Rent: Up Close and Dangerous: A Novel

Like most people who have reviewed this book, I didn't think it was a bad book. It was fairly entertain, a very quick read...and um...

But it did focus more on wilderness survival (very interesting, but not what I expected the focus to be on) than the interplay between the characters. And the interaction between the characters just didn't do it for me. I never felt any real connection to either of them, or between the two. For me, it felt more like...well, we're stuck here, now what?

I've noticed a decline in LH's books, as they become less endearing and even more formulaic. But that won't stop me from buying the next one.

Bailey Wingate had no idea what she was in for when she married her boss James. There was plenty of respect between them when she was his personal assistant, but never love. She entered into this marriage knowing it would be her responsibility to oversee his children Seth and tamsen's trust funds. James had everything planned perfectly before he died, and Bailey took her responsibility very seriously. She was also well provided for, but that didn't take the place of a husband and family. She was still close to her brother, and had planned a two-week trip to meet him along with his wife in Colorado to go white water rafting. Since she was a Wingate, she had access to their private plane, and was excited by the prospect of some peace and quiet with her family. Her pilot for this trip was supposed to be the normal Wingate pilot Brett Larson, but he was feeling ill, so Cameron Justice was taking his place. Bailey was dreading the time she would have to spend with Justice because he made no secret that he disliked her. Just another person that thought she had married for money and had taken advantage of an ill man.

When they had been into their flight for a couple of hours, the plane started experiencing problems. Bailey was alarmed right away, but Justice seemed to have done something to correct it, so she calmed. All of a sudden he was having control problems, and told her to take precautions because they were going down. When Bailey came to, she was groggy, but remembered enough to know she needed to get herself and Justice out of the plane. He appeared to be unhurt anywhere with the exception of the gash in his head. Bailey struggled to get to the first aid kit, and when examining the cut, was horrified to see it would need stitches. She pulled out the instructions took a deep breath, and proceeded to put stitches in his head then made sure there was no additional bleeding. Justice was coming around, but barely, and with so much blood loss, it was up to her to find them shelter for the night. When Cameron finally was feeling better, he realized that the ice princess was nothing but a marshmallow protecting herself from the outside world. He remembered everything she had said to him, and how compassionate and caring she was. He might have saved her life getting them down, but she had in turn saved his by taking care of him after. Cameron and Bailey relied on each other heavily causing them to get close, and that got them thru the next couple of days. When Cameron realized that no one was coming for them, he searched the wreckage only to discover the plane had been tampered with, so he knew they would have to hike out, and rescue themselves to find the person with murder on the mind.

This was a very intense detailed story. The crash and subsequent survival had you on the edge of your seat. Then throw in the connection and attraction between Bailey and Cameron, which was believable and hot. The letdown was the ending. Here you are sitting on this emotional roller coaster with both characters, and then boom, the story abruptly ends. Everything is wrapped up in a few pages.

Up Close and Dangerous revolves around two main characters in a romance sorta way. The tension of the book slowly builds all the way to the end. Bailey Wingate married her boss Jim Wingate, who was much older, but then dies. So then the two step children Seth and Tamzin enter more into the picture. Wingate being convinced that his children wouldn't be capable of handling money affairs appoints Bailey to manage the trusts. She had the comfort of being a wealthy widow but suffers from much verbal abuse from her spoiled step children. Son Seth even at one point threatens to kill her during a phone conversation. So then enters Cameron Justice who owns J&L Executive Air Limo along with partner Bret Larsen. Their main client is the Wingate group. But Cameron isn't very fond of the Wingate kids or the wife so Bret usually flies the plane when the family calls for services. Bailey then makes plans to meet her brother and sister-in-law in Denver but Bret was sick so Cam had to pilot the plane. While flying over the mountains of Idaho the engine of the plane gives out and they had to glide the plane until it crashes into the trees. They are injured and don't know if they're calls to be rescued are even heard. Up Close and Dangerous is different because she exceeds over great expectations in this life and death situation. Romance between the two ends up flowering in a oddly interesting way and being two strong characters how are they going to make it off the mountain?

Ms. Howard spends way too much time explaining in painful detail how to build shelters (pages!), cut airplane seats and strip wires. Somehow, this activity leads us to believe these two people have fallen in love. Bailey is just annoying with her inability to communicate in any kind of emotionally healthy way. The romance aspect seems forced and not reasonable for the situation. Pass up this book unless you have nothing better to do with your time.

Yes, I'm sure I'm the diva with no survival training....I can stitch up your head, find you comfort and food, and make you think I'm hot. So funny. I'm realy glad you like wearing my clothes. We will be rescued soon, and you love me. LOL.