Glass Houses

All I could think of while reading this book was: gosh, I hope nobody knocks on the door! Aiden Flynn, from Key West, is the featured hero in this romantic suspense novel and Olivia FitzDurham the flighty British heroine. The premise of the story is that Aiden accidentally manages to view an untrustworthy colleague's e-mail inbox, and intercepts some troubled messages from Olivia, who thinks she is writing to an online friend, "Sam" for help. The problem? There is no Sam. Convinced that his fellow cop is up to no good and that an innocent woman is about to be dragged into danger, Aiden displays some of his white knight characteristics and tries to rescue her by posing as the fictitious "sam." The two soon find themselves up to their necks in bumbling thieves, murderers and villians.I loved this story, for the often humorous characters and dialogue, though the plot got a little bit confusing at times. I personally thought it was much better than Key West. For newcomers to Stella, though, I wouldn't suggest her newer books, but any of her older ones, like Pure Delights or True Bliss (I think those are the right titles). Even her historical Rossmara series is wonderful. Happy hunting!

On the heels of her successful Key West best selling author Stella Cameron has brought back the crafty Aiden Flynn for a suspenseful adventure of his own. In Glass Houses as a master of disguises, Aiden is caught up in a trap not of his own making or is it? When he encourages an ordinary English Miss, through emails, to cross the big pond losing his heart is the least of his worries. Apparently someone is stalking the young women for supposed secrets she may possess and Aiden has unwittingly fallen into a trap someone has set for him as well. Can they be connected?Aiden, a NYC detective, while in a fellow officer Ryan Hill's apartment to take care of his orchids, uses this man's computer to pick up his own email. What he finds is that Ryan has been corresponding with one Olivia FitzDurham, but under the assumed name of Sam. Added to this, Sam's characteristics mirror those of Aiden. When he digs deeper into the correspondence he finds less and less to his liking. So, against better advice from his own partner Vanni, he sends a few emails in the guise of Sam encouraging Olivia to come to the states. Why he feels he needs to protect her is not clear, but his own suspicions of Ryan's activities are put into high gear.Olivia FitzDurham is an ordinary English Miss who earns her way as a freelance photographer, but on one of her assignments she apparent has taken pictures she shouldn't have. Even the owner of the place as left for parts unknown and has encouraged Olivia to do the same. However, this is not before Olivia has been contacted to kill the assignment, has someone willing to pay big bucks for the photos but could they be they be willing to kill her as well? A bit naïve and ordinary, Olivia has been pouring out the story to her cyber friend Sam, who has encouraged her to leave London. Alarmingly along the way toward that end she is witness to a subway accident of woman who is curiously dressed like her as well is being followed by a man who is set on paying her for the photos. Is it any wonder she is keen on leaving England to reach America where cyber pal Sam has offered to help, but can she afford his kind of help?When she arrives in the States it is our hero, in the guise of Sam, who meets her at the airport. Aiden knows that Ryan(Sam) is up to no good but he and his partner aren't sure just what Ryan is involved in, but they know they must protect Olivia from Ryan's scheming. What they are not prepared for is how Ryan and his partner, when they learn that Aiden are on to them, have skillfully implicated both Aiden and Olivia in a crime. Our couple are now on the run from those who after Olivia's photos and the police community who have labeled Aiden a rogue cop. Staying one step of the bad guys is made even more complicated as Aiden has more than brotherly feelings for Olivia.At times the story seems to bog down with a large cast of villains and it would have been nice to have had a scorec

To the despair of his friend and partner Vani, NYPD detective Aiden Flynn has no social life outside of the cyber-zone. When Aiden's computer goes on the fritz, he goes upstairs to use his neighbor's computer. His neighbor is also a cop who happens to be away on vacation. While going through his e-mail, Aiden finds several notes addressed to FBI agent Sam Ryan from a terrified British photographer Olivia FitzDurham. Aiden thinks his neighbor Ryan, aka Sam, must be dirty and has involved Olivia in something dangerous. Aiden pretends to be Sam and asks Olivia to come to the States so he can protect her. A series of frightening incidents leads Olivia to conclude she is safer in America than her home in London where people want to buy some worthless photos. Ryan convinces his superiors that Olivia and Aiden are violent criminals and now have all of NYPD chasing after them. Ryan and his cohorts want them dead so Aiden and Olivia flee the city, ring to catch the criminals and clear Aiden and Olivia's name. While on the run they fall in love with each other. The amazement of a Stella Cameron novel is that her taut romantic thrillers contain offbeat humor that leave the audience laughing yet concerned, and definitely hooked. GLASS HOUSES is one of Ms. Cameron's best works due in part to the innocent heroine caught in someone else's web, the befuddled hero trying to protect her from bumbling crooks, and a dog with iron teeth. This novel is another winner from one of the great authors of the past decade. Harriet KLausner

In Key West I met Aiden Flynn and felt he needed his own story, and when I found out he was getting one I couldnt wait. Glass Houses more then lived up to what I was hoping for. Aiden is in his neighbor's apartment watering his plants while he is away. While there, he decides to check his email and reads messages meant for his neighbor. The woman who is sending him messages is in trouble and is heading for New York, and Aiden goes to the airport to meet her. This book has everything adventure, romance, bumbling criminals who make you laugh, cops turned bad and a sweet dog named Boss. You also get to meet Chris and Sonnie from Key West again and love Aiden's new partner Vanni and his family. Glass Houses is going on my keeper shelf and will definitely be reread more then once.

I really enjoyed Glass Houses. I was taken on a fun, wild ride with all the story's twist and turns. I kept changing my mind about who the bad guys were and was surprised by the ending. I am very glad I didn't wait for the paperback. Ms Cameron has the perfect mix of Mystery and Romance.