Review: Riveting.....but read my NOTE at the bottom..........
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 1, 2012
I really did enjoy this book, although it has quite a bit of murder and violence.  Any romance in this book takes a back seat to what is going on with one very sick and evil sheriff (I'm not spoiling anything here because you'll find out who the really bad guy is right away).  There is an anti-hero in this book and he is written both sympathically and in raw detail.  He is not perfect by any means but he's real and honest.  He has a conscience.  The woman who he falls for instantly is an abused wife looking for salvation from her hell.  It takes a good portion of the book for them to come together and when they do it's raw, quick, and fairly unemotional.  It's protrayed as it should be: soulmates coming together in the heat of the moment.  They cannot stay away from one another; not for long.Don't expect hearts and flowers in this book.  That I found it in the Romantic/Suspense section is a fluke.  It should be in the Thriller/Suspense section with a minor mention towards romance.  If you like graphic storytelling; this is your book.  Once you start it you will be compelled to finish it because you HAVE to know that the bad guy will eventually get what is coming to him.  You'll get it but only after a whole lot of bad things happen via the hand of one very bad sheriff.The one thing that bugged me is the ending.  It's quick and then over.  I wondered how Varden finally developed his conscience.  What happened to him to bring him to want justice for Lloyd (our anti-hero)?  When we were left with Varden before (epilogue of one year later) he is taken off for his own misdeeds.  BOOM....one year later Varden is helping the man he spent the whole book trying to trap back into prison?  Huh?  I guess we were to assume that Lloyd went back to prison for that year because he broke his parole?  Then Jamie is in the courtroom waiting for him.  Leslie is there as well and for such a prominent character who almost died and survives: we needed some fill-in as to what brought her to the epilogue scene.  I wish we readers had more answers as to what brought us to this ending and what happened in between for some very important characters.Don't get me wrong here.  I really liked this book.  It's not my usual romance-fare.  I enjoy the romantic/suspence genre and this really doesn't fit that usual mold due to lack of romance.  The writing is gripping and it flows beautifully.  I would recommend it highly for someone who likes to read crime, murder, suspense, and bits of passion.NOTE:  if killing, violence, baby-shaking, and morque details offend you: don't read this.