A DEADLY LOVE by Jannine Gallant

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Date published: 8-17-2012
ISBN: 978-1-61217-310-8
Romantic Suspense
E-book
Reviewed by Helen
Weblink: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=137&products_id=4940 Obtained via publisher

(4 heart)

Brooke Wakefield’s grandmother needs financial help, so when Brooke’s romance falls apart her grandmother’s home is the place she runs to, deep in the redwood forest.

Living next door to her grandmother, is Dillon Tremayne, Brooke’s teenage crush. But Dillon’s life is already way too full with a young son to raise alone, an elderly, but fiercely independent grandfather to watch over, and a business that needs him 24/7.

However, in a small town everyone knows everyone else’s business, and everyone went to school with everyone else, too. Then a serial killer starts murdering women their age.

I completely understand that there are readers who like a predictable story. They can guess the way the plot will run and they feel safe and cozy as they read. This book will undoubtedly appeal to them. But I found it just a bit too formulaic. The widowed hero raising his child alone and not wanting any relationships. The burned heroine who falls for the hero and is hurt again so considers turning to another man who wants her. And the wicked villain who the reader can guess by about the midpoint of the book and who inevitably will attack the heroine so the hero can save her. The law enforcement people will, of course, consider the hero as a prime suspect. The heroine will inevitably do something quite stupid (but there will be lots of good reasons given why she had to do it), and the book will be wrapped up at the vital moment with maximum drama.

I liked the main characters. They were engaging and full of life, as were some of the secondary characters, especially the grandparents. The story was well written and flowed smoothly with almost no errors. But I would have almost preferred the occasional error if there had been something unexpected, and unusual happening in the book. However, I know many people will truly enjoy it, as a good, fulfilling story that they can relax and read, without being shocked or surprised.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.