Review: Against the Odds by Kat Martin

Against the Odds
by Kat Martin
Series: Raines of Wind Canyon #7
Publisher: Harlequin 
Publication date: December 18, 2012
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romantic Suspense
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"Mr. Justice! Mr. Justice, can you give us a moment of your time?"Sabrina Eckhart stared at the news broadcast on KTRK-TV. She had watched the segment run on an earlier edition, but found herself watching it again. The reporter, a small man with dark hair and a determined expression, hurried to keep up with Alex Justice's long strides as he walked out of the downtown Houston Police Department building. "Mr. Justice!" At the sight of several TV cameras, Alex's steps reluctantly slowed. "Everyone in the city is grateful for what you did," the reporter said. "People are calling you a hero. What do you think about that?" The man thrust a microphone into Alex's handsome face. Six two, dark blond hair and blue eyes, always dressed as if he'd just stepped out of a GQ magazine, Alex Justice was an amazing-looking man. "I'm a private investigator," Alex said. "I did what I was paid to do—find evidence that would identify the killer of a ten-year-old girl. I was lucky enough to make that happen. There's nothing heroic about it." "It's been said you'll do anything to catch your man. Is that true?" Alex just kept walking. There wasn't a glimpse of the deep dimples bracketing his mouth that Rina remembered so well. She hadn't seen him in more than six months, not since the day her best friend, Sage Du-mont, married Jake Cantrell, one of Alex's best friends.

Kat Martin always entertains me with her ex-military alpha males and the woman who finally win their playboy hearts. Against the Odds is the seventh book from the Raines of Wind Canyon series but don’t let that scare you as each works as a standalone. In this novel we get smexy Alex Justice story and a side story regarding his sister and a totally lovable carpenter. Filled with action, suspense and a hot sizzling romance with just enough heat I quickly consumed this.

Alex works with his former military buddies at a security firm in Houston, and he has just collected DNA evidence that leads to the arrest of a child killer. He met hot little redhead Sabrina Eckhart at his best friend’s wedding and while there were sparks she clearly didn’t like him, so he is surprised and intrigued when she hires him to help her explore a mine she inherited from her Uncle Walter. As a former navy pilot he flies them down in his plane to West Texas and then rents a helicopter to explore the 3,000 acres. When the helicopter malfunctions things get a little heated, as events begin to occur leading him to believe that someone wants Sabrina dead. The tale that unfolds has two suspenseful threads with romances that kept me turning the pages.

Martin has a knack for creating characters that I end up rooting for. They are flawed noble and completely swoon-worthy. Alex Justice with his six-foot frame and piercing blue eyes is no exception. Despite his playboy ways, women from his past respect him and that says a lot. He is dedicated to his work and loyal to his friends and I loved how Sabrina got under his skin. Sabrina had a lucrative career in the stock marketing until the economy took a dump and now finds her net assets depleted so the prospect of a mine excites her. She finds Alex smexy and intriguing but doesn't see them going anywhere. The more she learns about him the deeper she falls. I actually liked her, and despite her need to be in the middle of it all she was pretty leveled headed. The suspects, old characters and Alex’s sister added humor, suspense and romance to the tale.

The world building and weaving of the two storylines was solid, intense and captivated me. Sabrina’s inheritance and the threats against her and others made for intense moments and action packed scenes as it thrust the couple together. The second tale regarding the child killer added an extra layer of suspense that had me flipping the pages searching for a happy ending.  Sabrina felt genuine and as the reader it was obvious to us how Alex was feeling but watching him figure it all out was fun and honestly I only wanted to bop him on the head a few times. I loved the banter, the tender moments and of course the heat. Martin gives you just enough heat to let your imagination soar and it’s one of the things I like about her romances as the suspense is front and center.

Against the Odds was a wonderful romantic suspense and a lovely addition to the Raines of Wind Canyon series. Tomorrow on the blog I will be sharing my thoughts on Against the Edge book eight.

Four cups of chocolate mocha coffee out of five