Susannah is out to prove that pyrotechnics genius Quinn Baldwinis responsible for a million-dollar fireworks catastrophe during a Mardi Gras ball. With her faithful black Lab Monty she moves to the charming backwater city of Mobile, Alabama to uncover the truth. But this world-traveled military brat with a string of letters behind her name finds herself wholly unprepared to navigate the cultural quagmires of the Deep South. Captivated by the warmth and joy of her new circle of friends, Susannah struggles to keep from falling for a subject who refuses to be anything but a man of integrity, compassion, and lethal Southern charm. Fireworks offers a glimpse into heart of the South and a cynical young woman’s first encounter with Christ-like love.

User Ratings and Reviews

1 Stars If I want a sermon I’ll go to church
I’ve read several of the Christian lit selections because they were free. For the most part they’re not good stories. Fireworks is one of the ones that is not good. The story suffers because the author is more concerned with preaching her message than she is developing a story. As for the story that is there, I did not buy the conversion of Susannah. It was too neat, too easy. A more interesting and believable conversion experience would have been the backstory of Quinn Campbell. If the author had given us that story in detail and not just skimmed over it as something that happened in his past I think it would have been a much more interesting read. I can see how a person like him, who sees his father murder his mother, who loses his sister, who becomes homeless and lives on the docks would be so overwhelmed by circumstances that he would turn to God. However, I doubt Ms. White could tell that story very well. She would be more interested in quoting Scripture than exploring the psychology of what motivated Quinn.

3 Stars Suprised to find this to be a Christian book.
I had no idea when I purchased this book that it was Christian in any way, but there is no doubt now that I have finished it that there is definately a southern Christian influence. Don’t get me wrong I liked the book and I am a Christian myself I was just suprised to find it to be such when nothing I read indicated that it was. Good romance story not your typical that is for sure, but all the same good.

4 Stars Good Clean Read
ok I’ve got 2 say this wasn’t the type of book that you just can’t put down. It was a little slow at times, but, I have to disagree with the negative reviewers that get the book for FREE then complain that the book was too religous. It was Free….If you think it’s boring or has too many references to the bible then just delete it. You have not lost anything, it was FREE. I myself like to read about characters who have strong christian values. I don’t want to read smut and read cursing, ect. The story makes me desire to be more fruitful in my christian walk, like the characters in this book, instead of standing on the sideline and just saying “I’m a christian”. Reading the story made me desire to have that joy of leading someone to the Lord. All heaven rejoices when one soul comes to the Truth & knowledge of Christ. I admire the author for writting a faith based book. And by the way, I also disagree with one of the reviewer who said that it was too easy when Susannah gave her life over to God. It is easy coming to Jesus. It was for me anyway. I was wild & carefree and I didn’t need anyone. I had my whole life under control, so I thought, but the Holy spirit spoke to my heart, alot like Susannah in this book. So I do know for a fact that you can be heading one direction and then God can do a “Suddenly” and totally tur you around.

2 Stars Skim if you must but don’t read!
I got this book free on Kindle and I was really disappointed with it. I read the first few chapters and was pretty bored. So I skimmed the rest of the book. Skimming the book and getting it for free is the only reason why I gave it two stars.

The good: The only really good thing about this book is that it’s clean.

The bad: The characters in this book were completely two dimensional and unbelievable. Susannah supposedly had a Masters in chemistry but she didn’t sound intelligent and did some pretty stupid things in the book. She was a horrible investigator. Her love interest was insanely perfect and therefore annoying. The dialog felt forced most of the time and was very unrealistic. I laughed a lot while reading this book (and it wasn’t at parts that were meant to be funny). The book came off as way too “preachy” for my taste. The storyline fell flat in my opinion.

I would not recommend reading this book. Skim it if you’re insanely bored and you can get this book free… But do so at your own risk!

3 Stars FIREWORKS
I ENJOYED THE BOOK. LOVED THE SMALL TOWN FOLKSY PEOPLE AND THE WAY THEY SUPPORTED EACH OTHER. OF COURSE, I WOULD HAVE LOVED A BIT OF SEX THROWN IT BUT ALAS! IT WASNT TO BE……..

WORTH YOUR TIME

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Want to take control of your finances once and for all? Managing Your Money All-in-One For Dummies combines expert money management with personal finance tips. From credit cards and insurance to taxes, investing, retirement, and more, seven mini-books show you how to improve your relationship with money - no matter your age or stage of life.

This easy-to-understand guide shows you how to assess your financial situation, calculate debt, prepare a budget, trim spending, boost your income, and improve your credit score. You-ll find ways to run a money-smart household, reduce waste, and cut medical and transportation expenses as you tackle your debt head-on and develop good saving habits. You-ll even get help choosing the right mortgage and avoiding foreclosure, saving for college or retirement, and determining your home-, car-, and life insurance needs. Discover how to:

• Take charge of your finances
• Manage home and personal finances
• Lower your taxes and avoid tax audits
• Plan a budget and scale back on expenses
• Deal with debt and negotiate with creditors
• Save and invest safely for college or retirement
• Protect your money and assets from fraud and identity theft
• Ensure a comfortable retirement
• Plan your estate and safeguard a will or trust

Managing Your Money All-in-One For Dummies brings you seven great books for the price of one. Can you think of a better way to start managing your money wisely?

User Ratings and Reviews

3 Stars okay but really for dummies
This book is really basic. So if you know anything about finances you should go with a more advanced book. The resources and websites are really useful, but if you need this book than you probably better off taking it out of your library than purchasing it if you get my drift.

5 Stars Comprehensive!
Big book full of sound financial advise. Oh, to be disciplined enough to follow it.

5 Stars Managing Your Money for Dummies - Must Have!
This book is exactly what I was looking for. I really like that this is a collection of 7 books, covering a number of topics. I needed a guide to help me with my personal finances- how to save, how to spend, and managing a personal budget. There is a lot of other great advice in here, including tips of managing your credit, determining how to save for the things you want and need, and how you can have a better relationship with money, creating a positive experience in money management as opposed to the stress many people feel when they manage their finances. I think this book is a must have!

5 Stars Get the biggest bang for your buck by purchasing this book
“Managing Your Money All-In-One For Dummies” is a compilation of the works of eleven authors. For example, Kathleen Sindell, Ph.D. has rewritten and updated five chapters from “Managing Your Money Online For Dummies” for inclusion in “Managing Your Money All-In-One for Dummies”. These chapters include:

Using the Internet to Help Manage Your Finances

Working With an Online Broker

Online Banking

Online Retirement Planning

Estate Planning Online

To sum it up, “Managing Your Money All-In-One For Dummies” is perfect for someone who wants to get control of their personal finances.

2 Stars Maybe good for dummies?
I bought this book to help educate my significant other about the world of money and where they are going. After I cracked it open on a few different chapters, I realized that this book is pretty high level overview and restates common sense. It has very little detailed info on any of the topics and it reads almost as a 700 pages long “would be nice todo list” with almost no “how-to manual”.

You may use it as a reference which forces you to go online and research a topic there in more detail, but then what is the point of the 700 page book?

Added chapters about doing things like banking, financial planning etc online is another mentioning of what normal people already know, and probably wont help you much unless you lived in a cave for the past 15 years and completely missed out on the internet phenomenon.

I will return this book and look for something better on the topic.

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UNDERSTANDING ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS: A Worktext, is designed to help your students master the transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS coding systems. This hands-on, full-color worktext is fully illustrated to emphasize the impact that knowledge of anatomy and disease processes have on coding accuracy. Practice exercises are provided throughout, and Coding Assignments and Case Studies provide real-world coding practice. The Official Coding Guidelines for ICD-10 are included as an Appendix and are explained throughout each chapter. Learning exercises, key terms, chapter reviews, coding assignments, case studies and internet links are also incorporated in each chapter. A free StudyWare CD-ROM with quizzes, flashcards, and multimedia coding cases, and 30-day free trial of EncoderPro (with ICD-10 codes) is included with the book.

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The bestselling one-stop guide to mortgages—updated for the post–housing crisis market!

The Mortgage Encyclopedia demystifies all the various mortgage terms, features, and options by offering clear, precise explanations.

