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New York Confidential #1
Flawless
No one writes suspense like Heather Graham! Read this brand-new romantic thriller by one of today's most popular authors...
There's a pub in New York City that's been in the Finnegan family for generations. Now Kieran and her three brothers own it. Kieran Finnegan is also, as it happens, a criminal psychologist--a fitting reaction, perhaps, to her less-than-lawful teenage past.
Meanwhile, New York's Diamond District has been hit by a rash of thefts. No one's been killed--until now. FBI agent Craig Frasier is brought in to investigate; he and Kieran meet at a jewelry store in the middle of a heist. She's there to "unsteal" a flawless stone taken by her light-fingered youngest brother as an act of vengeance. Craig's there to stop the gang.
But the police and FBI begin to wonder if there are two gangs of diamond thieves, the original and a copycat group of killers--who seem to think their scheme is as flawless as the stones they steal.
Thrown together by circumstance, drawn together by attraction, Kieran and Craig are both assigned to the case. But to Kieran's horror, there's more and more evidence that, somehow, the pub is involved. Because everyone goes to Finnegan's...
There's a pub in New York City that's been in the Finnegan family for generations. Now Kieran and her three brothers own it. Kieran Finnegan is also, as it happens, a criminal psychologist--a fitting reaction, perhaps, to her less-than-lawful teenage past.
Meanwhile, New York's Diamond District has been hit by a rash of thefts. No one's been killed--until now. FBI agent Craig Frasier is brought in to investigate; he and Kieran meet at a jewelry store in the middle of a heist. She's there to "unsteal" a flawless stone taken by her light-fingered youngest brother as an act of vengeance. Craig's there to stop the gang.
But the police and FBI begin to wonder if there are two gangs of diamond thieves, the original and a copycat group of killers--who seem to think their scheme is as flawless as the stones they steal.
Thrown together by circumstance, drawn together by attraction, Kieran and Craig are both assigned to the case. But to Kieran's horror, there's more and more evidence that, somehow, the pub is involved. Because everyone goes to Finnegan's...
256 pages, ebook
First published March 29, 2016
1108 people are currently reading
3951 people want to read
About the author
Heather Graham
584 books6,925 followersAlso published as Heather Graham Pozzessere and Shannon Drake.
New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Heather Graham majored in theater arts at the University of South Florida. After a stint of several years in dinner theater, back-up vocals, and bartending, she stayed home after the birth of her third child and began to write, working on short horror stories and romances. After some trial and error, she sold her first book, WHEN NEXT WE LOVE, in 1982 and since then, she has written over one hundred novels and novellas including category, romantic suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult, and Christmas holiday fare. She wrote the launch books for the Dell's Ecstasy Supreme line, Silhouette's Shadows, and for Harlequin's mainstream fiction imprint, Mira Books.
Heather was a founding member of the Florida Romance Writers chapter of RWA and, since 1999, has hosted the Romantic Times Vampire Ball, with all revenues going directly to children's charity.
She is pleased to have been published in approximately twenty languages, and to have been honored with awards frorn Waldenbooks. B. Dalton, Georgia Romance Writers, Affaire de Coeur, Romantic Times, and more. She has had books selected for the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild, and has been quoted, interviewed, or featured in such publications as The Nation, Redbook, People, and USA Today and appeared on many newscasts including local television and Entertainment Tonight.
Heather loves travel and anything have to do with the water, and is a certitified scuba diver. Married since high school graduation and the mother of five, her greatest love in life remains her family, but she also believes her career has been an incredible gift, and she is grateful every day to be doing something that she loves so very much for a living.
New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Heather Graham majored in theater arts at the University of South Florida. After a stint of several years in dinner theater, back-up vocals, and bartending, she stayed home after the birth of her third child and began to write, working on short horror stories and romances. After some trial and error, she sold her first book, WHEN NEXT WE LOVE, in 1982 and since then, she has written over one hundred novels and novellas including category, romantic suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult, and Christmas holiday fare. She wrote the launch books for the Dell's Ecstasy Supreme line, Silhouette's Shadows, and for Harlequin's mainstream fiction imprint, Mira Books.
Heather was a founding member of the Florida Romance Writers chapter of RWA and, since 1999, has hosted the Romantic Times Vampire Ball, with all revenues going directly to children's charity.
She is pleased to have been published in approximately twenty languages, and to have been honored with awards frorn Waldenbooks. B. Dalton, Georgia Romance Writers, Affaire de Coeur, Romantic Times, and more. She has had books selected for the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild, and has been quoted, interviewed, or featured in such publications as The Nation, Redbook, People, and USA Today and appeared on many newscasts including local television and Entertainment Tonight.
Heather loves travel and anything have to do with the water, and is a certitified scuba diver. Married since high school graduation and the mother of five, her greatest love in life remains her family, but she also believes her career has been an incredible gift, and she is grateful every day to be doing something that she loves so very much for a living.
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July 13, 2024
Flawless by Heather Graham
New York Confidential series #1. Romantic suspense.
Finnegan’s is a long standing popular pub in lower Manhattan. It’s been family run for generations with Kieran and her three brothers the current generation running it. She’s a criminal psychologist by day and bartender by night.
When her brother tries to help a friend and steal a diamond, Kieran knows she has to be the one to return it before it’s missed. In the middle of discreetly returning the diamond, the store is robbed. Fortunately, FBI Agent Craig Frasier is part of the investigating team and with Kieran’s help, they realize there are two crews stealing diamonds, one that carries only fake guns, another that is killing all witnesses. Evidence points to Finnegan’s.
Fast moving suspense as the FBI officially investigates and the family asks their own questions with Kieran in the middle. Lots of secondary names since it’s a bar with large family and friends. Amusing but typical disguises by Craig. Kieran’s psychological job adds some interesting distraction and depth. Romance is fast since the book timing is less than two weeks. Secrets remain which may cause problems in future books of the series.
Intriguing and smart. Technology is a bit outdated (published in 2016) but that’s going to be every book now as fast as it’s changing.
New York Confidential series #1. Romantic suspense.
