Review: Face of Danger

Face of Danger
Roxanne St. Claire
Romantic Suspense
Guardian Angelinos/Book 3
Grand Central/May 1, 2011

From the back cover ~

She's a risk-taker playing a deadly role...
He's a rule-follower fighting to keep her safe...
Together they're facing a killer who could be anyone, anywhere, anytime...

Private investigator Vivi Angelino has never met a risk she wouldn't take-and her latest client, a starlet with a madman on her heels, gives Vivi the perfect opportunity to walk on the wild side. That is, as long as she can make sure a certain overprotective, overly gorgeous FBI agent stays out of her way-and out of her fantasies.

Special Agent in Charge Colt Lang is not about to stand back and watch Vivi dangle herself as bait for a serial killer. Yet trying to rein her in means throwing his well-worn rulebook-and his iron self-control-to the wind . . . and taking the chance that his heart will become collateral damage in an already perilous case. Because a woman who can't stop searching for the truth is impossible to resist-even when every discovery she makes brings them closer to a calculating murderer with nothing to lose.

I'm really liking this series and not just the close family feel of it. The characters are interesting and not your typical cookie cutter romantic suspense hero and heroine. I was particularity interested in Vivi Angelino right from the start of the series. Now it's time for her story and it didn't disappoint!

Vivi Angelino isn't what comes to mind when most people think of a PI. She's has her own unique style that's a reflection of her love of skateboarding. But looks can be deceiving and Vivi is far more than the laid-back skatergirl she portrays. She's smart and sneaky and doesn't like to play by the rules. Which drives Special Agent Colton Lang crazy. Which Vivi secretly enjoys doing. Vivi also has a darker side, a secret in her past that still lays heavily on her. St. Claire does a wonderful job peeling back the layers of Vivi and showing the reader how Vivi the high school cheerleader came to be Vivi the smart tongued, relentless pursuer of justice.

Special Agent in Charge Colton Lang is a by the book, FBI agent who likes his life orderly, nothing out of place. Vivi knocks everything off kilter in Lang's world and he doesn't know what to make of it. Lang is a perfect contrast to Vivi. A past loss affects Lang's choices and makes him fight his attraction to Vivi. It's a case of opposites attract but it turns out they also work well together. They play off each other and bring out the best parts of each other. Vivi gets Lang to open up and be more relaxed. The dude was pretty uptight!

The suspense is tied up with Hollywood and serial killers. With Vivi posing as a double for a famous actress, Lang gets pulled into the action through the FBI's involvement. It's a complex plot with more than one suspect and the Angelino's adding their expertise to the mix. I love how this family pulls together, with each contributing to the job, none any more important than the other. I do hope Gabe's book is next. I'm not big on men who curse a lot but for some reason it sounds good coming from him. LOL

Even with the intricacies of the suspense plot the romance is still well developed with both Vivi and Lang facing their demons and allowing the other to help them work through it. I thought that was really important that they had developed a relationship they were both comfortable in. It not all smooth sailing and the tension does run high in both the suspense and the romance. By the end, St. Claire ties up the loose ends and lets the reader enjoy the HEA along with the hero and heroine.

Rating: A-

Books in this series ~

Edge of Sight
Shiver of Fear
Face of Danger