Deadly Fear

This book sucked me in from page one and didn't let go until the end. The pace is lightning quick, and the action (both in and out of the bedroom) non-stop. At first I was a little frustrated with the endless sexual tension at the expense of all else, but I soon came to realize how integral this was to the plot. The heroine's traumatic past is key to the story, and her transformation from ice queen to fiery warrior at the hero's hands is spectacular to watch. The bedroom acrobatics are just as frequent and detailed as the heart-pounding suspense scenes, which made for a book I just couldn't put down. I finished it in one evening, and I look forward to the next in the series.

Cynthia Eden writes excellent crime stories, proving now that she’s as good at it in romantic suspense as she was in paranormal romance. There are plenty of twists and turns in this book, complemented by an engrossing romance.

Monica is an FBI agent with quite a past. She walked away from fellow agent Luke - who she trained with - before their relationship could get too serious and too many secrets got out. Now they are working together to see if they have a serial killer on their hands and then to see if they can catch him, and there’s no way Monica’s past can stay secret.

Yes, this story has been done before, and yes many of the devices have been used before. But Eden’s easy, engaging writing style and her captivating show more relationships mean this book is better than so many others in the genre. This was a complex story with lots of people involved, lots of different motivations. The author did a fantastic job of making all the minor characters into real people without letting them get in the way of the main story.

One thing I find original about Cynthia Eden’s writing - and that I quite like - is that the relationships take off pretty much from the start of the books. There are plenty of problems along the way, but we’re not waiting until the very end to see if the couple will get together.

And thank God for a fair haired hero! I’m so sick of the double-standard of heroines being able to be any look, size or shape, but the heroes always having to appear as though they’ve stepped out of ‘The Billionaire Greek/Italian/Spanish Sheik’s Timid Virgin Chamber Maid’. I loved Luke, and though I usually don’t like those ‘cold as ice’ heroines, Monica’s reasons were believable and she was an interesting character.

This is the first book in a trilogy of loosely-related stories - unfortunately it’s a long wait for the next two books. show less

Deadly Fear by Cynthia Eden
Book #1 in the Deadly Trilogy
4.5 Stars

Synopsis: Jasper, Mississippi is in the grip of a serial killer who exposes his victims to their greatest fears. FBI profiler Monica Davenport has a reputation for being cold as ice, but it is this skill that enables her to “see” into the minds of the most atrocious monsters. As the body count rises, Monica, along with the only man to ever get under her skin, fellow agent, Luke Dante, must bring down this cruel sadist before he turns his attentions on them.

Review: This is a riveting, edge-of-your-seat thriller that pulls you in and doesn’t let go until the very end. Monica’s characterization is amazing with her combination of strength, vulnerability and passion. show more Luke, on the other hand, is not as well fleshed out. His compassionate nature is hinted at but never completely fulfilled. Nevertheless, he is an endearing character and a perfect complement to Monica. The villain is also especially creepy but I would have liked to know more about his backstory.

Recommendation:This is an enthralling read and will definitely be continuing with the series. Beware it does contain some sexually explicit scenes and language. show less

OOh, neat trick.I'm always thrown off a little when the main characters in a romance look at each other, the sparks fly, and things go very intensely from there. My personal preference is for the characters to get to know each other before the clothing comes off. I actually like to see emotion develop.In this case, the characters knew each other before. They were well acquainted. Very well acquainted. And when they see each other, it doesn't take long for the sparks to fly. But that connection I value is already there, and I'm perfectly happy for the heat to kick in. Which it did. Nuclear hot.Once you accept the history of the characters (even before their relationship starts), they grow in a manner that makes sense. They have some show more major challenges to overcome, but hey, this is a romance novel. I think the author pulled it off well.And oh yes, there was a serial killer. He's pretty scary. show less

Monica Davenport is an FBI profiler with a reputation for being the best. She has also earned the nickname, Ice, as a result of her frosty demeanor. Luke Dante is the one person who was ever able to make her feel. Now he’s back in her life, and threatening to shatter the shell she hides behind. The two are partnered, and sent to Mississippi to hunt a serial killer who targets his victim’s fears. Monica will have to face not only the secrets she has tried to keep buried, but also the undeniable attraction she feels for Luke.

I’m a huge fan of Cynthia Eden’s paranormal novels, and was so excited when I heard she was writing a romantic suspense. Her books are always full of intense situations that have me holding my breath, and show more couples with amazing chemistry. Deadly Fear was no exception. Monica and Luke have suffered in the past at the hands of others, but came out wanting to make the world a better place. I loved Monica’s bravery and no nonsense attitude. Luke’s chivalry had me swooning. The plot was fast paced, and at end I still hadn’t figured out who the killer was. Monica and Luke together just oozed sexy. This one was hard to put down. show less

What scares you?

The entire story revolves around that simple question. What scares me is that I don't share the majority of the reviewer's enthusiasm for this story. Okay, so I'm not scared, just baffled. I didn't connect to the characters (except perhaps lust after SA Luke Dante). Is it just me or did the writing style at the beginning sound clipped? Short sentences, statements and sentences that just trailed off? Then there's the matter of Monica and her keeping her past a secret when it might have been pertinent to the case to at least let her fellow agents know the truth? If I were Dante or any of the other agents, I'd like to have all the facts so I'd know what I was walking into. Just sayin'. The sexy times were fast and furious show more and seriously hot, which I credit solely to Dante being all hot and pure male, but they popped up at the oddest times. The plot itself was really good and creepy. I never guessed who the serial killer was, so hats off to Ms Eden for spinning a really good mystery and for tying up all the loose ends.

I'll probably read the rest of the series, but as of right now I'm not keen to hop to it. I'll read the next book when I run out of other things to read. show less

I was surprised by this book. I expected lot of sex and the lack of plot. But it was totally different. Actually, the suspense part of this book was really good. Much better than I suspected. I also liked both main characters.