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Special Investigations Group (SIG) #3
Shades of Passion
Shades of the past
Detective Simon Granger has devoted his life to solving high-risk cases, and he's vowed never again to get involved with a woman whose work is equally as dangerous. But when the Special Investigations Group teams him with a beautiful psychiatrist , his resolve is shattered by the tense and emotionally charged partnership....
Shades of intrigue
Determined to outrun the grief over her sister's death, Dr. Nina Whitaker reluctantly agrees to use her training to help the police. Despite Detective Granger's disdain for her profession, she believes she can change his mind. But then a grieving father begins a deadly game of revenge, threatening Nina's life, challenging her beliefs, and drawing Nina and Simon together in an explosive endgame of intrigue...and unstoppable passion.
Shades of passion...
Detective Simon Granger has devoted his life to solving high-risk cases, and he's vowed never again to get involved with a woman whose work is equally as dangerous. But when the Special Investigations Group teams him with a beautiful psychiatrist , his resolve is shattered by the tense and emotionally charged partnership....
Shades of intrigue
Determined to outrun the grief over her sister's death, Dr. Nina Whitaker reluctantly agrees to use her training to help the police. Despite Detective Granger's disdain for her profession, she believes she can change his mind. But then a grieving father begins a deadly game of revenge, threatening Nina's life, challenging her beliefs, and drawing Nina and Simon together in an explosive endgame of intrigue...and unstoppable passion.
Shades of passion...
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
5 people are currently reading
294 people want to read
About the author
Virna DePaul
127 books989 followersA former prosecutor, Virna DePaul writes "heat, heart, & HEA" for Harlequin and Random House. She is also a bestselling Indie author, with Bedding The Wrong Brother being a top 100 contemporary romance on Amazon with over 150 5* reviews. www.virnadepaul.com
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
May 14, 2013
3 Stars...You will learn a lot about the homeless and mentally ill.
Two people reluctantly participate in an evaluation of SFPD’s handling of the homeless and mentally ill. Each has experienced profound grief from tragic circumstances beyond their control. Enter the serial killer.
Detective Simon Granger feels contempt for shrinks. There isn’t any time for understanding when an insane perpetrator is threatening the life of a hostage. A life is on the line. Dr. Nina Whitaker once worked with crisis patients. She thought she was making a difference until people died. It’s been safe working with the geriatric dementia patients, but her new boss burdens her with SFPD’s violent confrontation statistics and she’s partnered with a man who loathes her profession.
Serial killings of mentally ill people cause old feelings to resurface. Nina and Simon’s heated partnership becomes strained. It seems the killer has included them in his violent rampage.
A detective with an attitude haunted by a previous case; nothing new here, but the mystery is very well done. Virna dePaul is skilled at keeping the reader guessing. Considerable research seems to have been included. The plight of the mentally ill and homeless reflects an existing problem. There’s focus on panic disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. The issues, while very detailed and interesting, take away from the story’s momentum. Simon and Nina’s chemistry is strongest when they are in the bedroom. Readers who like dominant alpha men in the bedroom will be pleased, but compared to Shades of Desire the Passion’s hero and heroine’s interactions are lackluster. Their relationship makes the predictable twists and turns. They bicker. They simmer. They combust. Push…pull… longing. They were missing the‘something special’ to make them memorable. Also, a little more action to get the adrenaline going would have been appreciated. While still a pleasant mystery, including an arousing love scene, the hero and heroine fall a little short to make Shades of Passion a savory romance. Please note that this book is best read after book two, as events from that novel impact Detective Simon Granger.
ARC courtesy of Harlequin via Netgalley.
Two people reluctantly participate in an evaluation of SFPD’s handling of the homeless and mentally ill. Each has experienced profound grief from tragic circumstances beyond their control. Enter the serial killer.
Detective Simon Granger feels contempt for shrinks. There isn’t any time for understanding when an insane perpetrator is threatening the life of a hostage. A life is on the line. Dr. Nina Whitaker once worked with crisis patients. She thought she was making a difference until people died. It’s been safe working with the geriatric dementia patients, but her new boss burdens her with SFPD’s violent confrontation statistics and she’s partnered with a man who loathes her profession.
Serial killings of mentally ill people cause old feelings to resurface. Nina and Simon’s heated partnership becomes strained. It seems the killer has included them in his violent rampage.
A detective with an attitude haunted by a previous case; nothing new here, but the mystery is very well done. Virna dePaul is skilled at keeping the reader guessing. Considerable research seems to have been included. The plight of the mentally ill and homeless reflects an existing problem. There’s focus on panic disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. The issues, while very detailed and interesting, take away from the story’s momentum. Simon and Nina’s chemistry is strongest when they are in the bedroom. Readers who like dominant alpha men in the bedroom will be pleased, but compared to Shades of Desire the Passion’s hero and heroine’s interactions are lackluster. Their relationship makes the predictable twists and turns. They bicker. They simmer. They combust. Push…pull… longing. They were missing the‘something special’ to make them memorable. Also, a little more action to get the adrenaline going would have been appreciated. While still a pleasant mystery, including an arousing love scene, the hero and heroine fall a little short to make Shades of Passion a savory romance. Please note that this book is best read after book two, as events from that novel impact Detective Simon Granger.