Finnegan’s is a long standing popular pub in lower Manhattan. It’s been family run for generations with Kieran and her three brothers the current generation running it. She’s a criminal psychologist by day and bartender by night.
When her brother tries to help a friend and steal a diamond, Kieran knows she has to be the one to return it before it’s missed. In the middle of discreetly returning the diamond, the store is robbed. Fortunately, FBI Agent Craig Frasier is part of the investigating team and with Kieran’s help, they realize there are two crews stealing diamonds, one that carries only fake guns, another that is killing all witnesses. Evidence points to Finnegan’s.
Fast moving suspense as the FBI officially investigates and the family asks their own questions with Kieran in the middle. Lots of secondary names since it’s a bar with large family and friends. Amusing but typical disguises by Craig. Kieran’s psychological job adds some interesting distraction and depth. Romance is fast since the book timing is less than two weeks. Secrets remain which may cause problems in future books of the series.
Intriguing and smart. Technology is a bit outdated (published in 2016) but that’s going to be every book now as fast as it’s changing.
March 16, 2016
Flawless by Heather Graham is a 2016 MIRA publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Is it just me, or does it seem like it’s been a really long while since Heather Graham has released a standard romantic suspense novel? Since I’ve begun to shift away from the PNR genre, I have lost touch with this author, so I’m happy to see she is starting a new series which focuses more on traditional mystery and suspense.
Immediately, I was sucked into the setting of the family owned Irish pub in New York City. The Finnegan clan has gone through some tough times, but Kieran has just begun her first job as a criminal psychologist, while still helping out in the pub from time to time. Her brothers, who have colorful past, are separating themselves from their previous criminal activities in favor of earning an honest living, or at least we hope they are. However, in the name of honor, one of her brothers and her best friend, Julie, pull a risky and illegal move that forces Kieran to right their wrong, which plunges her headlong into the dangerous world of diamond heists.
This is a very unique story with a equal balance of action, mystery, suspense, and romance. I really liked the big Irish family and how they work together and stick together. I also thought the intrigue was well plotted with a few very surprising twists along the way. The only weak spot for me was with the romance, which seemed forced, without a lot of build-up, and no emotional connection. The secrets Kieran keeps even after all is said and done left me feeling like there was a loose end that needed to be tied.
Other than that, the story is solid and fast paced, with well-developed characters, and great supporting cast, that I hope will get their own story someday.. maybe Danny and Julie?
Heather Graham is an experienced author who writes across many romantic sub-genres, but for me her historical romances and her romantic suspense series are where she really shines. This book is a fine example of that. Recommended for fans of romantic suspense and mystery/thriller readers.
4 stars
Is it just me, or does it seem like it’s been a really long while since Heather Graham has released a standard romantic suspense novel? Since I’ve begun to shift away from the PNR genre, I have lost touch with this author, so I’m happy to see she is starting a new series which focuses more on traditional mystery and suspense.
Immediately, I was sucked into the setting of the family owned Irish pub in New York City. The Finnegan clan has gone through some tough times, but Kieran has just begun her first job as a criminal psychologist, while still helping out in the pub from time to time. Her brothers, who have colorful past, are separating themselves from their previous criminal activities in favor of earning an honest living, or at least we hope they are. However, in the name of honor, one of her brothers and her best friend, Julie, pull a risky and illegal move that forces Kieran to right their wrong, which plunges her headlong into the dangerous world of diamond heists.
This is a very unique story with a equal balance of action, mystery, suspense, and romance. I really liked the big Irish family and how they work together and stick together. I also thought the intrigue was well plotted with a few very surprising twists along the way. The only weak spot for me was with the romance, which seemed forced, without a lot of build-up, and no emotional connection. The secrets Kieran keeps even after all is said and done left me feeling like there was a loose end that needed to be tied.
Other than that, the story is solid and fast paced, with well-developed characters, and great supporting cast, that I hope will get their own story someday.. maybe Danny and Julie?
Heather Graham is an experienced author who writes across many romantic sub-genres, but for me her historical romances and her romantic suspense series are where she really shines. This book is a fine example of that. Recommended for fans of romantic suspense and mystery/thriller readers.
4 stars
November 29, 2016
On the one hand, I liked the family story very much, though the lead character's name threw me (Kieran/Ciarán is the male form of a Gaelic name). The Finnegan relationships were wonderfully done, and people with a large, close family may find their interactions very familiar. The mystery side - the diamond robberies - had some jaw-dropping moments and some great suspense, but then the romance felt a little awkward. There was one scene that involved abrupt yelling which just didn't quite fit with the characters, and very little concern for the ethics or a potentially compromised investigation.
What finally clinched my 3-star rating was the end; it seemed to come out of nowhere, and just didn't convince me of its authenticity. But it was a fun read, and I liked the characters.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
What finally clinched my 3-star rating was the end; it seemed to come out of nowhere, and just didn't convince me of its authenticity. But it was a fun read, and I liked the characters.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 31, 2020
True score is 1, but I swore off hate-reading books.
I had no idea this author has written para-normal books, a genre I thoroughly detest whether your name is Heather Graham or Stephen King. In fact, she also writes romance novels. Eew. I have no idea how I happened upon this novel. The only reason that I didn’t put this down after about 50 pages was to see if the ending turned into something completely absurd, like when you can’t stop looking at a car wreck. I obviously wandered into a place where I don’t belong, but as a compulsive reader (and writer), I couldn’t stop myself.
The story begins with a jaw-dropping coincidence (and not jaw-dropping in a good way). She goes to the jewelry store to return a diamond her brother stole precisely when a robbery is in progress. Wow, she should skip the jewelry store and go to the horse track and put everything she has on the fourth race. I can forgive one whacky coincidence, even one so mind-numbingly improbable. But there are others.
Then it turns out that the two groups of thieves hang out at her bar in a city that probably has thousands of bars, a bar that is also known as a cop hang out.
This is from the robbery at the jewelry store:
He fired a shot as he walked; she felt the pistol’s kick shoot through her via his grip on her arm. The sound was deafening.
