Reviewer: Lori Graham
Title: Picking Up The Pieces
Author: Tammy Boulds
Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press
ISBN: 1-59374-612-1
Release Date: 2006
Genre/Sub-genre: Romantic Suspense
Year/Setting: Current/Illinois
Overall Rating: 4.75
Sexual Content Rating: Sensual (brief touches of Sexual)
Language (Profanity) Content Rating: Mild
Violent Content Rating: Mild
Tammy's Website:
www.theromanceclub.com/authors/tammy
Jena Madison isn’t living a perfect life but she is content. While she has been told she can not have children, she bolsters herself with the knowledge she is living in a great home, in a great location and especially with a man she dearly loves. That is until the day the sheriff’s deputy comes to her home to take her to say goodbye to her husband after a car accident has claimed his life. Just as she thinks her life can’t get any worse and starts the road to recovery, a letter arrives claiming that the accident wasn’t an accident. She attempts to talk with the local police but they don’t really believe her so she does the one thing left to her – call Luke Collins.
In high school, it was always Jena, Luke and Dean. They did everything together until the day came that Jena and Dean married. Luke loved Jena as well and while he was happy for them he had to leave town to avoid the pain of watching their happiness. Jena tracks him down in Chicago where as fate would dictate, he is a homicide detective. After hearing what has happened, Luke knows he must return to his hometown and help his friend heal but he seriously wonders if he can keep his heart safe because he is still very much in love with Jena.
After his arrival, they begin nosing around to see what evidence they can uncover. Luke is surprised that the accident wasn’t really investigating very thoroughly and he is running into all kinds of questions. As each day passes, it becomes more evident to Luke that Jena wasn’t off base and now both their lives are in danger along with his heart.
Luke is the character that touched my heart with this story. He could have made a stink or a scene when he figured out he loved Jena and she was marrying his best friend. But he didn’t, he put his feelings for Jena aside in favor of his love for his friend and stood beside him as his best man. Even after that, he didn’t want to cause unrest on their part so he left them to find a happy life. He went on to a great career and a life on his own. He didn’t fade away or become weaker. But when Jena called, he didn’t go out of love. Well, okay, that was a factor as far as his love for Jena. But he went more out of his love for Dean. He wanted to see justice done and Jena protected.
Along the way, he didn’t push Jena with his feelings but he was honest with her after he discovered she was feeling a bit of a tug as well.
The suspense is also quite interestingly done. I didn’t start to get a real clue as to the direction of the murder until very late in the book and it came to a great conclusion.
Lori
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