ARC courtesy of Harlequin via Netgalley.
April 1, 2013
Review also posted at
”Ms. Depaul did not disappoint, she delivered another excellent romantic suspense novel. Shades of Passion is a great addition to the SIG series.” ~Under The Covers
Ms. Depaul did not disappoint, she delivered another excellent romantic suspense novel. Shades of Passion is a great addition to the SIG series.
Detective Simon Granger and Dr. Nina Whitaker both had tragic losses that were related to mental illness. Unfortunately, their points of views are from opposite sides. Nina has devoted her life to helping the mentally ill with a focus on educating the police departments. Due to the loss of her sister and a patient, she had vowed to stay away from that part of her life and decided to do something else. Unfortunately, even with her move to San Francisco, some things are just unavoidable. On the opposite end, Simon is the old dog who refuses to learn new things. Because of his past, his stereotype of any criminals is set in stone. Fate has it in for them because they will have to work together on that very matter. When Nina’s life is threatened Simon will have to trust his instincts to save her. It will be complicated, it will be intense and it will be a matter of life and death. But in the end, their biggest challenge will be trust.
I really enjoyed this novel. The suspense kept me guessing until the end. Simon and Nina were awesome and sexy together. Simon is a very sexy, very dedicated detective…..and yes, I had to mention that he is sexy because, well, he just is. I thought Simon has the that “cop” persona of wanting to save everyone, an alpha to the bone. Nina is also strong minded. She is smart and she is a heroine that thrives on independence. I loved that about her. Cameos of the characters from the past book was of course a good treat. I’m guessing Demarco’s story will be next. There was quite a build up on his character in this book. I can’t wait to see what is eating at him and I am excited to meet the heroine who will pull him out of the edge of breakdown.
*ARC provided by publisher
”Ms. Depaul did not disappoint, she delivered another excellent romantic suspense novel. Shades of Passion is a great addition to the SIG series.” ~Under The Covers
Ms. Depaul did not disappoint, she delivered another excellent romantic suspense novel. Shades of Passion is a great addition to the SIG series.
Detective Simon Granger and Dr. Nina Whitaker both had tragic losses that were related to mental illness. Unfortunately, their points of views are from opposite sides. Nina has devoted her life to helping the mentally ill with a focus on educating the police departments. Due to the loss of her sister and a patient, she had vowed to stay away from that part of her life and decided to do something else. Unfortunately, even with her move to San Francisco, some things are just unavoidable. On the opposite end, Simon is the old dog who refuses to learn new things. Because of his past, his stereotype of any criminals is set in stone. Fate has it in for them because they will have to work together on that very matter. When Nina’s life is threatened Simon will have to trust his instincts to save her. It will be complicated, it will be intense and it will be a matter of life and death. But in the end, their biggest challenge will be trust.
I really enjoyed this novel. The suspense kept me guessing until the end. Simon and Nina were awesome and sexy together. Simon is a very sexy, very dedicated detective…..and yes, I had to mention that he is sexy because, well, he just is. I thought Simon has the that “cop” persona of wanting to save everyone, an alpha to the bone. Nina is also strong minded. She is smart and she is a heroine that thrives on independence. I loved that about her. Cameos of the characters from the past book was of course a good treat. I’m guessing Demarco’s story will be next. There was quite a build up on his character in this book. I can’t wait to see what is eating at him and I am excited to meet the heroine who will pull him out of the edge of breakdown.
*ARC provided by publisher
April 7, 2013
This is book 3 in the Special Investigations Group series or SIG as it is often referred to in the books. We met Simon in book one and got a little more of him in book two when the woman he had been involved with was murdered. Now he finds himself face to face with a woman who looks quite a bit like Lana, the woman he lost and she is a psychiatrist as well just like Lana. Now what? He's stuck with her shadowing him on the job but being close to her is dangerous for various reasons he doesn't want to think about to closely. Nina doesn't really want to shadow Simon she is a giver though and is guilted into helping out her boss to shadow Simon and observe the how the police deal with suspects who suffer from mental illness. Both Simon and Nina have things in their pasts they are struggling with. Simon's ex-girlfriends murder and Nina's sisters suicide and the suicide of a young patient a few years ago. Unfortunately things turn deadly when homeless men turn up dead and with initials carved in their backs which looks like someone is after Nina. Simon thinks he knows who is doing it but things are not adding up after a while. This is is a raw thrill ride of suspense, mystery and murder. The author kept me guessing the whole book. I could never get a good bead on who the killer could be and was surprised at the outcome. Most times you can usually get idea where things are going but Virna DePaul doesn't even give you a inkling. All the books in this series are like this. The thriller/suspense part of this book is in full evidence in this book but the romantic sexy side is equally delicious.