Yet, when the police wrap up the arrest, it turns out their guns were toys. A toy that is deafening and has a strong kick. Got it. And how do the police and FBI arrive within what couldn’t have been more than a couple of minutes after the robbery began? Did they teleport? Is this a paranormal crime novel?
After she has returned the diamond that her brother stole (he has a bar, and he steals diamonds?), why is she so incredibly edgy and nervous? The diamond in question could never be traced back to her or her brother. She is a psychologist and she can’t pull off a harmless subterfuge? The reason she was making the switch with the diamond was because she felt she had a bit more sangfroid than her brother, yet is practically shitting herself even after the diamond is back to its rightful owner.
She just happens to be something of a criminal psychologist after only recently obtaining her bachelor’s degree which means precisely fuck all in clinical terms.
For a moment he got a good look at her face. Mid to late twenties, brilliant blue eyes, deep red hair, fine bone structure and porcelain skin.*
This is what happens when a romance author writes a crime novel.
WTF? Moments (just a few)
How do you push the wrong person in front of a moving train?
A copycat group of jewel thieves? Why are they copying anything? Like wearing masks and hoodies is so highly original they need to be copied.
The thieves beat an old ex-alcoholic from the bar almost to death (they thought he was dead) because they thought he may have overheard them? Just too stupid. Just like they want to kill the protagonist because she, too, may know something. But then it gets worse, the kill or try to kill people who have simply spoken to people they think may know something. This all happens in the middle of a police and FBI investigation when any normal criminal would be getting out of Dodge.
Are they a group of jewel thieves or are they a group of psychopathic maniacs who steal jewels? Why on earth would they try to kill her, or the old man at the bar? It makes zero sense. I mean, it is explained, but it makes no sense.
We do have plenty of cops around,” Declan agreed. Yet criminals plan crimes there, too. They should share a table.
She has a 24-houre FBI escort? They don’t do that.
Her FBI fuck buddy, or whatever the hell he is, sits in her bar in disguise and talks to her with some stupid accent and she doesn’t recognize him? It’s just an all-around stupid scenario.
*Here is a little side-note: you don’t have to be gorgeous or handsome to have sex. You don’t have to be a billionaire or even a lowly millionaire to have access to sex. Ugly fat poor people are capable of having terrific orgasms. So why do writers spend so much time describing how attractive people are? As a reader, I just feel that I need only enough of a physical description to carry the story, anything more is a waste of words. It reminds me of those Penthouse forum letters which began with things like, “She had the biggest boobs I ever seen.”
I had no idea this author has written para-normal books, a genre I thoroughly detest whether your name is Heather Graham or Stephen King. In fact, she also writes romance novels. Eew. I have no idea how I happened upon this novel. The only reason that I didn’t put this down after about 50 pages was to see if the ending turned into something completely absurd, like when you can’t stop looking at a car wreck. I obviously wandered into a place where I don’t belong, but as a compulsive reader (and writer), I couldn’t stop myself.
The story begins with a jaw-dropping coincidence (and not jaw-dropping in a good way). She goes to the jewelry store to return a diamond her brother stole precisely when a robbery is in progress. Wow, she should skip the jewelry store and go to the horse track and put everything she has on the fourth race. I can forgive one whacky coincidence, even one so mind-numbingly improbable. But there are others.
Then it turns out that the two groups of thieves hang out at her bar in a city that probably has thousands of bars, a bar that is also known as a cop hang out.
This is from the robbery at the jewelry store:
He fired a shot as he walked; she felt the pistol’s kick shoot through her via his grip on her arm. The sound was deafening.
Yet, when the police wrap up the arrest, it turns out their guns were toys. A toy that is deafening and has a strong kick. Got it. And how do the police and FBI arrive within what couldn’t have been more than a couple of minutes after the robbery began? Did they teleport? Is this a paranormal crime novel?
After she has returned the diamond that her brother stole (he has a bar, and he steals diamonds?), why is she so incredibly edgy and nervous? The diamond in question could never be traced back to her or her brother. She is a psychologist and she can’t pull off a harmless subterfuge? The reason she was making the switch with the diamond was because she felt she had a bit more sangfroid than her brother, yet is practically shitting herself even after the diamond is back to its rightful owner.
She just happens to be something of a criminal psychologist after only recently obtaining her bachelor’s degree which means precisely fuck all in clinical terms.
For a moment he got a good look at her face. Mid to late twenties, brilliant blue eyes, deep red hair, fine bone structure and porcelain skin.*
This is what happens when a romance author writes a crime novel.
WTF? Moments (just a few)
How do you push the wrong person in front of a moving train?
A copycat group of jewel thieves? Why are they copying anything? Like wearing masks and hoodies is so highly original they need to be copied.
The thieves beat an old ex-alcoholic from the bar almost to death (they thought he was dead) because they thought he may have overheard them? Just too stupid. Just like they want to kill the protagonist because she, too, may know something. But then it gets worse, the kill or try to kill people who have simply spoken to people they think may know something. This all happens in the middle of a police and FBI investigation when any normal criminal would be getting out of Dodge.
Are they a group of jewel thieves or are they a group of psychopathic maniacs who steal jewels? Why on earth would they try to kill her, or the old man at the bar? It makes zero sense. I mean, it is explained, but it makes no sense.
We do have plenty of cops around,” Declan agreed. Yet criminals plan crimes there, too. They should share a table.
She has a 24-houre FBI escort? They don’t do that.
Her FBI fuck buddy, or whatever the hell he is, sits in her bar in disguise and talks to her with some stupid accent and she doesn’t recognize him? It’s just an all-around stupid scenario.
*Here is a little side-note: you don’t have to be gorgeous or handsome to have sex. You don’t have to be a billionaire or even a lowly millionaire to have access to sex. Ugly fat poor people are capable of having terrific orgasms. So why do writers spend so much time describing how attractive people are? As a reader, I just feel that I need only enough of a physical description to carry the story, anything more is a waste of words. It reminds me of those Penthouse forum letters which began with things like, “She had the biggest boobs I ever seen.”