Fully updated to address the new realities introduced by the housing crisis of 2007, The Mortgage Encyclopedia provides not just a complete description, but also in-depth discussion of the issues that may affect you, whether you’re a homeowner (or homeowner-to-be), real estate agent, loan provider, or attorney. With this handy, comprehensive guide on hand, you have instant access to:

• Definitions and explanations of common mortgage-related terms, as well as arcane mortgage terminology, listed alphabetically
• Expert advice on the most pressing issues, such as whether to use a mortgage brokers, the benefits of paying points versus a larger down payment, and the hazards of cosigning a loan
• The truth about common mortgage myths and misperceptions—and the pitfalls you need to avoid
• Helpful tables on affordability, interest cost of fixed-rate versus adjustable rate mortgages, and much more

So the next time you ask yourself such questions as “Is this FHA loan right for me?” or “Can I negotiate this fee?” reach for this indispensable guide and get the fast, accurate information you need!

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Risk Management Handbook for Health Care Organizations, Student Edition is a complete introductory textbook on risk management in health care, incorporating all the basic elements of risk management as it relates to health care finance, quality, management, law, and regulatory compliance.

In 24 concise chapters, this comprehensive introduction provides a perfect overview to prepare students, or working professionals in health care or law, enter the field of health care risk management and patient safety. Readers will be provided an understanding of general risk management techniques; standards of health care risk management administration; federal, state and local laws; and methods for integrating patient safety and enterprise risk management into a comprehensive risk management program.

Each chapter will have key points, standardized introduction, list of key terms, and discussion questions. A separate downloadable instructors’ manual will have additional support tools for the instructor.

Chapter topics include:

• Enterprise Risk Management in Health Care – The Basics
• Health Care Legal Concepts
• Governance of the Health Care Organization
• Development of a Risk Management Program
• The Health Care Risk Management Professional
• Risk Management Metrics
• Ethics in Patient Care
• Interpersonal Communication Skills: The Ultimate Loss Control Technique
• Physician and Allied Health Professionals Credentialing
• Documentation and the Medical Record
• Basic Claims Administration
• A Contract Review Primer for Risk Management
• Information Technologies and Risk Management
• Health Information Management
• Introduction to Risk Financing
• Insurance: Basic Principles and Coverages
• Organizational Staffing
• Emergency Management
• Occupational Safety , Health ad Environmental Impairment: A Brief Overview
• Early Warning Systems for the Identification Organizational
• Patient Safety and the Risk Management Professional
• Risk Management’s Role in Performance Improvement
• The Risk management Professional and Medication Safety

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Risk Management for Healthcare
I needed the books for a class but was pleasantly surprised to see how easy to read and didn’t put me to sleep and the price was excellent!!

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This casebook covers all major aspects of insurance law. It retains the same structure as previous editions, but adds new material about health insurance and regulatory reform, the AIG bailout and credit derivatives, and Directors & Officers Liability insurance.

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This money saving package includes the 11th edition of Insurance Handbook for the Medical Office - Text and Workbook.

User Ratings and Reviews

2 Stars Not ready for release
This highly touted “30th anniversary edition”, sadly, was released before it had been adequately proofread. There are many errors in the text (mispellings, typos and awkward and difficult to understand sentences) and the CD can not be installed on Windows XP Home Edition, only on the Professional Edition. The company is working on a “patch” to fix this, but can’t say when it will be out. There are also many places in the workbook where an exercise or assignment is typed on two pages, which requires turning the page to complete it. This is very cumbersome and could easily have been avoided by a copy editor. I would advise anyone who can find an alternative, not to buy this book set.

5 Stars Excellent book for a great price.
The book is excellent to learn from. The chapters are pretty short to read but some have a lot of work in the work book. I think it is a great book to learn from.

5 Stars Insurance Handbook for the Medical Office
This is my first time ordering online with your company. I was very pleased with my purchase for the quality and timely manner in which I received the product.

I will refer you web site to other friends and family members.Workbook for Insurance Handbook for the Medical Office

5 Stars Wonderful learning tool
This book gives a lot of information necessary to really understand billing and coding. The number of cases to be worked on and the variety of different types of insurances gives the student a well-rounded sampling of the coding field. This is a comprehensive teaching tool, not for the short term class, but then billing and coding shouldn’t be taught quickly. For a real in-depth learning experience, I think this is a great book.

4 Stars A good purchase
The books i ordered were in the time specified & in the condition as promised at the time of purchasing. It was indeed a good purchase.

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Don’t let a construction lawsuit wipe you out. More and more construction contractors are getting sued these days. Make sure you protect yourself against costly litigation with Construction Insurance, Bonding and Risk Management edited by William J. Palmer, James Maloney, and John L. Heffron. Written in jargon-free language, this quick-and-easy resource will help you identify and manage risk in every phase of construction–from bidding on the job to driving home the final nail. You get the know-how you need to make sense of today’s confusing array of insurance and bonds and to select the best coverage for your general business operations, individual contracts, job bidding and more.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Construction Insurance, Bonding, and Risk Management
I founding this book most informative and would reccommend it to any person within my sphere of bussines.

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Over the past decade organizations have faced relentless customer demand for better value at less cost, individual customization, greater choice, faster delivery, higher quality, exceptional service, and more recently – increased environmental and social consciousness. The organization’s weapon of choice to address this increasing demand has been the supply chain. However, as the supply chain footprint changed (e.g. outsourcing, off-shoring and customer/vendor empowerment) so did the organization’s exposure to uncertainty. Organizations were taken by surprise since this exposure was unanticipated, complex and beyond their ability to manage. As customers become more demanding and change occurs at an even greater pace, supply chain risk continues to propagate like a parasite. Organizations and societies are at much greater risk of systemic failure because of the massive interdependency throughout global supply chains. The priority now is two-fold; play catch-up and address these massive gaps while deploying more intelligent and integrated strategies (i.e. social aware, instinctive, dynamic and predictive) for dealing with continuous change.

Single Point of Failure: The 10 Essential Laws of Supply Chain Risk Management uses analogies and dozens of case histories to describe the risk parasite that infects all supply chains while revealing methods to neutralize that parasite. The book addresses the questions: What are the “single points of failure”? How exposed are customers, investors, other stakeholders and ultimately the organization? What is the measurable impact (i.e. brand, financial, strategic, and non-compliance)? Who establishes the “risk paradigm”? How does the organization efficiently and effectively allocate precious resources - time, people, management attention, and capital? How is success measured? This book is both technically powerful and effectively realistic, based on today’s complex global economy.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Not just common sense
The author, Gary S. Lynch, is Global Leader, Supply Chain Risk Management Practice at Marsh Consulting, so he knows what he is talking about. The book’s tagline reads “The 10 Essential Laws of Supply Chain Risk Management” and what Gary Lynch is trying to convey is that there are certain basics every manager should know, understand, and act upon. Lynch breaks down Supply Chain Management into ten basic laws, neither founded in academic theories or mathematical formulas, but simple basic principles that anyone can appreciate.

What Lynch underlines is that in supply chains, everyone is connected. It is impossible to separate the supplier from the company or the company from the customer. The only way the supply chain can work is one for all, all for one.

This book is full of universally applicable real-life examples, obviously written for the practitioner and supply chain professional, and perhaps not so much for the scholar or researcher. Nonetheless, considering the highly affordable price, this is a book that definitely should be in you bookshelf.

Much of what it comes down to in risk management is just common sense. But in the day-to-day business of managing operations and logistics, the oversight and wider implications of one’s actions are often lost. Gary Lynch manages to bring this oversight into view again.

5 Stars Outsider’s Perspective
As someone who is not involved in building and maintaining supply chains I took a much different perspective on the authors analysis. As a consumer I play an integral role at the end of the supply chain and my day-to-day life heavily depends on the success of the value chain. Single Point of Failure illustrates the ubiquitous nature of risk as it applies to every participant in addition to illuminating the hot spots of risk potential. With a number of helpful examples from small and large companies alike Gary Lynch adroitly paints a vivid picture of the urgency for whistleblowers at every level of the value chain. This book is a perfect addition to any library.

5 Stars an essential guide

As a supply chain professor who teaches the subject, I have been looking for a book that is thorough, has a solid conceptual framework and is very practical to address the learning requirements of 30-35 year old MBAs that I teach. This is the book I have been looking for. I spent part of my Christmas immersed in the book’s rich philosophy, deep executive perspectives and the globe-spanning case examples the author uses to illustrate the core concept of risk as a virus constantly evolving to attack the supply chain. Given the dynamic and multi-faceted nature of this threat (which he so vividly presents), it is entirely appropriate that a major emphasis in the text is on methods for generating and diffusing risk awareness throughout the organization. The sense of urgency conveyed in the book is directly linked to the vast experience with hundreds of organizations that the author brings. he has seen it firsthand.

The essential laws of supply chain risk management contained in the chapters all seek to to address the goal of getting the organization to acknowledge risk, create a “risk paradigm” for its specific business that defines the organization’s risk drivers and stakeholder expectations and pushes managers to break through inertia and take action. Taking action is the key for survival in a global economy that the author describes as still tenuous and fragile in its trade relationships across the supply chain. This is a text not only for students but for executives in international businesses who want to get ahead of the risk curve and get ready for that next inevitable shock.

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Diana Collins charges at life with an irreverent comment and a right hook, but even her hard-headed attitude may not be enough to protect her heart…or her life.

As a senior investigator for a high-end insurance company, Diana searches for the person responsible for the theft of several rare weapons. Diana struggles to protect her burgeoning relationship with kindergarten teacher, Cami Michaelson, as the investigation leads her into a bitter world of rage and revenge. Diana uncovers one damning piece of evidence after another that challenges everything she knows about right and wrong. She finds her hard-driving work ethic, which demands the thief be held accountable, at odds with the desire to protect her new friend, Ali Sandoval, who is caught in the center of the conflict. As Diana is drawn deeper into a dark subculture of sex, power, and death, Ali must choose between vengeance and peace as she struggles to escape with her sanity intact.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Awesome
Congrats to the Author, If you are thinking of buying this book then go ahead it is fantastic.

Complex charactors and exciting plot.

The author had me convinced that ‘killing’ for a good cause is commendable.

The ending leaves the story open for a possible sequel, although I hope Ali does not hold a grudge against the two main characters.

Great love scenes.

4 Stars Suspense and Intrigue, With A Twist
Warning - This book is not for the faint of heart. It includes spousal abuse, murder, and all the undesirables that go with them. That said, I really enjoyed this book by first-time author Belle. The reader takes chances with any new author’s first offering. Many times, especially via Bold Strokes Books publishing, the author is quite enjoyable. Such is the case here and I’m really looking forward to Belle’s upcoming release `Split the Aces.’

I may be naïve, or just not very good at solving mysteries, but it was nearly impossible to figure out who the villain in this story is. Belle drops hints everywhere, but throws in a crafty twist at the end. I don’t want to give away too much, so I’ll just leave it at that.

In the midst of solving the crimes, protagonist Diana Collins finds herself falling hard for Carni Michaelson - a woman who is in danger because of Diana’s investigation. Needless to say, Diana isn’t sure how to proceed until all the pieces of the puzzle fall into place.

Bottom Line - Good first book. Looking forward to the next one.

4 Stars Dark suspense with a light romance
I never would have known about author Jove Belle if a friend hadn’t mentioned her to me, but I’m so glad I’ve found her. Edge of Darkness is one of those books that really popped for me. Its edgy, dark suspenseful story line combined with a juicy love story made it one of the best reads in while for me. And I must admit, that cover totally grabbed me.

There is absolutely nothing bad I can say about this book. I was just so impressed by all of it: the complex character development, the slow build up of a suspenseful investigation, and a realistically and honestly written love story, which all came together in a flawless, enthralling way for me. I really can’t say enough about how positively affected I was by the writing and story telling in this book.

The characters: Diana–is the main character and it’s through her eyes that this story is told. She’s a tough scrapper type who is not afraid to get into it with people to do the right thing. She’s also got a huge heart and takes her Irish Catholic upbringing, including being family oriented, very seriously. She’s still getting over a failed relationship and has been sticking to having one-night-stands even though she dreams of having the white picket fence and living in domestic bliss forever with someone someday. At the moment though, she’s mostly focusing on her career as an insurance investigator. She’s such a complex and interesting character whose mix of contradicting qualities really turned me on.