April 10, 2013
Okay - I preordered this book thinking it was in another series by the author - BUT, I LOVED it! There were so many possibilities who the bad guy was, that I was totally blown away by WHO it was. It is always a special joy to find a series by an author you've read that you were totally unaware of. I'm currently debating buying the earlier books. That doesn't mean I couldn't follow who was who, or there were things that "you need to read the entire series to get" - because the book is completely self contained. You don't have to read the first 2 books to become completely drawn into this story and follow it to its surprisng and satisfying conclusion. If you like Romantic Suspense - it's a really GREAT one!
April 30, 2013
The third book in the SIG series was an OK read.
Both the characters - Simon and Nina were strong characters with strong personalities. I enjoyed their characters.
Suspense was not much interesting , but was fine as a sub plot of the book. There were lot of technical psychiatric conversations...at a point, was bit dragging but knowledgeable.
Is there any book for DeMarco?
Both the characters - Simon and Nina were strong characters with strong personalities. I enjoyed their characters.
Suspense was not much interesting , but was fine as a sub plot of the book. There were lot of technical psychiatric conversations...at a point, was bit dragging but knowledgeable.
Is there any book for DeMarco?
December 12, 2019
WOW! Virna DePaul delivers another thrilling stunner with this book! Filled with intense, climactic drama I could not put this book down!!
Simon Granger has experienced all the emotional drama he can handle so he is devoting his life to his career. But after the woman he loved was murdered he has decided to move into management instead of working daily as a Department of Justice special agent. But first he must solve this current case, and it seems another shrink is going to be involved with this one. After losing Lana will he be able to work along side Dr. Nina Whitaker? And will he be able to solve the murders that seem to revolve around the gorgeous psychiatrist before evil comes for her?
Nina Whitaker has her hands full trying to help the local SFPD realize their cops need better training when dealing with the mentally challenged. After the loss she has already experienced, it isn't what she wanted, but she can't turn her back when new murders seem to evolve around her past. Working with the handsome special agent Simon Granger, who seems to distrust everything psychiatrists stand for, may be a hardship in more ways than one when feelings for the man develop. But a killer is on the loose and the two will have to set aside their feelings and annimosity before some one else ends up dead.
Simon Granger has experienced all the emotional drama he can handle so he is devoting his life to his career. But after the woman he loved was murdered he has decided to move into management instead of working daily as a Department of Justice special agent. But first he must solve this current case, and it seems another shrink is going to be involved with this one. After losing Lana will he be able to work along side Dr. Nina Whitaker? And will he be able to solve the murders that seem to revolve around the gorgeous psychiatrist before evil comes for her?
Nina Whitaker has her hands full trying to help the local SFPD realize their cops need better training when dealing with the mentally challenged. After the loss she has already experienced, it isn't what she wanted, but she can't turn her back when new murders seem to evolve around her past. Working with the handsome special agent Simon Granger, who seems to distrust everything psychiatrists stand for, may be a hardship in more ways than one when feelings for the man develop. But a killer is on the loose and the two will have to set aside their feelings and annimosity before some one else ends up dead.
August 8, 2020
If you're a fan of romantic suspense, you should read the entire Special Investigations Group series. The action is fast and high-staked, the romance is heart-pounding and steamy, and the characters are amazing. I read pretty much everything this author writes and this is one of my favorite series of hers. One of the things I love about the series is that both the heroes and the heroines are incredibly strong, just in different ways, and they complement each other while their combined strengths and skills are exactly what is needed to solve the crime. Buy this amazing series. You won't regret it.
April 2, 2013
SIG Lead Detective Simon Granger and Nina Whitaker met at a hospital in San Francisco where she worked as a Psychiatrist. Simon was leaving a mandatory session with a therapist when he received an urgent call that a mentally ill child kidnapper was being held in the Emergency Room in the same hospital. He tried to get back in to the therapist office but all outside doors were locked and the receptionist was gone, however at the same time Nina was leaving her office and he grabbed her by the arm and asked if she was a doctor and she replied she was indeed a Psychiatrist. He held her arm all the way to the emergency room barely telling her what was going on and would not let her go until they reached the room where the man was being held. The patient had been abused by the police, so Nina insisted she speak with him alone. Within an hour she was able to find out where the diabetic little girl was hidden.
One of the reasons Simon was in therapy was because mentally ill homeless men were being murdered and left in Golden Gate Park with initials carved in their backs and a witness had identified a policeman as the murderer. However when questioned by Simon she recanted her story, but after several other murders with similar circumstances other witnesses began to come forward Nina had moved to San Francisco from Charlotte SC where she had worked with mentally ill children and teenagers and after one of her patients committed suicide she decided to change her specialty to geriatric dementia patients. Also in South Carolina, Nina had worked with a Task force with the police department to help train police officers on how to recognize and deal more civilly with the mentally ill street people. Her new boss was encouraging her to do the same with the San Francisco PD. She hesitated, not that she couldn’t do it because she’d done it before, but because she wasn’t certain she was mentally up to the challenge herself.
The initials carved on the backs of the homeless men we BD which were the initials of the teenage patient of Nina’s who had committed suicide three years ago and she was certain the murders had something to do with her. There were other factors as yet unknown that pointed in several other directions and to other people being responsible. As Simon and Nina worked together on a daily basis he found that he was very much drawn to her and wanted more than anything to protect her from harm. The same was for her, except she thought by staying away from him would protect him more than being with her. There are several very angry people involved in this case. Which one is responsible for these very unnecessary deaths?
