When a Heart Stops: A Review

This is the second book in the Deadly Reunion series, and it picks up right where the first one left off, continuing the mystery of where Jillian has been hiding and who is trying to find her while adding a chase to find a serial killer who seems to be after Serena, Jillian's friend and the town's medical examiner. With her childhood crush back in the picture, they must work together to keep Jillian's secret and their lives.

This book has an even faster pace than the first book in the series, and although I had a clue who the killer was, I was still surprised  by a few twists at the end. I love Serena's strength and compassion, especially towards the teenage girl who tries to escape a bad home environment  Dominic is the typical overprotective hero, but the childhood connection makes their relationship a little sweeter than the typical romance in a suspenseful thriller. 

What I really liked was the continued story of Jillian and how that mystery involved the current murder investigation. I think it's a clever way to tie the books together into a series instead of just having the characters in each book connected as friends. 

Fans of suspense who have time to sit and read the book in one sitting (because you won't want to put it down) will love the latest by Lynette Eason. Be sure to read the first book first, or you'll have a lot of questions, especially as the characters from book one are mentioned with little explanation of who they are.

When the Smoke Clears: A Review

Summary from back cover: After a brush with death due to equipment failure, smokejumper Alexia Allen is ordered to take time off while the incident is under investigation. She makes a last-minute decision to recuperate at her mother's home and attend her high school reunion. Yet trouble seems to be following her, and within hours of arriving home she is confronted with murder, arson--and a handsome detective.

But the conflicts ahead are nothing compared to the ghosts of her past. As she struggles to accept and forgive her family's past, she must also decide if the secret she's been guarding for the last ten years must finally come to light.

My thoughts: This book is a thrilling adventure full of twists and turns. Most of all, I love the layers to the plot. Alexia isn't just trying to find out who is trying to kill her with the help of a cute police officer (the plot of every romantic suspense). She's also dealing with her past: an abusive father who could be the one out to get her, a brother who can't be found, a mother who kicked her out the house, and the memories of a fire that was blamed on her. The character development is a nice touch and balances out wild shootouts.

Overall, a great fast read that will leave readers wanting book two.