Unexpected Connection

by Sue Jaskula

Confident and resilient homicide detective Jennifer Scott is instinctively suspicious when her best friend's life is disrupted by the arrival of an unbeknownst twin sister. When a murder coincides with her appearance, the mysterious twin becomes the prime suspect.
Adding confusion to Jen's organized life is another unexpected intrusion, her handsome and sophisticated new partner, Detective Luke O'Connor. As mischievous as he is charming, chemistry between the two intensifies, threatening Jen's reputation and testing her limitations.
As the murder investigation unfolds, the detectives are forced to back burner their heated connection while they race against time to figure out what other long-lost family members may be involved, how they're connected to the twins and why they've surfaced now.

Genres: Romantic Suspense

276 pages, Paperback

Published July 28, 2021

Reviews

[Claire Livingstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Jennifer Scott was first introduced in Jaskula's first novel All Fired Up. With a new partner and 'unexpected connection', the chemistry is undeniable. But when her best friends long lost twin sister shows up wanting to reconnect, Jen steps in questioning the real reason she has come.

Unexpected Connection is a fun mystery with some flirting on the side, you want Jen and Luke to get together while still questioning what is actually going on.

I found this novel well written and enjoyable, I liked it a little more than Jaskula's first novel and am hoping another novel is on the way. It took me a little longer to read than I would have liked with personal life getting in the way but overall I would suggest this novel to those who want a twisty mystery with a side of romance.

I gave this novel a 🌟🌟🌟🌟 review!

Thank you Sue Jaskula for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! This novel will release July 28, 2021!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review of her second novel. I have to say I loved Unexpected Connection even more than her first book! The main character was smart, strong, and determined not to fall for her new partner. I love a strong female lead and Detective Scott was exactly that. I loved the twists and was eager to flip to the next page through the novel. I read it in two sittings and enjoyed from start to finish. If you’re looking for a new mystery novel with a side of hot Irish romance, get yourself a copy of Sue’s Unexpected Connection. The bathroom scene alone had me hooked 😉

[Hanna Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book sucked me in and kept me on the edge of my seat. Jaskula weaves a hard to put down story, hinting along the way at a sweet romance. Suspenseful plot twists, lots of action, and intrigue. Characters you love to hate and love to love. All that and a realistic page-turner. I can’t wait for her next novel.

[Rosalynn Allan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed book and this one didn't fail me. The twin thing I want expecting and more, can't wait for the next one

[N.N. Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

A twin sister’s arrival, a dead body in the neighborhood, long-lost relatives, all lead Detective Jennifer Scott on an investigation where love and family loyalties take on a whole new meaning. Jen loves her job and is gutted when her partner leaves to take a position in another district. The last thing she wants is to train a new partner but all that changes when she kisses her new partner in a pub’s washroom. She didn’t know the handsome Luke was her new partner at the time, but it causes her hackles to rise. She’s worked hard to get where she is today and doesn’t know what to do with these burgeoning feelings. She shoves them down the best she can and gets distracted by a murder investigation in her own backyard. Her best friend pleads for her help when a twin shows up and mysterious things start to happen. When a man winds up dead bearing the same last name as the twin, Jen aims her inquiry at the twin. The more Jen and Luke dig into the investigation, the more questions pop up. Can they root out what’s going on before there’s another murder? Jen knows one thing… these unexpected connections are throwing her off her game.

Unexpected Connection is a riveting romantic suspense I couldn’t put down. From the very first page until I reached the end, this book dug its claws into me. I read it in two sittings, mulled over the plot and characters when I wasn’t reading, and even dreamed about it. I connected with Jen right away. She’s a smart woman, funny in a self-effacing kind of way, and is a cop through and through. She doesn’t take any guff and can read people like books. Her attraction to her new partner, Luke, is her weakness, which only increased my liking of her. The setting was a character onto itself for two reasons: descriptive narration and familiarity. Sue Jaskula’s ability to make the setting come alive is impressive. I got sucked into Unexpected Connection and didn’t want to leave the world Sue Jaskula created. The plot moves at a great pace with plenty of suspense to keep the reader invested. The romance between Jen and Luke is palpable and I kept rooting for them to get together. The dialogue is whip-smart with humorous moments at times. The character development for all the main players was so well-executed, it reminded me of J.D. Robb. Yes, it was that good. I’d love to have this be a series but that is up to the author. If you’re a fan of romantic suspense, pick up Unexpected Connection. If you’re looking to read a great Canadian story, you’ll love Unexpected Connection. I can’t wait to read more from this author. Highly recommend!

