One Last Breath [Kindle Edition]

Feenie Malone is a cub reporter hoping to make a name (and full time job) for herself at a local paper. When she stumbles across the story of a lifetime - the possibility that her cheating ex-husband Josh might be involved with a notorious drug dealer, she soon becomes a target. Enter sexy PI Marco Juarez, who caught Feenie at her worst when he was a beat cop. Trumped up drug charges led to his dismissal and distrust of the corrupt police force. Marco enlists Feenie's aid in investigating Josh and his cohorts, who he believes are involved in the disappearance of his sister Paloma, a narcotics officer who disappeared without a trace two years earlier.

Griffin's debut romantic suspense is laced with some pretty comical moments. The pairing of Marco and Feenie is at times hilarious; the two work together making Nick and Nora look like professionals. I would have liked for the character of Josh to be a little more developed, he is pretty one-dimensional in the story. But overall, it was a well written, funny and engaging romantic suspense.

Even though the first chapter of this book involves a brutal murder, this is actually a fun book.

Marco Juarez is one of the best male leading characters in recent memory. He's definitely a hunk!

The account of his first meeting with Feenie is laugh out loud funny and sets the tone for the rest of the book.

Marco's search for his sister's murderer leads him to Josh Garland who happens to be Feenie's ex-husband. And he is a very despicable character with unsavory friends.

Of the secondary characters, I particularly enjoyed Mrs. Hanak - Feenie's elderly neighbor who weighs less than 100 pounds, has cataracks and a pearl handled gun in her pocket!

It's a great story with a sequel coming in May, 2008 involving Feenie's friend Celie. There's a peek at the first chapter at the end of this book and its a grabber!

Feenie Malone is broke, bitter and still feeling betrayed by her greedy, unfaithful ex-husband. While covering a fluff story for her South Texas paper, Feenie discovers that the boat her husband had "lost" in a poker game is still very much in his possession. That night, dressed all in black, she sneaks onto his property to take a covert photograph of the boat. It's a simple plan. Instead, Feenie gets manhandled to the ground and pitched into the lake by an unknown assailant. Suddenly she is thrown into the middle of an investigation that is far more dangerous than catching her lying, thieving ex-husband. Her main ally is Marco Juarez who mysteriously reappears in her life just when she needs him. If she can find out what Marco is hiding and keep her traitorous body from melting everytime she's around him, she just might survive.

Marco Juarez is a man on a mission and Feenie is the woman with the information he needs. He's given up everything to pursue Feenie's ex-husband, but how far is he willing to use her to get his revenge?

The characters in the book feel real and there are many minor characters that bring the small Texas town to life. Feenie is smart and resourceful, but definitely out of her comfort zone. Marco Juarez is a sexy, secretive hero, haunted by an unresolved past. His loyalty and love for his family and his fierce protection of Feenie will send alternating waves of warmth and heat through every female reader.

Laura Griffin has written a complex, romantic suspense that will keep readers turning the pages late into the night. The plot is well-developed with subtle red herrings and a large cast of characters that fit together in a smart, well-written suspense thriller.