Former Army Night Stalker Rick Jordan usually has his camp for foster children to himself during the winter months. But someone has visited recently — leaving a trail of blood. One of the two clues left behind tips Rick off to the identity of his visitor, who soon turns up dead. The police deem it an accident, but Rick isn’t convinced. With the help of private investigator Heather Shields, he sets out to decipher the remaining clue. Except someone doesn’t want them to succeed–and will stop at nothing to keep them from finding the truth.
With her trademark psychological suspense ratcheting up the tension on every page, bestselling and award-winning author Irene Hannon takes you on a search for a cold-blooded killer with an ambitious goal and deadly intent.
Irene Hannon is a bestselling, award-winning author who took the publishing world by storm at the tender age of 10 with a sparkling piece of fiction that received national attention.
Okay . . . maybe that’s a slight exaggeration. But she was one of the honorees in a complete-the-story contest conducted by a national children’s magazine. And she likes to think of that as her “official” fiction-writing debut!
Since then, she has written more than 50 romantic suspense and contemporary romance/women’s fiction novels. She is a seven-time finalist for and three-time winner of the RITA award — the “Oscar” of romance fiction — and a member of the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. She has also received a Career Achievement award from RT Book Reviews for her entire body of work. In addition, her books have won a Daphne du Maurier award, two Carol awards, three HOLT Medallions, a National Readers’ Choice award, a Retailers Choice award, three Booksellers’ Best awards and two Reviewers’ Choice awards from RT Book Reviews. She is also a two-time Christy award finalist.
Irene, who holds a B.A. in psychology and an M.A. in journalism, juggled two careers for many years until she gave up her executive corporate communications position with a Fortune 500 company to write full time. She is happy to say she has no regrets!
In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, gardening and singing. A trained vocalist, she has sung the leading role in numerous musicals, including “South Pacific,” “Brigadoon,” “Oklahoma” “The King and I” and “Anything Goes.” She is also a soloist at her church.
When not otherwise occupied, Irene and her husband enjoy traveling, Saturday mornings at their favorite coffee shop and spending time with family. They make their home in Missouri.
My Impressions:
Irene Hannon is my go-to author for romantic suspense, and her latest book, Dark Ambitions, vaulted to the top of my favorites by her. In the third book of the Code of Honor series, Hannon adds a hefty dose of sizzle to the suspense. With the perfect blend of romance and mystery, this book was unputdownable. I give it a highly recommended rating.
Rick Jordan, ex-Army Night Stalker and the third member of the Treehouse Gang introduced in the first two books of the series, is the focus of Dark Ambitions. Determined to help a missing friend from his service days, Rick employs Heather Shields, a PI with the Phoenix group. (If you are a fan of Hannon’s Private Justice series, you will love seeing those characters again.) The mystery is very complex, and there are a number of suspicious characters to choose from. Various secrets and private agendas add to the twists and turns this novel takes. I loved reading the first person POV of the unnamed bad guy hoping to ferret out clues to just whodunit. Rick and Heather join forces in the case, and their attraction begins right at the start. Kudos on the chemistry that Hannon created. Both characters are believers and place their trust in God’s sovereignty.
Dark Ambitions can easily be read as a standalone novel, but the whole series is excellent. I suggest you begin at the beginning — perfect for binge-reading goodness!
Highly Recommended.
Audience: adults.
To purchase, click HERE.
(Thanks to Revell for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
Romantic suspense/thriller? I don’t even think I’ve tried a book like that, but it definitely sounds interesting. It’s nice to know that love or attraction can be found even during the most stressful of times. I also like that the reader gets to be in the head of the bad guy. Sometimes those are my favorite POVs, especially when they don’t right out tell us who they are but it’s just a sneak peek. Great review 🙂
Yes, bad guy POVs are a favorite of mine.