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Jessica Ford #2
Justice
New York Times bestselling author Karen Robards is back with an exhilarating romantic thriller that will leave readers breathless.
Feisty criminal attorney Jessica Ford has done her best to comply with the orders of the Secret Service’s unofficial witness protection program ever since she became the lone witness to the First Lady’s murder. She changed her name, dyed her dark hair blonde, and traded her sturdy black-rimmed glasses for contact lenses. Unfortunately, winning her first high-profile case for prestigious Washington, D.C., law firm Ellis Hayes, and subsequently landing her face all over the news, is not exactly “keeping a low profile.” Or so says hunky Secret Service agent Mark Ryan, whose newest assignment—despite Jess’s stubborn protests—is keeping her safe at all costs. It just so happens he’s also her ex-boyfriend.
The trial earns Jess a permanent spot on the firm’s elite legal defense team, replacing an associate who eloped suddenly and never came back. It’s the chance of a lifetime. But Jess’s mind has raced with questions from the moment the prosecution’s star witness shocked the courtroom with an electrifying revelation involving the handsome son of a powerful U.S. senator. Was the pretty, young mother intimidated into changing her story on the stand? Why will she not return Jess’s calls? Did Jess’s ambitious predecessor on the case really just abandon her successful career? Or did both women mysteriously disappear?
After Mark rescues Jess from an attacker outside her apartment, she begins to consider the possibility that she is a target. Maybe it’s not so bad to have her irresistibly charming and hard-bodied former lover around for protection. Maybe. The question is, which of the many inadvertent enemies Jess has made recently is he protecting her from? The investigation leads her to some startling coincidences—and to a teenage runaway who may just hold the missing link...if Jess can find her.
As Jess hurtles closer to the truth—and the sexual tension between her and Mark grows hotter than ever—she finds herself in a race against the clock to find the answers before what she doesn’t know gets them both killed.
Feisty criminal attorney Jessica Ford has done her best to comply with the orders of the Secret Service’s unofficial witness protection program ever since she became the lone witness to the First Lady’s murder. She changed her name, dyed her dark hair blonde, and traded her sturdy black-rimmed glasses for contact lenses. Unfortunately, winning her first high-profile case for prestigious Washington, D.C., law firm Ellis Hayes, and subsequently landing her face all over the news, is not exactly “keeping a low profile.” Or so says hunky Secret Service agent Mark Ryan, whose newest assignment—despite Jess’s stubborn protests—is keeping her safe at all costs. It just so happens he’s also her ex-boyfriend.
The trial earns Jess a permanent spot on the firm’s elite legal defense team, replacing an associate who eloped suddenly and never came back. It’s the chance of a lifetime. But Jess’s mind has raced with questions from the moment the prosecution’s star witness shocked the courtroom with an electrifying revelation involving the handsome son of a powerful U.S. senator. Was the pretty, young mother intimidated into changing her story on the stand? Why will she not return Jess’s calls? Did Jess’s ambitious predecessor on the case really just abandon her successful career? Or did both women mysteriously disappear?
After Mark rescues Jess from an attacker outside her apartment, she begins to consider the possibility that she is a target. Maybe it’s not so bad to have her irresistibly charming and hard-bodied former lover around for protection. Maybe. The question is, which of the many inadvertent enemies Jess has made recently is he protecting her from? The investigation leads her to some startling coincidences—and to a teenage runaway who may just hold the missing link...if Jess can find her.
As Jess hurtles closer to the truth—and the sexual tension between her and Mark grows hotter than ever—she finds herself in a race against the clock to find the answers before what she doesn’t know gets them both killed.
472 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 19, 2011
270 people are currently reading
1144 people want to read
About the author
Karen Robards
126 books3,244 followersKaren Robards is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of more than fifty books and one novella. She has won multiple awards including six Affaire de Coeur Silver Pen Awards for favorite author.
Karen has been writing since she was very young, and was first published nationally in the December 1973 Reader's Digest. She sold her first romance novel, ISLAND FLAME, when she was 24. It was published by Leisure Books in 1981 and is still in print. After that, she dropped out of law school to pursue her writing career.
