SYNOPSIS:
First the fire, then the heat…
A brutal home invasion. Two small traumatized survivors who may have witnessed the horror. Lieutenant Sam Holland has never worked a case quite like this one, in which her eyewitnesses are five-year-old twins. But when Sam steps up in a big way for them, she risks her heart as much as her career.
While Sam and her husband, Vice President Nick Cappuano, go to battle in more ways than one for her tiny witnesses, her colleague Sergeant Tommy “Gonzo” Gonzales battles his own demons. Months of unbearable grief and despair come to a head in an unimaginable way that threatens Gonzo’s status with the department and his relationship with his fiancée, Christina.
With trouble both at the precinct and on the case, Sam struggles to keep her priorities straight at home and at work while trying not to lose her heart to her latest crime victims.
Purchase Links:
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Review:
Another solid addition to the Fatal series!
Once again Ms. Force has brought us an edge-of-your-seat story chock full of romance, suspense, and drama. One of the things I love about this series is how she manages to keep it fresh by bringing in many different POVs and story threads that deal with the individual lives of not only Sam and Nick, but others in their circle as well, really underlining how our lives really do intersect with those of so many people around us. Add in whatever case Sam’s currently embroiled in–this time a devastating fire and double murder that leaves the lives of three children, including a pair of five-year-old twins who may have witnessed something that night, in limbo–and you’ve got one heck of a story that will keep you turning pages even when you know darn well you’ve got other things you’re supposed to be doing… (“born to read, forced to work” is the story of my life) 😉
As with all the books in this series, the main focus is on a unique situation and for that reason would probably work just fine as a standalone for someone who hasn’t read the others yet. Those who are familiar, though, and who already love the series characters will definitely have a more fulfilling experience since they are familiar with their histories. So though I would never tell someone not to read this book, I would encourage them to go back and start from the beginning (you’ve got time! this one doesn’t release for 12 more days)–they can thank me later 🙂
(Though I really do love this series, I can’t help but think as I read these books that Sam–and Nick–get away with an awful lot that they wouldn’t be able to in “real life”–but that’s the beauty of fiction, right? Ultimately they’re characters it’s easy to care deeply about, and it’s hard to argue with the results: an amazing romantic suspense series that I honestly find impossible to put down. But definitely don’t expect 100% realism here, just one heck of an engrossing story.)
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
About the author:
Marie Force is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary romance, including the indie-published Gansett Island Series and the Fatal Series from Harlequin Books. In addition, she is the author of the Butler, Vermont Series, the Green Mountain Series and the erotic romance Quantum Series. In 2019, her new historical Gilded series from Kensington Books will debut with Duchess By Deception.
All together, her books have sold more than 7 million copies worldwide, have been translated into more than a dozen languages and have appeared on the New York Times bestseller list 29 times. She is also a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller, a Speigel bestseller in Germany, a frequent speaker and publishing workshop presenter as well as a publisher through her Jack’s House Publishing romance imprint. She is a two-time nominee for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA® award for romance fiction.
Her goals in life are simple—to finish raising two happy, healthy, productive young adults, to keep writing books for as long as she possibly can and to never be on a flight that makes the news.
Thanks for being on the tour!
My pleasure! Thanks for stopping by 🙂