Romantic Suspense published by Berkley 29 Jun 21
Is it me or are you all just as puzzled with why some of the top paranormal romance authors are venturing into contemporary romantic suspense? Don’t get me wrong, I’m definitely a fan of romantic suspense and love being on the edge of my seat, gnawing at my nails, excited about figuring out whodunit. Ms. Feehan is the latest of the paranormal romance queens who has ventured into the murky world of serial killers, though she has brought along a touch of the psychic as well as the strong, silent heroism of her Carpathian males into the nail-biting thrill ride of chasing the clues and stopping the killer before he gets to the heroine.
It all started when Stella was a child and she started dreaming about her father, the serial killer, murdering his victims. Her mother was reluctant to have her happy home life interrupted and hushed her up. Clearly, there is an incident with a camera, but the story doesn’t quite explain that part to my satisfaction. Unfortunately, the dreams don’t stop after her father is caught and convicted, so Stella tucks herself into the beauty and quietude of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Here she has found friends, other women who have their own stories and secrets, and Sam Rossi, her handyman who has his own secrets and perhaps a touch of psychic as well, given that he has the uncanny ability to show up when she has need of someone.
After many years of peace, Stella begins dreaming again. There is a serial killer operating in this quiet neck of the woods that Stella calls home. Since her dreams are premonitions, can she stop the killer and save the victim? The dreams escalate and the body count starts to mount as Stella brings in first Sam and then her friends one by one to help her. At one stage she and the killer make contact and things change, now she is the victim. Can Sam and her female posse help her stay one step ahead of the killer and bring him to justice?
If all of this isn’t enough to keep a reader engaged, the author brings Sam’s past into the story. I’m still trying to puzzle out if this helps the story overall or not. Nevertheless, there’s a lot of interesting threads and opportunities for new stories for all of Stella’s friends. I look forward to exploring where this goes next with the author.
Grade: B
Summary:
It starts in her dreams. Hideous flashes from a nightmare only she can stop. Images of a murderer stalking the ones she cares about most…
Stella Harrison thought she got away from the traumas of her past. Running the Sunrise Lake resort high in the Sierra Nevada mountains has brought her peace, even though she doesn’t truly share her quiet life with anyone. Not even Sam, the hired handyman that notices everything and always seems to know exactly what she needs.
Stella doesn’t know anything about Sam’s past, but somehow over the last two years his slow, steady presence has slipped past her defenses. Still, she knows she can’t tell him about her recent premonitions. So far there’s been no murder. No body. No way to prove what’s about to happen without destroying the life she’s built for herself.
But a killer is out there. And Stella knows that this time she’ll do whatever it takes to stop him.
