Paloma
Linda LavidRomantic suspense
Available from Aventine Press
ISBN: 1-59330-313-0
August 2005
| Twenty-five years ago Agnes L. had a different life. Then she witnessed the racially motivated brutal murder of Michael Mays by a Buffalo police officer, Joey Catoni. That ended her life as she knew it. In the witness protection program she married and had a beautiful baby girl. But fifteen years ago Toni Catoni got out of prison and was coming after her. The only way to protect her family was to die, so Nancy drowned. After fifteen years of living as a hermit, Joey Catoni was released from prison and Paloma's apartment was bombed. Max Laurent was the FBI agent who'd protected Agnes until the trial. They'd made love all night. The next day he let Agnes leave for a new life in Chicago as Nancy Smith. It broke her heart. She'd hated him since. He'd regretted letting her leave all these years. He hoped to fix things now. He only had to figure out who was trying to kill her and stop them. It would help if he knew which woman was the target, Agnes, Nancy or Paloma.
The story unfolds gradually as we learn about all three personas and Max's relationship to them all at once, but only a little glimpse at a time. It is an intriguing plot device that piques the reader's interest as more and more mysteries unfold. It is a dark story, but fascinating. Max expressed his love for Agnes by stalking her, for her protection, all these years. This most recent attempt on her life frightened him into finding her to confess his feelings. Paloma's pain and pride are shown so poignantly when she buys cards for every occasion in her daughter's life, even though she can never send them. Although she'd tried to avoid Max, he caught her. She refused to trust in his confessions of love. But as Max continued to investigate the murder attempts and saved her daughter's life as well, she was willing to give a life together for the three of them a chance. The story draws the reader in from the first sentence and stays in your head long after you've finished the book. Don't miss this captivating story by the very talented Ms. Lavid. It is a definite keeper.
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Reviewer: Karen H. |
