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

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!

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

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.

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.