June 5, 2016
Flawless ... is not. Ironically titled, this is one of the most flawed books I've seen come out under Heather Graham's name. It took me two days to work my way to the last page.
The first stumble was the author's inexplicably giving her female protagonist a male name: Kieran. It went downhill from there. The book begins with a teaser when Kieran's friend Julie states: "I'm okay, really, but I have to tell you what I did." It took 8 pages—75 excruciating paragraphs—to see the reveal. In between we were treated to giggling, scene painting, and enough expository dialogue to cure insomnia. Julie can't stay on focus; trying to follow her conversation was like charting a butterfly's flight path. She is one of the primary supporting characters; this introduction showed her to be giggly, flighty, and somewhat less intelligent than the average toadstool.
By this point, page 15 in my hardcover edition, I seriously considered calling this a DNF and moving on. Too bad I didn't listen. The level of editing failure in the first 8 pages shouldn't be seen in an ARC, much less a finished edition.
It got worse. The writing was disjointed, the flow erratic, the characters flat, and the initial plot thread disappeared without resolution. It was neither romantic nor much of a suspense. What it was is a mess. What it did was damage my respect for this author's work.
This book could have been salvaged with some strong editing. I have read and enjoyed most of Heather Graham's Krewe of Hunters series, which is romantic suspense with a paranormal twist. I know Graham is capable of writing romantic suspense. She missed the mark on this one.
Basic fails that even a new-hire editor should have caught:
A hostage situation: the BadGuy hesitates, acts as if he knows the hostage, then grabs her anyway. Thread dropped, never to be mentioned again.
A robbery situation:
A medical situation, part one: A victim has a possible skull fracture; the author repeatedly refers to "water on the brain." The medically correct term is "fluid on the brain."
A medical situation, part two: The visitor-traffic in the ICU unit defies belief. No visitor would have been allowed stay in the room with the patient overnight, much less sleep in a chair beside the patient's bed.
The first stumble was the author's inexplicably giving her female protagonist a male name: Kieran. It went downhill from there. The book begins with a teaser when Kieran's friend Julie states: "I'm okay, really, but I have to tell you what I did." It took 8 pages—75 excruciating paragraphs—to see the reveal. In between we were treated to giggling, scene painting, and enough expository dialogue to cure insomnia. Julie can't stay on focus; trying to follow her conversation was like charting a butterfly's flight path. She is one of the primary supporting characters; this introduction showed her to be giggly, flighty, and somewhat less intelligent than the average toadstool.
By this point, page 15 in my hardcover edition, I seriously considered calling this a DNF and moving on. Too bad I didn't listen. The level of editing failure in the first 8 pages shouldn't be seen in an ARC, much less a finished edition.
It got worse. The writing was disjointed, the flow erratic, the characters flat, and the initial plot thread disappeared without resolution. It was neither romantic nor much of a suspense. What it was is a mess. What it did was damage my respect for this author's work.
This book could have been salvaged with some strong editing. I have read and enjoyed most of Heather Graham's Krewe of Hunters series, which is romantic suspense with a paranormal twist. I know Graham is capable of writing romantic suspense. She missed the mark on this one.
Basic fails that even a new-hire editor should have caught:
A hostage situation: the BadGuy hesitates, acts as if he knows the hostage, then grabs her anyway. Thread dropped, never to be mentioned again.
A robbery situation:
A medical situation, part one: A victim has a possible skull fracture; the author repeatedly refers to "water on the brain." The medically correct term is "fluid on the brain."
A medical situation, part two: The visitor-traffic in the ICU unit defies belief. No visitor would have been allowed stay in the room with the patient overnight, much less sleep in a chair beside the patient's bed.
August 27, 2017
I enjoyed this book. It was a fast easy read. Not a lot of depth to the plot or the characters but still a fun read.
March 19, 2016
Suspense, romance, betrayal and a sexy red-head, what more could a reader want? In Flawless, Ms. Graham delivers another memorable and exciting tale. Kieran is a woman blessed with three loving brothers, even if two of them are mischievous scoundrels. Kieran is a loyal sister and a devoted friend. When her best friend and her younger brother try to wreak havoc on said best friend's ex-husband, it is up to Kieran to save the day.
The character development is what gets me every time I read a Ms. Graham book. Her characters have depth and come to life. They are people readers want to become friends with. They are so realistic with their wants, fears and sadness. Ms. Graham excels at showing the strength in both the bonds of family and friends. This bond is appealing to readers who wish they could be the recipient of such devotion. Watching the interactions between Kieran and her brothers is heartwarming. This is more than just a feel good book. The slow sensual simmer between Kieran and the investigating FBI agent Craig is delicious.
It is nice to have a romance where there isn't instant love or falling into bed at first lust. Kieran's wariness towards Craig helps build the sexual heat for when they finally enjoy each other's bodies. The verbal foreplay between the two characters makes this book fun and amusing. It is a cat and mouse game as Craig tries to figure out what Kieran is hiding from him. It is not as bad as he thinks. This does bring in the suspense part of the plot which is well done. Ms. Graham lays a couple of red herrings as plot twists. I enjoy this and it holds my attention. This 3.5 star romantic suspense is recommended to readers who enjoy mystery, betrayals and a feisty red-head. Are there any other kinds of red-heads?
*provided by NetGalley
The character development is what gets me every time I read a Ms. Graham book. Her characters have depth and come to life. They are people readers want to become friends with. They are so realistic with their wants, fears and sadness. Ms. Graham excels at showing the strength in both the bonds of family and friends. This bond is appealing to readers who wish they could be the recipient of such devotion. Watching the interactions between Kieran and her brothers is heartwarming. This is more than just a feel good book. The slow sensual simmer between Kieran and the investigating FBI agent Craig is delicious.
