Another very good book. Was hard to stop reading so I could get some work done!! ( )

Justice
3.5 Stars

Synopsis
Criminal attorney Jessica Ford is trying to get her life back on track following a near escape from death. After winning her first high-profile case, Jess has her reservations about the outcome and when she is attacked outside her apartment her suspicions as well as those of her ex-boyfriend, Secret Service agent Mark Ryan, are aroused. What has Jess stumbled upon and why is she be targeted by an assassin?

Review
A solid romantic suspense but not as thrilling as it could have been.

This is the 2nd book in the series and while the plot is unrelated to book 1, there is a lot of backstory to Jess and Mark's relationship that might be confusing to those who have not read the first installment.

The chemistry between Mark and Jess is greatly improved from book #1 and their banter is entertaining. Mark's attempts at getting back into Jess's good graces are endearing but his characterization as a man-slut is disappointing. There is nothing wrong with a sexually experienced hero but is it necessary to throw his past conquests in the reader's, not to mention the heroine's, face.

While Jess's reservations about loving Mark are understandable considering his past behavior, her constant hot/cold vibes become frustrating after a while. Also, her obsession with her career makes her less likeable than in the first book and she takes some annoying and unnecessary risks given that someone is out to kill her.

The writing flows and the pacing is good but it takes too long for the individual plot threads to come together. There are few clues to follow toward the conclusion and the identity of the villain is quite surprising as a result, although the motive is sufficiently warped to be interesting and the single page final chapter/epilogue definitely makes you think.

In general, the book is entertaining and if Robards wrote another, I would definitely read it. ( )

8 ( )

Did not enjoy this #2 novel as much as I did #1 Pursuit which read a while back. The book leads off with a murder witnessed by two runaway girls. It then jumps to a trial continued from the first book. Jessica, criminal attorney has been in witness protection program since the witness to First Lady’s murder. Her secret service agent Mark (ex-boyfriend) is cool, but Jess is drama queen. She wins the case after the girl on the stand backs off from the rape case of the son of US senator. Goes back and forth between the two and back to the runaway teens who hold the key. ( )

Good book where someone is trying to kill Jess who is a lawyer the premise that they were after her bkz she witnessed the murder of the First Lady was lame but rest of story was good ( )