Unforgiven (Silhouette Nocturne) [Mass Market Paperback]

Lindsay Mckenna (Author)

Book Description

Series: Silhouette Nocturne | Publication Date: October 1, 2006

Plucked from the depths of hell, former military sniper Reno Manchahi was hired by the government to kill a thief, but he had a mission of his own. Descended from a family of shape-shifters, Reno vowed to get the revenge he'd thirsted for all these years. But his assignment went awry when his target turned out to be a powerful seductress, a woman who risked everything to fight a potent evil.

They had a combustible connection, yet he struggled to reveal the truth about himself--his Apache upbringing, his Jaguar pride, his death plot. Soon, Reno had to transform himself into a true hero, accept this new love and conquer the enemy that threatened them all. He had to become a Warrior for the Light....

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Once one of the U.S. military's best snipers, Reno Manchahi is given one chance to get out of jail, but doing so means working for the U.S. government one last time. Reno's mission takes him to Ecuador, where he must find and eliminate "El Espanto," the mysterious masked horseman who protects the poor peasants working in the Santa Maria emerald mine from the mine's greedy owners. Reno's plans take an unexpected turn when he discovers that "El Espanto" is wealthy Calen Hernandez, who it seems is doing more than just using her money to help the poor. Add to that the strange fact that they possess the same shape-shifting talents and a future destiny in the struggle against the forces of darkness. McKenna beautifully balances paranormal elements with wisdom, mysticism, and hope in the first of her new Warriors for the Light series. John Charles
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Silhouette (October 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373617488
• ISBN-13: 978-0373617487
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #815,533 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

That Gemini energy got the best of me in this life time! The best place to introduce the multi-facets of my varied life is through my blog: www.talesfromechocanyon.blogspot.com. There, you will me me, the author as I pen writing journal info for aspiring writers, the gardener who loves roses, Iris, Day lilies and anything else that blooms, the medical astrologer, the person who came from Eastern Cherokee metis background via my father, the horse lover, the Earth lover and the mystic.

I was raised in a metaphysical household. The strange was normal. My father, being the metaphysician he was, would often talk of ghosts coming through the house, who they were, what they said, and so on. I know this probably sounds pretty out of this world--but that was my world growing up. My father's Cherokee blood runs strong in me in many ways. He used to tell us stories all the time and I'm sure this rubbed off on me and fueled my desire to write, which started at age 13. My mother used to read us stories when he didn't tell us a story. I believe that reading being prominent in our household all conspired to help me be a storyteller when I grew up!

I went into the US Navy when I was eighteen years old. I became a meteorologist because I loved Father Sky and the cloud beings. Before I went into the military, I got my student pilot's license. I soloed at age sixteen in twelve hours time. I earned my money picking night crawlers every night in our orchard and selling them by the hundreds of dozens to local sporting goods stores in the area. By the time I went into the Navy at eighteen, I had forty hours of flight time logged. And because of my military background, I created the sub-genre of Military Romance in the romance publishing Industry in 1983 with Captive of Fate (Silhouette Special Edition). I write what I know and I honor and respect all men and women who either served or are serving our country. They are all heroes and heroines in my eyes.

I was a fencer (I met my husband, David, in fencing--we crossed swords and it was love at first parry...) for many years. Being part of the East Coast fencing salles, I was one of the few women to take on epee and saber--and fight the guys on the copper strip--and win. The women who refused to just use a foil to fence with, opened up a whole new era for women after us to fence all three weapons. Men said the epee and saber were 'too heavy' for us girls--but we showed them differently! Now, in the Olympics, women are allowed to fence in more than just foil. That makes me proud of our burgeoning efforts so long ago. Women can do anything!

I was one of the first women firefighters in Ohio back in 1983. I routinely rolled on 400 of the 600 fire calls a year we had, and knew how to drive the pumper, the tanker and do any job a volunteer firefighter has to do. I also took training in hazardous materials down at the Reynoldsburg Fire Academy in Columbus, Ohio.

My life has been one of breaking through stereotypes, breaking down doors closed to women and showing that women are smart, strong, and capable. As a Native American raised woman, I came from a matriarchal background--not a patriarchal one as most women come from. And because of that, my books show strong, smart women who are equal to any man. I like showing the world that women are equals. We don't need to say one gender is better than the other. Rather, we need to realize, honor and use everyone's best skills and talents to make this world a better place to live. I feel like I've lived about five lives packed into one and all of this adventure and experience is reflected in the books I write.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Personally, I liked this one., February 22, 2007

By 

Heather M. Riley (IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Unforgiven (Silhouette Nocturne) (Mass Market Paperback)

Sniper Reno Manchahi lives each day for revenge. His wife and little girl were murdered. When he threatens the General responsible, he's put in jail with a twenty year sentence. Coming from Apache heritage, Reno is in touch with nature. When he hears a hawk cry out with a message of freedom he's not sure he can believe it.

