Books & Spoons Review THE ASSET by Anna Del Mar

The story of a woman desperate to escape her dangerous past and the navy SEAL who would lay down his life to save her. 

Ash Hunter knows what it is to run. A SEAL gravely injured in Afghanistan, he’s gone AWOL from the military hospital. Physically and mentally scarred, he returns home to his grandmother’s isolated cottage—and finds a beautiful, haunted stranger inside.

Like recognizes like.

Lia Stewart’s in hiding from the cartel she barely escaped alive, holed up in this small Rocky Mountain town. Surviving, but only just. Helping the wounded warrior on her doorstep is the right thing to do…it’s loving him that might get them both killed.

Soon, Ash realizes he’s not the only one tormented by the past. Pushing the limits of his broken body, testing the boundaries of her shattered soul, he’ll protect Lia until his last breath.

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Fascinating romantic suspense story, built in a fresh, unique way, giving a different look at the action, and the psychological angle to the terror and dread.
The story is told in the first person, from only Lia's point of view. Usually I'm not a big fan of that way to tell the story, but here it was done in a brilliant way, still giving a full rounded picture of the events, but in a rare way, giving a glimpse into Lia's mind, to the fear, horror she had lived through, to the panic and paranoia she suffered from, and to the love and passion, care and adoration she experienced, for the first time in her life, with Ash. 
Also, the way Lia's voice was telling the story, the reader gets a chilling concept of her previous life in capture. Through her flashbacks, and memories, the cruel, harsh and sadistic handling she received is told in details, and not appropriate for the faint at heart. 
Some of the twists in the plot comes from the fact, that the reader sees and knows only what Lia does, and surprises for her, are also surprises for the reader. But the suspense is intense, the whole story is wrapped around of feelings of urgency, threat, and deadly panic for the lives of the main characters. 
The action comes with crimson, bloody, cruel violence, going into details, that will test the reader, taking the story into another level. I want to emphasize the fact, that if the reader has an issue, problem with violence towards a woman, this book might not be for them, no matter how well the matter is dealt with in the story. 
The romance between Ash and Lia is fragile, because of Lia's past. There's patience, acceptance, caring, adoration, love, and passion. The feelings grow over time, while they both experience the healing of both mind and body within each others care. I loved how they came together, how they found the common ground, the way to communicate with each other, how they fought to survive, and seek more from life. 
This story goes deep, with both suspense, and in romance. It has a unique tone, it has a different angle, it allures with the twists, it fascinates with the characters and their faith in life, and it makes you take notice with the intense, fiery, violent action. Highly recommend with
~ Five Spoons

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