Anne Stuart is always a great. I have never read one of hers that I didn't like and this was no different. I was surprised it was a rewrite and update from an older book. It was a read in one sitting, grab your attention and not let go as her books usually are.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3840453481

This book was an interesting read that had my thinking back to one of my favorite TV series, Medium. That aspect made it unique and stick out in my mind. That combined with the Alpha male aspects of the male lead and the believable romance had me quickly reading this book.

This book was enjoyable but occasionally felt a bit dated.

I mostly enjoyed the alpha hero, but it’s the heroine Elizabeth’s quiet fortitude and inner snark that made this book. It was also really fun watching the gruff and tough asshole hero Sam fall for Elizabeth.

Overall, this was a fun read and had a nice little twist that differentiated it from other cop/psychic romances out there.

I am a fan of Anne Stuart and I enjoyed reading this story. Elizabeth and Sam were great characters. I think that Elizabeth’s gift brought so much to the story.
Many thanks to BelleBridge Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a republish of an older book that I believe I had read long ago. It was a cool walk down memory lane for sure. I do wish there had been more "magic". I got kind of tired of the same cold veins and frozen pale face though. I didn't feel the love connection but I enjoyed the "bad guys" pov which is rare in books, so that was cool. Thanks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Stars

This book was first published under the Silhouette line back in 1990. I am assuming it is being re-released with a new cover.

This story certainly didn’t get rusty with age.

Elizabeth Hardy works with a local investigator to uncover insights into unsolved cases. She has a sort of psychic gift that assists her. Intuitive flashes and key details come forth to her but not without a price. Her health suffers after every psychic encounter.

Sam Oliver comes in after one of Elizabeth’s intuitive insights brings forth the code name of a government’s covert group which has now been taken over by terrorists. Elizabeth’s missing person case and the one Sam is working on overlap. Apparently, the missing girl looks very similar to the President’s daughter and she is also on the missing list.

Sam was not a likable guy most of the time during this story. I am not certain had I been in Elizabeth’s shoes, I would have chosen the same path she did.

This is a bit of a hate to love story with a happy ending which I always like. Good stuff.

If you love a good romantic suspense mystery, you have to check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

This is a re-release of a 20-year-old Stuart book. It's aged well and is a pretty ripping, interesting story. I enjoyed reading it.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Elizabeth can see things and she has helped the Colorado police but now she has stumbled upon something bigger and things go sideways. ARC from NetGalley. Reprint

This is one of those books that is neither bad nor good. I could see a lot of potential and there were moments I enjoyed, but it never really caught my interest. I didn’t hate any of it, but I didn’t love it either.

I think the overall plot was where most of my interest died. I am not much for detective novels, which I can’t really fault the book for since that is really only on me. Yet, the detective theme wasn’t all there was as there was romance with an enemies to lovers theme and suspense as well. Now, that I usually like very much in books and that’s where I also feel that it fell a bit short. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed them not liking each other with all the bickering and sly comments. It added some personality and excitement to the story and it built up nice enough to them starting to ... not get along per say since they never really got there, but them getting together and falling for each other. However, there was just something missing for me to get fully on board with the romance.

I don’t know if it was the writing style at that time (the book is thirty years old after all), if there was something lacking in their personalities or something else, but the romance didn’t have as much depth and intrigue as I would have liked. Although the buildup was good it was also a bit hard to follow. They hated each other, then they didn’t, then they bickered, then they got along, then they didn’t trust each other, then they made love. It was difficult to see where they stood with each other and what brought this hot and cold behavior on. In a sense it made it more dramatic, but at the same time I feel like it was the reason why I didn’t enjoy the romance as much either, since it also removed some depth from it, never giving them the room to work on their emotions.

Since I’m not into the detective genre I will not let that effect my rating on this book. What has effected it however is the unexplainable in the whole case. I feel like I never got an explanation as to why the villains (as I will call them in this review since I don’t remember the corporation’s name) did what they did. I mean, we got why they needed Sheri and what they were going to do after that. But why were they doing it? Why was Ali involved? What did he gain from it other than embarrassing the American government? Never understanding the villains goal with their whole scheme left me a bit unsatisfied with the conclusion. Also, one of my biggest pet peeves in books is a villain monologue where the villain wastes time giving away their plan or information. And what do you know, that is exactly what Ali does. To put it lightly, it makes it a bit unrealistic, since he is supposed to be perceived as a smart guy getting away with being a serial killer. The whole monologue contradicts that smartness.

I tried to keep an open mind reading this book, one reason the detective theme and the other reason the book’s age. Now, I never really felt that the book was out of time while I read it, but still. Maybe this was how books were written at that time and that’s why I’m not so into it. Either way I think three stars is fitting for Special Gifts.

I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Special gifts have it ups and downs that bring the stars form 4 to 3 and 1\2. The story is a dark and gritty and might not be for everyone. The romance didn't quite fit in this story and at times felt forced to be in the book.
The author has the ability to paint a dark story intertwining strong characters who are always evolving and changing from first page to the last page.
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of Anne Stuart Special Gifts.

This is a reprint of a book from 1990. I had not read it originally so thought I would give it a try.
A bit of a supernatural element. Engaging characters. Sam and Elizabeth had good chemistry. Kept you guessing what was going to happen next..
3.85

The Delight

Years and years ago-30 to 40 years maybe-my favorite author was Anne Stuart. I used to hunt for her books because I knew I would get a really good story and more often than not, the hero would be dark and brooding and I appreciated that. Not that I can remember much, but I think there was usually a mystery or danger involved. When I saw this book on Net Galley there was no way I was passing it up, even though I knew there was a good chance I had read it way back when as it was a re-release. And yes, it ended up being a reread with only a few parts that I still could remember. I can honestly say that the delight here was in how well the story still holds up all these years later.