Karen was recently described by The Daily Mail as "one of the most reliable thriller....writers in the world."
Karen has been writing since she was very young, and was first published nationally in the December 1973 Reader's Digest. She sold her first romance novel, ISLAND FLAME, when she was 24. It was published by Leisure Books in 1981 and is still in print. After that, she dropped out of law school to pursue her writing career.
Karen was recently described by The Daily Mail as "one of the most reliable thriller....writers in the world."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 246 reviews
avoid
June 10, 2022self note avoid
Cheating H
h plain jane.
Cheating H
h plain jane.
July 4, 2020
Zorla yazmak için yazılmış uzatılmış sanki hiç gerek yoktu çünkü kitap kendini tekrar etmiş birde ilk kitapta gözüme giren mark burda gözümden düştü bazı yerleri saçmaydı sen ajansın sanki jess ajanmış gibi bir hava vardı 🤷♀️
November 6, 2017
First off I want to say that I have marked this under my "Ghost" shelf and "cheating hero" shelf, though the ghost didn't play that big of a part in the story (she didn't solve any misteries,talk to anyone and barly made an apperence). Not being real big on the ghost theme myself I was kinda worried when it first made an apperence however I think that Karen Robards played nice and light. The cheating part was in thier past and the h had walked in on the H kissing another woman, to some people reading the book it might not be that big of a deal and to others it would be a deal breaker and I just wanted to let people know.
Jess (h) has finally getting her break and moving up the ladder at the law firm that she works at. After winning a big case, wich she has questions about whether she really had anything to do with the win or if others had pulled some strings behind her back,she now gets to take over for another woman who abruptly leaves the firm to run away and elope. However the one fly in the ointment is that having witnessed the death of the First Lady (in a previous book) she has been in the witness protection program and now after the big win her her face is all over the news papers and her life is in danger.
Mark (H) knew he had messed up big time with Jess and though he knows why now he didn't then. Now that he's been assinged to keep her safe he would do so with his life if need be, all he has to do is get her to accept him back into her life and to do what he tells her....not going to be easy to do.
I toyed with giving this one 3 1/2 * because of two things. 1) I never felt the tension between the H and h that I knew was supose to be there, though it could have been because I've been really busy and didn't have the time to really get absorbed into the book. And 2) there was a mistake in the begingin of the book...on page 17 the bad guy "closes the garbage lid with a clatter of plastic" and then again on the next page and again "with a clatter of plastic". It just annoys me when the author or proof reader doesn't catch something like that.
Jess (h) has finally getting her break and moving up the ladder at the law firm that she works at. After winning a big case, wich she has questions about whether she really had anything to do with the win or if others had pulled some strings behind her back,she now gets to take over for another woman who abruptly leaves the firm to run away and elope. However the one fly in the ointment is that having witnessed the death of the First Lady (in a previous book) she has been in the witness protection program and now after the big win her her face is all over the news papers and her life is in danger.
Mark (H) knew he had messed up big time with Jess and though he knows why now he didn't then. Now that he's been assinged to keep her safe he would do so with his life if need be, all he has to do is get her to accept him back into her life and to do what he tells her....not going to be easy to do.
I toyed with giving this one 3 1/2 * because of two things. 1) I never felt the tension between the H and h that I knew was supose to be there, though it could have been because I've been really busy and didn't have the time to really get absorbed into the book. And 2) there was a mistake in the begingin of the book...on page 17 the bad guy "closes the garbage lid with a clatter of plastic" and then again on the next page and again "with a clatter of plastic". It just annoys me when the author or proof reader doesn't catch something like that.
