A reminder that sometimes ‘trying something different’ just makes you miss what an author does best.
I picked this up for one reason and one reason only: Linda Castillo. I love her Kate Burkholder series, so I figured, why not see what else she’s written?
Spoiler alert: I should have read the description first.
This one turned out to be a Harlequin Intrigue romance, and it follows the formula to the letter. Innocent, naïve woman lands in danger. Big, capable, handsome man swoops in. Sparks fly. Trouble happens. Love conquers all. The end.
Nothing about it was bad, exactly, it just wasn’t for me. I kept waiting for the grit, tension, and depth I get from the Kate books, and instead got predictable romance beats and a happily-ever-after I could see coming from page ten.
Lesson learned. For Linda Castillo writing Kate Burkholder I’m all in. For Linda Castillo writing Harlequin romance not so much. I’ll happily stick to what she does best.
