Lethal Lies (Harlequin Romantic Suspense, No. 1830)

LARA LACOMBE

Stats for my copy: Mass market paperback, Harlequin, 2014.

How acquired: Bought.

My thoughts: My first time reading this author, and I really enjoyed the book. Jillian is an ER doctor who is kidnapped from the hospital parking lot and forced to tend to the wounds of a young gang member. She's frightened much of the time, but dedicated to saving her patient, while also trying to find a way to escape. She's resourceful, and while her escape plan fails, she stays strong. Alex is an undercover agent who has been betrayed and is now on the run from not only the gang he infiltrated, but from the FBI.

I'm not generally a fan of quick romance, preferring to watch a relationship build up between the characters, but Ms. Lacombe wrote it very well here and it worked for me. The ending was a bit contrived, but certainly satisfying. A quick look through my book chart showed me that I have another of Ms. Lacombe's books, “Killer Season”, though since I recently moved and most of my books are still packed I've no idea where it is at the moment. But I look forward to it!


Goodreads synopsis: Putting her faith in someone who lies for a living isn't the safest thing Dr. Jillian Mahoney has ever done. But to stay alive, she has to believe the undercover agent—who's kidnapped her to prove his innocence—isn't a traitor to the FBI. And to help him, she must deny their intense attraction as they run from two vengeful killers.

Her captor, Alex Malcom, has lived a life of lies—some worse than others. Still, there's one truth he's reluctant to disclose to Jillian, the woman of his dreams. One that could stop their relationship cold.

The Killer You Know

A. M. TAYLOR

Stats for my copy: Kindle edition, KillerReads, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, publication date 7/12/19.

How acquired: NetGalley for review.

First line: They find the body on a Sunday.

My thoughts: Browsing the “Read Now” books on NetGalley, the title and cover of this book caught my eye. Then when I saw that a podcast was part of the plot, I was really interested. I listen to a lot of podcasts, and I particularly like true crime.

The book is narrated in first person POV by Olivia, whose twin brother Ethan is serving time for murder. A murder that Olivia is convinced he did not commit. That fateful night changed the entire trajectory of Olivia's life, resulting in her going to law school. Ten years later, she's working for a law firm, and still desperately advocating for her brother. Now a true crime podcast (similar to Serial, which I highly recommend) wants to feature her brother's case in it's new season.

The narrative switches with each chapter from “Now” to “Then”. On NetGalley the book is listed as “General Fiction (Adult)”, but it felt more like Young Adult to me. In “Now”, the podcasters, with Olivia's help, are going over everything they can get their hands on regarding the case, and interviewing Olivia, Ethan, and some of their former friends. In “Then”, we're not only in the past, but going backwards, so first we learn about the trial, then the police investigation, and finally the events of the night that led up to the murder. There's a twist right at the end, which I had already guessed halfway into the book.

I didn't really connect with Olivia, though maybe we aren't supposed to, given the piecemeal way she revealed information to us. And since she's narrating, we don't get to know any of the other characters very well. It may be all about getting Ethan freed, but it's also all about Olivia. The ending was a bit abrupt, I would've liked a little more resolution and felt I'd been left hanging. But overall, I enjoyed it well enough. If you have some time to while away, this is a good way to do so.

The Boss Next Door (Harlequin Heartwarming)

ROZ DENNY FOX

Stats for my copy: Mass market paperback, Harlequin, 2013 (previously published as HAVING IT ALL).

How acquired: I think I got this book when I was subscribing to Harlequin's Reader Service.

First line: Sherry Campbell pirouetted in front of her sleepy roommate, seeking an opinion on her new appearance.

My thoughts: I can always count on Roz Denny Fox to deliver an enjoyable, amusing and heartwarming story that I zip through before I even realize how late I've sat up reading. Her characters are never one dimensional, including the children who are always integral to the plot and not just there. And she must research the crap out of everything, because I learned more than I ever thought I'd want to know about the process a college goes through when hiring a new dean. And if she just made all that up on the fly, then she is a very convincing writer.

I liked that the relationship between Sherry and Garrett built slowly and gradually, with both characters, but Sherry especially, continually denying her feeling and fighting them, not to mention fighting each other. There's lots of bickering between them, which I also really like. And the last chapter had me in tears.

I recommend reading ANYTHING YOU CAN DO... first, which is about Sherry's brother, Nolan. But while there are a few references back to happenings in that book, this one can still stand on it's own.

And then I recommend reading TROUBLE AT LONE SPUR, which has no relation to this book but is one of my favorites of the author's works.

Goodreads synopsis: Garrett Lock wants it all. He's a single father with a child he adores. He has a successful career. And now he wants a second chance at marriage, another shot at love—with Sherry Campbell.

Despite her desire for a family, Sherry doesn't believe that love and independence are compatible. But when Garrett becomes her boss—and her neighbor—she starts to question her assumptions, falling first for his eight-year-old son…and then for him.

Maybe with a bit of compromise and a lot of trust…you can have it all?