Customer Reviews

Edge of Midnight (The McCloud Brothers, Book 4)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

First I have to say that the general way I experienced this book, until towards the end, was like when you see a train wreck, you feel a bit repulsed and ill at ease, yet you cannot look away. Ms. McKenna's style of writing is, in this book anyway, very bawdy, raunchy, and gritty and it felt a little too intense sometimes. However, I did enjoy it and could not look away for the most part.

Right out of the gate though, I couldn't stand Sean. He's so self destructive and full of self pity. And, he is supposed to have loved and dreamed about Oliva for 15 years, and yet their first sexual encounter was so base and crude to me. And Sean was such a jerk, that I felt a bit ill after reading it and decided to not read the book further. However, I'm really stubborn. So after reading a bunch of other books, I came back to this one reasoning that a lot of these alpha males start out somewhere in the stone age and end up in the 21st century due to loving and be loved by their woman. I wanted to see where the author would go with this; if Sean would change. This is my first Shannon McKenna book and based on others' ratings I probably should have started with the first McCloud brother book, but that's how it goes.

I'm glad I did pick this up again, although I still never really totally warmed up to Sean until after the proverbial manure hit the fan towards the end when I started to feel, this guy is OK. The way he and Olivia related made me feel a bit uneasy and not quite relaxed. Until the end, he's all--- you are my goddess and I bow to you and live to lick your boots type of thing--- to Olivia, yet he very insistently and sometimes coldly and forcefully orders her to do things when they are physical, although Olivia is aware of it and even tries to wrestle control herself at times. None the less, even though it's clear that he so totally loves her and would die before hurting her in any way, and Olivia is no put upon, docile doormat, that way of relating has a little too much of a dominance/control factor, which made me feel a bit uncomfortable sometimes.

What I loved about this book:

I loved, loved the thriller/suspense plot in this book. It was very well done and was totally believable. Mengele type people do exist. The tension and suspense was kept taut until the exciting build up at the end. It's when that part of the story really kicked in that I got into this book. I actually started skimming over the sex to get to the thriller parts. And I loved the multiple threats to Liv in that her family is just as much her enemy as well. Besides being chased by a killer, what Olivia's mother does to her towards the end had me breaking out in hives and hyperventilating. I was reading my worst nightmare. So of course, I loved the ending.

I totally loved Olivia. How nice to have a heroine who has a real body and is not a tiny, petite waif. And she's very bright and reacts to the events the way most "normal" females would act, not too stupid, yet not all kick butt either. She rolls with the punches and she stands up to Sean all the time even as, helplessly, her body responds to him before her head and heart can catch up.

And then there is Tamara... She is Sidney Bristow, Lara Croft, Lady Heather, and Famka Janssen in Golden Eye, all rolled in one. Wow! I loved this character. All dark, extremely intelligent, edgy, bluntly direct, and she suffers no fools. What type of man could melt her heart? It's interesting to think about. I would read a book with her as the main character in a heart beat. Very intriguing!

I also loved the Miles/Cindy story and would have loved to know more about them.

Now I guess I will have to read the other McCloud books. What-a-bummer. : )

This book tells the story of Sean McCloud, youngest of the four McCloud brothers, whose stories were told previously in "Standing in the Shadows" and "Out of Control".

Sean and his brothers were raised by their paranoid and delusional widowed father in the backwoods of Washington state. Older brothers Davy and Connor and friend Seth Mackey ("Behind Closed Doors") have all settled down with wives and are starting families of their own. But Sean's life seems to be on hold. He has never gotten over the supposed suicide death of his identical twin brother Kevin 15 years ago. Nothing seems to hold his interest for long; not his various jobs or any one woman. His brothers refer to him as a "man slut" due to his prolific and shallow love life. They want him to find the kind of happiness they now enjoy with their own wives and to stop drifting thru life.

But the only woman that meant anything to Sean was his teenaged girlfriend Liv, who he cruelly dumped in order to save her life.

Sean has kept tabs on Liv for all these years, and surprisingly comes in contact with her again. He discovers that she is back in Washington and owns a bookstore that is torched by a crazed stalker who Liv refers to as "T-Rex".

Although she doesn't want to trust him, Sean convinces Liv that she needs protection until the stalker is captured, and she reluctantly lets him help her when her parents seem less than interested in believing or helping her.

Sean and Liv are on the run after the stalker makes an attempt on her life and Sean saves her. This attempt is tied into Kevin's death. Before Kevin died, he gave a note and a sketchbook to Liv to deliver to Sean. The note gives clues about a person that Kevin thought was trying to kill him. Kevin was participating in a neurological research project called the "Midnight Project" led by a diabolical doctor named Chris Osterman. The people conducting the project knew that Liv had the notebook, and want it back and her dead because they think she knows too much.

While on the run, Sean and Liv's love re-ignites with a passion, with numerous steamy encounters. But both Sean and Liv have some insecurities about themselves. Sean can't believe that a person of his background is good enough for a rich refined woman like Liv, while Liv can't believe what a charismatic and experienced man like Sean would want with a less than svelte, boring book store owner like herself.

All the characters from the previous McCloud books are back, including Seth & Raine, Margot & Davy, Erin & Connor, Miles & Cindy (Who have major roles), Tamara, and even Nick Ward has a cameo. Sean reminded me a lot of his brother Connor: witty, sometimes arrogant or overbearing, but also sweet and vulnerable, and Liv knew just how to handle him--they were great together! This book was fantastic, kept me on the edge, and the last 30 pages had some truly gruesome moments. But the ending was worth it, and I had tears in my eyes. Of all the McCloud brothers books, this one may be my new favorite. Highly recommended!

A very well written erotic thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. Sean and Liv are characters you want to root for. Liv is also a character that is easy to identify with. She is normal, and isn't perfect with the perfect body. The passionate and steamy encounters are very hot!

I must say, I did not care much for Sean's personality at all. I did not think he was very romantic or affectionate. With the other brothers, there was a sense that the woman was cherished and special. With Sean, Olivia felt like just another lay that happened to last longer than the others. He was crude and crass and none of their love scenes seemed to reach much of an emotional high. It was just all very physical. I have read all of Ms. Mckenna's books and enjoy her as a writer. I did not however, care as much for this particular book. Also, Cindy, Sean's sister-in-law is so stupid, slutty, and foolish as to be unreal. The most interesting character was Tamara, who I hope will get her own story soon. She is too cool and intense to continue to be just a secondary character in this series. All that being said, I like an alpha male as well as the next girl, but at some point I like to feel some emotional investment and that the main love interest in the story is special and treated as such. I will look for Ms. Mckenna's future novels, but this one was my least favorite.

Having read all the books this author has written I still remain in awe of her ability to multi-task so brilliantly. Her male characters are not only wonderfully masculine, but struggle in a reasonable, typically male manner with emotional anguish. Her male characters are excellently written. The only down side is she does equally well with her villians in creating skin-crawling creeps. Although the story of lost love is not one of my particular faves--it's done so very well here, exquisite sensuality scenes and recognition that healing can only be accomnplished through forgiveness and reconciliation. Just terrific--so grab it up now!

Sean McCloud has loved Liv Endicott for years. Fifteen years ago, though, he sent her away because he didn't want to endanger her life. Now she's back. Someone is threatening her and Sean doesn't like it. He will do anything he can to make sure the woman that he still loves is safe.

When a stalker burns down Liv's bookstore, she's devastated. Then, out of the blue, Sean McCloud appears. Liv has never forgiven him for the hurtful way he sent her away from him years ago. Yet, she can't deny that she's still attracted to him, and still cares for him, too.

Despite protests from her parents, security specialist Sean decides that Liv needs his help to stay safe. After he rescues her from her stalker, she decides that he is right. Sean soon figures out that Liv's problems are connected with the death of his brother, Kevin, fifteen years ago, and to the mysterious Midnight Project.

Edge of Midnight is the fourth romantic suspense book featuring the McCloud Brothers but the first one I've read. All I can ask myself is -- what took me so long to find these books?

Jammed packed with adventure, suspense and hot sex, Edge of Midnight is a twisting-turning roller coaster ride of a novel. And I loved each word. Ms. McKenna has packed her novel full of strong characters, both male and female, that jump off the page and pull you into the novel alongside them.

I felt the characters' pain, sorrow, joy and laughter right along with them. I love a book that grabs hold and doesn't let go, and this one definitely does. As a testament to how much I enjoyed it, and the glimpses of not only of Sean and Liv, but of his brothers and their friends, I will be hunting up each and every one of Ms. McKenna's other novels.

If you like your romantic suspense full of action, with characters who are not afraid to tell it like it is and live very large, then Edge of Midnight is for you. I know it is a Joyfully Reviewed Recommended Read for me.

Amelia
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

I gave Shannon McKenna a chance after reading so many raving reviews about her. Perhaps she just isn't my style but I found this book to be more than mildly irritating. The main hero, Sean, is not my type of hero. He talks like a surfer, first of all, and says eloquent one-liners to the heroine like, "You inspire me, babe." Yeah. I would have laughed at these fabulous prose samples had I not spent full price on this book.

The hero is supposed to be some kind of genius actually, but I never saw evidence of that. In fact, all he ever thinks about is sex. In the beginning of the novel he recalls a college ex telling him he's a sex addict and recommending he see a therapist! He is more concerned about sex than he is about the bad guy that is terrorizing his girlfriend. In fact, I was having a hard time following what the plot was about period. By the end of the book, it was such a mess I could barely even finish it. The hero is also very crass and talks with a potty mouth. He also uses intellectual words like "butthead," "yummy" and "pu#sy" and some of the intimate scenes were cringe-worthy. I was also very confused as to why the hero kept crying so much. This guy was super emotional. He cries after sex, when chasing bad guys... all the time.

The heroine was no help to the story at all- the reader is given barely any insight into her mind so you never get to know her. Basically, she's insecure about her weight and her parents. But the novel is so focused on the thoughts of Sean (sex, sex, sex) you only see the heroine, Liv, as a recipient of his lust.

I think I should have read the books in order- I might have already formed a love for the series and enjoyed it more on that account. The McCloud Brothers seem fascinating and likable so I won't give up on McKenna altogether. This, however, was not a great intro into her potential.

This book made me cringe on behalf of the heroine and womankind as a whole. Part of me cannot believe this novel was written by a woman. The lead female, Liv, is essentially masochistic, and complies to the hero, Sean, whenever he demands submission. He forces himself on her, sexually, and instead of standing up for herself, she mouths off and ultimately takes pleasure in his brutality; even when he literally forces himself into her, after she SAYS she does not want sex! After the heartbreak and anguish Sean has put Liv through throughout the years, multiple times, she forgives him after about three minutes of "groveling" at the end of the novel. And EVERY time you think Sean is a changed man, that he has had an epiphany, he returns to chauvinism and authoritarianism just as soon as Liv has forgiven him.

Sean, the main male character, was unlikable. The two main female characters, Liv and Cindy did really dumb things. The writing style was pseudo-masculine and got annoying.

This is my first book by this author and will likly be the last. The time I have for reading will be spent on something more entertaining and less annoying.

Despite sleeping with numerous women over the years, Sean McCloud has never fallen in love and still holds a torch for his first love, Liv Endicott. He's the bay boy from the wrong side of the tracks, while her wealthy family can trace their ancestors back several generations. When his brother Kevin mysteriously died (it was ruled a suicide), Sean sent her packing to protect her. Now 15 years later, he learns that Liv has returned to their hometown, and soon discovers that she has a stalker who's escalating his cycle of violence. Despite not wanting to allow her heart to get involved with Sean again, they both succumb, as Sean dedicates himself to finding her stalker, in spite of her family's constant interference, as they allege that it is he who is behind the stalking. Key characters from the other books are all back, most in unnecessary filler roles. Mascot Miles gets a beefier role as he puts his technical skills to work and finally gives up on Cindy, who wants the family to take her seriously by putting herself in harm's way repeatedly.

McKenna's fourth installment in the McCloud brothers series is the best of the bunch (that's not saying a whole lot though since the others are low on plot and heavy on sex with heroes that are far too obsessive). There's plenty of sex (actually, probably a little too much - it tends to get tedious when it goes on for 30 pages, particularly since they are outrunning a killer and find the most inopportune times to drop their clothing). Where this one exceeds is the storytelling and the heroine not being such a wimp like most of her heroines. McKenna scribes realistic dialogue and breathtaking edge-of-your-seat action, that'll capture the reader's attention from cover to cover, leaving the door open for further McCloud adventures. Its high time McKenna created a primary storyline for scenery chewing alpha-femme Tamara - she gets little page time but constantly steals the show.