Customer Reviews

Deadly Intent (Deadly Intent Series #1) (Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense #157)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

These are the questions Naomi Grant has to answer for herself about acquaintance (and if truth be told, crush) Devon Knightley. They are both suspects in a murder, a murder which Devon arguably had a motive to commit but seemingly lacked the opportunity and Naomi obviously lacked a motive to commit but arguably had the opportunity. Devon swears he didn't do it, but he's hiding things, and though Naomi doesn't exactly distrust him, she still mistrusts him.

(Yes, I've been playing around with a thesaurus; thanks for noticing, and I've stumbled across a brand new book for children in which the characters do just that! Lost in Lexicon: An Adventure in Words and Numbers)

The trouble is that someone is apparently trying to kill him, and someone is apparently trying to frame her so she's going to have to figure out how much she can trust him rather quickly.

We already knew that Camy Tang could write "romance with a kick of wasabi"; the hilarious yet moving screwball comedy Asian-American Christian romance novel Sushi Series Sushi for One?, Only Uni, Single Sashimi, and Weddings and Wasabi are proof of that. But could she write suspenseful Asian-American Christian romance?

The answer appears to be YES!

This is a fiendishly clever mystery that will likely keep you guessing 'til the end (part of the reason I think is that some of the red herrings strewn across our path may figure into the sequels). Of course it is obvious how the romance will (should?) turn out, though not to the protagonists, but even there Camy keeps us guessing about some things, particularly the religious differences (she and her whole family are devout Christians; he's the son of a staunch atheist who gave little thought to God until he found himself dodging murder attempts).

OK, I ADMIT IT! I'M HOOKED! I'm going to have to read the sequels: Formula for Danger and Stalker in the Shadows), and anybody making cracks about my manhood gets slapped with my man purse, (and mine has WHEELS)!

Note: Ms. Tang is also the author of the start of another Asian-American Christian suspense romance novel series: Protection for Hire.

I'm not generally a romantic suspense reader, but I loved this book. Okay, with the exception of the spa being a murder site. LOL But I read it in a day at the hospital waiting, and I did not figure it out and it was fun reading. Loved the hero and the Napa Valley setting.

You may never quite fully relax in a spa again--but you will want to curl up with a Camy Tang book. Camy has a special talent for creating strong, quirky and real characters. Deadly Intent represents a new twist on the genre we first came to know her for, done with the same consistent skill, straightforward faith and flair for story. A definite treat.

Deadly Intent is set in a Sonoma, California spa run by Naomi Grant, who is of Japanese and white descent. One of her clients is murdered and she is one of the main suspects. The other suspect, Dr. Devon Knightley, is her love interest. Both become murder targets as well.

This was a fun read as I love going to spas and reading mysteries. Camy writes "romance with a kick of wasabi" and this book has just the right "kick." Readers are engrossed in the story before they learn Naomi's ancestry or the name of the spa. The protagonist's feelings and actions are influenced by her culture, but not in an overt or stereotypical way. The story will appeal to a wide audience.

Naomi Grant's family owns the Joy Luck Life Spa in Sonoma, CA. She was the head massage therapist but since her dads stroke she is in charge. When Dr. Devon Knightley comes in the spa she hopes he has come to see her. The last few years she had visited with him at the Zoe International dinners but he never called her.

When Devon said he was looking for Jessica Ortiz Naomi is deflated but not surprised he would be looking for that beauty. As Naomi searches to find Jessica her whole world shifts.

After finding a patron murdered at the spa and then attempts at Devon's life everything starts pointing towards Naomi being guilty.

The suspect and reason for the murders is well hidden through the book. And the mystery is stronger then the romance, which does not make it less at all. Your just busy deciding who the murderer is knowing that the romance will work out. Although Naomi is from a Christian family while Devon's is not, in fact his father is proud to be an atheist. Looking forward to the next book in the series Formula for Danger.

I received a complementary copy of this book and I'm so glad I did.
Camy Tang does an incredible job of packing so much action, suspense, humor and drama in only 212 pages. Wow!! What a different writing style than the one I read in her debut novel Sushi for One, which is a chick'lit style light hearted story. I didn't know what to expect when I started reading Deadly Intent. Part of me wondered how this chick'lit style writer would write a murder mystery. I was pleasantly surprised and I'm happy to report Camy pens a great who-done-it. I liked the fact that the author kept me guessing up until the very last page. Camy brings the book to a climatic ending that satisfies. Camy had me so hooked to her murder mystery I carried her book with me wherever I went grabbing a few minutes here and there to discover more clues so I could figure out who was behind all these attempted murders and killings.

