Killjoy

My introduction to Julie Garwood was HEARTBREAKER, which happened to be her first contemporary book. I was hooked. KILLJOY is the 3rd book in this series, and equally as good as the first two. The story revolves around Avery Delaney who is a data analyst with the FBI. From the time Avery was a few days old, she was raised by her Grandma Lola and Aunt Carrie, as her mother, Jilly, was more interested in partying and adding another notch to her bedpost than raising a child. They didn't hear from Jilly for five years until she returned with a boyfriend and wanted money threatening to take Avery if she didn't get what she wanted. It didn't turn out the way Jilly planned and she left in a huff, only to return a few years later to try again. This time things turned violent - Lola died, while Avery was almost killed. This harrowing experience formed a special bond between Avery and her Aunt Carrie. Zip to current timeframe and we see Carrie in a troubled marriage with Tony. Seems Tony likes to spend Carries money that she makes from her advertising company, yet has little emotional involvement in their relationship. He encourages her to go on a holiday at a Colorado Spa, Utopia with Avery. This is when the story puts you on the edge of your seat. In typical Avery fashion, she loses track of time and misses her plane. She arrives at the spa a day late only to find that her aunt never arrived and cancelled the reservations. No way would that happen, so Avery is on the hunt to figure out what happened to Aunt Carrie. She runs into John Paul Renard in the lobby of Utopia. Seems he's looking for a hit man named Monk. John Paul hears of Carrie's disappearance and begins to wonder if Monk is involved. A phone call to Avery sets them on a treasure hunt of sorts. They have a short time to make a destination or Carrie will be killed. As they race along, frantic that they won't make it, the reader is thrust to the hilltop home where Carrie and two other ladies are being held captive. An interesting twist is that the house is rigged with explosives so that if they try to escape, they will be blown up. The story is two fold - we have John Paul and Avery racing to save Carrie and being led from destination to destination. Meanwhile Carrie is trying to save the women in the home by figuring out how to get out. The two plots come together nicely and the ending will surprise a few, but most will have figured out the villains. Even so, there is enough going on to continue the suspense without the mystery involved. The romance between John Paul and Avery is expected yet refreshing at times. Garwood includes enough humor to keep things interesting and refreshing instead of boring and bland. Characters are vivid and unique. We were given glimpses of John Paul in Garwood's two previous books, HEATBREAKER and MERCY. Avery and Carrie are both strong women who don't dwell on past atrocities they've endured but strive to be successful, happy peo

Ms. Garwood has done a tremendous job jumping from historical romance to contemporary suspense romance. Garwood is a great writer and knows how to intrigue you from the very beginning. She does a great job of weaving her characters from one book into another. And she has the gift of letting humor be present in many situations throughout her stories. I love reading about the different characters from one book to another. Killjoy is the third attempt in the contemporary arena. If you have not read Heartbreaker and Mercy, after reading Killjoy you will want to. It has more violence than Mercy or Heartbreaker but is thrilling to the very last page. I could not put this down until I had finished it. The return of John Paul, Noah, and Monk was great! I can't wait to see if she will write anything with Noah in her next book. Way to go Garwood!

KILLJOY is a real treat! It's one of those "Can't put down" reads. Julie Garwood is right on the money with this one! It's one of the best romantic suspense thrillers I've read and you won't believe the plot twists.Avery is a strong, smart and warm heroine who can hold her own againt John Paul, the hero. Remember him? He was Dr. Mike's mysterious brother in MERCY. He is one [good looking] man and Avery is a perfect match for him.Noah is back as well. Can't wait till Julie tells Noah's story. And Monk. I don't know who's more evil...Monk or Jilly, Avery's wicked mother. If you want an exciting, suspensful read that has wonderful humor, pick up KILLJOY.

Killjoy is another treat for Garwood's fans. For many of us, making the leap with Garwood from historical romantic suspense to contemporary romantic suspense was a bumpy transition with her first effort, Heartbreaker. Mercy was much better, and I was expecting more stories featuring the Buchanan Brood. I was pleasantly surprised to meet some new characters in Killjoy and learn more about an enigmatic character from Mercy.Avery Delaney, the heroine of Killjoy, is a very likable FBI analyst, who has overcome a troubled past. John Paul Renard, the hero, has his own demons and is desperately in need of someone like Avery in his life. Readers will remember John Paul, the mysterious older brother of Dr. Mike from Garwood's previous contemporary, Mercy. After meeting him in that book, I was interested in finding out where this cynical man's story might go. I was glad with the direction in Killjoy. Readers will also be pleased to see old friends, like Noah Clayborne, and catch up on the folks in Bowen, LA, but don't expect a repeat of Mercy's down home, bayou vibe. Set in and around the fashionable Aspen, CO mountains, Killjoy has as many twists and turns as the roads and rivers described in the book.Garwood's well on her way to a dual career in contemporary and historical romantic suspense.

This book has the best dialogue between its characters. There is mystery, romance, and humor. I have read all of Julie Garwood's books and she just keeps getting better and better. Do not miss this one, it was a true pleasure to read it. I can't wait for Ms. Garwood's next book.