Customer Reviews

And Able

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book completes a trio but is very much the best of the lot and can stand alone as a marvelous read. It takes a skilled writer to create an alpha male with a deep ability to express caring and love as well as action. It happens here because the character comes from a background of strong Southern women. We believe this and it gives him a balance for his almost saintly behavior. He is swoon-worthy! To have a female lead with enough conflict to bring a quality level of tension to the story plus have brains and personality plus creates a power couple that we care about. This book came to me at the perfect time.
I had just discovered I "inherited" a construction clean-up project I hadn't know about that will take about three weeks of hot sun work to finish. Knowing that I can come back to this world with my feet up and a cold beer to be swept away into this wonderful story really helped.

Overall, this was the best book of Lucy Monroe's Mercenary trilogy. The characters we have met in the past two books, Ready and Willing, Claire Sharp and Brett "Hotwire" Adams are the most intriguing and realistic couple, with a more true kind of relationship. Brett has vowed to never fall in love and Claire resists the idea of an uncommitted sexual liaison. The chemistry between the two is highly combustible and carries the reader steadily to the last page.

The plot is a different matter. Claire is attacked in her own bed, despite Brett's safety measures, and even though Brett is supposed to be the best at security detailing and tracking criminals, he is unable to do either successfully. The book would also benefit from a thorough copy editing, especially in chapter three when Claire asks a man in his eighties about his involvement in World War I. It may have been a typo, or just a misunderstanding, but I found it distracting. Some of the other time line stuff didn't seem to ring true either, which can bother us detail oriented readers.
The villain, who isn't revealed until the end, seemed superhuman, capable of even more than the Mercs, and his final act of tyranny was rather far fetched.

In conclusion, a very worthwhile read and I believe the characters will stick with you long after the inaccuracies and mediocre plot fade away.

I'd never read a Lucy Monroe book until I picked up the 1. Ready 2. Willing 3. and Able trilogy. Having read them, I can safely say that I'll be picking up more of Ms. Monroe's books. The first in the series, Ready, was a little weak in the proofing department but the characters were great. It was in this book that readers were introduced to Wolf, Nitro and Hotwire, three really hot Mercs.

In the second book, Willing, readers were introduced to Josie's best friend and house-mate, Claire. It was soon evident that things were already starting to simmer in a subtle way between Hotwire and Claire. Fortunately for my peace of mind, I wouldn't be left hanging because Ms. Monroe had plans for these two...Brett Adams, a.k.a. Hotwire would soon play a pivotal part in protecting Claire Sharp's life in the third book, and Able.

In the plot for -- and Able

We find that Claire Sharp has few friends and major trust issues. She thinks she's unattractive and that sex is overrated. However, her feelings haven't stopped her from behaving like a love struck teenager whenever Brett "Hotwire" Sharp is around. What makes matters even worse is that Brett seems to be aware of Claire's feelings for him because he's gone to extremes to make sure that everyone within hearing distance is aware his "no commitment" policy with women.

Brett is equally attracted to Claire and just as determined to avoid her. However, Brett's struggle to stay away from Claire comes to an abrupt end when Claire is attacked. Thus, the ex-mercenary takes it upon himself to protect and care for Claire. Soon the two begin butting heads with each other but their passion for one another quickly overcomes their irritation with each other as Brett and Claire fall headlong into a deep well of desire.

Meanwhile waiting in the background is an unknown assailant, an enemy who will stop at nothing to get what he wants, even if it means a couple murders along the way.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading "and Able."

While the plot may not have been super exciting it was well within the norm for the Contemporary Romance genre.

The dialogue in "and Able" showed much improvement over the first book in the trilogy, "Ready." It was realistic in that the conversational tones between the characters were in keeping with any given situation the characters found themselves in.

The character development in "and Able" was fairly three dimensional, particularly, Claire's. Claire had an extremely hard life growing up and it showed not only in her inability to trust people with intimate details about herself, but also in the fact that she made few friends and trusted few people, particularly those in places of authority.

