Ian McGregor is at the bottom of the human race and while in prison sees his ex step sister Abbie Di Angelo on television who he hasn't seen for most of his life and decides he will con her and blackmail her into giving him $100 000 dollars. He and Earl Kramer a death row inmate develop the plan and when Ian is released from prison he pays his step sister a visit. Giving into the blackmail for her mother's sake, instead of Ian at the drop off point for the money she finds Artura Garcia with a knife and only narrowly escapes death. She does not know who he is but he wants money that Ian owes him and he will stop at nothing to get it. Ian is dead and John Ryan is investigating his death and takes a very close interest in Abbie. This is a pretty good book although a bit predictable at the end as the criminal mastermind is very easy to work out. Still you are captured by the novel's high quality to want to know what happens at the end. The characters are very well developed and you definitely want to know what they are going to do next.
A page turner
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 21 years ago
This book was anything but bland as one reader put it....I read 2-3 books a week and this is the best one I've read this year so far. Abbie DiAngelo is visited by her step-brother soon after his release from prison because he saw her in the news as a top chef and restaurant owner. He thinks she's his ticket to some serious money after he schemes with another inmate to blackmail her. I give nothing away here (as it's also in the back cover of the book), her brother is killed before she delivers the money he wants. Detective John Ryan, finds she's not telling the truth but is seriously smitten with her. You would think that after the step-brother dies her problems are over, but they are just beginning as there is another man out there wanting the money she was going to give her brother because "if he was going to give it to her brother, she has it and can give it to him....." A great story. Another Christiane Heggan favorite is Betrayals. If you haven't read that one, you're missing out....
exciting romantic suspense
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 21 years ago
Though her beloved mother Irene suffers from early stages of Alzheimer's, award-winning chef Abbie DiAngelo feels life is good. The single mom is proud of her nine-year-old son Ben and her restaurant Campagne is the hottest spot in Princeton, New Jersey.Her era of good feeling ends when her stepbrother Ian MacGregor reenters her life for the first time in almost three decades. He demands she give him $100K or he will provide evidence to the Palo Alto police that her mother killed her stepfather by having a fire set to their home. Abbie's counteroffer is 48K, which Ian accepts. However, his former partner Arturo Garcia arrives in town, seeking vengeance on Ian who betrayed him to the cops ten years ago. Arturo kills Ian. The police lean towards Abbie killing her sibling, but Detective John Ryan, a single dad, thinks otherwise. As they fall in love while he conducts his homicide investigation, Abbie finds her life spin into something worse as someone she cherishes is kidnapped with only John willing to risk all to keep everyone safe.This exciting romantic suspense picks up speed the moment Ian begins his extortion plot and never eases up until the final twist occurs. Though the kidnapping seems contrived, readers will enjoy the tension that the plot emits. Abbie is a wonderful lead protagonist whose courage to confront her foes will make her a fan darling. The support cast rounds out a strong plot even if Scott Rolen was traded during the last season from the Phillies.Harriet Klausner
Deadly Intent will hook you quickly and not let go!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 21 years ago
Despite the terrible fire in her childhood and traumatic divorce, Abbey DiAngelo has a good life as a successful chef and restaurant owner now. All this is threatened when her step-brother is released from jail, armed with evidence that could destroy her family's happiness. In order to buy his silence, she agrees to pay his blackmail, but before she can deliver, is attacked by a mysterious figure, and later learns that her step-brother has been murdered. Yet the threat does not end with his death. In fact, it only becomes worse as the murderer sets deadly sights on Abbie now. Her only hope of salvation lies in homicide detective John Ryan. As past secrets come forth and loved ones are drawn into the line of fire, these two find not only danger, but romance. Yet it could all mean nothing if Abbie's son falls victim to a killer. ***** In this novel, you will find that Ms. Heggan has delivered her best book to date. The suspense holds your interest from the first to the last page. Although the romantic element comes along late in the book, it in no way disappoints, and the human element of the plot is well developed, adding rich depth to the plot line. This is a great way to start the new year. ***** Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.
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