Sandy M’s review of Friction by Sandra Brown
Romantic Suspense published by Grand Central 18 Aug 15
Like I’ve recently decided with Nora Roberts’ books, I’m going to make a huge effort to read every new release Sandra Brown has from here on out. I’ve always enjoyed her books, but she gets better and better with each one. Friction is full of action and suspense, all written around a romance that throws conflict in every direction. I also like that it takes place within in the legal industry, my former career. Though I didn’t spend that much time in the courtroom, I still got my fill of judges, attorneys, and how one person’s decision can impact our lives so thoroughly.
Having done the best thing for his daughter four years ago, after the death of his wife, Crawford Hunt is now ready to face life head on and give his little girl a loving and stable home. He’s in court to flay himself wide open to make sure that happens. It’s his in-laws who are going to make things a bit difficult for him. Georgia has been living with her grandparents all this time, and they want her to continue to do so. At any cost and any way he can make it happen, according to Joe Gilroy, Crawford’s father-in-law. While that man means well, he’s more out for revenge than anything else.
While on the stand in court, all hell breaks loose when a gunman bursts in, spraying bullets. The Texas Ranger in Crawford – he’s been on desk duty for a while after a huge mission mishap – takes over, he jumps the railing and throws himself over the judge to keep her safe. A bailiff is down, Crawford picks up the dead man’s gun, shouts instructions to call for help, and races after the gunman. And this is where everything goes downhill for all involved very, very fast.
The local police department assigns the case to an officer who seems more than willing to toss Crawford to the sharks, even despite evidence to the contrary, as the investigation continues. Add to this Joe Gilroy’s own spin on things – he’ll use anything he can to make Crawford look the unfit father – and it’s not looking good for our sexy Texas Ranger. Then there’s Judge Holly Spencer. The woman he saved. The woman who was about to change his life even further with her decision in his case. Nothing, however, prepares either one of them for the attraction between them. Holly is a straight shooter, honest as the day is long, and is up for election for the permanent position as judge. She tries to keep her head during this investigation, even amid attacks from her opponent, to make sure everything is on the up and up, but the biggest conflict of all doesn’t keep her out of Crawford’s bed.
Every one of their scenes together is intense, whether it’s just banter or it’s steamy, sizzling sex. Even when they discover evidence that shows them everything is not as it seems, when Holly begins to bend all those rules just a little bit, the intensity is fierce and unwavering. Then there are those scenes with father and daughter. There’s never any doubt how much Crawford loves Georgia, what he’ll do for her. And that little girl loves her daddy just as much. Every time she shouts “Daddy!,” it gets some type of reaction from me, depending on what’s happening at the time.
This is romantic suspense at its best. Twists and turns throughout, when you least expect it. Secrets and surprises all over the place. Do not miss this book. I guarantee you’ll have a very difficult time putting it down, even reading into the wee hours of the morning. Because it happened to me. Wouldn’t have given up this read for anything.
Grade: A+
Summary:
A Texas Ranger with a tarnished badge…
An enemy hell-bent on revenge…
And the lady judge caught in the middle.Crawford Hunt wants his daughter back. Following the death of his wife four years ago, Crawford, a Texas Ranger, fell into a downward spiral that left him doing deskwork and his five-year-old daughter Georgia in the custody of her grandparents. But Crawford has cleaned up his act, met all the court imposed requirements, and now the fate of his family lies with Judge Holly Spencer.
Holly, an ambitious and confident judge, temporarily occupies the bench of her recently deceased mentor. With an election upcoming, she must prove herself worthy of making her judgeship permanent. Every decision is high-stakes. Despite Crawford’s obvious love for his child and his commitment to being an ideal parent, Holly is wary of his checkered past. Her opinion of him is radically changed when a masked gunman barges into the courtroom during the custody hearing. Crawford reacts instinctually, saving Holly from a bullet.
But his heroism soon takes on the taint of recklessness. The cloud over him grows even darker after he uncovers a horrifying truth about the courtroom gunman and realizes that the unknown person behind the shooting remains at large . . .and a threat.
Catching the real culprit becomes a personal fight for Crawford. But pursuing the killer in his customary diehard fashion will jeopardize his chances of gaining custody of his daughter, and further compromise Judge Holly Spencer, who needs protection not only from an assassin, but from Crawford himself and the forbidden attraction between them.
No excerpt available.
