Saturday, December 8, 2012

ARC Review: Guardians of Stone by Anita Clenney

Guardians of Stone
Author: Anita Clenney
Publication: Montlake Romance (December 4, 2012)

Description: Kendall Morgan is a human bloodhound. Spending her childhood hunting relics with her ambitious archeologist father, she knew the two of them shared a sixth sense for the history and location of objects—sometimes even people. What she didn’t know was that their paranormal gift could ultimately be their undoing.

After the tragic plane crash that killed her father as well as her childhood best friend, Kendall dedicated her life to finding and protecting relics. When mysterious, sexy billionaire Nathan Larraby hires her for his latest expedition—the search for four powerful relics —she’s thrown into a world of high-octane danger. He sends brooding mercenary Jake Stone to watch Kendall’s back, but he may have created danger of a different kind.

As the team chases down clues, a man called the Reaper makes a play for the artifacts and will stop at nothing to put them to his own sinister use. What’s worse is that Nathan hasn’t told the whole story, and the dark secrets he’s keeping could cost them the mission…and their lives.

My Thoughts: This book starts a new series by Anita Clenney and, unlike most series starters, this one doesn't start with tons of story-building and characters introductions. We find ourselves with Kendall Morgan meeting with her mysterious new boss billionaire Nathan about finding a relic that he is searching for. Kendall has a psychic talent that lets her locate missing objects and also lets her learn about people when she touches them - which isn't very good for her love life. Nathan has also recruited a reluctant employee of his - Jake Stone - to go along. Nathan has some sort of hold over Jake.

Neither Jake nor Kendall are used to working with others and both resent the other's presence which doesn't stop them from being attracted to each other. I got a little tired of Jake's constant sexual innuendos though I liked Kendall's comebacks. 

The story is filled with adventure as Jake and Kendall travel to Italy looking for a lost monastery which guards some mystical relics. The story is filled with twists and turns as a new villain seems to enter every couple of pages.

While the dialog was well-done and the repartee amusing, I missed character development. Each character had lots of secrets and back-story that we don't ever find out about. The tantalizing hints were very frustrating for me. I wanted to know how Jake became a mercenary soldier. I wanted to know more about the accident the killed Kendall's father and best friend Adam. And I definitely wanted to know what was happening with Nathan that gave him glowing eyes and super-human strength. 

I will have to read the next books in the series to find out the answers to these questions and to find out if there is ever a romance between Jake and Kendall or Nathan and Kendall. (I know there won't be a romance between Jake and Nathan!)

Fans of snappy dialog and high adventure featuring ghosts, mysterious relics, and shady villains will enjoy this one. 

Favorite Quote:
"You knocked her out."

"How else was I supposed to look for the box? The only thing I want to have sex with is you." He stepped even closer and she could feel frustration and heat rolling off him. "I don't even know why. You won't follow orders. You take risks. And you get under my skin like an itch. Sometimes I just want to...Ah, hell." He yanked her to him and kissed her.
I got this ARC through the Amazon Vine program. You can buy your copy here.

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