Customer Reviews

No Safe Place (Wheeler Hardcover)

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

 

 

Kate is a Chicago Detective that has, in the eyes of her fellow officers, turned trader. She is testifying against some crooked cops and is getting a lot of hostility from her coworkers. After a stressful trial she receives a call, informing her that her estranged twin sister, Tara, has committed suicide. Kate immediately fly's to the Big Easy, New Orleans.

Nick was recently kicked off the New Orleans police force for some shady dealings; he is now running a P.I. business. When Kate gets to the New Orleans Police Department, Nick's former partner, Remy, suggests she contact Nick. Kate does not believe her sister killed herself and immediately seeks Nick's help.

Kate and Nick make an excellent team. Nick is trying to uncover a mystery of his own, involving his own family, while helping Kate find her sisters killer. Kate's sister led a colorful life and the people they meet in their investigation reflect that. Both mysteries are full of surprises, twists and turns. Ms. Ross keeps the reader on their toes and glued to the book. There is no shortage of action and the story moves quickly and effortlessly. This is not an easy book to set down and walk away from.

Nick and Kate's relationship is realistic and exciting. They have chemistry to spare, easy banter and a mutual respect for each other and their jobs. They steam up the pages with excellent, hot and fun love scenes.

It lost a star in the rating, only because I felt the wrap up at the end was a little too hasty, too rushed. The ending didn't match the flow of the rest of the book and I was left feeling a little cheated. JoAnn Ross has written a fast paced mystery/thriller/romance. New Orleans is the perfect backdrop for this book. Voodoo and alligators, Bayou's and Bourbon Street, Mardi Gras and beignets, you can practically hear the music and feel the pulse of the city. This was a fantastic book and a fast, easy read.

Due to her interesting upbringing, Chicago homicide detective Kate Delaney pretty much only sees right and wrong with very little middle ground. When she testifies in the Justice Department's police corruption case, she instantly becomes persona non grata. So it is probably good that Kate gets a call telling her to come to New Orleans. The bad part is WHY. Her twin sister, Tara, is dead.

The New Orleans police department is in no rush to investigate Kate's estranged sister's death. NOPD is trying to brush it off as a suicide, but no one really believes that it was. Kate needs an ally. Someone with serious training, who knows the area, and does not mind ignoring the rules.

Nick Broussard seems perfect for the job! He has been thrown out of the NOPD for shady reasons, or so they say. Kate soon finds out that this former SEAL is a walking, talking testosterone bomb of a complication! Yet the two team up and find themselves not only against most of the police force, but also the criminal underworld of the sultry southern city.

***** Author Joann Ross has done an outstanding job of giving me, the reader, a glimpse of what a rough time New Orleans is still going through since Katrina came and went. Viewing the city through this story, I must say that the New Orleans Police Department has my highest admiration. They are doing a phenomenal job with the resources they have been able to acquire. As for this story, once I began reading, I could not stop. I HAD to know what was going to happen next and I HAD to know NOW! Therefore, I read as fast as I could. The pages slid by so quickly that I could have sworn they were greased. Very memorable and highly recommended.

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Chicago detective Kate Delaney has just wrapped up testimony in a Chicago PD corruption case and travels to post-Katrina New Orleans to investigate the suspicious suicide of her twin sister. There she falls prey to yet another corrupt police force and is attracted to Nick Broussard a sexy former detective/SEAL who works as a PI. As the two investigate her sisters last days, she's brought face to face with her grifter mother who preferred a good con to child-rearing. Her mother's unorthodox lifestyle is what prompted Kate to be on the other side of the law. Their investigation could open up a whole new set of problems for the duo.

Ross, who can usually be counted on to purely entertain has penned a pretty bland novel - ironic since its set in a very colorful place. The secondary characters are never really fleshed out, particularly the twin sister and outrageous mother. Too much time is spent with the duo in a car (or Hummer) traveling around and discussing Katrina's devastation. If I wanted to harp on that, I'd watch Spike Lee's "When the Levees Break." These passages have no place in a light romance novel, are awkward at best, and result in a really rushed conclusion coming out of left field that just doesn't satisfy in the end. I typically love Ross' steamy romances; this one is just okay, which makes it kind of a disappointment. For a better Ross novel - check out "Blaze," "Impulse," or either of the first two Callahan brother novels.

I thouroughly enjoy all of JoAnn Ross's books. And I loved everything about this book, EXCEPT the ending. I feel it came and went too fast. There was a huge build up and then it all climaxed and ended in a few pages. I think she could have expanded on this a little further. I dont want to go into detail and give the ending away, so I will just say that I was disappointed in the lack of emotion on parts of certain characters.

Kate Delaney, Chicago Homicide Detective, receives death threats for testifying to a federal grand jury about local police corruption. She is a defender of innocents, of victims, her life is black and white, by the book. When she receives a call from the New Orleans Police Department about her estranged sister's death, she is very upset, and they are not treating her sister's death how she thinks it should be treated. Even though it's not her territory, it's not a question of should she investigate, but how.

PI Nick Broussard is a former SEAL as well as a former New Orleans Police Detective. He has lived in New Orleans his whole life. He knows the players, he's familiar with the territory and he hasn't lived his life `by the book'. Nick has wanted Kate from the moment he laid eyes on her. Helping Kate investigate her sister's death allows him to discover secrets that others do not want revealed.

No Safe Place is a thriller set in post-Katrina New Orleans. JoAnn Ross has allowed the reader a glimpse into a city that has managed to keep its history while holding onto the present and rebuilding towards its future. With a quick turn of phrase, Ms. Ross has created a captivating tale of suspense and romance. I Joyfully Recommend No Safe Place, I was held enthralled and intrigued from the first chapter to the last.

Barb
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Another winner by Ms. Ross. Once again her characters are hard not to like. She's written another book with just the right mixture of suspense,romance and fun that makes it hard to put down. Having read more then my fair share of suspenseful romance novels I thought I was really good at figuring out who the players are in the game of good vs. evil but I have to admit that this one had a twist that I just didn't see coming. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes romantic thrillers.

JoAnn Ross writes a suspenseful romantic story in No Safe Place.

Chicago Detective Kate Delaney has made a name for herself in her hometown. She had to overcome a rough childhood to become the strong woman she is today. When she receives news of the death of her estranged twin sister, she drops everything and heads to New Orleans. When Kate is stone walled by the NOPD she turns to PI Nick Broussard for help.

Nick Broussard is trying to run a PI firm after being kicked off the police force. He agrees to help Kate since he knew her sister. But his other motive is to get her into his bed ASAP. Nick is also still dealing with the suicide of his father who was also on the force.

The deeper they dig into her sisters past the higher the danger becomes. Kate and Nick both have deep secrets they want to keep buried but in order to get to the truth they must trust each other. What starts out as a casual fling ignites a passion that will stand the test of time.

No Safe Place captures the pulse and texture of New Orleans. You feel like you are right there with Kate and Nick on the streets and in the bayou. Their chemistry is hot and sensual. This story will stay with you long after you have read the last page.

I don't want this to come across as a bad review, because it's not, I just expected a bit more from this author. I didn't feel invested with the outcome of this book which is unusal for Ross as she can put out emotion more than most. It was interesting the way she put so much post-Katrina detail in the book, maybe too much. Read it for yourself because it is worth the time. My favorite book by Ross is 'No Regrets' Fabulous read!

Only because I was able to finish this piece of soft porn will I rate it two stars and not one, and believe me, two stars for this book is extremely generous. The plot was laughable...completely ridiculous and the big mystery was so darn obvious it was no mystery at all. At almost 400 pages, the entire plot could have been wrapped up in 100 because 75% of this book was about the the characters planning sex, having sex, then wanting more.. All with Kate. Is there a man in New Orleans who didn't want to take her to bed? This was one awful read. I realize that this was a romantic suspense thriller, but come on. There has to be some kind of a semi-plausible plot to carry a book. One part was particularly funny. When a building caught on fire, Kate leaped up and ran out. Pretty good, considering her wrists were handcuffed and the last we knew, her pants were down around her ankles. And what about when Nick fell on top of her when they were being shot at? Was the author being serous here? Bad writing at best...Pathetic at the worst. As for likable characters, I think you have to look elsewhere. There was no one in this book that endeared himself or herself to the reader. This is for sure the last JoAnn Ross book I intend to venture into.

I do like Jo Ann Ross usually, but this book didn't make me care about the characters, everyone had too much personal baggage.I did finish the book , but ended up skipping a lot, especially when she got bogged down with the descriptions of New Orleans. Just o.k..