Shaken

Langston Family #1

by Pamela Beason

ELISA’S IN TROUBLE…
Elisa Langston is the obvious choice to take over the Langston Green plant nursery after her father's sudden death. Her beautiful blond stepsister Charlie and stepmother Gail manage the family’s flower shops, while Elisa feels more at home driving a backhoe.

But after Elisa takes charge, Langston Green is hit by a wave of vandalism, arson, an earthquake. Money is stolen and the main building is burned to the ground. As the business hurtles towards failure, Elisa feels more desperate with each passing day. Can things get any worse?

AND JAKE'S OUT TO NAIL HER…
Jake Street remembers fiery Elisa from high school, where he secretly lusted after her. He’s glad she doesn't recall the little geek he was then. Now he's a muscular ex-detective turned insurance investigator, determined to do a good job on this last case before he enters the FBI. Repeated damage claims from Langston Green point toward insurance fraud and the evidence is quickly stacking up against Elisa.

Elisa's exotic Latina charms may still be alluring, but if she's a criminal, she certainly won’t get any special treatment; Jake will make sure she ends up in handcuffs.

Find out Elisa’s fate in this contemporary romantic suspense by Pamela Beason, winner of the Daphne du Maurier Award for excellence in Mystery/Suspense.

Genres: Mystery, Romantic Suspense, Romance, Contemporary, Suspense, Thriller

281 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 25, 2011

About the author

Pamela Beason lives in the Pacific Northwest, where she writes novels and screenplays and works as a private investigator. When she's not on the job, she explores the natural world on foot, in cross-country skis, in her kayak, or underwater scuba diving.

Beason is the author of nine full-length fiction works: THE ONLY WITNESS, THE ONLY CLUE (books 1 and 2 of the Neema Mysteries); SHAKEN, CALL OF THE JAGUAR (romantic suspense novels), ENDANGERED, BEAR BAIT, and UNDERCURRENTS in the Summer "Sam" Westin series; and RACE WITH DANGER and RACE TO TRUTH, books 1 and 2 of a YA Run for Your Life adventure trilogy. She also wrote the nonfiction titles, SAVE YOUR MONEY, YOUR SANITY, AND OUR PLANET and SO YOU WANT TO BE A PI?. Pam's writing has earned her multiple prizes, including the Daphne du Maurier Award, two First Place prizes and two Grand Prizes in the Chanticleer Book Reviews Contest, and an Honorable Mention in a Library Journal contest.

As an avid outdoorswoman and animal lover, Beason challenges the human assumption that we are the superior species. Drifting through life is not enough; you have to live it.

Pamela blogs and tweets about writing, outdoor adventures, and the value of being present in the moment. She looks forward to connecting with readers on her Twitter, Goodreads Page or Blog.

Reviews

[J.P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw this on first reads and I thought the plot sounded interesting so I picked it and won. At first I thought no way am I going to like this book. It's just not my typical reading material. Then there was the unusual analogy on the first page "the taller trees around her shimmied and swayed like crazed hula dancers...."
To my surprise I not only liked it, I enjoyed it.
The heroine's personality is well written. Elisa is a bit of a doof, kind of a klutz, has a sense of humor and knows how to use heavy machinery. Jake is the insurance investigator who befriends her and could have used more development in character. This was my only grouse with the novel. The story really held my interest as it evolved early into a good mystery with the obligatory twists and red herrings. There is also action a plenty here, to the extent that one more major event would have been too much.
Yay for the indie press that signed an author that knows her stuff. And who doesn't like a female lead character who knows how to drive a backhoe?

[Dave Weller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read six books by Pamela Beason; the Sam Westin series, and I enjoyed them quite a bit. With no additional Sam Westin books completed and available, I decided to research other books by Ms. Beason. A quick search listed the author's books in chronological order, and this is how I uncovered the Langston series. I decided to give the first installment, Shaken, a try. I blasted through this book in a matter of days. At first I thought it was a bit schmaltzy in the romance novel sort of way, but it quickly grew on me, and the mystery aspect more than made up for the dose of predictable mushy exchanges. Elisa Langston runs the neighborhood nursery, Langston Green, in a town near Seattle, when an earthquake causes significant damage to the buildings and plants. Jake Street, the assigned insurance adjuster, enters the picture, and a series of insurable mishaps plague Elisa and her family business. I will stop there. There was enough mystery and intrigue around the employees, the possible vandalism and crimes, and the relationship between Elisa and Jake to keep me glued to the rapidly flipping pages. I anxiously look forward to book two and the last of the Langston series.

[Laura Steinert · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful story set in Woodinville, Washington. A half white-American and half native Mayan woman had inherited a business from her white father--but someone wants her out. As her insurance claims mount, an investigator is sent to decide if she is actually under attack or is being targeted. Crimes escalate, and romance ensues. Lots of fun; quick read; believable people.

[Marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Pamela Beason's books!

I love the strong, outdoorsy women heroines in the Langston and Sam Weston series. Interesting characters, well-written, with action and romance. Great escape series!

[Rae Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I lost sleep reading a different book by Pamela Beason, THE ONLY WITNESS. (I mean, imagine, a gorilla who speaks with sign-language!). And then I immediately downloaded her book, SHAKEN. This one starts off with a natural disaster written with so much suspense that I wondered if I was reading a horror story. And in the aftermath of that event, the story proceeds with a lively blend of genres. Romance, for one. Yes, there’s a hunky investigator and a curvy, independent Latina woman accused of fraud. And there are mysterious and dangerous goings on along with numerous twists and surprises. Then a satisfying conclusion with depth and heart, set in a foreign country. I highly recommend this author.

[Diana Hockley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most enjoyable for me because this novel is slightly different from the myriad out there in the romance field and one didn't have to suspend disbelief, because everything that happens in the plot is possible and reasonable!

Firstly, the heroine is a gardener/nursery owner and the subject matter held my interest.

Secondly, there wasn't pages of gratuitous sex - just enough to make things spicy. We all have good imaginations, after all!

Thirdly, it is well written and paced, allowing me to invest concern in the lives of the characters and the outcome - which of course, is satisfactory - and why wouldn't it be in a romantic suspense?

Good work, Ms Beason :)

[Lhenry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the heroine, but all the other characters, especially the hero were underdeveloped. Elisa was such and unusual character for the love interest. She did a few stupid things - such as climbing the shed roof when her leg was in a cast, but it all worked out fine. But the other characters just didn't seem to have much depth and I didn't care that much about them.

[Maryjane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so easy to read - and good. Okay, so it's a romance/mystery book. It had enough mystery that it made the pages turn, and enough romance that it made it light reading. If you like romance/mystery books, read this one.

[Father Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping

If you are looking for a captivating, intense, mixed with romance this book has all of it. I have to admit the ending was rather sappy, however, does nicely tied into the boom itself. I assure you, you will not be disappointed.

[Joanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fiesty, fiery female lead character versus hot male lead character from her past. Who's the criminal? Do Gremlins exist? This well written mystery suspense book is hard to put down.