Within Range

by Janice Kay Johnson

If the detective was going to protect her,He’d have to get her to let her guard down first.Helen Boyd had thought she and her son were safe from her abusive ex-husband. Then she finds a dead woman in her house—a woman who looks a lot like her. Detective Seth Renner suspects that Helen was the intended victim, but soon learns Helen has many secrets… He doesn’t know what to believe, except that this woman and child need care and, right now, protection.

Genres: Romance

213 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 21, 2019

About the author

Janice Kay Johnson is the author of over a hundred books for children and adults. Her first four published romance novels were coauthored with her mother, also a writer who has since published mysteries and children's books on her own. These were "sweet" romance novels, the author hastens to add; she isn't sure they'd have felt comfortable coauthoring passionate love scenes!

Janice graduated from Whitman College with a B.A. in history and then received a master's degree in library science from the University of Washington. She was a branch librarian for a public library system until she began selling her own writing.

She has written six novels for young adults and one picture book for the read-aloud crowd. Rosamund was the outgrowth of all those hours spent reading to her own daughters, and of her passion for growing old roses. Two more of her favorite books were historical novels she wrote for Tor/Forge. The research was pure indulgence for someone who set out intending to be a historian!

Janice is divorced and has raised her two daughters in a small, rural town north of Seattle, Washington. She's an active volunteer and board member for Purrfect Pals, a no-kill cat shelter, and foster kittens often enliven a household that already includes a few more cats than she wants to admit to!

Janice loves writing books about both love and family — about the way generations connect and the power our earliest experiences have on us throughout life. Her Superromance novels are frequent finalists for Romance Writers of America RITA® awards. Along with her books for Harlequin, Janice has written the Cape Trouble series of romantic suspense novels, and is about to launch a new series, Desperation Creek, set in rural eastern Oregon.

Reviews

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid entry from JKJ, also one of my favorite authors. A few caveats: she never really answered the question of whether Helen/Robin killed the bodyguard (unless I missed the answer, entirely possible); Johnson felt the need to write more explicit sex scenes, and the pair fall in love immediately, love at first sight. I really like my love stories to be earned. By that I mean that both the author and the characters put in the work to show us how and why they fall in love - as Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte did. Those are tough authors to live up to and most people don't. Perhaps it's a mystery beyond our understanding?

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kids watch parents very closely and most communication is nonverbal.
This was just average for me.
I am a JKJ fan.

[Toth Jo-Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great story to read. Its a story dealing with a issue old as time. Helen Boyd escaped a bad situation and rebuilt her life to the best of her of her abilities. She has secrets that she has kept to keep her and her child safe. Then we meet Seth Render with his own problems. Its a great book to read. For each have their own doubts that they work thru together to solve. I love the intrigue in this book for some of it is from Helen's past and some isn't. Its a well written book and worth a read. I look forward to seeing what Janice will have next.

[Ash · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too slow.

[Aia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome read! Another winner by Janice Kay Johnson (one of my fave authors!).