Review

Elizabeth Hardy is a psychic and sometimes donates her readings to a detective from Denver. Only when completely necessary. When she sees something in a vision and mentions it to the detective it causes her whole life to be turned upside down. Detective Phil Grayson knows he has to call his friend in Washington and tell him about what is mentioned. They had both worked for a clandestine organization that should have been defunct for ten years, but obviously isn’t. His friend is on his way immediately to Denver. Of course Elizabeth knows nothing about this because her vision was about a missing and presumed dead woman. When Sam Oliver arrives at her home in a rural area outside the city, he pretty much pushes his way into Elizabeth’s life. He doesn’t believe in psychics and he thinks she is either a con artist or somehow involved in the evil organization. So it’s on. He has to prove her a fake or figure out what she is up to. Only, she’s not a fake and she has no clue about the organization.

I really liked Elizabeth a lot. She’s like a waif or something, skin and bones, with long hair, not beautiful(that was refreshing for a change)and possesses a real psychic gift. A gift that knocks her on her butt after a vision. She does not receive any compensation for her work. She’s had a tragedy in her life that she is working through. Sam Oliver is a big deal in Washington. He wears a uniform when in Washington, but honestly I can’t remember what his actual job was. He has access to a private plane so he’s kind of important. He’s single, with a big build and major fighting skills. He too, has had a tragedy in his life. He has a major chip on his shoulder and honestly I didn’t like him much at first. He did grow on me the further I got into the story.

The story was well written with a really intricate plot line. The kind you really have to pay attention to, to continue understanding what you are reading. If that makes sense. There are some villains and one particularly bad one. There’s also a really good and sensual romance-the kind with lots of chemistry and tension so thick you can cut it with a knife at times. The book also features an exciting, suspenseful mystery, murders, kidnappings, and road chases, among other crimes. To make it even more interesting, the action changes to other locations.

I recommend this to adult romantic suspense readers-especially ones that won’t notice the lack of cell phone mentions. This is Stuart at her best.

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a pretty good mystery romance novel. Liz has pyschic abilities that she utilizes to help find the killer of several women. She meets Sam who is suspicious of her abilities but ultimately cannot deny their usefulness. They have an immediate connection that they initially fight but proves to powerful to deny. Although I wasn't crazy about Liz's fragile, depressing state she does come around to show a stronger sense of self and willingness to live.
Overall a romance worth reading.

A murderer on the loose and it's up to the psychic abilities of our heroine to hunt down the killer with the help of Sam. They must avenge Phil's death and find out who took Mary and killed her. And where is Shari? Full of intrigue and romance. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me review this book.

Another very good story by Ms. STuart. She never fails to delight and the plot kept me hooked from start to finish.

This book was published in 1990. I'm assuming the request to review is based on it's release as an ebook. Anne Stuart has been one my favorite authors for years. Her books have a dark side that I love. This book goes down that path. Elizabeth Hardy is a psychic. There is a murderer on the loose killing young women in the Colorado mountains. Elizabeth is helping the local law enforcement, until the disappearance of a Senator's daughter becomes intertwined with another woman's death. Now the government is involved and a man of secrets comes into play. Fast paced, with a hard edged hero who develops a soft spot for Elizabeth. Stuart doesn't disappoint.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

This was such n enjoyable read. Elizabeth is a kind and caring woman with special talent. Sam is dominating, lethal and can be a bit of a jerk. There is a lot of intrigue and suspense. The author’s description of the scenery was vivid. I felt as though I was floating along the canals. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

I didn't realize when I requested this one from Netgalley that it was a reissue by Bell Bridge Books of a very old Stuart title, one first published in 1990 under the Silhouette Intimate Moments imprint. It was a finalist for the RITA award for romantic suspense in 1991.

I've read many of Stuart's more recent books, and often find them both compelling yet disturbing, with their anti-hero male leads. This one, however, has a good guy male lead: an Army Intelligence officer (Sam Oliver) who comes to help out a former colleague turned police detective on a missing person's case that appears to involve a group that's an old nemesis of United States. The detective finds out about the connection through Elizabeth Hardy, a young woman who has psychic visions. When Sam hears this, he treats Elizabeth with demeaning scorn, despite his attraction to her. There's lots of physical grabbing, manhandling, and "I know you want me" type dialogue. At one point, because he decides that she doesn't really need her glasses, that they're a disguise, he pulls them off her and breaks them. Major signs of dated, Old Skool romance hero here.

For her part, Elizabeth is typical downtrodden category romance heroine of the 80's-90's type: she hates how Sam treats her, recognizes that he'll always put the greater good ahead of anyone else, and doesn't want to have sex with him. But she falls for him anyways, since, when you're a virgin in a category romance, you always fall in love with the guy who deflowers you. She makes several STTL moves, to keep the plot moving along and put herself in danger, allowing the more experienced and manly Sam to save her (view spoiler)

Reminds me of why I gave up reading category romances when I was in college (shortly before this one was originally published)—for the most part, they're ickily sexist.

Reader, beware!

Romantic thriller with fast moving story featuring a psychic and a sceptic. Good characters and interesting story.

Anne Stuart is one of my favorite authors. I read this book years ago and it still is a wonderful read, good story line and interesting characters. I recommend all her books. I received an e-book from NetGalley in return for an unbiased review.