Virna DePaul has written a very intriguing intertwined novel that captures the imagination and holds it until the very end. Shades of Passion is very well written and each character, both primary and secondary plays a substantial part and was written in very intuitively. From the Director of the SFPD, the father of Beth Davenport in SC, to the directors of the homeless shelters where the victims stayed, and all the other police officers who worked with the department did their part in carrying the story along.
I very much enjoyed reading this book and seriously could hardly put it down. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in suspense with a little romance thrown in. Now the question remains, will Simon and his partner DiMarco be able to save Nina from the people who are trying to harm them and keep themselves alive also?
- Diane
One of the reasons Simon was in therapy was because mentally ill homeless men were being murdered and left in Golden Gate Park with initials carved in their backs and a witness had identified a policeman as the murderer. However when questioned by Simon she recanted her story, but after several other murders with similar circumstances other witnesses began to come forward Nina had moved to San Francisco from Charlotte SC where she had worked with mentally ill children and teenagers and after one of her patients committed suicide she decided to change her specialty to geriatric dementia patients. Also in South Carolina, Nina had worked with a Task force with the police department to help train police officers on how to recognize and deal more civilly with the mentally ill street people. Her new boss was encouraging her to do the same with the San Francisco PD. She hesitated, not that she couldn’t do it because she’d done it before, but because she wasn’t certain she was mentally up to the challenge herself.
The initials carved on the backs of the homeless men we BD which were the initials of the teenage patient of Nina’s who had committed suicide three years ago and she was certain the murders had something to do with her. There were other factors as yet unknown that pointed in several other directions and to other people being responsible. As Simon and Nina worked together on a daily basis he found that he was very much drawn to her and wanted more than anything to protect her from harm. The same was for her, except she thought by staying away from him would protect him more than being with her. There are several very angry people involved in this case. Which one is responsible for these very unnecessary deaths?
Virna DePaul has written a very intriguing intertwined novel that captures the imagination and holds it until the very end. Shades of Passion is very well written and each character, both primary and secondary plays a substantial part and was written in very intuitively. From the Director of the SFPD, the father of Beth Davenport in SC, to the directors of the homeless shelters where the victims stayed, and all the other police officers who worked with the department did their part in carrying the story along.
I very much enjoyed reading this book and seriously could hardly put it down. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in suspense with a little romance thrown in. Now the question remains, will Simon and his partner DiMarco be able to save Nina from the people who are trying to harm them and keep themselves alive also?
- Diane
April 8, 2013
Virna DePaul's Shades of Passion - Very Solid Sequel to Shades of Desire
Let me start by saying that back on January 13 I gave Virna DePaul's Shades of Desire a 3.0 (out of 4), even though I was leaning toward a 3.5. And the reason was a few spots where I thought the writing was a little confusing. Well, that certainly didn't happen in Shades of Passion. I thought the writing was better throughout. This is a solid 3.5. Nice job, Virna!
Shades of Passion is another book from Harlequin's romantic suspense imprint (HQN). I know I've said this before, but I really like this genre of book. There's heavy romance (if you catch my drift), but it's always wrapped up in a suspenseful story line. Way to go, Harlequin (this must be my cheerleading day)!
This story centers around a different SIG member, Simon Granger, than the one we saw in Desire. If you recall, SIG is the state equivalent of the FBI. The SIG aids local police forces (in this case, SFPD) when there's a conflict of interest or in particularly complex cases. And also, if you recall, Shades of Desire was about Liam "Mac" McKenzie. Mac still makes an occasional appearance in this story, but it's a bit part. Moving right along...
Dr. Nina Whitaker is a psychiatrist who was instrumental in instituting a program back in South Carolina designed to help the police deal more humanely and effectively with the mentally ill. Due to the unfortunate death of a young woman under Nina's care, along with a tragedy from 20 years earlier in her own family, Nina decides to leave her practice behind and move cross-country. Even though she now deals only with geriatric dementia patients, her new boss, Karen, convinces Nina to help propose the same program with the SFPD that she put into effect in South Carolina. This puts her in direct contact with Simon. In fact, she is assigned to shadow Simon. And the sparks fly.
But wait. Things don't go that smoothly for Simon and Nina (you can't be surprised!). There are several people in the book that have axes to grind - and grind away they do. I recently saw a movie, Safe Haven, based on a Nicholas Sparks' book. Julianne Hough travels from one coast to the other to get away from an abusive boyfriend (she also colors her hair - that should fool him!). She falls for Josh Duhamel, and they live happily ever after - or do they? Obviously, the boyfriend is not content to stay on his coast. I tell you this because it's exactly what is meant by romantic suspense. I liked Sparks' version, and I like DePaul's version.
There's one more element of the book that I want to mention. There's a lot of discussion about mental illness and how the police deal with it, especially when it relates to a tense law-breaking situation. It certainly seems like Virna has done extensive research on the topic. I'm hoping that I will have an opportunity at some point, since she is a local author, to talk to her about that. I thought that this was a particularly impressive showcasing of the disease as it relates to the police. Is it accurate? Beats me. But it sure does seem to be.
