Review: Watch Your Back

Watch Your Back
Karen Rose
Romantic Suspense
Baltimore/Book 4
Signet/February 4, 2014

A cold case reopened. A murderer re-emerging more deadly than ever before.

Baltimore Homicide Detective Stevie Mazzetti has suffered losses no woman should have to endure. And, despite it all, she’s still a fighter. When she learns that her ex-partner might have miscarried justice, she’s determined to put the past to rights, even when she becomes a target.

It’s former Marine Clay Maynard’s job to see the risk in every situation, but he doesn’t have to look hard to find the danger surrounding Stevie. Since the minute he first saw her, Clay has wanted to protect the wounded officer, and he started loving her not long after that. So when Stevie attracts the attention of a vicious psychopath, Clay will do whatever it takes to keep her alive. That is, if he can stay ahead of a killer with everything to lose—and something terrifying to hide...

Ms. Rose has once again delivered an amazing suspenseful romance that kept me on the edge of my seat.  It's Stevie and Clay's turn to have their lives turned upside down.

Stevie Mazzetti is looking into the corruption of her former partner.  She is determined to bring the right criminals to justice and free the innocent.  Not everyone is happy about this which is why Stevie's and everyone around her is in danger.  Someone keeps trying to kill her and Clay is determined to keep her safe.  I enjoyed this storyline with Clay adding his experience as a Marine and a police office to that of his PI work to not only keep Stevie and her daughter Cordelia safe but to unravel the who and whys.

Stevie, well I liked her, have liked her since she first showed up a few books ago but she really needs to work on relying on her police training and not fall for being lured out into the open.  It irritated me the way she would go running into a situation with little or no thought for the fact that someone has been trying to kill her on nearly a daily basis.  Use your head Stevie!

The romance was sometimes a bit of a two steps forward and one step back which isn't surprising given the situation Stevie and Clay find themselves in.  There isn't a lot of alone time and the stress factor is over the top with a killer on the loose.  Still, Clay and Stevie do find some moments and eventually give in to those raging hormones.  They still have to deal with keeping Stevie and her daughter safe while unraveling the mystery of who is trying to kill them.  I liked how the story continued to progress, unfolding the layers of mystery while giving reminders of the romance that is also developing amid the chaos.

The plot moves along at a steady pace, keeping the interest high between the hunt for the killer, the mystery of dirty cops, and how it's all connected to Stevie's past.  Loved the way everyone gets involved in helping not only protect Stevie but those she loves.  Another winner from Ms. Rose.

Rating: A-

Baltimore Series ~

You Belong to Me
No One Left to Tell
Did You Miss Me?
Watch Your Back

Review: Did You Miss Me?

Did You Miss Me?
Karen Rose
Romantic Suspense
Baltimore/Book 3
Signet/February 5, 2013

Baltimore prosecutor Daphne Montgomery pulled herself out of a damaged past to build a solid life for herself and her son. But after she helps to convict a killer, her confidence is shattered once again by the news that her son has been kidnapped.

Daphne believes it’s connected to the recent high-profile trial, and at first FBI special agent Joseph Carter agrees. But together they find the reality to be even more troubling, and it runs deeper than Daphne fears. With her son’s life in jeopardy, she must unlock a dreadful secret about her past—and confront a truth that will change everything for those closest to her. And, if she survives, threaten the lives of everyone she loves.

Ever since I read my first Karen Rose book, I've been a fan.  Rose's writing is equal parts suspense, mystery and romance.  The suspense is intense at times, grabbing the reader and holding on.   The mystery isn't always so mysterious, sometimes it becomes obvious who's sporting the face of evil before the big reveal.  One thing I've always liked about Rose's writing is how she is able to mesh the romance within the suspense.  

In Did You Miss Me? Daphne Montgomery and Joseph Carter are thrown together when Daphne's son is kidnapped.  This isn't the first time these two have worked together towards a common goal. But it is the first time they are able to let themselves imagine a life together as more than just acquaintances.  The suspense is kept at the forefront with the romance developing as the investigation allowed.  

Daphne is a strong heroine with a combination of intelligence and beauty that could easily intimidate some men.  Joseph isn't easily intimidated.  When they do get together it's easy to see how well they fit and how their experiences and maturity can make the reader believe these two have a shot at a long term relationship.  

The suspense is multi-layered with a variety of evilness that Rose is able to pull together and make a plot that is fairly easy to follow.  The make antagonist has this ability to be a sociopath at one moment and then leave the reader feeling a small moment of pity for him.  This ability to have the reader emphasize with the murderer, even for a second is part of Rose's talent. 

If there was one problem I had with the story it was the  police and their sometimes narrow focus on one suspect.  Yes, as the reader I had a different perspective and knowledge than the characters.  But the job of the police should be to explore all possible, viable suspects, not just the obvious ones.  

Even feeling that I might do a better job than the police (yeah, right), I still enjoyed Did You Miss Me? and am eagerly anticipating Ms. Rose's next novel. 

Rating: B+

Baltimore Series ~

You Belong to Me
No One Left to Tell
Did You Miss Me?