Confessions

Men of Whiskey River #1

by JoAnn Ross

Confessions by JoAnn Ross released on Mar 25, 2003 is available now for purchase.

Genres: Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Family, Mystery, Suspense

400 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

New York Times bestselling author JoAnn Ross has written over a hundred novels for a bunch of publishers. Two of her titles have been excerpted in Cosmo and her books have also been published by the Doubleday, Rhapsody, Literary Guild, and Mystery Guild book clubs.

A member of the Romance Writers of America's Honor Roll of best-selling authors, she's won several awards, including Romantic Times's Career Achievement Awards in both category and contemporary single title.

Currently writing a new Honeymoon Harbor series for HQN set on the Washington peninsula, that will launch in April, 2018, JoAnn lives with her husband (her high school sweetheart, who proposed at the sea wall where her Shelter Bay books are set), in the Pacific Northwest.

Reviews

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Confessions is a sizzling romantic suspense featuring Whiskey River Sheriff Trace Callahan, a burned out former Dallas homicide detective, and Mariah Swann, prodigal daughter of the prominent Swann family and now a successful tv crime show writer. Mariah has returned home to Whiskey River after a long absence to mend fences with her sister Laura. Laura has always been the perfect daughter and is married to a Senator who is poised to run for President. Unfortunately Mariah returns home to find that her sister has been murdered. Mariah intends to utilize all of her knowledge about crimes to ensure justice for her sister.
This book captured my interest from beginning to end and I couldn't stop reading it.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joann Ross did it again with Confessions. This book was released a few years ago, but is still current for today. So if you find a copy, you should grab it and have a read.

Trace Callahan is a small town sheriff that used to be a detective in Dallas. Since taking the job in Whiskey River not much has happened and that is the way he wants it. But someone just murdered the towns famous daughter, that married a senator and was on the way to the white house. Now he is back in his old roll of detective and needs to solve this crime.

Mariah Swann has come back to Whiskey River to make up with her sister after the rift between them has been going on too long. But when she reaches town she finds that her sister has been murdered and she is determined to help the Sheriff find the killer.

While the murder suspects keep turning up, Mariah and Trace can't help the attraction that they feel for each other. While they discover their passion for each other they find the answers to the murder.

I give this one 4 out of 5 stars.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was initially going with 2 stars, but since it is a well-written suspense story, and I generally like Ross's books, I opted for 3 instead.

The mystery/suspense element keeps you turning the pages, but the relationship between Mariah and Trace just seems to get bogged down, and I never really warmed up to them.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not even very good for the genre. Skipped ahead to see if I was right about the killer and then skipped chunks of the book. Didn't like the main characters.

[CC · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not like how the Hero was involved with another woman throughout this book, it was weird.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mariah Swann arrived back to her sisters house after being gone for several years just as the medical examiner was driving off. This was the start of her quest to find her sister’s killer even though she was sure it was her brother-in-law Senator Alan Fletcher. Sheriff Trace Callaghan was not happy that Mariah wanted to be a big part of the investigation but he was willing to let her assist. This story has lots of twist and turns and a great “who done it”. Great read to the end.

[penelopewanders · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not the cover on mine, but I was not able to create a paperback version with the correct cover. I've read a few books by this author now and generally enjoy her settings and characters. Some of her books tend towards being relatively sweet contemporary stories à la Susan Mallery perhaps, and others are more romantic suspense. With two murders (oops, hope that's not a spoiler) in this one, obviously there is a fair amount of drama here. An entertaining read.

[Jayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have come to expect great things from Ms Ross, and this story is no exception. Confessions has a nice plot with a minor twist or two, excellent characters and enough tension to keep the pages turning.

[Manga · Rating 2 out of 5]

good plot and good writing but very long , some boring parts and major trigger H thinks a lot about OWs and bed scene with OW on paper after meeting the h. H behavior sort of disgusting

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It had potential but veered too quickly too fast

[Tanya · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didnt like the characters. The male lead was stereotypical and I find it cringy. I didn't rate this 1 star because I didn't mind the plot.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whiskey River is a quiet Arizona mountain town—until it’s rocked by murder. The death of Laura Swann Fletcher, the beautiful wife of charismatic senator Alan Fletcher, makes headlines across the nation.

Sheriff Trace Callaghan wants to solve the murder of Laura Fletcher but her sister Mariah has returned to Whiskey River after a long absence. She insists in being involved in every step of the investigation. She also has a strange effect on the sheriff. He has these feelings he just can’t deny. The story is full of deep dark secrets and illicit desires. Everyone is a suspect and nothing is what it seems…..

Dollycas’s Thoughts
If you like your mystery wrapped with a steamy romance this is a book for you! I have wanted to read a JoAnn Ross novel for a long time so when Book World offered me this book I jumped at it. I did not know it was a reprint or the first book in a series but I am happy because I definitely want to read more.

These are wonderfully written characters with depth and heart. The plot is well developed. There are twists and turns, chills and spills, and plenty of action. The reader can get carried away in the romance in books like this but it so naturally interwoven into this story. It is a little formulaic in places but realizing it was originally written back in 1997 as part of a Harlequin series that is very understandable. Writing more than 90 novels Ross definitely knows what she is doing. I have several of her novels screaming from my To-Be-Read stack. I can’t wait to get reading those.

[Kate Vale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine a story that starts out simply enough: a senator's wife is shot in her bed. Who did it? That's the first question, followed by why. But what really follows is the gradual accumulation of characters who revolve around the victim like circles of yarn, and thus becoming entangled in each other's lives, too.

First there is Mariah, the younger sister and Hollywood screenwriter of crime stories, who's come home for reasons no one knows. When she meets Sheriff Trace Callahan, she insists on "helping" him find the killer. She's convinced it's the Senator, whom she suspects of cheating with his administrative assistant, Heather. Then there's the man the victim has loved for years, the father of Laura's unborn baby. As if she wants to populate the little Whiskey River, AZ town with more suspects, the author then introduces an intriguing cast of characters who might also have done the deed.

Trace suspects that Mariah is now in danger when he learns that her sister willed the ranch to her. When Mariah sets a trap for her brother-in-law, she learns more than she suspected about the Senator's involvement in the deed. Only after Trace and his deputy go after her, are they able to uncover the answers to the who and the why.

[Jez · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sheriff and a writer who writes crime/mystery television? Perfection. Hot sex? Even better. I really enjoyed this book. And I am always amazed at the little things that can connect you to the book. Throughout the book Mariah is her own strong woman and works along side Trace as much as he will let her or around Trace as need be to solve the mystery. Its not until the end that she finally allows herself to cry. Actually to be more clear she starts to cry with Trace. And Trace basically tells her you don't always have to be strong and to just let it go. I could relate to that because as silly as it is I too need that permission to cry (what I perceive as a weakness). And the fact that he let her do it and didn't try to fix it was perfect. Overall a great read with a great mystery and a great love.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a while to finish this book but not because of the book. Life kept getting in the way. I found the mystery aspect VERY interesting, that part of the book kept me going. The romance part? Eh, not so much. At times I thought it was a little over the top. I had never read this author before but I will surely read her again.

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder mystery set in Arizona. Senator's wife is murdered. Movie star mother and television writer sister come to town. The plot thickens...
This is not as good as some I have read by this author. But, a quick okay read.

[Janeiowa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good romantic suspense/mystery that kept my interest to the end. Trace Callahan is a smart, dedicated cop, and Mariah Swann is a Hollywood script writer who is determined to find her sister's murderer. Ms Ross is a talented writer.

[Addie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice romantic mystery

I enjoyed the story line, trying to guess the "who done it," and figure out if there would be a happily ever after. Guess you'll have to read it to find out.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was just okay...

[Dianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The more I read of her stuff the more I want to read.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read with a some mystery and romance.

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fast read. Some mystery and romance.

[Patsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trace Callaghan's job is to solve Laura's murder but Laura's sister, Maria, who just returns home from being away for years insists on being fully involved in the solving of the case.

[Kimberlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
I enjoyed this. Yes I predicted what was going on, but sometimes that's okay. I'm just here for the ride.