REVIEW: Her Sanctuary by P.Q. Glisson

Shannon Mallory was a woman on the run….not from outside forces but from her own wounded heart. When she pulled up into the parking lot of The Last Resort Café, in the town of Sanctuary, little did she know she would find the one thing she never even knew she was searching for….true love.

Seth Proudfoot wasn’t looking for anything, except an end to his miserable existence. Accused of a crime he couldn’t remember committing, he was ostracized by a town that, ironically, bore the name of the one thing he could never find….Sanctuary.

When the two meet, neither can ignore the magnetic pull between them, but will Shannon allow her damaged spirit to trust a man…a man who may have murdered his own family?

Though Shannon is the most beautiful woman he has ever seen, it is her spirit that breaks down the iron-clad shield around his heart. Their desire burns hotter than the Arizona desert, threatening to melt the very mountains that loom like silent Gods above their heads. But can their love survive a betrayal that could very well cost them both their lives?

Title: Her Sanctuary
Author: P.Q. Glisson
Format: eBook
Genre: romance, thriller
Published: January 2010
Buy the book: The Book Depository

My Thoughts
In her motor home, Shannon Mallory drives through a small town called Sanctuary and stops at the Last Resort Cafe for breakfast. While she’s eating, the guy with the piercing blue eyes sitting all alone in the booth at the far end of the restaurant catches her attention. He leaves while Shannon is asking Irene, the waitress/owner, about the help wanted sign. She gets the job and starts the next day. 

Seth Proudfoot, half white, half Native American, is a looker. He married his childhood sweetheart. Sadly, he lost his wife and son in a horrible car accident. Some of the town folk think Seth had something to do with the accident because he was behind the wheel yet he survived. This has caused him to retreat and become a loner. He quit working at the hospital but does some work out at the Reservation. He’s also a woodworker and sells furniture to pay the bills. He comes into the Last Resort Cafe everyday for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

On her first day on the job, Shannon gets a break after the morning rush and drives around town to familiarize herself with the place. She sees a log cabin and a breathtaking scenic view and decides to pull over to sketch it. Turns out it’s Seth’s place. He startles her and she makes a run for it. Not realizing that it’s Shannon under the jacket and hood, Seth tackles her to the ground. She knees him in the crotch and Seth finally sees that it’s her. He apologizes and invites her in for a cup of coffee.

From that point, their relationship just takes off like a rocket. It was instant attraction for both Shannon and Seth. I enjoyed reading Shannon and Seth’s relationship blossom but it seemed to progress rather quickly. In fact, I was quite surprised with how fast her relationship with Seth progressed and how trusting Shannon was with given that she had just met him. She came from a tormented past, being sold into a marriage at just 16 years old and staying in that abusive marriage for 10 years. She was abused, degraded and almost killed. I would have thought someone like that would be a bit more precarious when it comes to letting new people into their life. 

Her Sanctuary is told from third person narrative. There is one small part that is told from Joseph’s POV and I found this not only awkward but unnecessary. I also felt that the captivity scene dragged out a bit too long. (Joseph is Seth’s best friend from childhood, though they haven’t been close since the accident that killed Seth’s wife and son.) 

For the most part, I enjoyed reading Her Sanctuary. It was a quick read about second chances, at love and at life. The suspense held my interest and the love scenes were hot and steamy. And there were lots of them! I also liked the author’s added touch of wolf folklore tied in at the end.

The Book Vixen’s Rating