"exciting romantic suspense"

In Chicago a ton of Bolivian cocaine just made it to the south side with police detective John Merrick ready to insure the poison went no further. However, when a man points a shot gun at him, John shoots only to learn he killed undercover DEA Agent Franklin Watts. Unable to let go of the guilt, John leaves the force and moves to New Orleans though he is exonerated by Internal Affairs as a misfortunate friendly fire incident.

In New Orleans Julia Wainwright owns and operates the Book Merchant antique bookstore. She recently has received six creepy letters printed on a laser but in olde English that seem threatening to her and her sister Claudia. Julia believes the writer knows her secret that she penned a novel under the pseudonym Elisabeth de Haviland so as not to embarrass her father, religious icon Benjamin. The siblings are scared because they know the creeper is nearby. Claudia informs their father who asks John to keep his daughter safe. He agrees though he wonders how he will perform, but quickly concludes that Julia is hiding a secret from him and that he is falling in love with her.

This exciting romantic suspense is filled with tension as John feels he cannot do the job as he cannot touch a gun since the Watts death, but also believes that his beloved Julia is in danger from a stalker, but not sure why. The culprit seems more of a caricature of a lunatic religious fanatic unable to accept mortal sins for himself and his chosen one. Still the tension he brings with his persecution of Julia make for a fine thriller as John hopes that love enables him to do whatever, even kill, to keep his beloved safe.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted July 25, 2006

Summary

"An author at the top of her game,"(All About Romance) Linda Castillo has become renowned for her nail-biting novels of romantic suspense. Now she delivers an electrifying thriller about forbidden desire—and a secret that could mean one woman's demise...

Until now, no one has suspected the truth about down-to-earth bookseller Julia Wainright. But the arrival of six threatening letters indicates someone has discovered her secret—and wants her to pay for her sins...

Ever since he accidentally killed a fellow officer, ex-cop John Merrick has been tormented by the mistakes of his past. Now, called upon to repay a favor, he will do anything to keep Julia Wainright safe. To do that, though, he'll first have to figure out what the gypsy-eyed beauty is hiding...

As the threats escalate, Julia and John must find a way to trust each other. Because if they don't, a twisted stalker will make sure all the gruesome things he's promised will come true...