Let me start by saying that back on January 13 I gave Virna DePaul's Shades of Desire a 3.0 (out of 4), even though I was leaning toward a 3.5. And the reason was a few spots where I thought the writing was a little confusing. Well, that certainly didn't happen in Shades of Passion. I thought the writing was better throughout. This is a solid 3.5. Nice job, Virna!
Shades of Passion is another book from Harlequin's romantic suspense imprint (HQN). I know I've said this before, but I really like this genre of book. There's heavy romance (if you catch my drift), but it's always wrapped up in a suspenseful story line. Way to go, Harlequin (this must be my cheerleading day)!
This story centers around a different SIG member, Simon Granger, than the one we saw in Desire. If you recall, SIG is the state equivalent of the FBI. The SIG aids local police forces (in this case, SFPD) when there's a conflict of interest or in particularly complex cases. And also, if you recall, Shades of Desire was about Liam "Mac" McKenzie. Mac still makes an occasional appearance in this story, but it's a bit part. Moving right along...
Dr. Nina Whitaker is a psychiatrist who was instrumental in instituting a program back in South Carolina designed to help the police deal more humanely and effectively with the mentally ill. Due to the unfortunate death of a young woman under Nina's care, along with a tragedy from 20 years earlier in her own family, Nina decides to leave her practice behind and move cross-country. Even though she now deals only with geriatric dementia patients, her new boss, Karen, convinces Nina to help propose the same program with the SFPD that she put into effect in South Carolina. This puts her in direct contact with Simon. In fact, she is assigned to shadow Simon. And the sparks fly.
But wait. Things don't go that smoothly for Simon and Nina (you can't be surprised!). There are several people in the book that have axes to grind - and grind away they do. I recently saw a movie, Safe Haven, based on a Nicholas Sparks' book. Julianne Hough travels from one coast to the other to get away from an abusive boyfriend (she also colors her hair - that should fool him!). She falls for Josh Duhamel, and they live happily ever after - or do they? Obviously, the boyfriend is not content to stay on his coast. I tell you this because it's exactly what is meant by romantic suspense. I liked Sparks' version, and I like DePaul's version.
There's one more element of the book that I want to mention. There's a lot of discussion about mental illness and how the police deal with it, especially when it relates to a tense law-breaking situation. It certainly seems like Virna has done extensive research on the topic. I'm hoping that I will have an opportunity at some point, since she is a local author, to talk to her about that. I thought that this was a particularly impressive showcasing of the disease as it relates to the police. Is it accurate? Beats me. But it sure does seem to be.
March 19, 2013
My Review:
A- rating...
This is a book that kept me guessing all the way through. At first, I wondered how in the world Virna DePaul was going to turn it into a romantic novel when the hero was so torn up about his former girlfriend's death, but then the last half of the novel was spent trying to figure out who in the world was the bad guy...btw, I never did figure it out until it was revealed in the novel. This book is a great romantic suspense. All the clues are there, but I was NEVER able to piece it all together because they were woven so beautifully into the story.
And what a story it is. Simon is part of the SIG team. Last year, his ex-girlfriend, Lana, was murdered in one of the other books from this series. It was shocking and horrifying, both to me as a reader and to Simon, the fictional character (I know, I know....but they are real to me...hehe). Her death was devastating to him because even though they broke up, he still loved her. This book takes place six (or maybe eight...I can't remember) months later and he's still having issues dealing with her death.
Then he meets Nina, a woman who is very similar to Lana in both her career and looks. For the first time in a long time, Simon feels the draw to another woman. BUT, and this is a big but, the exact same issues that Simon had with Lana about her career are there between him and Nina too. He does not understand the mental field and how doctor's can justify their patient's actions based upon mental state...in his cop's eyes, hurting someone else is wrong, no matter what the reason.
This is really just a masterfully woven story. Both Simon and Nina are complex characters. They both have their very real issues. Add to that: a serial killer who obviously has his own mental difficulties, several grieving souls, a new program for the police department to help them identify suspects with mental difficulties, and another cop on the verge of completely losing it... It really does weave in and out to keep you guessing. All the way through the book, I completely kept changing my mind about who was the real guilty party. I love a book that keeps me guessing like that.
Then there is the romantic story between Simon and Nina. Even though I didn't think I was going to be able to buy into it at first, Virna DePaul convinced me. They were a great couple with incredible chemistry. I loved how Simon transitioned and grew through this book. Nina had to face her own demons too. Constantly, the characters in this book were having to take a step back to take a good mental look at where they were. I loved that and the whole psychological aspect to it. It made for really interesting and entertaining reading.
I continue to love this series and the team from SIG. I cannot wait to read DeMarco's story. My heart hurt so much for him in this book....I want to see him in a happy place.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
A- rating...
