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New Orleans Connection #1
Desperate Choices
When New Orleans police declare private investigator Max Lamoreaux’s missing godson a runaway, he reaches out to former flame Theresa Crawford for help. Her specialized skills have proven key to unlocking past investigations. Time hasn’t diminished their powerful chemistry, but Theresa’s secrets drove them apart once before. As they work together, will shadows from her past destroy their last chance at happiness? NOTE: This book was previously published. It has been re-edited and additional content added.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 2, 2010
711 people are currently reading
500 people want to read
About the author
Kathy Ivan
77 books181 followersUSA TODAY Bestselling author Kathy Ivan can’t remember a time when books and reading weren’t a part of my daily life. I was blessed with a mother who instilled the love of reading in me at a young age. That progressed into a passion for the written word in all forms, which led to my writing. Every day I have new stories and new ideas roaming through my brain, the characters chomping at the bit for their turn to be front and center and have their story told. Today that love of storytelling translates into my desire to write and share my stories with others. I write in many genres, but I’m currently concentrating on romantic suspense and paranormal.
My day job is about as uncreative as it gets. I do medical transcription, spending numerous hours at the computer each day trying to decipher the mumbled, garbled and often unrecognizable words the physicians are dictating, in an effort to make a complete and comprehensive patient record. It’s almost as bad as trying to read their handwriting!
Born and raised in Miami, Florida, I’ve lived in various places throughout my youth, from California to Hawaii and back to Florida (Key West), before finally settling in Texas. I make my home outside Dallas, Texas with my spoiled black lab (Missy).
I am a member of Romance Writers of American and the Dallas Area Romance Authors (DARA), where I’m an active member; you can find me at the local meetings each month.
That’s about it off the top of my head. I love talking with other readers and writers, so feel free to contact me.
My day job is about as uncreative as it gets. I do medical transcription, spending numerous hours at the computer each day trying to decipher the mumbled, garbled and often unrecognizable words the physicians are dictating, in an effort to make a complete and comprehensive patient record. It’s almost as bad as trying to read their handwriting!
Born and raised in Miami, Florida, I’ve lived in various places throughout my youth, from California to Hawaii and back to Florida (Key West), before finally settling in Texas. I make my home outside Dallas, Texas with my spoiled black lab (Missy).
I am a member of Romance Writers of American and the Dallas Area Romance Authors (DARA), where I’m an active member; you can find me at the local meetings each month.
That’s about it off the top of my head. I love talking with other readers and writers, so feel free to contact me.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
June 2, 2018
Excellent choice!
This was a well written story. After reading the 3 books she wrote for Susan Stokers Kindle World, I really wanted more of not only her writing talent to enjoy, I wanted more of those New Orleans characters. I was so happy to find a whole series of them starting with this excellent book! Highly recommend!
This was a well written story. After reading the 3 books she wrote for Susan Stokers Kindle World, I really wanted more of not only her writing talent to enjoy, I wanted more of those New Orleans characters. I was so happy to find a whole series of them starting with this excellent book! Highly recommend!
Want to read
May 29, 2024🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/26/2020)! 🎁
February 24, 2025
A quick read
October 20, 2020
Desperate Choices is the first book in Kathy Ivan’s New Orleans Connection series. In this book we meet Theresa Crawford and Max Lamoreaux. Theresa and Max are opposites. She is a psychic dealing with paranormal and he is a PI, who deals with logic and deduction. Both have secrets they keep hidden. The disappearance of Max’s godson, 17-year-old Tommy Saunders, brings these two together as they work to solve this case. This story is about their romantic journey. What will be the outcome? Will their secrets be revealed? Will they be able to work together to solve this case? To discover the answers to these questions, you must read this book.
I did not realize, when I read this book, that it was Ms. Ivan’s debut novel. I discovered Ms. Ivan through her other series about the Texas Boudreaus. Like other first books, Ms. Ivan uses this one to introduce readers to other characters in this series. I enjoyed this character-driven romantic suspense story. Ms. Ivan creates complex characters, both primary and secondary. I like that they are multi-layered and that she captures their dreams, strengths, and vulnerabilities. We see this not only in her primary characters, Theresa and Max, but also in secondary characters like Remy Lamoreaux and the antagonists, Steven Black. I thought she handled the topic of Theresa’s rape, when she was a teenager, respectfully and illustrated the collateral damage that can occur with future intimate relationships. Remy was instrumental in helping Theresa cope after her horrendous trauma. I thought it was clever how she used Remy to help Theresa and Max navigate their romantic journey. His pivotal role was believable since due to his invested interest in both. I also appreciated Ms. Ivan’s use of literary devices such as point of view, dialog, and descriptive language. Through the dialog and the characters’ internal dialog, readers understand their personalities and backstories. Her use of descriptive language pulls readers into this story. The scenes pertaining to Theresa’s visions, Tommy’s captivity, and Steven Black’s motivations all rivet readers’ attention. Nice job, Ms. Ivan. I am definitely going to read other books in this series. Happy Reading!
