Six Days to Live by Lisa Dodson finds retired Colonel Coulter McKendrick in a fight for his life when 
he’s purposely injected with a deadly poison that has no cure. He turns to Dr. Marena Dash, a former scientist, and the woman whose heart he had broken years earlier.
Despite the fact Coulter had broken her heart, she’s determined to develop an antidote to save his life. As time starts running out, they both admit their feelings never died. But danger is following them every step of the way, and with time running out, will they be able to get their second chance?
I liked the concept of the story but the execution just didn’t work for me. First, there are some things that didn’t make sense. For example, Coulter is a retired colonel in the military, however, he doesn’t come across as old enough to be a colonel (most people don’t reach this rank until they’re in their low to mid-forties). I don’t recall if his exact age was ever given, but he seems younger than that.
The writing felt rushed, which at times makes for a choppy read. In addition to that, the romance between Marena and Coulter was also rushed and felt underdeveloped. Readers are basically told that they had previously had this great love, and then are just expected to believe that it could be picked right back up. The problem is that readers don’t ever really get to see this great love. With everything else going on, it felt like their romance just fell to the wayside. It made it hard to buy into their declarations of love.
I liked Marena’s determination to save Coulter, despite her lingering hurt feelings. Even though she no longer works in a lab, she does whatever she can, including calling in favors, to find a way to save him. Coulter is just as determined to keep Marena safe, even when he starts feeling the effects of the poison.
The story had potential, and while it didn’t work for me, I’m sure there are other readers who will enjoy it. This book would be for readers who enjoy romantic suspense and the second chance trope.
Book Info:
Publication: October 25, 2022 | Harlequin Romantic Suspense |
The poison Coulter McKendrick was injected with during a commando raid will kill him in six days. Dr. Marena Dash is Colt’s only chance to live. Though Colt devastated Marena when he left her, she’s determined to find the antidote to save him. And with the criminals behind the biotoxin on their trail, Colt and Marena must put their past behind them to stay alive.
