The Real Allie Newman

Allie Newman works in a Kingston, Ontario health food store with her stepmother and trains for a triathelon. When she rescues a drowning man and makes headlines, she comes to the attention of Private Investigator Joel Kennedy who is seeking the lost daughter of a Greek tycoon who desperately need a bone marrow transplant. Incontravertible evidence proves Allie is Spiro Kostakis' long lost granddaughter, and the old man greets her with open arms when Joel arrives with her at the Grosse Pointe mansion. The rest of the family views her arrival differently. Threatening notes, a near accident, and insinuations by family members make Allie wonder if anyone but Joel can be trusted. Her trust in him is shattered when he is forced to reveal the real reason for his presence.Danger and suspense will keep the reader on her toes. Allie's attraction to Joel adds spark; Joel's struggle to distance himself from Allie adds tension. Joel seems less developed than Allie, who is brilliant, and the family members are a little over the top, but all makes for an exciting read. Recommended.

In Kingston, Ontario, college math teacher Allie Newman bikes on a path in training for a triathlete event when she observes an elderly man and a dog fall into the Caturaqui River when the edge gives way. Allie rescues the blind man and his Seeing Eye dog leading to her appearance in People's magazine.Private investigator Joel Kennedy arrives from Michigan claiming that her father, who died ten months ago, ran away with her when she was three. Her grandfather Spiro Kostakis saw the People picture that he claims is the spitting image of his deceased daughter. He wants to see Allie for several reasons, but especially because he suffers from leukemia and she is his last hope for a match for a needed bone marrow transplant. Joel shows a photo that matches one she owns so Allie agrees to meet her family. However, as Joel and Allie become better acquainted they fall in love, but with threats to her life she wonders whether she can trust him.Fans of romantic suspense are in for a treat with THE REAL ALLIE NEWMAN, an exhilarating tale that runs at a pace that the heroine would want to achieve in a triathlon. The story line moves forward rather quickly, but takes enough time to insure that the reader fully appreciates the inane goodness of Allie and the internal conflict ripping Joel asunder. Though the Michigan cast never fully develops except for being creepy bad people that even a mother would question kinship let alone a long lost relative, readers will have a good time perusing Janice Carter' fine tale.Harriet Klausner