This is a book that kept me guessing all the way through. At first, I wondered how in the world Virna DePaul was going to turn it into a romantic novel when the hero was so torn up about his former girlfriend's death, but then the last half of the novel was spent trying to figure out who in the world was the bad guy...btw, I never did figure it out until it was revealed in the novel. This book is a great romantic suspense. All the clues are there, but I was NEVER able to piece it all together because they were woven so beautifully into the story.
And what a story it is. Simon is part of the SIG team. Last year, his ex-girlfriend, Lana, was murdered in one of the other books from this series. It was shocking and horrifying, both to me as a reader and to Simon, the fictional character (I know, I know....but they are real to me...hehe). Her death was devastating to him because even though they broke up, he still loved her. This book takes place six (or maybe eight...I can't remember) months later and he's still having issues dealing with her death.
Then he meets Nina, a woman who is very similar to Lana in both her career and looks. For the first time in a long time, Simon feels the draw to another woman. BUT, and this is a big but, the exact same issues that Simon had with Lana about her career are there between him and Nina too. He does not understand the mental field and how doctor's can justify their patient's actions based upon mental state...in his cop's eyes, hurting someone else is wrong, no matter what the reason.
This is really just a masterfully woven story. Both Simon and Nina are complex characters. They both have their very real issues. Add to that: a serial killer who obviously has his own mental difficulties, several grieving souls, a new program for the police department to help them identify suspects with mental difficulties, and another cop on the verge of completely losing it... It really does weave in and out to keep you guessing. All the way through the book, I completely kept changing my mind about who was the real guilty party. I love a book that keeps me guessing like that.
Then there is the romantic story between Simon and Nina. Even though I didn't think I was going to be able to buy into it at first, Virna DePaul convinced me. They were a great couple with incredible chemistry. I loved how Simon transitioned and grew through this book. Nina had to face her own demons too. Constantly, the characters in this book were having to take a step back to take a good mental look at where they were. I loved that and the whole psychological aspect to it. It made for really interesting and entertaining reading.
I continue to love this series and the team from SIG. I cannot wait to read DeMarco's story. My heart hurt so much for him in this book....I want to see him in a happy place.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
March 14, 2013
Nina is on the run from her past. After the death of one of her patients and the subsequent fall out she flees to the other side of the country to start over again. She meets SIG Agent, Simon, who is running from his past as well. His ex girlfriend, a psychiatrist, was murdered 6 months ago by a man she was trying to help and he’s been trying to tell himself he’s fine ever since. He’s never dealt with the emotional aspect and now his work is starting to suffer.
When Nina starts getting threatened Simon must work to overcome his own issues in order to protect the woman he is coming to care deeply for. Her aspirations of working with the police to enact a supplemental department trained to handle people with mental illness, takes a back burner to the threats on her life.
Nina and Simon are forced to work together even though Simon’s deep rooted disdain for psychiatry keeps pushing them apart. They circle around the argument and return to it again and again. It’s what made seeing them as a couple hard to swallow. There was no getting past this issue and even at the end of the book I was left shaking my head because even though Simon does make strides to seeing Nina’s POV, they will never see eye to eye on the topic of mental illness. All Nina’s “doctor speak” at times could get a bit overbearing and I think that coupled with their constant arguments, brought the book down a bit for me. Simon himself could be overkill in his reactions to Nina’s profession. By the end it felt like they were beating a dead horse.
All the past characters make appearances in this one and I enjoyed seeing them all again. DeMarco (Simon’s partner) is set up nicely for the next book. His PTSD from difficult case will play an integral role I assume as he learns to get past it and move on. I actually thought that given how much page time he got that we’d learn a bit more about him. He seemed on the very edge of a mental breakdown but then really nothing happened. It was a bit odd for it all to be laid out there if nothing was going to come of it yet.
The best part of Shades Of Passion was that I never saw the ending coming. I never put two and two together and so this one kept me guessing until the end with who was involved. I love a suspense that surprises me in the end and Shades Of Passion definitely got me there.
I give Shades of Passion by Virna DePaul 3 stars!
When Nina starts getting threatened Simon must work to overcome his own issues in order to protect the woman he is coming to care deeply for. Her aspirations of working with the police to enact a supplemental department trained to handle people with mental illness, takes a back burner to the threats on her life.
Nina and Simon are forced to work together even though Simon’s deep rooted disdain for psychiatry keeps pushing them apart. They circle around the argument and return to it again and again. It’s what made seeing them as a couple hard to swallow. There was no getting past this issue and even at the end of the book I was left shaking my head because even though Simon does make strides to seeing Nina’s POV, they will never see eye to eye on the topic of mental illness. All Nina’s “doctor speak” at times could get a bit overbearing and I think that coupled with their constant arguments, brought the book down a bit for me. Simon himself could be overkill in his reactions to Nina’s profession. By the end it felt like they were beating a dead horse.
All the past characters make appearances in this one and I enjoyed seeing them all again. DeMarco (Simon’s partner) is set up nicely for the next book. His PTSD from difficult case will play an integral role I assume as he learns to get past it and move on. I actually thought that given how much page time he got that we’d learn a bit more about him. He seemed on the very edge of a mental breakdown but then really nothing happened. It was a bit odd for it all to be laid out there if nothing was going to come of it yet.
