Exit Wounds

by V.K. Powell

Police officer Loane Landry gives up professionally and emotionally when gunrunners kill her lover in an explosion. She blames herself and vows to seek answers and revenge—in or outside the law. Good guys never win, and bad guys never pay. But when the woman she loved returns very much alive and in desperate need of help, Loane must decide if she can endure the pain and memories of deceit in order to keep them both alive.

ATF confidential informant Abigail Mancuso is charged with gathering information on a gunrunning syndicate camouflaged as a gentlemen’s entertainment business. Before arrests are made, something goes terribly wrong, and Abby is forced into a deep cover assignment for which she is unprepared. The only person she trusts is the woman she lied to about everything. How can she put Loane’s life at risk by asking for her help?

Genres: Lesbian, Romance, Crime, Mystery, Suspense, LGBT, Mystery Thriller

264 pages, Paperback

First published August 11, 2013

About the author

As a thirty-year law enforcement veteran, VK Powell brings a rare level of authenticity to her novels of romantic intrigue. Her career spanned numerous positions including beat cop, homicide detective, vice/narcotics lieutenant, and assistant chief of police. Now retired, VK infuses her writing with the wealth of experience she gained in police work.

VK is a member of the Romance Writers of America, Rainbow Romance Writers, and the Golden Crown Literary Society. She has penned several novels and short stories featuring strong women who struggle with the timeless question: can you really have it all?

Reviews

[Diane Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent crime story: fascinating,intense,enjoyable,complicated lovers and good writing from the first page to last page...recommend to everyone

[Diane Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent crime story..fascinating,intense,enjoyable,complicated lovers and good writing from first page to the last...recommend

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 to 4* I love books with police, crime, and romance. This book is a bit different from others I've read. First off, we start the book in the middle of the undercover operations. Then we get to know Abby and Loane as events unfold around them. It's a bit convoluted but not in a bad way. V.K. Powell was a cop, so the scenes are quite realistic and well-written. There's tension where I was afraid for the safety of the protagonists. The romance is hot and steamy. I thought the ending would be more predictable, but it still managed to surprise me.

[Jem · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first VK Powell novel and I love it. Hot leads. Interesting and fairly complicated case. Excellent police procedural overall. Highly recommended for fans of this genre. I only have one teeny weeny gripe--the book blurb could have been less revealing.

4.5 stars

[Kexx · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the build up, first 50% of the book, Vi was a brilliant secondary character, but the story all became convoluted and sort of lost me. It came together at the end but felt too contrived for me.

[Justina Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating and complicated characters materialize, morph, and sometimes disappear testing the passionate yet nascent love of the book’s focal pair. I was so totally glued to and amazed by the intricate layers that continued to materialize like an active volcano…dangerous and deadly until the last mystery is revealed. This book goes into my super special category. Please don’t miss it.

Abby is the heart and soul of this story. She has several other names, but that goes with the territory of her undercover duties. She plays the role of several lifetimes to near perfection with swords of Damocles constantly materializing over her head. She is one smart woman in love, in near constant danger, quite resourceful but capable of being sorely tested and hurt. She won my heart hands down.

Loane Landry is a cop. She carries some incredibly painful scars and a big sense of personal responsibility. She is good at what she does and has the most fascinating set of mental exercises to calm her, to focus her, and to distance her. Her pain splashes across the pages of this book raising the intensity levels over and over again. When she can get out of her own way, she is a passionate lover and good friend. I prayed for her restitution. Abby loves her so I did to.

This book is really special. The lovers are unbelievably distinctive. The story levels are incredibly intense yet beautifully interwoven. For me, it is a complete winner. Enjoy!



NOTE: This book was provided by Bold Strokes Books for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. The premise for this story is interesting and the book contains quite a bit of action. There are a lot of tense moments when Loane and Abby are dealing with members of the crime family and one never really knows if their covers are blown. As the story progresses and they get deeper into the situation, it starts to feel like at any moment, they'll find themselves staring straight down the barrel of a gun.

The biggest issue with the book for me is how it starts off. The opening scene is between Loane and Abby as Abby is finishing up her undercover work one night. The two women are already into their relationship and at the point of having problems if they don't discuss their feelings for one another. I almost felt like I was thrown into the middle of the story and found myself confused by some of what was happening. I didn't really feel comfortable with who everyone was and what was happening until after the explosion. It is possible this was the author's intent because Loane and Abby seem to be in a state of confusion at the start of the story. That emotion definitely rubbed off on me!

Overall this is a fast paced read with a decent amount of action and lovers of cop stories will probably enjoy it.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it, very fast paste and kept me on my toes. There was always something happening and it not only interested me but kept me laughing. I loved reading this book and I highly recommend it.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a pretty good book. It had me going in circles. I didn't know who to trust besides the two main characters. It bogged down in some places where I just lost interest, but I finished it. I enjoyed the ending where everyone gets what they deserve.

[Mirtha Siblesz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

What a great and suspenseful story! It had me glued from the get go till the very end. It had an interesting twist at the end. Well done!

[Melissa B · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hmmm

I like cop stories, especially ones that have women (lesbians) as the cop. This character seemed too much of a rookie to be on an inter agenda operation and even for her own surveillance when she took leave. I like the story line but something's were unbelievable and of course I thought there would be a bit more romance. But oh well

[MJC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only slightly obsessed with this authour right now....her stories are so on point with regard to the plot and the action but she always marries in the characters and the attractions and link the whole thing together to make a great story believeable and page turn [or kindly swipping].....highly recommen this book and opthers by the authour.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

better than some of her other books but still probably a 3.5 star rating.