Troublemaker

A Novel

By: Linda Howard

Narrated by: Tanya Eby

Length: 14 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

A thrilling, fast-paced novel of romantic suspense from sensational New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Linda Howard.

For Morgan Yancy, an operative and team leader in a paramilitary group, nothing comes before his job. But when he’s ambushed and almost killed, his supervisor is determined to find out who’s after the members of his elite squad—and why. Due to worries that this unknown enemy will strike again, Morgan is sent to a remote location and told to lay low and stay vigilant. But between a tempting housemate he’s determined to protect and a deadly threat waiting in the shadows, keeping under the radar is proving to be his most dangerous mission yet.

The part-time police chief of a small West Virginian mountain town, Isabeau “Bo” Maran finally has her life figured out. She’s got friends, a dog, and a little money in the bank. Then Morgan Yancy shows up on her doorstep. Bo doesn’t need a mysterious man in her life—especially a troublemaker as enticing and secretive as Morgan.

The harder they fight the intense heat between them, the closer Morgan and Bo become, even though she knows he’s hiding from something. But discovering the truth could cost Bo more than she’s willing to give. And when Morgan’s cover is blown, it might just cost her life.

©2016 Linda Howington (P)2016 HarperCollins Publishers

Who wrote this?

I have to say I was excited that we were finally getting another LH story after all these years. In order to get myself psyched up for the new adventure, I did what I normally do - listened to some of my favorite tales from the author. So, I spent the last week re-listening to Dying To Please, Cover of Night, and Kill and Tell, re-reading Heart of Fire, and heck I even listened to Veil of Night....that turned out to be a mistake. After listening to this tale, the unending monotony, the creepy obsession with this dog, and the slow pacing of this story...I am left with only one question - Who wrote this?

I am struggling to judge this story on it's own merit. My expectation for this story based on the plot and author was that we were going on another fast paced action packed ride...but instead we got to spend the day in Mayberry. It was more of a love story for dog lovers, the story between the hero and heroine was no where near as well defined as the affection this dog receives. It was more - "hey you...you're here, so I like you...come fall in love with this great dog." To say I am disappointed doesn't begin to cover it.

Don't get me wrong here... when I say this book is day in Mayberry... I like Mayberry and what it represents. There are several great stories that focuses on small town life and LH has pulled it off before with Open Season. There was just way to much focus on Tricks, I believe this dogs name has been stated more than ANY character in the book. Tricks is definitely the focal point of the story, not anything happening between the characters, action is a distant concept, and very little humor (outside of the dog) is even hinted upon. Even the antagonist in the story focuses on the dog! So, maybe a better analogy would be that story is like spending a day in Mayberry, when Barney, Opie, Andy, Otis, and Gomer are all out of town.

I was so hoping LH hadn't gone into retirement, but after such a disappointing read/listen I am beginning to think it is time to take her off the automatic-buy list. This story isn't up to Veil of Night standards (a book i thought was just okay) or even Running Wild for that matter.

To wrap up, the narrator is not my favorite. She does okay - her character voices are better than the story narration in my opinion. There are narrators that I seek out and end up finding new authors that I come to like, Tanya Eby isn't one of them. Her voice is a little annoying, but with a good enough story not too distracting...I hope. I just purchased the audio book of Heart of Fire my FAVORITE LH adventure...I guess I'll see how that goes with this narrator to better gauge if part of the problem here is in part the narrator.

Troublemaker

If you like books about dogs, this one is for you. Not much of a storyline. Really surprised this was written by Linda Howard. Not her style at all. I look forward to Linda's books and usually listen to them multiple times. I'm deleting this one. I would not recommend the story or narrator.

Don't expect much

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I don't think Linda Howard wrote this book. It was so not like anything I have read from her

What didn’t you like about Tanya Eby’s performance?

Tanya did the best she could with such a slow moving boring book.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Troublemaker?

Way to much of the plot revolved around the dog. I was really sick of that dog by the third chapter.

Any additional comments?

very very disappointed.

Linda Howard, please come back!

I had been counting the days until I could listen to this book, but sadly I was disappointed. I even double checked the information to make sure that it was written by THE Linda Howard.
The premise was good, and I mostly liked Morgan although even he was a bit bland for my taste. With every chapter, I kept thinking, "Ok, now the action will start", but it never did (even when it did!)

I also considered keeping a tally of how many times I heard the name Tricks. Too many. Way too many. I won't give up on LH, but this one is not her best effort. C-

A Long Listen, with too much dog/small town detail

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

This was effectively a romantic suspense novella into the middle of which was inserted a full length weak Robyn Carr-like small town/dog book. By the end I despised the book, thought that the dog needed a month with a good trainer, and found Bo to be an amazingly boring leading woman.

Very disappointing.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Just happy to have the book over.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Chapter 1 & 2 were good and classic Linda Howard. I prefer to think that she handed the rest of the book off to a ghost writer who misunderstood what writer he was supposed to be emulating.

Like watching paint dry...LH where are you??

I am a longtime HUGE fan of Linda Howard. However, if I hadn't seen her name on the book as the author, I would never have thought it. This is far removed from her smart, action packed romantic-suspense books of the past. This is a contemporary romance with a mild crime/suspense secondary storyline that was so boring it was hard to care about the outcome. The star of this book is the dog...if you are that in to dogs, you'll love it. While I enjoyed the dog, it got silly after awhile. I miss the smart, savvy heroines of past LH books. This was like a watercolor version of one of her books...bland and boring. I just downloaded All The Queen's Men and am listening to it to cleanse my palate and remind myself why I love her books. Don't bother with this one - but go get any of these: Mr. Perfect, Dying to Please, Kill and Tell, Now You See Her, Open Season, Shadow Woman, To Die For, Drop Dead Gorgeous, any of the Mackenzie's series....I could go on. This one you need to pass on!

This read like an original harlequin story, lasting 14 hours.

Although I love Linda Howard, It was hard to sit through this story. It was boring and mushy, mostly about the dog. And Tanya Eby is not a narrator that pulls me into a story. Usually, Linda's main characters are strong women and men. They just sound complaining and demanding in Tanya's voice. This was a story I could have did without. However, Linda Howard is my favorite author., so it is strange to have such a negative reaction. I have introduced her books to my daughters and friends. I tell them, that women the world over , would have the perfect man, if they could get Linda Howard to make him. lol! Thus, I am waiting for her next story, with a pray, that this one, was just an aberration.

So disappointed as I love reading her books

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I am not sure. The book was mostly about a spoiled dog. I love dogs and have to but I not want to have them be the main character. Very very boring. Linda is one of my top favorite authors, as a result it was a huge disappointment. I hate to write bad reviews but I had to be honest

Would you ever listen to anything by Linda Howard again?

Yes. I have almost all her books

Which character – as performed by Tanya Eby – was your favorite?

Morgan

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment

Any additional comments?

I hope her next book is better

Special Ops HUNK in hiding~ 4 STARS~

PLOT: Morgan is recovering from a serious wound and ends up with small town Sheriff Bo and her ultra smart golden retriever Tricks................

Special Ops Go Team Leader Morgan is "ambushed" in his own yard. After a month in the hospital recovering he has a very long way to go. His "Boss" ....Axel "stashes" him with step sister ....Isabeau aka BO......the sheriff of a small town. Bo is far from welcoming this intruder.....and had be bribed into allowing the wounded HUNK in her home. Morgan is too weak to climb the stairs and sleeps on the sofa. Bo does not live alone.....she has Tricks a smarter than many people Golden Retriever. Tricks decides Morgan is invading her turf including "her sofa"....Morgan slowly gains strength and mostly ignores the dog. LOL....The fun is Morgan's awareness that HE is LAST after "the dog" in Bo's priority scales. Morgan is gaining his strength and finally becoming friends with Tricks. Bo is increasingly aware of her "attraction" of sexy man now part of her life. Morgan is finally "recovered" enough for hot passion with Bo. Still no clues as to who shot him..... Morgan goes over the last day "before" he was shot...he finally has a memory of a man in a blue shirt, that leads to his discovering a cover up and pay offs. Now Morgan becomes the "willing bait"....and gives the hit man a second chance to do the job right....This reminds me of Linda Howard's early books. I was not disappointed. However the dog Tricks got TOP billing in this book. No doubt from Linda Howards experiences her own Golden Retrievers. The story holds the interest. Lots of home town characters that add to the fun. The reader is the ONLY thing I would have changed. I found her voice at times lagging..... but over all 4 STARS~ and Welcome Back Linda Howard we missed you~

Excellent Romantic Mystery

Very intriguing, sexy, great characters with lots of personality. One of the most unexpected characters was a dog named Tricks. I laughed at so many of her antics. She made this s great overall book not to be missed. Can’t wait to start the connected book.

Enjoyed

Enjoyed the story. Narrator has really good voice. Waiting for the next in the series to come available!