Witness Protection Widow by Debra Webb is the fifth A Winchester, Tennessee Thriller. Alison James will testify in four days against the Armone crime family if she can stay alive until then. U.S. Marshall Branch Holloway has Alison stashed in a remote cabin and is supposed to be with her for the final few days. But then Branch is injured in a car accident and calls in U.S. Marshall Jaxson Stevens. Jaxson does not know it is Ali until Branch hands him the file. She is the one he let get away and is baffled why she married into a mob family. Alison is leery of letting Jaxson be her protector because she does not want him harmed. She knows that Harrison Armone Sr. will do what it takes to see her dead before she can testify. Can Jaxon keep Alison alive to testify in four days? Witness Protection Widow is a fast paced novel. There is suspense, intrigue and romantic tension. This book can be read on its own if you have not read any of the other novels in A Winchester, Tennessee Thriller series. Characters from the other books do make an appearance for those who have read the other four novels. The point-of-view switches between Jaxson and Allison. I like getting both perspectives. We get to see how each person feels about a situation and how easily a comment can be misinterpreted. I like the fast pace of the story as Alison and Jaxson try to stay alive. I like Debra Webb’s engaging writing style. She provides just the right amount of imagery (not too much nor too little). There was the right blend of suspense and romance. My one complaint is that there were a couple of unanswered questions at the end. I wish there had been an epilogue to completely wrap up Witness Protection Widow. Be prepared to lose a couple of hours while you are busy reading Witness Protection Widow. Witness Protection Widow has hired hit men, a masculine U.S. Marshall, a malicious mob boss, a worried widow, and four frantic days. ( )

Witness Protection Widow by Debra Webb
Winchester, Tennessee #5

I really enjoyed this book and when I read a bit in the book that tweaked a memory of a book I had read previously I had to look up other books by this author and found out why “staying in a funeral home” triggered a memory – I had read book two in The Undertaker’s Daughter and Rowan and Brannigan are in that series though they play a much smaller part in this book.

So…this book…is romantic suspense with a second chance at romance for Ali and Jax. They were very close in their early twenties but then something happened, they parted after six months together and were thrown together in this book as he, as a US Marshall, is tasked with keeping Ali alive until she testifies in a big court case. The two had a LOT to deal with not only with trying to stay alive but also dealing with truths and misconceptions from the past. Eventually they did find their HEA but it took some time and effort.

What I liked:
* Ali – strong, determined, survivor that deserved a HEA. I truly admired her.
* Jaxson – a good man but definitely flawed. I had trouble seeing his point of view more than once but after he had all of the facts, he wised up a great deal. He is a good match for Ali
* Bob – what a great dog!
* the supporting characters
* the plot and the writing and the tension
* that it was not over the top
* pretty much all of it except…

What I did not like:
* the Armone men – son and father
* what Ali endured
* the somewhat selfish side of Jax – or was it just immaturity

Did I like this book? Yes
Is it a standalone story? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Intrigue for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars ( )

It has been a long while since I have read a book in this line from Harlequin. I used to devour this line of books. I am a fan of mystery/suspense novels. This line of books is the perfect one for readers like me. Thus the reason when I had the chance to read a book from this line again and by author, Debra Webb, I jumped at it.

Sadly, I found myself really struggling to become engaged with this story and the characters. It was not without effort. The storyline was slow to pick up any type of fast movement. After I while, I found myself sort of skimming the book. It did pick up during the latter half of the story. While, this book may not have been a winner for me, I do want to get back into reading more books in this line form Harlequin. ( )