Broken In Two [Mass Market Paperback]

Laura Baker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 1999

Black Mountain, Arizona. Mysterious, hauntingly beautiful, a land pulsating with ancient magic and the enduring strength of a proud Native American people. A place where sun-baked mesas and majestic canyons possess secrets that foretell destiny...

Burdened by an uncompromising belief of right and wrong born of tragedy, FBI agent Frank Reardon is investigating the theft of precious Indian ceremonial artifacts in a case that now involves cold-blooded murder. The last thing he wants or expects is to be drawn to a woman he doesn't completely trust, and to discover he is fated to fulfill an age-old prophecy that will unite two tribes...and his own broken soul.

Daughter of a Navajo mother and Hopi father, Ella Honanie tries valiantly to keep the peace as conflict between her two peoples escalates. When her brother is murdered, she can't ignore the danger that's closing in, or her deep attraction for Frank Reardon. Soon, a woman caught in the middle will be forced to take a stand -- for her heritage, for the sacred traditions that embrace her land, and for a love as timeless and glistening as the sands beneath her feet.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Baker (Stargazer) sets an intriguing opening scene in her new romance mystery. In a remote Arizona canyon, a crazed Hopi woman known only as Tikui overhears two men arguing over stolen Native American treasures and witnesses a brutal murder. FBI Agent Frank Reardon, the lead investigator, immediately visits the victim's sister, Ella Honanie, who runs a trading post. Ella, who is part Navajo and part Hopi, resents Frank's assumption that she is somehow tied to her brother's murder. While she cares for her wayward now-orphaned niece, she attempts to convince Frank that she's innocent. Meanwhile, the investigation forces Frank to revisit the past: his wife was killed several years earlier during an FBI raid on a reservation. Eventually, Frank and Ella team upAand enlist the help of TikuiAto find the killer. As the case grows more complex, so do Frank and Ella's feelings toward each other. While details about the various Indian cultures and their beliefs are interesting and well-researched, ultimately, the murder mystery falls secondary to the romance, leaving the promise of the opening chapter unfulfilled. (Oct.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Laura Baker lives with her husband and two children in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where they own two Native American galleries of art and jewelry. Broken in Two is her third book for St. Martin's Paperbacks about Navajo heroes and heroines.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (October 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312971753
• ISBN-13: 978-0312971755
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,953,525 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nicely written mystery, July 20, 2000

By 

EB "EB" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Broken In Two (Mass Market Paperback)

Haunted by the death of his wife, FBI agent, Frank Reardon, doesn't want anything to do with his present case, nor the beautiful woman he doesn't completely trust. Now, though, Frank finds himself on an Indian reservation, investigating stolen Indian art and the murder of Eddie Honanie. It appears the two crimes are somehow connected, but Frank is frustrated by the lack of assistance he gets from Eddie's sister, Ella.

Part Hopi and part Navajo, Ella Honanie has tried to keep herself out of tribal confrontations - and Frank Reardon's investigation. She isn't a fighter like her brother was. And his fighting was, in her mind, what got him killed. But, at every turn, Frank Reardon is there. With little time to call her own, Ella is busy running her store and raising her young niece. Much too busy to help Frank - or fall in love with him. But together, Frank and Ella must find answers and will come to realize that a future together is only possible once their old wounds have healed.

"Broken in Two" is a wonderful read for those who enjoy Native American lore and mysteries. The romance itself is slow to develop, but this was a well written story.

4.0 out of 5 stars Native American Romance, November 11, 2009

By 

G. Walton "azwriter" (Colorado Springs, CO) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Broken In Two (Mass Market Paperback)

Tony Hillerman meets the romance writer of your choice in this powerful and compelling book. it is full of danger, twists of plot and a tender and powerful love story. Laura Baker knows her setting and the people well. This is an exceptional book and one for my keeper shelf!

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended, December 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Broken In Two (Mass Market Paperback)

Excellent book! Very reminiscent of Kathleen Eagle (Sunrise Song, The Night Remembered). This is the story of Ella Honanie, part Hopi/part Navajo Indian, attempting to find meaning in her life, and Frank Reardon, an FBI agent, who seems to be the key to a lot of problems in Ella's life and area. Both hero and heroine are very sincere and warm as they care and try not to care for their life situations and each other. A nice, slow-moving romance but one of great depth. I really liked it, I loved them and I highly recommend this book.