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In a Heartbeat

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A Heartbeat Is All It Takes . . .
With that brief, terrifying phone call, Lisa Langley's nightmare began again. Four years ago she was the sole survivor of the Grave Digger, a madman who buried his victims alive. Now a copycat killer is on the loose and she's the only chance Special Agent Brad Booker has of stopping this twisted psycho before more women -- including Lisa -- die.

Hard-edged and always in control, Booker has never forgiven himself for failing to save Lisa from falling victim to the first Grave Digger. Whatever it takes, this time he's not going to let her down. Because almost losing Lisa is not something he can live through twice . . .

378 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 1, 2006

56 people are currently reading
341 people want to read

About the author

Rita Herron

324 books944 followers
USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author Rita Herron fell in love with books at the ripe age of eight when she read her first Trixie Belden mystery. But she didn’t think real people grew up to be writers, so she became a teacher instead. Now she writes so she doesn’t have to get a real job.
With over ninety books to her credit, she’s penned romantic suspense, romantic comedy and YA novels, but she especially likes writing dark romantic suspense and crime fiction set in small southern towns.
For more on. Rita and her titles, visit her at www.ritaherron.com. You can also find her on www.Facebook/ritaherron.com and Twitter.com/ritaherron.

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5 stars
122 (37%)
4 stars
99 (30%)
3 stars
80 (24%)
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18 (5%)
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4 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
Profile Image for Paula.
545 reviews7 followers
June 22, 2022
Very enjoyable romantic suspense novel about a copycat serial killer who buries his victims alive, and it seems he’s out to get the original Grave Digger’s only surviving victim, Lisa Langley. A good mix of romance and some creepy suspense. The story had an interesting assortment of characters with many potential suspects and great atmosphere, set during a heatwave in Georgia.
Profile Image for Mélo b00sta_melo.
204 reviews35 followers
November 3, 2021
Et voici la deuxième histoire d’intrigue que ma gentiment envoyé @harpercollinsfrance @harlequinbooks @collectionet.h et je tiens à les remercier pour leur confiance. Je n’ai pas eu un coup de cœur pour celui-ci mais c’était génial !

C’était un roman hyper addictif et angoissant du début jusqu’à la fin. Nous sommes directement plongés dans l’histoire dès les premières lignes. J’ai eu très peur comme si j’étais les personnages principaux, Lisa & Brad. L’auteure nous plonge dans un univers sombre, de meurtres de jeunes femmes enterrés vivantes, pour faire peur ça fait peur c’est le cas de le dire ! Les pages se tournent d’elles-mêmes, je ne me suis pas rendu compte de la vitesse à laquelle j’ai lu ce livre.

On entre dans le quotidien de Brad qui est agent du FBI et qui a réussi à sauver la seule femme qui été encore vivante sous terre, Lisa c’était il y a 4 ans. Après toutes ces années il pensait que plus rien n’allait arriver d’aussi terrible mais bien au contraire le meurtrier de ces pauvres femmes était de retour et il n’allait pas laisser Lisa en paix. Lisa qui avait réussie à se reconstruire loin du lieu où elle avait été enterré et qui lui rappeler l’enfer qu’elle avait vécu. Brad redébarque pour la prévenir qu’un nouveau tueur est parmi eux. Sens suit de nouvelles enquêtes et surtout l’enfer.

L’intrigue policière est de ce qui a de meilleur dans ce livre en effet je me suis énormément pris la tête pour savoir qui était le tueur comme Brad. Brad qui lui est très très fort pour son travaille, il faut vraiment avoir un mental d’acier pour faire ce job. Tout était très intéressant tant dans l’aspect psychologique que dans l'aspect psychique.

