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Desert Heat #2
The Blue Dolphin
When Debbie Williams discovers a dismembered body in the dumpster behind her health spa, she’s determined to find out what happened. As a single parent, she must be sure the town she loves is safe for her daughter. Debbie won’t be deterred by anyone—not even the ruggedly handsome agent on the case who doesn’t appreciate her amateur sleuthing.
After his partner’s body is uncovered, DEA agent Jack Davis vows revenge. But three words shouted over the phone before his partner died—azul, delfin, Almagro—are Jack’s only clues. Even worse, a sexy blonde spa owner refuses to stay out of his investigation, and the chemistry between them is difficult to ignore.
As danger strikes ever closer, Jack and Debbie must figure out what blue dolphins and a small California desert town have to do with a dangerous drug cartel…all while protecting their hearts from an attraction neither can resist.
After his partner’s body is uncovered, DEA agent Jack Davis vows revenge. But three words shouted over the phone before his partner died—azul, delfin, Almagro—are Jack’s only clues. Even worse, a sexy blonde spa owner refuses to stay out of his investigation, and the chemistry between them is difficult to ignore.
As danger strikes ever closer, Jack and Debbie must figure out what blue dolphins and a small California desert town have to do with a dangerous drug cartel…all while protecting their hearts from an attraction neither can resist.
- GenresRomantic SuspenseRomance
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 24, 2013
1 person is currently reading
243 people want to read
About the author
Robena Grant
13 books261 followersBorn in Australia, Robena now lives in Southern California. She has two adult children. Loves travel, hanging out with friends and family, reading, cooking, singing really bad karaoke, drinking really good red wine, chomping on chocolate, and swigging coffee. And she hates filling out forms because they give her a headache.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 16, 2013
Quite the detective/sleuth type book.
Starts out as a small town business owner Debbie, striving to become something, is thrown into a murder investigation as a body is found behind her spa.
She's desperate to solve this case, as this is seen through Debbie's eyes, I felt the need and desire to get through this case in a calm yet earnest way.
She runs into Jack who is also wanting answers as it was his old partner that was found. They go through such an adventure including kidnapping. Lots of suspense in this story and truly felt the author put all she had into it.
Starts out as a small town business owner Debbie, striving to become something, is thrown into a murder investigation as a body is found behind her spa.
She's desperate to solve this case, as this is seen through Debbie's eyes, I felt the need and desire to get through this case in a calm yet earnest way.
She runs into Jack who is also wanting answers as it was his old partner that was found. They go through such an adventure including kidnapping. Lots of suspense in this story and truly felt the author put all she had into it.
June 8, 2015
Reviewed by Nadene
Book provided by the publisher
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
The Blue Dolphin is the second book in the Desert Heat series and can be read as a stand- alone. I found this title to be a bit more exciting than the first book.
In The Blue Dolphin we are introduced to Debbie Williams (who had made an appearance in the first book, Unlock the Truth) and DEA agent Jack Davis. Debbie has unwittingly found herself thrown into the middle of a murder investigation when an unidentified body was found in the dumpster behind her business place. The investigation of this murder led to her crossing paths with Jack Davis who was working undercover in a bid to solve the murder of his best friend and partner. Debbie is not your typical romance heroine. She is a thirty-six year old single mother whose past is filled with pain and disappointment and who also enjoys the thrills she gets from being an amateur sleuth. As such the discovery of the unidentified body behind her business place saw her devising ways in which she find out who was responsible. Jack also has a painful which made it easier for him to understand and empathize with Debbie. It was this commonality coupled with their mutual desire to solve the murder mystery that brought them closer. Jack was working undercover in a bid to find out who was responsible for the murder of his partner and friend. I felt that the romance between Jack and Debbie was a bit underdeveloped. I thought it was rushed and somewhat unrealistic and the chemistry between them was lukewarm.
What The Blue Dolphin lacked in romance it more than made up for in the mystery and suspense department. This story is filled with a lot of twists and turns and it had me guessing from one moment to the next as to who the true villain was. The story was engrossing and riveting and I just could not wait to find out what was coming next. Ms. Grant grabbed my attention from the very beginning and was able to hold my interest to the end.