It is nice to have a romance where there isn't instant love or falling into bed at first lust. Kieran's wariness towards Craig helps build the sexual heat for when they finally enjoy each other's bodies. The verbal foreplay between the two characters makes this book fun and amusing. It is a cat and mouse game as Craig tries to figure out what Kieran is hiding from him. It is not as bad as he thinks. This does bring in the suspense part of the plot which is well done. Ms. Graham lays a couple of red herrings as plot twists. I enjoy this and it holds my attention. This 3.5 star romantic suspense is recommended to readers who enjoy mystery, betrayals and a feisty red-head. Are there any other kinds of red-heads?
*provided by NetGalley
April 10, 2022
Flawless seemed to have raised some ire among readers and I understand both sides: the people who loved the story and those who gave it a low rating.
Just about everyone, including the MCs, were good-looking, fit, smart and kind. Kieran Finnegan loved her three brothers and they loved her. Except for the oldest, Declan, all of them were employed elsewhere, but they managed to assist at the family pub whenever needed. I often wondered how they worked at their day jobs on the amount of sleep they got after leaving the family tavern.
Both Kieran and Craig were likable and their chemistry was good. I understood their attraction, but I was mildly disappointed they fell into insta-lust and sex within days of meeting each other. I would have appreciated a slow-burn romance.
It was hard not to have a devoted FBI special agent and a behavior therapist without some OTT moments. In regards to the suspense and mystery, I have to admit I was surprised as to the identity of one of the villains. I am going to continue with this series to see what else happens with this twosome.
3.5 stars
Just about everyone, including the MCs, were good-looking, fit, smart and kind. Kieran Finnegan loved her three brothers and they loved her. Except for the oldest, Declan, all of them were employed elsewhere, but they managed to assist at the family pub whenever needed. I often wondered how they worked at their day jobs on the amount of sleep they got after leaving the family tavern.
Both Kieran and Craig were likable and their chemistry was good. I understood their attraction, but I was mildly disappointed they fell into insta-lust and sex within days of meeting each other. I would have appreciated a slow-burn romance.
It was hard not to have a devoted FBI special agent and a behavior therapist without some OTT moments. In regards to the suspense and mystery, I have to admit I was surprised as to the identity of one of the villains. I am going to continue with this series to see what else happens with this twosome.
3.5 stars
July 23, 2016
Heather Graham is one of my favorite authors and if she wrote the label on the back of ketchup bottle I would read it with rapt attention. I love her KREWE OF HUNTERS series and her other paranormal stories. I decided to read a genre I've never indulged in before-romance, and only because Mrs. Graham wrote a book in that category.
FLAWLESS is a fast paced romantic suspense that engaged my interest from the first chapter. Mrs. Graham, of course, builds the story with fascinating and well developed characters, which to me is the most important aspect in a story. Kieran is a tough protagonist and her back story is interesting, in fact her whole family is. Craig Fraiser the FBI agent is hot—there is something sexy about a man great at his job and protective over a woman he admires. And of course the main setting in an Irish pub which had me wanting to visit my local one and soak up the atmosphere.
FLAWLESS is filled with action, suspense, romance and great characters. I’m looking forward to the second book in the series and where Mrs. Graham takes us with Kieran, her family, and Craig.
FLAWLESS is a fast paced romantic suspense that engaged my interest from the first chapter. Mrs. Graham, of course, builds the story with fascinating and well developed characters, which to me is the most important aspect in a story. Kieran is a tough protagonist and her back story is interesting, in fact her whole family is. Craig Fraiser the FBI agent is hot—there is something sexy about a man great at his job and protective over a woman he admires. And of course the main setting in an Irish pub which had me wanting to visit my local one and soak up the atmosphere.
FLAWLESS is filled with action, suspense, romance and great characters. I’m looking forward to the second book in the series and where Mrs. Graham takes us with Kieran, her family, and Craig.
July 14, 2020
Ok, I tried with this book but there is legit nothing interesting happening.
The book is so jumpy, oh we're at work, now we're at the bar, now we're here with little to no transitions. I also just don't like the writing. Sure, it's easy to breeze through bc it's simple writing. As for the claim that the author stands at the top of the romantic suspense category, I'd disagree.
The whole book was just lacking, and while I could've forced myself through it.... I'm just not interested in doing that.
Counting it though, bc I read over half of the dang thing.
The book is so jumpy, oh we're at work, now we're at the bar, now we're here with little to no transitions. I also just don't like the writing. Sure, it's easy to breeze through bc it's simple writing. As for the claim that the author stands at the top of the romantic suspense category, I'd disagree.
The whole book was just lacking, and while I could've forced myself through it.... I'm just not interested in doing that.
Counting it though, bc I read over half of the dang thing.
May 18, 2021
3.5 Stars
Flawless was an enjoyable start to the New York Confidential series with a suspenseful plot surrounding diamond thieves.
Kieran Finnegan is a criminal psychologist by day and works in her family's pub Finnegan's in her off hours. When a series of thefts occur in the Diamond District Kieran inadvertently finds herself drawn into the case when she tries to return a stone her youngest brother stole only for the store to become the latest target of the thieves. Right in the middle of her returning the stone. Working with FBI agent Craig Frasier, Kieran helps uncover the existence of two groups of thieves. After a connection to Finnegan's is revealed, Kieran is determined to find the thieves before her family is caught up in the crimes.
The diamond thefts proved to be quite the interesting plot. The fact that there are two different groups of thieves operating independently was an intriguing development. Add in the fact that one of the groups isn't afraid to kill people to complete their heists and there was definitely an urgency to find the thieves before they strike again. After it was revealed that Finnegan's was somehow involved, I was curious what the connection would end up being. I liked the direction the author ended up taking the Finnegan's connection. There's quite a bit of action towards the end of the book that was suspenseful and overall the ending was very well done.
Kiernan and Craig work well together on the diamond thefts and I thought their introduction to each other was perfect, she's in the middle of a robbery that he shows up to stop. Kieran's work as a criminal psychologist, as well as her background on the wrong side of the law as a kid, definitely aid Kieran in her work to uncover the thieves' identities. Craig does have a tendency to keep information from Kieran, but that makes sense as he doesn't know if her family is involved in any way after the connection to Finnegan's is revealed. The relationship between these two develops quickly, particularly when it comes to their physical attraction. I'm looking forward to seeing how their relationship develops as the series progresses.
