To win, all you have to do is visit every blog on the day Collateral Damage Excerpt Tour and leave a comment showing that you read the excerpt. See the blog list and join the tour …. I gazed at my ring while telling him about Michael being arrested for murder. I left out the parts about Michael wanting to spend the rest of his life with me and the banner with three hundred hearts on it.
Plus his fingerprints are on the murder weapon. We left the party and went to have a little dinner. Husker was alive when we left. I wish you would come down and help me, Salvatore. So it was that. He was happy to have Michael behind bars. I told you I was committed to you. All I want to do is help a friend and make sure justice is served.
But what choice did I have? Not the fact that you guys were once lovers. This is a political hot potato. My lawyer said it could be dangerous. At that moment, June drove up. I walked out of the building lobby and got in her car. What an annoying stalemate. We had a case, here.
I never realized how stubborn he could be. Salvatore had just the right combination of street smarts, toughness, and technological savvy to take a crack at clearing Michael. Having been a cop probably influenced his feelings about Michael. Salvatore may be a puppy dog to me, but when it came to repeat offenders, he was a pessimist.
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My people can hold down the fort. I figured you and I could do something today, take our mind off things. A few minutes later, we walked into a garden restaurant with ceiling fans and indoor potted palms two stories high. We ordered iced teas and salads and sat back. We were seated next to each other in a giant rattan chair for two that was more suited for romantic couples than a couple of friends like us. But there was no one within ten feet of us, and I decided to tell June about the case.
Would you recognize anyone you saw there? June ate a chunk of pineapple from her salad. We just have to get Michael out of jail. I looked around at other people in the restaurant. My own partner was sitting this one out. From a thousand miles away, he had decided Michael belonged in jail. Michael was an ex-con, the police had arrested him, and so he was probably guilty. It burned me up. When she put the phone down, she gave me an irritated look. But let me live my life, okay? She had told me yesterday about her relationship drought.
Annie Ogden Series
We went back to her bakery and she set me up in her office. This turned out to be easier than I expected. The problem was not going to be finding information. The problem was going to be sorting it. Russell Mathers was the successful businessman par excellence. Several websites contained his life story in a nutshell. When Lexus opened its first dealership in Tampa, Russell Mathers got the franchise. One company, Tampet Inc.
It owned houses, office buildings, and strip malls all over the city. Annie Ogden's life has had its ups and downs. She's put up with a lot of things, and is finally settling into a semblance of normalcy. She now has a stable life, and a fiance she adores. Salvatore means everything to her, and she'll do everything she can to make him happy. In her mind, her life is going exactly how she wants it to, until the moment an unexpected attack one day throws everything she knows into limbo.
To Annie's surprise, her ex-boyfriend, Michael Garcia, is back from the 'dead'. T Annie Ogden's life has had its ups and downs. Though she'd love to tell everyone the truth surrounding Michael's supposed death, she knows that's a story she'll never be able to divulge. There's a reason she lied about the fact that he was still alive.
Unfortunately, it's a secret she'll have to take to the grave. As details about Michael's sudden reappearance emerge, Annie soon realizes just how much her life has changed. Deep inside, she never stopped loving Michael. Though she may be tempted to reexamine her relationship, if you could call it that, with him, she knows there's no chance, whatsoever, of their ever becoming more than what they are now.
She's in love with Salvatore.
Now For The Excerpt – Chapter 5: Annie
There's nothing she wouldn't do for him. So why is it difficult to let go of what she feels for Michael? When Michael is implicated in a murder, Annie comes to the realization that there's more he's not telling her. Getting to the bottom of the situation, unfortunately, is easier said done. Opposition comes at her from every corner, something she should have been used to from the get-go. Her life soon takes a different turn when the killer turns his attention to her.
If she's to succeed in helping clear Michael of the charges, she'll need to play the killer's sordid game. The question is, can she do that without losing a piece of herself in the process? I've got to admit that I started this series out of turn, but that's ok. The way Frederick wrote this story makes it stand alone as its own novel. From the moment you open the book, you're caught up in Annie's tumultuous life. She's gone through so much, and has started to rebuild what's left of it that you can't help but to stand in a corner and root for her. Frederick has created such an intriguing world that anyone can relate to.
The suspense certainly doesn't disappoint. I've a little catching up to do with books one and two, but I honestly can't wait. I look forward to more of Annie in the future. I am admitting upfront that I have NOT read the first two books in this series. The nice part about this series is that readers really do not need to read the other books. Yes, it helps some to know more information about the characters, BUT it is not required. A mess of trouble that is. He is a little stalkish in behavior. Annie is getting her life back together after the army and being dumped by Michael.
