Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of No Easy Target by Iris Johansen that I read and reviewed.
This book is about one the characters that show up in Johansen's other books. This time the main focus is Margaret Douglas who has the unique ability to communicate with animals.
I really enjoyed Margaret having her own book because she is such a fascinating character but there was never not much said about her past so this book lets the reader get to know all about her. I also loved John Lassiter, the male character who Johansen matched her up with, because he was also a fascinating character who was the perfect counterpart for her.
This book was full of action and also a touch of romance so it had a little bit of everything in it and it definitely kept the reader turning the pages. Another great book by the wonderful Iris Johansen.
I am giving No Easy Target five out of five stars.

St. Martin's Press and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of No Easy Target. This is my honest opinion of the book.

Margaret Douglas has a gift of being able to understand and talk to animals. As a friend to Eve Duncan, Margaret has been involved in many near death situations. When a man goes looking in the Caribbean for her, Margaret's friends there are skeptical about his story. After Margaret finds out that the man intends to bring her back to Nicos, a psychopath from which she had escaped years before, Margaret must try to use everything that she has at her disposal to stay out of his clutches. Will an uneasy alliance prove useful or will Margaret end up in a dangerous situation for which there is no exit?

In true Iris Johansen fashion, her story involves a main character who gets herself into a situation when she decides to change the plan mid-stride. She is hunted by a man who seems to be evil for the fun of it and has to rely on her wits and a man, in order to extricate herself for a difficult set of circumstances. I would liken this book to a romantic suspense beach read, as there is enough to keep it interesting. Margaret's abilities make her unique and help her to project strength. Some of the dialogue seemed a bit forced, but the overall feeling of the book will interest readers who enjoy the characters in Iris Johansen's world.

I have read several of this author's books and I have to say that this is one of the best. Just imagining a person that can talk to animals through her mind. Character development was superb. Margaret was a lost soul in my eyes she just wanted to do good but evil held her back. I hope that Ms. Johanson continues with the characters.

If you've read one Iris Johansen thriller, you know the basic story arc. While that's not terribly exciting and definitely not something I look for in every book I read, sometimes it's exactly what I want. There's a comfort in the familiar and the assurance that I'm not going to get my heart ripped out by a character, there will be some page-turning action, and there will probably be at least some element of supernatural something to mix it up.

So yeah, I found this to be one of the more enjoyable Johansen reads. It didn't wow me, but they never do. That's not why I read them. I read them because they're comfortable and familiar and enjoyable enough to distract me without being too distracting.

Fans of Margaret Douglas will enjoy this book. It was a fantastic read!

Good characters whose feelings and emotions are expressed well. Gritty story which drew and kept my interest.

I LOVED this book! I have always been interested in Margaret and was curious about her story. I finally got to find out about her past! This book was so good that I couldn't put it down. I could not wait to see what would happen next. Iris Johansen is my very favorite author and I have read every book that she has ever written. The Eve Duncan books have always been my favorite series, but now Margaret is right up there! Don't hesitate to read this or any of Iris Johansen's books!

Great story ,awesome concept.I loved the characters in the book .Margaret and Lassiter made such a dynamic pair,this book was action filled until the last page ,it made you keep reading.I received this book free as part of a review for netgalley.

This book was an amazingly fast read, it enveloped me from the first page to the last, couldn't put it down. The lead female character in this book can "speak" with animals via a kind of telepathy, and listening in on these conversations is so fun. It is also at its core a very intense suspense novel, but Margaret and the animals break up some of the tension and also add some of their own. Lassiter and Margaret have a great chemistry and I hope to see them in future books!

Margaret Douglas is used to taking care of herself. She has a special talent that most people don't understand. She has been running for 3 years trying to stay ahead of a psycho that wants to use her talent. Lassiter needs Margaret. He needs a bargaining chip to help him get what he wants from said psycho.

This book has it all, romance adventure, and a truly despicable psycho bad guy. There is also a paranormal aspect to the book. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

If you like Iris Johansen's thriller style of books, you will like this one. It takes Margaret Douglas, who we met briefly in a previous book and throws her into the role of main character. Like all of Johansen's characters, Margaret has a past that is shared with the reader throughout the book as her relationship with Lassiter, the male lead, deepens. Margaret escaped from a psychopath, Nicos, three years earlier, but he has not stopped looking for her. When Lassiter's mentor, BFF is kidnapped and tortured by Nicos, he finds Margaret, hoping to use her as leverage to be able to free his friend. Of course once he meets Margaret he is intrigued by her, and his plans change. Margaret, on the other hand, is tired of running and decides that she needs to end this once and for all.

Margaret, as the female lead, is a strong character as are all of Johansen's women. She has a strange talent where she is able to meld with animals and they can communicate telepathically. This helps her out of some jams as you might expect. Lassiter is a good guy and does bad things to bad people to right wrongs. The white hat/black hat storyline. The one thing I do not like about his book and so many of the others written by this author is the sexual assaults on children and/or young women. Fortunately they are not described, but it is still there and somewhat taints the book, so it does not get that last star. It is a thriller that is fast paced and keeps you turning the pages to see what happens next. It was a good story that had me reading throughout the day to finish to find out if Margaret and Lassiter succeed in their quest.

I don't read thrillers but lately I have find some really good.In this one you get adventure, some humorous bits, danger, and a terrific romance all in a fast paced read.

Another enjoyable story by Iris Johansen. Though her stories follow a predictable pattern I always enjoy them. Her main characters differ slightly from book to boo but they are always interesting and have strong personalities. The plots have a lot of action. Her books are easy to read and relaxing too.

Fast-paced, filled with romance and mystery, a great read for the cold winter nights

I've tried this author before, and I know that many people love her novels, but they simply don't work for me. This one is fast-paced and full of romance, violence, and the paranormal as usual. Rinse. Repeat. This one doesn't feature Eve.

I’m a fan of Johansen’s Eve Duncan books, though I haven’t read them all. I tend to pick and choose based on plot.

The reason I mention this is that I was unfamiliar with the main character of this book, Margaret Douglas. I do get the impression that she may have been a minor character in a previous book. Well, in this one she’s the star – and she completely rocks.

This was just the kind of romantic suspense novel I love. Margaret is bright, caring, and funny. John Lassiter is just the sort of guy you wish you had in your life. Yes, he’s hot, but he’s also charming as can be and he’ll do anything to protect those he loves.

As for Margaret’s special ability? At first I was unsure, but the way Johansen handles it is just so believable. I wish I had that ability.

You get adventure, some humorous bits, danger, and a terrific romance all in a fast paced read.

For Eve fans, she’s mentioned briefly, but this definitely isn’t her book. Even so, Johansen gives us a new heroine to love.

I hope we’ll see Margaret again in future books!

This novel is a welcome addition to Iris Johansen's body of work. I was so pleased to discover Margaret's back story. Her unique ability was interesting and the plot was well executed. This is the Iris Johansen that I started reading in the 1980's and she still delivers!

Margaret has been on the run now from Nicos for three years and she has no intention to ever be caught. She has a very unique talent and can communicate telepathically with animals. It was the reason Nicos wanted her to start with. Now, she receives a phone call that will change everything from a good friend.

Lassiter has been looking for his friend for more than a year and Margaret may just be the only way to get him back.

Even though someone is hunting her she must get the tiger she is working with to accept her cub. This might very well be her down fall.

Will Lassiter catch up to Margaret and will she be as valuable to Nicos as he thinks she is? Will he be able to save Patrick and find where he is being held? Or will everything he's done be for nothing and will he ruin Margaret's life as well.

This will keep you glued to the page and cheering for the good guys.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Great story. I didn't know this was a series and I didn't feel left out at all. It does, however, make me want to start the Eve Duncan series and get to know her better.

No Easy Target by Iris Johansson is one of the best stories I have read by her yet. I was immediately drawn into the story. A woman whose life was nothing but hell and then, she ends up in a worse situation. One that is deadly and one that doesn't promise a return to the living...

Iris Johansen introduces two amazing characters. The lead character, Margaret Douglas, is unique. She has an ability that would make her look nuts and not just in fiction but in our world too. She can hear what animals say. Communicating with animals...comes with a price. Being beaten by her father, put in an orphanage, rapped by men, and then captured by a dangerous man. But just as Margret thinks she's safe...an unknown man tracks her down. He is willing to do whatever it takes to use her as bait.

Now, enters the other lead character. Lassiter. He can change moods faster than most people I know. He has the ability to influence fear or attraction on others. All but Margaret. She's the one exception to his behavior. She stuns him in more ways than he would like. Margaret is a fighter. She will keep fighting even if she dies trying to get away. Lassiter kidnaps her to use her as weight to get to the one evil person, Margaret escaped from...the fear and pain from the past come hurdling back. Margaret is scared enough that she shakes with pain.

Over the course of time, both characters get to know one another better. Margaret realizes that there's more to Lassiter than she thought. Lassiter is hanging by a loose thread where Margaret is concerned. Danger, suspense, and a fast-paced plot. Iris Johansen leads her readers into another brilliant masterpiece. I loved every moment. Couldn't put the book down...read it in an hour. Absolutely a stunning read. Overall, I highly recommend No Easy Target to all.