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Project Justice #4
Outside the Law
Mitch Delacroix is everything Beth McClelland likes in a man. Smart, good-looking and so very safe. She's this close to making her intentions known.Then Mitch is accused of murdering his best friend years ago. Suddenly his rebel past—including the criminal record—is revealed to everyone.
But something doesn't fit—the Mitch she knows couldn't possibly kill anyone. She's determined to find the truth. As a forensics expert, she's used to uncovering people's secrets. Yet she never expected Mitch could be hiding so many. Despite rising doubts, she'll help clear his name. Even if what she discovers could threaten their relationship…and their lives.
But something doesn't fit—the Mitch she knows couldn't possibly kill anyone. She's determined to find the truth. As a forensics expert, she's used to uncovering people's secrets. Yet she never expected Mitch could be hiding so many. Despite rising doubts, she'll help clear his name. Even if what she discovers could threaten their relationship…and their lives.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
About the author
Kara Lennox
112 books21 followersKara Lennox is the bestselling author of more than fifty published novels of romance and romantic suspense. She has been published by Silhouette and Bantam Books as Karen Leabo, and currently writes for the Harlequin American Romance, Silhouette Desire and Signature Select lines as Kara Lennox. Some of her more popular series for the American Romance line are How to Marry a Hardison and Blond Justice.
Prior to writing romance, Kara was a freelance writer with hundreds of magazine articles published, as well as brochures, press releases, advertisements and business plans. She has also earned a paycheck at various times as a magazine art director, a typesetter, an exercise instructor, a sales clerk for a boutique that was a front for laundering Mafia money (she found out later), a telephone survey-taker, and a blackjack dealer. But she's happiest now, living her dream as an author.
Kara's books are often cited for their groundbreaking, quirky or otherwise unusual subject matter. She has written about ostrich ranching, Mayan archeology, brain tumors, child abandonment, jewel theft, witchcraft and storm chasing—in addition to a full complement of cowboys, brides and babies.
Kara is a member of Romance Writers of America, Dallas Area Romance Authors and Chick Lit Writers of the World. She is a popular speaker and workshop presenter at writers' conferences around the country. She loves reader mail and answers all she can.
Prior to writing romance, Kara was a freelance writer with hundreds of magazine articles published, as well as brochures, press releases, advertisements and business plans. She has also earned a paycheck at various times as a magazine art director, a typesetter, an exercise instructor, a sales clerk for a boutique that was a front for laundering Mafia money (she found out later), a telephone survey-taker, and a blackjack dealer. But she's happiest now, living her dream as an author.
Kara's books are often cited for their groundbreaking, quirky or otherwise unusual subject matter. She has written about ostrich ranching, Mayan archeology, brain tumors, child abandonment, jewel theft, witchcraft and storm chasing—in addition to a full complement of cowboys, brides and babies.
Kara is a member of Romance Writers of America, Dallas Area Romance Authors and Chick Lit Writers of the World. She is a popular speaker and workshop presenter at writers' conferences around the country. She loves reader mail and answers all she can.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 31, 2014
I had never read anything by Ms. Lennox, but I believe I shall look for more of her work. I enjoyed the depth and complexity of her characters. Mitch Delacroix was the "perfect man" in Beth McClelland's eyes, but he hid a past from her and his fellow co-workers.
Mitch's early life had been filled with beatings from his abusive father and a seeming abandonment by his own mother. He carried that anger and frustration into adulthood, too. Thankfully, he found an outlet in the Mixed Martial Arts arena. There, he was able to work out his frustrations within the confines of the cage, with a referee looking on. Beth would have been horrified to learn the truth.
Unfortunately, Mitch's past suddenly raises its ugly head. He is the prime suspect in a grisly murder, one which happened years ago. Even worse, the arresting officer is his own half-brother, a man Mitch learned to hate almost as much as his own father. Justice seems pretty far away in the lonely region of Coot's Bayou. To free himself, Mitch must learn to rely on Beth, Raleigh and those whose love and friendship he's afraid to trust.
This is a story about growth, for Mitch and for Beth, too. Beth put Mitch up on a pedestal, but he was a flesh and blood man, one with many facets. Some, Beth liked and admired. The others, Beth found difficult to accept. Yet, if you love someone - really love someone - you have to take the good and the bad together.
Mitch's early life had been filled with beatings from his abusive father and a seeming abandonment by his own mother. He carried that anger and frustration into adulthood, too. Thankfully, he found an outlet in the Mixed Martial Arts arena. There, he was able to work out his frustrations within the confines of the cage, with a referee looking on. Beth would have been horrified to learn the truth.
Unfortunately, Mitch's past suddenly raises its ugly head. He is the prime suspect in a grisly murder, one which happened years ago. Even worse, the arresting officer is his own half-brother, a man Mitch learned to hate almost as much as his own father. Justice seems pretty far away in the lonely region of Coot's Bayou. To free himself, Mitch must learn to rely on Beth, Raleigh and those whose love and friendship he's afraid to trust.
This is a story about growth, for Mitch and for Beth, too. Beth put Mitch up on a pedestal, but he was a flesh and blood man, one with many facets. Some, Beth liked and admired. The others, Beth found difficult to accept. Yet, if you love someone - really love someone - you have to take the good and the bad together.
March 9, 2012
I liked the premise but the execution didn't work for me. Too many things were glossed over and there was only one small twist that I didn't see coming.
No progress was made in the heroine dealing with her previous abusive relationship even though her "trained" reactions were key to the book. She lectured others but made an impossible leap at the end when she went from abhorring violence to taking martial arts classes and cheering the hero during a MMA.
The hero didn't suffer any consequences from violating his parole even with people in town recognizing his alter ego and the video up on Youtube.
I knew who the murderer was within the first few chapters and some of the coincidences were a bit too neat.
No progress was made in the heroine dealing with her previous abusive relationship even though her "trained" reactions were key to the book. She lectured others but made an impossible leap at the end when she went from abhorring violence to taking martial arts classes and cheering the hero during a MMA.
The hero didn't suffer any consequences from violating his parole even with people in town recognizing his alter ego and the video up on Youtube.
I knew who the murderer was within the first few chapters and some of the coincidences were a bit too neat.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2012
Very good book. I liked Mitch in the previous books. He seemed like such a sweet, nerdy kind of guy. And he is -- but he's also much more. When he's accused of murdering his best friend years ago, Beth knows there's no way he could have done it. She and the rest of the team start investigating to clear his name. But as more things from his past come to light, she begins to think she doesn't know him at all. Beth irritated me just a bit. I know she had issues with violence because of her abusive ex-boyfriend, but it bugged me that she couldn't see the differences between him and Mitch's MMA activities. I think Mitch could have avoided some of his problems if he hadn't kept that part of his life secret. I loved the conclusion, and the epilogue was fantastic.
March 13, 2012
Lennox delivers on another Project Justice title. This time, Louisiana-style. Who wouldn't lose their heart to the Cajun underdog?
January 23, 2014
Cheesy but overall a good quick read. Perfect fo rthe bus ride on the way to work or to take a few minutes at lunch!
July 21, 2015
Good read. I've enjoyed most everything Lennox writes. This is a story from her Project Justice series. Hero is a computer geek with a wild teen life who secretly participates in MMA cage fights. Heroine is a CSI type who is terrified of violence, but has the hots for the hero. His childhood wildness comes back to bite him when he is charged with the death of an old friend who disappeared after a car theft joyride.
This one had some stuff about Houston I find really unlikely--the abandoned oil field inside the city limits-- I don't believe oil has ever been found in Houston, not even back when I was in junior high and high school and lived here. They've explored, but I don't think any was ever found. Nor do I find cattle in pastures near Hobby Airport very plausible. I remember cow pastures when I was a kid, driving between our house in Sharpstown to my aunt's house in Memorial, but that was an undeveloped area back then. Around Hobby, it's an older, much more developed, more expensive part of town. Also, cows don't like airplane noise.
However, I think it more likely that the powers that be urged her to make the story more "Texas." Even though most of it takes place in Louisiana. Because everybody knows there are cows and oil wells in the back yard, even in a city of 4 million people. Sigh.
This one had some stuff about Houston I find really unlikely--the abandoned oil field inside the city limits-- I don't believe oil has ever been found in Houston, not even back when I was in junior high and high school and lived here. They've explored, but I don't think any was ever found. Nor do I find cattle in pastures near Hobby Airport very plausible. I remember cow pastures when I was a kid, driving between our house in Sharpstown to my aunt's house in Memorial, but that was an undeveloped area back then. Around Hobby, it's an older, much more developed, more expensive part of town. Also, cows don't like airplane noise.
However, I think it more likely that the powers that be urged her to make the story more "Texas." Even though most of it takes place in Louisiana. Because everybody knows there are cows and oil wells in the back yard, even in a city of 4 million people. Sigh.
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December 27, 2014Miniseries: Project Justice
Category: Heart & Home
Category: Heart & Home
Read
December 27, 2014Miniseries: Project Justice
Category: Heart & Home
Category: Heart & Home
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews