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Combatting Fear
How far would you go to save a child that wasn’t yours?
Mild-mannered kindergarten teacher Neve Botticelli leads a double life. Thanks to a childhood tragedy and her paranoid father, she’s a survivalist who's learned to live off the grid.
When self-made billionaire Micah Kincaid storms into town in search of his son, Rowan, he’s pushy, entitled, and stands for everything she despises. Micah can’t believe a kindergarten teacher is barring the way to him getting crucial information or even just a glimpse of the boy his cheating ex kidnapped. They share only one thing in common: either will do anything to protect the four-year-old, who they soon discover is being held for ransom by an outlaw motorcycle gang.
But as they work together to get Rowan back, they start to see beyond each other’s masks. Could falling in love be even more dangerous than hunting down deadly criminals?
Mild-mannered kindergarten teacher Neve Botticelli leads a double life. Thanks to a childhood tragedy and her paranoid father, she’s a survivalist who's learned to live off the grid.
When self-made billionaire Micah Kincaid storms into town in search of his son, Rowan, he’s pushy, entitled, and stands for everything she despises. Micah can’t believe a kindergarten teacher is barring the way to him getting crucial information or even just a glimpse of the boy his cheating ex kidnapped. They share only one thing in common: either will do anything to protect the four-year-old, who they soon discover is being held for ransom by an outlaw motorcycle gang.
But as they work together to get Rowan back, they start to see beyond each other’s masks. Could falling in love be even more dangerous than hunting down deadly criminals?
160 pages, ebook
Published February 13, 2017
1 person is currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Sandy Vaile
6 books64 followersHi, I'm Sandy Vaile, founder of Fearless Prose where we empower authors to write novels they are proud to share with the world (and which actually get noticed by agents, publishers and readers).
I'm a motorbike-riding daredevil who isn’t content with a story unless there’s a courageous heroine and a dead body. Naturally, I'm a voracious reader who loves speed and adventure.
Home is amongst the vineyards in South Australia with my family and a rambunctious Hungarian Vizsla dog. I'm a part-time quality coordinator (read list making word nerd) and in my spare time I enjoy motorbike riding, cooking (read eating) decadent desserts, and devising horrible things to do to my fictional characters.
I'm a motorbike-riding daredevil who isn’t content with a story unless there’s a courageous heroine and a dead body. Naturally, I'm a voracious reader who loves speed and adventure.
Home is amongst the vineyards in South Australia with my family and a rambunctious Hungarian Vizsla dog. I'm a part-time quality coordinator (read list making word nerd) and in my spare time I enjoy motorbike riding, cooking (read eating) decadent desserts, and devising horrible things to do to my fictional characters.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 10, 2017
####THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS ####
The minute I read the blurb I knew I had to read this book
'.....she’s a trained warrior with extreme survival skills who lives off the grid.'
I don't know about you but I'm getting sick to death of this epidemic of TSTL females that are plaguing so many romance books these days so this sounded like a refreshing change.
The story centres around self-made billionaire Micah Kincaid who's wife Chelsea left a year ago taking their son Rowan with her and Micah is desperate to see and hold his son, how long does it take before a four year old boy forgets the father he hasn't seen in a year?
Micah has taken so much time off during the past year to track his wife, Chelsea, across Australia. To the extent where it's affecting his business as well as losing him time he should be spending in his son.
A lead takes him to Turners Gully and the kindergarten there where he crosses paths with Neve Botticelli.
My problem, and it bothered me from the beginning is that surely a man as rich as Micah would have trained people searching for his son and at the first hint of finding him they'd be all over it, official paperwork, private security, police you name it.
While I understand it's his son I can't for the life of me understand why Micah would just turn up almost guaranteeing that Chelsea would run as she has before.
This may be a small point but it just didn't make sense, he's gone a year without seeing his son yet he has the money to pay for the very best, it's crazy, it's like amateur hour.
It may seem picky but this spoilt the whole book for me and I struggled to keep reading and ended up skimming huge chunks just to get through it.
To make it worse I didn't connect or particularly like either of the main characters.
I found Micah pretentious, he's desperate for clothes and goes to the mall with Neve who automatically starts picking up normal clothes when Micah asks if there's somewhere that isn’t a chain store, like maybe Armani, Ralph Lauren, Thomas Pink.
There's a moment when a man grabs Neve and I'm waiting for her to kick his ass after all shes a trained warrior.
So he grabs her and throws her against the car and slaps her hard across the face. She falls on the gravel and shrieks. Once he's satisfied she's cowed he disappears.
She scrambles for her handbag with shaking hands and finds her baton, and shakes it at the shadows then jumps to her feet and trips on a bush.
Okay so she's not the kind of trained warrior I was expecting.
Maybe that's being unfair she was taken by surprise and frightened but by this point this book was turning into one disappointment after another.
I struggled and skimmed my way along hoping it would be a book of two halves and the second would make up for the first. It didn't.
When they find Rowan and Chelsea surrounded by evil bikers surely this is the time to pay and bring in some experts some highly trained help?
No, no it's not it's back to amateur hour.
This book obviously wasn't for me.
I voluntarily read a review copy kindly provided by NetGalley
The minute I read the blurb I knew I had to read this book
'.....she’s a trained warrior with extreme survival skills who lives off the grid.'
I don't know about you but I'm getting sick to death of this epidemic of TSTL females that are plaguing so many romance books these days so this sounded like a refreshing change.
