REVIEW: Evil's Witness by Autumn Jordon

ISBN 1601547358
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense
(c) June 2010, Wild Rose Press
Autumn Jordan's Website

Rating: 4 stars

Available at Wild Rose Press (ebook), (print).

This book has it all! From murders to lust and tension in their most extreme forms, to traitors and backstabbing, mystery and action-packed suspense, drama and high emotions, depression and happiness, and a hot romance strung throughout.

Agent John Dolton is an emotionally distressed FBI agent. His problems contain heartbreaking stories of loss in his personal life and in his career. He is assigned to a new case in which the Department of Treasury trucks are being hijacked and the cargo stolen. An unfortunate event at one of these heists gives him the very fortunate opportunity to meet Ms. Stephanie Boyd and her two adorable children who witnessed the heist and consequently, had spent the night in hell.

The absolute horrible thing about the particular heist that Stephanie and her kids witnessed is that it hits close to home. Gene, Stephanie's ex-husband, is somehow involved in this hijacking plot, and the Zosimosky family (the bad guys) wants Stephanie and her children dead when it was known that they were witnesses. After escaping the heist, Stephanie goes straight to the local police department where Agent Dolton comes to question her later that morning. There is instant attraction between them and even a dose of fear as Stephanie gives the details of her horrific night. Stephanie is clearly on edge and scared for her and her children's lives, and Agent Dolton can see it.

Stephanie knows that she can identify the man who was obviously in charge of the heist that she witnessed. She informs Agent Dolton and he decides to transport Stephanie and her children to a safe house. The transport goes awry and Agent Dolton knows that someone has leaked the information of the transport to the wrong people, those who are out to get Stephanie and her kids. Stephanie escapes a near deadly shoot out in a parking lot and agrees to meet John later at a new location.

Things go well for a while at the safe house, but as the story progresses and Stephanie goes through files and files of pictures of possible suspects, Agent Dolton starts to figure out that some things just don't add up and he's not sure how the Zosimosky family is getting the information about him and the family he has to protect. As John's personal story comes out, the romance starts to unfold.

The romance is very apparent as the characters of Stephanie Boyd and John Dolton interact. Stephanie is the first woman to cause a rise in John since his wife. Given that they are living through traumatic experience after traumatic experience together, the tension mounts and mounts and mounts until finally Stephanie is tired and wants to forget about it all. It is a beautiful love story that happens very fast, not that that counts against it, but given the whole situation, it is very believable. Agent Dolton and the children even have a love story that grows as the story progresses. It is very cute and the reader will be rooting for the story to be resolved in a way that they can all be together as a happy family.

The descriptions of the places that the characters go to are short, but worded perfectly so that you get the full effect. They were shown, not told to the reader, so the reader doesn't get bored reading a whole page full of unimportant descriptions. The characters actually spoke about their surroundings and the details flowed marvelously, creating an eerie mountain highway at night, a cabin by a lake with a view to die for, and a quaint small town. Even the descriptions of the characters and smaller settings were woven throughout the story with attention-grabbing prose.

The dialogue in this book was very well-written and thought out. I felt as though I was right there with the characters listening to them talk. It takes extreme talent to master dialogue, especially given that some of them happen during periods of intense stress and plenty of suspense.

As far as reccomendations go, everyone should give this book a go. I read it in two sittings; I just didn't want to put it down. Any contemporary romance reader who reads this book will love it and be asking Autumn Jordan, "When are we going to get more books from you?"

Reviewed by Paige
Writing, Reviews and A Little Bit of Me


Note: This book is provided courtesy of publisher/author. Ms. Jordon has also generously provided a copy of this book for the blog celebration contest giveaway!


Book Summary:

The Zosimosky Files

Elementary school nurse Stephanie Boyd's ordinary world changes forever when she and her children witness a blood bath. To escape the wrath of the Russian Mafia, she has no choice but to help the FBI uncover the Mafia’s mole inside the U.S. Treasury. While on the run with the handsome agent who is willing to die for them, Stephanie learns the meaning of self-sacrifice and love.

Agent John Dolton's only break in solving the case that cost him everything is a couple of kids and a beautiful woman. But keeping his witnesses safe seems impossible when their every move is foreseen by their enemy. Within weeks, Stephanie and her children soften the loner’s heart and John allows himself to let go of his all-consuming sorrow.

This time John vows not to fail to protect the family he loves.