Heartbreaker

What? Julie Garwood's "Heartbreaker" is a contemporary romance/mystery? My words when I discovered my favorite writer was stepping out of the mold I associated with her of dark, brooding Earls and fair, fancy Ladies! My next sentence was a half-hearted....."Okay, I'll lay down my money and give it a shot". Thank goodness I did or I'd have missed out on my favorite Garwood book to date!Her characters, Nick and Laurant jump at your from the pages...and fill your imagination with fanciful thoughts of actually knowing them along with Laurant's brother, Father Tom and the exciting Noah Clayborne (please let there be a book on Noah...please, please, please?).Oh, did I mention the psycho that has designs on Larant....as his next victim? The plot is so intricatly woven by Garwood you'll drive yourself nuts trying to figure out who the "Heartbreaker" is. Great read! Can't wait for her next book....I'm betting it's a sequel to this one.

All of us have watched our favourites (Judith McNaught, Sandra Brown, Linda Howard, Mary Jo Putney, etc.) move into the realm of contemporary suspense and fail miserably in the attempt. I am happy to report, contrary to the dismal statistics, Julie Garwood emerges Victorious!! She has succeeded admirably with her new book Heartbreaker. So many wonderful "Julie-isms" are still to be found here. Take this for example:"Tommy heard all the commotion and came running, Noah hot on his trail. As soon as Nick had told her brother what she'd done, Tommy joined in the shouting match, but she held her own and stood up to them. Pete and Noah came to her assistance, flanking her sides like protective guardians." How many times haven't we seen Julie's heroines walk through a castle bailey boxed in by her protective knights? All of Garwood's familiar, loved elements are here. Laurant and Nick, the main characters have lots of sizzle; the plot is very exciting and the action swift. The ending is left wide open for Noah's story, the other hunky FBI agent. So, as far as I'm concerned, her next novel can be historical or contemporary - I think we can trust Julie to DO IT RIGHT!

I'm a longtime fan of Julie Garwood's historicals. When I first read that her newest book was a Romantic Suspense novel, I was ready for disappointment. I just couldn't see how she could make the transition from very sweet and humorous to gritty and suspenseful. I was VERY surprised and pleased with the transition. Ms. Garwood has brilliantly plotted a suspense novel full of twists and turns that keeps the reader guessing until the very end. Even when you know who the killer really is, you have to figure out who he has become. At the same time Ms. Garwood has woven a very nice love story between Nick and Laurent. The tension from the suspense is relieved with classic Garwood one-liners that make you want to laugh. Secondary characters, such as Laurent's brother the priest and Nick's friend Noah, are well developed and add to lightening the dark side of the novel. All in all, a very good book from a favorite author. Hopefully she will write Noah's story next.....

Julie Garwood's first contemporary chiller is a must read for any Garwood fan. Like many, I was sceptical and wondered if I would like this "new" type of book. It's wonderful. Ms. Garwood stays true to her writing style with real life hero and heroine characters, along with her always perfect secondary characters. The suspense and tension is believable and scary, but there's humor, too. Nick's reactions when Laurent agrees with him after he tries to explain to her that she couldn't possibly love him, that it's just the situation they're in is hilarious - "Of course you don't love me.....what do you mean, you don't love me?". Vintage Garwood bantering and I just put the book down and laughed.I also know I'm not alone in falling for Father Tom and Noah Clayborne (yes, Clayborne) and am hoping (demanding?) that Noah get his own book as soon as possible.It's been rumored that each of the so-called FBI "Apostles", Noah among them, will be getting their own books, but for now, one of Nick's brothers is the next to get his own book. Theo? Please, please let Noah be next.Anyway, run, do not walk to your bookstore / internet site to get this book. You WON'T be disappointed.

He sees them; he wants them; he stalks them; he takes them; finally, he kills them. The dangerous psychopath HEARTBREAKER enjoys murdering his victims. He has already chosen the next woman to add to his demonic list. Father Thomas is in confessional when HEARTBREAKER admits he plans to go after the holy man's sister Laurant. Tommy is so frightened he calls his FBI friend Nick Buchanan for help. Nick promises to serve as Laurant's bodyguard until the monster is caught.The savvy Laurant realizes her situation could go on indefinitely. She offers to use herself as bait to draw out HEARTBREAKER, but a ballistic Nick rejects the notion because he refuses to allow her to take such a perilous risk. Instead, with the FBI involved, Nick and Laurant pretend to be lovers to make HEARTBREAKER jealous. While danger stalks them, the pair falls in love, even as the killer sets a trap to destroy Nick and Laurant.Among romance readers, Julie Garwood is renowned for her lighthearted Medieval and Regency romps. HEARTBREAKER is different, as the author's first contemporary is a taut suspense thriller that never eases up on the throttle. The charcaters are very complex accepting their current situation in a grave manner, but remain likable. Reminiscent of Brown and Hoag, HEARTBREAKER is heading to all the bestseller lists with Ms. Garwood expanding her already impressive fan base.Harriet Klausner