He seems very laid back and casual in his relationship with Annie. When Michael is accused of killing his roommate Annie steps up to help clear his name. What she did not know is how far she reaches into her own family to get the true killer. To this reader this is one of those books that is easy to read, keeps you attention but does not drag on.
I enjoyed that Brooks did not worry about adding needless sex scenes to this mystery boarding on drama story. I say it is boarding on drama because it seems that all the characters are very familiar with each other. They all have a connection from the past. At slightly over pages this is a page turning book to keep you up late at night until finished. The bunnies and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this third book in the series and have moved the first two up on our TBR pile. The bunnies and I give this book carrots.
Please be aware that the review is my personal opinion. This is not a paid review. To form your own opinion please support the author and acquire your own legal copy of the book. I was given this book for an honest review. I have changed my original score from 3 stars to 4. I can't stop thinking about the story. Annie still aggravates me but I keep thinking that she annoyed me because the story was so well written.
Plus, the story was complex but actually made sense. I will definitely read the next book I the series. Annie Odgen is a war vet and a private investigator. At the beginning of the story she is attacked while out jogging. Right after the attack her boyfriend asks her to marry him. And then her day just I have changed my original score from 3 stars to 4. And then her day just gets weird! I really wanted to love this story.
I like Annie's backstory. I like her boyfriend Salvatore. I even liked Annie's bossy, obnoxious sister. I thought the writing was really good. So why the three star review? I can't quite pinpoint why the book didn't connect with me. I found myself finding things to do other than read. I really feel that it was because I never fully connected with Annie. Her thought processes actually made me angry. She wasn't too stupid to live just selfish and self centered to root for.
Through the course of the story Annie disregards Salvatore's feelings and needs because she "knows" he will always be there for her. She makes assumptions about Salvatore's actions without actually talking to him. Of course, she does the same thing with her ex-boyfriend Michael. So, I give the author credit that he made the character react consistently.
I hated the end. Plain and simple, it was abrupt and offered no closure at all. I don't mind a cliff hanger but this was all cliff hanger and no completion. I plan to read the next book in the series because I need that closure. Also, I want to give the author another chance because the writing was quite good. I knew if Salvatore found out he would be hurt. But he had to understand.
We weren't married yet, and Michael was just plain special in my life. Keep right on changing. You are so much more than hot, Annie. I want to change right alongside you, every step of the way. I wanted to know about her past with Michael and what happened when she was on that fateful second tour in Iraq. Throughout the series, I think that was the greatest mystery of all. There are moments when we learn things about Annie that are shocking, but they also make her seem so truly human that you think she might walk right off the page. In this book, Brooke continues to paint his characters brilliantly.
The kind you can relate to. Totally but beautifully imperfect. She has met the challenges of being a female soldier at war. Now she must be courageous enough to take on her personal demons. One of them being Michael. Throughout the series, Michael has been an enigma. Finally, their story is told. I wanted to like Michael so badly. I confess I spent a few chapters angry with him. But when he is accused of murder, Annie takes on the case, even after all he has done. In that sense, Annie is the bravest she has ever been. She puts her personal feelings and her own safety aside to seek justice and fight for what she knows is right.
Collateral Damage is raw. It cuts to the bone. I couldn't put it down until I was finished at 4 AM. The title says it all. Brooke has created a true hero in Annie Ogden. Sep 24, Roxanne Kade rated it really liked it. I was really excited to read this book because I loved, Zombie Candy, so much. Brooke has a way of getting into the female psyche like no other man ever has, and he writes endearing and believable characters.
He also puts them through their paces, and throws in some bizarre occurences, adding to the intrigue. This book certainly had me entertained from the very beginning. Annie is such a strong female MC, so I was a little surprised when she so willingly allowed Micheal to take over her life.
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I I was really excited to read this book because I loved, Zombie Candy, so much. I understand the shock of having him return, especially with his sudden devotion to her, but I would have expected her to kick his ass to the curb, not matter what emotions his return evoked. Okay, so she didn't just fall into his arms, she was adamant that she was with Sal, but some of her actions just made me want to reach into the book and slap some sense into her. I wasn't really sure where this story was going, but the minute murder stepped in, the entire game changed.
