September 22, 2009

Jacket Copy (from Andrea Kane’s website):

Former FBI Special Agent Sloane Burbank has seen her share of danger. She’s faced down a serial killer and survived life-threatening injuries ... but she never expected that danger to invade the lives of her family.
Then her mother is viciously attacked in the posh Manhattan apartment her parents share and it quickly becomes clear that this is no ordinary robbery. The thieves were too clever, too knowledgeable, and so obviously after something of her father’s. But what could a respected art dealer have done to merit such violence? When a mysterious message is left for him, Sloane knows her father’s in over his head. Determined to find out the truth, Sloane discovers a deadly secret buried in his past that has made him the target of a power-hungry mobster with a lethal agenda and nothing to lose.

Sloane is desperate to save her father, but to do so she must hold onto secrets of her own—especially from FBI Special Agent Derek Parker, the man she has grown to love deeply. She knows she must tell him everything, but how can she betray her father’s confidence? Can a couple who’s faced so much survive this ultimate test of trust? Will they survive at all?
As the decades-old secret claims the lives of her father’s oldest friends and the killer closes in on him, Sloane finds herself in foreign territory: alone, facing escalating personal danger, and hunting a moving target in a world where memories are long and loyalties are drawn in blood.

This book was released on September 8th and I reviewed it for REALMS ON OUR BOOKSHELVES


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When I started reading DRAWN IN BLOOD as an ARC for ROOB I was already familiar with Andrea Kane’s writing, as I first read TWISTED in preparation. Being a reader who is obsessed with reading books and series in order I could not have enjoyed DRAWN IN BLOOD as much as I did now, if I hadn’t read TWISTED first. In TWISTED I met Sloan and Derek and got to know them and what made them tick and I accompanied them on their journey to a happy ending. When I reached the end of TWISTED I was glad to have the knowledge that there was more to come. This being said I think that DRAWN IN BLOOD easily lends to be read as stand-alone for readers who are not as obsessed as I am with reading in order. Andrea Kane did a great job of writing it in a way that if you haven’t read TWISTED, you can still read DRAWN IN BLOOD and not have the feeling you are missing something.

DRAWN IN BLOOD had a very different feel compared to TWISTED. Where TWISTED was a whodunit, in DRAWN IN BLOOD the identity and motives of the villain are known to the reader and to some extend to Derek and Sloan too. This provided a totally different tone for the book, as it was fascinating to follow Sloan and Derek’s progress in stopping the villain and at the same time reading how the villain was planning to deal with his adversaries.

The ingredients for DRAWN IN BLOOD are art theft, organized crime, murder, deception, obsession, loss and relationships on different levels. Furthermore, it comprises former FBI agent, Sloan Burbank who is trying to protect her father and his friends, FBI agent, Derek Parker, who is trying to get to the truth without endangering his girlfriend and a villain who is ruthlessly and cunningly setting up and carrying out his plans for vengeance.

From the first chapter I was pulled into the fascinating and captivating plot that takes place about six months after TWISTED. It not only gave me an in-depth look into the world of art theft and European and Asian organized crime but also provided me with elaborate looks into law enforcement and the personal life of Sloan and Derek as a couple working together on a case where the goal is mutual but their interests and priorities differ.

Sloan and Derek are the perfect embodiment of characters who are strong, determined and professional. They clash when personal and professional interests takes them in different directions and neither of them backs down easily. They both are, after all, stubborn and proud. However, when needed they are also able to communicate, compromise and enjoy the pleasure of each other’s company and their relationship. They both have issues they are dealing with. Next to the professional and personal issues, they have reached the phase in their relationship, where the sexual chemistry and attraction is obvious and both are ready to take it a step further, exploring boundaries and trying to make the day-to-day things work.

DRAWN IN BLOOD is a fast-paced, well-written story that alternates between being character-driven and plot-driven. The characters, both primary and secondary are all strong and well fleshed out. They are as three-dimensional and realistic as they come and I think Andrea Kane’s extensive research into the subject of this novel and the FBI is the major contributor in that. Another excellent exhibit of this research was the suspense plot. It was believable yet far from simple. The set-up of the plot was intricately woven, slowly and surely reeling me into it to the point where I had to keep reading. Not to know who was the villain and why but to know when the ax would drop.

DRAWN IN BLOOD is a clever display of Andrea Kane’s writing skills. It shows her ability to create story lines that develop separately but come together in the end in a great way. In DRAWN IN BLOOD there are 3 major plotlines and the manner in which she sets up these multiple plotlines and works them toward a coherent and satisfying ending is nothing but excellent. Without leaving loose ends every tidbit of information provided answers and all questions were answered satisfactory in the end.


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5 comments:

Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews said...

Hi Pearl,

Great review and NO SPOILERS, LOL! I'm still waiting for my copy from the library!

I wanted to read this book because I was hoping to read about Sloane and Derek's HEA!

Unknown said...

Thanks for the review! I haven't heard of this author before so will definitely look her up :) I also stopped by to let you know I have an award for you here :)

Marissa said...

Great review Pearl, and another for my wishlist, the suspense department on my wishlist still has some room!

Unknown said...

Hi Pearl!

Great review!

Sounds like an excellent thriller!

Dottie :)

Smokinhotbooks said...

Oooo ahhhh I like thrillers. I'm with ya on the reading in order. I feel left out when I don't get the cameo appearances of previous characters. Great review!

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Pearl
Netherlands
39, married to my real life romance hero, addicted to TV shows, reading romance novels and Twitter. I'm a chronic (e)book hoarder and my absolute favorite genres within romance fiction are contemporary romance and romantic suspense, but I don't shy away from historical, paranormal or erotic romance either. Even the occasional (urban) fantasy romance, futuristic and sci fi romance may make it to my Mount TBR. This is my corner of the world wide web where I let you know what books I'm hoarding, reading and reviewing.
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On My TBR Shelf

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