The story centres around self-made billionaire Micah Kincaid who's wife Chelsea left a year ago taking their son Rowan with her and Micah is desperate to see and hold his son, how long does it take before a four year old boy forgets the father he hasn't seen in a year?
Micah has taken so much time off during the past year to track his wife, Chelsea, across Australia. To the extent where it's affecting his business as well as losing him time he should be spending in his son.
A lead takes him to Turners Gully and the kindergarten there where he crosses paths with Neve Botticelli.
My problem, and it bothered me from the beginning is that surely a man as rich as Micah would have trained people searching for his son and at the first hint of finding him they'd be all over it, official paperwork, private security, police you name it.
While I understand it's his son I can't for the life of me understand why Micah would just turn up almost guaranteeing that Chelsea would run as she has before.
This may be a small point but it just didn't make sense, he's gone a year without seeing his son yet he has the money to pay for the very best, it's crazy, it's like amateur hour.
It may seem picky but this spoilt the whole book for me and I struggled to keep reading and ended up skimming huge chunks just to get through it.
To make it worse I didn't connect or particularly like either of the main characters.
I found Micah pretentious, he's desperate for clothes and goes to the mall with Neve who automatically starts picking up normal clothes when Micah asks if there's somewhere that isn’t a chain store, like maybe Armani, Ralph Lauren, Thomas Pink.
There's a moment when a man grabs Neve and I'm waiting for her to kick his ass after all shes a trained warrior.
So he grabs her and throws her against the car and slaps her hard across the face. She falls on the gravel and shrieks. Once he's satisfied she's cowed he disappears.
She scrambles for her handbag with shaking hands and finds her baton, and shakes it at the shadows then jumps to her feet and trips on a bush.
Okay so she's not the kind of trained warrior I was expecting.
Maybe that's being unfair she was taken by surprise and frightened but by this point this book was turning into one disappointment after another.
I struggled and skimmed my way along hoping it would be a book of two halves and the second would make up for the first. It didn't.
When they find Rowan and Chelsea surrounded by evil bikers surely this is the time to pay and bring in some experts some highly trained help?
No, no it's not it's back to amateur hour.
This book obviously wasn't for me.
I voluntarily read a review copy kindly provided by NetGalley
February 6, 2017
Action packed!
February 7, 2017
This book sucked me in from page one with a cute kid then took me for a thumping ride full of sexual tension and suspense. Just how a romantic suspense should be. I loved seeing the alpha male hero meet his match with the sweet kindergarten teacher and get put in his place. There was a whole lot more than meets the eye with Neve.
May 16, 2017
Combatting Fear is my introduction to the work of Sandy Vaille and I have to say it was not a bad experience.Neve Botticelli is not your typical kindergarten teacher. A childhood tragedy led to her living with her father a Vietnam veteran who suffered from PTSD. One symptom was paranoia, which led to him training and conditioning her for a battle that most likely will never materialise.Micah Kincaid, a self-made billionaire, search for his son brought him to Turner’s Gully. His estranged wife had taken their son away from him. His only concern was finding his son hoping to reunite his family. He never counted on having his efforts blocked by a diminutive, feisty and strong-willed kindergarten teacher.Combatting Fear is a romantic suspense (Heavy on the suspense, light on the romance) that plunges readers into a world of custody woes, motorcycle gangs and kidnapping. This was a suspenseful story that pulled me in from the first page and which I found difficult to put down.I loved how the story developed for the most part. It started out with Micah finding his son’s location, followed by him meeting Neve, her mistrust of him and refusal to assist him, their getting to know each other and finally, we see them working together to achieve a common goal. What I enjoyed most was the flow of the story. The way the author tied all the events together, to create a nail-biting read.The romance took a back seat, which did not bother me given the circumstances. Micah was still married even though his wife had abandoned him for a little over a year. Despite the circumstances, he was still hoping for a reconciliation, because he is a man who believes in keeping his family together, as such, he was shocked at his initial reaction to Neve. Eventually, as they got to know each other, they embraced their feelings for each other but they did not act on them, except for the sharing of a fleeting kiss. This was after Micah finally admitted to himself that although he cared for his wife, he was not in love with her. They did eventually get their HEA, but not without going through some difficult moments.The characters were likeable. I admired Micah for his determination and devotion. I know readers may have a problem with the fact that being a billionaire he would have the available resources to hire a skilled team to rescue his son, instead of taking on the task himself. In some respects, I agree, but I understood why he chose to do it himself. It may not have been a wise move, but I guess he never stopped to think of the consequences as his only focus was securing his rescue. Micah grew up without the love of a father and this was not something he wanted for his son. He was determined to move heaven and earth to ensure that his son knew that he had not abandoned him. His desperation, however, clouded his judgement and he ended up taking serious and careless risks at times.Neve’s description in the blurb indicated that she was a trained warrior with extreme survival skills" who also happens to be a kindergarten teacher, but this was not the case. Her actions belied the description in the blurb. The kick ass heroine did not materialise. Thankfully, this did not affect build up of the suspense. Where she fell down in the area of fighting she more than made up for in her determination, feistiness and selflessness. I appreciated the bond she had with her father. The thing that annoyed me was how they allowed their mistrust of each other to get in the way of the mission. She was quick to rush to judgement regarding his monetary status. She believed rich people were snobs and felt they behaved as if they were entitled and far as she was concerned Micah was no different. He believed she was deliberately trying to prevent him from carrying out his mission. Their refusal to trust each other proved an impediment at times.Another thing I had an issue with was the introduction of a subplot, which the author failed to develop. This was in regards the motorcycle gang and their criminal activities. They were responsible for the theft of motor cars in the area, but the author did not follow through on this thread. In addition, there was a scene, where one of the gang members and a police officer were having an intense conversation. However, I was not privy to the details of the conversation. It added no value to the story.VerdictOverall, this was an enjoyable read. It was not perfect, but it was enough to keep me entertained.
April 22, 2017
Review can also be found in Chill and read
Kindergarten teacher Neve Botticelli leads a quiet life out in Turners Gully. She is settled there, living with her father, a vietnam veteran with post traumatic issues, that has trained her for battle, may it never come! She loves the kindy and all those little children in there, especially one little buddy, called Rowan. He reminds her of her late brother Carlos.
Self made multi billionair Micah Kincaid though is another story. He turns up in Turners Gully looking for his son. The boy has been dragged out of his life by Micah’s wife, the boy’s mother Chelsea. Micah does not hate her. On the contrary, he does everything he can so both of them live a comfortable life.
Things get complicated when Micah finds himself in the kindy and demands to see his son. Neve refuses to align with his demands as she is trying to protect Rowan. When a biker gang gets involved in the whole situation, it all turns uglier than either of them could think. Neve and Micah have to cooperate if they want to have the boy and his mother safe and back to them.
The story is a romantic suspense one, keeping the reader interested in the whole process. The author has done a wonderful job describing the feelings of the father and the child as such. The pictures we get from the little boy are almost visible! There is nothing ugly with this book. No bad language, hot erotic scenes or anything like that, which is actually good, because a romantic story does not need sex scenes to be appealing. That is if the writer has this kind of talent, and Vaile does!
The suspense part of the story is really good as well! The way it develops is very promising and it does not disappoint the reader up until the end of it. The two old blokes come to add to the spice mix of the equation and it really makes sense to have them there. The characters are thoughtfully chosen and built in a way to serve the story on all levels.
Will surely keep an eye on Vaile in the future. That is one great australian writer!
Kindergarten teacher Neve Botticelli leads a quiet life out in Turners Gully. She is settled there, living with her father, a vietnam veteran with post traumatic issues, that has trained her for battle, may it never come! She loves the kindy and all those little children in there, especially one little buddy, called Rowan. He reminds her of her late brother Carlos.
Self made multi billionair Micah Kincaid though is another story. He turns up in Turners Gully looking for his son. The boy has been dragged out of his life by Micah’s wife, the boy’s mother Chelsea. Micah does not hate her. On the contrary, he does everything he can so both of them live a comfortable life.
Things get complicated when Micah finds himself in the kindy and demands to see his son. Neve refuses to align with his demands as she is trying to protect Rowan. When a biker gang gets involved in the whole situation, it all turns uglier than either of them could think. Neve and Micah have to cooperate if they want to have the boy and his mother safe and back to them.
The story is a romantic suspense one, keeping the reader interested in the whole process. The author has done a wonderful job describing the feelings of the father and the child as such. The pictures we get from the little boy are almost visible! There is nothing ugly with this book. No bad language, hot erotic scenes or anything like that, which is actually good, because a romantic story does not need sex scenes to be appealing. That is if the writer has this kind of talent, and Vaile does!
The suspense part of the story is really good as well! The way it develops is very promising and it does not disappoint the reader up until the end of it. The two old blokes come to add to the spice mix of the equation and it really makes sense to have them there. The characters are thoughtfully chosen and built in a way to serve the story on all levels.
Will surely keep an eye on Vaile in the future. That is one great australian writer!
February 10, 2017
Book blurb…
How far would you go to save a child that wasn’t yours?
Mild-mannered kindergarten teacher Neve Botticelli leads a double life. Thanks to a childhood tragedy and her paranoid father, she’s a trained warrior with extreme survival skills who lives off the grid.
When self-made billionaire Micah Kincaid storms into town in search of his son, Rowan, he’s pushy, entitled, and stands for everything she despises. Micah can’t believe a kindergarten teacher is barring the way to him getting crucial information or even just a glimpse of the boy his cheating ex kidnapped. They share only one thing in common: either will do anything to protect the four-year-old, who they soon discover is being held for ransom by an outlaw motorcycle gang.
But as they work together to get Rowan back, they start to see beyond each other’s masks. Could falling in love be even more dangerous than hunting down deadly criminals?
My thoughts…
I love a good suspense novel and I love Australian settings. And while I am not so keen on the romance genre, this author has won me over by adding a suspenseful tale that puts her somewhere between two of my favourite Aussie romantic suspense authors - Helene Young and Bronwyn Parry.
The quality of the writing (advance copies are never error free in my experience) showed an author who has made every word count and every scene advance the story so well that at one point I said to myself, “Stop, take a breath, slow down so you can appreciate the journey.”
As for the characters, I loved both Neve and Micah for their commitment to finding Rowan, regardless of the difficulties.
Combatting Fear is a heartwarming and suspenseful story about two people dedicated to keeping a family safe and prepared to make sacrifices for love.
This was my first time reading a story by Sandy Vaile and won’t it be my last.
How far would you go to save a child that wasn’t yours?
Mild-mannered kindergarten teacher Neve Botticelli leads a double life. Thanks to a childhood tragedy and her paranoid father, she’s a trained warrior with extreme survival skills who lives off the grid.
When self-made billionaire Micah Kincaid storms into town in search of his son, Rowan, he’s pushy, entitled, and stands for everything she despises. Micah can’t believe a kindergarten teacher is barring the way to him getting crucial information or even just a glimpse of the boy his cheating ex kidnapped. They share only one thing in common: either will do anything to protect the four-year-old, who they soon discover is being held for ransom by an outlaw motorcycle gang.
But as they work together to get Rowan back, they start to see beyond each other’s masks. Could falling in love be even more dangerous than hunting down deadly criminals?
My thoughts…
I love a good suspense novel and I love Australian settings. And while I am not so keen on the romance genre, this author has won me over by adding a suspenseful tale that puts her somewhere between two of my favourite Aussie romantic suspense authors - Helene Young and Bronwyn Parry.
The quality of the writing (advance copies are never error free in my experience) showed an author who has made every word count and every scene advance the story so well that at one point I said to myself, “Stop, take a breath, slow down so you can appreciate the journey.”
As for the characters, I loved both Neve and Micah for their commitment to finding Rowan, regardless of the difficulties.
Combatting Fear is a heartwarming and suspenseful story about two people dedicated to keeping a family safe and prepared to make sacrifices for love.
This was my first time reading a story by Sandy Vaile and won’t it be my last.
February 11, 2017
Combatting Fear by Sandy Vaile is a high-octane, suspense-filled story, with a twist of sexy romance.
Sandy Vaile’s second novel is heartwarming, thrilling and just a little bit sexy. A story of a distraught father looking for his son, a fiercely protective kindergarten teacher with a family secret and the conflict between them as they battle desire and preconceptions in the search for a missing child.
Vaile has a wonderful way of writing children and the heartwarming glimpses she gives of little Rowan certainly make you feel protective of this innocent boy. Micah’s desperation comes through from the very first page. He has all the tall, dark and handsome attributes we love in a hero. He is a sensitive alpha. A natural leader who knows, eventually, when to acknowledge he doesn’t have the skills to rescue his son. I would have liked to see Micah take more of a lead at times, but this is Neve’s story. She is the character who keeps this story moving forward. Independent and headstrong, eminently capable of taking on a biker gang, and fiercely protective of those she loves, Neve is a standout female protagonist.
The story line is as taut as one of Neve’s bowstrings; nothing is extraneous and there is plenty of action and suspense as the two hunt for Rowan’s kidnappers. There is just enough backstory for us to understand why Neve and her father live off the grid and why she guards her privacy, and her heart, so well.
I thoroughly enjoyed Combatting Fear, even more than Vaile’s debut novel Inheriting Fear, which I loved, and I can’t wait to meet Vaile’s next heroine.
If you love a heroine who is strong, vulnerable and ready to fight for what she holds dear, then you can’t go past Combatting Fear.
*ARC provided by the author.
See all my reviews at http://rowenahollowaynovels.com/categ...
Sandy Vaile’s second novel is heartwarming, thrilling and just a little bit sexy. A story of a distraught father looking for his son, a fiercely protective kindergarten teacher with a family secret and the conflict between them as they battle desire and preconceptions in the search for a missing child.
Vaile has a wonderful way of writing children and the heartwarming glimpses she gives of little Rowan certainly make you feel protective of this innocent boy. Micah’s desperation comes through from the very first page. He has all the tall, dark and handsome attributes we love in a hero. He is a sensitive alpha. A natural leader who knows, eventually, when to acknowledge he doesn’t have the skills to rescue his son. I would have liked to see Micah take more of a lead at times, but this is Neve’s story. She is the character who keeps this story moving forward. Independent and headstrong, eminently capable of taking on a biker gang, and fiercely protective of those she loves, Neve is a standout female protagonist.
The story line is as taut as one of Neve’s bowstrings; nothing is extraneous and there is plenty of action and suspense as the two hunt for Rowan’s kidnappers. There is just enough backstory for us to understand why Neve and her father live off the grid and why she guards her privacy, and her heart, so well.
I thoroughly enjoyed Combatting Fear, even more than Vaile’s debut novel Inheriting Fear, which I loved, and I can’t wait to meet Vaile’s next heroine.
If you love a heroine who is strong, vulnerable and ready to fight for what she holds dear, then you can’t go past Combatting Fear.
*ARC provided by the author.
See all my reviews at http://rowenahollowaynovels.com/categ...
February 24, 2017
This review was originally posted on karaneleni.com
This week, I've learned that I'm a sucker for a good Romantic Suspense. I should have know that already, but Combatting Fear made me fully aware of this. I had my iPhone read the book to me because it's been a busy few days, and despite the computerized voice that I can only handle to a small degree, I was completely engrossed in this story. I even found myself staring off into space-- listening and allowing myself to feel the heart racing moments in the story--when I should have been working (sorry, boss!) or cleaning the house or feeding my animals (sorry, cats!). Actually, the only thing I'm sorry about is that I read--err...listened--to this story way too quickly. It's definitely going to be one that I read again. And I've grabbed Sandy's previous novel, Inheriting Fear, that I'll be diving into soon.
February 12, 2017
Combatting Fear is my first foray into Australian romantic suspense, and it doesn't disappoint.
Set in the South Australian bush near Adelaide this story starts off with a simple search by an anxious father to find his missing son Rowan and Chelsea, the wife who has run off with him.
Billionaire businessman Micah Kincaid is used to getting his way but he's also desperate to reconnect with four year-old Rowan. Kindergarten principal Neve Botticelli is not impressed with Micah's blustering belligerence and refuses to let him in to see Rowan.
Despite a less than propitious start, they both feel a spark of attraction. Forced to work together in the search for Chelsea and Rowan, who have once again disappeared, Neve and Micah soon find that their attraction is more than skin deep.
