Mad Dog and Annie

When Maddox "Mad Dog" Palmer returns to Cutler, North Carolina, nothing is as it was. His best friend, Rob, is set to go on trial, the girl he never forgot is a convicted felon now separated from Rob, and Maddox himself has demons to sort out when it comes to his career. So maybe it wasn't a great idea to agree to assist his father with the local law enforcement or to interfere when his best friend asked, or to fall in love with that girl he never forgot. Ann Barclay Cross has no time to think about MD's return. She's working as a waitress as much as she can to pay back an old debt and to put food on the table for her little boy. But MD won't leave her alone and after she confronts her fears, maybe there will come a time when she doesn't want him to.Virginia Kantra has written a wonderful story about a very strong woman and the man who first loves, then admires, her. Both MD and Annie have memories of their childhood living in Rob's shadow, but it is their future that is now in jeopardy due to the same man. With MD's help, the local police soon come to realize the threat Rob truly poses to MD, Ann, and her son Mitch. Kantra effectively touches upon and explores the repercussions of domestic abuse through Annie and Mitch, making them unforgettable characters as they deal with their fears and their need to protect each other. MD is a strong and purposeful hero who sees beyond Rob's golden-boy image to the monster he truly is and he is determined to protect the woman and child he loves.

Over a decade has passed since Ann Barclay Cross and Maddox Palmer had shared the same town of Cutler, North Carolina. Now, dark circumstances have brought Maddox back to Cutler and Ann, dealing with her own dark problems is wary of letting Maddox close again, physically and emotionally. In the process of extricating herself from a highly abusive husband, attempting to clear her name from a felony conviction, and being a good mother to her son, Ann has enough on her hands without letting Maddox into her life again. Maddox, on medical leave from the Atlanta police force (following a devastating and tragic altercation), has no intention of letting Ann crawl into herself and hide. He sees firsthand the physical and emotional ravage inflicted on Ann by her slime-ball ex-husband, Rob, and by the snide and hurtful attitude the citizens of Cutler (including his own father, the police chief) have toward Ann and vows to right it all. Virginia Kantra has done it again--written a story of two everyday people fighting to overcome the odds Fate has tossed them while hesitating to acknowledge the history they have between them or the future they might have together. The reader will be moved to revulsion by how Rob Cross attacks his ex-wife and their son. In the end, I'm glad Rob was treated to some pain. Although not nearly enough to make up for what he'd done to Annie, the fact that she 'got' him with a toy was somehow quite fitting.Highly recommended.

(Actually, that's four and a half stars up there.) I wish covers would note -- honestly -- that a reader won't be able to set down a particular book. I'd have started this one earlier in the day and my eyes wouldn't have been so bleary the next. It's a short book that doesn't meander into subplot and keeps its focus directly on the lead characters, who have full lives and mesh well. In particular I was drawn to Annie, the abused wife who has with this volume undergone therapy. It was fascinating to watch her taking her lessons to heart and refashioning her life. The way her son adapts to their new life was also an emotional rollercoaster. There was the slightest of problems with head-hopping early in the book, but it didn't last long. Overall, this is a real page-turner with extremely likeable characters, a serious villain who is not hokey, and a wonderful attitude about changing your life for the better. Looking forward to Virginia's next book!

I was pleasantly surprised when I picked up this book when I got home and finding out it was the 4th book in the MacNeill series. Annie is an abused woman who was forced to steal money from her best friend whom she works for. Her soon to be ex-husband is an abusive baby faced pull the wool over everyones eyes star quarterback(when in high school) Enter one bad boy cop on leave who has always been expected to cover said Quarterbacks back but in this case he is out to protect the woman he has always loved and left to give a chance to grow up. I absolutely loved Mad Dog. If you like Protective ,bad boys this book is for you. Great read and you also get to visit Con and Val from previous book. This book will stand on it's own so if you haven't read about those gorgeous MacNeills, don't worry you'll still understand about Mad Dog & Annie.

Annie's got a felony conviction, an almost ex-husband who's out to get her and tried to murder her best friend, and a young son she'd do anything to protect. She doesn't need one more complication in her life. Yet, when Maddox "Mad Dog" Palmer, walks into town, complication is just what she's got. He's asking questions, looking for answers. But does he want the truth, or is he just out to help her ex-husband shut her up? Annie and Maddox work to come to terms with their pasts and forge a future that includes each other. Virginia Kantra tells another emotional story of love in Mad Dog and Annie!