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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Gritty, realistic emotions, 9 Sep 2002
Summer McAfee, ex-lingerie model, now owns her own cleaning agency in her old home town. Her biggest account is a funeral parlor and after her cleaning crew let her down, Summer finds herself on her hands and knees scrubbing the mens room floor after midnight when she hears some strange noises. Spooked, she reluctantly investigates and finds a male, badly beaten nude body on the embalming table. Trouble is, she can't recall the body being there when she cleaned the place - and she would have noticed. She reaches out to touch him, when the corpse moves and grabs her arm!The non-dead guy is disgraced ex-cop Steve Calhoun, who is being hunted by people seemingly bent on his demise. He initally takes Summer for one of the same and kidnaps her to hold her hostage. Having thus put her life in danger too, as now the bad guys are after the both of them, he has to take her with him as they go on the run. In the midst of this life threatening situation, emotions run high... While requiring a good bit of suspension of disbelief that an ex-model would be broke and working as a cleaning lady, the two main characters are gritty and believable. I personally found Steve too flawed a hero. He was really nasty to Summer at times, and very hard on her as they travelled. I can believe that he would have trust issues, but personally I'd have hated the guy had I been Summer, and I wouldn't have grown to love him as she did because I found very little endearing about him, especially when I learned of his past, particularly that he was unfaithful to his ex-wife (albeit that there was much about the situation that was sad for all those involved). Those who like murder mysteries will enjoy this book, as it is very well written and the characters are well drawn, including the historical information we are able to glean on each. The situation they find themselves in is unusual and the story of their escape and travails is well done. Events move swiftly, Summer and Steve are caught in a variety of difficult action-packed situations, so the plot develops quickly and well. The conclusion is satisfyingly dramatic and a fitting end to the tale. I lean more towards whimsical in romance, rather than gritty, which is why I was not able to see beyond the negative aspects of the heroic figure, but for those who like Robards books or a good mystery, there is much about the book that will appeal.
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by Karen Robards
by Karen Robards
by Karen Robards
by Karen Robards
by Karen Robards
