In Her Sights by Robin Perini
Romantic Suspense
November 29, 2011
Montlake Romance

Reviewed by May

Single father Luke Montgomery is a former Army Ranger turned journalist who is looking into some dirty cops in the Jefferson County (Colorado) Sherriff’s department. Following a lead given to him by someone inside a local mob family, he lands in the line of sight of the SWAT team’s sniper, his ex-girlfriend Jasmine “Jazz” Parker.

“Jazz” changed her name and had her juvenile record sealed at age 15, when she remade herself into the woman she is today. A top shot – and the only woman sniper in the state – she is focused and professional in her job. Having been raised by a prostitute mother and having lived through horrors including watching her mother be killed, and she herself being abused as a child, to say she has issues would be an understatement.

Our story opens as she kills a man that had kidnapped the governor’s daughter on assignment. Through her scope we get a glimpse at her as she waits for her shot and to do her job as a part of the SWAT team – a job that is everything to her. Quickly it becomes clear that someone from her past is after her, and that she is in some serious trouble.

Could she really protect Luke and his family from a killer with no conscience? Or would everyone she loved be taken from her… again? “You die on me, Luke, and I’m going to be extremely irritated.”

This story is fast paced, never dull, and it was a quick read. Unfortunately that is the extent of my praise for this book. The dialogue was flat and the people behaved in ways that did not seem likely. I did not believe any part of this story to be plausible, and I found the characters exceptionally unlikeable.

I am a fan of big strong alpha males, however Luke didn’t work for me. He is charging off to help save poor Jazz – who is a highly trained SWAT sniper – and protect her instead of taking care of his three year old daughter. A daughter he didn’t know he had until her mother died and CPS contacted him two years ago right after Jazz dumped him. The way he threw aside his daughter for this chick who dumped him years ago; and the way that he consistently takes charge and manages Jazz really drove me nuts. We also never see him at work, he seems to always be available to follow, annoy, intervene, and otherwise butt into Jazz and her life.

The real problem is that the entire book was over the top crazy for me. I couldn’t get into the story because I was constantly questioning the probability of this person out for revenge finding Jazz (and quickly) as well as the procedural aspects and details.

The romantic relationship was also bizarre to me, I never understood why they were so into each other and we were never shown any real reasons or proof of their compatibility or passion – even the sex scene was short and forgettable.

I had a lot of questions pop up while reading this book: Why was the hero not researching his stories or spending time with his three year old? Would Jazz really behave the ways that she did? Would she really think herself “below” Luke and why? Why did the relationship have to go from non-existent to blissful HEA due to this revenge incident? Is there truly a huge mob issue in more rural/suburban Colorado that corrupts cops?

Despite being fast paced enough to hold my attention to the end, the number of questions raised, eye rolls earned, and general lack of believability leads me to a failing grade for this book. “Fast paced” is simply not enough praise to pass a book for me. While I know its fiction, a story should engage and capture my attention and imagination, not make me question and scoff at the details.

Grade: F

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