Scotty has hesitated to claim Beth as his own. But one explosive kiss confirms what he’s long suspected: She’s his life mate. But Beth is tough, fearless, beautiful…and in immortal danger. Unless he wants to lose her forever, he’ll have to rethink everything he once believed about love and destiny as well as confront an enemy who’s terrifyingly close.
Comment: This is installment #26 in the Argeneau series by author Lynsay Sands. I have been following the series for a long time now, although not continuously. Still, I have a somewhat notion of the (very long) cast of characters and although the stories no longer entice me as much for their plot, I still feel curious to see what the characters are up to and how many more connections can be made.
In this story the protagonists are Beth, who at her turn was somehow "adopted" into the Argeneau family and Cullen "Scotty" McDonald, an immortal who met Beth soon after her turn but never claimed her because he wanted to give her tie to settle and adapt, even if that meant trying to keep her out of danger, something she never understood and actually thought he didn't care much for her.
Now they are joining forces along with other team members, to catch some rogues but it's the apparent repetitive attempts on Beth's life, disguised as freaky accidents, that catch Scotty's attention. Will he be able to finally talk to Beth and explain? Will he save her as he feels he needs to even though she is a hunter on her own right?
I've repeated in each commentary to the books in this series that since there are so any books, some are hit or miss. I'd say this one is, for me, in the middle of the road because although it does contain interesting elements, the pace just wasn't properly adjusted to the seriousness of the themes.
The installments in this series can be read as stand alones, I suppose, but to be honest, I can't understand how these stories can make much sense to a new reader if some notions hadn't been previously gotten by reading some of the other books. Besides, every fan knows, there is an obvious difference between the first, say 12 books the the rest? For me that's where I make the division but I'm certain other readers think differently. The first books felt part of a whole, had a certain flavor, even though I liked some more than others. From then on, it just felt like the author had to keep up with finding HEAs to every known character and some new ones. Yes, it's great the series are still on going and if that happens, it's because people get them. However, the series started off as being funny and cute, with an original premise for the "supernatural" elements.
Not all books were as hilarious, that's to expect in such a long series, but some are definitely on the serious side. I don't feel bothered by that, I actually like when characters are more than just a comic relief prop.
I think what bothers me a little is that, just as it happened with this book, the funny and serious elements don't mesh as well as in the first books and the pace isn't suitable for the kind of issues sometimes presented.
The plot of this story is rather predictable it ends up being quite basic, bordering on the silly but that, to me, can be put aside if the characterization of the protagonists (and secondary characters if it happens) is well done. I just didn't end up convinced that Beth and Scotty really did suit one another nor that their relationship could evolve into love territory based on what we learn about them in this book.
Both of them have a hard past, Beth more so. And, unlike some other stories where the passage of time for the immortals is almost glossed over by the cute elements, I don't think that was achieved here. Beth, for instance, is a calm and laid back heroine, she is as down to earth as she could but when we learn about her past, I can only conclude the incredible passage of time since she was a mortal until now is why she is such a balanced person for what happened to her was awful.
Scotty had it bad too but not as much, and not in the same way. However, we are to believe they are destined soul mates who can so easily fall in love, even knowing about the effect of the detail that makes them a forever couple.
I struggled to believe this, not because of the paranormal stuff, not because of the secondary issues that usually contribute for a couple to establish themselves as such but because they had a damaged past that should have affected their personality in a more serious manner and the whole thing seemed to be solved with a conversation and the life mate knowledge. Considering how at odds they had been, but not in an adorable sort of way, it should have taken longer for them to really become more in sync with one another. I get why, but then, such a type of romance shouldn't happen in just one book or in a fast paced one.
Due to these little - but important - things, I just couldn't appreciate the story as much as it deserved. I liked knowing things about other characters, I can see where the author can be going with how to prolong the series but sometimes if feels like a task to be done, not as much as if the stories really had to be told, you know. Not all of them feel as if they matter as much....
Nevertheless, I'll still read the next book. Hopefully, it's a good one for my own perception!
Grade: 5/10
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