Guarded by Mary Behre
Series: Tidewater#2
Published by Berkley
Published on: August 5, 2014
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 320
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
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She’s given up on finding love…
Veterinarian Shelley Morgan has always preferred animals to humans, and not simply because she can communicate with them psychically. Unlike most people she’s known, animals have never broken her heart. But after six months in her new town, some of her favorite four-legged companions begin disappearing from the local zoo. Determined to track down the animals and their thief, the telepathic vet decides to investigate, unknowingly delving into a deadly mystery.
He’s ready to make her heart go wild…
Although his bear-like physique has been an advantage in the Tidewater Police Department, Dev Jones’s size often intimidates people. Only Shelley has seen past his massive build to the intelligent man inside, but that was years ago. So when she contacts him requesting his help to solve a series of animal kidnappings, he’s eager to reconnect with her. But the thefts escalate to murder and all the evidence points to Shelley as the killer, and Dev faces a devastating choice: forsake his career or risk losing the woman he’s grown to love…
Spirited, the first book in this series, was an enjoyable read, so I was excited when this book was released, and bought it soon after. I purchased it on August 8th, and finished it today, on Sept. 10. Why did it take me so long to read it? I kept putting it down, because it just didn’t hold my interest. I was reading other books, even though I was halfway done with this one. I really hate it when a second book doesn’t live up to the first. To be fair, the last probably third of the book was way more exciting, and fast paced, but I just wish it had been that exciting all the way through.
Shelley is a small town veterinarian, that happens to be gifted with being able to talk to animals. The animals don’t talk, but instead show her pictures in her mind, and I guess they understand her when she speaks English to them. This small town boasts a rundown zoo, and Shelley has been tasked with taking care of the health needs of the animals. Someone is stealing the animals, and Shelley is taking the heat because of it. All of the animals are more then happy to “tell” her what they know, but it’s not enough, as none have seen the face of the one responsible. She reaches out to her old friend(and crush)from college. Dev is a detective in Tidewater, but he is more then happy to make the trip to Elkridge to help Shelley-his own crush from college, as well.
I enjoyed the characters of Dev and Shelley, for the most part, however, since Shelley is Jules’s(from Spirited)long lost sister, I got a bit tired of her not wanting to live near her sister, or get attached to her. The two sisters, along with their still lost sister, Hannah, had all been adopted by different couples. Shelley’s adoptive parents are deceased, she has no one else, so it made no sense to me, especially since they remember each other, and have an immediate connection. When she starts acting that way towards Dev, I just got even more tired of it. I don’t mean to share spoilers, there just was no other way for me to explain why I got tired of the main character. She also manages to put herself in harms way more then she should, also a pet peeve of mine in a lead character. I did enjoy Jules in this book. She, of course, is still seeing ghosts(her gift)and this happens in this book as well.
It may seem like I have told way more of the story than I should, but this story has a lot more then just this, more characters, more hazardous situations, and more deaths. I just wanted more of the communicating with animals. I loved that premise, and I thought there should have been more then is shown.
If you have read Spirited, and liked it as I did, I think you should still give this a try. If you haven’t read Spirited, I do recommend it, and it actually can stand alone. This one might not have been my favorite read, but it sure could be yours!
I’m Lorna and I live in Maryland. Since retiring, I spend my time mostly reading and reviewing books. My favorite reads are Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, and Young Adult. I read a lot of indie books in addition to traditionally published books. Favorite paranormal creature? Vampires, but I am really liking werewolves more everyday.
Ohhh 2nd book syndrome! Sometimes (or a lot of times) that happens. However, it does sound like the writing was still there just didn’t quite grab you like the first one. Maybe the next will be more a long the lines of the first!
