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Contraband
As master of his destiny, Paul Weekes does what is necessary to survive
He makes his own fortune, but his luck changes when hijackers target his illicit shipments. He has no proof, but suspects the police officer who facilitates his exports off the island of Xantrope has turned on him. To make things worse, Paul's ne'er-do-well cousin is accidentally involved in a gang murder, and a hit is put on him. A budding romance with the cop's niece adds more complication.
Janine refuses to accept Paul's way of life, but inadvertently becomes a victim of his lifestyle. Thrust into kidnapping, double cross and murder, Paul must choose between a relationship with Janine and staying alive long enough to change the course of his future.
He makes his own fortune, but his luck changes when hijackers target his illicit shipments. He has no proof, but suspects the police officer who facilitates his exports off the island of Xantrope has turned on him. To make things worse, Paul's ne'er-do-well cousin is accidentally involved in a gang murder, and a hit is put on him. A budding romance with the cop's niece adds more complication.
Janine refuses to accept Paul's way of life, but inadvertently becomes a victim of his lifestyle. Thrust into kidnapping, double cross and murder, Paul must choose between a relationship with Janine and staying alive long enough to change the course of his future.
- GenresContemporary
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 15, 2010
About the author
J.L. Campbell
114 books309 followersJ.L. Campbell is fascinated with Jamaican flora and has hundreds of photos in her collection. She writes contemporary and sweet romance, romantic suspense, women's fiction, as well as new and young adult novels.
Campbell, who features Jamaican culture in her stories, has written over forty books. She is also a certified editor.
Feel free to join her mailing list for news and updates https://sendfox.com/lp/1rk5gx or connect with her on social media.
Campbell, who features Jamaican culture in her stories, has written over forty books. She is also a certified editor.
Feel free to join her mailing list for news and updates https://sendfox.com/lp/1rk5gx or connect with her on social media.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 12, 2019
Very Good Read
I love a book that has romance, drama and suspense in the storyline. You can imagine and feel the character's emotions and the places the storyline takes place. The main two characters Paul and Janine you can see and feel the emotions of these two together and how they met, while being constantly preyed on by Janine's uncle Sgt. Singh who was a crooked cop.
Talk about opposites attract, this was Paul who had a farming business where part of his business was illegal and Janine a upstanding woman who worked a legal job.
This book was a real page Turner for me and kept me hooked from the very beginning to the end.
If you like a romance, drama, suspense book, I recommend this book. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
Cassandra H.
I love a book that has romance, drama and suspense in the storyline. You can imagine and feel the character's emotions and the places the storyline takes place. The main two characters Paul and Janine you can see and feel the emotions of these two together and how they met, while being constantly preyed on by Janine's uncle Sgt. Singh who was a crooked cop.
Talk about opposites attract, this was Paul who had a farming business where part of his business was illegal and Janine a upstanding woman who worked a legal job.
This book was a real page Turner for me and kept me hooked from the very beginning to the end.
If you like a romance, drama, suspense book, I recommend this book. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
Cassandra H.
February 8, 2017
This book is WAY outside my usual reading parameters, but I'm all for trying new things, so why not? And how often do you get to root for a bad guy anyway? Not that Paul is necessarily a bad guy, but he definitely runs an illegal operation and dodges the law in ways that had me holding my breath a few times.
The author had me cheering on the protagonist, wanting to punch the antagonist (the first to appear), and pleased with the overall outcome.
Content warning: Minor language, violence, some emotional abuse of a woman, and drug trafficking.
The author had me cheering on the protagonist, wanting to punch the antagonist (the first to appear), and pleased with the overall outcome.
Content warning: Minor language, violence, some emotional abuse of a woman, and drug trafficking.
October 17, 2017
Campbell never disappoints with her tales set in the Caribbean, and I know this since I've read several of her books. She has a knack for giving the right amount of detail with a pace that engages the reader. This was another interesting and riveting romantic suspense novel from the author.
December 20, 2017
Love can Change a Person
Love can change a person for the better. Paul realized if he wanted a life with Janaine he had to let go of his drug business. Having Janaine’s love and his twins was all Paul cared about now.
Love can change a person for the better. Paul realized if he wanted a life with Janaine he had to let go of his drug business. Having Janaine’s love and his twins was all Paul cared about now.
August 6, 2017
Contraband
This book is a excellent read. I was Emotional, Furious and happy as i get to know the couple in the story. I would recommend this book to Everyone..
This book is a excellent read. I was Emotional, Furious and happy as i get to know the couple in the story. I would recommend this book to Everyone..