My Rating: 5+ stars

Reviewed by: Mrs. N

This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read and enjoyed book 1 in the series I looked forward to read this. You don’t need to read book 1 to enjoy this as it works well as a stand-alone. The books are set in London, Canada just in case British reader are a bit confused. This was much more of a thriller/police procedural than the first book but still with a side of romance thrown in for good measure. As such it was more to my personal taste than the first book and I really enjoyed reading this.

Briefly, Detective Sergeant Jennifer Scott is upset to find her partner is moving to Toronto, particularly when she finds out that her new partner Luke O’Connor, is the man she had a rather nefarious kiss with in a pub. However, when a body is found the partners are sent to investigate and her personal feelings are put to one side. Shortly after Jennifer’s best friend, and next door neighbour, introduces her to her twin sister. A sister she never knew she had, having been adopted as a baby. Jennifer takes an immediate dislike to her and agrees to look into her past. When connections are found between her and the dead man, albeit circumstantial, her suspicions are aroused further. Can she help her friend? Will they find the murderer before anyone else dies?

This is a well written, with a well thought out plot. It was fast paced but still an easy read. There are twists and turns to keep you guessing. I liked the two main characters, and the characterisations were good. The movement away from the more romantic genre of the first book towards the thriller genre worked well. 4.5⭐️ read.

[Amy [Book Addict Reviews] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Jennifer Scott was first introduced in Fired Up and I loved her character then, but getting more of her in Unexpected Connection I love her even more. She smart, strong and pretty much a BA. She is a strong female lead. Her new partner, Luke O’Connor, is gorgeous but also great at what he does. There is an instant connection between the two of them, but being partners Jennifer tries to avoid anything more.

The suspense and the mystery with this story were fantastic. From the start it sucks you in and there are so many unexpected twists and turns that I definitely didn’t see coming when I was reading. It was hard to put this one down because I just had to know what was going to happen next, I wanted to know answers!

If you’re looking for a workplace, romantic suspense story this is one to check out!

[Love Books Addict · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!

POV: Heroine (3rd person)

Likes: I loved how you just didn't know who to trust! Full of who's and, most importantly, why's. Plus Jennifer is the ultimate badass lead character!

Dislikes: I would have liked to of had Luke's POV in some of the chapters, to get his thoughts. Also I wanted more romance, but that's just me!

Synopsis: Unexpected Connection follows homicide detective Jennifer Scott, who not only is determined to investigate the suspicious twin sister of her best friend, after she appears on their doorstep out of the blue, when no-one even knew she existed. But also overcoming the challenges of a new partner, who also happens to be drop-dead gorgeous.
This is away from my normal genre (only kissing here!), but it was such a good thriller that it made me instantly go and buy more similar novels!
Would definitely recommend!

[Sara | sara.reads.too.much · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sue! This is my favourite book of yours so far!

There's suspense, there's mystery, the story grabs you, and it's set in Canada! I loved this one, especially Luke, the love interest, I loved him! The relationship between the two main characters was so well written and the story is so intriguing, it kept me wanting to read the book. The entire story was super well thought out, and the fact we get to see characters from her previous book was awesome! I always love to see characters I know to make a comeback!

Great story, great characters, keeps you at the edge of your seat, tons of fun!

I'm excited to read your next book Sue!

Thank you to Sue for the earc in return for an honest review.

[Demi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book! Jennifer is a police detective and has just gotten a new partner Luke. Luke turns out to be a great guy and a great partner. Luke and Jennifer are deep into a murder case that becomes so much more. This case also comes very close to home literally! Very slow burn in the romance area. But the story moves quickly, characters are likable and the plot thickens more and more as the book progresses! Fun, fun read!

[Christine]

This romantic suspense has it all, a feisty female detective, lots of twists and turns throughout, and a satisfying resolution. Detective Jen Scott, the main character, is well-written and not a caricature, while she investigates someone for her best friend. The case then explodes and becomes very personal - all this while a possible love interest enters the picture.
Thanks to Sue for an ARC of her new book. I enjoyed it very much!

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unexpected Connection by Sue Jaskula is a thrilling, intense and engaging read.
.
I was on the edge of my seat, trying to put all the pieces of the mystery together.
.
The 'who dunnit' wasn't as shocking as I had anticipated, but it didn't take away from the intensity or my need to continue reading.
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Another great read from Sue Jaskula!

[LivingLovingReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was another great romantic suspense written by this author! I loved her first book, and this one was even better! From the very first chapter I was dragged into the story of Jen and her new partner Luke as they rush to find a murderer and solve the mystery of her neighbors twin. The story is full of twists and turns that leave you guessing until the last minute. The chemistry between Luke and Jen is great, and I love how it developed. This is such a great second novel and I highly advise everyone to give it a try- you won’t regret it!

