Title: Wrecker [Kindle Edition] By Tamera Lawrence

File Size: 2507 KB

Print Length: 234 pages

Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing (December 4, 2012)

Language: English

ASIN: B00AIQEHBE

From the description on Amazon.com, you’ll see that Wrecker is a story about a twenty-six-year-old woman, Tara Gibbons, who, as a tow truck driver, struggles with the stigma of being a woman in a man’s field. Newly employed by Cole Wilson, Tara finds herself attracted to her boss. That said, there is tension between them as a result of their clash of wills. This tension is what allows for the hidden dangers of the story to evolve. For example, someone is watching Tara – someone with an ulterior motive. In time, she stumbles upon Cole’s secret past. As she faces a life or death battle, the question uppermost is this: whom can she trust?

As a romance novel, it is certainly predictable in where the plot points emerge and what should happen. What sets this romance novel apart, however, is that the protagonist is neither a damsel in distress, poverty-stricken or pathetic. In addition, neither is the hero a prince, rich or powerful man in disguise. Both characters are ‘ordinary’ people who, in the context of fiction, have an extraordinary job.

If there are problems to be noted with Wrecker, they are these: for one, the character of her father could have been developed a little more. His pain at losing his wife and son are apparent. But if he’d had a little bit more to do, rather than wallowing in his grief, this loose end might have been tied up.

Another was the lack of proof-reading which interrupted the flow of the tale. For instance, on page 164, it is the scene between Cole and his malevolent father, Jack. The author has built up the tension so wonderfully well. Then, she writes this: “You’re not a man. You pray on the weak. You hate women, kids – anything decent.” ‘Pray’ should have been ‘prey’, and that error jars the reader.

That said, here’s another example on page 180 of the novel which shows how brilliantly the author sets up tension: As the night close around him, reality set it. Jack cursed his stupidity. He left a witness. Thankfully, the kid’s mother hadn’t been home, probably searching for Tom’s care. She might tell Tom they never spoke. Tom knew his first name. He was getting clumsy, old. He coughed again. The rattle in his chest stung. A string of curses followed.

As for the setting, it’s such a relief to move away from big cities like New York, LA or San Francisco. What joy it is to read and learn little details about eastern Pennsylvania, such as what they eat and where they go to shop.

All said and done, Wrecker is still the kind of book that Tamera Lawrence should have no hesitation being proud of. It is exciting, suspenseful and a good read.

Reviewed by Jacinta Rao

April 2013