Deep Night - Book Review

By Kathy Clark

Synopsis

Ex-soldier Chris Wilson lost too many friends to war. Back home in Denver, he’s trying to make a difference as a paramedic, treating victims of crisis situations. Not even active combat could prepare Chris for the rush he gets when violence and tragedy collide, but the job isn’t the only thing making his heart race. His partner is his closest confidant from childhood, and the girl he remembers is now a strong, sensual woman . . . who needs him more than ever.

Sara Richards is more comfortable risking her life than asking for help. The petite blonde medic put a wall around her heart long ago, vowing to never let anyone hurt her again. Only now her long-buried secrets threaten to destroy everything she’s built. And though she should be able to trust Chris, his smoldering blue-gray eyes ignite desires that feel more dangerous than whatever’s lurking in the shadows. For once, Sara can’t go it alone. But Chris might just be stubborn enough to stand by her side as she faces down her worst nightmare.

Review

Reading the blurb for DEEP NIGHT, I wasn’t sure what to expect as there’s not exactly a lot to go on. So I read the prologue and BAM!!! Kathy does not believe in easing a reader in, that’s for sure. Just a few pages in and all I can think is “WTF?”. From then on, it was almost impossible to put down. I stayed up until 1.30 am reading because every time I went to put it down, BAM!!! Something else would happen, or be revealed, and I’d be pulled right back in again.

Sara and Chris are childhood friends, having grown up next door to each other until Chris left for college. They’re reunited when Chris returns to civilian life as a paramedic training under Sara; he needs to get out of his parents’ house and she has a room to spare in her apartment. It’s a win-win situation until Sara’s teen-aged crush towards Chris resurfaces and he starts seeing her as more than just a good buddy. But Sara is holding on to a big secret that she fears could send Chris running should he ever find out.

DEEP NIGHT is a friends to lovers story that deals with some very intense and sensitive topics. A lot of time was spent on Sara and her past, but Chris had some issues of his own and I felt they were skimmed over and warranted greater discussion. I think the pace of the entire story was perfect and the relationship between Chris and Sara grew and evolved at a realistic pace. I liked the mystery surrounding the prologue as up until the 60% mark, I wasn’t sure who it was about. I had my suspicions, but the story was written in such a way that I couldn’t be 100% sure. The suspense, the relationship, the loss, heck everything, was really well written.

This is book 3 in the Denver Heroes series, and while the couples from the previous books make an appearance in DEEP NIGHT, you can read this as a stand alone. Would I read the previous two books? Yes, I think I would. But given how intense this book was, and how snippets of what the previous characters had endured were revealed, I think I’d need to be in the right frame of mind before I attempted them.

** Please note this story contains scenes of child abuse, rape and suicide, so take caution if these are triggers for you.