SEALs liked to say the only easy day was yesterday. ~ Opening of Going Dark
Going Dark by Monica McCarty
Going Dark by Monica McCarty
Berkley Book, 2017
Romance (Suspense); 352 pgs
Source: E-Copy provided by publisher via NetGalley for review.
Source: E-Copy provided by publisher via NetGalley for review.
I have read three of Monica McCarty’s Highlander romance novels and was curious to try her new contemporary series featuring a Navy SEAL team. In this first book in the series, the reader discovers that a top secret mission of the SEALs has gone terribly wrong. As a result, they have scattered across the world and are in hiding, believed to be dead.
Marine Ecologist Annie Henderson is unaware of any of that when she travels to the Western Isles of Scotland with her boyfriend of 3 months to protest off-shore drilling. Her suspicions that something sinister is afoot and that there is more to the protest than she's been told turn into a horrific reality. she finds herself turning to the captain of the charter boat she and her friends have rented. Dan Warren (aka Dean) is secretive to a fault, but for some reason she feels like she can trust him. He, of course, is trying to stay under the radar, but soon realizes that getting involved with Annie will likely have the opposite effect.
Marine Ecologist Annie Henderson is unaware of any of that when she travels to the Western Isles of Scotland with her boyfriend of 3 months to protest off-shore drilling. Her suspicions that something sinister is afoot and that there is more to the protest than she's been told turn into a horrific reality. she finds herself turning to the captain of the charter boat she and her friends have rented. Dan Warren (aka Dean) is secretive to a fault, but for some reason she feels like she can trust him. He, of course, is trying to stay under the radar, but soon realizes that getting involved with Annie will likely have the opposite effect.
While the attraction between the two protagonists is obvious from the first moment they meet, they do not hit it off well initially. Besides, Annie is in a relationship already. It is clear though that the relationship will be short lived—even Annie is doubting herself for traveling all the way to Scotland from the U.S. with a man she has only known a short time. It took me a moment to warm up to Annie, but eventually I did. I liked Dean’s character right away.
I liked the way the two interacted. They have very different ideas politically, which made for interesting conversations at times, but it was clear they respected each other’s opinions. In today’s political climate I sometimes feel like I fall far left, but in reading this book, I was reminded that I really am more moderate. That said, don’t think this book is heavy in politics. It isn’t at all, and the author does a good job of not really taking sides.
I liked the way the two interacted. They have very different ideas politically, which made for interesting conversations at times, but it was clear they respected each other’s opinions. In today’s political climate I sometimes feel like I fall far left, but in reading this book, I was reminded that I really am more moderate. That said, don’t think this book is heavy in politics. It isn’t at all, and the author does a good job of not really taking sides.
This falls into the insta-lust to love in a high stress situation and short amount of time romance category. I liked Annie and Dean together, but I was not completely sold that it was true love even by the end. While I found the eco-terrorist story line compelling, I was even more drawn into the lost platoon arc, wondering who had betrayed the team and what was going to happen from there. I imagine that will be a continued theme throughout the series. I enjoyed reading Going Dark. It was a nice change of pace after some heavier and sadder books I recently read. There was quite a bit of tension and suspense which made this a fast read.
You can learn more about Monica McCarty and her books on the author's website. She can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.
© 2017, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
I like the idea of the scattered team of Navy Seals and their stories more than the eco-terrorism plotline myself. :)
ReplyDeleteLark - I do too! It's definitely a story line that will keep me reading the series.
DeleteThe Navy Seal aspect of the book sounds pretty exciting. Glad you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteSuzanne - I enjoyed it! This was a fun one.
DeleteI love some actions in my romance reading and the Navy Seals aspect certainly fits that category. :)
ReplyDeleteMelody - I prefer action in my romance as well. That or paranormal (which usually means some sort of action built in).
DeleteThe eco-terrorist angle and the seal team plot lines actually do sound intriguing, but the insta-lust gives me pause, I have to admit.
ReplyDeleteVerushka - On the plus side, they didn't act on their lust right away. They build up to it.
DeleteI have read some mixed reviews about that book and have to admit that I am curious to see what I would think of it. I am not always a fan of insta anything but it sounds like it might have some promise. Great review!
ReplyDeleteCarole - I've been avoiding reviews of this one since I knew I'd be reading it. This wasn't a perfect book, but it was what I needed it to be.
DeleteHighland romances to SEALS is a pretty big leap! I would have been curious too! This sounds good though I typically don't really believe the high intensity situation romances. They are perfect escapism reading though. I like how different these characters sound and that they have different views politically. It's nice to see that portrayed as a conversation!
ReplyDeleteKatherine - I thought so too! Although, this one does take place in Scotland, so I figured there was a connection in that way. :-) That's what this was--pure escapism.
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