Le petit plus de cette histoire est également la romance qui est présente. La relation de Lisa & Brad va évoluer au fil de l’enquête. Ils ont créé un lien et une alchimie qu’ils ont gardés même 4 ans plus tard. Brad m’a fait un peu mal au cœur, on connaît son passé tumultueux. Il ne se fait pas du tout confiance au niveau sentimental, il est convaincu qu’il ne mérite pas Lisa alors que c’est bien le contraire. Ils se méritent pleinement.
Profile Image for Cindy.
2,349 reviews172 followers
October 9, 2021
What if the guy you had been dating turns out to be a serial killer then beats and buries you alive. That is how this book starts out. Now 4 years later living under a new identity Lisa Langley who still see's bad men around every corner finds out a copycat killer has started killing women. Hardened FBI agent Brad Booker who barely made it in time to save Lisa 4 years ago and feels guilt over that is now having to relive his nightmare of keeping Lisa safe from the new copycat killer who seems to be going after women he knows. This book has multiple POV and more than a few bad guys.. Lisa and Brad have a lot of past issues between them and Brad constantly uses them to push Lisa away.

This was a very good romantic suspenseful thriller.
4 reviews1 follower
December 8, 2008
In a Heartbeat
Author: Rita Herron
Total pages read: 378
7. A Sometimes when we read certain word or phrases or images stand out. Maybe they are words or phrases that make an impression because of their sound, or maybe the meaning or image them make strike us?
In this book there are two phrases that stand out for the whole book. The first one is “You’ve stolen my heart. I’m coming back for it.” When I first read this sentence I though the book will be about a romantic story, and some kind of revenge for something did it in the past. However, this sentence applied for many situations in the whole story. For example, this is the sentence that Vernon Hanks, an obsessed man, used to declare his love to Lisa Langley the main character in the story. She had stolen his heart four years ago, when she was dating with his best friend William White, a serial criminal called Grave Digger, the one who kidnapped Lisa four years ago. Also, this sentence stands for a real love between Lisa Langley and Brad Booker, an FBI agent, who rescue Lisa four years ago when kidnapped and buried alive by the Grave Digger. Four years ago when this tragedy happened to Lisa both of them fall in love to each other. Since then, both of them have think about each other and captured their hearts but they were not able to accept. Four years ago the heart of the agent Booker and Lisa belonged to each other and now they met again and try to rescue it but their love and attraction just increase. And secondly, the title of the book gives a good main idea about the story. “In a Heartbeat.” In a last heartbeat Lisa Langley was rescue from the death when she was burial alive in a grave. In a last heartbeat of hope many women lost their life waiting for being rescue. In a heartbeat Lisa and Brad join their life forever.
14. C What message do you think that the author is trying to share?
I think the author main purpose to write this story was let the readers judge a part of their life. For example, the agent Brad Booker was a rigid man, with no feelings, stronger and weak at the same time with his heart. His work consumed his time and life and he did not get him the opportunity to fall in love or have a nice family because he grew up with foster families that make him an insensible man. His life changed completely when he knew Lisa the love of his life, and he decides to chance his life for her. Another example is Lisa Langley who since she was kidnapped and rescue, she hid herself in the mountains where nobody knows about her. She used to live afraid about everything and everyone around her until life gives her the opportunity to share her life with her hero the agent Brad Booker. Both of them share their life and forgot their past. I think the message is to enjoy life with no limitations because might be tomorrow when we have to face death or critical moments in our life, would not be sorry for the things we had not the courage to did it before, when have the opportunity.


Profile Image for Magiccats.
219 reviews5 followers
May 18, 2013
This was a good read. The author captures her readers right at the beginning. I found this book a good thriller and it kept you guessing right til the end. It definitely hooks the reader and you won't want to put it down.

I would definitely recommend it and would also read more books by this author.
Profile Image for Jennifer Miskovich miller.
21 reviews1 follower
December 22, 2016
Could not put it down. Seriously one of my favorite suspense books ever. Story was good and scary, and I really had no clue who the killer was until it was revealed.
Profile Image for Tracy Brant.
369 reviews4 followers
February 18, 2019
The story was great

The romance, not so much. The hero was such a tortured soul. I can't review these kind of books well because the hero put the heroine through so much emotional turmoil that by the end of the book I don't want the heroine to relent to him. I want her to stand up for herself and stop being his emotional punching bag, or at the very least make him a little sorry for all the mixed emotions he's thrown at her. I love a HEA as much as the next girl but going from reading 300 pages of a man's mixed emotions to 1 page of his resolve TO FINALLY realize he's in "love" doesn't even out for me. It felt more like he gave in/up to her persuits, instead of actually falling in love with her. I read these for the romance 1st, and the mystery/suspense 2nd. So this was a dud for me. BUT, the mystery/suspense was awesome. A little twisted, but awesome. I would recommend this book because maybe most people don't have the same hang ups as me.
Profile Image for Niilah.
49 reviews4 followers
February 28, 2022
D’un côté on a cette intrigue un peu folle du tueur en série mort qui frappe à nouveau, une histoire d’amour… beaucoup de personnages.

