In His Sights, LA Bryce

The demons in our minds come in many different guises.  For Noah it's his true self and he fights relentlessly against it.  When a moment of connection destroys everything he's ever worked for he's more convinced than ever to deny who he really is.  For Mason it's his mantle of responsibility that bleeds into his grief and increases his drive at work to the point of obsession.  His superiors don't see that drive as a good thing and are wary of where it will lead.  One bright point is a reconnection between two friends that quickly becomes more.  Noah and Mason's story isn't a continuous growth from that point on, however, it's based on it and revisited with heavy emotions and disappointments that they'll need to conquer together if they plan to keep something special.

Mason's general attitude and his vulnerability resonated well for most of the story.  He came across as a well-rounded character that I enjoyed reading about.  If it wasn't for his willingness to be open and honest about his heart I don't think he and Noah would have ever stood a chance.  I did think that his advertised obsession about the case had little validity because the case and any deciphering got set aside so often with only the basics revisited each time.  Instead, we saw a bit of multiple personality disorder when it came to dividing his work mind and his interactions with Noah.  That disconnect didn't sit well and made the revelations and fallout of the case seem a bit awkward.  Despite that, he was still my favorite in this story because he felt the most complete with a believable depth and motivation.

Noah was much more conflicted.  I struggled with him because of his penchant for running and his vehement denials and dismissals of his identity and any counsel or support Mason offered.  His personal road to accepting all of himself was rather stunted.  The underlying fear and conditioning was understandable and I would have appreciated his journey a lot more if it actually went somewhere.  Rather than a deepening or an evolution with a clear resolution, we get lots and lots and lots of angst and then a relatively lighthearted "it's all good" type of moment.  The switch was a bit abrupt and we're left to wonder if it's because of the peril Mason was in or if the truth and love finally got through his walls.  He said all the right things at the end, and while that was lovely, it just felt unsound.

The writing was captivating despite the content being frustrating.  I enjoyed the overall story and felt for the characters and wished so hard for everything good to finally find them.  The terrorist drama was touched on but not really built up well nor did it have a truly satisfying conclusion due to the "monologue moment" from the mole that magically tied everyone and everything together.  If there were a better balance between the progression of the case and all its facets along with the relationship's ups and downs this would have been a fantastic story.  As is, it was a good one that needed a bit more tweaking.

*$6.99 on Amazon!

Don't forget the giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway