Half of this book is a flashback, and the topic is a little depressing. However, the romance has chemistry, and the story is compelling. Definitely worth reading, especially since it sets up the situation for one of the later books.

Updated 8/13/19: Borrowed via Audible Escape & DNF due to the narrator’s constant inflection at the end of nearly every sentence.

Will go back to reading it myself.

***
Also titled “Hawken’s Heart”

The first 50% is a little slow and basically mostly romance, but a necessary groundwork for both the last half and the following book.

This is one of my favorites of the series ~ Brockmann is wonderful here with balancing flawed but strong characters and weaving a lot of story together in a way that keeps you guessing. The action is slightly less than some other books, but still strong.

Crash’s cousin, Daisy, is dying and he’s spending her final weeks staying with her and her partner Admiral Jake Robinson. Daisy’s personal assistant of several years, Nell, also lives at the farm.

The first half gives us this time spent fulfilling Daisy’s “bucket list” as well as a deepening friendship between Nell & Crash/Billy. When Daisy dies, Crash goes away and Nell tries to move on with her life.

Fast forward a year and Crash is the only survivor in an ambush that kills Jake and the team protecting him. Crash is framed for the slaughter and goes on the run with Nell, who has also been targeted.

TBR Challenge 2011- Category: September (late: catch up on a series) and October (romantic suspense). The entire Tall Dark and Dangerous series has been on my TBR list for over a year.

3.5*
Good characters, decent plot and moving love story. While not earth-shattering, Hawken's Heart was a great way to spend a rainy day. ;-)

I loved this book. Finding that I was hooked from the beginning to the end. With the action and romance it was definitely a great read.

I'm not gonna lie. I picked this up because I'm a huge Jake Robinson fan ever since reading my first Brockmann, The Admiral's Bride. This book shows Jake and his first wife Daisy shortly before her death due to cancer. The story is primarily Daisy and Jake's 'surrogate' son, William "Crash" Hawken's story but the former couple do play a pretty big part in his life, not to mention the driving suspense of the story.

The book starts out with a bang as Crash is blamed for the murder of Jake. Although the outcome is clear (see previous book mention) the journey is fascinating to watch as we go back in time to see what lead up to the events at the beginning. Crash is used to closing himself off of feeling since his work as a SEAL takes him away at any given moment. Going through relationship after relationship leaving a trail behind, he only allows himself to care on the familial front. Potential change of that fact comes in the form of Nell Burns, Daisy's personal assistant. Nell is attracted to Crash and he to her but they downplay their feelings as word comes that Daisy doesn't have too long to live. Even so, Daisy chooses to live her last days with great love and happiness alongside her lover Jake (who asks her to wed him before she goes) and her family.

The first part of the book is more contemporary romance as we see everyone share in Daisy's last days. I liked seeing Jake's relationship with his first wife which ties into how he sees his second wife later on in the series.

The second part deals with the aftermath of Daisy's death and (eventually) Jake's death which is pinned on Crash. Crash thus closes himself off more than ever for fear of losing Nell, the last person in the world he cares for, while trying to uncover the source of his framing.

Although I enjoyed the quiet moments of the first half of the book, I really liked the second half which dealt with a lot of intrigue, action and suspenseful moments that make Brockmann a fave of mine. Crash is a yummy hero, Nell is a strong female lead with a sense of vulnerability and humor and, of course, there's Admiral Jake Robinson who's just as sweet as ever while he shares the last days of the love of his life.

Tall, Dark & Dangerous 6

William "Crash" Hawken has been set up. He was used by someone high in the government to get a team of assassins into the presence of Admiral Jake Robinson, then accused of being the killer himself. Nell Burns was determined to help the man she hopelessly loved prove his innocence, but could it cause her even more pain?

The story starts off with a bang, then flips back a year to show how Nell and Crash connected with each other as they waited with Jake when his long-time lover was dying of cancer. The switch almost makes the book feel like two different ones, yet I understand why we're given that hook. Somehow Brockmann makes it work. I really liked having the time to discover both main characters' strengths and weaknesses. The addition of some old friends from previous books didn't hurt either. 4.5 out of 5.