Overall Flawless was a good introduction to the characters and series. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series, A Perfect Obsession, soon.
Flawless was an enjoyable start to the New York Confidential series with a suspenseful plot surrounding diamond thieves.
Kieran Finnegan is a criminal psychologist by day and works in her family's pub Finnegan's in her off hours. When a series of thefts occur in the Diamond District Kieran inadvertently finds herself drawn into the case when she tries to return a stone her youngest brother stole only for the store to become the latest target of the thieves. Right in the middle of her returning the stone. Working with FBI agent Craig Frasier, Kieran helps uncover the existence of two groups of thieves. After a connection to Finnegan's is revealed, Kieran is determined to find the thieves before her family is caught up in the crimes.
The diamond thefts proved to be quite the interesting plot. The fact that there are two different groups of thieves operating independently was an intriguing development. Add in the fact that one of the groups isn't afraid to kill people to complete their heists and there was definitely an urgency to find the thieves before they strike again. After it was revealed that Finnegan's was somehow involved, I was curious what the connection would end up being. I liked the direction the author ended up taking the Finnegan's connection. There's quite a bit of action towards the end of the book that was suspenseful and overall the ending was very well done.
Kiernan and Craig work well together on the diamond thefts and I thought their introduction to each other was perfect, she's in the middle of a robbery that he shows up to stop. Kieran's work as a criminal psychologist, as well as her background on the wrong side of the law as a kid, definitely aid Kieran in her work to uncover the thieves' identities. Craig does have a tendency to keep information from Kieran, but that makes sense as he doesn't know if her family is involved in any way after the connection to Finnegan's is revealed. The relationship between these two develops quickly, particularly when it comes to their physical attraction. I'm looking forward to seeing how their relationship develops as the series progresses.
Overall Flawless was a good introduction to the characters and series. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series, A Perfect Obsession, soon.
July 5, 2021
This book is like a bag of potato chips. You go in knowing there’s no nutritional value. You mindlessly eat chip after chip while thinking about other things, like how you’ll maybe have a salad later to make up for this. About two-thirds of the way through the bag, you feel guilty about how much you’ve eaten, and are kind of grossed out by how greasy your fingers are. But there’s not much left in the bag so you just power through the last fistfuls of greasy salty crumbs. Once the bag is empty, you feel sick and kind of hate yourself and wish you’d never even opened it in the first place.
March 26, 2025
Liked this! What a fun fast read!
February 18, 2016
Graham's new novel isn't bad, but it isn't that great either. I liked the suspense side of the plot, especially the copycat thieves, and the romance was certainly steamy, but there were tons of plot holes. Kieran becomes involved in the plot due to a stolen diamond, but halfway through the book that plotline disappears, never to be seen again. There's also some other plotlines that wander in and out, but never amount to anything. A quick romance read, but not more than that.
April 2, 2020
I read this back in 2016. I reviewed it but, apparently, I never saved it. DUH! In any event, I really loved the Finnegan Family and their fierce devotion and love of one another. The mystery was great. The main characters were interesting and well developed. As always with Heather Graham's books, lots of interesting and well-researched historical facts seamlessly woven into the story. Enjoyed it and it kept me reading the entire series until the last book.
July 1, 2021
Tre stelline e mezzo.
May 15, 2016
First, I would like to thank Harlequin Books for giving me this ARC as a giveaway thru Goodreads.
That being said...this book didn't do anything for me. It was very slow...not that interesting...and didn't hold my interest like I thought it should have. I'm also confused as to how this could've been categorized as "Romantic Suspense" when there was ZERO romance, weak sex scenes (which seemed to last all of 30 seconds), and random times when the main character Kieran said things that didn't make any sense. The word "love" wasn't thrown around and the whole "suspense" thought seemed to be an afterthought.
Throughout the book, all you keep hearing about is this family pub in NYC called Finnegans. The main character Kieran gets caught up in some jewel robbery which sets a series of events in motion.
However, the overall ending was severely lackluster. I got to a point where I just read the rest of this book just to be done with it. I'm still not sure what the reason behind all that occurred was for, nor do I care to try to reread in order to understand.
I don't want to read anything else from this author.
That being said...this book didn't do anything for me. It was very slow...not that interesting...and didn't hold my interest like I thought it should have. I'm also confused as to how this could've been categorized as "Romantic Suspense" when there was ZERO romance, weak sex scenes (which seemed to last all of 30 seconds), and random times when the main character Kieran said things that didn't make any sense. The word "love" wasn't thrown around and the whole "suspense" thought seemed to be an afterthought.
Throughout the book, all you keep hearing about is this family pub in NYC called Finnegans. The main character Kieran gets caught up in some jewel robbery which sets a series of events in motion.
However, the overall ending was severely lackluster. I got to a point where I just read the rest of this book just to be done with it. I'm still not sure what the reason behind all that occurred was for, nor do I care to try to reread in order to understand.
I don't want to read anything else from this author.
January 28, 2016
I would like to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest and open review.
This is the first book I've read by Ms Graham so I was unsure what to expect. I certainly wasn't disappointed and will look out for more of her books.
Kieran is a criminal psychologist by day and also helps to run the family pub. I loved the way the pub and its customers were described. I wish it was my local.
She is a strong, fiesty woman who wants to be involved with everything that's going on, even though they might touch on the illegal.
There was plenty of action that kept you turning the pages. I kept trying to work out who was responsible but failed miserably.
I do hope there are more books to come about Kieran and Special Agent Craig Frasier.
This is the first book I've read by Ms Graham so I was unsure what to expect. I certainly wasn't disappointed and will look out for more of her books.
Kieran is a criminal psychologist by day and also helps to run the family pub. I loved the way the pub and its customers were described. I wish it was my local.
She is a strong, fiesty woman who wants to be involved with everything that's going on, even though they might touch on the illegal.
There was plenty of action that kept you turning the pages. I kept trying to work out who was responsible but failed miserably.
I do hope there are more books to come about Kieran and Special Agent Craig Frasier.
