Publication date: August 18th 2015
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense
The Blurb
A Texas Ranger, relegated to deskwork due to past recklessness, petitions to regain custody of his five-year-old daughter, and his case is assigned to a family court judge who is as attractive as she is ambitious. When a masked gunman barges in during the custody hearing with his sights on the judge, the Ranger reacts instinctually and goes after him. But authorities apprehend the wrong man, and the real gunman remains unknown, at large, and a threat. Will this take-charge lawman jeopardize his chances of custody by going after the would-be assassin? And will this unlikely pair be able to deny the forbidden attraction building between them?
My Thoughts
I'm so pleased to be involved in another Xpresso Book Tours blog tour for Sandra Brown. Please make sure that you check out the rest of the tour schedule here.
Sandra Brown as fast become one of my favourite authors over the last couple of years & you can always rely on a good solid plot from her with the right amount of suspense and sexual tension thrown in. There is always a strong leading man and a heroine that you can identify with.
Our leading man in Friction is Texas Ranger, Crawford Hunt, who is going to court to fight to regain custody of his 5 year old daughter from his in-laws.
Crawford is a man who has been deeply affected by his wife's death when their daughter, Georgia was just a baby and he has relied on the help of his wife's parents and even handed custody over to them. However Crawford is now in a position where he has his life back on track and he is determined to have his daughter back living with him. So the story opens with Crawford Hunt going to court in an attempt to get Georgia back where she rightfully belongs. The judge presiding over the custody hearing is Holly Spencer but before Judge Spencer is able to make her decision on the case a gunman bursts into the courtroom and opens fire. But just who was his intended target?
Crawford's training kicks in and he immediately chases down the gunman, cornering him in the court house. The gunman refuses to lay down his weapon so is shot and killed by a police officer. That's where the story should end, bad guy dead but unfortunately it becomes apparent that the man holding the gun might not in fact have been the shooter and the lead detective who has previous history with Crawford turns his attentions and suspicions to Crawford being involved in the shooting in the courtroom. So Crawford is now a man being watched closely by the police and due to his reckless behaviour in the courtroom his father-in-law is determined he will never see his daughter again. And so begins a new challenge for Crawford as he desperately tries to work out who the courtroom shooter was and who the actual target was. Against her better judgement , Holly becomes an ally as she tries to help Crawford unravel the secrets and lies.
For me this was yet another wonderful romantic suspense novel from Sandra Brown. Crawford Hunt was an awesome main character - he is tough, he is sexy, he likes to be in control - yes he is flawed and he is reckless but that's why I loved him as a character. What I loved most about him is him as a father, the ways in which he would go to any length for his daughter to ensure she was safe. That's a truly wonderful quality to have and one that will make a woman fall in love. I wasn't too sure on Holly at first but she grew on my, she was a total contrast to Crawford's character but that ended up really working.
As always Sandra Brown gets the sexual tension just right and from the very first pages you are propelled into Crawford's world and his fight for justice. This is a high action, fast paced thriller with plenty of twists thrown in - it's a book that just begs for the pages to be turned. A real must read for Sandra Brown fans and those who love a great romantic suspense novel.
About The Author
Sandra Brown is the author of more than sixty New York Times bestsellers,
including DEADLINE(2013), LOW PRESSURE (2012), LETHAL (2011), TOUGH
CUSTOMER (2010), SMASH CUT (2009), SMOKE SCREEN (2008), PLAY DIRTY
(2007), RICOCHET (2006), CHILL FACTOR (2005), WHITE HOT (2004), &
HELLO, DARKNESS (2003).Brown began her writing career in 1981 and since then has published over seventy novels, bringing the number of copies of her books in print worldwide to upwards of eighty million. Her work has been translated into over thirty languages.
A lifelong Texan, Sandra Brown was born in Waco, grew up in Fort Worth and attended Texas Christian University, majoring in English. Before embarking on her writing career, she worked as a model at the Dallas Apparel Mart, and in television, including weathercasting for WFAA-TV in Dallas, and feature reporting on the nationally syndicated program “PM Magazine.”
In 2009 Brown detoured from her thrillers to write, Rainwater, a much acclaimed, powerfully moving story about honor and sacrifice during the Great Depression.
Brown recently was given an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Texas Christian University. She was named Thriller Master for 2008, the top award given by the International Thriller Writer’s Association. Other awards and commendations include the 2007 Texas Medal of Arts Award for Literature and the Romance Writers of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
- 10x coffee cup + a signed (personalized) copy of Friction
Great review, Sam! This sounds like such an intense and addicting read! I love romantic suspense books and this sounds right up my alley! I love how well balanced the romance seems, too. I hate it when it becomes center stage and the plot gets kind of forgotten. Glad you liked it! :)
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