A Key To All That Glitters

by Kathleen Rowland

Balancing her thriving yoga spa and raising twins, Widow Heatherlee Baronova is slammed by her late husband's past when an ex-con demands a key to a safe deposit box. Naïve, Heatherlee knows nothing about it. When her spa Clearwater is robbed, the police investigation is headed by Sheriff Marc Duarte, a sheep rancher from the silkiest gentry of town. The last thing she wants is for Marc to prove that dirty money built Clearwater. Marc knows her problems with a Russian theft ring will escalate beyond bad press and the bottom line. After the twins are kidnapped, she starts listening. Shrewd, rugged, and rich, Marc is clueless that this coppery-haired bundle of determination and desire married her husband because he looked like him. He does see a practical advantage, but if he goes undercover as "out of hiding" Yuri Baronov, will it be a death sentence?

338 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2008

About the author

Book Buyers Best finalist Kathleen Rowland is a people person who writes romantic suspense. Her day job as a programmer analyst was never as interesting as observing office politics. On a larger-than-life scale, her heroes and heroines get caught up in downward spirals and external disasters. Something beautiful comes out of suffering. Currently, Kathleen is writing the third book in a series for Tirgearr Publishing. Bittersweet Alliance will follow Unholy Alliance and Deadly Alliance.
Kathleen and her husband, Gerry, live in Southern California and is proud of their five grown children and four grandchildren. When not writing, she provides assistance for foster (CASA) children and fundraises for needy families. A member of the Orange County Chapter of Romance Writers of American, she will chair the next Orange Rose Contest for unpublished authors.

Reviews

[Jordan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The book was interesting, but I'm not so sure that was in a good way. While I enjoyed her characters, the book didn't always make sense and wasn't entirely realistic. For me, the biggest confusion was the beginning. It was pretty difficult to tell what was actually going on for a bit there. I had bits and pieces but had no idea how to put them together. While the rest of the book more or less put those pieces back together, there were still many instances that I couldn't help but think "that's not how it happens in real life" or, on occasion, "what the ef?". It also felt like scenes and time jumped all over the place at times. While it happened throughout the book, the things near the end are the best specific examples I can give. Basically, starting with Marc going undercover, there were a lot of things that either just don't happen or shouldn't happen. I think the scene that got me the most was that of when they're in the ambulance. (I also think this is the scene with the most problems in it, so it makes a good example.) I won't get into the details here though because the list gets a bit extensive (trust me, I typed it out already, so I know). Despite all of this, however, I did enjoy some of the characters, particularly Annie and Galen. They are adorable and sweet and full of life and energy. Marc also is a really good guy with the best of intentions who cares deeply for Heatherlee and her twins. Overall, I was a bit disappointed with this book. With the title, cover art, and book description, I thought it had a lot of potential. The book does have a HEA ending with no cliffhanger. While this book hasn't quite turned me off to reading other works by this author, it does make me significantly less eager. I know that every author can't necessarily be completely assess based on a single book. I have high hopes for the book I decide to read next by this author. I hope she doesn't let me down.

[Andrea Macomber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written, romantic suspense. Sheriff Marc and Heatherlee have chemistry from the beginning. Star crossed lovers.