Beachcomber by Karen Robards

 Leaving everything all behind is harder than you think, even if Christy Petrino moves to Ocracoke Island.  Small and peaceful, the residents and tourists think.  So, why doesn't it have the same atmosphere to her?

She left behind her job as an attorney at a large firm - mob owned-, a fiancé -mob family-, and her mother and sisters - mob controlled.  What could be worse?

It gets more perilous.  

The Beachcomber is hunting beautiful brunettes on the same beach Christy rented her cottage.  She looks like his typical target.  Adding to that, she might identify him because she saw him kill a girl.  It's dark during the murder, but any witness is a dead witness.

Luke, staked out next door, is quite an annoying tourist to Christy.  He shows up out of thin air on multiple scenarios.  If only she could know he works for the FBI and she's under surveillance.

That is partly bad (the surveillance) and fortuitous (he's always around).  

It's a cagey show between the hot and sexy man next door repeatedly saving her from being murdered, or whether his job to catch her in connection with the mob wins out.

Happy reading,

Dawn

What Happened to the Bennetts by Lisa Scottoline

 Jason Bennett chooses to believe in the law, which drove him to own a court reporting business.  He even drives the speed limit.  

One day, out on a drive with his family, wife, daughter, son, and dog, their car is tailgated.  Jason makes the decision to get out and confront the driver.

Big Mistake.

The confrontation results in two deaths followed by the FBI showing up at his home.  Highly suggested by the agents, Jason and his family enter the witness protection program.  their life is left behind and the family begins to unravel, including Jason's marriage.

After an astounding truth is revealed, Jason decides he's the only one that can get the family's life back.  He uses his access to court records and puts the details together and creates a plan.  

The plan isn't full-proof, and his family will never be whole again, but Jason is willing to risk his life and hope for a good outcome.  He has two objectives. First, reveal the "bad guys" and get out of the witness protection program.  Second, love and trust need to be restored in his marriage.  The last item on his list is without a plan.  He doesn't know if his marriage can be salvaged or if he wants it anymore.  Is the love strong enough to get through the trouble created?

Scottoline  is a great suspense author, although I think she could have reduced the first 200 pages to about seventy-five.  Once the story gets to the "astounding truth", the novel speeds along and she's got her groove with the suspense.

Happy reading,

Dawn

Outfox by Sandra Brown

 When I found a new book by Sandra Brown, I had to get it!  And the read delivered just what I needed.

Drex Easton, an FBI agent not in good standing with his boss, takes a pretend break from his office and sets out on his own.  His mission is to surveil and arrest the man he is sure marries rich woman that eventually disappear.  That includes his mom from many years ago.

Talia Shafer is married to the man, Jasper, that Drex is after.  Talia is rich and beautiful and just what Jasper looks for no matter what alias he's using.  

Which brings Drex to one of the most complicated parts of his mission.  Is Talia Jasper's next victim, or is she in cahoots with him? 

Drex rents an apartment across the street from the two and disguises himself as a writer.  Getting to know the "neighbors", Drex is repulsed by Jasper.  Talia is another story. She's standoffish, yet alluring.  Hard for Drex to figure her out between kisses and rebuttals, but when more women die it becomes time to end the mystery.

Never assume the next page of the story because it will be different!

Happy reading,

Dawn  

Dance With the Enemy by Rob Sinclair

This is certainly a dangerous romance.
Carl Logan works covertly for the US government.  He does the things no one wants to hear about, but need to get done.
Angela Grainger's position with the FBI sends her to the same location and case that Logan is placed on.  Granted, she has a lot of secrets that will shock the reader.
Coincidences can be murderous and romance is unexpected, unwanted, and can't be avoided.  The heart has a case of its own.
Logan is placed in London to find out who kidnapped and is probably torturing the US Attorney General.  He hasn't been on assignment for five months, and he holds a vendetta against a party to the captors of the AG.  He's not afraid to use deadly measures.
Grainger is looking for the kidnappers, too.  Amazing that Logan and her end up in the same place at the same time while Logan is following the kidnappers.
Against better judgement, they team together and watch each other's backs.
Sleeping in the same, small hotel room has its temptations.  When nothing else supplies a getaway from the miserable conditions of the investigation, a lot of body heat feels real nice.
A big problem they both realize, is that they can't share all information and repeatedly hold back.  Who's on who's side and how can it be proven after lies and silences?  How will the case end, and will they be able to see each other afterward?
They certainly hope so, and so do I.

Until Dark by Mariah Stewart

Kendra Smith has experienced the old adage of “you can run, but you can’t hide” from your problems.

Her problems include an emotionally distressing past in the loss of her family members one at a time ranging from murder, suicide, and just plain unexpected death. 

Kendra took herself and her work as an FBI sketch artist from the west coast to the east, back to the scene of the (former) crimes.

As soon as she moves to her original home space she’s called in to sketch for a serial killer.  Not only is she in the scope of the killer, but she’s on the team of an old flame, Special Agent Adam Stark.  They have a short history that never evolved.  As the reader, I hope it does this time!

And I have to keep hoping because Kendra has so much going on with the loss of her brother then her mom, that it’ll be hard for her to separate mixed messages from their graves, her current work, and a man she wants, Adam, and doesn’t know if it’s still reciprocated.

The story moves along rapidly with many twists.  Although, my mind may have been unusually sharp to Stewart’s writing because I had the plot figured out in advance and the romance, well let’s say it was an add-in and could’ve been more complete at the end.

Sometimes a light romance with a heavier suspense plot is in order, and then this is the book for you!

 

Happy reading,

Dawn