"Exciting romantic suspense"

In Arizona, channeler Cherelle Faulkner kills her client octogenarian Virgil O'Connor. She and her boy toy Tim Seton take the Druid gold that Virgil stole when serving in Europe during World War II. At the same time in Nevada, casino owners discuss what to do about the proprietor of the Golden Fleece, Shane Tannahill whose honesty hurts their business. They agree to get the Feds on him by quietly laundering mob money through his accounts and also insure he is caught with stolen golden pieces since he always seeks artifacts to place on display.

Cherelle knows that her childhood friend Risa Sheridan is the curator of Shane's collection. Cherelle, Tim, and his friend Socks go to Nevada to sell the artifacts. Risa tries to help her friend even after Socks attacks her. FBI agent April Joy obtains Shane's cooperation to bust a money- laundering scheme. As the danger mounts, Risa and Shane fall in love, but both realize the two-edged sword their hearts carry as they worry about someone else as murders occur.

Fans of romantic suspense would say that a novel that ties together money laundering, casinos, Druid gold artifacts, and romance couldn't work. However, Elizabeth Lowell blends all that into a powerful action-packed tale. The lead couple is an enticing pair whose love evolves as the plot moves forward. The support cast adds depth to Risa, Shane and to the prime theme. Though the exciting story line leaves a few loose ends dangling such as the "power" of the Druid gold, readers will relish RUNNING SCARED and opt for a sequel between a certain FBI agent and Risa's body guard.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted May 7, 2002

Summary

Shane and Risa have seen the best gold artifacts the world has to offer, but they've never seen anything like the Druid Hoard—gold that is worth its weight in death. When a childhood friend of Risa's turns up with eerie ancient jewelry, she knows that Shane shouldn't touch any part of it. The gold is hot enough to burn. But Shane can't resist buying. Very quickly people are dying around them, and Shane and Risa are RUNNING SCARED through the glitter of Las Vegas into the black silence of Sedona's nighttime desert, where love and death wait.