Energized by Mary Behre Series: Tidewater #3
Published by Berkley on August 4th 2015
Genres: Paranormal romantic suspense
Pages: 320
Format: Kindle or ebook
Source: purchased
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Also in this series: Spirited, Guarded, Harmonized
Also by this author: Spirited, Guarded, Harmonized
In the new Tidewater novel by the author of Guarded, a kiss between strangers draws both into unexpected danger and unforgettable desire . . .
She’s searching for a sign . . .Hannah Halloran has always believed in her gift. The things she sees through her psychic touch have never led her wrong before. Not when they led her to an unforgettable night with a sexy marine at a bar. Not when she felt a need to leave her home and find the sisters she barely knows. And not now, when she is an unwilling witness to a brutal murder . . .
He’s ready to show her . . .All Niall Graham wants is some peace. He’s recovering from the horrors of war, struggling to save his family’s restaurant, and desperate to forget Hannah, the beautiful woman who left him with memories of a mind-blowing night together and a bogus phone number. But a quiet life is hard to manage—especially when Hannah strides back into his restaurant with the news that a serial killer is on the loose and lurking closer than anyone could have guessed . . .
Review
I had very mixed feelings about Energized. There are aspects of it I loved, and it is just as well-written as the other books in the series, but I found parts of it disturbing because of how much it goes into the head of a really sick serial killer. That’s very much a personal reaction; that sort of thing gives me nightmares (literally.) If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers, it probably won’t bother you in the least.
I really enjoyed the relationship between the hero and heroine once they met again, though I’m not generally a fan of one-night stands in romance novels (or anywhere else.) I loved Hannah, who has a warm and caring heart and a faith in the general benevolence of “the universe” that I found really appealing. Her psychometric talent fascinated me. Niall is also a compelling character, torn between his attraction to Hannah and his reluctance to let anyone get close to him. He’s clearly dealing with some form of PTSD after his stint in Afghanistan. His relationship with his brother is strained, and Behre explores their feelings and actions well.
Speaking of sibling relationships, I loved that this book finally reunites the three Scott sisters, something the series has been working toward since book one. It was also fun to see the recurring characters again, including Karma and Zig from the novella Harmonized. Karma in particular has an important supporting role in this book. And it’s fun to speculate on who will figure in the next books; Ryan and Ian, two of the McKinnon cousins, are almost certain to get their own books at some point in the near future (and I can’t wait!)
I salute the author for keeping me guessing – or rather, for some well-written misdirection and an intriguing mystery. At times, I was certain I knew who the serial killer was, and then I would start to wonder. There were several twists toward the end, most of which I didn’t see coming. And I definitely *didn’t* spot the murderer!
As I’ve mentioned in a previous review, this series contain a fair amount of blunt language (in terms of swearing), so if that really puts you off, that might be a problem. I will say that it is completely realistic and fits the characters.. The characters are all well-drawn and the plot is exciting, suspenseful, and fast-paced, so it’s definitely worth looking past the language even if you’re a little uncomfortable with it.
Due to my personal aversion to most serial-killer fiction, I’m not sure I’ll read this book again – or when I do, I plan to skip Hannah’s actual visions and rely on my memory for the gist of what they contain, and focus on the relationships, both romantic and familial. But I can’t wait for the next book in the series, and to finding out what’s next for the psychic and investigative denizens of Tidewater.
Rating Note: My rating is based in part on my emotional reaction to the book. My personal difficulty with serial-killer stories pulled that number down for me a bit, but readers who don’t have the same issues will probably enjoy it more. I hope I’ve conveyed that in the review.
Challenges: COYER Scavenger Hunt #53: A book with just half a face on the cover
About Mary Behre
Mary Behre could never decide which kind of story she liked more, paranormal, mysteries or romances. So it only made sense that she combined all three in her books. Her debut novel, SPIRITED, is the first in the Tidewater Series. Stories with humor suspense and a psychic love-connection. When not writing in her closet/office, she can be found hanging out with the most important men her life, her family.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- COYER Scavenger Hunt - Summer 2015
Bea @Bea's Book Nook
Blunt language usually doesn’t bother and I do enjoy psychological thrillers so being inside the mind of the killer probably won’t bother but I appreciate the head’s up. I’m glad to hear that the sisters do reunite, as that not happening would have been poorly done on the author’s part.
Bea @Bea’s Book Nook recently posted…Review & Giveaway: Deceptions by Kelley Armstrong
Lark_Bookwyrm
I think you’ll probably really like this book, Bea. I just know I have some readers who would find parts of it uncomfortable – and others who will love the book and not be bothered at all. As for the sisters’ reunion, she’s been building toward this through the first two books, so I was pretty sure it would happen in this one!
Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library
I don’t love getting too much in the head of a serial killer. I don’t mind serial killer type thrillers but I don’t want to know what’s going on in their head. Great review! I’m going to have to think about this one.
Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library recently posted…Crushed Velvet – Blog Tour Review + Giveaway
Lark_Bookwyrm
You could skip those bits, but then you won’t know what’s going on, and you’d lose a lot of the suspense factor. I’d say that if you’ve read and loved the first two, go for it. If you haven’t, start with the first one and see if you like it. There’s a lot to like – the books are suspenseful, gripping, and the combination of cops and psychic women gives a lot of scope for both romantic tension and humor.
Lark
Sounds like a good series to try; I need something entertaining and fun and a little romantic. (I’ll just skim the serial killer bits.)
Lark recently posted…The Coolest Race on Earth
Lark_Bookwyrm
I probably should have done that. By the end, I was. I also made the mistake of reading it at like 2:00 in the morning! But I enjoyed it overall – everything but those bits, and that’s just a personal thing.
kimbacaffeinate
Now see I loved the serial killer aspect and didn’t mind the blunt language as long as it seems natural. I thought this was the last book..did you hear something different or just wishful thinking?
kimbacaffeinate recently posted…Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
Lark_Bookwyrm
I know a lot of people won’t have trouble with either, and a few will have trouble with one or the other. The language was realistic, so I can live with it, but I know some people who wouldn’t be comfortable (and may read the post), so that’s why the heads up. 🙂
I haven’t heard anything specific, but it seemed like there were hints of more in the last few books, given that there are a bunch of hunky McKinnon cousins and Tidewater seems to be crawling with crifted women! I can ask Mary, though.
Rita @ View From My Home
I’ve been seeing this series around and with good buzz, so I’m interested. Very good and thorough review; I personally love it when a blogger gives heads-up about any mature aspects or violent aspects that would affect their readers, like Kimba’s “heat rating flames”.
I think I would be okay with this series because even though I’m backing away from the graphic serial killer/stalker type books, this doesn’t sound too bad to me. Anyway, again…thanks.
Rita @ View From My Home recently posted…After The Storm {A Bullet Review}
Lark_Bookwyrm
Based on books you’ve liked, I don’t think you’d have any trouble with this one, Rita, and it really is a fun series!
Jan
I’ve seen these books on a number of blogs and wondered how they are. Maybe I would try one of the first two, but I really don’t like reading about serial killers either, Lark. Especially when the book tells it from the serial killer’s POV.
Jan recently posted…Sunday Post: Aug 9
Lark_Bookwyrm
It’s only occasionally from the killer’s POV – the heroine’s visions allow her to see what the killer sees and thinks, which is really creepy. But she can’t do it all the time – she just gets a flash now and then, under certain circumstances. So a lot of the book deals with the other stuff going on in her life. I’m not sure whether it’s your thing or not, but I think you would like the first two books.