*[Blog Tour Review & Tourwide Giveaway] Unlock the Truth (Desert Heat #1) by Robena Grant

 

 

Summary:

 

Dena Roman needs closure. Three months ago, her sister’s murdered body was found in the California desert. When a second body is found at the same site, Dena jeopardizes her public relations position to go undercover and investigate. But falling for the main suspect isn’t part of her plan.
Zeke Cabrera needs help. He sold a portion of his family’s Three C’s Estates to keep his citrus farm afloat, but when bodies are unearthed on the site, he’s suspected of murder. Help comes in the form of a communications expert who makes all the difference in his life and business–and in his heart.
Amidst an attack on her life and run-ins with a cantankerous foreman, Dena digs for the truth, even as she forms a strong bond with Zeke. But can their newly found love survive all the deep secrets hidden at Three C’s Estates?

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 336 pages (Paperback)

Source: Review Copy

Available Formats: Print/E-book

Publication Date: May 10th 2013 by The Wild Rose Press                   

 

Excerpt:

 

“Someone shot at me!” Dena rushed toward him. Her bottom lip trembled. “Who…who would do that?”
Terror was written across her face. He reached out a hand, drew it back. “Are you hurt? Where did it happen?”
“Just after I drove onto your private road—”
“What? Wait a minute.” He grabbed her elbow and eased her into a chair. She dropped a coat hanger of clothes, a pair of high heels, her purse and laptop onto the foyer floor.
“I’m a bit shaky, but I’m not hurt,” Dena mumbled, and lowered her head to almost between her knees.
“I get water,” Irma said, and hurried to the kitchen.
“Tell me exactly what happened.” Zeke kneeled on the tile floor beside her and stroked the top of her arm.
She raised her head. “There’s a hole in the side of my car. I…I could have…could have been killed. Two shots.” She raised two fingers then took in a huge gulp of air.
Zeke took the water glass from Irma.
“Sip it,” he said to Dena, and held the glass to her lips. “You’ve had an awful shock.” He turned his head. “Grab my phone, please, Irma.”
Irma returned a couple of minutes later and handed him his BlackBerry. He still hadn’t made much sense of Dena’s ramblings.
“Who would try to kill me?” Dena asked again. She took the glass from him and drained it. 
Irma bustled over and retrieved it. 
“I’ve no idea. But we’ll find out.”

 

Review

 

It's been quite awhile since I've delved into the romantic suspense genre because I got burnt out on the genre several years ago but after reading Robena Grant's Unlock the Truth I think it's high time for me to get back into the genre especially with tall the new and emerging voices out there now.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed Unlock the Truth. The way it was written really impressed me because there was an actual story line behind the romance and there was a lovely balance between the two. When I used to read the genre I would get so frustrated when the story would be more romance and less suspense and vice versa but, Robena Grant didn't have that problem at all.

 

The plot of  Unlock the Truth really appealed to me. I liked Dena's tenacity, stubbornness and how smart she was plus her love, loyalty and devotion to her sister was wonderful and I think that it added a lot to her character that she had all of those characteristics and was more than just a pretty face and I loved how she with Zeke.

 

As for Zeke, he was a really pain in the behind and turned out to be one of those heroes that I rooted for and wanted to reach through the novel to strangle at the same time especially in the beginning of the book but he went so well with Dena that I ended up really liking him in the end.

 

The mystery element behind the murders in the novel was well thought out and wasn't underwhelming or overdone and outrageous like romantic suspense novels can be and it was neither too light or too dark. It was fast paced, entertaining and well thought out which along with well developed characters made this a hit wit me.

 

 

Overall, Unlock the Truth was a fantastic debut novel and the author is one that I will be looking out for. I really hope I get the change to read the next two novels in the Desert Heat series soon and I'd like to thank Robena for getting me back into the romantic suspense genre. I would recommend this book to fans of romance novels particularly romantic suspense novels that are fast paced with great characters. I hope Robena Grant continues writing in this series for a long time to come and if she doesn't I think she's still got a fan for life and I think it's safe to say I'm a fan for life.

 

 

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.

  

Loved It!
★★★★

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Author Bio:

 

 

 

Robena Grant writes contemporary romance about ordinary women who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances. Travel and discovering new places brings her great pleasure, and she often includes travel locations in her stories. She is Australian by birth, and now lives in Southern California.

 

 

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