Cami- is Diana’s new love interest. What I really got off on in this story is how realistically the love story develops between Cami and Diana. Cami is a real sweetheart of a woman, who, like Diana, feels so attracted but also has all the usual doubts and insecurities that goes with falling in love and getting to know someone knew. The interactions between her and Diana came across as very authentic and it’s the first time for me read a lesbian love story that expressed how I imagine it would really be between two women.

Braxton- is Diana’s mentor at work and she is also a well written character. She a tough, straight forward, take no prisoners type of woman who’s extremely intelligent and a pro at interviewing and psychologically breaking down people to get info. She and Diana have this playful but respectful rapport between them, which I really liked. And even though she’s a straight, married woman, she flirts with Diana with lots of subtle sexual innuendo, which Diana doesn’t quite no how to take at times. I got the impression that she did have a thing for Diana in some way and it was interesting to me that Jove Belle kept what’s going on between them ambiguous because that felt more real to me.

Ali- is the serial killer. I can say that because it’s revealed right in the beginning. She’s a refreshingly written damaged character and I felt so much for her. She was kidnapped and abused for most of her youth by a tyrant of a man and basically kept prisoner until she managed to escape one day. Consequently, she is trying to save other helpless women by trying to rid the world of abusing men. What I loved about the way Jove Belle wrote her is that even though she’s become this cold blooded killer, when Diana shows her real love and compassion, that part of her that she’s forgotten that needs to be loved and accepted makes her feel more vulnerable than she was as a kidnapped victim because she actually opens up and reaches out for the first time. It was heartbreaking.

Other than those main characters, I felt the interactions between the office men and Diana were very interesting as well. The men joke about her being a lesbian and show their ignorance and sexism on a regular basis to the degree that it borders on sexual harassment, and yet, Diana’s sarcastic and humorous reactions to it, easily deflecting it back to them, and the fact that the men actually respect her and Braxton, didn’t turn all of that into a male bashing fest, which it could have easily happened to add more unnecessary tension or drama to the story and I liked that.

The suspense plot is also very well written. We know who the killer is straight away, but like a Columbo story, it’s the detailed and logical way in which Diana goes about investigating and the conclusions she comes to along the way, plus the unpredictable reactions of Ali, that kept the interest up in this story.

I would love to read another of Jove Belle’s books from this.

5 Stars Intrigue, romance and you’ll think
Jove Belle has written a book that contains two different stories within one. One story is an intricate suspense tale of revenge and retribution, while the other is a romance. What is different about this book is that the major characters in one story are not the same characters in the other, but the stories twine together to create an extremely good novel.

Diana Collins is an investigator for an insurance company who has been assigned the job of recovering a rare sword that disappeared after it was used to kill its owner. The hunt for the kitana leads Diana into an ever widening circle of clues to horrific crimes, including abused women and gruesome murders. At the center of the vortex is Ali Sandoval, a woman who is haunted by her own violent past, but someone that Diana comes to admire for her work at a shelter trying to protect women from the men who have brutalized them. Coming from a family of police officers, Diana had always thought she had a clear understanding of right and wrong, but the horrible details of these women’s lives make her begin to question her own values, especially when she begins to suspect that Ali might somehow be involved in what is happening to some of the men. Meanwhile, Diana finds herself being distracted by a relationship unlike any she has ever experienced. Cami Michaelson was supposed to be another one-night stand, something Diana is familiar and comfortable with. From their first meeting though, Diana feels something is different about this woman and she finds herself being drawn closer to her. As Cami and Diana explore their deepening feelings, Diana can’t help but compare their lives to what she is encountering in her case. As she comes closer to finding the kitana, she can sense the danger increasing also and Diana is torn between how she can see justice carried out while protecting Cami and Ali.