Overall this was a fun read and I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
Book provided by the publisher
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
The Blue Dolphin is the second book in the Desert Heat series and can be read as a stand- alone. I found this title to be a bit more exciting than the first book.
In The Blue Dolphin we are introduced to Debbie Williams (who had made an appearance in the first book, Unlock the Truth) and DEA agent Jack Davis. Debbie has unwittingly found herself thrown into the middle of a murder investigation when an unidentified body was found in the dumpster behind her business place. The investigation of this murder led to her crossing paths with Jack Davis who was working undercover in a bid to solve the murder of his best friend and partner. Debbie is not your typical romance heroine. She is a thirty-six year old single mother whose past is filled with pain and disappointment and who also enjoys the thrills she gets from being an amateur sleuth. As such the discovery of the unidentified body behind her business place saw her devising ways in which she find out who was responsible. Jack also has a painful which made it easier for him to understand and empathize with Debbie. It was this commonality coupled with their mutual desire to solve the murder mystery that brought them closer. Jack was working undercover in a bid to find out who was responsible for the murder of his partner and friend. I felt that the romance between Jack and Debbie was a bit underdeveloped. I thought it was rushed and somewhat unrealistic and the chemistry between them was lukewarm.
What The Blue Dolphin lacked in romance it more than made up for in the mystery and suspense department. This story is filled with a lot of twists and turns and it had me guessing from one moment to the next as to who the true villain was. The story was engrossing and riveting and I just could not wait to find out what was coming next. Ms. Grant grabbed my attention from the very beginning and was able to hold my interest to the end.
Overall this was a fun read and I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
April 21, 2013
I love novice sleuth books, especially ones that start out as a cozy mystery and wind up a rip roaring romantic suspense!
Debbie, a onetime teenage mother and current small business owner, through hard work, sweat and tears, has managed to make something of herself in her quaint hometown of Rancho Almagro. She is a first rate mother, though may be a bit overprotective.
Jack has gone undercover to avenge the death of his old partner, a guy who reluctantly agreed to one last job for their demanding boss.
Now a body has been found in the dumpster behind Debbie's Blue Dolphin Spa and she won't rest until the case is solved. Neither will the stranger in the bar posing as a mystery writer and future landowner in Rancho Almagro, Jack.
Ms. Grant brings the reader along for the ride through Debbie's eyes and lets us unlock the mystery in a thoughtful, progressive way. She dishes out enough excitement to keep the reader engrossed and turning the pages as the characters get to know each other and grow intimate. Then she puts the pedal to the medal.
The last third of the book turns into classic high-stakes romantic suspense where the ante is upped with a kidnapping. Finally the reader learns what the bad guys are after. Ms. Grant skillfully and believably solves the case through Debbie and Jack, who are forced far out of their comfort zones in order to slip all of the puzzle pieces together and save the day.
It was also fun to be reacquainted with many of the characters in Ms. Grant's first book in the Desert Heat series, Unlock the Truth.
Recommended read for traditional who-done-it suspense, fans!
Debbie, a onetime teenage mother and current small business owner, through hard work, sweat and tears, has managed to make something of herself in her quaint hometown of Rancho Almagro. She is a first rate mother, though may be a bit overprotective.
Jack has gone undercover to avenge the death of his old partner, a guy who reluctantly agreed to one last job for their demanding boss.
Now a body has been found in the dumpster behind Debbie's Blue Dolphin Spa and she won't rest until the case is solved. Neither will the stranger in the bar posing as a mystery writer and future landowner in Rancho Almagro, Jack.
Ms. Grant brings the reader along for the ride through Debbie's eyes and lets us unlock the mystery in a thoughtful, progressive way. She dishes out enough excitement to keep the reader engrossed and turning the pages as the characters get to know each other and grow intimate. Then she puts the pedal to the medal.
The last third of the book turns into classic high-stakes romantic suspense where the ante is upped with a kidnapping. Finally the reader learns what the bad guys are after. Ms. Grant skillfully and believably solves the case through Debbie and Jack, who are forced far out of their comfort zones in order to slip all of the puzzle pieces together and save the day.
