Customer Reviews

Extreme Danger (The McCloud Brothers, Book 5)

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

During much of the reading of this book, I felt scared. The villian Zhoglo was evil. The things he threatened to do and actually did were horrendous. He was into rape, torture, murder and kidnapping children and young adults, who were imprisoned to be used later for organs to transplant. He would kidnap children, siblings and spouses of people as a way of blackmailing those people into doing what he wanted.

True to McKenna's form there were a lot of graphic, erotic sex scenes. I loved the characters. Tam had a wild and surprising role toward the end. She has had minor but important roles in other McKenna books as well. I had only one complaint which I will decribe below, but it wasn't enough for me to bring down the 5 star rating.

CAUTION SPOILER:
Becca lied to Nick about something toward the end which caused a big problem. I saw no reason for her to lie. It was out of character for her to do this, and I didn't like it. This lie annoyed me. It was a weak plot point. I wish the author had used a different method to create the problem. But, in spite of this weakness, I still loved the book.

Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: eighteen. Setting: current day U.S. Copyright: 2008. Genre: romantic suspense thriller.

For a list of my reviews of other Shannon McKenna books, see my 5 star review of "Ultimate Weapon" posted 11/15/08.

When I heard that this book would be about Seattle FBI agent Nick Ward, a relatively minor character in the previous McCloud Brothers books, I wasn't sure what to expect. To me he just seemed like an arrogant jerk, and I was curious what kind of story the author would come up with for him. Well, I was not disappointed! Shannon McKenna gave Nick a fully fleshed out backstory (including a heartbreaking childhood) that explained why he acted the way that he did. And while he still acted like an arrogant jerk sometimes, he was a vulnerable, lovable, arrogant jerk, afraid of being hurt and disappointing others. And Ms. McKenna paired him with the perfect heroine: bold, loving, understanding, and gutsy Becca Cattrell.

Basically, the plot is that Nick, no longer working for the FBI, is working on his own trying to infiltrate the organization of notorious, vile Russian mobster Vadim Zhoglo. Nick wants to avenge the death of Sergei, a Russian undercover agent who was working with him on a case, and who Zhoglo had brutally tortured and killed. Sergei has a young 12 year old daughter, Sveti, who was also abducted by Zhoglo, but for what purpose--was it child slavery, or something even more sinister? Nick vows to avenge Sergei's death, find Sveti, and reunite her with her mother.
Becca, an events coordinator at a local hotel, has an embarrassing breakup with her fiancee, and retreats to a friend's house on a secluded Seattle island to lick her wounds. She's told that she can use the neighbor's pool, and it's when she decides to take a midnight skinnydip that she runs into Nick.

Nick has managed to infiltrate Zhoglo's organization, working security at his island retreat. He spots Becca trespassing, and it's lust at first sight (for both of them!) When Zhoglo arrives the next day, finding Becca there, he assumes Nick brought her there for his (Zhoglo's) sexual pleasure. Nick has to think fast and bring Becca in to his plan, or risk blowing his cover. But can he protect her from Zhoglo, who clearly wants to use her for his own enjoyment, without getting them both killed?

Nick and Becca spend the rest of the time on the run from Zhoglo and his henchmen, while stumbling upon the real reason why Sveti and other children have been abducted. This subject matter involving the children is upsetting and sometimes gruesome, but it plays a key part in Nick and Becca's budding relationship.

Once again the McCloud brothers, spouses, and friends make appearances. There's a big wedding scene where everyone appears (including Tamara). Also, there are some suspenseful scenes at the climax where everyone is involved trying to save the children from a terrible fate that awaits them.

I loved this story--it was a one day read for me--I simply could not put it down! Nick and Becca sizzle as a couple; the love scenes are frequent, hot, and memorable (especially a hot tub scene!) Of course. Nick almost blows it with Becca at the end, showing a real lack of faith in the relationship. Nick is a typical McKenna hero: alpha, agressive, arrogant, but also sweetly vulnerable. Becca was a good match for him: sexy, brave, and takes no guff. The suspense was intense, the villains disgusting. McKenna gets better and better with each book--this one was 5 stars all the way!

This book had me hooked from the first page. I like all Shannon McKenna's books, but this has got to be one of the best. The hero could be a real jerk, but you could still feel the love he had for her and the steam was incredible! This was well worth waiting for.

Extreme Danger follows Nick Ward, one of the alpha males from the McCloud circle of family & friends. The series started with Seth Mackey in Behind Closed Doors, then followed Connor, Davy & Sean McCloud as they reunited with (or met) their true loves.

All the McKenna archetypes are here: strong handsome para-military hot guys with troubled childhoods who are preternaturally good in bed; career-oriented, somewhat naive but still feisty women who sleep with the hot guys, and coincidentally wind up in trouble with international crime lords, great sex (lots of great sex- not for the faint of heart) leading to true love, suspicion of betrayal or insanity, wrapping up with a happily-ever-after.

