Deadly Charade by Virna DePaul

Reviewed by Nancy Crocker

In Deadly Charade by Virna DePaul, you find Tony Cooper an admitted recovering drug addict with a bag of drugs. But things are not always what they seem. You also have Linda Delaney the woman who loves him but can't handle the what ifs.

Linda Delaney is currently a prosecuting attorney for the district attorney's office in Sacramento, and she is in the running to become a judge. She pours her heart into her work. Standing up for hat is right, however her heart never has forgotten the love of her life. She is about to see Tony again. But now he is in court facing murder charges. Linda is shocked to see the changes in the man she has loved, but she can't believe he is a killer.

While Tony Cooper admits to having been addicted to prescription pain killers, he has been clean for over 5 years now. He had been working as a C.I. for awhile. But an attack on those he loved most forced him into the Witness Protection Program with his sister, niece and brother in law. But he soon decides to make a difference. There is a drug on the market called Rapture, and Tony is determined to find out who is behind it. Now as a Cop deep undercover, he must convince others that he is the harden criminal he is portraying. Soon it is hard to remember were the lies begin and end. 

Tony feels he must make Linda believe, because she almost paid with her life once already. And now someone is trying to kill her again. When he protects her from gun fire she is more convinced than ever he is not as uncaring as he would like her to believe. 

Virna DePaul wrote two very strong powerful characters in Tony and Linda. Two lovers whom never got over each other. When these two do come back together it is scorching. And as the book goes on you come to understand why Linda herself had issues with trust and addiction. I loved how Tony tried to protect her. While I am not a fan of lying, in this case it was justified. And there were a few surprises I did not see coming. 

5/5 stars

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Shades of Desire by Virna DePaul

Review by Nas

SHADES OF DESIRE by author Virna DePaul is from Harlequin line.

Natalie Jones is a professional photographer and to lose her sight to a genetic disorder is distressing for her. She had retinal degeneration and for a photographer who depended on her eyesight and camera this was devastating, not just personally but professionally as well. Her long term relationship also broke when her boyfriend had walked away after saying he couldn’t go through this losing of her sight with her. But he left her to go through the devastation and pain alone.

She takes some last photos as she is a photographer of some considerable repute and can just manage to make out outlines and blurry shapes now. She is not ready to hang her camera yet. Then she is completely unnerved by her final descent into darkness as she falls down in the market square where she was taking these photos and blacks out.

Liam ‘Mac’ McKenzie was a homicide detective who was divorced due to the pressures of his work. But he consoled himself that he was being the ‘voice’ and bringing justice to victims who couldn’t seek it out themselves. He was part of an elite group of Special Investigators working for the California Department of Justice.

Mac is investigating a murder of a young girl when the murderer strikes again. This time his target was Natalie Jones. But she struggled and managed to fight him off. Why was the murderer targeting Natalie? She was blind now but what had she seen when she was last photographing? As Mac tries to get his questions answered he is very much aware of Natalie as a person. He is attracted to her and starts desiring her. But he tries to do the right thing and keeps away from her as he believes he won’t be able to give her what she needs and she is a potential witness after all! He could lose his career.

 And the murderer tries to kill Natalie yet again! Mac feels the urge to protect Natalie, as he races against time to investigate the reason for the murderer’s intent to kill Natalie.

SHADES OF DESIRE is a fast paced, thrilling and keeping me on the edge of seat story! It’s full of tension and danger. Natalie being blind is a small part but her courage and determination through it all is amazing. Mac had thought Natalie would be needy and clingy yet she brought strength with her gentleness and her unwavering goodness and fixed Mac. She made him strong and brave to turn away from fear and death and to simply love.

With the loss of her eyesight and her other senses heightened, how Natalie feels desire for Mac is remarkably told by the author. The sensuality in the love scenes just sizzles.

 SHADES OF DESIRE is a romance story amid the police drama and murder mayhem which sparkles with plenty of sizzle, sensuality, emotions and passion. It’s a gripping tale of second chances, past secrets and unexpected attraction.

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