Connie’s Quick Quack Review of Left To Die by Lisa Jackson
Romantic Suspense released by Zebra 1 Aug 08

Lisa Jackson is a long time favorite author of mine, one I followed from romance to suspense. She is an author who more often than not delivers a great story and an entertaining one. I am happy to say Left to Die was a book that kept me turning the pages wanting to know what happens next and surprising me.

Jillian is lured to a small town when someone tries to tell her her first husband is still alive. When her tire is shot out, it is feared she has become the victim of a serial killer who strands women, pretends to rescue them and then ties them to a tree to become a victim of the brutal winter weather. Jillian is rescued by a man who does not trust the police; is he her rescuer or the serial killer trying to win her trust, then kill her?

Two totally different women cops are on the trail of the killer (with no leads), when Jillian turns up. Another victim is found before she dies and rushed to a hospital, where it is hoped she will have more information on the killer.

Jillian and her rescuer try to find out who wants her dead when it is discovered that she is not a victim of the serial killer.

As usual, Lisa Jackson delivers with a good book but this one could have been a little less lengthy. Don’t let the length stop you! But do be warned–the end has a cliffhanger and a year long wait for the next book.

Grade: B-

NOTHING’S MORE TERRIFYING…  One by one, the victims are carefully captured, toyed with, then subjected to a slow and agonizing death. Piece by piece, his exquisite plan takes shape. The police can’t yet see the beauty in his work–but soon, very soon, they will…

THAN BEING LEFT ALONE…  In the lonely woods around Grizzly Falls, Montana, four bodies have been discovered. Detectives Selena Alvarez and Regan Pescoli have been hoping for a career-making case, but this is a nightmare. Even with the FBI involved, Selena and Regan have nothing to go on but a killer’s cryptic notes, and the unsettling knowledge that there is much worse to come…

TO DIE…  When Jillian Rivers opens her eyes, she’s trapped in a mangled car. Then a stranger, claiming to be a trail guide named Zane MacGregor, pries her free. Though she’s grateful, something about him sets Jillian on edge. And if she knew what lay out there in the woods of Montana, she’d be truly terrified. Because someone is waiting…watching…poised to strike and make Jillian the next victim…

Read an excerpt here.

This just in…

Romance Writers of America’s 28th Annual National Conference is about to kick off in California. Authors, readers, publishers, agents, just to name a few, will be gathering in the city by the bay, San Francisco, starting today, July 30, through Sunday, August 2, at the Marriott Hotel at Union Square.

~ The Annual Conference is a four-day event filled with educational workshops, career enhancement, and community involvement.

~ Wednesday, July 30, is the Literacy Signing where a list of who’s who of authors will be signing books, the proceeds of which will go to ProLiteracy Worldwide. This event is open to the public and is scheduled from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Yerba Buena Ballroom.

~ Victoria Alexander will be the Keynote Speaker and Connie Brockway is the speaker for the Awards Lucheon. Suzanne Brockmann wraps up the conference as emcee for the 2008 RITA and Golden Heart Awards Ceremony.

~ Lisa Kleypas, Lisa Jackson, Jayne Ann Krentz, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Barbara Samuel, and Jane Porter will deliver other keynote addresses during the conference.

~ Some interactive news at the conference this year – two radio shows are slated to stream live on the web, featuring some of the very best authors in paranormal romance and historical romance with the Ladies of the Night Blog Talk Radio Show, and you’re encouraged to participate.

~ Wednesday, July 30, 8 – 9 PM PDT, 11 pm – 12 am EDT will be a night of romance and the supernatural, featuring: Jocelyn Drake, Kerrelyn Sparks, Kathryn Smith, Melissa Marr, Terri Garey, Jeaniene Frost and an introduction by Kim Harrison. You can call in and chat at (347) 826-9686 or just listen in. Or you can just listen on the web. Send an email to avoncontest@harpercollins.com if have any questions you’d like answered by one of the authors.

~ There will also be Historical Romance Radio, a discussion of all things historical romance. For any questions, send an email to avoncontest@harpercollins.co.

~ More than 100 workshops are being offered on a variety of subjects from leadership development for authors to choosing new clients for publishers.

~ Career-focused romance writers will be networking with fellow writers and have interaction with editors, agents, publishers, booksellers, and other romance publishing industry professionals.

Consider yourself flashed.