Review: Rush by Joan Swan

Rush
(Phoenix Rising, #3)
By: Joan Swan
Publisher: Brava
Release Date: Aug. 27, 2013
Genre: Paranormal Romantic Suspense
Rating:

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Jessica Fury, Washington lobbyist, has money, connections, and her own firm. But five years ago she had something better: happiness. Her firefighter husband, Quaid, was handsome, courageous, and crazy about her. Then one day he walked into a chemical inferno—and never walked out. Jessica has been through hell to get back on her feet. And then a rumor surfaces that could bring a miracle or shatter her world – again.

Q has been a prisoner forever. He’s honed his mind and body into weapons. He’s developed abilities no one else understands. But he’s still at the mercy of a cabal of ruthless men, who blank his memory, test him like a lab rat, and tell him lies. Although his past has been erased and his future looks grim, instinct tells him he has a woman to live for. What his mind can’t remember, his body can’t forget…

The heat is on.

Five years ago Jessica’s husband was killed while on the job. They were part of a special hazmat team of firefighters and on the day her husband died, they were blasted with some sort of chemical that killed Quaid and gave every one else special powers. But when reports come in that her husband may still be alive, the old team comes together in search for him. Only, when they find the guy they think is Quaid, they realize that he’s not the same guy anymore.

Q’s memory only goes back to the 5 years that he’s spent as a lab rat. He’s been sorely abused and knows nothing of the outside world. So when he’s rescued by a bunch of strangers, he’s disoriented to say the least. They are making him food, showing concern and giving him freedom. They all act like they know him but he has no idea who they are or why they keep calling him “Quaid”.

Even though this story started off a bit slow with the action, I still found myself zoned into the story. I knew that once the story picked up that it would take off running and it did. I actually liked that we got a look back in time to when the chemical blast took place because it put everyone’s relationship into perspective before you dove into the story. You could definitely read this novel as a stand-alone and have no problems catching up with what’s going on.

I liked that the author not only wrote from Q’s POV but wrote it in a way that the reader really felt his confusion. His thought process always turned to third person when he thought of “Quaid” and what was expected of him. He had no idea who Quaid was but he knew that he could never be him. However, it didn’t stop him from trying to please those around him, especially Jessica.

The author writes in the POV of the bad guys behind the scenes as well. So you’re not just reading about Q’s day to day life while he tries to regain his memory. There’s always something going on that keeps the reader enveloped in the story.

I like this series and I cannot wait to see where the author goes next with it. I loved the ending and thought it was brilliant that she went the route that she did. I would have been disappointed if she copped out and went with the easier, fluffier ending. *Sorry that’s all I’m gonna say about that*

There’s a part in the book where they try to job his memory by showing pictures from his past. When nothing gets a reaction from him, they show him a video of his birthday one year. This is when you realize how huge of a difference there is between Quaid and Q. Quaid was very carefree and joking around, whereas Q is really tough and skeptical of everything. It wasn’t until that moment in the book that I realize how much he had changed with the years that he’d been experimented on.