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June 25, 2020Very good
This was a very long book I really enjoyed reading it I'm glad that those two men is dead. Now I'm going to start on the other book
This was a very long book I really enjoyed reading it I'm glad that those two men is dead. Now I'm going to start on the other book
March 2, 2014
3 Things I liked about Contraband
1. Fast-paced storyline - Contraband is action -packed, with each scene moving the storyline forward or helping us understand the characters. So I didn't end up scanning down the pages quickly, looking for the interesting bits:-)
2. Credible yet interesting events - Living in South Africa, where corruption among the police rife and where most people have been asked for a bribe at some stage in their lives made Contraband sound familiar enough that the events in the story were credible, and yet, there were enough twists and turns to keep the story interesting.
3. Well-rounded characters- One of the things that drive me nuts about romance novels ( and I do love them) is that the characters usually sound like some author's aspirational version of what people are like/live like. When they are good, they're so good they don't sound like anyone I know, and the antagonists are sometimes so bad they are demonised.
This is not the case with Contraband, whose characters have enough good qualities to be likeable and enough bad qualities to make them interesting. Even Mark, Paul's cousin who gives new meaning to the phrase "too stupid to live," made some sense to me. Though I did wonder, until almost the end, if someone was going to do Paul a favour and off him.
My only reservation with the characterisation, and it's a very minor one, was with Janine. I liked that she's a strong woman who stands for her principles(for example, she was willing to walk away from Paul unless he stopped selling drugs), but somehow I didn't get a good handle on what motivated her.
I understood she wanted to find love and she's very strongly family orientated and yet independent, but somehow I ended up having stronger feelings for Mark than I did for her. I can't put my finger on the reasons why though.
Anyhoo, I enjoyed Contraband and want to read more books from J.L Campbell.
For the record: J.L Campbell provided me with a free copy of Contraband for me to review. However, my views are my own and as a matter of policy, I tend not to mention/even write reviews about books that were sent to me if I don't like them, as Storypot is about what I'm up to, not a book review blog.
1. Fast-paced storyline - Contraband is action -packed, with each scene moving the storyline forward or helping us understand the characters. So I didn't end up scanning down the pages quickly, looking for the interesting bits:-)
2. Credible yet interesting events - Living in South Africa, where corruption among the police rife and where most people have been asked for a bribe at some stage in their lives made Contraband sound familiar enough that the events in the story were credible, and yet, there were enough twists and turns to keep the story interesting.
3. Well-rounded characters- One of the things that drive me nuts about romance novels ( and I do love them) is that the characters usually sound like some author's aspirational version of what people are like/live like. When they are good, they're so good they don't sound like anyone I know, and the antagonists are sometimes so bad they are demonised.
This is not the case with Contraband, whose characters have enough good qualities to be likeable and enough bad qualities to make them interesting. Even Mark, Paul's cousin who gives new meaning to the phrase "too stupid to live," made some sense to me. Though I did wonder, until almost the end, if someone was going to do Paul a favour and off him.
My only reservation with the characterisation, and it's a very minor one, was with Janine. I liked that she's a strong woman who stands for her principles(for example, she was willing to walk away from Paul unless he stopped selling drugs), but somehow I didn't get a good handle on what motivated her.
I understood she wanted to find love and she's very strongly family orientated and yet independent, but somehow I ended up having stronger feelings for Mark than I did for her. I can't put my finger on the reasons why though.
Anyhoo, I enjoyed Contraband and want to read more books from J.L Campbell.
For the record: J.L Campbell provided me with a free copy of Contraband for me to review. However, my views are my own and as a matter of policy, I tend not to mention/even write reviews about books that were sent to me if I don't like them, as Storypot is about what I'm up to, not a book review blog.
May 4, 2010
"Contraband", the debut novel from J. L. Campbell, is a riveting romantic suspense/thriller. Paul Weeks is a man who has it all: money, power, a beautiful home, a lucrative drug business, and the responsibility of keeping his cousin Mark out of trouble. Janine Phipps enters his life after Mark crashes into her car and leaves Paul to clean up the mess. Turns out the two have a mutual acquaintance, since Janine's uncle, Sergeant Jonas Singh, is the dirty cop who shakes down Paul's marijuana shipments.
Set near Jamaica on the beautiful (though fictitious) island of Xantrope, "Contraband" is fast-paced and addictive, with gritty realism and a cast of characters you won't soon forget. Paul finds himself up to his ears in trouble, and it's up to him to handle it all. A major crime lord sets out to kill Mark in retaliation for his brother's death, Singh tries to extort more money from Paul, and Paul finds himself falling for Janine but knows she'll never approve of his illegal business.
