Unspoken

Unspoken
Dee Henderson
Bethany House Publishers
Fiction, Romance, Suspense
October 2013

Charlotte Graham is at the center of the most famous kidnapping in Chicago history. 

The task force of FBI and local cops found her two abductors, killed them, rescued her, but it took four very long years. The fact she was found less than three miles from her home, had been there the entire time, haunts them. She's changed her identity, found a profession she loves, and rebuilt her life. 

She's never said a word--to the cops, to her doctors, to family--about those four years.

A family legacy has brought her back to Chicago where a reporter is writing a book about the kidnapping. The cops who worked the case are cooperating with him. Her options are limited: Hope the reporter doesn't find the full truth, or break her silence about what happened. And her silence is what has protected her family for years. 

Bryce Bishop doesn't know her past, he only knows she has coins to sell from her grandfather's estate--and that the FBI director for the Chicago office made the introduction. The more he gets to know Charlotte, the more interested he becomes, an interest encouraged by those closest to her. But nothing else is working in his favor--she's decided she is single for life, she struggles with her faith, and she's willing to forego a huge inheritance to keep her privacy. She's not giving him much of an opening to work with. 

Charlotte wants to trust him. She needs to tell him what happened. Because a crime cops thought was solved, has only opened another chapter...

In a world full of non discerning reviewers I feel like I need to step out against the flow and be completely honest. Oh my goodness. That was my response reading this book and that's not a positive thing.....

1. Coins. For the love of all that is good in this world how boring can you get? I mean honestly. All the intrigue and mystique the book starts out with ends quite abruptly in a showroom full of antique coins. Yawn. I'm sure the 4 people who are into extremely rare coins will appreciate the detail Henderson goes into. I, however, was less than interested. I actually skipped a number of pages hoping to escape it. 

2. Charlotte. Henderson typically writes a bit far fetched characters but they have depth and are relatable. Charlotte is far from one of those characters. I understand she was terrorized but at some point either get her counseling and lead her towards healing or make her a secondary character. She was stuck and I felt stuck reading her. 

3. Money. Oh the money. So much of it and on and on it went. Seriously, how many people really deal with that kind of money and have that kind of disposable wealth? It was laughable. The money kept coming and as it approached the billions I found myself checking to make sure I wasn't reading a comedy by mistake. It was both fantasy and comedy. Neither of which I wanted to find in this book. 

4. Characters. In general the characters were an awful mixture of cold superheroes. They were unbelievable and it was disappointing. They were also boring and broken to the point of beyond repair. Very little redemptive message here. 

There were a few bright spots and a few Henderson moments that give you hope for something more but in general this lacked in almost every area. Perhaps Henderson wrote herself into a corner niche and would like to get out, this ain't the way to do it. Clumsy, LONG, and lacking passion I don't recommend this one. It's neither easy to read or enjoyable. I'm hoping for more next time but I'm not sure I have the energy to try again.....


My thanks to Bethany House Publishers for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my real and honest review. 

Full Disclosure

Full Disclosure
Dee Henderson
Bethany House Publishers
Fiction, Romance, Mystery, Cop Thriller
2012

As the Midwest Homicide Investigator Ann Silver is a cop's cop. She's called into scenes around the midwest where cops are in over their heads and need a different set of eyes. She finds clues where others may not notice and she's an expert at her job. Her job is also extremely elite and trusted. When she's not investigating grisly murder scenes she can be found at home with her dog and a good book. Anonymity and solitude has been her friend for years and she'd like to keep it that way.

Paul Falcon is the FBI's top murder cop in the midwest. If the victim was in anyway connected on a federal level or had security clearances Paul and his team will most likely work the case. From a loving family Paul is content in his job while also wanting possibly more.

Ann and Paul's lives intersect when Ann passes off a case to Paul's team. A suspicious death in a car wreck leaves Ann asking questions and needing to have someone else take the case. She suspects that her case might be connected to The Lady Shooter. The FBI has been hunting The Lady Shooter for years and have continued to hit dead end after dead end. Paul has made it his personal mission to capture the killer.

Ann walks into Paul's work intending to simply pass the case off. However, life has a funny way of not going the way we would expect or want. A "chance" meeting turns into an instant connection between the two characters. To the surprise of both of them they find themselves attracted and drawn to each other. What follows is a slow and steady joining of two very different people into a couple.

Henderson's first book in 6 years this book has a sweetness and a gradualness to it that her other books have not had. She takes her time in developing the two characters and their story. At times you'll find yourself wondering if watching paint dry might go faster than the two of them finally getting together. Other times, you'll be delighted with the cuteness of the love the two share. Henderson writes with depth and experience. Perhaps one of the more real and raw relationship developments I've ever read. You won't find yourself swept up in a sweeping romance but you will find yourself falling in love with both Paul and Ann. The way they develop as people and as characters is so very real. I loved that. It was true to real life.

While the romance section might be true to real life the cop case side of the story left with something to be desired. I find myself having a hard time following the story. The book is quite lengthy and it included so much I felt it could have been a two or three novel series instead of trying to cram everything into one. It was a lot to digest. This is not a one night read kind of book. It seemed a bit dramatized and over the top in so may ways...which is something Henderson does well. I did feel like I was reading some sort of penny dreadful novel at some points and that, partnered with a sweet romance relationship made the book feel a bit choppy.

Overall I enjoyed this book. I welcome back this deeper and more developed Henderson and look forward to reading more from her in the future. Prepare yourself as you dive into this book, it will take you awhile and you may want to bring along a notepad to takes notes. You'll love so many aspects you most likely won't even notice the few choppy parts. Be prepared to be enthralled and truly transported.

My thanks to Bethany House Publishers for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my real and honest review.