Hello, and welcome back! It's hot and sticky here again. We're expecting more thunderstorms later, though it looks like it could start any time, judging by the dark clouds outside my office window now. I'm staying indoors, where I have plenty of household chores to keep me busy, along with my reading and even some writing.

This time out, I have Kate Brady's One Scream Away (Grand Central). Beth Denison's life now is far different than when she was attacked by murderer Chevy Bankes. But now Bankes is out of prison, and he's coming for Beth again, and he doesn't intend for her to leave the encounter alive this time. Neil Sheridan left the F.B.I, but now, with new murders occurring cross-country, he leaves his heavy drinking and, thus, drunken womanizing behind to go back to investigating when a friend comes calling. He can't persuade Beth to share her secrets, however. This one spends a lot of time in differing points of view, and it starts off with the killer's, which lead me to think this was going to be more suspense than romance. Beth's main focus is keeping her daughter safe and staying out of the clutches of Bankes, and the secret she keeps from everyone is a real whopper, but it's not enough to make Neil lose interest in this determined, cautious woman. Sometimes, I don't mind knowing up front who the villain is, and the way this story is told, it would be impossible not to. But that doesn't necessarily mean I'll enjoy it. This one is heavy on the suspense and a little too light on the romance for my taste. Beth is already a strong heroine before Neil shows up in her life, but he gives her a bit of added training that will come in handy when she's fighting for her life. Another thing, though, that left me thinking 'suspense' rather than 'romantic suspense' when I finished, is the way the ending doesn't leave the readers with the happy new couple but instead ends with someone else. Rather disappointing for me. This one's only earned two of Cupid's five arrows.

Until next time, happy reading!