Will a snap decision change their lives forever?Bizarre kidnappings stun the Big Island of Hawaii, pulling Danker Donahue back into the game and forcing him to partner with Jolene Kualoha, the woman who left him seven years ago when his DNA showed up in paternity lawsuit. The prejudice-motivated hate crimes are the wildest anyone has ever seen. Victims are being poisoned then released once the … once the ransoms are paid, many losing their lives.
In the shadow of Jolene’s success as a helicopter pilot, a troubled woman develops a fixation on Jolene and imitates her appearance. Matters turn dark when the copycat is shot dead. Was Jolene the target? Threats mount when she barely survives an accident after her brake cables are severed.
When these crimes threaten her sanity, Jolene is forced to trust the one person she thought she’d lost forever, Danker. Instantly, sparks fly between them, and as much as she wants to rekindle their relationship, she must protect her heart.
An old enemy, Seamus McGinn, breaks out of a maximum-security prison and invites Danker to a meet-up. Surprisingly, the kidnapper joins forces with McGinn along with his sick fans. McGinn trumpets his ‘murders by ice pick’, and it’s up to Danker to stop him. The whole island is on edge with a live feed from the maniac’s website.
In a stolen moment, Jolene shows him hope, and he makes a snap decision that will change their lives forever. Will he make it back to show her?
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I haven’t read a good romantic suspense in a while, so when Bittersweet Alliance was available, I jumped at the chance to read it.
I love how balanced this book is. The suspense and action is not overpowered by the romance and steamy bits, but those have their place too. All of the factors were well written, and though this was a quick read, Kathleen Rowland managed to keep me on the edge of my seat and kept me invested in the characters and relationship.
The Hawaiian setting and culture is immersive. I absolutely love how much attention to detail was paid, and this made the book even more enjoyable to read.
With a fast-paced plot, well rounded characters, and beautiful writing, the only thing I wished for was more! I highly recommend checking this one out!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of a blog tour with Goddes Fish Promotions. All opinions are my own.*
Find this review and more on my blog: https://www.jessicabelmont.wordpress.com
Kidnapping of wealthy Hawaiians brings Danker back working with the one woman who broke his heart when she left him seven years ago. Not only is the person responsible for kidnapping but also poisoning the victims so once they get their hands on the ransom money, they release the victims who then wind up dead from the poison. Danker teams up with Jolene so he can speak to the locals and track down who’s doing these horrible crimes. Little does Danker realize, an old enemy resurfaces and vows revenge on Danker and all those he loves, including Jolene. Can he protect Jolene from this threat or will Jolene be the next victim?
To say I loved this book is a vast understatement. I LOVED IT! There were times when I was prepping for upcoming business meetings and got delayed because I just had to read the next scene. The setting of Hawaii is incredibly detailed, so much so, I swear I could smell the vegetation and the flowers. Kathleen Rowland does such a wonderful job plunging the reader into her stories. It’s deep multiple POV and my favorite POV has to be Violet. I loved getting inside her head and seeing how evil operates. The creepiness of the plot spurred me on until the very last page. The romance is hot and sensual but doesn’t overshadow the suspense. A perfect balance, in my view.
If you’re looking for a romantic suspense to escape the summer heat, pick up Bittersweet Alliance today. Be sure to have a cool beverage with you. Highly recommend!
My Rating: 5 stars
Bittersweet Alliance by Kathleen Rowland
Donahue Cousins #3
Seven years can be a long time but when two people grew as close as Danker and Jolene did, meet again and find that the chemistry is as hot as it was years before well then the conclusion is a given, right? This was a wonderful second chance romance that I totally believed in. I understood why the two didn’t stay together seven years before and why it worked out for them when they met again. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with them today. I loved Jolene’s feisty personality and big heart and how it clicked so well with tough take-charge Danker. I also enjoyed seeing how the two managed to mesh their lives by the end of the book. How did they meet up again? Over a case they are to solve together that includes kidnapping on Jolene’s home turf, Hawaii. The evil people were EVIL and their eventual capture was what I eagerly looked forward to. AND…boy oh boy did Danker and Jolene burn up the sheets on the page and in the bedroom 😉 Definitely recommend it and look forward to reading whatever book comes next in this series.
Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars