Louise Rose-Innes

2.5 stars

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Wanting to get away from her overbearing father in England, Hannah decides to take a job as the personal assistance to Prince Hakeem of the Arab island nation of Syman. At first this seems a little bit out of left field but it turns out Hannah's grandfather was Symanian, she speaks fluent Arabic, and Prince Hakeem follows some westernized ideas. Everything is going swimmingly until Syman starts to feel the effects of the Arab Spring. Hannah suddenly finds herself learning vital and damning information about Prince Hakeem and in a country about to erupt in civil war. Hightailing it to the English embassy looking for safety, Hannah discovers it abandoned except for one lone SAS soldier (I tell you what, I just may question the ol' chain of command if they ordered me to stay ALONE at an embassy in a country on the verge of war). Tom, the unlucky SAS soldier, allows Hannah sanctuary but as the Prince's men attack the embassy, they find themselves on the move and desperately looking for a way off the island.

Neither Hannah nor Tom are completely flushed out characters. We know Hannah has daddy issues and Tom is being beaten down by survivor's guilt due to a mission in Afghanistan where he trusted the wrong woman and all of his team was killed. We are told these things and sporadically reminded but the depth of emotion was missing. Hannah veers ever so slightly into TSTL as she disregards or questions Tom, the highly trained soldier keeping her alive. Tom is the average stoic, solid, and hidden hurts soldier. They won't wow you but they're sketches of good characters. This story also uses the trope of instalove; like rocket propelled grenades are hitting the embassy and all Tom or Hannah can think about are each other's lush lips instalove. Yes, they only have each other to rely on as they traverse the city so some emotional connection is going to form but as the reader, I couldn't help thinking," time and place!".

This is a very quick read with a steady pace, even if you never really feel immersed into the story. The suspense side, rebel army clashing with the Prince's men with Hannah and Tom stuck in the middle trying to make it to safety, is solid. There are a couple forced or contrived situations to keep our main characters on the run or in trouble but for the sake of the story, I was willing to let them slide. The elements of Arab Spring and SAS soldier, instead of SEAL, are unique enough to keep this interesting even if there isn't enough depth to keep the reader completely invested.
… (mehr)

Personal Assistance appealed to me because of its volatile Middle East setting: an Arab nation on the brink of civil war and the book description’s promise of action, danger and romance. The author does not disappoint in regards to the book’s vivid descriptions of this place, its customs, and the barrage of dangers Hannah and Tom face in their endeavors to escape Prince Hakeem’s clutches. Because Hannah has inadvertently discovered secret intelligence that may prove vital in swaying the outcome of this war, she and Tom must work together to relay this Intel and get back to the safety of Britain. Time is of the essence and, overall, the author keeps the story moving at an effective pace so my interest never waned.

The relationship between Tom and Hannah is tenuous at best when they meet. Both are desperate and united by their mutual need for each other’s help. Tom is a member of SAS, Britain’s elite Special Forces, and he has the training and expertise to keep Hannah safe and get her out of the country. Moreover, Tom has a vested interest in helping Hannah because she’s his ticket back into his commander’s good graces and his means of proving his competence in the field. After Tom’s last mission went awry, he was pulled from active duty, but if he can deliver the information Hannah has back to his CO, his actions may go a long way in restoring his reputation. In the beginning, Tom and Hannah are wary of each other’s motives, and the elements of trust and fear of betrayal are primary themes that consistently arise as the story progresses.

However, there are some aspects of the book that proved problematic for me. First of all the intensity of this couple’s romance is too much, too soon, and their HEA is too fast for me to truly believe. Are they infatuated with each other? Definitely. But true love? No. Second, the resolution of the climax seems rushed. Throughout the book, the author is descriptive and detailed until the end, when her narration shifts into a “telling” rather than “showing” mode.

Furthermore, although I expected the villains in the book to be flat two-dimensional characters, I had hoped the hero and heroine would be more dynamic and well-rounded than they are actually depicted. Readers get enough of both Tom’s and Hannah’s backstories to help understand how both ended up in the Middle East, but, for me, their circumstances seemed somewhat contrived. I just didn’t feel a strong connection to either of them, as if they were real people I might meet. I do, however, appreciate the dominant traits that define Hannah as spirited and determined while the quiet, reserved Tom is a man of courage and honor.

Source: I received an ARC ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.… (mehr)