I did not realize, when I read this book, that it was Ms. Ivan’s debut novel. I discovered Ms. Ivan through her other series about the Texas Boudreaus. Like other first books, Ms. Ivan uses this one to introduce readers to other characters in this series. I enjoyed this character-driven romantic suspense story. Ms. Ivan creates complex characters, both primary and secondary. I like that they are multi-layered and that she captures their dreams, strengths, and vulnerabilities. We see this not only in her primary characters, Theresa and Max, but also in secondary characters like Remy Lamoreaux and the antagonists, Steven Black. I thought she handled the topic of Theresa’s rape, when she was a teenager, respectfully and illustrated the collateral damage that can occur with future intimate relationships. Remy was instrumental in helping Theresa cope after her horrendous trauma. I thought it was clever how she used Remy to help Theresa and Max navigate their romantic journey. His pivotal role was believable since due to his invested interest in both. I also appreciated Ms. Ivan’s use of literary devices such as point of view, dialog, and descriptive language. Through the dialog and the characters’ internal dialog, readers understand their personalities and backstories. Her use of descriptive language pulls readers into this story. The scenes pertaining to Theresa’s visions, Tommy’s captivity, and Steven Black’s motivations all rivet readers’ attention. Nice job, Ms. Ivan. I am definitely going to read other books in this series. Happy Reading!
April 21, 2020
I was not impressed with this romantic suspense. The romance is predictable and annoying. Max, a cop forced from his job under dubious circumstances, becomes a P.I. He moves back to New Orleans where his cop brother and Theresa, the brother's best friend and Max's love interest reside. She is psychic and stunningly beautiful. She also has a traumatic background that keeps her from achieving the level of intimacy she wants with Max. He turns to her after his godson goes missing.
The romance was a predictable bore. all the posturing and huffiness was just tedious. Theresa's secret was not plausible. Not that what happened to her couldn't happen but the fact absolutely no one noticed was unbelievable. Also that an otherwise seemingly intelligent woman would not seek counselling is incredible. her psychic abilities are ill-defined. She seems to practice psychometry but maybe is also a medium. The suspense portion is better with a sympathetic perp. He is probably the best defined of all the characters. Max is a cardboard hothead. The brother's relationship with Theresa borders on creepy, especially when he is brushing her hair. Icky, icky. Not the worst read if you are cooped up during this time of shelter in place but it does make me long for something better.
The romance was a predictable bore. all the posturing and huffiness was just tedious. Theresa's secret was not plausible. Not that what happened to her couldn't happen but the fact absolutely no one noticed was unbelievable. Also that an otherwise seemingly intelligent woman would not seek counselling is incredible. her psychic abilities are ill-defined. She seems to practice psychometry but maybe is also a medium. The suspense portion is better with a sympathetic perp. He is probably the best defined of all the characters. Max is a cardboard hothead. The brother's relationship with Theresa borders on creepy, especially when he is brushing her hair. Icky, icky. Not the worst read if you are cooped up during this time of shelter in place but it does make me long for something better.
May 3, 2020
I don't know......
Two good characters- psychic Theresa and PI Max- and a promising plotline, but it just seems like something was missing. This reads more like an eighty's romance than a 2020 one. Things seem missing from the book- like a scene from the past with these two to have us connect and care about them in the present (she and her best friend and Max's brother, Remy seemed like a better match); talking to Jacobs's parents after the climax; meeting Remy and Max's mother (shouldn't she have been at the hospital at least?); some background about Theresa; or meeting the next character(s) in the series somewhere in this book to make us want to keep reading? And what young woman in this day and age- who lives alone and owns her own business, doesn't own a cell phone? Really? This was written in 2010. I think we all had cell phones back then; am I right? Just to stay safe with next to no payphones around anymore? That really bugged me. Nothing in this story made me want to keep reading this series. Sorry.
Two good characters- psychic Theresa and PI Max- and a promising plotline, but it just seems like something was missing. This reads more like an eighty's romance than a 2020 one. Things seem missing from the book- like a scene from the past with these two to have us connect and care about them in the present (she and her best friend and Max's brother, Remy seemed like a better match); talking to Jacobs's parents after the climax; meeting Remy and Max's mother (shouldn't she have been at the hospital at least?); some background about Theresa; or meeting the next character(s) in the series somewhere in this book to make us want to keep reading? And what young woman in this day and age- who lives alone and owns her own business, doesn't own a cell phone? Really? This was written in 2010. I think we all had cell phones back then; am I right? Just to stay safe with next to no payphones around anymore? That really bugged me. Nothing in this story made me want to keep reading this series. Sorry.
January 9, 2021
3.5 Stars. After reading quite a few of the books in this intriguing Series, I have finally read the first book. I already knew Max and Theresa from the other books, but didn’t know the details of their relationship, until now.
This romantic suspense dips into the paranormal, which isn’t a topic I seek out in a book. Theresa has psychic abilities, but doesn’t advertise her clairvoyance. In this story she used her power to help Max, a non-believer, solve a case of a missing teenager. Max and Theresa have past history they must work through before they can resume their dating relationship.
With Theresa’s special gift, it was only fitting this tale took place in New Orleans. The sights, sounds, and food of the Big Easy always enhances a book. I did have issue with a couple inconsistencies in the story, which always drives me crazy.
This romantic suspense dips into the paranormal, which isn’t a topic I seek out in a book. Theresa has psychic abilities, but doesn’t advertise her clairvoyance. In this story she used her power to help Max, a non-believer, solve a case of a missing teenager. Max and Theresa have past history they must work through before they can resume their dating relationship.
With Theresa’s special gift, it was only fitting this tale took place in New Orleans. The sights, sounds, and food of the Big Easy always enhances a book. I did have issue with a couple inconsistencies in the story, which always drives me crazy.
March 18, 2025
Good book!
Great story.
When former cop turned PI, Max Lamoreaux, finds himself stuck on a missing kid's case, his brother, Remy, recommends that he go talk to Theresa for help. Nine months ago, Max and Theresa were a new couple until Max started having feelings for her and started a fight, ending things forever.
Theresa is a psychic. She's had these abilities since she was 16, when she endured something traumatic. Remy, Max's younger brother, was there for her then and has been her bff ever since. But Max doesn't believe in psychic's and called her some terrible names, breaking her heart.
Now he needs her help, but she doesn't know if she can do another missing person's case; nor work with Max.
A must read!!
Great story.
When former cop turned PI, Max Lamoreaux, finds himself stuck on a missing kid's case, his brother, Remy, recommends that he go talk to Theresa for help. Nine months ago, Max and Theresa were a new couple until Max started having feelings for her and started a fight, ending things forever.
Theresa is a psychic. She's had these abilities since she was 16, when she endured something traumatic. Remy, Max's younger brother, was there for her then and has been her bff ever since. But Max doesn't believe in psychic's and called her some terrible names, breaking her heart.
Now he needs her help, but she doesn't know if she can do another missing person's case; nor work with Max.
A must read!!
June 13, 2024
Loved the story around Theresa and Max; their chemistry was undeniable and the intimate scene in Mississippi was too beautiful, gentle and moving. The emotions between these two were so real. I seem to have developed such a strong bond with Theresa; she was fragile and vulnerable in some parts, but truly strong in other aspects - great character development here! I was trying to come to grips with the understanding of Theresa and Remy's strong bond, but when the truth came out, the puzzle fell into place. I am usually not one for suspense but I loved this book and have found another great author. Thank you Kathy Ivan.
July 27, 2017
Loved this so much. I like alittle Paranormal with my suspenseful reading and Desperate Choices delivers. Theresa and Max have a close history, but secrets broke them up, secrets that Theresa kept. Now later, Max comes walking back into her life. His godson is missing and he is asking for her help in locating him. Can they find his godson in time, can they re-kindle a lost love and finally find happiness?
July 18, 2020
An okay read.
This book started well enough, straight into the story and caught my full attention, unfortunately that waned a little as it continued. The premise and storyline wasn't exactly fairytale like, i.e. There was abduction, talk of rape and murder, and the concept was definitely there but I felt it lacked any real umph and kick. It contained a sex scene, with no bad language, a psychic and a P.I. An okay quick read.
This book started well enough, straight into the story and caught my full attention, unfortunately that waned a little as it continued. The premise and storyline wasn't exactly fairytale like, i.e. There was abduction, talk of rape and murder, and the concept was definitely there but I felt it lacked any real umph and kick. It contained a sex scene, with no bad language, a psychic and a P.I. An okay quick read.
June 19, 2021
Being from New Orleans, I loved the mention of places I know. The story was a good one ... missing teenager that a local P.I. (but former policeman) is asked to look into. The missing boy is his godson. During the investigation, we meet our hero's brother and a woman from his past. About about half of the book is delving into their story and the other half to solving the case. I found the story compelling, but not so much as others I've read.
May 7, 2025
‘Desperate Choices’ was thrilling. Its fast-paced plot was filled with kidnapping, using natural gifts to aid an investigation, dramatic irony, reconnecting, revealing past adversity, working through the adversity, surprise ghostly apparitions, a gunshot, a confession, and building to a crescendo. Moreover, I liked the author’s descriptions which created an unsettling tone. Overall, I liked the riveting narrative.
April 25, 2020
Desperate Choices - Book 1 New Orleans Connection by Kathy Ivan.
