One Deadly Sin

While covers and titles get my attention, it's page 1 that defines great novels for me. If it "has me at page 1," it rarely lets me go. I can offer no better compliment to the author of One Deadly Sin than to say she had me with the first paragraph. By the end of page one, I realized it is her best book yet and that she is destined to follow the likes of Sandra Brown and Iris Johansen, romantic suspense writers who blazed their way into mainstream fiction without losing the appeal of a happy ending, so crucial to those of us who are romance aficionados. As always, Ms. Solomon's research is flawless and one can smell and taste the good and the bad of living in a town so small that everyone knows everyone else's secrets--or thinks they do. Current events couldn't have conspired to render the setting more timely as the small town is in the stranglehold of a distant manufacturer, an entity so dominant in the community that everyone and their daddy will go under if the local plant is shut down. Combine that with a hard-shell, soft-heart heroine and a warrior poet hero, and you have a formula for suspense on every page. Note: I have to disagree with the reviewer who didn't "see it coming." The killer was on my list of potential antagonists from the first scene that included that character. It is the author's skillful writing that made the ending seem like such a surprise. I would wager that if C. Quinn re-reads One Deadly Sin, she will find the clues scattered throughout the novel and recognize just how artfully Ms. Solomon revealed the villain to us.

Author Annie Solomon is a native to New York , a RITA-winner, and has been dreaming up stories since she was ten. After a twelve-year career in advertising, where she rose to Vice President and Head Writer at a mid-size agency, she abandoned her professional life for her first love, romance. Other titles include: Dead Ringer, Like A Knife, Dead Shot, Tell Me No Lies, Black Out, and Blind Curve. An avid knitter and soap opera fan, she now resides in Nashville , Tennessee with her husband and daughter. Edie Swann has hungered for revenge ever since her family was forced to flee from their small town when she was a child. More than anything, she just wanted answers. Did her father really kill himself? Was he murdered? If so, why? By who? Armed with a list of names, Edie returns to her hometown, leaving each suspect a sign that they have her father's blood on their hands. Except, one by one, the men she has targeted begin dying- leaving her the ample suspect, and still with no answers. Sheriff Holt Drennan knew the minute Edie stepped foot in his town that she was hiding something. She has a haunted and saddened look to her eyes, despite the tough, defiant exterior. Torn between the town he loves and is sworn to protect, and the woman he's falling in love with, Holt can't help but admit that all the evidence points to Edie. As the body count rises, and long-buried secrets begin to emerge, nothing is as it seems...Except the sins of the past are ready to be paid in full- with Edie's blood. I have to bow down and give credit where credit is due. Annie Solomon knows how to pace a story better than any other author I know. With the perfect elements of romance and suspense, she takes you on a ride that leaves you guessing until the very end. With realistic and relatable characters, flaws and all, even their responses to stress and surroundings were genuinely convincing. The small town gave credible true-to-life scenarios, making the book all the more powerful. The secondary characters added energy and endearment to the storyline. Without having to issue a spoiler alert, I didn't see the end coming. Bravo! One Deadly Sin is a well-written, enthralling, and fascinating read- One that won't disappoint from this rising author! Kelly Moran, Author and Reviewer

For lovers of Romantic Suspense with a hint of a paranormal myth, One Deadly Sin is perfect! This was the first work by author Annie Solomon that I have read. I can honestly say that I cannot wait to read more! Ms. Solomon has a wonderful way of developing and bringing her characters to life. The suspense aspect was excellent, also. There were a couple of times that I was sure I knew who the "bad guy" was, and that pretense continued until the very end, when a huge twist takes place and completely threw a wrench into my theories! Edie Swann returns to her hometown of Redbud, her mind set on revenge for the death of her father and the destruction of her family. Changing her name slightly and all grown up, no one realizes just who Edie is - at least not in the beginning. Edie has brought little to Redbud with her, a few clothes, her beloved motorcycle and a package of little black angels - replicas of the one standing above her father's grave. These little black angels are gifts she means to give to those she feels knows what really happened to her father so long ago. Little does she know there is a source set on a deeper and deadlier way to deal with these same men. Shortly after receiving the little angel of doom, the recepient is found dead. Soon, all evidence seemingly points to Edie as the murderer. It is left to her and the Sheriff of Redbud, Holt Drennen, to find the real killer before it is too late and Edie's death is added to the increasing number of bodies. Suspense, plot twists, a few steamy scenes and great storyline make One Deadly Sin a sure winner. I would highly recommend One Deadly Sin to anyone looking for a great read and a story that will keep you up into the wee hours of the night!

I LOVED this book! It was a great book that had me totally sucked in from the beginning. Once I picked this up, I didn't want to put it down. Besides, when you build a story around a big, hunky cop, you can't go wrong! (My hubby was a big, hunky cop when I met him!!) Edie is set on revenge. So, she takes on the role of the bad guy in her pursuit of the truth about what happened to her father who died when she was young. When some of the folks that Edie is hoping to get answers from begin to die, she is quickly considered the likely suspect. Plus, she's the new kid in town. When Edie starts to fall for Holt, it gets a little messy considering that he's the town police chief, and his dad is on Edie's list of suspects in the cover up that killed her father. As Edie is trying to keep herself from becoming a victim, she's also trying to protect Holt and keep herself out of jail. I liked that the villain of the story was female. That left the hero to be the hunky cop, Holt. Going in I knew that Holt and Edie would eventually hook up, but it was still interesting how it all came about. When Edie and Holt finally shared their first kiss, I found myself actually smiling! I love a good mystery thriller that has just a little romance/smut to it. They are my favorites and this one really hit it! Throughout the book I tried to figure out who the real killer was, and just as I'd figure it out, my mind would be changed with a new twist in the story. The author kept me guessing all the way to the end. Each and every character that was a part of this story had a story of their own, so it was interesting trying to figure them all out. I loved Holt's character. He was loyal, dependable and a total gentleman. He was the good guy! He's a widowed father to a young girl and I liked this about him. It fit with the story and made him believable. He was painted as such a nice guy that as a reader I wouldn't have liked him being a divorced man. Edie was wild! She rode a Harley, had several tattoos and was stubborn. She had such a great attitude and personality! I couldn't help but want Holt and Edie to get together. Overall, I really liked this and have already ordered another book by this author. I plan to keep my copy of this book. It's one that I would definitely read again and share with friends!

As A little girl Eden Swanford and her mother left Redbud, Tennessee after her father's tragic suicide. As a grown woman she returned as Edie Swan to get her revenge on those responsible for pushing her father to his death. To prove to them that someone was on to their secret, she leaves them a black angel. A symbol they're sure to understand... and fear. When one of the men who receives the black angel turns up dead, Edie is almost glad but when the next man dies she begins to wonder if there's more to the legend of the black angels than she realizes. Believing the deaths are accidents Sheriff Holt Drennen doesn't have any reason to suspect Edie but as the spark between the two grows bigger he uncovers information that causes him to see her in a new light. Can she really be a murderer? This was a perfect combination of mystery, suspense and romance. Solomon certainly knows how to keep a reader turning pages. With all the intrigue I was pointing my finger at several different suspects but was never able to figure out who was killing people right under Edie and Holt's nose. Edie, Holt and his daughter Miranda were such a great characters. I was rooting for Edie right from the beginning and I thought it was adorable the way Miranda called Edie's tattoo a "fattoo". For the most part you know that romance books will almost always end in a happily ever after but One Deadly Sin wrapped everything nicely and I was genuinely happy for the characters (cheesy, I know). This is a must read for romantic suspense lovers.