That day he's made an offer. If he's willing to use his skills as a sniper for a special assignment, he will gain his freedom. He's asked to travel to Ecuador to dispose of El Espanto, a mysterious figure scaring the guards away from an emerald mine. The catch is that he can never return to the United States.

Calen Hernandez leads a double life. By day she's a billionaire in charge of an oil empire. By night she's El Espanto protecting the poor esmeraldos from the cruelty of the guards at the emerald mine. When Reno comes to town, she knows that he's the sniper brought in to kill her, but despite that she finds herself drawn to him.

Soon Reno and Calen find they have a common destiny. They are Warriors for the Light and they are called to a higher duty. They will fight with others like themselves to save the world.

Not only is UNFORGIVEN the first book in Silhouette's new Nocturne series, but it's the first in Lindsay McKenna's new Warriors for the Light trilogy. This book is a wonderful start to both series. Reno and Calen are both vulnerable and real. Right from the start you care about what happens to them. The tension between them keeps you going until they come together in a wonderfully emotional scene. I can't wait for the next book from Lindsay about the Warriors for the Light.

[...]

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars If you want a Luna book, buy a Luna book..., October 12, 2006

By 

lwd (California) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Unforgiven (Silhouette Nocturne) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is my second "novel" from Silhouette's new "Nocturne" division. So far, both books, written by well-known authors, have been disappointing. The plots, characters, even the number of pages (300 including advertisements), seems more than a little contrived. I can even imagine the publishers giving directions to the authors. "Give us a SF, fantasy, paranormal, less than three hundred pages. We don't care about the plot, we don't care if its good, it will sell. You've got the name, we've got the paper."

There was a void to be filled, and "Nocturne" sought to fill it. Like most readers of this genre, I wait with bated breath for another excellent Luna book to come out, and am desperate for a good fantasy read in between. The difference, and the reason we have to wait for Luna, is that they are not giving us fill, they are giving us substance. I'm all for handcuffing Robin Owens, Michelle Sagara and Sarah Zettel to their computers and forcing them to crank out more of their wonderful novels to satisfy my cravings, but good literature can't be rushed. I still want the good stuff, not this dreck.

What really hurts, is you know Lindsay McKenna can do better. The writing is professional, but you know, just by reading, this was not an honest effort. I'm not even sure if this was her storyline. It felt like an outline she filled in, after someone else gave her the plot. No heart, no soul, no life.

Nocturne, if you want to compete with Luna Books, you need to read a few, and see why readers are so captivated. As for me, I'm taking the rest of your collection off my wish list.

My fault. Fool me twice, shame on me...

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Uneven..., August 14, 2007

By 

Deborah Wiley (Winter Haven, FL) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Unforgiven (Silhouette Nocturne) (Mass Market Paperback)

Reno Manchahi is finally given his chance for freedom from a military prison. All he has to do is capture and kill El Espanto. El Espanto is a ghostly figure plaguing the wealthy emerald mine owned by the mysterious Guild. The guards of the mine are willing to kill any of the poor esmeraldos who enter their lands, searching for just one emerald to change their fortune. Reno thought the task of killing El Espanto would be an easy one, till he met the lovely Calen Hernandez. An ancient prophecy is about to unfold....

UNFORGIVEN is the first book in the Silhouette Nocturne line and the first book in Lindsay McKenna's Warriors of Light series. As such, it is an uneven start to both. The story starts off strong, with Reno forced to choose between freedom and his quest for revenge. Calen's role is also initially very well done, as both characters evoke strong emotions in the reader. The tension begins building up to what looks to be a fabulous showdown. Instead, however, the book veers off course. Instead of focusing on the story at hand, another ongoing plotline begins emerging about an ancient prophecy. The transition does not go seamlessly, and it almost feels as if two books have been fused together into one.

The ancient prophecy has a few unusual twists. The concept of the Warriors of Light offers some promise that will hopefully develop in future installments. UNFORGIVEN reaches a point where it becomes almost preachy about the entire philosophy of metaphysicians. Instead of showing the reader and using the world of the jaguar shape shifters to make her points, Lindsay McKenna instead devotes far too many pages to explaining the philosophy. Perhaps, as the series begins to coalesce around the thread of the ancient prophecy, the stories will improve.

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES