Series:
To Serve and Seduce (Book 5)
To get to the truth,
Will he mix business with pleasure?
When his brother is accused of murder, attorney Ellington
Black vows to prove his innocence, even as he comes up against force-of-nature
investigator Angela Stanfield, who suspects there's more to the story. But
Ellington needs evidence, so they team up to find out the truth. Working with
this irresistible woman is more than challenging…and it might just land
Ellington high on a killer's hit list.
Terrific book that kept me hooked from beginning to end.
The intensity and urgency are apparent as defense attorney Ellington is called
to the home of his brother Parker. Parker, a Chicago police officer, is accused
of murdering his partner and lover, DA Jonathan Wyler. The scene there is intense,
with Parker devastated and in shock, the violence of the murder, and the attitudes
of the responding officers. Ellington is
determined to prove Parker's innocence.
Because Parker is part of the Chicago police department, headed
by Jerome Black, Parker and Ellington's father, the mayor assigns a special
investigator to the case. Angela is a take-no-prisoners kind of investigator.
She is unbiased, intelligent, and doesn't suffer fools gladly.
The book was a terrific mixture of suspense and romance. Ellington
and Angela connected the first time they met and quickly realized that both wanted
to find the truth. Thanks to Angela's attention to detail, I enjoyed the deeper-than-usual
look at the investigative process. I loved that she was suspicious of the accusation
from the beginning, and watching her tear a strip off the lead detective in the
case was a pleasure to see. The realization that something is fishy is
reinforced when the mayor turns around and fires Angela when she refuses to go
along with his preferred scenario. Determined to see the truth exposed, Angela
joins Ellington, and they combine forces on their investigation.
The story intensified with each new piece of information
they uncovered. There is evidence of corruption and cover-ups; the closer they
get to the truth, the more danger they are in. They also discover that there is
a personal element to the setup that comes as a shock to everyone. I loved
seeing the unquestioning support of all family members for Parker. Their
brother Mingus, the private investigator, plays a significant role in
uncovering vital information. When the person behind it all makes his move, Ellington's
mother and Angela are in extreme danger. The twists and turns of the resolution
had me glued to the pages until it was all over. The stunning end was not what
I expected, and it will be interesting to see its long-term effects in the next
book.
I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Ellington
and Angela. They are alike in their pursuit of the truth, and working together allows
them to get to know each other. I like how well they connected and how easily
they talked about anything. Their attraction is evident from the start and
continues to grow throughout the book. I liked that neither one fought their
feelings and that they were able to express them. I also loved that Angela had
such a realistic view of what it takes to have a good relationship. I have no that
she and Ellington will stay together, but she is determined to take it slowly
enough to be sure. Her conversation with Ellington at the end was great.
I loved seeing more of Ellington's family. The relationship
between his parents is an excellent example for the entire family. The teasing
and snarkiness among the siblings were hilarious to watch, but it all stops
when it comes to supporting a brother or sister in trouble. I can't wait to see
what is in store for sister Vaughan.
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