This sounds like I don't like the books-- I do. A lot. Shannon McKenna can write all (ALL) kinds of scenes, very well. Her female characters are unique from many others in the genre and her use of humor & dialogue makes the stories crackle. If you like her other books, you'll like this too. Nick, still a bad boy, still rough around the edges, is a little more considerate of Becca's feelings than some of the earlier pairings.

And it was fun to catch up on the developments in the lives of her previous characters. I'm really looking forward to Tamara's story, especially now that she's acquired that companion....

Shannon McKenna is one of my favorite authors. I add her books to my wish list as soon as they are on the preview list to make sure I do not miss them.
This has got to be her best!!! Nick is the perfect Alpha male hero. Becca the heroine is strong and gutsy too. Lots of sexual tension and several really sleazy villians. A great read, a total escape from everyday life.

What can I say, except that Shannon Mckenna has written another great sizzling,erotic and thrilling book....need I say more. I am so delighted that her writing has not changed as many authors do when they start getting popular. This book was everything I have come to expect of Ms McKenna's writing. If you haven't read one of her books start with her first and work your way through!!

After the last installment in the McCloud series (which was a huge disappontment to me), this one is back on track. As a previous reviewer noted, McKenna is formulaic here--but it's a great formula. This book is racy, exciting, and edgy. It's a bit fresher and less recycled than the previous book, and the hero is much more likeable. Heroine, as usual for McKenna, still giggles too much, but is at least respectable. Overall an excellent read! Can't wait for the next one!

Becca Cattrell is the event organizer for the Cardinal Creek Country Club. She is on secluded Frakes Island licking her wounds after her fiancé--make that ex-fiancé--cheated on her. Deciding to be adventurous for a change, Becca slips into the neighbor's pool for a little skinny-dipping. Just as she's starting to relax though, she's literally dragged out of her solitude by a huge angry man with a gun.

Nick Ward is working undercover, setting up a house on Frakes Island in his latest attempt to kill Vadim Zhoglo. When the silent alarm is tripped in the house, Nick finds Becca in the pool. Once he's convinced she hasn't been sent to kill him, Nick decides to act on his intense attraction to her, offering her the adventure of a lifetime in his bed. The night ends badly though when Nick's attitude changes and he runs Becca off, believing she's safer away from him. The next day, just as Zhoglo and his men arrive, so does Becca. Her bad timing makes her a player in one of Zhoglo's dangerous games. If Becca doesn't play along, she'll be begging for death after the torture she'll suffer at Zhoglo's hands. Nick has two choices: save Becca or save the little girl he let slip into this madman's hands.

Extreme Danger took me on an intense, spine tingling ride that held me riveted to every page. The villains are so evil, the letters are blacker wherever their names are printed on the pages. Nick is magnificent. There is no measurement for a man this alpha male. He is his own breed. And Becca, sweet, beautiful, tough-as-nails Becca, is amazing. Then there is the sex. It's raw, consuming, and unbelievably hot. Extreme Danger is dark, edgy and extreme in every way. It's outstanding!

Nannette
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

I'm a big fan of McKenna's McCloud Brothers series (this is number 5). I eagerly awaited this release, knowing it would be about Nick. Yes, it's getting a little formulaic by now (meet under dangerous conditions, fall in love, all hell breaks loose, he/she loses faith in him/her, all's lost, but wait...OMG happily ever after!!!), but I honestly didn't care that much. McKenna's writing style is intelligent, literate, and erotic. I care about her characters and she brings their emotions vividly to life. Erotic fiction can be a tough genre to navigate, and I trust McKenna to deliver.

This said, I was disappointed by the beginning of the book. I always look forward to that first electric encounter where the main characters grab each other by the hair and have at it. In this case, a simulated rape occurs first, and then McKenna pushes us straight into that ever-important first-sex. McKenna's so good (too good) at showing us Becca's emotions, and I was too upset over the "rape" to enjoy the ensuing sexual encounter. I know some entertain rape fantasies (so it may not bother everyone), but I found it a buzz-kill.

The book has a very EVIL villain, and his sins involve the exploitation (but not rape) of children. McKenna's great at creating really awful, dimensional villains for our heroes to battle, but I can see how this particular storyline might make some folks overly upset.

"Extreme Danger" earns four stars when compared to the erotic romance genre as a whole, but it's only a three-star for McKenna. If you're interested in the McCloud story arc, you'll definitely want to read it. If not, read McKenna's "Hot Night" (or stop stalling and read "Behind Closed Doors" - I'm glad I did!).

but why why why must she mix in terrible torcher, crimes, death in with her erotica - if i read something sexy and romantic - i dont want to also mix it with cruelty - she is a good writer, with good focus and moves the story along - but the cruel aspects of her stories can really kill the buzz from the erotic portions of the book - why cant her villans just be annoying [...] - instead she makes them heinous monsters - i usually end up with nightmares instead of erotic dreams - and with the price of her books - i would much rather have an erotic dream for the money