Parfois on s’y perds un peu, je trouve que beaucoup de personnages ont peu ou pas d’importance et on ne sait plus où donner de la tête.

Ça reste une intrigue plaisante à lire et j’avais hâte de pouvoir continuer ma lecture sur la fin.

J’ai lu des thrillers et des polars qui m’auront tenu bien plus en haleine que ça, de par l’intrigue, et pas par l’histoire racontée par beaucoup trop de personnes.

Bref ce n’est pas une incontournable ni un coup de cœur mais ça reste une lecture sympa et on a juste de quoi envie continuer notre lecture.
Profile Image for Heather.
46 reviews
August 7, 2024
The book isn't a slow burn or fast. It's just right in regards to the developing feeling of the two main characters as well as the other all plot of the story. Heroine is a tortured soul because of happened to her. Hero feels guilty for what heroine had to endure.
Overall, the heroines' hesitance and hero's hesitance go well with the overall plot of the story as they do have to work together to hunt down the villain.
Honestly, this started me out on Thriller/Suspense Romance. Recommend the other stand-alone novels by Rita Herron as well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
128 reviews1 follower
March 20, 2017
Lisa was a victim of a serial killer and was the only woman who survived. The killer was convicted and died in prison. Now, someone is killing woman again with the same MO. The FBI agent that rescued her is back on the case and the sparks fly again once they are reunited. Romance and a serial killer mystery. Good story, easy read.
Profile Image for Crystal Connor.
603 reviews3 followers
August 13, 2019
Amazing

Rita is amazing! I loved this story. I figured out part of who the bad guy was but not the exact identity. So good.
Profile Image for Jeniver Maria.
612 reviews2 followers
September 9, 2022
The story was so good. I could not guest who the vilain was until the end. But i dislike the hero for keep thinking of his unworthy for the heroine and that piss me off
7 reviews
April 2, 2025
printing issues

The storyline was okay. Printing issues made it extremely difficult to read. I would encourage anyone to skip this one.
Profile Image for Melody.
26 reviews
April 17, 2013
Review also posted to my blog: Adventures in Bookland

This book was far from what I normally read but the cover caught my attention and the summary sounded interesting. At first I was confused by the writing style but once I got use to it, I enjoyed the book. This is definitely NOT recommended to anyone under 18 due to the numerous sexual scenes.

There were numerous characters in the book with their own story to tell, so I'll stick with the three main characters. Lisa Langley is the only surviving victim of a serial killer known as the Grave Digger. He buries people...alive...in coffins. I felt sorry for Lisa, she didn't trust many people, especially men. Not that I can blame her, her boyfriend was the original killer. She's pretty much isolated herself from the world. She does, however, have a special place in her heart for her rescuer, FBI Agent Brad Booker. I was glad that by the end Lisa had become stronger and refused to let her past keep her down forever. Brad was a good lead character, he acted all hard and tough but there was a softer side to him although he didn't show it very often. He thinks Lisa is too good for him because of his troubled past and brushes her off a few times but try as he might, he can't deny the fact that he's in love with her. Even if he doesn't want to admit to Lisa or himself. Vernon Hanks is the typical stalker. He's been obsessed with Lisa ever since he first met her and in true stalker fashion, he tracks her down after four years and follows her every move. He really freaked me out, especially when we was watching her sleep and his thoughts were very deep in the gutter. He was a nasty little man.

I liked the story, it was very believable. When the victims were describing their fear while trapped in those coffins and desperately trying to get a breathe of air, it really freaked me out. Suffocation would be in my top 5 of awful ways to go and since I'm claustrophobic, I think that made it worse. There was some confusion for me though. There were so many characters stories going on here that at times I forgot what character I was reading about. On minute I'm reading about Lisa and then I'm reading about Vernon Hanks or Brad Booker or one of the other numerous characters, in the same chapter. However, I liked the fact that the copycat killer wasn't that easy to figure out, at least not for me. This is the kind of book I could see as a Lifetime Movie.

I liked the ending pretty good but I've seen enough movies to know, pretty much, how it would end. Although, I would have preferred that the last sex scene had been left out. For me, the ending went from romantic to smut.

I like the cover, it's interesting. It's what originally drew me to the book to start with. I also like the tagline on it, "You've stolen my heart. I'm coming back for it" No way I could pass something like that up.
Profile Image for Follow the Reader.
1,280 reviews14 followers
August 19, 2021
Chronique d'Audrey :

https://followthereader2016.wordpress...

Le gros point positif de ce livre est qu’il est très difficile de deviner qui est le tueur, bien que la résolution arrive un peu comme un cheveu sur la soupe à mon goût. Il est écrit à la troisième personne et change souvent de point de vue : Lisa, Brad, le tueur, des personnages secondaires… Tout est fait pour faire monter la tension, les transitions se font bien, tout s’enchaine parfaitement. L’histoire traine parfois un peu en longueur mais, dans l’ensemble, elle nous donne toujours envie de connaitre la suite et d’arriver au dénouement !

Lisa est un personnage qui a dû se reconstruire après avoir été sauvée d’un tueur en série, qui s’avérait être son petit ami. Elle est tombée sous le charme de Brad, l’agent du FBI qui l’a sauvée, mais pense que ce n’est pas réciproque… De son côté, Brad n’a jamais pu oublier Lisa malgré le fait qu’il s’interdise d’aimer, et encore plus d’aimer cette femme qu’il n’a pas réussi à protéger. Ils vont se tourner autour et c’est dans ces moments-là que j’ai un peu regretté l’écriture à la troisième personne !

Entre la romance naissante entre Lisa et Brad – s’ils ne sabotent pas tout – et la traque d’un tueur en série, pas le temps de s’ennuyer avec cette nouvelle collection des éditions Harlequin. Une romance suspens à qui il manque quelques ingrédients pour que je sois totalement convaincue mais avec laquelle j’ai passé un bon moment de lecture (il faut dire que je suis une fan inconditionnelle du genre et donc très difficile !). Une chose à souligner : il faut vraiment se creuser les méninges pour deviner qui est le tueur et j’aime ça avec ce genre d’intrigues !
Profile Image for Jaime Stricklin.
473 reviews46 followers
January 3, 2011
I have to admit I skimmed through the last half of this book. This was the first book I've read by Rita Herron. I didn't particularly like this author's writing style and I found the skipping from person to person overwhelming and confusing. The romance was interesting and I wanted to know how it would work out, but the issues that plagued each character got old after a while. It just didn't grip me.
Profile Image for dnai.
8 reviews
November 29, 2021
god i loved this book, the way Rita explains lisa trama and how brad cares, i was hooked by the first page and it was a roller coaster, many lives had to die bc of the grave digger and the tramas they went thru it was really a good read, i got more of her books and i love em, this book got me back into reading, i recommend
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Shiela.
470 reviews
May 5, 2009
Too much romance not enough action , stilted dialogue, but interesting concept...I wonder how much of it could be true...(Organ Donation?)

A serial killer who buries his victims alive seems to back from the grave targeting the ones that got away.
Profile Image for Keomony Mary.
103 reviews3 followers
March 4, 2022
A shiver ran down my spine at some parts of the story. Although this wasn't the first romantic suspense I had read, it made me feel so. The writing was too realistic that I doubted if I were only reading or were there when the events happened.
Profile Image for Christopher.
22 reviews1 follower
September 22, 2008
the thoughts and way she portrayed being buried gave me chills..this book had me going till the very end!!
Profile Image for Janell Hartzell.
154 reviews1 follower
October 19, 2015
in a heartbeat is a fast paced great read. lots of thrills and leaves you wanting more
Profile Image for Jean.
1,439 reviews8 followers
April 3, 2016
Good story line but too mills and boon for me you knew they were going to end up together from the beginning, not enough about the murders.
Profile Image for Kerry.
6 reviews
January 12, 2017
Easy read. Entertaining enough. I read it twice because it was a good quick in between read.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews

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