Maggie's Guardian (Count On A Cop) (Harlequin Superromance, No. 1082)

Rating:
Summary: redemption second chance at love inside a suspense thriller
Review: As a courtesy, Prodigal, Maine Police Chief Richard Weldon calls Boston Homicide Detective Noah Gabriel to inform the Beantown cop that his ex-wife Tessa is involved in a murder. Noah, who already received two conflicting calls from his former spouse, arranges for coverage of his cases over the objection of his boss and the disapproval of his peers. He immediately leaves for Maine.

In Maine, Noah learns that Tessa found her legal partner widower David Howard stabbed to death in his office. The police suspect Tessa killed David in a twisted lover's spat so that she can gain custody of his baby Maggie. Their logic is based on Tessa's child she had with Noah that died from SIDS eighteen months ago and David's daughter makes a near perfect substitute. Meanwhile, Noah plans to keep Tessa and Maggie safe though he can barely look at the infant without pangs of guilt and self-loathing, but this time he will not fail the woman he still loves as he did when their baby died.

This is an exciting romantic suspense starring two tortured lead characters trying to nurture a baby even as they still have not healed from the death of their own child. Closure has proven elusive for Tessa, who still started over, but even more difficult for Noah whose life has collapsed. Though the villains are obvious early, readers will take pleasure from MAGGIE'S GUARDIAN as the plot combines a redemption theme with a second chance at love plot inside a suspense thriller.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: redemption second chance at love inside a suspense thriller
Review: As a courtesy, Prodigal, Maine Police Chief Richard Weldon calls Boston Homicide Detective Noah Gabriel to inform the Beantown cop that his ex-wife Tessa is involved in a murder. Noah, who already received two conflicting calls from his former spouse, arranges for coverage of his cases over the objection of his boss and the disapproval of his peers. He immediately leaves for Maine.

In Maine, Noah learns that Tessa found her legal partner widower David Howard stabbed to death in his office. The police suspect Tessa killed David in a twisted lover's spat so that she can gain custody of his baby Maggie. Their logic is based on Tessa's child she had with Noah that died from SIDS eighteen months ago and David's daughter makes a near perfect substitute. Meanwhile, Noah plans to keep Tessa and Maggie safe though he can barely look at the infant without pangs of guilt and self-loathing, but this time he will not fail the woman he still loves as he did when their baby died.

This is an exciting romantic suspense starring two tortured lead characters trying to nurture a baby even as they still have not healed from the death of their own child. Closure has proven elusive for Tessa, who still started over, but even more difficult for Noah whose life has collapsed. Though the villains are obvious early, readers will take pleasure from MAGGIE'S GUARDIAN as the plot combines a redemption theme with a second chance at love plot inside a suspense thriller.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Second chances and new beginnings -- Recommended
Review: Homicide detective Noah Gabriel stays out too late, drinks too much, and alienates his coworkers when he is not recounting his broken marriage. SIDS stole his daughter and destroyed his marriage to Tessa. But when Tessa calls for help, Noah springs into action, his heart still bound to the woman that turned her back on him.

Tessa moved to Boston to begin a new life, partnering with best friend David in a law firm. When she discovers David's brutally slain body, suspicion falls on her, and she calls Noah for help. Tessa becomes guardian to David's infant daughter Maggie, resurrecting old grief and old joy in equal measure. As tragedy becomes a springboard to new beginnings, Tessa and Noah must find a way to communicate about the past if they are going to find a way to find a murder, not to mention healing and love.

Author Anna Adams pens a tale of deep emotion and complex relationships in MAGGIE'S GUARDIAN. Savvy readers may discern the truth regarding David's death rather early in the book, but the wonderful dynamics between Tessa and Noah will still keep them hooked. As the infant Maggie provides an opportunity to reevaluate their lives by letting go of guilt and allowing them to express grief, the tender love that Noah and Tessa rediscover results in a lovely tale of second chances and new beginnings. MAGGIE'S GUARDIAN comes recommended.