It was also fun to be reacquainted with many of the characters in Ms. Grant's first book in the Desert Heat series, Unlock the Truth.
Recommended read for traditional who-done-it suspense, fans!
July 17, 2013
Small town setting, romantic suspense, and a sizzling attraction between a spa owner and an under cover agent...do you smell trouble? I do. I also smell a great story in the making! And that's exactly what I got with The Blue Dolphin.
Debbie is driven to succeed and make a good life for her daughter. So she finds herself in the midst of trouble when she discovers a body and has a need to find out who, what why so that she can make sure the little town she calls home is safe. That's how she winds up meeting our hero, Jack.
Jack has a job to do, and this woman that keeps making things difficult distracts him. But their attraction grows and grows, so maybe the best thing is to team up with her, and maybe...just maybe, they'll find a little bit of love if they can fight off the danger.
I love romantic suspense, and this story definitely fit. Chills, thrills, the edge of my seat suspense, guessing and second guessing at the clues, and the romance mixed in with it makes for a well blended story that kept me up into the late hours of the night. (Why do I do this to myself, especially with suspense? Every little sound makes me jump!) While this is the second book in the Desert Heat series, it does say it can be read as a standalone, and I agree. The only connection is that the books are set in the same small town. I definitely want to check out the other books by this author. If you're a fan of small town romantic suspense, grab up The Blue Dolphin.
Debbie is driven to succeed and make a good life for her daughter. So she finds herself in the midst of trouble when she discovers a body and has a need to find out who, what why so that she can make sure the little town she calls home is safe. That's how she winds up meeting our hero, Jack.
Jack has a job to do, and this woman that keeps making things difficult distracts him. But their attraction grows and grows, so maybe the best thing is to team up with her, and maybe...just maybe, they'll find a little bit of love if they can fight off the danger.
I love romantic suspense, and this story definitely fit. Chills, thrills, the edge of my seat suspense, guessing and second guessing at the clues, and the romance mixed in with it makes for a well blended story that kept me up into the late hours of the night. (Why do I do this to myself, especially with suspense? Every little sound makes me jump!) While this is the second book in the Desert Heat series, it does say it can be read as a standalone, and I agree. The only connection is that the books are set in the same small town. I definitely want to check out the other books by this author. If you're a fan of small town romantic suspense, grab up The Blue Dolphin.
October 20, 2013
There were many things I liked about this book. Set in the deserts of SoCal - an unusual setting. Debbie was older - and there aren't enough older heroines in romance, IMO. The idea of a "blue dolphin" spa treatment was quite interesting, and the idea of finding a body in the dumpster right outside the shop, quite horrifying,
I didn't absolutely love it because I didn't feel enough chemistry between Debbie and Jack, and it was VERY head-hoppy. Also, not a fan of the cover - the blond girl looks 20-something, not Debbie's age. I felt the next book in the series, which I've read and reviewed, is much stronger, but this is still an interesting read.
I didn't absolutely love it because I didn't feel enough chemistry between Debbie and Jack, and it was VERY head-hoppy. Also, not a fan of the cover - the blond girl looks 20-something, not Debbie's age. I felt the next book in the series, which I've read and reviewed, is much stronger, but this is still an interesting read.
September 24, 2013
Mystery with just the right amount of suspense -- When murder happens in her small desert town, you better bet spa owner Debbie gets involved. Jack shows up to investigate, sparks fly, and the real adventure begins between these two who have been through a lot and so deserve their happy ever after. Love the characters in this mystery, and the relationship between Debbie and her daughter. Such a fun and engaging read!
November 10, 2014
Fast paced romantic suspense with great characters. Blue Dolphin is set in a desert town in Southern California. The action is fact paced and the romantic attraction between the two main characters is wonderfully done. I'm not a desert person, but Ms Grant's descriptions had me wanting to visit this particular town. I look forward to reading more of this author.
April 10, 2013
Of course I'm not a big fan of mysteries, but I also thought the romance could have been more developed.
April 28, 2013
The Blue Dolphin is pack with suspense, sizzling sexual chemistry, and a plot that kept me guessing. I couldn’t put this book down! I’m looking forward to reading more from this talented author.
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December 18, 2016i love this story about a girl
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews