No heat, no sizzle and for a red hot Latin heroine, she is most definitely not red hot.
Journalist Liam was imprisoned during the civil war in San Salustiano. He has some very deep mental scars. Marisala was a teen freedom fighter who helped rescue him and hid him. The war is over and Liam is having real trouble putting it behind him and writing about it, or anything else for that matter. Marisala has come to Boston to attend college and Liam promised her uncle to act as her guardian. His feelings are not exactly what a guardian should feel for a ward. There is a strong sexual pull for both of them, but Liam keeps denying it and his other problems.
They finally stop pretending and get their HEA.
Journalist Liam was imprisoned during the civil war in San Salustiano. He has some very deep mental scars. Marisala was a teen freedom fighter who helped rescue him and hid him. The war is over and Liam is having real trouble putting it behind him and writing about it, or anything else for that matter. Marisala has come to Boston to attend college and Liam promised her uncle to act as her guardian. His feelings are not exactly what a guardian should feel for a ward. There is a strong sexual pull for both of them, but Liam keeps denying it and his other problems.
They finally stop pretending and get their HEA.
April 20, 2016
Nope. Not for me.
Annoying hero. Check!
Irritating heroine. Check!
Plain, bland, and boring plot. Check!
Push-pull relationship. (I freaking loathe this when I find it in any books!) Check!
Looked like I got everything I hate to find in my read here! *Screaming out of frustration*
While Liam was too busy pushing Marisala away, Marisala kept lusting after Liam. Oh yeah, that was great! WTH!!??
I didn't DNF this book because it's quite short. I skimmed through the second half of the story though. Only one good part in this book was the scene that the homeless girl went into labor at Liam’s place with the help of Marisala and Liam. And the baby was named after him. I surrendered to this beautiful moment so I automatically rated it 2 stars instead of 1.
Annoying hero. Check!
Irritating heroine. Check!
Plain, bland, and boring plot. Check!
Push-pull relationship. (I freaking loathe this when I find it in any books!) Check!
Looked like I got everything I hate to find in my read here! *Screaming out of frustration*
While Liam was too busy pushing Marisala away, Marisala kept lusting after Liam. Oh yeah, that was great! WTH!!??
I didn't DNF this book because it's quite short. I skimmed through the second half of the story though. Only one good part in this book was the scene that the homeless girl went into labor at Liam’s place with the help of Marisala and Liam. And the baby was named after him. I surrendered to this beautiful moment so I automatically rated it 2 stars instead of 1.
June 22, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. I know many that read the 1st book didn't like it as much was expecting a book like it. I did not read that one yet so had no expectations.
I like that the author made Liam's prison and torture to have such a profound affect on him. I never cared for authors that made heroes who have gone though terrible things to seem to have no problem getting over them. It made him seem more real.
Yes their refusal to talk about things or the flipping between wanting a lover or a friend was annoying but at the same time believable as both have not seen each other in five years -lots have changed and both are dealing with aftermath of war and prison.
I found The story poignant and heartfelt- I really enjoyed it.
I like that the author made Liam's prison and torture to have such a profound affect on him. I never cared for authors that made heroes who have gone though terrible things to seem to have no problem getting over them. It made him seem more real.
Yes their refusal to talk about things or the flipping between wanting a lover or a friend was annoying but at the same time believable as both have not seen each other in five years -lots have changed and both are dealing with aftermath of war and prison.
I found The story poignant and heartfelt- I really enjoyed it.
January 27, 2016
I really enjoyed this book . Brockmann made her characters both believable and enduring. I appreciated that Brockmann made Liam's prison and torture have such an affect on him. Many times authors make male heroes go through torture and other terrible things only to have them brush it off, I guess because supposedly real men can handle a little torture. To me Liam's struggles made him more real.
Yes their refusal talk about things or the flipping between wanting a lover and wanting a friend, was at times, annoying, but it was also realistic. Much had changed in the five years they were apart, and both were dealing with the aftermath of war and prison.
I found the story poignant and heartfelt.
Yes their refusal talk about things or the flipping between wanting a lover and wanting a friend, was at times, annoying, but it was also realistic. Much had changed in the five years they were apart, and both were dealing with the aftermath of war and prison.
I found the story poignant and heartfelt.
October 14, 2011
Ugh. At least it was short. Parts of the story weren't bad, but the "big misunderstanding" was just unbelievably lame. All that was required was for the two main characters to have one actual conversation with each other--and perhaps each of them to be hit on the head with a blunt object first. Honestly, it was eye-rollingly rediculous! The first in the series was sooooo much better...it got to the point where I was praying just for a mention of Kayla or Cal in order to get away from Liam and Marisala's obtuseness, but no such luck. Did I mention it was short? I guess I should just stick to her later works. At least it was a library read.
June 30, 2009
Another good Brockmann read! This is another from her backlist, this time from the Bartlett Brothers Duology. It focuses more on the romance and drama between the hero and heroine while the suspense takes a backdrop in the character's past that binds them together. There's an instance of the "miscommunication breakdown" situation (as one character noted in the story) that some readers may seem tiring but it worked here due to what the characters went through and how they were introduced in the story. I loved the ending a lot with the newspaper column.
September 4, 2009
I liked this story okay, but it's nothing exceptional. Liam and Marisala have quite a past and when they reunite after many years, they are each forced to face those demons. It's obvious from the start that they will help each other accept what life has dealt them. I'm always a fan of friends who become lovers, so that part of this appeals to me.
Both characters are well developed and interesting. The story line is something different than I've read before, so it wasn't totally predictable. Overall, I enjoyed the story and this author. I'll be seeking others by her.
Both characters are well developed and interesting. The story line is something different than I've read before, so it wasn't totally predictable. Overall, I enjoyed the story and this author. I'll be seeking others by her.
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