SIZZLE by Julie Garwood

Publisher:   Ballantine

Published:   January 25, 2011

ISBN:  978-0345500786

Genre:  Romantic Suspense, Romantic Comedy

Format:  Print – ARC

Obtained via:  Publisher  

Reviewed by name and email address:  Gina Gina@loveromancesandmorereviews.com

FOUR HEARTS

From the moment they met Sidney Buchanan and Lyra Prescott became best friends.  Both were film students with similar yet not competing goals.  Both have brothers who at times can be a bit overbearing…so much so that Sidney moved clear across to California.  She loved her family and her brothers, but sometimes they could be a bit too involved.  Lyra could relate except she had two brothers who still live on the family ranch in Texas.  As graduation and final film projects approach Lyra looks for a documentary subject she can sink her teeth into.  While day dreaming—rather than listen to her professor go off on yet another of his rants—she happens upon a park that appears to be an oasis in the middle of a dank and dark jungle.  When she arrives at the park, however, she finds nothing short of a toxic waste dump.  She begins to film the comings and goings of the park—people, vehicles and what they are doing. 

Besides her brothers Lyra has her grandmother, Gigi, who she adores and her parents who she calls “those people.”  On her way to visit her grandmother—following a call from the local priest about Gigi stealing holy water—she stumbles on a garage sale.  Sitting there on the front lawn are a number of autographed, first edition books that the homeowner tells her to just go ahead and take them.  Realizing how priceless some of these books are Lyra dives right in. 

Unfortunately not long after that two things happen—someone breaks into her and Sidney’s apartment and someone takes a few shots at her.  And then some other not so pleasant things happen prompting Sidney to call her brothers.  It is Alec Buchanan to takes matters into his own hands and sends fellow FBI agent Sam Kincaid, to guard Lyra.  Can one FBI agent hold his own against a growing number of killers bent on silencing Lyra?

I have totally been enjoying Julie Garwood’s Buchanan series—each one seems to get better and better.  I thought FIRE AND ICE was the absolute best, but SIZZLE is a close second.  Garwood has the skill to tell a fantastic romantic suspense coupled with some comedic moments that have me chuckling out loud.  In SIZZLE there are some humorously memorable scenes between Sam and Lyra but it is Milo who steals the show.  If Garwood ever wanted to write a bumbling cozy mystery detective she has a great character to do so with Milo.  

Gigi was a great character too.  She’s quirky and spunky and is the perfect foil for Lyra’s parents. 

While I don’t buy the falling in love in 2 days thing, I did like the chemistry between Lyra and Sam.  Neither is looking for love, but it finds them.  With two mysteries working SIZZLE is one of those books you don’t want to put down until it’s done.

Each book in this series is a standalone and you do not have to read them in order to enjoy each one – but you don’t want to miss any of them.

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