February 28, 2017
This was a free book from a book club offered through the mail. It was a story of Kieran who is embroiled in some robberies and murders. She does heroic things for people, she falls in love with a hunky FBI guy, Craig and the ending is the very best part of the book. You don't really suspect who was behind the crimes. My problem was that I couldn't enjoy the read, there was too much extraneous stuff and not enough realism for me to really want to read more than a few pages at a time. I have read other Heather Graham books but this one just didn't make the grade.
June 28, 2016
It always makes me sad when an author I love puts out a book that is just OK. I did read the whole book, but I kind of felt like the author was phoning this one in. It just lacked something that I can't put my finger on. Fans will probably want to pick this one up. Just don't expect her usually quality.
April 27, 2017
I really enjoyed this story of criminal psychologist Kieran and FBI agent Craig trying to solve a rash of diamond heists in New York City. Great characters, an engrossing storyline, and an interesting setting made this one a hit for me!
October 14, 2017
I guess I am just too fond of Graham's paranormal books, because this was okay, but it just didn't hold my attention the way the Krewe of Hunters books always do.
The story was okay, and the characters were fine, and everything was just okay. But I realized about chapter 10 that I just wasn't really engaged with any of it. I didn't hate it, I didn't love it, it was "meh", and with over 500 books on my to-be-read list, "meh" usually doesn't get finished with me. Too many books, not enough time means if I am not loving it, I'm moving on to the next book, which is, sadly, what I'm doing with this one.
That said, I typically really enjoy Graham's paranormal stories and I will definitely keep reading those. This just didn't grab me.
The story was okay, and the characters were fine, and everything was just okay. But I realized about chapter 10 that I just wasn't really engaged with any of it. I didn't hate it, I didn't love it, it was "meh", and with over 500 books on my to-be-read list, "meh" usually doesn't get finished with me. Too many books, not enough time means if I am not loving it, I'm moving on to the next book, which is, sadly, what I'm doing with this one.
That said, I typically really enjoy Graham's paranormal stories and I will definitely keep reading those. This just didn't grab me.
September 3, 2023
When Kieran Finnegan accidentally gets caught up in a diamond store robbery, she meets FBI agent Craig Frasier. Of course, the sparks fly immediately ... even though Craig suspects Kieran and her family may have been involved somehow in the heist.
Of course, romantic thrillers mean that the bad guys are still out there, and it's question of whether they'll be stopped in time. When regulars at Kieran's family-owned pub are assaulted, it looks like the diamond thieves are afraid that someone there knows too much.
As always with Heather Graham, the heat on the page is palpable even if the sexy-times are understated. The thrills and action are first-rate every time as well.
This was truly an enjoyable read.
Of course, romantic thrillers mean that the bad guys are still out there, and it's question of whether they'll be stopped in time. When regulars at Kieran's family-owned pub are assaulted, it looks like the diamond thieves are afraid that someone there knows too much.
As always with Heather Graham, the heat on the page is palpable even if the sexy-times are understated. The thrills and action are first-rate every time as well.
This was truly an enjoyable read.
August 1, 2020
Firstly, I want to say I really enjoyed this book. There were some mixed reviews, but I think that was from more people who wanted a 'crime' book. This is definitely a romance book with crime in, which is honestly one of my favourite types.
I'm not the one for stereotypical crime books as I find them hard going and a bit heavy. But stories like this are brilliant, a bit of romance, a badass heroine, comedy and lots of mystery are right up my alley.
This is the first time reading any of Heather Graham's books, and I can't wait to check out some more :)
I'm not the one for stereotypical crime books as I find them hard going and a bit heavy. But stories like this are brilliant, a bit of romance, a badass heroine, comedy and lots of mystery are right up my alley.
This is the first time reading any of Heather Graham's books, and I can't wait to check out some more :)
August 21, 2017
A perfect start to a mystery series, and Kieran and Craig are so cute together. They are a more put together and respectable Stephanie and Joe.
May 15, 2024
Not flawless
May 19, 2019
Enjoyed reading; found the second half much more interesting--almost like two entirely different stories. You were left hanging about what happened to Danny, Jamie and her regarding the diamond.
April 29, 2016
Flawless is a straightforward romantic-suspense novel set in New York City. And I wish I knew why I didn’t love it. Heather Graham is usually a pretty good storyteller, and on the whole I liked the two main characters, but something just didn’t quite jell for me. Close, but not quite.
For once, the blurb describes the book pretty accurately. Kieran is in the wrong place at the wrong time (albeit for the right reason); she is abducted in the course of a jewelry store robbery. Craig Frasier is an FBI agent who responds to the robbery and chases after the fleeing thieves. Once everything is under control, Kieran has to walk a very fine line for the rest of the book. She doesn’t want her youngest brother Danny to get in trouble, she doesn’t want the authorities to know about his juvie record, she doesn’t want her eldest brother to find out what an idiot Danny was, and (as the case goes on) she doesn’t want her family or their pub dragged into the case. And she really, really doesn’t want any personal fame or publicity. That means she ends up keeping a lot of secrets — from Craig and his partner as well as from her eldest brother.
The problem is, Kieran is both good and not good at keeping secrets. Craig knows there are things she’s not telling him. His gut says to trust her, but he’s too good an agent not to wonder why she was in the shop and if she was somehow involved with the thieves. And Kieran isn’t good at hiding the fact that she’s concealing something. At the same time, she stubbornly holds back when telling the truth might be a better move. I do understand why she doesn’t speak up. Even as their relationship deepens, she hasn’t known Craig all that long, certainly not long enough to know how he would react about her brother. But on the other hand, how on earth did she think she could keep her brother’s record a secret from the police, let alone the FBI — he’s in the system, for heaven’s sake! For someone who seems pretty smart, she sure doesn’t always act it, or think logically. The urge to protect and keep silent seems to overcome some of her common sense, and I began to find that exasperating.
Craig I liked immediately, and that liking only grew as I continued to read. He’s a good friend to his partner, an excellent field agent, and a stand-up guy. He really shouldn’t be getting involved with a witness (couldn’t that cost him his job in real life?), but other than that, he makes an admirable hero, complete with a sense of humor.
