BLACKOUT

Author: Annie Solomon ISBN: 0446616311 4/2006 SUSPENSE Publisher: WARNER FOREVER

A month ago Margo Scott was a book dealer with family and friends. Now, suddenly, she can’t remember the last four weeks of her life, everyone close to her has disappeared, and she’s the prime suspect in a murder. When an intruder attacks, she responds with lightning-quick moves she has no memory of ever learning. Undercover agent Jake Wise has her in his sights and can’t decide if this mysterious woman is an assassin or a pawn. Is he tempted to protect her because she’s innocent or because he’s falling for her? Thrust together, these two loners realize that trusting each other is their only hope of survival. Because the good guys and the bad guys have one thing in common. They all want Margo Scott dead—the sooner, the better.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Annie Solomon is at the top of her game with BLACKOUT.

This highly-charged romantic suspense fairly explodes with excellent writing, intense intrigue, and two really spectacular lead characters who are oh-soooo-good together.

Margo Scott is one kick-ass heroine who, as my grandmother was always fond of saying, has "bottom". Although her memory is gone, her instincts aren't and she's living on the edge. With bad guys trying to kill her at every turn, Margo's instincts are only one of two things keeping her alive. Instincts, and one devilishly charming mystery man, Jake Wise.

These two fill out all those hollows and groves. Margo and Wise bring balance to the other in a believable melding of hearts amid chaos. Ms. Solomon gives these two substance and focus with some finely sketched character studies. This story also drips with sexual awareness and sexual tension, as Ms. Solomon pits a reserved Margo against a wise-cracking Wise.

BLACKOUT is a tautly executed, riveting rollercoaster ride with a wonderful balance between the suspense and the romance.

Exciting, suspenseful with a clever twisty plot, BLACKOUT is almost impossible to put down...

Debbie Jett