Killer Heat [Mass Market Paperback]

I've finished "Killer Heat" the 3rd book in her Department 6 trilogy series by Brenda Novak.

Product Description

The bodies of seven women have been discovered in Skull Valley, Arizona. Jonah Young, a private security operative from Department 6, has been hired by the Yavapai County sheriff to assist in solving these murders. But Jonah's not prepared for the complications that arise when he's forced to work with a woman from his past, private investigator Francesca Moretti. 

Jonah betrayed Francesca ten years ago. She hasn't forgiven him and she's pretty sure she never will. But the woman she was hired to find has been murdered in exactly the same way as the seven in Skull Valley, so, Francesca has to work with Jonah. They quickly zero in on the most likely suspect — but questions remain. Questions they have to answer. Because if they bet on the wrong man, it might be the last thing they ever do….

Product Details

Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages

Publisher: Mira; 1 edition (September 28, 2010)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0778328317

ISBN-13: 978-0778328315

My Review:

Storyline:  Private investigator Francesca Moretti was hired to find missing April Bonner. The Chandler, Arizona sleuth follows a clue that takes her to a salvage yard near Prescott. There she sees April's corpse and has a run in with the owner Butch Vaughn who lured the unfortunate woman via the matchmaker Net persona of Harry Stratham. Thanks to a woman and child, who Francesca assumes is his family, she escapes.

Yavapai County Sheriff's office hires the Department 6 private security firm to investigate the gruesome murders of seven women found in Skull Valley. Agent Jonah Young leads the inquiry, but he is stunned when he sees Francesca. A decade ago, they went to the police academy together, but as they fell in love he betrayed her with her best friend.  With the worst possible ending -- a child was born from that night. When the cops find no body on Vaughn's property he files an assault charge against Francesca. As the two team up to clear Francesca's reputation, they target Butch as the only suspect, but lack proof; while the killer targets them.

Characters:  Francesca is a very tough, smart, independent and determined to prove that Butch killed all the women.  Hmm I thought she was a very complex person because I was wondering how she forgave her best friend for betraying her and not forgiving Jonah?  She totally blames him for the betrayal?  She's still quite upset and has never stopped loving him though she won't admit it!

Jonah is a very hunky, tough and a great investigator.  He was scared of his deep feelings for Francesca so he got drunk and sleep with her best friend.

Butch and his family are quite scary and I certainly wouldn't want to meet them!

Romance: I did like the romance between Jonah and Francesca because the second time around it went slowly, they found out they are different people now and Jonah waited until Francesca told him she forgave him.

Killer(s): The killer was quite scary and creative in their killing and no one saw them or heard anything. 

This book had alot of hair-raising moments and red herrings so you didn't figure out who the real culprit was until near the end.

4/5

Question:  If you were cheated on what would you do and why?  Feel free to answer all the choices if you like!

1.  Forgive your boyfriend/girlfriend but not your best friend
2.  Forgive your best friend but not your boyfriend/girlfriend
3.  Forgive both
4.  None
5.  Other

White Heat [Mass Market Paperback]

I've finished "White Heat" the 1st boo in her Heat Department 6 series by Brenda Novak.

Product Description

A dangerous cult has recently taken over the desert ghost town of Paradise, Arizona. Members worship at the feet — and in the bed — of its charismatic leader, Ethan Wycliff, and obey his orders blindly. They've already tried to murder one woman and they're implicated in the disappearance of another.

Nate Ferrentino, who works for private security contractor Department 6, has been assigned to infiltrate this group. It's a challenge he welcomes — until he learns that colleague Rachel Jessop will be going undercover with him. Thanks to their shared history, he'd much rather go alone….

The problem is, only married couples can participate in cult rituals. So, like it or not — and they don't —Rachel and Nate must pretend to be husband and wife.

There's no choice. Because if Wycliff isn't exposed, if he isn't stopped, more people will die. And Rachel might be one of them.

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Mira (July 27, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0778327957
ISBN-13: 978-0778327950

My Review:

Former Navy SEAL Nate is paired with former cop and security newbie Rachel. They have been tapped to infiltrate a mysterious cult lead by the handsome and charasimatic sociopath Ethan. Ethan and his followers have made an Arizona ghost town their base and are suspected of nefarious doings including the attempted stoning of a woman and the disappearance of another. The catch is that the cult only accepts married couples leading Nate and Rachel to address their undeniable attraction for each other.

Rachel had a one night stand with her superviser Nate. He was more than willing to jump her bones but freaked when she blurted out that she loved him. In his past he had a lover who attempted suicide after he broke off with her and since then has been afraid of "love".  It's unbelievable that Rachel, a woman who is supposedly intelligent and familiar with the sexual politics in law enforecement, would bed down her superior based on some subliminal cues. Nate, as a superviser would be so foolish to bed a subordinate in these day of ages is equally unbelievable. Factor in Rachel's own fanatacal religioius upbringing,

The homosexual courtship of Ethan and his ugly, evil and scary henchman Bartholomew was more interesting than the main hero/heroine.
 
This book is quite disturbing, scary, sick and twisted especially if you are against cults, etc.!
 
4/5

Body Heat [Mass Market Paperback]

I've finished "Body Heat" the 2nd book in her Department 6 series by Brenda Novak.

Product Description

Twelve people have been shot at point-blank range and left to rot in the desert sun. It's Sophia St. Claire's job to do something about it. She's Bordertown, Arizona's new chief of police — and she's out of her depth.

Help arrives in the form of Department 6 hired gun Roderick Guerrero. As far as Sophia's concerned, his involvement only makes things worse. Maybe he's managed to turn his life around. And maybe he's a good investigator. But as the bastard son of a wealthy local rancher, he has a history he can't get past. A history that includes her.

Rod refuses to leave town until the killer is caught. He's not worried about the danger posed by some vigilante. It's Sophia who threatens him. Because he's used to risking his life — but his heart is another story.

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Mira (August 31, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0778328031
ISBN-13: 978-0778328032

My Review:

Storyline:  Sophia is the new chief of police in Bordertown and need to find out who has shot twelve people point-blank range and left their bodies in the sun to rot.  The thirty-year-old Chief turned her life around and went from nearly becoming a Hell's Angels member to a career in law enforcement, but her history uniquely qualifies her to understand the people with whom she works. However, Sophia is short on experience with this type of criminal activity, and the investigation founders with few results until Department 6 ex-SEAL Rod Guerrero is called in to help. Rod goes reluctantly, but he cannot turn his back on his father's plea. Rod's mother was an undocumented alien and Rod is the bastard son of a wealthy Bordertown man. He owes it to his mother and her people to find the killer. However, when Rod arrives in Bordertown, he runs smack into Sophia, the teenage girl who humiliated him many years ago. He has never forgiven her for this and tensions run high on both their parts.

They must work together after a rocky beginning.  Some members of the town council, a detective from the Sheriff's office and an ex Police Chief want Sophia to fail.

Characters: All of the characters were well written and it felt like you really knew them in real life.  She's still friends with her ex-boyfriend who's a member of the Hell's Angels and still in love with her. 

Romance: I really liked the romance between Sophia and Roderick because you definately could see and feel the sparks between them everytime they were together.  Really loved their idea of foreplay (snarking at each other) since it was such a hoot.

Killer: Never figured out one of the killers was until near the very end and that was scary because that person acted so normal during the whole book!

3.5/5