The Prey by Allison Brennan (Ballentine, 2006)

If you want every bit of Allison Brennan’s The Prey to be a surprise, including the identity of the hero, stop reading this NOW. If you want some insight into her first romantic suspense hero, keep reading.

When this book starts, the reader thinks it’s John’s brother, Michael, that will not only be keeping the heroine safe, but also winning her heart. From the moment John walks into the heroine’s house with his sister, however, the reader knows that’s not going to be the case.

STATS:

Ex-government agent, now a private consultant for the DEA and part owner of a security business with his siblings, Tess and Michael. Obsessed with tracking down a big-time drug lord in South America when he’s called in by his sister to help Michael, who is protecting a writer, Rowan Smith.

THE LOOK:

Short hair, green eyes, lean body. “He was too damn sexy for his own good, and he knew it.”

“He wasn’t as big and muscular as his brother, but Rowan knew who she’d bet on in a fight-John would win hands down. He was dangerous.”

“His entire face spoke of subtle masculinity, a man comfortable with himself, a man who knew his place in the word-and it wasn’t at the bottom.”

LEADING LADY:

Rowan Smith is a writer whose stories and characters someone is using to commit murder. Uninterested in relationships because of a deep-seated belief that everyone she loves dies, Rowan is instantly aware that John Flynn is not the type of man to be “led, stymied, or satisfied with the short answer. He was a threat. To her soul.”

Unshakeable Confidence:

Throughout the book, John displays unfailing confidence, whether it’s in his ability to attract Rowan or to get her to tell him the truth.

As he himself recognizes, John Flynn isn’t a “first-sight-attraction kind of guy.” However, when he meets the heroine for the first time, he’s so attracted to her that he immediately decides to dump the “First Sight Rule” that he and his brother instituted in high school. John tells himself that while Michael may think he’s in love with Rowan, he’d make it up to him.

Unforgettable Passion:

In steamy love scenes, John focuses on the task at hand, which is surrendering to passion while at the same time keeping Rowan safe. Whether he’s removing Rowan’s panties with his teeth, letting her take the lead despite his fervent desire to take control, or telling her that the connection between them would never end, his passion, like him, is quietly intense. Unshakeable.

BOTTOM LINE:

John Flynn is a take-charge, confident, sexy hero whose intimacy with the heroine reveals a tender side not easily discovered. He’s what’s known as a “bad ass” with a heart, one we root for throughout the book.

QUESTION OF THE DAY?

Have you ever been interested in someone that a friend or sibling has already called “dibs” on? Did you act on your interest?