Melinda Di Lorenzo

Good suspense story with a terrific romance. I enjoyed reading a book with slightly more "mature" characters. Warren is forty-one, a self-made man who put a troubled youth behind him and went from construction worker to owning his own contracting business. He lives alone and has never married. His longest "relationship" is his daily exchange of pleasantries with the barista at his favorite coffee shop.

Jeannette is thirty-six and in the midst of her own life-makeover. After a failed relationship, she moved to town, found a place to live, and went back to school to get her teaching degree. She works at the coffee shop with younger coworkers and often feels much older than they are. She looks forward to Warren's daily visits and has developed a crush on him.

The story opens with a rush as a disgruntled Warren returns to the latest construction site to retrieve his forgotten cell phone and discovers two men digging up a body on the property. In fleeing the two armed men, Warren takes refuge at Jeannette's coffee shop, unfortunately placing her in danger. This was a nail-biter of an opening, as Warren and Jeannette barely escaped with their lives. I was very impressed with Jeannette's calmness in the crisis and how she kept her head. The action is non-stop from here, as Jeannette and Warren struggle to stay ahead of their pursuers. Complicating matters, Warren discovers an unexpected link to his past - and the guilt that has weighed on him since the disappearance of his high school girlfriend.

I enjoyed the suspense of this story as Jeannette and Warren put their minds to finding out what was going on. Each new bit of information they uncovered led them closer to the truth and closer to danger. I was glued to the pages as the final confrontation pit Warren's protectiveness against Jeannette's stubbornness and both of them against a psychopathic killer. While I was happy to see them come out on top, I was a little disappointed that so little was said about what happened to the bad guy and his enablers.

I liked seeing the development of the relationship between Warren and Jeannette. They've known each other for a couple of years, so it isn't insta-love, but they haven't spent much time together either. Thanks to his past, Warren tends to hold himself back from getting too close to anyone, but he can't deny his fascination with Jeannette. He doesn't intend to do anything about it because he feels he isn't good for her. He spends a lot of time apologizing to her for getting her involved in the mess. I had fun watching Jeannette stand up to Warren's protectiveness (aka machismo or misplaced chivalry). She isn't a fragile flower and makes sure he knows it. I liked seeing them get to know each other and trust each other enough to share their pasts. The intensity of their situation also leads to a rapid escalation of their attraction and the deeper feelings that develop with it. I loved the ending and seeing them look forward to a future together.

I can't end the review without mentioning how much I loved Jeannette's neighbor, Rosie. The feisty octogenarian was a hoot. She was quick-witted and fearless in her protectiveness, and I laughed out loud at her antics. Warren and Jeannette owed their lives to her.… (lisätietoja)

Good book with very fast pacing. From start to finish, I don't think it covers even twenty-four hours. Norah, a kidnapping negotiator, found herself snatched off the street at the behest of a man desperate for her help. Their initial meeting is very emotional, with Jacob feeling guilty over her forced arrival and Norah angry, nervous, and ultimately intrigued.

Norah has a stellar reputation for success in saving kidnapped children. She hasn't worked a case in more than a year because her last one ended badly, weighed down by the guilty feeling that she missed something important. But there is something about Jacob that makes her want to take a chance again.

Jacob is a man who rabidly protects his privacy, even more so after adopting his nephew. I ached for him as he shared his story with Norah, his love for Scarlet and Desmond evident in every word.

The suspense of the story was intense, with so much happening in so little time. With no ransom demand and only the threat of Desmond's death if he goes to the police, Norah is Jacob's only hope. As Norah and Jacob investigate the few people who might have opportunity, motive is hard to come by. To complicate matters, those same suspects begin showing up injured or dead, leaving them scrambling for the truth. When Norah involves her brother, Noah, he uncovers some suspicious activity leading back to Jacob. When Norah overhears an incriminating conversation by someone they trusted, the truth becomes horrifyingly real. A rapid pursuit and some quick thinking by Norah leads to a heart-pounding final confrontation and conclusion.

I'm not sure I can say anything about the development of the relationship between Jacob and Norah. There wasn't enough time for much development. But from their unorthodox beginning to Desmond's rescue, Jacob and Norah connected quickly and deeply. Despite the rocky start, Norah found it easy to trust Jacob. I loved how she shared that last case with him and how Jacob helped her see past the guilt to what she did right. The sparks between them flared hot and drew them closer. I liked that the story ended with hope for the future instead of a big declaration. That said, an epilogue with their HEA would have been nice.… (lisätietoja)

Celia isn't sure why but she trusts Remo from the moment she meets him. Though she can't remember the details, she knows that it is Xavier's father who poses the greatest danger. She's reluctant to involve Remo in her troubles, but she'll do anything to keep her son safe. The last thing she expects is to be attracted to him.

I really liked Celia and Remo as a couple. Remo is an awesome man. He is kind, compassionate, and has a huge heart. His caring is evident from the moment he met Celia and Xavier. I loved how he believed her fears immediately and promised to take care of them both. I also enjoyed his instant connection with Xavier. The two of them were cute together, and it was easy to see that Xavier had made a place for himself in Remo's heart. Celia is incredibly strong though she doesn't see it herself. She escaped a dangerous situation and managed to keep them safe for five years. There are sparks between Remo and Celia from the start. Remo is something of a loner because of things that happened in his childhood. His few attempts to share those events resulted in him feeling more alone than ever and unwilling to risk it happening again. But something about Celia makes him want to trust her. I ached for him as he opened up to her and felt his vulnerability as he waited for her reaction. Celia has trust issues also after being so long in hiding. She also worries about trusting her judgment after making such a big mistake with Xavier's father. The intensity of their situation ramps up their connection as Celia and Remo depend on each other. The ending was great, and I loved the epilogue. Remo's big moment was sweet and fun.

The suspense of the story was great, with nearly nonstop action from the very first page. Celia's fear was evident from the start. Her missing memories were a complication, but she knew enough to realize that she was in danger. Because of his past, Remo was in a place where he understood and believed in her. As Celia and Remo struggle to stay ahead of the people who are after her, Celia's memory slowly begins to return. The intensity increased as each new memory brought her closer to knowing the who and the why but also brought the danger closer. The final confrontation had me on the edge of my seat as everything finally came together. I especially loved how the women had an active role in their rescue and had to laugh a little at the comments they made at the end.… (lisätietoja)