My thoughts:
This story has crime, mystery, romance, suspense and paranormal activity, nice story telling and interesting characters so this should work. However for me it fell short, not sure what it was that just did not work for me. Free on amazon.com - kindle version - as at 20 April 2020. 3 stars.
The author added a note that the book was previously published and it has been re edited and more content added.
My thoughts:
This story has crime, mystery, romance, suspense and paranormal activity, nice story telling and interesting characters so this should work. However for me it fell short, not sure what it was that just did not work for me. Free on amazon.com - kindle version - as at 20 April 2020. 3 stars.
The author added a note that the book was previously published and it has been re edited and more content added.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2020
Low 3
It doesn't make sense logically, but somehow the story feels rushed. Perhaps because much of the relationship is off the page. And with the various POVs, th reader knows whodunnit and why, so it has no puzzle aspect. Finally, it ends on an unneeded hook.
It doesn't make sense logically, but somehow the story feels rushed. Perhaps because much of the relationship is off the page. And with the various POVs, th reader knows whodunnit and why, so it has no puzzle aspect. Finally, it ends on an unneeded hook.
July 18, 2020
Wow
This was a wonderful story, it kept you on yours toes but then you feel for the families of the boys missing. And it was great that Max & Theresa finally got their relationship in a better place.
This was a wonderful story, it kept you on yours toes but then you feel for the families of the boys missing. And it was great that Max & Theresa finally got their relationship in a better place.
February 16, 2021
Wow! So much mystery, friendship, loss and love all in one. I loved that this case brought Theresa and Max together. Also that by working it on it brought them closer. Theresa and Max were definitely meant to be. So happy they got a second chance. Can’t wait to read more on this series. ☺️
March 11, 2024
Spine Chilling
Author Kathy ivan weaves a suspicious story that captures your interest to the end. After all, the story takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana! The romance is pretty hot despite a tragic past.
Author Kathy ivan weaves a suspicious story that captures your interest to the end. After all, the story takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana! The romance is pretty hot despite a tragic past.
June 5, 2024
A great story
I really enjoyed this book. It held my attention right to the end. I was curious as to how the end was going to play out. I think the ending could have had a wee bit more detail, but overall a very enjoyable read.
I really enjoyed this book. It held my attention right to the end. I was curious as to how the end was going to play out. I think the ending could have had a wee bit more detail, but overall a very enjoyable read.
July 15, 2024
Stars: 3.8
1. Romantic Suspense
2. Paranormal; FMC is a psychic
3. Opened Door Romance
4. Brother's best friend (female)
5. Kidnapping case
6. Hate to love
7. Fast paced.
The book was okay, I liked the Romantic part, but not the Suspense. I would have wanted the Suspense to be 'more'
1. Romantic Suspense
2. Paranormal; FMC is a psychic
3. Opened Door Romance
4. Brother's best friend (female)
5. Kidnapping case
6. Hate to love
7. Fast paced.
The book was okay, I liked the Romantic part, but not the Suspense. I would have wanted the Suspense to be 'more'
August 5, 2019
This book has enjoyable characters and basically a good story, but it was way too slow moving for me. Therefore, I gave it 3 stars.
April 14, 2020
Twisty Tale
Excitement from beginning to end and romance along with murder. Author keeps it enticing and emotions link characters in a distinctive compelling manner.
Excitement from beginning to end and romance along with murder. Author keeps it enticing and emotions link characters in a distinctive compelling manner.
May 1, 2020
Interesting
It kept me interested,entertained and on edge.I felt like I was right there in the scenes with the characters.I highly recommend this book!!
It kept me interested,entertained and on edge.I felt like I was right there in the scenes with the characters.I highly recommend this book!!
December 1, 2020
Psychic
Theresa was not sure about "her gift". The disappearance of Tommy leads to her bEing ask for help. Will she confess her secret and find love?
Theresa was not sure about "her gift". The disappearance of Tommy leads to her bEing ask for help. Will she confess her secret and find love?
February 21, 2021
Loved the book, especially the bond between Remy and Theresa😊😊
December 11, 2021
Desperate Choices
Still breathless having loved and worried through the climax of a top of the line Kathy Ivan story. So highly recommend this book
Still breathless having loved and worried through the climax of a top of the line Kathy Ivan story. So highly recommend this book
October 17, 2022
Great story nice HEA
December 11, 2022
Enjoyable
There's a and Max story is thoroughly enjoyable . I loved reading this book and that there is more in this series is great.
There's a and Max story is thoroughly enjoyable . I loved reading this book and that there is more in this series is great.
July 12, 2023
Enjoyed it
I enjoyed this book and the characters. It had a good plot with romance, steam, friends and mystery. Definitely going to get the next one.
I enjoyed this book and the characters. It had a good plot with romance, steam, friends and mystery. Definitely going to get the next one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews