Special Gifts

SPECIAL GIFTS is a very old school romance by Anne Stuart, a personal favorite author of mine. This was first released about twenty years ago, just when Stuart was beginning to write her bad, bad boy anti-hero's; but for those not familiar with her writing style may view the make leads in a dim light by today's standards.

Elizabeth Hardy has moved to Colorado to lick her wounds in private and resign herself to the fate of a lonesome life for the rest of her days. One thing that prevents her from not seeking the company of other people, mainly that of Police Detective Phil Grayson is because of her visions. These visions render her as cold as ice from deep within; visions of horror, evilness and blood red murders. It is one such vision that propels Phil to contact his ex-Army Intelligence buddy Colonel Sam Oliver who turns Elizabeth’s world upside down in more than one way. Sam also sees Bree in a different way, looking past the frightening visions to see the woman behind them.

An oldie but a goodie.

I received a copy of this book to read through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. Special Gifts by Anne Stuart is a romantic suspense novel. Elizabeth Hardy has the gift of sight, alone with no family and few friends so she’s been using her abilities to help the local police force to try and solve a series of brutal murders by the Colorado Slasher. When she mentions seeing a name on a truck at the crime scene in one of her visions Detective Phil Grayson calls his old army buddy Col Sam Oliver because what they had thought was just a serial killer has now been tied to a worldwide terrorist organization. Skeptical that Elizabeth’s visions are real and not sure she isn’t a mole Sam not one to trust anyone finds that she is the only one he can trust as they race against time to stop the terrorists. Anne Stuart never fails to write an enthralling story.
Medium Steam. Publishing Date August 23, 2019. #NetGalley #SpecialGifts #AnneStuart #RomanticSuspense #bookstagram #mysteryandthriller #BellBridgeBooks #BelleBooksInc

Elizabeth Hardy is living in seclusion in Colorado. She assists local police but she pays a terrible toll. One of her visions results in her police contacting Colonel Sam Oliver who thinks Elizabeth is a fraud, he doesn’t believe in psychics. Cicmstances require Elizabeth and Sam to work together.

This book was previously published in 1990. I hadn’t read it before and was glad for the opportunity to read it now. There was plenty of suspense along with a romance. I would recommend this book to readers. Thank you to net galley for a copy for a fair review.

Suspense thriller. Elizabeth is a psychic and Sam has hunches, together they plan to avenge a friend's death and save the US from a mjor disaster. Sam is the hardened agent and Elizabeth is the virginal damsel trying to help out how she can with her special gifts. A number of mistakes are made but will they cost them their lives

This was a great introduction to a new author for me! I loved how the romance and suspense were blended. Nothing too explicit in either genre for those who are squeamish. And even though you know who the bad guy is fairly early, you have to keep reading in order to find out his agenda. I would have liked more to the ending re the romance side as it seemed to resolve too quickly for me. Despite having been written in 1990, the story doesn’t feel dated (other than the telephone reference) although romance stories have definitely evolved from this. This book has definitely got me interested in more by this author!

Special Gifts by Anne Stuart

Vintage romance that stands the test of time. I thought I was getting a book by one of my favorite authors only to find out that perhaps I have not read any of this author’s books before and find that sad...really very sad. Why? I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read another by this author! That said...just did some sleuthing and it seems I may have read and enjoyed some of this author’s previous books but had to refresh my memory as to which ones...and after the refreshing can remember those books well. Definitely glad I read this book and revisited some other previously read books as a result.

This book has a bit of the paranormal going on with Elizabeth Hardy “seeing things” that are unsettling for her but helpful to the police in solving cases. When she sees something “big” the detective she is with calls in a buddy and the story takes a chilling turn. Sure, Elizabeth was helping with a serial murder case with a butcher fiend but with the word she threw out it brings on international implications that bring the government into play.

What I liked:
* Elizabeth: she was much stronger than she appeared to be at first and I really liked the way her character developed as the story progressed.
* Sam: he seemed mean at first and rather obnoxious but he grew on me as the story got further along and by the end I really liked him a lot.
* Phil: A good man – would have enjoyed knowing him better
* Danny: Intriguing fellow – would love to read a story based on his character
* The pace and plotting
* The fact the story resonated even thirty years later – timeless

What I did not like:
* The Spandau group...and the people affiliated with it
* The corrupt within and outside of the government
* When the last page was finished and I wanted to know how Sam & Elizabeth ended up – would have loved an epilogue

Thank you to NetGalley and Belle Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

An excellent romantic suspense with a bit of paranormal. It's gripping and entertaining and I rooted for the characters.
I loved the romance and the mystery, solid and well crafted.
The cast of characters is well thought and likeable.
My impression is that the author left the ending somehow open so there could be another book with this characters.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

This is an excellent romantic thriller with a nice twist in the paranormal. Elizabeth Hardy has the gift of precognition that allows her to sense and feel things not apparent to mundane humans. she uses her gifts to assist the local police department solve crimes until she finds herself swept in and a part of the most recent case.
Sam Oliver has flashes of intuition that help him in his job in military intelligence. Despite that he's not really a believer but when one of his current cases overlaps with a murder in a small town in Colorado he's not prepared to believe in Elizabeth and her intuition. Unfortunately for him, they're both swept up together in murder and find themselves running for their lives.
As Elizabeth and Sam find themselves isolated for all they know relying on Sam's skills and Elizabeth intuition things heat up in more ways than one. Their chemistry together is hot and the story absorbing with the end coming almost too quick.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.