Reviews: Dead Ringer & More Than Words Can Say


Dead Ringer (Truth Seekers #1)

She was hiding from her past…
When a local woman goes missing and Sheriff Blake Jenkins delivers her blood sample to DNA expert Emory Steele for analysis, Blake discovers Emory is a dead ringer for the missing woman. Blake’s gut says the woman is related to Emory. But Emory rejects the notion, requiring a DNA test before she’ll concede that she does indeed have a twin sister she never knew about.

Now she’ll do anything to see it come to light.
Emory joins Blake in a search for her missing sister, but when an attempt is made to abduct Emory as well, they begin to think the abduction is related to Emory’s birth parents. Blake vows to keep her under his watch until they discover what this maniac is looking for and bring him to justice. But Emory balks at him wanting to keep her under constant surveillance as she’s struggling to come to grips with a former brutal attack, and she wants nothing to do with a man who might want to get close to her. When it becomes clear that Blake is the only one who can keep her safe, will she let him get close enough to do so?

Review: Once again Susan Sleeman has written an extraordinary story. This first book in the Truth Seekers series stars an old friend, Blake Jenkins (from the Cold Harbor series), along with some of the Blackwell Tactical Team. We’ve also “met” our heroine, though only briefly. While Blake was a recurring yet secondary character in that series, he is front and center in this book, and I enjoyed leaning more about him. I loved how he interacted with the other characters and with Emory. I enjoyed her character as well. She was feisty, stubborn, yet caring and sensitive.

It is not necessary to have read the CH series to enjoy this book, but to get the most of Blake’s personality, I highly recommend it.

Rating: 5 roses


More Than Words Can Say (Patchwork Family, #2)

After fulfilling a pledge to a dying friend, Zacharias Hamilton is finally free. No family entanglements. No disappointing those around him. Just the quiet bachelor existence he’s always craved. Until fate snatches his freedom away when the baker of his favorite breakfast bun is railroaded by the city council. Despite not wanting to get involved, he can’t turn a blind eye to her predicament . . . or her adorable dimples.

Abigail Kemp needs a man’s name on her bakery’s deed. A marriage of convenience seems the best solution . . . if it involves a man she can control. That person definitely isn’t the stoic lumberman who oozes silent confidence whenever he enters her shop. Control Zacharias Hamilton? She can’t even control her pulse when she’s around him.
When vows are spoken, Abigail’s troubles should be over. Yet threats to the bakery worsen, and darker dangers hound her sister. Can she put ever more trust in Zach without losing her dreams of independence?

Review: I LOVED Zach and Abby. Karen Witemeyer has the uncanny ability to make flawed men and women into amazing characters. While this is book two in the Patchwork Family series, it is not necessary to have read book one. (I have but too many books since then means I have forgotten most of the story–time to refresh my memory.) This story has all the “feel goods” that a story should–places to laugh and a few that are sad, some to make you angry, and a few where you just want to slap some sense into a character (no spoilers). 🙂

Rating: 5 roses

Blessings,

~~~I received both of these books from the publisher/author for the purposes of review. The above are my honest opinions.

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