Customer Reviews

Dark Side of Dawn

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Merline Lovelace has written a fascinating novel of power, wealth, obsessive love, and stalking that will keep you tuned in to a fascinating story. Air Force Captain Joanna West witnesses a horrifying car crash as she is flying the Secretary of State and entourage to a meeting. Disobeying the orders of the Secret Service, she puts the chopper down and manages to pull the car crash victim free just before the car explodes. To everyone's disbelief, the victim turns out to be Alexander Taylor. Taylor is the grandson of a former president. He is every woman's dream of the ideal man. He's rich, charming, and good looking. He showers Joanna with gifts and attention until she finds herself falling under his spell.

Deke Elliot is furious with himself. A pilot with Joanna, he has kept his distance, waiting for Joanna to notice his interest. Unfortunately, he has waited too long. He instinctively knows something isn't right with Taylor. However, all he can do is wait and be there when Joanna needs him. That day arrives when Joanna realizes something is deadly wrong with Taylor. She tries to end the relationship only to find that Taylor never, ever lets go of what he considers "his."

Lovelace has written a chilling novel about the tangle lives of three people. This book has it all, well-developed characters, suspense, murder, and danger. If I had to criticize anything, I felt it bogged down in the middle just a little bit. All in all, this is one great read.

Captain Joanna West was born to fly and the Air Force recognizes her innate abilities by stationing her in the 1st Helicopter Squadron at Andrews Air Force base. This elite assignment flies the president, Congress, and other key government officials to worldwide locations. On a routine flight, Joanna notices a white van playing tag with a blazing red Ferrari until the latter vehicle skids and bursts into flames. Joanna sets her copter down near the vehicle and manages to pull the driver safely out before the car explodes.

Joanna has rescued rich and powerful Alexander Taylor, grandson of a former President of the United States and a former Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. Alex admires his rescuer and makes an all out push to win her affection through gifts like jewelry and a helicopter. Joanna finds her benefactor interesting until a darker side of him surfaces. She tries to end her relationship with Alexander just as a fellow pilot informs her that he loves her. Actions on Joanna's part may prove deadly from the obsessive Alexander.

Merline Lovelace is a superb writer deservedly known for her powerful romantic military tales. DARK SIDE OF DAWN is very strong novel with a surprise curveball thrown into the story lone to cleverly misdirect the audience. The characters are multi-dimensional and realistic while behaving in a believable and consistent manner. Ms. Lovelace raises the sub-genre bar of excellence with this exciting thriller.

Harriet Klausner

An exciting, action-packed page-turner about a relationship with a very controlling and powerful political figure which quickly escalates out-of-control! Although Jo is a strong, determined and independant woman, she cannot shake off the dangerously obsessive man who refuses to take "no" for an answer. It was highly captivating and thrilling to read how this situation would eventually play out. The military setting adds an unusual and interesting balance to the romance, and the helicoptor missions inject enthralling adventure into the story.

If you've ever read LM Alcott's "Long Fatal Love Chase," you might recognize bits and pieces of this book. Granted, this book was no where near as intense or indepth as LFLC, but the general pall of violent obsession that hangs over the plot is slightly remeniscent.

Of course, the suspense could have been tighter, and the obsession darker and more complete. The villan was scary, but not dangerous enough. With his money and influence, he could've done a lot worse than he did. With one hand, he boosts Joanna's career, helps her friends, and assists her family. He could have easily taken it all away, or worse. Instead, he resorts to petty phone calls and violence, which I thought was uncharacteristic of someone so smooth and arrogant.

Still, I enjoyed this book thoroughly, and I plan to read more.

This tale continues the story of Jo West, the helicopter pilot who saved Carly Samuels and Ryan McMann in a previous book (I can't remember the title). Unlike some of the other reviews, I thought this was an fascinating story because the "knight in shining armor" is NOT. Jo stays in character as a "I can take care of myself in a male-dominated occupation." She even acknowledges that you have to play by the unspoken rules (as she observes in the pilot ready room) to get ahead. I only wish that the book had another chapter. Was Deke able to recover and return to active duty? What else motivated Alex to be the way he was?

This story is a good thrilling tale wrapped together with power, love and money. Captain Joanna West is understandably drawn to Alexander Taylor but it doesn't take her long to realize he is strangely twisted and dangerous. Deke Elliott helps out our good Captain and draws her attention to himself. Not your usual storyline but Taylor could have been more deadly and detailed to add more suspense.

I don't understand why the author doesn't put more effort in developing a good ending. I felt cheated and wanted more.

I was very excited about reading this book. I have been looking for books with suspense and romance combined and I hoped that this one would be better than it was. First, I didn't like how most of the story was told from Jo's point of view. I like books where there are the main characters and sometimes the pov from the secondary characters as well. I felt that the story would have been better if the reader would have understood where Alex was coming from. At the beginning of the book he seemed like a sweet and caring guy, if a little intense. That's what most readers like in a hero though, and at first you got intense with Alex. Then he got creepy. Not creepy enough in my opinion. At the end of the book I still wished that someone could have helped Alex.

I really wouldn't recommend this book. It was a fast read, but again, it was very dissapointing.

Definitely is not the best book, this book goes out of the story so many times that you almost forget the story.
In the middle of the book, if not before, you know that Alex is the bad guy, why can't see this Jo if she is one of the bests pilots of the USAF?
I can give other examples but I will tell you the story of this book (that I don't recommend at all.)
The worst part of the book is that you will not take anything if you read it, no lessons, no messages, no nothing.

Suprising with lots of twists and turns. Definite read for snow-bound days this winter.