Brett was super sexy and downright devilish at times. When he wasn't being ornery, he was being protective, and when he wasn't being one or the other, he was usually trying to lure Claire into bed, which was usually all the time. (Grin) Brett, too, suffered his share of heartache, thus his commitment policy. That attitude is easy to identify with if you've ever lost a loved one. Unfortunately the loss of a loved one often leads many individuals to swear off ever loving another individual again.

Josie and Nitro make an appearance as do Lise and Wolf. It's nice to be able to revisit with each couple and I hope to be able to revisit with each of these fascinating couples in future books.

If you haven't already ready, 1. Ready 2. Willing 3. and Able, then you should. You'll find that each book is better than the previous, although, personally, I have a really hard time choosing between the second, Willing and the third, and Able, because I like the primary characters in both books so much.

I had never read a Lucy Monroe book before. I bought 3 of them at once based on the good reviews they got. I read 'The Real Deal' and really enjoyed it so I immediately started in on 'And Able.' Am I the only one that noticed carbon copy scenes and dialogue from her previous book??? A lot of authors use a formula for their books, I just don't remember one that uses almost word for word lines of dialogue and identical scenes in 2 different books. I had an order for a 4th Lucy Monroe book but have canceled it because it would be more of the same old stuff that I've already read.

You have a mix of alpha male and strong female character. The basics of the story is the main female character get attacked and her friend/hot ex-military man - rides in his white horse. I have not read the previous books in the series but plan to go back now and start from the beginning. A great beach read - the romance is very sweet and little erotic.

I buy a lot of my books from Amazon and they are always sending me recommendations. This was one of the books that was recommended to me. After I read the description, I went to Lucy's site and read the first chapter of the book. I was hooked! I just had to know more about these people.

Brett "Hotwire" Adams is the epitome of Southern Charm! Toss in the fact that he's an ex-Army Ranger and mercenary - and you've got a man that oozes enough sex appeal to make a nun swoon! You definitely know this man would do whatever it takes to protect the ones he loves.

Claire Sharpe is a relationship-phobic who has spent her adult life trying to forget her childhood. She's fiercely independent and would rather bite off her own arm than to ask anyone for help! But when she's attacked in her home and nearly smothered to death, she must rely on Brett's skills to help keep her safe and to figure out who could be after her.

I'll be honest, the plot at first was a little too obvious. I immediately knew it wasn't what it appeared to be. But that wasn't what kept me flipping the pages! I *HAD* to know what was going to happen with Brett and Claire. Their emotional recovery was in itself a plot and for me was at the forefront of this novel. I cared about those two and what happened. The rest of the plot was just a bonus that kept them moving forward. The resolution was believable and by the end of
the book I had deemed Brett an honorary hero in every way! :)

All-in-all, this book ranks in my top 5 books I've read this year! I may even have to pick up the first 2 in this series ("Ready" and "Willing") as well. LOL

And Able, the conclusion of mercenary trio series was sensual, sensitive, steamy and full of Southern charm. Lucy Monroe has yet again penned a very powerful book which portrays two characters that have been drawn to each other for a long time. Claire Sharpe, smart, witty and full of sass is a loner due to loosing her father and mother at a young age, under difficult circumstances.

Brett Adams has been raised in a "charmed" life but is the families back sheep. Instead of becoming the lawyer, he leaves home after high school graduation and joins the army as a Ranger, then a government agency and is an ex-mercenary. He and his partners are for hire of the cause is worthy and the price right. Brett has only loved once and she died putting her country first over their love. Brett makes a silent promise never to fall in love over her grave.

Well life plays strange tricks on people. At his partner's wedding, he feels lust for Claire and she feels the same. Circumstances bring them together again as Brett feels the need to protect Claire when a close friend of hers is murdered and her home is searched and her life threatened.

Their journey and in finding each other, falling in love will just plain take your breath away. Their attraction for each other, their love making, and the feelings swirling around them plus the thrill of danger is a very powerful story and again, Lucy brings her readers to their knees.

I'm sorry to see Wolf, Nitro and Hotwire leave plus the women they're fallen in love with but a happy ending none the less. Thanks Lucy for this wonderful series.

