Prey by Linda Howard- Disappointing

In this captivating novel of romantic suspense, New York Times bestselling author Linda Howard brings us deep into the wild, where a smart and sexy outdoor guide and her ruggedly handsome competitor must join forces to survive—and avoid becoming what they never expected to be:   PREY   Thirty-two-year-old Angie Powell has always spoken her mind, but in the presence of Dare Callahan she nurses a simmering rage. After all, why give Dare the satisfaction of knowing he can push her buttons and push her to the edge?Three years ago, Dare returned home to rural western Montana and opened a hunting business to rival Angie’s. Complicating matters is the fact that Dare has asked Angie out (not once but twice) and has given her a gift of butterflies in the process. Angie has no patience for butterflies. They only lead to foolish decisions. And now the infuriatingly handsome Iraq war vet has siphoned away Angie’s livelihood, forcing her to close up shop. Before Angie is to leave town, she organizes one last trip into the wilderness with a client and his guest, who wants to bag a black bear. But the adrenaline-fueled adventure turns deadly when Angie witnesses a cold-blooded murder and finds herself on the wrong side of a loaded gun. Before the killer can tie up this attractive loose end, a bear comes crashing through the woods—changing the dark game completely.Luckily, Dare is camping nearby ( Synopsis from Barnes & Noble, com)

Linda Howard is one of my favorite authors. I own every book she has written, so it pains me to say that I really did not like this book. Angie and Dare have minimal interaction throughout the first half of the book. She thinks about him. he thinks about her but they don't really talk to each other. There are some fairly gruesome descriptions of bear attacks and the aftermath. Yuck! Once Angie and Dare meet up, the book gets better, but by then I really didn't care. In all honesty, I have to say I am not a big fan of books where the heroine has to trek through the woods or the steaming hot jungle for a good part of the book so that may have influenced how I felt about this book.  Since Death Angel, the once reliable Ms. Howard has not been the author I have loved for over 25 years. The last 5 books have been 2 good, 2 bad and 1 so-so. I hope she comes back with the next one.

RPL Note: Prey is available in Adult New Fiction.