I loved this book and highly recommend it. The author has another book due out later this year, and a sequel to "Contraband" in the works. J. L. Campbell is sure to find herself on the bestseller list.
Set near Jamaica on the beautiful (though fictitious) island of Xantrope, "Contraband" is fast-paced and addictive, with gritty realism and a cast of characters you won't soon forget. Paul finds himself up to his ears in trouble, and it's up to him to handle it all. A major crime lord sets out to kill Mark in retaliation for his brother's death, Singh tries to extort more money from Paul, and Paul finds himself falling for Janine but knows she'll never approve of his illegal business.
I loved this book and highly recommend it. The author has another book due out later this year, and a sequel to "Contraband" in the works. J. L. Campbell is sure to find herself on the bestseller list.
December 12, 2010
The FAST Life...
Paul Weekes lives on an island, Xantrope, near Jamaica. He makes his living HUSTLIN 24/7. Paul is a true player and knows how to stay out of trouble, but not his cousin, Mark; Mark cannot seem to stay out of trouble. Though they are cousins, they were raised like brothers, causing many problems for Paul down the road.
Paul has a terrible car accident with a female, Janine Phipps, who is tied to a rival, Sergeant Jonas Singh. Sergeant Jonas is a crocked cop that taxes Paul frequently for moving his drugs into Xantrope. He only has greed on his mind and likes to take advantage of Paul in any and every way possible. Paul develops feelings for Janine but later discovers she is kin to his enemy. Sergeant Jonas senses the feelings between Janine and Paul while at the same time attempts to extort more money from Paul as revenge.
“Contraband” by J. L. Campbell is a grimy, romantic, and suspenseful read. I recommend to ALL! This is a very good novel and a definite read to all REAL readers.
Reviewed by: Tekisha
Paul Weekes lives on an island, Xantrope, near Jamaica. He makes his living HUSTLIN 24/7. Paul is a true player and knows how to stay out of trouble, but not his cousin, Mark; Mark cannot seem to stay out of trouble. Though they are cousins, they were raised like brothers, causing many problems for Paul down the road.
Paul has a terrible car accident with a female, Janine Phipps, who is tied to a rival, Sergeant Jonas Singh. Sergeant Jonas is a crocked cop that taxes Paul frequently for moving his drugs into Xantrope. He only has greed on his mind and likes to take advantage of Paul in any and every way possible. Paul develops feelings for Janine but later discovers she is kin to his enemy. Sergeant Jonas senses the feelings between Janine and Paul while at the same time attempts to extort more money from Paul as revenge.
“Contraband” by J. L. Campbell is a grimy, romantic, and suspenseful read. I recommend to ALL! This is a very good novel and a definite read to all REAL readers.
Reviewed by: Tekisha
May 15, 2011
Thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The author draws one into the lives of her characters and clearly shows their frailties and their strengths.
Terrified of being poor, Paul Weekes grows "the weed" which he sells under the noses of the local constabulary. Of course, he needs to grease palms to do this and unfortunately for him, the main palm which is held out is the uncle of the woman he wants. Added to this, is the danger in which a family member finds himself. Murder, corruption and kidnapping enmesh Paula and his loved ones and only he can extricate them from danger.
Excellent work by a very talented author!
Terrified of being poor, Paul Weekes grows "the weed" which he sells under the noses of the local constabulary. Of course, he needs to grease palms to do this and unfortunately for him, the main palm which is held out is the uncle of the woman he wants. Added to this, is the danger in which a family member finds himself. Murder, corruption and kidnapping enmesh Paula and his loved ones and only he can extricate them from danger.
Excellent work by a very talented author!
June 21, 2016
I loved the thought given to this story. The writing was commendable. The author's descriptions made each and every scene clearly visible in the reader's eye. The struggle between good and evil isn't a new story but it was told in a new way. There were a few twists along the way that kept the reader involved from beginning to end. Once I picked the book up I couldn't put it down until I was finished, which was a four-hour read. I am a fast reader so that isn't indicative of the size of the book. The book is well worth the cost and I have since purchased the remaining three books in this series and look forward to reading them.
October 13, 2015
Absolutely enjoyed this romantic suspense. Paul Weeks had me rooting for him all the way. The storyline moved at a fast pace and never wavered in keeping my attention. When Sing left with a bullet I was like no way. I would have loved to have read more on the cousin. This an absolute must read. Enjoying JL and her island reads.
August 6, 2015
Wow, talk about suspense. Jeesz, Contraband hit all the right mystery spots, and combined with the romance between Paul and Janine, it’s sure to make an excellent read for those who love to engross themselves in a good book.
September 27, 2014
Outstanding. A book you sneak off with just to read while life is trying to keep you from finding out.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews