Anything for His Son (Intrigue) [Paperback]

This was a wonderful story and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Rebecca and ethan are brilliant characters. On the verge of divorce, their little boy is abducted. Their story is very fast paced, and although they know danger is just around the corner at every turn, nothing stops this couple from getting their son back. Rita herron has packed everything into this book, determination, intrique and passion. I have enjoyed the first two books in this series, but so far this is my favourite. This is a keeper for my bookcase.

Anything for His Son is the third book in the Harlequin Intrigue Series Lights Out. Romantic suspense is set within the scene of a power outage in Boston. This fast-paced romance read pits the heart against the urgent need to track down the villains and protect a kidnapped child, the hero's son.

Rebecca Matalon has finally decided to file for divorce. Sexual attraction and adventure just are not the basis for a marriage, especially when Ethan is thrives on his work in his computer business. Add to workaholic business leader the other jobs --- Secret agent and his work with the secret Eclipse missions, and we find a recipe for disaster for a family with a son who needs his father to be there instead of across the world. When the lights go out in Boston, their son Jesse disappears. Ethan may have saved the world in previous missions, but can he save his son? In a world turned dark by the black out and a cold blooded possible killer, will Ethan and Rebecca find some way back to Jesse and their own hearts? Rebecca walked out on her marriage. Even though she loves her son, she does not see the effects of her actions. She sure can be a trouble maker when she decides to put her son first! She values family over work and especially those important secret missions that protect everyone but her family. Ethan is a classic powerful romance hero --- strong, powerful, a leader but unable to see what he really holds dear in his heart. He has secrets buried that must be conquered before he can love fully. Can he uncover his own secrets and protect his family as well as the city of Boston?

Anything for His Son was another wonderful Rita Herron read --- dark (definitely a twisted criminal or two here) but with just enough darkness to intrigue but not too much that you can't sleep at night. The contrast and similarities between Ethan and his son as well as between Ethan and the villain built up a thematic structure that increased both the suspense and the depth of her characterization. Readers will appreciate this one scene where Ethan sees a trace left behind by the hero. It is not just a clue, but he discovers a new way of seeing the heroine ---he sees her heart and her courage. The weaknesses and the hidden past of the characters become the foundation for their courage (and cowardice in the case of some of the bad guys). What an image of motherhood and pregnancy! In the past, society has always used childbirth to show women are the weaker, lesser sex. Rita Herron turns that cliche right on its head in one sentence. What an strong heroine characterization when you least expect it!

Rita Herron's Anything for His Son magnifies one of the themes in her longer romantic suspense novels. Here, the theme of courage is expanded and touches the lives of all the Matalon family members. Children can always add a heart touching element to a story, but here in Rita Herron's new Intrigue, the son is so much more than an incidental character. Jesse is so much more than a cute little boy and a plot device. His heart and courage make this book special.

I'm sorry, but this book was badly in need of an editor. A constant stream of incomplete sentences. On one page alone, I counted five sentences that began with And. Normally, this sort of thing doesn't bother me, but when it's constant, it's annoying.

I also had a couple of issues with the plot. The initial reaction to the boy's kidnapping didn't ring true to me. There was another biggie that I won't mention because it's a spoiler.

The grammar issues are sad, because I could forgive the plot issues, give her the benefit of the doubt because I truly liked the characters. There was real tension and emotion there, a good story. The choppiness of it frustrated me though.