Felicia the Geeky Blogger recently posted…#LoveMyLibraryCard Guest Post: Just Right for the Budget by Books and Things
I hope so! I do want to see how it all ends with the third sisters story 🙂
Lorna recently posted…Review: Guarded by Mary Behre
I hate it when a first book is fabulous and then the second is only so so. I am hoping this series picks back up again because I bought the first book after seeing all the great reviews for it. I think now I will wait to start it until I see reviews for the third book. If it is only a one hit wonder then I think I will pass on it.
kindlemom1 recently posted…Review: Vault of Dreamers by Caragh M. O’Brien
If you already have the first book, I would definitely read it as it can stand alone and is worth the read, at least I think so 🙂
Lorna recently posted…Review: Guarded by Mary Behre
Animal lovers might enjoy this type of story line. Especially with the character being a caretaker of a rundown zoo. 🙂 I think it’s an interesting story arch (being able to communicate with animals), but unfortunate that you had a rough start.
Joy (Joyousreads) recently posted…Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
You are right about animal lovers, and I am one. However, she doesn’t run the zoo, she just goes when needed. She work at a vet’s office, I guess I should have written that better 🙂
i haven’t read spirited but now i’m quite interested in discovering it.
i must say that even if book 2 doesn’t seem to be of teh same quality for you perhaps it’s still the one that call to me the most simply because she can communicate with animals^^;;
so it’s a series i would be happy to try yes
thanks for teh discovery
miki recently posted…The Mane Event (Pride 1) by Sherry Laurenston
I loved the premise of this book! Talking to animals is a fun idea. I just wanted more of it. I know a lot of people really loved this book on Amazon reviews, so you absolutely should try it if you want 🙂 To me 3 stars still means it’s a fairly good read!
Oh well you got me curious for that first book, Spirited. I am glad it can be read as a standalone. Have a feeling I would feel this one was too slow for me as well.
Melissa (Books and Things) recently posted…Audiobook Review: Trapped by Kevin Hearne
Yes I liked Spirited a lot and reviewed it a couple of months or so ago. You may like this one though-lots of people did 🙂
I fear that I would just have given up
blodeuedd recently posted…Sixth Grave on the Edge – Darynda Jones
I came close, but actually was glad I stuck with it, cause it got a lot better towards the end 🙂
Did somebody say zoo? *shuffles off to add another series to her tbr pile*
Lorelle Page recently posted…Too anxious to succeed?
I liked the animal parts a lot too 🙂
Lorna recently posted…Review: Guarded by Mary Behre
Aw bummer it didn’t work for you. I loved Spirited and really enjoyed this one though not quite as much. Still had a good time with it though 🙂
anna recently posted…Scandal And The Duchess (Highland Pleasures #6.5) by Jennifer Ashley
I didn’t hate it, it just wasn’t as good as I wanted it to be after Spirited. I will probably read the next one too 🙂
Lorna recently posted…Review: Guarded by Mary Behre
Yeah I found Shelley’s reaction to learning that her sisters are alive and well a bit disappointing. Jules was hellbent on reuniting with everyone and going out of her way to search and here’s Shelley acting like she could care less.
But overall I enjoyed the story, I liked her approach on the animal psychic thingy
Braine Talk Supe recently posted…Melissa Loved It: This is Sarah by Ally Malinenko
Yes I really liked the animal psychic thing too 🙂
Lorna recently posted…Review: Guarded by Mary Behre
the communicating with animals part sounds interesting
That was my favorite part of the read 🙂
Lorna recently posted…Review: Guarded by Mary Behre
I DNFed this one. I got really annoyed with the MC and her sister-phobia as well as the whole Doctor Doolittle thing with the zoo…it was just too messy with too many threads for me.
Mary recently posted…Pre-Squee: Court of Fives by Kate Elliott
I totally understand, I probably liked it a bit better then a DNF due to the last part of the book, but I almost didn’t finish it either 🙂
Aww, I wish this one had been better, Lorna. I remember how much you liked Spirited. And it’s so disappointing when the 2nd book suffers the sophomore slump. Do you think you’ll continue the series? I think I *will* read Spirited anyway. Nice review!
Bookworm Brandee recently posted…**Blog Tour Review & Giveaway ~ Beyond the Orange Moon ~ Adrienne Frances**
Oh I would definitely read Spirited..I liked that one a lot. I do know that a lot of people on Amazon loved this book. I think I have read so many really great mysteries, that this just didn’t measure up for me. I probably will finish out the series. And thanks!