And Able by Lucy Monroe concludes her sensational mercenary trilogy.

Claire Sharp refuses to act on her attraction to Brett Adams. All he has to do is be in her sight and her body goes on high alert. He tempts her with a knock your socks off kiss at their friends wedding, But Brett insist his mantra is that he is not ready for a committed relationship. Or is he?

Brett Adams aka Hotwire had tried for months to not act on his desire for Claire. When she is attacked in her home he will lay down his life to keep her safe. Providing 24/7 protection sets temptation on its heels.

Claire and Brett work as a well oiled team to determine who is seeking to hurt Claire. As they figure out who all is involved their relationship takes a deeper and meaningful turn.

Their chemistry is explosive and more then either of them had planned. Once they realize their true feelings nothing can stop their turn for true love.

And Able keeps up the pace of the high stakes world that was in the previous books in this series. Lucy Monroe delivers the fast paced action along with the tantalizing romance.

I was sorry to see this trilogy end but I know there will be more blockbuster books to come from this talented author.

Claire Sharp is good at minding her own business and keeping her head down. She's been busy trying to fit four years of school into three but then suddenly she's viciously and inexplicably attacked in her own home and she can't think of who would be out to get her. There was trouble with her former roommate but now her ex roommate is off on her honeymoon, enjoying her post wedding bliss, and there is no one to protect her. She's alone and scared, waking up after her attack in the hospital, but then her southern bad boy blows into her room and whisks her away to safety....and his hotel room. Brett "Hotwire" Adams is determined to protect Claire. A long time ago he failed to protect his fiancee and since then he made a promise to never love another. Claire is the first woman to make him question that promise made so long ago, but before he can settle his past, another man is determined that his own past never come back to haunt him, and he's willing to silence everyone to do it.

Southern charm is hit and miss with me. Sometimes it's a panty dropper, other times it just makes me want to smash my fist into something. Preferably that smarmy southern gentleman's face. I'm happy to say that this is a case of the former. I loved this book. It was the most exciting out of the three books, (which isn't saying much) and the most interesting. Brett was so charming and so adorably bad boy. I just envisioned his smile and his southern accent and the panties just flew off. That scene in the hottub definitely helped, too. (Water jets! Yes!) Claire was also a very nice heroine. Not too angsty despite her rotten childhood and I admired her spirit and determination to succeed.

This was definitely the most funny out of the three books. Brett's southern charm goes the distance in this story and I thought the plot was the most intriguing. What happens when a hitman retires and becomes senile? Nothing good. Especially when that retired hitman has recorded all his transactions down in his own private kill book and everyone is hunting it. Luckily for Claire, she knows a couple of big, tough mercenaries who are able to save the day.

This was my favorite of the three because of the charm and the witty dialogue. I really liked the cameos with Wolf and Nitro. The ending is especially funny when while Brett is commiserating over the reason as to why he can't love Claire, the guys are looking on in amazement. I started laughing hysterically when Nitro asked Brett, "are you really that stupid?" Haha. Priceless. Just what every tortured romance hero needs. Someone who will ask him, are you really that stupid?. It will get through so much angst and avoidable conflict that much faster.

This was a very nice ending to this easy to read and fun little trilogy and it's arguably my favorite. Enjoy!

Even though I skipped Willing, I did read and loved her first book in the series- Ready. It had a decent plot with a good romance but this one just fell flat even before it started. The suspense/action part of the book was very dull and uneventful. Even their love story seemed like the same you would read in any other Lucy Monroe book. One thing I which I've found very annoying in some of her previous books too, including Harlequin, has been that even though the hero obviously likes the heroine, she blatantly says that her only reason for saying no is because he doesn't say he loves her (as if literally saying that everything will be fine as soon as you say the three words!) and then they argue about this for half the book and have sex in the other half! I like tenderness, poignancy and even gut wrenching emotions in my romance which I find seriously lacking in Lucy Monroe's books. Long story short, it was a decent read but nothing exciting or very moving.