The best part of Shades Of Passion was that I never saw the ending coming. I never put two and two together and so this one kept me guessing until the end with who was involved. I love a suspense that surprises me in the end and Shades Of Passion definitely got me there.
I give Shades of Passion by Virna DePaul 3 stars!
February 27, 2013
Shades of Passion is the third book in Virna DePaul’s romantic suspense series. The SIG, Special Investigations Group is part of the California Department of Justice. The series focus is on the men and women of the group and the crimes they are investigating. I think one could easily read the books in this series as stand-alone novels. The roles the characters of the previous books play would just make the reader curious about them, thus to go back and read their book. The events of the previous books do not carry over into the next.
Simon Granger is a member of the SIG team. His current case quickly brings Dr. Nina Whitaker into not only his life, but his job. Nina has made it her life’s mission to help the mentally ill. Simon is passionate about bringing criminals to justice. The combination of the mentally ill and possible criminals brings the tension between Simon and Nina to soaring heights. The physical attraction they have for each other adds the sexual tension that makes for some steamy romance.
The “who did it” factor rocked with this novel! I was constantly guessing and second guessing and never had it right. You know in the back of your mind it won’t be the obvious person. The obvious reasons are also always in the back of your mind. As the crimes escalate the doubts about your initial reasoning come to mind. I never guessed it. Even when it was revealed I thought to myself that can’t be the reason. The “who did it” will always be my favorite aspect of any romantic suspense. I was pleasantly surprised on multiple occasions with this one.
There is a hot button issue that has a strong presence in Shades of Passion. Nina and Simon like many individuals have some very opposing views on the subject. The opposing views of the characters on this subject and the concerns that are raised became overbearing at times. It often felt distracting to me. Nina’s need to help people also put her dangerously close to too stupid to live territory on one too many occasions. Simon putting himself in a position to repeat his past seemed odd.
Simon Granger is a member of the SIG team. His current case quickly brings Dr. Nina Whitaker into not only his life, but his job. Nina has made it her life’s mission to help the mentally ill. Simon is passionate about bringing criminals to justice. The combination of the mentally ill and possible criminals brings the tension between Simon and Nina to soaring heights. The physical attraction they have for each other adds the sexual tension that makes for some steamy romance.
The “who did it” factor rocked with this novel! I was constantly guessing and second guessing and never had it right. You know in the back of your mind it won’t be the obvious person. The obvious reasons are also always in the back of your mind. As the crimes escalate the doubts about your initial reasoning come to mind. I never guessed it. Even when it was revealed I thought to myself that can’t be the reason. The “who did it” will always be my favorite aspect of any romantic suspense. I was pleasantly surprised on multiple occasions with this one.
There is a hot button issue that has a strong presence in Shades of Passion. Nina and Simon like many individuals have some very opposing views on the subject. The opposing views of the characters on this subject and the concerns that are raised became overbearing at times. It often felt distracting to me. Nina’s need to help people also put her dangerously close to too stupid to live territory on one too many occasions. Simon putting himself in a position to repeat his past seemed odd.
March 26, 2013
Shades of Passion is the third book in the SIG series, the series centres around the men and women who work in the Special Investigations Group and the crimes they solve.
Detective Simon Granger is struggling to come to terms with the horrific death of his ex-girlfriend Lana. When it starts to interfere with his work he is asked to see a therapist. Dr Nina Whitaker is a psychologist who has a lot in common with Lana, from their looks to their work ethics and beliefs. When circumstances bring her and Simon together sparks fly and not always because of their mutual attraction. Both Simon and Nina's bosses want them to work together to better the relationships between police and psychiatrists and hopefully improve the understanding and treatment of the mental health community. Unfortunately Simon's hang ups and Nina's strong willed attitude make it difficult for them to get along, until it becomes clear that there is someone after Nina. Can Simon finally put his reservations behind him in order to find out who is targeting Nina before she becomes the next victim? Can Nina relax a little and take a step back to let Simon take care of her.
Another thoroughly enjoyable tale from Virna, this one had me guessing right until the very end as to who was behind it all!
Each book can be read as a stand alone but I highly recommend reading them all, each book builds on what we learn in the previous one and I am thoroughly enjoying getting to know all the characters more. I can't wait until it's DeMarco's turn.
Detective Simon Granger is struggling to come to terms with the horrific death of his ex-girlfriend Lana. When it starts to interfere with his work he is asked to see a therapist. Dr Nina Whitaker is a psychologist who has a lot in common with Lana, from their looks to their work ethics and beliefs. When circumstances bring her and Simon together sparks fly and not always because of their mutual attraction. Both Simon and Nina's bosses want them to work together to better the relationships between police and psychiatrists and hopefully improve the understanding and treatment of the mental health community. Unfortunately Simon's hang ups and Nina's strong willed attitude make it difficult for them to get along, until it becomes clear that there is someone after Nina. Can Simon finally put his reservations behind him in order to find out who is targeting Nina before she becomes the next victim? Can Nina relax a little and take a step back to let Simon take care of her.
Another thoroughly enjoyable tale from Virna, this one had me guessing right until the very end as to who was behind it all!
Each book can be read as a stand alone but I highly recommend reading them all, each book builds on what we learn in the previous one and I am thoroughly enjoying getting to know all the characters more. I can't wait until it's DeMarco's turn.
November 24, 2014
Poor Simon, could this be happening? YES! So, you'd better buckle up because you are in for one heck of a steamy, riveting ride. Once again Virna delivers a love story full of good guys getting kicked in the teeth over and over again but never failing to get up time after time and those bad nasty guys you never really decipher till it's too late and, when you do, you just want to lock them away for ever. This book is so well written that I feel I lost my calling as a cop. Yeah OK, who am I kidding, but still, it is how I feel whilst I'm reading it. It's mysterious and suspenseful, in that, the Miss Marple in me is fighting to get out but she would be out of her element here! No, these characters, Simon and Nina are too fast for an old sleuth to keep up. This is raw, the nasty side of being a cop, not the glamour. It's the suffering these heros endure daily due to the nature of their work and what every day civilians seem to forget. We get a wake-up call to that effect in this fascinating book. I think I can safely say that this book is apt for both men and women because there is the right amount of action and suspense and smexyness that will engage any male reader. I love these characters too!
One thing is missing… another book because I want to know what happens to De Marco. Please Virna, give us more!
One thing is missing… another book because I want to know what happens to De Marco. Please Virna, give us more!
February 19, 2013
Hmmm, not sure how to write my review without giving anything away…..
I thought this was an excellent romantic suspense. Nina was a strong character and while some of her responses to situations seemed unrealistic to her profession, it worked in the story. While I really liked Simon it felt like his response to her profession was a bit over the top, understandable but it just seemed a bit overkill. Lots of clues to keep you guessing “who done it” and while I did not figure it out early I figured it out just before Nina and Simon did which was pretty much at the end….so I also really liked that it kept me guessing.
I thought this was an excellent romantic suspense. Nina was a strong character and while some of her responses to situations seemed unrealistic to her profession, it worked in the story. While I really liked Simon it felt like his response to her profession was a bit over the top, understandable but it just seemed a bit overkill. Lots of clues to keep you guessing “who done it” and while I did not figure it out early I figured it out just before Nina and Simon did which was pretty much at the end….so I also really liked that it kept me guessing.
December 1, 2018
Shades of Passion is the third book in Virna DePaul's Special Investigations Group (SIG) series, a series that I have enjoyed immensely so far. Shades of Passion didn't hold as well as the first two book in the series, though the edgy suspense did keep me turning the pages. It teemed with sexual tension that brought the romance to life while the intrigue of the story kept me guessing until the end. However, the redundant dialogue and cringe-worthy actions on the heroines part kept this book from being great in my mind. All in all, I think fans of the series will still enjoy this installment.
March 13, 2013
Full review can be found here:
http://www.read-love-blog.com/2013/03...
".... really enjoyed this story. I found the mystery surrounding Nina and her past intriguing and thought it was developed well throughout the story. I also thought questions were answered at the perfect points through the book. The buildup of the facts lead you in one direction, but you knew there had to be a twist, and there was a terrific one! (my lips are sealed!) The chemistry between Nina and Simon was really well-developed as well...."
http://www.read-love-blog.com/2013/03...
".... really enjoyed this story. I found the mystery surrounding Nina and her past intriguing and thought it was developed well throughout the story. I also thought questions were answered at the perfect points through the book. The buildup of the facts lead you in one direction, but you knew there had to be a twist, and there was a terrific one! (my lips are sealed!) The chemistry between Nina and Simon was really well-developed as well...."
March 17, 2016
The mystery was complex and interesting, but the romance felt off. There was way too much "straight talking" and semi analyzing each other. Yes, they had a physical connection but even that felt a little forced. I never felt anything sexy or romantic - even a good friendship vibe - with the couple. They were work colleagues who were hot for each other. I recently read another murder mystery where the potential victim fell in love with the police psychiatrist. The relationship there was weird too. Maybe it's a common failing of the trope.
February 7, 2017
Wow sure hope there is more of this series. I want DeMarco's story
March 22, 2021
I love this series. I like that the characters struggle with emotions, but don't let it derail them for agonizing months of separation, yada, yada, blah, blah. I like that they jump in and "get the job done" but are still fearful, in both life and love. I'm glad that Simon got his happy ending, and didn't hide behind his feelings for Lana to deny his feelings for Nina. Yay, happy endings. This one was a little less direct action, but still wonderfully suspenseful.
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December 29, 2014Special Investigations Group, book 3
Category: Suspense
Category: Suspense
June 13, 2013
Fast-paced, lots of plot twists and turns. Oh, and lots of heat between the hero and heroine. I recommend :-)
February 2, 2014
Love this book
February 24, 2015
Didn't get into this book. Probably Just me.
April 12, 2013
Great mystery/suspence! I loved all the unexpected twists. Can't wait til the next one.
April 4, 2013
Pretty good story if you enjoy romantic suspense
October 4, 2016
The story of this was amazing , who dunit and lust
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