Sandy Vaile has assembled an interesting cast of secondary characters ranging from Neve's father Tony, who is suffering from PTSD and is a little over-cautious about intruders, to Neve's best friend Bron, who thinks Micah is swoonworthy. There are some fairly unsavoury bikers to ramp up the suspense, and a cracking plot with enough cliff-hanging moments to keep me on the edge of my seat. Recommended.
Set in the South Australian bush near Adelaide this story starts off with a simple search by an anxious father to find his missing son Rowan and Chelsea, the wife who has run off with him.
Billionaire businessman Micah Kincaid is used to getting his way but he's also desperate to reconnect with four year-old Rowan. Kindergarten principal Neve Botticelli is not impressed with Micah's blustering belligerence and refuses to let him in to see Rowan.
Despite a less than propitious start, they both feel a spark of attraction. Forced to work together in the search for Chelsea and Rowan, who have once again disappeared, Neve and Micah soon find that their attraction is more than skin deep.
Sandy Vaile has assembled an interesting cast of secondary characters ranging from Neve's father Tony, who is suffering from PTSD and is a little over-cautious about intruders, to Neve's best friend Bron, who thinks Micah is swoonworthy. There are some fairly unsavoury bikers to ramp up the suspense, and a cracking plot with enough cliff-hanging moments to keep me on the edge of my seat. Recommended.
March 12, 2017
This book was difficult for me to rate. It felt like there were two parallel aspects to the plot, so I’ll talk about each of them in turn. The main line of the story centers on Micah Kinkaid trying to regain his kidnapped child and explores the extent of the question: how far would a father go for his child?
This aspect of the plot was well done as it progressed from what seemed to be a mere case of run-away mom to a full-blown gang threat and lives at stake. At each twist and turn, whether Micah would be reunited with his son and have a happy ending in that regard was made even more suspenseful and toward the end, my heart lurched for Rowan. It was definitely full of action and kept you guessing at how everything would play out in the final showdown.
I loved how fully Micah threw himself into finding his son, and his desperation and raw emotion were very believable. Despite his worth as a rich businessman, his desire to physically find his son spoke volumes to his love for him and very much supported his consistent claim throughout the story that family was the most important thing to him. It definitely was a huge aspect of his character and the progression of his development throughout the book.
The other aspect to the story was the development of a romance between Micah and the other main character, Neve. This part of the story felt forced to me. It was made very clear that Micah and Neve were different, and I suppose opposites attract, but the actual explanation and development of their romance at times seemed contradictory to the actual characters.
Neve did not seem like the type of character to lose control of herself and as the reader, trying to understand her feelings and thoughts was difficult. Half the story was supposedly told from her point of view, but I never felt like I was in her mind or seeing things from her perspective, other than visually. I felt like there was more ‘telling’ than ‘showing’ when it came to some of their behaviors and at times, it seemed that Micah and Neve were physically attracted to each other, but beyond that I didn’t understand what was really there.
While I could fully understand the confusion when in Micah’s point of view to Neve’s motivations for helping him, when in Neve’s point of view, it was still very unclear.
As for Micah, I could see his confliction and emotional instability for much of the story. Though there were still times that I didn’t quite understand his being drawn toward Neve either. I think he was conflicted due to the situation he was in trying to find his estranged wife and kidnapped son, though at times it felt more like he just wasn’t sure what to make of Neve or if she was really a woman he would be in to.
I will say that toward the end, it was clear that they did love each other and wanted to find a way to be together despite their differences. And their romance was much more warming and believable once the official showdown was closer. As a result of the entire conflict with the kidnapping and rescue, the characters’ trauma and changes were very felt and made a difference that was understandable to their development. I would definitely say it ended well.
Overall, I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars. It really was difficult for me to rate since I loved the action and it was clear the plot with the kidnapping was thought out and well written and developed, but the two main characters left me confused and wanting at times. However, if you’re looking for something filled with action and a warming story about what a parent would do for a child, check it out and see what you think.
I was asked to review this book.
This aspect of the plot was well done as it progressed from what seemed to be a mere case of run-away mom to a full-blown gang threat and lives at stake. At each twist and turn, whether Micah would be reunited with his son and have a happy ending in that regard was made even more suspenseful and toward the end, my heart lurched for Rowan. It was definitely full of action and kept you guessing at how everything would play out in the final showdown.
I loved how fully Micah threw himself into finding his son, and his desperation and raw emotion were very believable. Despite his worth as a rich businessman, his desire to physically find his son spoke volumes to his love for him and very much supported his consistent claim throughout the story that family was the most important thing to him. It definitely was a huge aspect of his character and the progression of his development throughout the book.
The other aspect to the story was the development of a romance between Micah and the other main character, Neve. This part of the story felt forced to me. It was made very clear that Micah and Neve were different, and I suppose opposites attract, but the actual explanation and development of their romance at times seemed contradictory to the actual characters.
Neve did not seem like the type of character to lose control of herself and as the reader, trying to understand her feelings and thoughts was difficult. Half the story was supposedly told from her point of view, but I never felt like I was in her mind or seeing things from her perspective, other than visually. I felt like there was more ‘telling’ than ‘showing’ when it came to some of their behaviors and at times, it seemed that Micah and Neve were physically attracted to each other, but beyond that I didn’t understand what was really there.
While I could fully understand the confusion when in Micah’s point of view to Neve’s motivations for helping him, when in Neve’s point of view, it was still very unclear.
As for Micah, I could see his confliction and emotional instability for much of the story. Though there were still times that I didn’t quite understand his being drawn toward Neve either. I think he was conflicted due to the situation he was in trying to find his estranged wife and kidnapped son, though at times it felt more like he just wasn’t sure what to make of Neve or if she was really a woman he would be in to.
I will say that toward the end, it was clear that they did love each other and wanted to find a way to be together despite their differences. And their romance was much more warming and believable once the official showdown was closer. As a result of the entire conflict with the kidnapping and rescue, the characters’ trauma and changes were very felt and made a difference that was understandable to their development. I would definitely say it ended well.
Overall, I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars. It really was difficult for me to rate since I loved the action and it was clear the plot with the kidnapping was thought out and well written and developed, but the two main characters left me confused and wanting at times. However, if you’re looking for something filled with action and a warming story about what a parent would do for a child, check it out and see what you think.
I was asked to review this book.
February 21, 2018
Every now and then I like to read a book that is different to my preferred genre.
The cover of “Combatting Fear” by Sandy Vaile caught my eye which led me to the blurb.
It sounded like a story I could get into and thought I would give it a go.
I’m so very glad I did.
WOW! What a wonderful story. I read it on my tablet and got frustrated every time the thing needed re-charging so that I could resume reading.
I loved the two main characters – their completely different backgrounds and marital status suggesting there was no way they could have any meaningful relationship, other than mutual respect. The narrative and dialogue was convincing for the location and situation they found themselves in.
Their only common ground is a four year old boy, whom they both love for different reasons:
For him, a self-made billionaire, the boy is his son who has been unjustly taken away from him by his ex-wife and her boyfriend.
For her, a kindergarten teacher, who has formed a very special bond with the child, is unwilling to impart knowledge of him to his father as a matter of security.
However, when she learns the little chap has been abducted by a motorcycle gang and held to ransom so that the boy’s father parts with some very serious money, without hesitation, she decides to help him find his child.
It’s a lovely story which I thoroughly enjoyed. What made it even more enjoyable was the author’s writing style that kept me enthralled with the range of emotions.
It is a story I can highly recommend.
The cover of “Combatting Fear” by Sandy Vaile caught my eye which led me to the blurb.
It sounded like a story I could get into and thought I would give it a go.
I’m so very glad I did.
WOW! What a wonderful story. I read it on my tablet and got frustrated every time the thing needed re-charging so that I could resume reading.
I loved the two main characters – their completely different backgrounds and marital status suggesting there was no way they could have any meaningful relationship, other than mutual respect. The narrative and dialogue was convincing for the location and situation they found themselves in.
Their only common ground is a four year old boy, whom they both love for different reasons:
For him, a self-made billionaire, the boy is his son who has been unjustly taken away from him by his ex-wife and her boyfriend.
For her, a kindergarten teacher, who has formed a very special bond with the child, is unwilling to impart knowledge of him to his father as a matter of security.
However, when she learns the little chap has been abducted by a motorcycle gang and held to ransom so that the boy’s father parts with some very serious money, without hesitation, she decides to help him find his child.
It’s a lovely story which I thoroughly enjoyed. What made it even more enjoyable was the author’s writing style that kept me enthralled with the range of emotions.
It is a story I can highly recommend.
September 22, 2021
Combatting Fear is about love, trust and betrayal. Neve Botticelli loves her job as a kindergarten teacher in a small community in South Australia. When Micah Kincaid storm into the centre one morning asking access to one of the children called Rowan. Neve Botticelli said no, which made Micah angry. However, when an outlaw motorcycle gang kidnapped Rowan, they joined forces to find him. The readers of Combatting Fear will continue to follow Neve and Micah to find out what happened.
Combatting Fear is another enjoyable book by Sandy Vaile. I had no problem engaging with the story of Combatting Fear from the first page. I enjoyed the way Sandy Vaile highlighted an issue that can affect children during their parent's divorce. I love Sandy Vaile portrayal of her characters and their interaction with each other throughout this book. Combatting Fear is well written and researched by Sandy Vaile. I like Sandy Vaile's description of Combatting Fear's settings that allowed me to imagine being part of the book's plot.
The readers of Combatting Fear will learn about problems that ex-soldiers had after returning from Vietnam. Also, the readers of Combatting Fear will understand the role of a kindergarten teacher in Australia.
I recommend this book.
Combatting Fear is another enjoyable book by Sandy Vaile. I had no problem engaging with the story of Combatting Fear from the first page. I enjoyed the way Sandy Vaile highlighted an issue that can affect children during their parent's divorce. I love Sandy Vaile portrayal of her characters and their interaction with each other throughout this book. Combatting Fear is well written and researched by Sandy Vaile. I like Sandy Vaile's description of Combatting Fear's settings that allowed me to imagine being part of the book's plot.
The readers of Combatting Fear will learn about problems that ex-soldiers had after returning from Vietnam. Also, the readers of Combatting Fear will understand the role of a kindergarten teacher in Australia.
I recommend this book.
February 20, 2017
I was drawn to this book by the book cover and the premise of this story. A kindergarten teacher by day and a trained warrior by night. Yes, please. Sign me up. Yet, I never really experienced the trained warrior. I would have been fine if this book had been about two people thrown together trying to help save a boy. However, the premise of this storyline leads the readers to believe that they are going to get a strong, kick-ass heroine. I never truly saw this in Neve. She had two over protective guys watching over her. The scene where Mitch confronts Neve's father and Jack was kind of funny. Everyone was worried about Neve's father even though he is the one that roughed Mitch up.
I do agree with another reader's point that Mitch was very rich, so he could have hired people to find his son and rescue him. Yet, it showed just how much Mitch cared for his son by doing himself. The storyline was alright. There was nothing that made the story stand out. I did kind of lose interest about half way. While, this book may not have been for me, it does not mean that you might not enough the read.
I do agree with another reader's point that Mitch was very rich, so he could have hired people to find his son and rescue him. Yet, it showed just how much Mitch cared for his son by doing himself. The storyline was alright. There was nothing that made the story stand out. I did kind of lose interest about half way. While, this book may not have been for me, it does not mean that you might not enough the read.
February 23, 2017
This is my first book by this author and I wasn’t sure what I was going to expect. I enjoyed it. It had everything that I enjoy in a book Suspense, and romance. The author did a fantastic job with combining them together with some twists and turns as well.
The storyline was very good a lot of action and suspense that kept me glued to the pages. It was hard to stop reading . I loved the characters and could imagine them right in front of me while reading.
If you want a good suspense, romance read check this book out. You won’t be dissaponted
I have received a ARC of this book to give a honest review
The storyline was very good a lot of action and suspense that kept me glued to the pages. It was hard to stop reading . I loved the characters and could imagine them right in front of me while reading.
If you want a good suspense, romance read check this book out. You won’t be dissaponted
I have received a ARC of this book to give a honest review
February 14, 2017
Micah and Neve’s story was compelling reading, once I accepted that a billionaire businessman was doing his own surveillance and tracking. There are good reasons for Micah to be doing work he could easily afford to hire professionals to do, but the reasons are not revealed until quite late in the story. So accept that it is necessary, and read on.
There is so much I thoroughly enjoyed about Combatting Fear. It is fast paced, with a strong storyline that drew me in and kept me reading until I finished it in a day. The main characters are sympathetically drawn, both having tragic childhoods which have made them strong, independent people. Neve’s home life is particularly interesting. Her father is a ‘survivalist’, a Vietnam vet coping with PTSD. Neve manages her father’s mental health issues in a realistic manner, with courage and empathy. Her skill set also makes her an intriguing character, although there was one scene outside her workplace where I wasn’t totally convinced she stayed true to her training.
I enjoyed the setting, and was convinced by the premise surrounding the motorbike gang, the Mutts.
Taut writing and fast paced made this a great read. I highly recommend it and will be looking for more books by Sandy Vaile.
There is so much I thoroughly enjoyed about Combatting Fear. It is fast paced, with a strong storyline that drew me in and kept me reading until I finished it in a day. The main characters are sympathetically drawn, both having tragic childhoods which have made them strong, independent people. Neve’s home life is particularly interesting. Her father is a ‘survivalist’, a Vietnam vet coping with PTSD. Neve manages her father’s mental health issues in a realistic manner, with courage and empathy. Her skill set also makes her an intriguing character, although there was one scene outside her workplace where I wasn’t totally convinced she stayed true to her training.
I enjoyed the setting, and was convinced by the premise surrounding the motorbike gang, the Mutts.
Taut writing and fast paced made this a great read. I highly recommend it and will be looking for more books by Sandy Vaile.
February 20, 2017
This book had a lot more than I was expecting at first glance. From a main character with a double life to a child kidnapping and a ransom act, there was a lot of action right from the start. Of course there is a healthy dose of romance as well, with both characters bringing a lot of issues to the table and both needing to work through them – for themselves and each other. The writing was fast-paced and at times I could feel myself holding my breath. Very strong read!
I received a review copy
I received a review copy
February 21, 2017
[4.5 stars] When I began reading this book, I did not know what to expect. Was the story going to be about a kidnapped child? Was the story going to have romance? What about suspense? Well, the story had it all and blended everything together nicely. This was a suspenseful read set in Australia, which added a little twist since I live in the USA. Enticing read for a weekend getaway.
I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review.
I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review.
February 13, 2017
This book sucked me in from page one and i did not want to put it down it was a good read but i could not get my head around a father with billions not hiring anyone and everyone to help him find his son other than that i really enjoyed it but i just could not quite get past it.
September 9, 2017
Ms. Vaile transports readers to the Outback, offering a peek at life in Australia, particularly its vegetation and language, many will find fascinating.
Read full review in the 2017 September issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2017 September issue of InD'tale Magazine.
March 17, 2017
Micah Kincaid has been searching for his son, Rowan, for a year, after his wife, Chelsea, took him and moved without warning. He finally tracked them to a small town and the kindergarten he attended. Going to the school he demanded to see his son. This didn't sit well with the school's director, Neve Botticelli. Of course, she couldn't let Micah see his son or even confirm if he went to that school.
Eventually, Neve begins to doubt Chelsea and agrees to help Micah search for Rowan and Chelsea who have vanished again. When Micah gets a ransom demand from a local biker gang he is very worried for his son's safety.
Neve was an amazing woman. She was great with kids making her job as a kindergarten teacher perfect for her. She was such a good person to everyone. I liked how patient she was with her father who had PTSD. Even though Micah was a successful businessman and self-made billionaire his childhood was not very good. His father left his family taking everything so he had a hard time of it when he was younger.
I liked this romantic suspense and am very happy to have won it in a giveaway. I enjoyed this fast-paced story and the great characters. I liked the mix of really good people and really bad people. The characters and how they handled the situations helped make this story one I didn't want to put down.
Combatting Fear is a good book for romantic suspense readers.
Eventually, Neve begins to doubt Chelsea and agrees to help Micah search for Rowan and Chelsea who have vanished again. When Micah gets a ransom demand from a local biker gang he is very worried for his son's safety.
Neve was an amazing woman. She was great with kids making her job as a kindergarten teacher perfect for her. She was such a good person to everyone. I liked how patient she was with her father who had PTSD. Even though Micah was a successful businessman and self-made billionaire his childhood was not very good. His father left his family taking everything so he had a hard time of it when he was younger.
I liked this romantic suspense and am very happy to have won it in a giveaway. I enjoyed this fast-paced story and the great characters. I liked the mix of really good people and really bad people. The characters and how they handled the situations helped make this story one I didn't want to put down.
Combatting Fear is a good book for romantic suspense readers.
February 17, 2019
I really liked this book. The plot is fast-paced but Sandy’s attention to detail without drowning the story in description grounds it in a world that feels real. The characters made sense and the twists and turns were anything but predictable.
March 8, 2017
My Review of Combatting Fear by Sandy Vaile
My Rating 2.5 Stars
The blurb that I read on this book pulled me in and made me want to read it. But once I started this book I honestly could not connect with the characters. (This could be just me) I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I had hoped and it took me several days to read. Therefore making it on a 2.5 star read based on the fact I was bored. I will try another book from this author and I suggest you try this one for yourself as, it truly may just be me that didn’t enjoy it.
** I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of his book in exchange for an honest review from the Author , Publisher & Netgalley**
My Rating 2.5 Stars
The blurb that I read on this book pulled me in and made me want to read it. But once I started this book I honestly could not connect with the characters. (This could be just me) I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I had hoped and it took me several days to read. Therefore making it on a 2.5 star read based on the fact I was bored. I will try another book from this author and I suggest you try this one for yourself as, it truly may just be me that didn’t enjoy it.
** I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of his book in exchange for an honest review from the Author , Publisher & Netgalley**
February 13, 2017
South Australian kidnapping tale
I was anxious to read this book advertised as having "a trained warrior with extreme survival skills" who also happens to be a kindergarten teacher.
Well, maybe I've read too many post-apocalyptic/survivalist books but teacher Neve Boticelli did not meet those standards in my opinion.
Billionaire Micah Kincaid comes to the small community of Turners Gully in South Australia tracking down his wife (who he is separated from) and his 4 year-old son that she took off with and disappeared.
This was an okay story to me, pretty unbelievable at times. I really don't think a billionaire would handle the abduction of his son like this. He could have had a trained army of experts out looking for his son.
Also, the characters were a bit two-dimensional to me. And I never did feel part of the story.
It was a quick read and I did learn a few things about Australia I didn't know so it wasn't a total loss.
I received this book from Crimson Romance and Adams Media through Edelweiss in exchange for my unbiased review.
I was anxious to read this book advertised as having "a trained warrior with extreme survival skills" who also happens to be a kindergarten teacher.
Well, maybe I've read too many post-apocalyptic/survivalist books but teacher Neve Boticelli did not meet those standards in my opinion.
Billionaire Micah Kincaid comes to the small community of Turners Gully in South Australia tracking down his wife (who he is separated from) and his 4 year-old son that she took off with and disappeared.
This was an okay story to me, pretty unbelievable at times. I really don't think a billionaire would handle the abduction of his son like this. He could have had a trained army of experts out looking for his son.
Also, the characters were a bit two-dimensional to me. And I never did feel part of the story.
It was a quick read and I did learn a few things about Australia I didn't know so it wasn't a total loss.
I received this book from Crimson Romance and Adams Media through Edelweiss in exchange for my unbiased review.
February 17, 2017
netgalley
an ok read.
an ok read.
April 21, 2017
This book was an interesting read because it was set in Australia and written by an Australian author, so terminology and descriptions took a little getting used to for this American!
Neve is a strong woman but has a vulnerable side too. She grew up learning how to survive in the wild (and in fact lives off the grid with her father) but balances it by teaching at a kindy school (pre-school/kindergarten for us across the pond!) She has a strong dedication to her father and to the children she teaches.
Micah may be rich but he wants nothing more than to raise his son and have a family. His wife (in the process to be an ex) may not be stable but he has honor and wants to do right by her. It is a very admirable trait and shows that just because he is wealthy does not mean that he doesn't care.
Micah is trying to find his son and unfortunately his wife has fallen in with a bad group and they have no problem "ransoming" the child to further their own agenda. Money is nothing to Micah and while you should never pay ransoms, he just wants his son back. Of course things go wrong and Neve and Micah set out to find his son using her survival skills.
There is a lot of action, some romance between Neve and Micah, and some tender moments as well. There are some nail biting moments near the end too. I enjoyed the ups and downs as it really pulled the story together.
Neve is a strong woman but has a vulnerable side too. She grew up learning how to survive in the wild (and in fact lives off the grid with her father) but balances it by teaching at a kindy school (pre-school/kindergarten for us across the pond!) She has a strong dedication to her father and to the children she teaches.
Micah may be rich but he wants nothing more than to raise his son and have a family. His wife (in the process to be an ex) may not be stable but he has honor and wants to do right by her. It is a very admirable trait and shows that just because he is wealthy does not mean that he doesn't care.
Micah is trying to find his son and unfortunately his wife has fallen in with a bad group and they have no problem "ransoming" the child to further their own agenda. Money is nothing to Micah and while you should never pay ransoms, he just wants his son back. Of course things go wrong and Neve and Micah set out to find his son using her survival skills.
There is a lot of action, some romance between Neve and Micah, and some tender moments as well. There are some nail biting moments near the end too. I enjoyed the ups and downs as it really pulled the story together.
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