Rowena’s review of Murder List by Julie Garwood.
Hero: Alec Buchanan
Heroine: Regan Hamilton Madison
When Chicago detective Alec Buchanan is offered a prime position with the FBI, it is the perfect opportunity to leave the Windy City and follow in his brothers’ footsteps to the top echelons of law enforcement. But first he must complete one last assignment (and one that he is not too happy about): acting as a glorified bodyguard to hotel heiress Regan Hamilton Madison. The gorgeous exec has become entangled in some potentially deadly business. Someone has e-mailed her a graphic crime-scene photo–and the victim is no stranger.
Regan suspects that the trouble started when she agreed to help a journalist friend expose a shady self-help guru who preys on lonely, vulnerable women. In fact, the smooth-as-an-oil-slick Dr. Lawrence Shields may be responsible for the death of one of his devotees, which was ruled a suicide. Hoping to find some damning evidence, Regan attends a Shields seminar.
At the gathering, the doctor persuades his guests to partake in an innocent little “cleansing” exercise. He asks them to make a list of the people who have hurt or deceived them over the years, posing the question: Would your world be a better place if these people ceased to exist? Treating the exercise as a game, Regan plays along. After ten minutes, Shields instructs the participants to bring their sheets of paper to the fireplace and throw them into the flames. But Regan misses this part of the program when she exits the room to take a call–and barely escapes a menacing individual in the parking lot.
The experience is all but forgotten–until the first person on Regan’s list turns up dead. Shock turns to horror when other bodies from the list start to surface, as a harrowing tango of desire and death is set into motion. Now brutal murders seem to stalk her every move–and a growing attraction to Alec may compromise her safety, while stirring up tender emotions she thought she could no longer feel. Yet as the danger intensifies and a serial killer circles ever closer, Regan must discover who has turned her private revenge fantasies into grisly reality.
After not caring for Killjoy, which is the book before this book, I didn’t think I’d care for any of Garwood’s contemporaries but unlike everyone else, I really enjoyed the Buchanan books. I love the Buchanan family and though her contemporaries can’t hold a candle to her historicals, I still like reading these books from time to time. Somebody dropped this book off on the office “get rid of these books for me” bookshelf. I saw it and couldn’t help myself.
In this book, Alec Buchanan made me go all squishy inside. I love a hero that is sloppily sexy and that describes Alec to a tee. He is so manly sexy and every time I read his book, I’m reminded of those sexy guys in those commercials that are rumpled and just getting up out of bed? The ones that make you say, “Dammmmnnnnn”, yeah those guys. That’s who I picture when I’m reading about Alec Buchanan. Hell, even his name is sexy. Alec. Yum, I love it. I love those flirty heroes (Ben from Heart of Fire, anyone?) and Alec was just that kind of hero.
After that monstrosity of a blurb, I’m going to just jump right into my review of the book. One of the main reasons I liked this book so much was watching the romance between Alec and Regan come to life. The way that it blossomed bit by bit was too freaking cute…and the suspense was great too.
Alec was one big ball of sexy and well, I’ve already said that countless times already so just suffice it to say, I love me some Alec. Moving on to Regan, I thought Regan was a great heroine. One that though I couldn’t relate to, I still connected with. She had that silly girl mentality that I found funny and I loved watching her in action with Cordie and Sophie. Their back story was great too and I loved how their friendship was still going strong now. Garwood does a good job of writing family relationships and friendships. No matter who they are, I never cease to love the hell out of them and Regan, Sophie and Cordie were no exception.
Alec and Regan together just made sense. I loved the flirty way that Alec had with Regan and I loved watching her fall in love with Alec. They made this story and all the crazy in it so good that I’m surprised that a lot of people don’t like the book. The whole thing with the Murder List and the crazy guy that was causing havoc in Regan’s life was pretty tame compared to what I’ve read in other romantic suspense novels but still, A for effort on Garwood’s part. All in all, it was still an enjoyable read.
It still bothers me that the story falls away from Aiden and Cordie. I want to know what the heck happens between them. That secondary story just fell out of the book and left me wanting more. I also still want to meet Walker dammit. I remember wondering if Walker would get his own book and since that hasn’t happened, I’m bummed because I would so love to read it.
Overall, this book was good. It was enjoyable and the characters were easy to fall in love with and when the book ends, it left me wanting more from the Buchanan family. I remember reading Dylan’s book and really liking it so I think I’m going to go home and find that book so that I can read it again so stay tuned.
Grade: 4 out of 5
This book is available from Ballantine. You can buy it here or here in e-format.
Ditto, I’ve always enjoyed the Buchanans too and Alec and Regan together are just cute. I think I’m going to grab this for a re-read too! Thanks!
Hey Tabitha! Yeah, I really enjoyed this book and then Dylan’s book afterward. I’m thinking a re-read of his book is in order soon.