Author: Virna DePaul
Publication: Harlequin HQN (September 18, 2012)
Description: Carrie Ward understands dangerous men, and she's got the scars to prove it. These days, the Special Investigations Group detective saves her risk taking for the job. But when she's asked to pursue a high-profile serial killer, she'll have to join forces with the last man she wants to depend on—Jase Tyler, an ace senior detective who's as reckless as she is cautious. And despite her best intentions, the sparks begin to fly.
As Carrie and Jase race to try to save the next victim, the passion that simmers between them ignites. But a cunning killer at the top of his game is challenging carrie to play to the very end. Now all she can count on are her instincts—and Jase, the one man daring enough to keep her safe….
My Thoughts: This was an entertaining and suspenseful romantic suspense novel. Carrie Ward is part of the Special Investigations Group but she is inwardly insecure because she is a woman in a man's world. She thinks she has to outdo all the men to be accepted. However, she has a major crush on one of her colleagues - Jase Tyler. Everything seems easy for him. He's gorgeous and beautiful woman come on to him all the time. But Jase is hiding an unrequited passion for Carrie too.
When both are assigned to the case of a serial killer called the Embalmer, they have to deal with on the job jealousies and their secret passions for each other. The sexual tension in this one is very high. The identity of the serial killer is no mystery to us since he (in fact, they) are viewpoint characters. We get a close-up look into their disturbed minds. But the rush is on to find the serial killers before they manage to kill again.
I think a little too much time was spent in this story on Carrie's insecurities. I wanted to tell her to get over herself and quit trying to be one of the guys at the expense of her own femininity. She was strong, smart, capable and the only one who couldn't see that was her. I did like Jase and I thought he showed admirable restraint with Carrie's issues. He had some issues of his own regarding his parents' relationship but it didn't take the reality of Carrie very long to overcome them.
Fans of romantic suspense will enjoy this story.
Favorite Quote:
"What we do, it never heals us, not completely, does it?" she asked him. "Not the victims. Not society as a whole. Not whatever demons are chasing us, pushing us to do this job in the first place."I received this eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. You can buy your copy here.
"Nope," he agreed. "Not completely. But no one escapes life unscathed, Ward. That just isn't how it works."
I have enough insecurities of my own-I don't need a heroine who is too needy! lol
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