LAWMAN

Author: Diana Palmer ISBN: 0373772386 6/2007 SUSPENSE Publisher: HQN

When San Antonio FBI agent Garon Grier buys a ranch in Jacobsville, Texas, the strong, silent loner is hoping to mend some broken family fences. He's not looking for love when he finds an unexpected, unwanted attraction to the girl next door, a shy, lovely woman who believes some secrets are best kept hidden. But the truth will prove just as dangerous when Garon tackles the most difficult case of his career, hunting an escaped convict, a child predator whose former victims are all dead. All except one. Grace Carver grew up in this quiet Texas town. She works as a cook at the local cafe and nurtures a spectacular garden in the home she shares with her elderly grandmother. She remains unmarried and untouched because of a past darkened by tragedy. Now, at only twenty-five, she's accepted loneliness as a way of life. That is, until Garon. But only when fear and uncertainty collide in reckless heartbreak does Garon fully realize what he's found with Grace—and what he may have lost. Because his hunt for a killer has led him to the last person on earth he would ever have expected to be the one who had escaped death at the hands of a madman. And now a desperate lawman and a proud woman must decide if secrets will come between them forever ...or free them to love.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

LAWMAN. It sounds like a really great western title to a heart stopping book. Then, imagine my delight when turning over the jacket to read the intriguing synopsis on the back—a romantic suspense surrounding a woman who escaped from a child murderer at the age of twelve, and the FBI agent hunting down her would-be killer. Oh, Happy Day! This is going to be a must read! Too bad that synopsis and the title are the best parts of this book.

I am so disappointed with LAWMAN. What could have been so great, turns out to be mediocre at best. The plot involving the murderer is easily solved, and certainly not the action-packed page turner I was hoping for. And the romance—I am so upset with that aspect of the story that I can visualize the heroine, Grace, walking around with a kick-me sign on her forehead. I feel for her, and at times want to reach into the book and hug her. That poor girl survives such a horrific ordeal, only to be soundly trounced by a hero I absolutely loath. Calling him a hero makes me want to puke. He is a first class jerk with no feelings, despite the tragedy that happened in his life previous to his meeting Grace. In my opinion, he doesn't even come close to redeeming himself by the end of the book. I don't think he ever utters the phrase, "I'm sorry."

Perhaps I have my man-hater cap on today, but I really can't say that LAWMAN is a book I get much out of. However, I honestly have to give kudos to the marketing and promotional campaign that make it look like it's going to be the best book ever.

Shannon Johnson