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New York Times bestselling author Joan Johnston returns to Texas with a captivating story of justice, secrets, and a love that can heal all wounds Dedicated Texas Ranger Jack Kittrick is hard on the trail of a killer who is preying on the helpless in a large San Antonio hospital . . . a hunt that leads him to Maggie Wainwright, the beautiful, enigmatic legal eagle who had access to the victims—and a motive for the crimes. The more Jack learns about Maggie, the more this secretive lady—who makes his spurs tangle and his heart run wild—enthralls and perplexes him. When her own son becomes the killer's target, Maggie can no longer keep silent about her painful, shadowy past. With everything she truly cares about at stake, Maggie must cast her fate to the Texas winds . . . and trust her future, and her love, to the determined lawman who has more questions for her than she has answers.
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
37 people are currently reading
160 people want to read
About the author
Joan Johnston
126 books751 followersJoan Johnston (born Little Rock, Arkansas) is a best-selling American author of over forty contemporary and historical romance novels.
Johnston was the third of seven children born to an Air Force sergeant and his music-teacher wife. She received a B.A. in theatre arts from Jacksonville University in 1970, then earning an M.A. in theatre from the University of Illinois, Urbana in 1971. She received a law degree (with honors) at the University of Texas at Austin in 1980. For the next five years, Johnston worked as an attorney, serving with the Hunton & Williams firm in Richmond, Virginia, and with Squire, Sanders, & Dempsey in Miami. She has also worked as a newspaper editor and drama critic in San Antonio, Texas, and as a college professor at Southwest Texas Junior College, Barry University, and the University of Miami.
Johnston is a member of the Authors Guild, Novelists, Inc., Romance Writers of America, and Florida Romance Writers. She has two children and one grandchild, and divides her time between two homes, in Colorado and Florida.
Awards
* Paperbook Book Club of America's Book Rak Award (twice)
* Romantic Times' Best Western Historical Series Award (twice)
* Romantic Times' Best New Western Writer
* Romantic Times' Best Historical Series Award (twice)
* The Maggie (twice)
* Romance Writers of America RITA Award finalist for The Disobedient Bride
Johnston was the third of seven children born to an Air Force sergeant and his music-teacher wife. She received a B.A. in theatre arts from Jacksonville University in 1970, then earning an M.A. in theatre from the University of Illinois, Urbana in 1971. She received a law degree (with honors) at the University of Texas at Austin in 1980. For the next five years, Johnston worked as an attorney, serving with the Hunton & Williams firm in Richmond, Virginia, and with Squire, Sanders, & Dempsey in Miami. She has also worked as a newspaper editor and drama critic in San Antonio, Texas, and as a college professor at Southwest Texas Junior College, Barry University, and the University of Miami.
Johnston is a member of the Authors Guild, Novelists, Inc., Romance Writers of America, and Florida Romance Writers. She has two children and one grandchild, and divides her time between two homes, in Colorado and Florida.
Awards
* Paperbook Book Club of America's Book Rak Award (twice)
* Romantic Times' Best Western Historical Series Award (twice)
* Romantic Times' Best New Western Writer
* Romantic Times' Best Historical Series Award (twice)
* The Maggie (twice)
* Romance Writers of America RITA Award finalist for The Disobedient Bride
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 20, 2018
*4- Stars*
I enjoyed this, but in ways it showed it's age. My biggest complaint was the total lack of communication between several of the characters! Still I was entertained, even if I solved the mystery early in the story. And I was glad to see some communication at the end with their happy endings.
I listened to the audio with Therese Plummer narrating and enjoyed it. She is a always a good and easy narrator to listen to.
I enjoyed this, but in ways it showed it's age. My biggest complaint was the total lack of communication between several of the characters! Still I was entertained, even if I solved the mystery early in the story. And I was glad to see some communication at the end with their happy endings.
I listened to the audio with Therese Plummer narrating and enjoyed it. She is a always a good and easy narrator to listen to.