The plot thickened with each turn of the page and as certain revelations were made, so the suspense grew. I was on the edge of my seat, just waiting for that moment when the bubble would burst and all the crazy theories circling my brain would start to makes sense. But, boy, oh boy, was I blind-sided. The perp was a real sleazeball but never had I imagined the part he'd truly played in this tale of lies and deception. Brooke skillfully crafted a story full of excitement and intrigue, giving just enough away to keep me wanting more, but never to the point where I, for one second, thought a really knew what was about to happen.
This book will delight readers of murder mysteries. Aug 04, Cinta rated it really liked it. I was sent a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I have enjoyed this book, which mixes the right doses of mystery, thriller, and romance as to keep you hooked reading while you turn the pages and the hours pass by and then you realise you should have gone to bed long time ago, but you don't care because it was totally worth it. Annie Ogden is an ex combatant in the Iraq War who works as a sleuth with her boyfriend, Salvatore. Things seem to go in the right direction for the co I was sent a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Things seem to go in the right direction for the couple, but when Annie's ex-boyfriend comes back, everything is going to get too complicated. What if things get even more complicated by a bossy sister and an obsessive brother-in-law? What if we add murder to this? We get a very thrilling book that is worth reading. We get to see the story told at different points by different characters, so we learn things from different points of views. I don't really like it when books are written using the first-person narrator, but in this case it was very well done and you don't get lost because every chapter tells you who the narrator is.
The character development is fine, since all the characters are quite complex and not stereotypical. I found very few typos and the ones I did find didn't interfere with the reading of the story. However, I predicted the ending when I had read a bit more of half the book, so that's my reason for removing one star one penguin in my blog. From the first scene, we are thrown into the action and the story keeps up the pace from there, moving seamlessly through a love triangle, an innocent being accused of murder and on to an obsession that puts Annie in mortal danger.
We get to learn more about our favourite heroine and her past with Michael, but I wanted to shake her for putting up with him and his antics.
She is too good for him. I particularly enjoyed getting to know Salvatore. He was a very interesting, believable character and his investigations were pacey and exciting. I could easily see him in a spin-off series but am hoping Annie Ogden 4 will see Annie and Salvatore working together. It was definitely a tough case to crack and played out well.
Overall this book has engaging characters and an intriguing mystery to unravel that will keep you busily turning the pages. Sep 06, Mary-ann rated it it was ok. Will she go back to hot, passionate Michael, who has developed a disturbing interest in meth, or stick with her pudgy PI partner and fiancee Salvatore? This is a well written, easy to read book, it is full of suspense, action.
It will keep the reader on the edge of their seat, with this book that will grab your attention, and not put the book down. On the downside, this is a secular book, not recommended for Christians to read. It is full of language, and moral issues. I received this book free from the Novel Publicity. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. Sep 09, BooksAmL rated it really liked it. Collateral Damage is the 3rd book from the series "An Annie Ogden Mystery", and have to say its just amazing.
Giving the cover a 5 stars but it doesn't really work for me with the content so i will give an overall a 4 stars out of 5. Unfortunately i have only read the last 2 books never had the chance to read the first one, but i can imagine how good it could be. The book i just got it today to do a review on it for the blog post so please bear with me i will do my best to not reveal to much bu Collateral Damage is the 3rd book from the series "An Annie Ogden Mystery", and have to say its just amazing.
The book i just got it today to do a review on it for the blog post so please bear with me i will do my best to not reveal to much but to make you understand what it is about. The series are about Annie, but Collateral it explain more about her past and what happen in Iraq.
She seams to have created a normal and good life since she came back until her ex comes after her when everyone else though he was dead. Now she is cut between him that does not leave her alone and her actual fiance that everyone likes. Michael the ex is trying to get Annie back trying to be Romantic writing her a poem, but the bad side of him keeps on coming to the surface. Also what is wrong about him that he acts he does not know what he is doing wrong, or that is just a joke to him. Salvador is a prince compare with Michael, he treats Annie very nice, trust her, protective and romantic.
Hope that will get you into reading, how it got me i was like hiding all the time from my boss to read few more pages is just wow, love it. Sep 12, Janice Hougland rated it it was amazing. Apparently, I read this book out of order as it is the first I've read by Mr. Brooke and there are two other mystery stories before this one. But it didn't really matter as I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery as a stand alone story and was able to understand fully all of the characters and their backgrounds as the story progressed.
I really liked the format with two alternating points of view by Salvatore and Annie. The dialogue and action sequences were excellently done, at times endearing Salvat Apparently, I read this book out of order as it is the first I've read by Mr. The secondary characters Michael, Todd and Annie's sister were also very cleverly done so as to really get my ire up over their shenanigans. And all through the story and action I could really feel the mystery and had questions buzzing in my brain until all became clear to me just as things became clear to Salvatore and Annie.
In short, the story and mystery grabbed my attention from the outset and kept it all the way through to the very end. And it wasn't really a cliffhanger of an ending, but this reader could definitely tell that there would be other stories following this one--and that was pretty smart writing by Mr. Brooke because I'm definitely interested in what comes next. Aug 26, Susan rated it really liked it Shelves: Collateral Damage is the first book that I have read in the Annie Ogden series, and I found it to be an enjoyable read.
I really liked Brooke's writing style which was easy to read and gave the reader the opportunity to switch characters point of view between Annie and Salvatore. The character development of Annie is well done as the character finds her world turned upside down with the arrival of her ex just as she becomes engaged to Salvatore.
There were some moments that I became frustrated w Collateral Damage is the first book that I have read in the Annie Ogden series, and I found it to be an enjoyable read. There were some moments that I became frustrated with the Annie character as she made a choice that came back to bite her later, but overall she was a good character that captures your interest and makes you want to follow her. Salvatore however proved to be my favorite character in the book so I was thrilled to get the chance to get inside his head and get his feelings on what was going on.
He was also well developed and while he too made some mistakes he helped add to the overall story with giving the reader two sides of the case. Brooke develops a good mystery, and I enjoyed how he ended up tying things together into a compelling mystery with a satisfying ending. Overall this was a great read that I would most definitely recommend if you want a good mystery that also includes humor, action, adventure, and some romance. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Aug 26, Teresa rated it really liked it. As, I started reading more, it drew me into it.
Annie, has got her life back in order She was in the war, has scars from it , now engage to live in boyfriend Salvatore. Michael want Annie to come back to Florida with him, to have a reunion party Collateral Damage with her old Army buddies. Well, Annie refuse but Michael got her to go with him. So, when got back to the party, Michael was arrest for the murder of his room mate. Annie, place call to her boyfriend ask if he come down help clear Michael name.
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Ok, that all going to say, you will not want to put the book down, until you are on the last page. I give "Collateral Damage" four stars. Aug 30, Heather rated it liked it. This is the 3rd book in the Annie Ogden series but the first one that I have read. I'll start out with the format. Nothing I love more in a format than short chapters! I need a convenient place to stop reading, if I'm so inclined to do so. This book definitely made me want to get to the next chapter quickly.
The character descriptions were well thought out but the actions lacked a bit of believabi This is the 3rd book in the Annie Ogden series but the first one that I have read. The character descriptions were well thought out but the actions lacked a bit of believability. While the plot was similar to many stories, it still had you guessing who the murderer was up until the end. I usually like to feel something for the characters I read about. I had no real connection with any of them.
That being said, it still didn't stop me from reading and staying engaged in the story. Aug 22, Marika rated it really liked it. I really like this book. Annie is a strong character and I like that she thinks and does what she can to help others. She finds herself in really difficult situations but she is more than able to solve them.
Like every woman she doesn't really know what to do when Michael, her ex boyfrien, reappers and she doesn't see things clearly as Salvatore, her fiancee. To complicate matters there is Todd, her sister's ex husband, who I really loathe because I think is an opportunistic bastard. Everything is I really like this book. Everything is preatty much complicated as it is, but of course then the murder happens.
It's a fast paced story and I like that there are 2 point of view, Annie and Salvatore's. By the way, I like Salvatore the most. He is really good, caring, intelligent and he is fantastic with Annie.
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I'm sure I'll be reading other books by Frederick Lee Brooke. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I received a copy of the e-book in exchange for my review. I found the characters in this book to be adolescent. It just wasn't believable that Annie would jump in a car and drive to Florida with a man who had attacked her on the street and hid out overnight in her sister's closet. And please, don't get me started on Annie and June escaping death and th I received a copy of the e-book in exchange for my review.
And please, don't get me started on Annie and June escaping death and then catering a huge event the next day. By the way, Annie's rescue from that near-death experience was a bit over the top. None of the characters was especially likeable and everyone seemed to have a hair-trigger so that they were always going off in a snit. I only finished this because I had promised a review, and I'm rounding my rating up from 1. Aug 19, WiLoveBooks rated it it was amazing Shelves: I think what I liked so much about it came down to two things: The story pulled me in right away.
It didn't matter that I hadn't read the first two books in the series.