*A reminder of Book 1 in the McIntire County Series before reading Born to Die.
Another fabulous cover from publisher Crimson Romance and another sharp story from author Winter Austin. It's been pointed out here, and some of you agree, the full-face covers don't appeal to us with few exceptions, but this one is so attractive and fits the heroine's persona so well, it's hard not to like it.
Former female Marine Scout Sniper Nicolette Rivers is the talk of the town when she's called upon to keep her aim on a man threatening to kill his family in their home. Another deputy is sent away from the scene since it's his cousin holding the rifle on his family. While she waits for Sheriff Hamilton to give the order, distracting memories attempt to interfere with her focus. Fighting her way through their effects on her, she reluctantly readies herself for the shot.
"Atonement" is the word which keeps surfacing in the notes of supposedly suicidal deaths of several people. The expansion of Deputy Nicolette Rivers' (Nic) and Detective Conlan O'Hanlon's (Con) investigation into the rash of suicides in their small town is caused by the unwelcome intervention of FBI Special Agent Hunt. He adds more information, some forthcoming, some not so much.
The first chapter of Atonement is dynamite, intensity-laced, done perfectly, revealing PTSD symptoms in combat flashbacks, pushing immediate conflict, and exemplifying trained discipline. Winter Austin is noted for her smart, sassy, and traumatized female protagonists. Nicolette Rivers is no exception. She's barely likable at times, utterly out of control at others, and deeply hurting inside allowing no one to penetrate her vulnerability . . . most of the time. But Con has his sights set on those big time walls, intent on bringing them down, enduring her rejections to overcome the obstacles to her heart, all the while working overtime to discover who is really at the center of these suicides.
Because her father is a retired Marine who'd advanced high up the military ladder, there's been some sort of forced agreement over Nic's discharge. The remaining opinion of her father, who she calls "the General", is somewhere between sheer hatred and how she identifies him to her associate as "a cold-hearted bastard". Two events in her life have contributed to her strong feelings but it isn't until late in the story that we learn of them.
Nic's sister Cass adds to Nic's messy conflicted life when she shows up to monitor Nic's "condition". She receives Nic's wrath, but eventually Cass's connection to Agent Hunt and her cop instincts assist with the case until Cass's and Hunt's plan goes terribly awry.
Atonement gives the reader an intense, conflicted, and romantic story with a "red-herring" thrown in for good measure. Multiple peripheral characters make it interesting along with workplace agitation and small town suspicions of the unfamiliar. Taking a fair look at PTSD, Winter Austin invokes sympathy for her protagonist in spite of her sometimes irritating and cynical personality.
The only portion of the story which at first seemed to be abruptly inserted without a backdrop and as an afterthought, but eventually proved useful, was the initial appearance of Nic's horses. I love horses so any inclusion of them into a story is fine with me, but they weren't mentioned as needing care or being a part of Nic's life until their sudden introduction. It felt a bit awkward to me but that's no big deal.
I recommend reading any and all of Winter Austin's novels if you like romantic suspense with good action, serious plots, troubled heroes/heroines, and satisfying conclusions. Atonement fills the bill. A worthwhile read.
Some profanity.
Available May 18th, 2015
Father, continue to use Winter's talent for your purpose and glory. Give her the stories only she can tell. Bless her and her family with your direction and abundance. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