At the same time Camy Tang touches on issues that cut to the heart of the matter. Because of all the drama and heartache her main character, Naomi, goes through, she starts to wonder about God. Did she really believe in Him and why was God allowing all these bad things to happen to her?

There is something honest and true about Naomi's struggle--I found out why in the author notes. Camy admits that she had these very same struggles with God that Naomi had in the book, when she was in College. I truly enjoyed this book and the way Camy brought this suspenseful story to life. The characters and their struggles were believable. It was fun to have the setting of this book at a spa. I hope that Camy has the opportunity to write a full length action adventure story. I can only imagine what she could develop with more pages to expand her characters and the plot twists. Way to go Camy!!

Nora St.Laurent
Finding Hope Through Fiction

Deadly Intent marks Camy Tang's first foray into romantic suspense fiction, and she proves to be as adept at crafting an engaging suspense story as she is at making readers laugh with her "romance with a kick of wasabi" flavored Sushi Series. In Deadly Intent, Naomi Grant, massage therapist and acting manager of the exclusive Joy Luck Life Spa, finds herself trapped in a murderous web of danger and intrigue when one of her clients ends up dead, and suddenly she's a suspect. The victim just happens to be the ex-wife of the very handsome, brooding Dr. Devon Knightley - as the ex-spouse, Devon is the #1 suspect, until a series of subsequent events makes it clear that someone's not just targeting the spa - they're intent on framing Naomi for their crimes. Naomi and Devon join forces to clear their names, but can their fledgling attraction to each other survive the threat that surrounds them?

This is definitely one of the strongest Love Inspired Suspense novels that I've read. Camy's skill for characterization and pacing help make this short and sweet read shine. She also shows a flair for building some real tension and threat into the storyline, an element that's sometimes lacking in LI Suspense reads that focus too heavily on the "love" part of the brand and not enough on the promised "suspense" element. My one complaint about the book is that it's far too short - but that's the nature of the LI series. Camy gives Naomi and Devon wonderful character arcs - they have some real "baggage" to work through while seeking out the killer and falling in love. This is especially true for Devon, as he starts out as an unbeliever - and this is where I wish the novel had more room develop his character's journey. It seems a tad rushed. However, a strong suspenseful plot, engaging characters, and some sizzling romantic tension make this a fun way to while away a few hours. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more suspense from Camy Tang!

I'm always a big fan of stories set in spas. The setting just seems so relaxing to read about massages, facials, and being in total luxury. I haven't had the chance to go to one in a while, so reading about it is the next best thing. Love Inspired Suspenses can be hit or miss, as some of the stories don't really have good suspense plots. This book, however, has a very good mystery, people actually do die, and there is a romance. This may sound surprising, but there have been some LI Suspenses where the mystery is non existent and there is more emphasis on the romance. A successful book in this series would blend the two together with more focus on the mystery. That is what this book does. I was immediately sucked into the story and tried unsuccessfully to guess who the culprit was. I know a mystery is good when I pick out a background character to be the murderer and I'm totally wrong.

Something I found incredibly funny is that Naomi's sisters are named Monica and Rachel. I'm half surprised Naomi wasn't named Phoebe! (That's a "Friends" joke if you didn't get it). Also Devon's last name happens to be Knightley, a sly reference to a certain leading man in a famous Regency book. I also appreciated how the author has made the lead character half-Asian, but treats her as a normal person. Other than initial descriptions so the reader is aware of her ethnicity, there is no stereotypical descriptions. I really hope this is a series so that way there can be more about the Grant family and more adventures from the spa. Yes there was a murder, but I still came away totally relaxed. This was a really fun book to read and as always Camy Tang has written a winner.

Deadly Intent by Camy Tang is another arrow in Tang's quiver of fantastic books. Naomi Grant has had to take over the family business, an elite spa Sonoma, after her father's stroke. It's a chore she quickly comes to hate after a murdered woman is discovered and the evidence points to Naomi as the murderer. At first, she suspects Dr. DevonKnightley , ex-husband of the victim, but as the crime spree grows, they are forced to work together to find the real murderer. In the hands of any less able writer, this story would be cliched and timeworn, but Tang makes the characters and their romance fresh and new. Her dialogue is always zippy and her characters well-rounded. This is the ultimate beach read!

Deadly Intent was a very enjoyable read for me as far as mysteries go. I was amazed and completely shocked that I really had no clue as to who the culprit was until late in the game. Usually authors give it away so easily, I loved how Camy really gave you so many different factors that the surprise really is there. I recommend this read easily, and I cannot wait to share it with my mom, because I know she'll love it. The mystery is great, the romantic elements are perfectly appropriate, and the Christian tones are exactly what is needed with the plot line. I love it.