Second Romantic Suspense Review...

In Harm's Way by Irene Hannon

I'm going to cut to the chase with this book.  I read it in a day.  It drew me in and I was hooked...

Writing:  I haven't read the previous two books in this series.  It is a stand alone book.  Irene Hannon is a gifted writer and I did enjoy this book.

Story:  The plot drew me in and had great twists and turns--many predictable, but still good.  The story centers around a woman my age, 35, who finds a doll in a snow drift in the parking lot of a restaurant.  It gives her a physical reaction when she touches it.  She takes it to the FBI and meets a dashing FBI agent in the process.  Normally, I wouldn't include that description of the agent, but in this case it gives you just a taste of what this book is like.

Plot:  A child is missing and the doll is linked.  Are there any other connections?  Of course!  There wouldn't be much of a story without them.  This is truly a romance novel that is also a suspense novel.  It is the suspense and plot that made it an enjoyable book for me.  I wish the romance had been more realistic.  An example of what I mean might be using the words "attractive" or "appealing" instead of "tantalizing".

Concerns of mine:

This book is a romance novel.  I continue to long for realistic romance novels, but this one doesn't fit that bill.  I have not known a man who would describe how he sees a woman he is attracted to the way Ms. Hannon describes it in her book.  This book is written from a very feminine idea of romance and physical attraction. 

Conclusion:  I know that most people who read this book will find exactly what they were looking for--a well written romantic suspense novel.  And for it's genre, I think it is a good one.  It will draw you in and make you want to sink into a comfortable chair for a few hours.  But, would I recommend this book?  Is it the first book I'd recommend if I were asked?  No.  I've tried to think of another way to say it and I simply can't.  Because the romance is so unrealistic to me in this novel, this novel isn't one of the first I'd recommend to someone. 

Please note that I was given a complimentary copy of this book  by Revell Books for review.