[Amanda J Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Throughout the book, I kept thinking "ugh... I know where this is going," but every time I was proven wrong! Twists and turns around in this thrilling story. I can't wait to read Jaskula's next book! ...and the one that came out prior to this one, which I will be getting shortly :)

[Rebecca Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received the ARC of this book!

This is the second book I've read from Sue, and I loved it just as much as the first! I loved all the twists and turns, the romance, and I loved hearing about the two from the first book! Can't wait to read more from her!

[Laura R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was a good mix of suspense, sexual attraction, humor, strong main characters, and complex storyline.

[Sue]

Unexpected Connection was absolutely fabulous. There were enough twists and turns to keep me changing my mind on what was happening. Jaskula knows how to plant a seed of doubt in the reader's mind; not an easy thing to do without going overboard. And she does it beautifully.
The ending was spot on as well.
The characters themselves drew me into the story; they had depth and interest almost immediately. The fact that some characters had appeared in her first book, All Fired Up, made me feel part of a bigger story, one that keeps me wanting more.
I'm already looking forward to Jaskula's next book, I know she won't disappoint!

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, my first read from Sue!
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion and review. I was happy to read it and help support an independent author!

Initially I wondered how all the pieces would fit together in this story of long lost twins, bizarre circumstances, and several shady characters. As the pieces started falling into place I found I couldn’t put the book down. I loved the twists and turns and several of them I absolutely didn’t see coming. I enjoyed seeing each plot point get tied up as we progressed through the story. And how could I not love Luke? Being the romance lover that I am, I wouldn’t have said no to a bit more romance between the two, but overall it felt like a realistic progression of a relationship between two partners who feel an undeniable pull.

I would recommend Sue’s book to anyone looking for a twisty thriller with a romantic subplot, side characters you’ll love (Grace and Justin, Brian) and a satisfying resolution to all the craziness!

[Alex (Bri's Book Nook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jennifer’s life is as calm as the life of a law enforcement officer could be. She has no love life as her life mostly revolves around work and the friends that she loves. One day, her best friend Grace has a mysterious twin sister show up at her door. Grace was adopted as a child so she is ecstatic to find her long-lost sister, but her sister’s behavior seems odd. Soon, a murder occurs and Grace’s new twin sister is the prime suspect. Jennifer must work with her new partner that she has some…tensions with to figure out who murdered Grace’s neighbor before more people turn up dead.

This thriller definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. There was so much going on in this story from suspicious long-lost twins to suspicious neighbors. Then, throw in a little bit of workplace romance. I was rooting for Jennifer to solve the mystery but I was also rooting for her to figure out what she wanted with Luke. Some thrillers have characters that I don’t really care about, but I actually cared about Jennifer’s relationship with her friends as much as I cared about her relationship with her love interest. Every time she was in danger, I was always rooting for one of her friends to come to help her. A mysterious long-lost twin definitely makes for a great story-starter!

This story felt medium-intensity when it came to the gorier sections of a thriller. I feel like you should be able to get through it, even if you don’t particularly enjoy gory books. A lot of the thrill portions of this book come from people getting sick or learning about the darker backstories of the characters. If things like sexual or physical child abuse affect you, this may not be the book for you. If you can deal with that, this story is definitely a unique thriller.

There were two things that I didn’t love about this book. The first thing was that the book was a bit slow to start and then had an information dump at the end. I’m not sure what could have alleviated this dump. I would have even preferred seeing a scene or two from the killer’s eyes rather than hearing the information second-hand from an officer at the end of the story. I also felt like I was dealing with so many characters by the time I got to the end of the book, even though some of them did not add much to the story overall. It felt a bit cluttered. These things didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the story that much, so don’t let it keep you from checking it out!

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a new thriller to read.

I received a copy of this book and this is my voluntary review.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 books.

[Marion · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Jaskula opens the story with Jennifer Scott, homicide detective, being attacked in her car. The attacker tells her if she moves, he will slice her throat. She is able to defend herself and escapes and captures her attacker. When she arrives at the police station to file her report, we find out that she will be getting a new partner but her chief doesn’t give her a name as of yet. Her old partner, Nick, who has decided to move to another department wants to take her out for a drink to discuss his reasons for the move. At the bar Jennifer has a few too many drinks and then walks into the men’s room by mistake and actually meets a handsome gentleman and they make a connection. She finds out later that he is her new partner, Luke O’Connor. Not only is she attracted to her new partner, she learns that her best friend has just met her long last twin sister. But Grace is very suspicious of Katie and isn’t comfortable with her staying with her and her husband. Jennifer decides to research Katie and to make sure she doesn’t have a record. Before you know it there is a murder that could involve Katie and is dangerous for Jennifer and Luke. Is Katie involved, how does this involve Grace, what happens to Jennifer and Luke attraction to each other. Read and find out how this mystery is solved and whether or not Jennifer and Luke decide to do something about their feelings for each other.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

💙Review: Unexpected Connection
Sue Jaskula

Review: Unexpected Connection is a twisty fast paced criminal fiction thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat! One of my favorite almost traditions with my Mom is watching Hallmark murder mysteries, and in the best way possible this novel is reminiscent of everything I love in those movies. Add in a soap opera level evil twin, thriller drama, and a romance with ✨spice✨ and you have Unexpected Connection. Jennifer Scott is a witty homicide detective with a handsome new partner Luke. Together they are working to solve a twisty murder where nothing and no one is as they seem. I loved the friendship dynamics between the characters, and the complicated romance. Also cute animals! -I think all novels are improved by pets right?- It was so fun to revisit characters from Sue Jaskula’s novel All Fired Up! I would consider this novel to be a stand alone but would recommend reading All Fired Up first. This is a novel you just have to discuss with someone, so let me know if you pick it up😉

[Rhiannon Kennard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. This book follows a strong female homicide detective as she navigates the chemistry with her partner and the weird coincidences and mysteries that begin to surround her best friend and her secret twin sister.

I loved the writing of the main character. She is such a badass and a very strong lead. She is the kind of lead independent woman that needs to be more prevalent in writing today and Sue writes her so well and in a way that allows you to connect with the character. I do wish it went a little bit more in depth into her romantic background and more into the romance but overall I enjoyed the chemistry between the characters in this book. The twists and mystery sucked me in from early on. I am a huge fan of this book and will definitely be watching to see what’s next from this author!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jennifer Scott is a detective who works homicide. Luke O'Connor is her new partner, and there is an "unexpected connection" between them. Jen's best friend who lives next door is also surprised when she finds out that she has an unexpected twin sister. When there's a murder nearby, the twin is the prime suspect. And Jen and Luke are on the case. I enjoyed this read. The banter between the main characters is fun, but cautious. And there's no denying that the chemistry is there. As far as the murder mystery? Not what you think. There are a couple of twists that are hard to anticipate. The story is involved and complicated. But it all makes sense in the end. This book publishes 7/28/2021, and can be preordered now. Thank you to Sue Jaskula for my copy. I'm a new fan.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this mystery/ thriller with all of the characters. The two main characters were Jennifer Scott and Luke O'Connor.

Jennifer Scott is an detective. She gets suspicious when her best friend long lost twin sister show up. It is surprising when their is also a murder that happens on the same day that the twin shows up on.

Luke O'Connor is a detective.  Jennifer Scott is his new partner. She not happy to have him as a partner. But they will have to learn to work together since there was a murder.

This was a fun story to read. It had action, adventure, and suspense throughout. It had a few laughs within. It was fun trying to solve the mystery.

I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. This my honest unbiased opinions.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Sue Jaskula for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unexpected Connections focuses on side characters that were introduced in Jaskula's debut novel, All Fired Up. And yes, this was one great - much more enjoyable than the first for me! The mystery was more intriguing and the main couple were cute - but if you're looking for steam, this book is not it. I also enjoyed revisiting the old characters.

One of my main gripes with All Fired Up was that the dialogue didn't read very naturally. I'm happy to say that the dialogue in this book flowed much better and felt more real.

Great sophomore novel!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review:
Detective Jennifer Scott is so badass I loved her character from the first page. The chemistry between Jen and Luke was off the charts. My personal preference was it would have been nice to have a little more steam but I appreciate how the author held back to not take from the main story. My issue came down to the pages and pages of information dumps throughout. I wanted to read through the mystery - I didn’t want to be told by a character what happened. Other than that it was a solid story with great character development.

3.5 rounded up

[Roxi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very lucky to have been gifted an ARC of Sue's second book, Unexpected Connection.
I'm not usually one for romance novels, but Sue wrights in such a way that the romance aspect doesn't overshadow the main story, and it becomes a natural flow, along with the thriller side to.
It was nice to see characters from the first book being brought back again, which I think made the book flow really easily, and the twists and turns had me second guessing myself

[shawn murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read it in one sitting. Enjoyable suspense novel. I did read All Fired Up so I was familiar with some of the characters. One can read this as a stand alone too. The author is quite talented. This town has a lot going on and is not that sleepy.

[Annie Berryman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it in a day… could not put it down. Excellent characters and stuck well to the plot. Loved it.