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Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Sheep Book Review: Guarded (Tidewater #2) by Mary Behre

Guarded (Tidewater #2)
by Mary Behre

Mass Market Paperback, 320 pages
Published August 5th 2014
by Berkley

She’s given up on finding love…

Veterinarian Shelley Morgan has always preferred animals to humans, and not simply because she can communicate with them psychically. Unlike most people she’s known, animals have never broken her heart. But after six months in her new town, some of her favorite four-legged companions begin disappearing from the local zoo. Determined to track down the animals and their thief, the telepathic vet decides to investigate, unknowingly delving into a deadly mystery…

He’s ready to make her heart go wild…

Although his bear-like physique has been an advantage in the Tidewater Police Department, Dev Jones’s size often intimidates people. Only Shelley has seen past his massive build to the intelligent man inside, but that was years ago. So when she contacts him requesting his help to solve a series of animal kidnappings, he’s eager to reconnect with her. But the thefts escalate to murder and all the evidence points to Shelley as the killer, and Dev faces a devastating choice: forsake his career or risk losing the woman he’s grown to love.

Guarded is the second book in the Tidewater series and picks up right where book one, Spirited, left us. The beginning is full of humor and primes the pump for some rollicking good fun, but soon takes a more serious tone with the unveiling of the mystery of this particular installment, as well as the reuniting of two long lost sisters. 

Shelly is a veterinarian who just happens to have an ability to telepathically communicate with animals with the exception of dogs, which seem to generally want to eat her. While this does provide an occasional bit of comic relief the book does tend towards a more serious adventure. 

The writing continues to be well executed and while this is the second installment in the series, it can be read as a standalone with some crossover between characters that is very well done. I have to admit that while I enjoyed Guarded and hope to continue the series, I did not enjoy it quite as much as book one. I think this is primarily due to the fact that I found Shelly's actions at times imprudent and a bit annoying and I would rate this a 3.5 to 4 sheep read rather than a solid 4 sheep. 

The ending is very satisfying and I do look forward to seeing what the next adventure has in store for us. I would recommend this book to alternative fiction fans to enjoy a lighter tale and maybe those who have a bit of an animal activist lurking beneath the surface. I received this book via NetGalley.


Sheep Book Review: Spirited (Tidewater #1)

3.5 - 4 sheep

DeniseZ

About the Author:
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Mary Behre is the lone female in a house full of males and the undisputed queen of her domain. She even has the glittery tiara to prove it. She loves stories with humor, ghosts, mysteries and above all else, a good romance. When not writing she enjoys reading, gluten-free baking, and spending time at the ocean with her family.

Her debut paranormal romance, SPIRITED (A Tidewater Novel) was an award-winning manuscript before it was sold to Berkley Sensation. The first in a new series, SPIRITED, follows the life of Jules Ward, a reluctant psychic who’d rather be a florist than a medium but is caught up in a murder mystery when her cell phone is found in the hands of a dead woman. The only person who can help her, Detective Seth English of the Tidewater Police Department, wants to help Jules. He senses she’s not part of his case but is hiding a secret. Can they ignore their burgeoning passion long enough to solve the mystery or will Jules be the next victim? SPIRITED (A Tidewater Novel) releases March 4, 2014.

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4 comments:

  1. I liked Spirited a bit more too for the same reason. I liked Shelly but then there were some moments I just wanted to give her a bit of a shake. I thought the ferret was a riot! Glad you enjoyed it :)

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    1. Oh yes the ferret was a real hoot and definitely had me chuckling a time or two.

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  2. I recently finished this and agree with the rating and about Shelly occassionally being too stupid for words. Also, this is the second book I've read recently with a really young vet. I know it's partially explained that she got through school quicker than average, but it takes 9-12 years with the residency required. Let's be a little more realistic authors! Does the character really need to be 23 or 24, why not a more realistic 27 or 28?

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    1. that does make sense. Maybe the need to tap into the new adult market that is hot right now...

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