Mia has finally made it to Mexico, away from her cruel
husband and a government that would treat her like cattle.
But Mexico is not a place without danger. Since landing,
Andrew and Carter have been kidnapped and taken to the
mysterious Collection- a strange Mexican militia that like
brainwashing a little too much. Mia has to find a way to
learn to be the rescuer and save the boys she loves.
From the first page, THE COLLECTION, sequel to the thrilling
The Registry, hurls action at you and does not let up. It
often leaves you feeling out of breath with your heart
racing trying to keep up with the wild ride Mia, Andrew, and
Carter go on. I love the quick pacing and all out fighting,
whether it's physical or internally within a character, that
Shannon Stoker delivers with this novel.
In this sequel, new characters are introduced and old ones
are given new shades of gray. Riley, a woman who helps Mia
out in a time of need, is absolutely stunning. I love how
she brings out the strength that has been in Mia all along,
but wasn't developed yet. Their comradery makes me want to
give them both high fives for being so tough. I do wish she
was in the story more, but I'm really hoping she will pop
back up in the next book. Readers also get an interesting
look at Rex, Grant's henchman, and I'm eager to see where
Stoker takes him later in the series. Grant likewise is seen
in slightly new eyes with pieces from his childhood put into
the story that help explain how he grew to be the man he is.
I certainly have no trouble feeling my connections to the
characters, good or bad, growing.
Unlike the first book, there is much less romance in THE
COLLECTION. Mia, Andrew, and Carter spend a healthy time
apart, leaving little room for love stories to develop.
Towards the end, there is more, but the focus is definitely
on building the action and plot surrounding the story. It's
hard to say if I liked this book or the first more because
of that (I adore some swoons, but the action in this is
really top notch), but either way, this is a wonderful
series you don't want to miss if you enjoy amazingly
developed characters and the fight for justice.
Mia's made it to Mexico with Carter and Andrew-but it's not
the Promised Land they hoped it would be. Carter is grieving
his father Rob's death, and Andrew is distant. When the
young men are captured by rebel forces, they become
reluctant recruits in the underground militia, rather than
be deported to certain death. Grant, the "husband" back home
who bought Mia to be his lawfully wedded his wife, is
instructed to stand down by the Registry. But he nonetheless
persists in his pursuit, and approaches Carter with a deal
to swap his father Rob, presumed dead, for Mia.
Before Carter can act on this proposal, Mia helps him and
Andrew escape the militia. The three of them disappear into
Guatemala, where they join a group of American refugees.
There Mia finally meets her covert ally S, the young woman
who helped her escape the Registry. S turns out to be a
21-year-old runaway, Frank and Al's daughter Steffy. She and
Andrew are both appalled when Mia confesses that she was the
reason Steffy's fathers were captured. Driven by the need to
redeem herself, Mia announces that she's going back to
destroy the Registry.