When Lola Michaels wakes up to a strange man in her apartment, his hands touching her throat, she’s petrified. And, although one scream sends her nighttime visitor running, she can’t shake the feeling that next time she might not be so lucky.
LAPD Lieutenant Jacob Simmone isn’t entirely sure what to make of the situation either. Lola is a gorgeous, single woman, living in an eight-hundred-square foot artist’s studio. Why would a man break in while she was home? Why would he leave without taking a single item? It’s only when the bodies of similar female victims start surfacing in the same neighborhood, that he realizes there may be something more to Lola’s midnight encounter. And, as Jacob and Lola are thrown into a situation that neither of them could have expected,—or wanted—Jacob can’t help but wonder if he’s making a mistake, if he’d be more effective at tracking a killer without Lola always nearby, clouding his brain. Little does he realize that, maybe, he can’t catch a break because someone else, someone with real power, is holding all the cards…
Review
Before you get sucked in by the quirky, artsy cover, let me warn you that this is romantic suspense and contains themes of murder, abuse, and trauma.
It actually handles all of the above pretty well, but it's not as light as the cover makes out.
Lola is a sweetheart, a semi-successful artist who fears her tale of a midnight intruder won't be believed. Luckily, Lieutenant Jacob is instantly smitten and will do anything to keep her safe. Less luckily, the recent murders of similar women do a lot to bolster her story but don't help her feel any safer. Jacob must protect 'the one who got away' who is fast making a place in his heart, while maintaining a professional distance...
Spoiler alert: he doesn't. Maintain a professional distance.
This actually threw me all the way out of the book because that level of unprofessionalism is downright irresponsible and to see it practically encouraged by his superiors was all sorts of wrong. Even if the UST is off the charts. I was really hoping they'd at least keep it together until Lola's life was out of danger.
Apart from that, the murder mystery came together nicely, though I'd have preferred a few more breadcrumbs of clues rather than the big reveal of a stranger. I feel like there were a few opportunities to provide foreshadowing that were missed as I spent a bit of time going back and forth trying to find out if I'd missed something.
Overall it was a pretty decent romantic suspense with an interesting supporting cast, but there were a few niggles that stopped me really getting into it so I give it four stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via NetGalley, all opinions are my own
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