WHERE EVIL WAITS by Kate Brady

Publisher:    Forever

Published:   February 25, 2014

ISBN:        B00CO7GIDA

Genre:       Contemporary Romance

Format:     Ebook

Obtained via:  Publisher  

Reviewed by name and email address:  Gina  Ginalrmreviews@gmail.com

FOUR HEARTS

 

A year ago criminal prosecutor Kara Chandler’s life took a decided turn for the worst.  First, her husband, Andrew, was killed in a hit and run.  And then she began receiving odd items in the mail—a barrette, sun glasses, a pen…all accompanied by a photo of a horse and the word “truth.”  On top of it she lost a major case—one where she was going to put a drug king pin away for life.  How Luke Varón walked is beyond her.  But when one of her closest friends is killed right in front of her, she seeks out Luke to help her.  She asks Luke to help her and her son disappear—to make it look like they were killed.  Luke has a reputation as a man who will use anyone to meet his own ends—even kill in cold blood.  But he is the only one Kara feels can truly help her.

For the past ten years Luke Varón has lived in the shadows.  He kills without blinking an eye…or does he?  In reality Luke is actually FBI agent Lucas Mann.  But he cannot tell Kara the truth so working within his alter ego he goes about protecting her.  

But bodies start piling up—the messages and strange items Kara has been receiving arrive more frequently.  It doesn’t take long for Kara and Luke to realize the killer is coming for her.  Can Luke protect her while still protecting his heart?

WHERE EVIL WAITS is the second book in Kate Brady’s Mann family series and it is a “can’t put down page turner.”  From the opening scene Brady gives her readers non-stop, page gripping action.  Kara is smart, resilient and yet has a vulnerability that makes her come across as someone you want to know.  Luke is a powerful presence from his first scene until the very end.  He has his own vulnerable side that comes out bit by bit making him a believable character. 

Readers learn quickly who the bad guy is…and for as much as you come to hate him, especially when his own twisted secrets are revealed, there is the desire to know what is driving him.  When that is revealed it is jaw dropping.  I had to go back and re-read that section twice because it was such a surprise. 

I previously read book 1, WHERE ANGELS REST and I gotta say that one had me hooked on Brady and sent me on to book 2.  While this is the Mann Family series, you do not have to read book 1 or even read them in order to enjoy both.  One really has nothing to do with the other except for a brief intro to Luke in WHERE ANGELS REST.  There is a teaser at the end of WHERE EVIL WAITS for book 3, but there is no indication that book is going to happen which is really a disappointment.  Hopefully the author will set her sights back on the Mann family and finish out the series.

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

 

WHERE ANGELS REST by Kate Brady

Mann Family #1

A Hachette Forever Book, November 2012

paperback

Obtained via:  publisher

ISBN: 978-0-451-23972-3

Romantic Suspense

 

Kate Brady’s WHERE ANGELS REST is an edge of your seat race against time to save the life of a man on death row.

Psychologist Erin Sims has just gotten a luck break.  Her brother, who has been sitting on death row for over a decade, has just been given a week reprieve from his execution by lethal injection.  Convinced of who the real killer is, Erin travels to the little town of Hopewell, Ohio to bring the man to justice.  There she meets Sheriff Nikolaus Mann, who helps her in her investigation of the killer she believes is living in Hopewell under an assumed name.

While Kate Brady’s WHERE ANGELS REST is marketed as a romantic suspense, this reader feels it would be better characterized as a mystery.  There was a building romance throughout the story, but it seemed to be more background filler than the actual story.  The actual story was more of a who-done-it.  So if you like mysteries with a little romance, you will like this book.  If you are looking for a grand romance with a bit of mystery thrown in, this is probably not going to be the book for you.  Just a guess (she says shrugging shoulders).

Both lead characters, Erin and Nick, are strong multifaceted characters.  Erin has spent all of her free time trying to free her brother.  She is dogged in her pursuit of justice, seemingly fearless and one pushy woman.  She is also running out of time.  Nick has been pretty much hiding in Hopewell with his young daughter ever since his wife was killed by a serial killer in Los Angeles and Nick almost beat him to death.  He has a lot of experience finding killers and though he initially doesn’t want to help Erin, the detective in him is unable to stay away.

The story moves at a fast clip and has many strong possibilities for the killer.  The tension builds as the clock ticks and will keep you wondering as you speed through the story looking for clues.  Even though this reader thought she had the story all figured out a few times along the way, the ending was still a bit of a surprise.  The romantic element served to add to the overall storyline and character development.

Mystery fans are sure to enjoy Kate Brady’s latest romantic suspense, WHERE ANGELS REST.  It just might satisfy the romantic in you as well.

Reviewed by T. Barringer

tammyLRM@gmail.com

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