April 8, 2009
Not bad but not good either. Halfway through the book I figured out who was doing the murders. Lord I hate it when that happens. Good storyline but I hate a predictable ending in a suspense romance novel
February 8, 2019
I wanted to like this book, I really did. The editing errors became increasingly annoying. For instance, one of the characters had the last name Mott, then it was Matt, then it went back to Mott and Matt back again. Punctuation and obvious grammar errors seriously took away from the story. THEN you have Jack who tells Maggie he can't be a one woman man, then THE SAME AFTERNOON confesses his undying love for her. So much of the "plot" and I use that term loosely, was unbelievable and I just felt no connection to anyone.
November 15, 2020
Really enjoyed this read! The title is misleading in that this is a mystery with romance taking a backseat. Once all the characters were introduced and the mystery laid out, I had strong suspicions about who the perpetrator was. So excited to learn in the end that I was dead on! (Pun wasn't intended there!)
August 29, 2019
I enjoyed the mystery of this book much better than the romance. The romance would have been fine too, except that there was more emphasis on sex than developing a good relationship, (which I don't believe are synonymous).
December 8, 2024
From great tragedy came truth and love
From great tragedy comes the truth and a love of two lost souls who found each other! This story contains mystery, murder, and sadness yet all obstacles are overcome! What a great story!
From great tragedy comes the truth and a love of two lost souls who found each other! This story contains mystery, murder, and sadness yet all obstacles are overcome! What a great story!
August 7, 2017
Not bad but the characters all had so many flaws and secrets it was hard to like anyone.
July 22, 2018
Great book 👍👍
March 25, 2021
very fast, enjoyable book, love her stories, just the right amount of romance and intrigue.
October 18, 2024
It was a quick read.
November 30, 2025
Reminds me of a soap opera. I really like how there was many different pov of the characters without it feeling overwhelmed. It’s something a middle age lady will definitely pick up.
September 26, 2015
This story was very good. I actually listened to the audio book narrated by Therese Plummer. Her narration is excellent. She's one of my favorite narrators.
The story is about a man, Jack, who has been sent to investigated the murders of children in different hospitals. They appeared to be "mercy killings" of children whose quality of life would be in question if they survived. One of the suspects is Maggie, who had a special needs child of her own after surviving a near drowning. She has hidden this child from everyone. Why? Jack and Maggie are immediately drawn to each other, hard for Jack to believe under the circumstances. Is Maggie guilty? If not, who is?
The story is about a man, Jack, who has been sent to investigated the murders of children in different hospitals. They appeared to be "mercy killings" of children whose quality of life would be in question if they survived. One of the suspects is Maggie, who had a special needs child of her own after surviving a near drowning. She has hidden this child from everyone. Why? Jack and Maggie are immediately drawn to each other, hard for Jack to believe under the circumstances. Is Maggie guilty? If not, who is?
November 25, 2012
It's not whether you can figure out who was the murderer but the journey to the end. I enjoyed this book but it is clear that it was an earlier book because the books got much better as she continued to write.
March 31, 2014
Joan Johnston keeps you on the edge and keeps you trying to guess who the murderer is, who's killing these children. She also weaves a beautiful love story into the mix and reminds us all that non of us are perfect, but through love we all overcome our imperfections. A great read!!!
November 30, 2011
Kept me guessing almost till the end.
February 7, 2012
The secrets we try to keep are often things we need to discuss and this was so true in this book. Very good.
April 8, 2013
Certainly not one of my favorites-as other reviewers said it was apparent early in the book who was responsible for the mercy killings.
May 5, 2014
It was an ok book, you knew well before the end who the murderer is. The story was dragged out too much.
December 19, 2015
Great author
I've read all of her books and will continue to read all of her books in the future . She's one of the best authors out here . I highly recommend her
I've read all of her books and will continue to read all of her books in the future . She's one of the best authors out here . I highly recommend her
January 6, 2017
Boo! Hiss! This book stunk. Corny, unreal situations. Not my cup of tea. Ugh!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews