A Spring Break Adventure that will not be forgotten
Durango Beach Florida is a popular destination for spring breakers and this year is no different. Best Friends Ellie and Courtney are spending the week soaking up the sun with their new acquaintances and spring flings Wes and John. When a body turns up in a neighboring ravine, Ellie is worried that this may a be victim of the duo dubbed by the news media as the modern day “Bonnie & Clyde”. Jimmy and Scarlet have blazed a trail of crime all the way down the Eastern Seaboard with a series of mostly robberies and theft. Despite the developments the group are determined to enjoy their time in paradise and Ellie and Wes start growing close. Then when Ellie goes missing and is suspected of being kidnapped by Scarlet, Wes launches a hunt to find and rescue her. Along with a new acquaintance Wes only knows as Shane, the pair set out to find Ellie. Wes is unaware that Shane is motivated to help for darker and more personal reasons. Are Jimmy and Scarlet lawless felons blazing a trail of crime for kicks, or are they running from something or someone? Once the truth is revealed, detective Taft will have to decide which path to pursue and which to abandon.
Author duo Tim McBain and LT Vargus return with a new series and an entirely new cast of characters with Love Her Darkly first in what has been called the Shadows of Love series. In this book we are transported to a fictional Florida coastal town that could be any number of towns geared toward tourism. Being from Florida, and with the vivid descriptions it was easy for me to picture Durango beach as clearly as if it were Miami or Daytona Beach. The narrative initially focuses more of the spring breakers, particularly the budding relationship between Wes and Ellie. I loved the aspect of also tossing in a bit of urban exploration at the nearby “Burdick Murder House” to add a bit of lighthearted fun before the overall vibe turned dire. Things quickly pick up in pace after Ellie’s abduction and Wes’ teaming up with Shane which made this to be a very fast paced read with some pretty surprising twists.
Love Her Darkly is billed as a part of a new series, however after reading, I’m not sure which character or characters this will follow since there are several potential candidates to build the series from. There is also the possibility that Vargus and McBain may be planning to unleash on the reader a series of similarly themed stories possibly highlighting the dark side of relationships; when love turns sour, and obsession and abuse become the norm. I’m sure the next book will provide more clarification to the way this series will go, and I am eager to see where the duo plan to take this.
If you are a fan of suspense, fast paced plots, unpredictable characters and unforgettable locations check out Love Her Darkly.
Full disclosure – I was provided an advanced reader’s copy of this book by the authors but have voluntarily provided a review. All opinions are my own.
Jennly Reads 