The Finnegans are a typical (stereotypical) Irish-American family. Big brother Declan runs the pub and raised his younger siblings after their parents died. The younger ones all work at the pub when they’re not out doing other jobs. (Besides Kieran’s work as a criminal psychologist, her twin brother Kevin is an actor trying to get roles, and her younger brother Danny is a tour guide.) The family extends to friends, including Julie, the girl who got Danny into the mess in the first place — and oh, did I want to shake some sense into the pair of them more than once! There’s also an older man, Bobby, a recovered alcoholic who nonetheless loves to hang out at the bar. (Does that seem as unlikely to you as it does to me?) And of course, there’s Craig’s partner Mike. The dynamics between all these characters are interesting—especially the affection the whole family feels for Bobby—and for me they were one of the best parts of the book outside the mystery plot.
The mystery itself was absorbing, though I spotted two of the real villains very soon after they were introduced. Copycat crimes are not unusual, but what is unusual is to have the copycat(s) acting simultaneously with the original criminal(s), making it harder to investigate. . . especially when the DA is convinced the killers have been caught. And of course, once Kieran and Craig begin to suspect someone is trying to kill her, the suspense ratchets up a notch or two. Even once I was fairly sure I knew who was behind the murder-robberies, I was still eager to find out how and when they would be apprehended.
I may not have loved Flawless, but I did like it, certainly well enough that I would read a sequel if it turns into a series. There’s no clear indication of that happening, so it may be a standalone, and that’s OK too. Either way, Flawless gave me several hours of reading pleasure in the middle of an insomniac night, and that was all that really mattered.
Review originally published at The Bookwyrm's Hoard.
FTC disclosure: I received a review copy from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.
For once, the blurb describes the book pretty accurately. Kieran is in the wrong place at the wrong time (albeit for the right reason); she is abducted in the course of a jewelry store robbery. Craig Frasier is an FBI agent who responds to the robbery and chases after the fleeing thieves. Once everything is under control, Kieran has to walk a very fine line for the rest of the book. She doesn’t want her youngest brother Danny to get in trouble, she doesn’t want the authorities to know about his juvie record, she doesn’t want her eldest brother to find out what an idiot Danny was, and (as the case goes on) she doesn’t want her family or their pub dragged into the case. And she really, really doesn’t want any personal fame or publicity. That means she ends up keeping a lot of secrets — from Craig and his partner as well as from her eldest brother.
The problem is, Kieran is both good and not good at keeping secrets. Craig knows there are things she’s not telling him. His gut says to trust her, but he’s too good an agent not to wonder why she was in the shop and if she was somehow involved with the thieves. And Kieran isn’t good at hiding the fact that she’s concealing something. At the same time, she stubbornly holds back when telling the truth might be a better move. I do understand why she doesn’t speak up. Even as their relationship deepens, she hasn’t known Craig all that long, certainly not long enough to know how he would react about her brother. But on the other hand, how on earth did she think she could keep her brother’s record a secret from the police, let alone the FBI — he’s in the system, for heaven’s sake! For someone who seems pretty smart, she sure doesn’t always act it, or think logically. The urge to protect and keep silent seems to overcome some of her common sense, and I began to find that exasperating.
Craig I liked immediately, and that liking only grew as I continued to read. He’s a good friend to his partner, an excellent field agent, and a stand-up guy. He really shouldn’t be getting involved with a witness (couldn’t that cost him his job in real life?), but other than that, he makes an admirable hero, complete with a sense of humor.
The Finnegans are a typical (stereotypical) Irish-American family. Big brother Declan runs the pub and raised his younger siblings after their parents died. The younger ones all work at the pub when they’re not out doing other jobs. (Besides Kieran’s work as a criminal psychologist, her twin brother Kevin is an actor trying to get roles, and her younger brother Danny is a tour guide.) The family extends to friends, including Julie, the girl who got Danny into the mess in the first place — and oh, did I want to shake some sense into the pair of them more than once! There’s also an older man, Bobby, a recovered alcoholic who nonetheless loves to hang out at the bar. (Does that seem as unlikely to you as it does to me?) And of course, there’s Craig’s partner Mike. The dynamics between all these characters are interesting—especially the affection the whole family feels for Bobby—and for me they were one of the best parts of the book outside the mystery plot.
The mystery itself was absorbing, though I spotted two of the real villains very soon after they were introduced. Copycat crimes are not unusual, but what is unusual is to have the copycat(s) acting simultaneously with the original criminal(s), making it harder to investigate. . . especially when the DA is convinced the killers have been caught. And of course, once Kieran and Craig begin to suspect someone is trying to kill her, the suspense ratchets up a notch or two. Even once I was fairly sure I knew who was behind the murder-robberies, I was still eager to find out how and when they would be apprehended.
I may not have loved Flawless, but I did like it, certainly well enough that I would read a sequel if it turns into a series. There’s no clear indication of that happening, so it may be a standalone, and that’s OK too. Either way, Flawless gave me several hours of reading pleasure in the middle of an insomniac night, and that was all that really mattered.
Review originally published at The Bookwyrm's Hoard.
FTC disclosure: I received a review copy from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.
November 20, 2024
"Flawless" is book one in the "New York Confidential" series by Heather Graham. I enjoyed all of the action and suspense that was in this book. Kieran is trying to keep her brother and friend out of jail when she ends up in the middle of a robbery. Craig is an FBI agent and shows up at the right time. He and his agency are trying to figure out who is behind all of the break-ins lately that are ending up with people killed. While investigating, he and Kieran end up getting close, and he sees that she just wants to keep her family safe and out of trouble. I really enjoyed this first book in a series and can't wait to move on to the next book. Heather's writing has a way of getting your attention, and you want to keep reading to see what happens next.
September 27, 2024
Lots of action, some romance, lots of drama, and a good story. I felt the ending was a little rushed with not much explanation of why. Overall, it was better than many of the stories I have listened to or read lately.
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