R. Barri Flowers

This book was so good! I'm usually a fan of the Harlequin Intrigue novels, and this one is a great example of why. It had so many of my favorite tropes happening and the writing was quickly paced with some great action scenes. And, of course, the romance was electric and with the perfect amount of spice. This was definitely a recipe for success! I haven't read the other Hawaii CI books but if they have this kind of tone to them, I'm going to be!

I really liked the mix of a cold case and current homicide coming together. It was kind of like the characters of Caroline and Lance coming together. But some extra dimension is added with Lance's sister being the victim in the cold case and the cold case expert, Caroline, being his ex-girlfriend. Plus Lance is trying to deal with the current homicide and doing what is necessary to prevent there from being anymore. Because if the person responsible for the recent homicide is also the one responsible for the death of Lance's sister, that could mean there is a serial killer out there.

Along with the action and the romance was a really great investigation story. Reading about the steps Caroline and Lance took in order to work the cases and the clues along with talking to the possible suspects was really well done. It helped keep my eyes glued to the page and my mind glued to the story. Usually, I think of the investigation as a small aspect of the story with the focus being on the two main characters. But this one kind of added the investigation as a third main character and had Lance and Caroline weaving their way through it. Which definitely made for an interesting read.

I strongly recommend this book. Especially for anyone who doesn't want a super long novel that takes them forever and a day to read. If you're looking for a mystery to get cozy with that you can start and finish in a weekend, this is the one for you. I received a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts and review.… (mere)

Good mix of suspense and romance. Daphne is a true crime writer on Maui for a book tour. She is also researching her next book, a murder-suicide that took place on the island the previous year. She seeks out Ken, the lead detective on the case. Ken is a detective with the Maui PD and is currently immersed in the search for a serial killer who stuns and then suffocates his victims.

I liked the first meeting between Ken and Daphne. He attended her book signing and got a copy of her book. She noticed him immediately as a good-looking man who intrigued her. Imagine her surprise the next day when she discovered he was the detective she needed to talk to. Ken was equally intrigued by Daphne. He had read her latest book in one sitting the night before and found it fascinating. I liked their immediate connection and desire to get to know each other better. The time they spent together showed their respect for each other's vocations and their compatibility. Their feelings for each other deepened quickly, but both were wary of saying anything. It took a nearly fatal incident for them to overcome their fears. The ending was good, and I liked the epilogue.

The suspense was good. I could feel Ken and the other task force members' frustration over their inability to catch him. When Daphne gets involved with Ken, she also gets involved with the search because of previous research on serial killers. Each new murder ramped up the intensity, especially after they'd thought they had him. Ken's protective instincts are aroused when he suspects Daphne may be the serial killer's next target because she resembles the other victims. I enjoyed watching the investigation progress, and I was glued to the pages as Ken and the others closed in on the suspect's identity. The final confrontation was a nail-biter with a twist I didn't see coming.

The book was good and kept me hooked from start to finish. It lost a star, however, because of an overabundance of adverbs, mostly describing how a person spoke. People spoke: honestly, calmly, politely, friendly, tersely, lyrically (really!?), stiffly, wryly, eagerly, anxiously, bleakly, flatly, matter-of-factly, and emphatically - and that was just in the first chapter. It became very distracting as I waited to see what new adverb the author would use next. "Maudlinly" struck me as incredibly awkward sounding.… (mere)

This book sucked me in from the first page and kept me hooked to the end. It opens with a prologue describing the murder of a young woman. Twenty years later, the woman's younger brother, Lance, is a Honolulu PD detective whose latest case has disturbing similarities to his sister's murder. As a result, Bonnie's case is being reopened, and a cold case expert is assigned to work with him. He's surprised to discover that his new associate is his ex-girlfriend, Caroline.

Caroline is a cold case specialist who recently solved a forty-year-old murder. She never expected to be working with Lance and is wary of spending time with the man who broke her heart. But Bonnie's case has intrigued her since she learned of it from Lance, and she welcomes the chance to bring closure to him.

The suspense of this book kept me glued to the pages from start to finish. The idea that a serial killer would kill once and then wait twenty years before killing again was unheard of. Still, the similarities between the cold case and the recent murders were undeniable. I was fascinated by the steps in the investigation as Caroline and Lance interviewed witnesses and suspects from the past and present. Are there links between the murders, or does a copycat carry out the current murders? The tension ramps up when Caroline receives threats warning her to back off from her investigation. There were plenty of twists and turns in this case that kept me guessing right to the end. Just when it looked like the cases were solved, an unexpected revelation called part of the case into question. I was on the edge of my seat as Caroline found herself in mortal danger and Lance racing to the rescue. The final confrontation was a nail-biter, and I loved that Caroline played a significant role in her own rescue.

I enjoyed seeing the rekindling of the relationship between Lance and Caroline. Lance has regretted his actions every day of the two and a half years since their breakup. He would love a second chance but has no idea if it is possible. Caroline is wary of spending time with him and starts out determined to keep things business-only. However, it doesn't take long for her to realize that she never stopped loving him. I liked that she didn't make it too easy on him. Lance had to do some serious explaining and groveling before she let him off the hook. I liked the epilogue and seeing where they were a few months later.

#netgalley… (mere)