SHADOW DANCE
JULIE GARWOOD
ISBN# 0-345-45386-7
January 2007
Ballantine Books; The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 18th Floor New York, NY 10019
Hardback
$25.95
336 Pages
Romantic Suspense
Rating: 4 Cups

Jordan Buchanan likes living in her own safe little world and nothing can jar her out of it. That is, until a mystery guest at her brother’s wedding insults her family and arouses her curiosity. Added to that is the fact that one of the hottest guys she knows thinks she is boring. Well, she will show them all.

FBI agent Noah Clayborne was close to Jordan and her family; he was partners with her brother. Being attracted to her was not allowed, but that did not stop it from happening. When he gets his chance to help her, he jumps right in, never stopping to think that maybe he is being led to the place where he is meant to be.

Jordan gets a tip about a possible treasure from a very strange man who insults her family. When she decides to step outside her usually ordered existence and investigate, it leads her to Serenity Texas, which turns out to be anything but serene. Murder, mayhem, arrests, and fires are just the tip of the iceberg. In a small town where everyone knows your secrets, danger lurks around every corner, and intrigue waits around every turn. But what is crazier is her attraction to Noah, who flies to her rescue, and even more unbelievable is the fact that he seems to be just as attracted to boring her. Maybe being a murder suspect makes you wanted in more ways than one.

This was a wonderful book from an author who is a pro at giving the reader memorable characters who are so realistic that you seem to know them. The chemistry between the couple was hot and fun, with some wicked barbs exchanged when he did not do what she thought he should. I liked that the bad boy was taken down a peg or two when he needed to be and the geek girl was brought out of her shell. Ms Garwood delivers a great small town mystery full of twists and turns that leaves you wondering just who done it, then when you find out, you flip back to see if she left any clues at all. The answer is maybe so, but you will have to read it to find out. Do the Texas Two Step to your nearest bookstore to pick up Shadow Dance; you will be glad you did!

Jenn
Reviewer For Coffee Time Romance
Reviewer For Karen Talk About New Books