July 7, 2020
Tam iyi başladı derken o hayalet şeysi kitaba bakışımı tümüyle değiştirdi. Ne gerek vardı da böyle saçma sapan bir şeyi kurguya ekleme gereğini duymuş yazar anlayabilmiş değilim 🤔
Sadece hayalet saçmalığı ile kalsa göz ardı edebilirdim belki ama kurgudaki bazı detaylar iyice tadımı kaçırdı. Mesela :
*Saçını sarıya boya, gözlük yerine lens tak (şeffaf lens bu arada farklı göz rengi değil ki eskiden de çoğunlukla lensli zaten), sadece soy adını değiştir hoooopp tanık koruma tamamlanmıştır 😞 Bu arada aynı şehirde kal, ailenle görüşmeye ve avukatlık yapmaya devam et. Çünkü bir siz akıllısinız kötü pis adamlar aptal, araştırma falan yapmasını beceremezler 😌
*Allison'un gizemli sevgilisinin kimliği. Spoiler olmasın diye yazamıyorum ama ben okuyunca 'hadi len ordan' dedim resmen.
*Ve yine ilk kitap gibi oldu bittiye gelen, alel acele yazılmış bir final 😕
Bu arada Mark ta bildiğin şıpsevdi playboy ama olsun affedilebilir zira çok yakışıklı ve vücudu taş gibi 😒😒
Sadece hayalet saçmalığı ile kalsa göz ardı edebilirdim belki ama kurgudaki bazı detaylar iyice tadımı kaçırdı. Mesela :
*Saçını sarıya boya, gözlük yerine lens tak (şeffaf lens bu arada farklı göz rengi değil ki eskiden de çoğunlukla lensli zaten), sadece soy adını değiştir hoooopp tanık koruma tamamlanmıştır 😞 Bu arada aynı şehirde kal, ailenle görüşmeye ve avukatlık yapmaya devam et. Çünkü bir siz akıllısinız kötü pis adamlar aptal, araştırma falan yapmasını beceremezler 😌
*Allison'un gizemli sevgilisinin kimliği. Spoiler olmasın diye yazamıyorum ama ben okuyunca 'hadi len ordan' dedim resmen.
*Ve yine ilk kitap gibi oldu bittiye gelen, alel acele yazılmış bir final 😕
Bu arada Mark ta bildiğin şıpsevdi playboy ama olsun affedilebilir zira çok yakışıklı ve vücudu taş gibi 😒😒
October 22, 2014
Mark just did not do it for me I really could not feel his love for her and seriously that excuse for kissing his ex was just dumb I can't believe that at some point he wouldn't cheat on her again' not a true hero for me
April 24, 2012
This one was disappointing. I really enjoyed the previous book about Jess and Mark (Pursuit) but this kind of ruined it for me. They were broken up at the start (which took away the happy ending from Pursuit) and even though they get back together I now have absolutely no faith they will stay that way. I read romance because i want a HEA not realism. And I can't get past why they broke up. I have no faith in Mark. The author tried to make it like it was mostly Jess's issues that were keeping them apart but come on - would you trust him after that. Especially as he didn't seem to think what he did was that bad. He wa all yeah sorry made a mistake let it go. I would love to see his reaction if the situation was reversed.
March 11, 2017
So far the best book I have read by KR. It is riveting from beginning to end. I was not expecting the who dunnit person to be who it was. The ending was a great finale!
January 23, 2014
Wanted to give this 1/2 star! The story advertised sounded really good, and it was registered under the mystery/thriller genre. It's also the second book featuring the main characters, but while it refers to the first story it is not necessary to read it. As it was the audio book I knew I was up for 11 hours and 22 minutes, pity the story advertised didn't actually get started until I had suffered through 10 hours and 50 minutes of crap. The main story line featured Jess (the heroine) constantly letting you know that almost every other female character was 'smoking hot', while obviously she wasn't. Male characters were also treated the same way, they were either hot, or not. Not one character was just an ordinary person. The back and forth relationship with Mark (the hero, also so hot, especially with his white secret service shirt stretched across his hot wide chest) was just puerile - she's damaged and he's so hot that she's paranoid about all the hot chicks that want him. I persevered with the book because I really wanted to find out what happened, but in this case I wish I'd had a physical book to flick through the pages, that way it would have taken me about 1 minutes to read. I returned it and got my credit back.... Rant over!