Edge of Darkness is not a “who done it.” The reader has the answer to that question from the first pages. The tension in the novel comes from wondering when or if the authorities will ever put the pieces together and come after the killer. It also comes from the reader knowing what is happening, but Diana doesn’t. As she takes each step, the reader knows she is unwittingly moving closer to real danger. It’s similar to watching a movie when the audience wants to yell, “Don’t open that door!” but you know the character will anyway and it won’t be good. Then, as the tension mounts, stress of a different kind is introduced in the form of the love relationship that is developing. That releases the mood of the mystery, but builds suspense of a different kind. Throw in a straight co-worker who also has Diana confused and the reader will begin to wonder what is going to make her pop first. The character development is especially well done. Diana’s struggle to justify her feelings towards the crimes with her strong ethical values reflects the feelings that many people often have to deal with. Her confusion and that of Cami as they try to understand how their relationship could be developing so quickly, yet so deeply, will feel familiar to readers who have felt themselves caught up in such a whirlwind. One of the most simplistic, yet troubling characters, is Ali. Her motivations are easy to understand, but accepting them forces the reader to consider that, sometimes, walking on the dark side might be the right side and that by itself makes the book intriguing.

Reviewers say all the time that they couldn’t put a book down or that a book is a “page turner.” In this case, Edge of Darkness fits the descriptions.

1 Stars Don’t bother
This is the first book published by Jove Belle and, therefore, I was prepared for at least some minor glitches in “Edge of Darkness”. However, I must say that I was quite disappointed by this book and it took me some effort to read it until the end, since nothing in the book managed to really keep me interested.

The fact that I got stuck on the second sentence of the prologue, was not a good sign for what was going to come ahead in terms of prose. Included in the annoying things in the prose of “Edge of Darkness” are, the frequently unfortunate choice of words (e.g. a police car described as a `black and white chariot of justice’ with `crimson and cerulean lights’), the overuse of adjectives and similes, the fact that things are continuously being explained to the reader, the abundant infodumps, the frequent inconsistencies and the confusing way time is dealt with.

Setting seems to have been regarded as mostly unimportant. The book is set in Chicago, but the only thing I got from the book regarding the city was that there was a lot of traffic. Most big cities have a lot of traffic so that is certainly not enough for the reader to get a grasp of Chicago. Regarding Diana’s work, I suspect the descriptions are not close to reality. It seems from the book that to be an insurance investigator is quite a nice job. As a top insurance investigator all you have to do is drive around a bit in order to do 3 or 4 interviews per week, do some Googling, and one or two phone calls to the police to give you all the information you need. The rest of the time is used to answer personal emails. You get to drive a Mercedes and you probably get well paid since you can even lend temporarily $5000 to the FBI.

Expecting an intrigue (the book is labeled as “Intrigue”), it soon became obvious that the plot is quite poor. Things seem to happen just because it is convenient and, frequently, they do not make sense, namely psychologically. To show how efficient Diana is investigating, the Police are depicted as complete morons although, simultaneously, all the main information is obtained from them. Some things introduced in the plot such as that Diana’s investigation would be two weeks ahead of the police (when it was the police that gave all the relevant information for the investigation) as well as the existence of a Police protocol to follow an order in the interviews make no sense at all. At the end of the book the Police conveniently becomes smart to “save” Diana and Cami. There are three subplots that are complete dead ends and I can only conclude that they exist to fill space. Therefore, that leaves as raison d’être for the book, the romance. But even the romance is not well developed. I found it quite unrealistic, with Diana and Cami thinking of living happily ever after only exchanging a dozen words.

A priori, one of the interesting things about the characters was that the person doing the murders does it for a ‘good’ reason. Not being a black and white situation, this would allow for interesting characterization. Unfortunately, characterization is also a problem, since the characters come as difficult to grasp and, mostly, two-dimensional. We do, however, get a lot of information regarding the clothes they are wearing and Diana and Cami’s obsession with having sex with each other. Jove Belle uses extreme physical situations (e.g. Diana’s reaction to the website) to portray the characters’ emotions to the reader. However, they help alienate the reader from the characters since they are seen as unrealistic situations. A more subtle approach, would probably help make the characters more three-dimensional.

The editing of the book, is not very good, which was a surprise, considering the reputation of the editors for BSB. In summary, in a perfect world, Jove Belle would still be learning the craft and not being published by one of the main lesbian fiction publishers.

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