December 27, 2011
Had I known this would be a cheesy, and poorly written, romance.... Stuck on vacation. I curse supermarket novels everywhere!
August 26, 2018
Poorly written, too long, too many details - all in all do not waste your time.
September 18, 2022
2 stars.
I’m sorry to mark a Karen Robards with such a low rating. SPOILER AHEAD…
This book gives the impression it was written in the 1990s- the characters and their beliefs, and behaviour would fit in with that time period. It becomes clear, however, that this was written in 2011. One of the main characters has an iPhone, and so I checked the publication date to be sure.
My issue is the horrible attitude of the hero. I can usually see grey in some areas of cheating in books. I’m certainly not the first person to be offended if the author makes the situation complicated and relatable. So, why am I offended here? The word “enthusiastically”.
The hero enthusiastically kisses one of the heroine’s work colleagues, while they are in the happily-ever-after period, after book one in the series has wrapped up. He then goes on to blame it all on the heroine’s jealousy and insecurity.
Never have I believed a hero would crap all over a HEA like this one.
I’m sorry to mark a Karen Robards with such a low rating. SPOILER AHEAD…
This book gives the impression it was written in the 1990s- the characters and their beliefs, and behaviour would fit in with that time period. It becomes clear, however, that this was written in 2011. One of the main characters has an iPhone, and so I checked the publication date to be sure.
My issue is the horrible attitude of the hero. I can usually see grey in some areas of cheating in books. I’m certainly not the first person to be offended if the author makes the situation complicated and relatable. So, why am I offended here? The word “enthusiastically”.
The hero enthusiastically kisses one of the heroine’s work colleagues, while they are in the happily-ever-after period, after book one in the series has wrapped up. He then goes on to blame it all on the heroine’s jealousy and insecurity.
Never have I believed a hero would crap all over a HEA like this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2011
Narrated by Angela Dawe
After listening to an hour of the newly released Justice, I was wondering more about the TSTL behavior of heroine Jessica Ford than the plot. She’s in the Secret Service’s witness protection program (of sorts) after witnessing the murder of the First Lady. Now that she is established with her new identity, she only takes the slightest of precautions and has more an attitude of “Why are you making me do this?” than anything else. But I digress because this is one good romantic suspense tale made even better in audio by Angela Dawe’s narration.
Mark Ryan is the Secret Service agent attempting to keep Jess safe – not an easy job. He’s also her former boyfriend and their established relationship (they called it quits only months before) was quite a plus as I felt an immediate connection between the two despite the fact that they were no longer an item. Mark pushes to keep Jess safe and give their relationship another chance while she pushes back (with good reason I might add).
But the suspense was, for the most part, just like I like it – with little to no gore and a true mystery. I had no idea of the villain’s identity and the mystery plays from three separate angles – all intriguing. Although there are a number of secondary characters, Mark and Jess’s relationship still receives ample attention – another requirement for my idea of a successful romantic suspense. The part I wasn’t too crazy about? The final suspense scene – Robards seemed to lose her originality.
Prior to Justice, my only experience with narrator Angela Dawe was Nalini Singh’s Slave to Sensation and I wasn’t overly impressed with her ability to distinguish characters. However, she won me over with Justice. Although I was unable to differentiate secondary female and male voices at times, I had no difficulty with Mark and Jess and, I must say, at times that’s all that matters to me. She understands Mark and Jess and is especially spot on with her performance of Mark. I had no doubt he was the character Robards intended him to be and that was evident with his first lines.
After I finished Justice and rushed off to Audible to find more of Robards’ romantic suspense backlist, I discovered that Justice is actually the sequel to Pursuit. I never guessed – Justice stands on its own that well. Robards’ website is not up to date so I can’t be sure of the fact but it appears that Mark and Jess will have at least one more book (The Jessica Ford Series). A few unsolved bits remain here although I was quite satisfied with the ending. I’m definitely backing up and listening to Pursuit.
Review written for the 8/29/11 Speaking of Audiobooks column. http://www.likesbooks.com/blog/?p=692...
After listening to an hour of the newly released Justice, I was wondering more about the TSTL behavior of heroine Jessica Ford than the plot. She’s in the Secret Service’s witness protection program (of sorts) after witnessing the murder of the First Lady. Now that she is established with her new identity, she only takes the slightest of precautions and has more an attitude of “Why are you making me do this?” than anything else. But I digress because this is one good romantic suspense tale made even better in audio by Angela Dawe’s narration.
Mark Ryan is the Secret Service agent attempting to keep Jess safe – not an easy job. He’s also her former boyfriend and their established relationship (they called it quits only months before) was quite a plus as I felt an immediate connection between the two despite the fact that they were no longer an item. Mark pushes to keep Jess safe and give their relationship another chance while she pushes back (with good reason I might add).
But the suspense was, for the most part, just like I like it – with little to no gore and a true mystery. I had no idea of the villain’s identity and the mystery plays from three separate angles – all intriguing. Although there are a number of secondary characters, Mark and Jess’s relationship still receives ample attention – another requirement for my idea of a successful romantic suspense. The part I wasn’t too crazy about? The final suspense scene – Robards seemed to lose her originality.
Prior to Justice, my only experience with narrator Angela Dawe was Nalini Singh’s Slave to Sensation and I wasn’t overly impressed with her ability to distinguish characters. However, she won me over with Justice. Although I was unable to differentiate secondary female and male voices at times, I had no difficulty with Mark and Jess and, I must say, at times that’s all that matters to me. She understands Mark and Jess and is especially spot on with her performance of Mark. I had no doubt he was the character Robards intended him to be and that was evident with his first lines.
After I finished Justice and rushed off to Audible to find more of Robards’ romantic suspense backlist, I discovered that Justice is actually the sequel to Pursuit. I never guessed – Justice stands on its own that well. Robards’ website is not up to date so I can’t be sure of the fact but it appears that Mark and Jess will have at least one more book (The Jessica Ford Series). A few unsolved bits remain here although I was quite satisfied with the ending. I’m definitely backing up and listening to Pursuit.
Review written for the 8/29/11 Speaking of Audiobooks column. http://www.likesbooks.com/blog/?p=692...
October 26, 2016
Yorumuma öncelikle kitabı sevdiğimi söyleyerek başlamak istiyorum. Zaten puanımdan da anlaşılıyordur diye tahmin ediyorum. :D İçeriğe girmiyorum arka kapak yazısı konuyu gayet net özetliyor zaten.
Kitap ile ilgili sevdiğim noktalar:
1- Sonuna kadar sürükledi, yani yarısında beni sıkmadı (çok şükür)
2- Yazarın yazım tarzını çok beğendim. Keşke daha çok kitabı çevrilse.
3- Karakterleri sevdim. Özellikle Jess'i. Güçlü ve akıllı bir kadındı çünkü.
Kitap ile ilgili sevmediğim noktalar:
1- Sonu! O kadar oku oku sonu böyle saçma bağlansın. Açıkçası hayal kırıklığı yarattı sonu bende ama bu bütün olarak kitabı beğenmeme engel mi? Değil.
2- Mark tarafında olanlar çok es geçilmişti. Onun olduğu kısımlar çok azdı, daha çok olmasını isterdim.
Bunları söyledikten sonra küçük bir özet yorum niteliğinde şunları söylemek istiyorum; kitabı beğendim ve kalın olduğu halde kendini güzel okuttu. Aşk kısmına çok düşmemişler, ayarında vermişler yani o yüzden bu konuda da sıkıntı yoktu. Dediğim gibi sonu beni biraz hayal kırıklığına uğrattı. Böyle polisiye romanlarından içinde azıcık da olsa aşk barındıran romanları seviyorsanız bunu da beğenirsiniz. Bu tür sevenlere tavsiyemdir.
Not: Kitap biraz geç bitti ama bu kitaptan değil benden kaynaklanıyordu. Belirteyim:D
Kitap ile ilgili sevdiğim noktalar:
1- Sonuna kadar sürükledi, yani yarısında beni sıkmadı (çok şükür)
2- Yazarın yazım tarzını çok beğendim. Keşke daha çok kitabı çevrilse.
3- Karakterleri sevdim. Özellikle Jess'i. Güçlü ve akıllı bir kadındı çünkü.
Kitap ile ilgili sevmediğim noktalar:
1- Sonu! O kadar oku oku sonu böyle saçma bağlansın. Açıkçası hayal kırıklığı yarattı sonu bende ama bu bütün olarak kitabı beğenmeme engel mi? Değil.
2- Mark tarafında olanlar çok es geçilmişti. Onun olduğu kısımlar çok azdı, daha çok olmasını isterdim.
Bunları söyledikten sonra küçük bir özet yorum niteliğinde şunları söylemek istiyorum; kitabı beğendim ve kalın olduğu halde kendini güzel okuttu. Aşk kısmına çok düşmemişler, ayarında vermişler yani o yüzden bu konuda da sıkıntı yoktu. Dediğim gibi sonu beni biraz hayal kırıklığına uğrattı. Böyle polisiye romanlarından içinde azıcık da olsa aşk barındıran romanları seviyorsanız bunu da beğenirsiniz. Bu tür sevenlere tavsiyemdir.
Not: Kitap biraz geç bitti ama bu kitaptan değil benden kaynaklanıyordu. Belirteyim:D
December 3, 2012
This book opens with Jessica Ford, the heroine of 'Pursuit,' in unofficial witness protection by the Secret Service. This consists of Jessica dying her hair blonde, swapping her glasses for contacts, and changing her name to Jessica Dean and continuing to practice law at a high profile law firm in her home town of Washington D.C.
Really?
Why not just put a target on her back and shout, "Come get her!" through a bullhorn from the top of the Washington Monument. But you know that won't happen. We can't have the heroine get her brains splattered all over the street.
Actually, Ms. Robards version of the Secret Service should be the ones gunned down for coming up with such a stupid idea in the first place.
This book, like the first, is loaded with Ms. Robard's cringe-inducing imagery. "...the shelf life of a mosquito bite" is just one example.
And again she offers an endless supply of hearts thudding against ribs and chattering teeth and dry mouths and throat closings and stomachs twisting into knots to describe fear (over and over and over and over!) until the reader is numb to them.
Hopefully, this is the last we'll see of Jessica Ford/Dean. Or does Ms. Robards have another lame witness protection/alias trey up her sleeve? I hope not.
Really?
Why not just put a target on her back and shout, "Come get her!" through a bullhorn from the top of the Washington Monument. But you know that won't happen. We can't have the heroine get her brains splattered all over the street.
Actually, Ms. Robards version of the Secret Service should be the ones gunned down for coming up with such a stupid idea in the first place.
This book, like the first, is loaded with Ms. Robard's cringe-inducing imagery. "...the shelf life of a mosquito bite" is just one example.
And again she offers an endless supply of hearts thudding against ribs and chattering teeth and dry mouths and throat closings and stomachs twisting into knots to describe fear (over and over and over and over!) until the reader is numb to them.
Hopefully, this is the last we'll see of Jessica Ford/Dean. Or does Ms. Robards have another lame witness protection/alias trey up her sleeve? I hope not.
December 19, 2011
I won this book in a Goodreads give away.
Who in what government agency was out to kill Jess for being in the car when the first lady was killed? There seemed to be so much back story that I wondered if this was second in a series.
I finished the book but I had to make myself. I was frustrated with Jess for being so smart and so stupid at the same time. She knows someone might want to kill her but she is not going to take any procautions no matter what.
And what was the ghost part doing in this book?
Was I not paying attention or was the story just not all there? I don't care enough to go back and find out.
Who in what government agency was out to kill Jess for being in the car when the first lady was killed? There seemed to be so much back story that I wondered if this was second in a series.
I finished the book but I had to make myself. I was frustrated with Jess for being so smart and so stupid at the same time. She knows someone might want to kill her but she is not going to take any procautions no matter what.
And what was the ghost part doing in this book?
Was I not paying attention or was the story just not all there? I don't care enough to go back and find out.
November 28, 2018
So many points that ruined it for me:
new version of witness protetion
1. dye your hair
2. exchange glasses for cantacts
3. change your lastname
DONE! Oh gosh come on
the Mark & Jessika thing
-they broke up - ok get it (and by the way good decision!)
-she is doing stupid stuff to show - I can take care of myself
-she is saying he is sooooo good looking... anything else you like about him sweety? no... but hey he is so good looking
- don#t let me get started about the secret service bullshit
- she behave like a fu**ing doormat
the plot...
it was lame and useless
new version of witness protetion
1. dye your hair
2. exchange glasses for cantacts
3. change your lastname
DONE! Oh gosh come on
the Mark & Jessika thing
-they broke up - ok get it (and by the way good decision!)
-she is doing stupid stuff to show - I can take care of myself
-she is saying he is sooooo good looking... anything else you like about him sweety? no... but hey he is so good looking
- don#t let me get started about the secret service bullshit
- she behave like a fu**ing doormat
the plot...
it was lame and useless
August 14, 2018
It was a gripping read from start to end. I looked forward to reading-time every day. There were plenty of dangerous plots, romance and families involved to give the story a solid level of plausibility. The suspense lingered heavily in the air which made my reading time very enjoyable. I do love books with lots of legal brews and definitely believe in karma!
I should have read book no 1 first but will now definitely go and find it to fill in all the blanks of this story line.
I should have read book no 1 first but will now definitely go and find it to fill in all the blanks of this story line.
March 31, 2018
Jessica Ford finds herself a murder target, but not sure why. She has found herself involved in various activities that could be the reason. Secret Service agent and ex-lover Mark is trying to keep her alive. Except for the fact that killing seems to be the only way to solve a problem, this was a good story. I like Robards, but this was not at the top of her list.
July 8, 2018
Very different from the first "Jessica Ford" book but just as fast-paced and suspenseful.
March 20, 2019
Another new-to-me author, Karen Robards....it occured to me while reading this book that there had been a previous one involving Secret Agent Mark Ryan and lawyer, Jessica Ford and Goodreads confirms that....wish I had read #1 first. Allthough I found this a rather exciting read, I don't like a lot of steamy sex scenes included so I have given it a 4 rather than a 5. The story line was interesting and scary to think that an overt branch of US security was trying to kill Jess because of what she knew about the murder of the First Lady (in the first book) or the fact that a very respectable and admired law firm will take on rich clients even though they know the client is gulty and will do anything....even murder....to appease them. I didn't suspect who the killers were until I was told right at the end of the story....a big surprise! I liked the way Robards cleaned up all the loose ends at the end of the story; no epilogue as such but the last two chapters did the same job.
April 10, 2024
Criminal Attorney, Jessica Ford, has been thrust into the limelight on a very big rape case. The trial ends with a shocking statement, and Jessica is in all the papers, but she had been in semi hiding, under a different last name, due to a case she was involved in, where the First Lady was killed in a car accident. Will the "bad guys" now try to take her out? Secret Service agent, Mark Ryan, who was also involved in the First Lady's accident incident, comes to Jessica's aid, but she doesn't think she is still in danger. Jessica and Mark had been romantically involved in the recent past, and she had ended it quickly, due to her fear of commitment. Can Mark protect her from anyone trying to hurt her? Will she allow him back into her life? Will Jessica's sisters allow Mark to be part of their family again? Two thumbs up!!!
June 13, 2021
I didn’t realize there was a first book, but it didn’t really need it if you want to jump in with this one and skip the first.
2.5 stars
Pros:
- tension between H & h is written well
- some plot twists
- suspense level was pretty good, ok story
Cons:
- not a big fan of the main characters (in particular the H’s *mild* cheating that caused their initial breakup & the h’s job defending scumbags and helping rapists get off scott-free
- the 1st book & the continuation of that potential shadowy govt plot line felt a bit unnecessary at times
Overall, could have been better - well written, problems with characters & storyline
2.5 stars
Pros:
- tension between H & h is written well
- some plot twists
- suspense level was pretty good, ok story
Cons:
- not a big fan of the main characters (in particular the H’s *mild* cheating that caused their initial breakup & the h’s job defending scumbags and helping rapists get off scott-free
- the 1st book & the continuation of that potential shadowy govt plot line felt a bit unnecessary at times
Overall, could have been better - well written, problems with characters & storyline
September 2, 2022
I enjoyed this, though the pacing was incredibly slow for the first 2/3 of the book (imo). The final third made up for a lot, however, and that raised my rating from 3.5 stars to 4.
It was fun to see Jess's sisters again, though Mark's assessment of them is spot on (they're all a mess, LOL). Still, All in all, I liked the ending third, but I don't know that I'd go through the rest of it again just for that.
It was fun to see Jess's sisters again, though Mark's assessment of them is spot on (they're all a mess, LOL). Still, All in all, I liked the ending third, but I don't know that I'd go through the rest of it again just for that.
October 22, 2024
The book pulls you in from the start. It already gets you thinking whether a character is trustworthy or not within the first few pages. After that, it keeps you hooked. If I didn't have other responsibilities, I wouldn't have put this book down. It was very hard to.
I'm not sure how I felt about the Jess & Mark relationship. The tension is there and it's obvious that they care about one another, but at one point it seemed that Mark was being dismissive about something Jess had seen and thar just didn't sit right with me.
Overall, I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would, I didn't know it's second in a series, I want to go back to read the first one now.
I'm not sure how I felt about the Jess & Mark relationship. The tension is there and it's obvious that they care about one another, but at one point it seemed that Mark was being dismissive about something Jess had seen and thar just didn't sit right with me.
Overall, I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would, I didn't know it's second in a series, I want to go back to read the first one now.
February 5, 2025
This one was a little lukewarm for me. Still pretty good, but a definite step down from the first one. The dialogue was good. The plot was kind of all over the place and a little rushed near the end. The characters were decidedly less rich. Jess’ motivations were iffy and the supporting cast was much less vibrant. Lots of loose ends. Also, what was with the ghost?
Boy did this book nerf Mark. There was a good chunk of time he was very off-putting. The breakup/get together was rather cheap, imo. The ending was satisfying, I kinda wish I could’ve sat with it for a bit. Overall, this book meandered in the strangest places and didn’t spend nearly enough time on the good stuff.
Boy did this book nerf Mark. There was a good chunk of time he was very off-putting. The breakup/get together was rather cheap, imo. The ending was satisfying, I kinda wish I could’ve sat with it for a bit. Overall, this book meandered in the strangest places and didn’t spend nearly enough time on the good stuff.
January 16, 2018
Criminal attorney, Jessica Ford, finds herself in danger as she delves into the disappearance of two women. Ex-boyfriend, Secret Service Agent Mark Ryan, shows up to keep her safe and together they solve another mystery with it's basis in politics. Along the way their broken relationship is healed and karma gets a little help.
October 22, 2019
I agree with the praise Karen Robarbs received on this book cover, in that she is a great story-teller. After hearing an interview with another non-associated author, regarding writers either approaching their work as either a gardener or an architect, I presume Karen may have planted a seed in this series, but structured #2 like an architect.
June 18, 2020
I am a fan of Karen Robards. This book started out great and had all the elements at the beginning to be a great book. It kinda of dragged in the middle. And she pulled all the elements (two lost teens, Allison's ghost, the family, and the senator) together and ended the book in the last 1/4th pages. It felt to me like she thought she had to end it in a hurry.
October 30, 2020
Justice
Love Jess and Mark. They are like two old people that love each other but have to play one up all the time. She loves him, he loves her but neither can totally commit to a life together. It doesn't help that people are always trying to kill her, and he has to rescue her. The path of true love for them is long and full of obstacles.
Love Jess and Mark. They are like two old people that love each other but have to play one up all the time. She loves him, he loves her but neither can totally commit to a life together. It doesn't help that people are always trying to kill her, and he has to rescue her. The path of true love for them is long and full of obstacles.
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