Into the Fire

Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, provided me with this final book in “The Heroes of Quantico” series by Irene Hannon, and like the two previous novels in this series (An Eye for an Eye; Against All Odds), In Harm's Way is aimed directly at those CBA readers who love romantic suspense.

Rachel Sutton lives alone, teaches piano to children, plays piano at an elegant hotel “tea”, paints gorgeous murals for hire, and having grown up in the foster care system after a car accident left her mother dead and herself severely injured, she believes she has no family. After shopping, she discovers an old Raggedy Ann doll semi-buried in the remains of the St. Louis snow and ice outside her car in the parking lot. Compelled to dislodge the dirty doll, she finally frees it and picks it up only to have a terrifying reaction that fills her with dread and near shock. Unable to recover until she drops the doll, she takes it home anyway.

Explaining the weird event to her teacher friend at school, she asks the woman if her friend would talk to her husband who’s a cop about the find, knowing he will undoubtedly think she’s a wacko but wondering if there could be anything significant about this lost doll. When her friend and her husband talk at a restaurant, a tabloid reporter overhears the conversation from the next booth and sets her sleuthing on who discovered the doll, eager to write an article on the psychic angle of the experience.

Still feeling there is significance to this doll because of the potent power of her experience with it, she dares to take it to the FBI office. Enter the third hunky hero in this three part series: FBI Special Agent Nick Bradley, previous member of the specialized HRT. Attraction to each other and the humility of Rachel Sutton as she presents her odd tale fuel Nick’s interest in the woman who brings this crazy doll to the FBI. Asking her to pick up the doll out of the paper bag, he witnesses her uncontrolled and scary reaction to it the moment she touches it. Later at dinner with his friends, the other two heroes and their wives, he reluctantly explains the meeting with Rachel.

In Harm’s Way develops from the discovery of the doll and the romance between Nick and Rachel. I don’t want to tell you the early event involving an infant because it’s a vital part of the story you need to read in order to participate in the full suspense of the story. There is more suspense than sheer romance, a nice twist, and an expected conclusion. Cleanly written with a prominent faith element, this is easily appealing commercial romantic suspense for a primarily CBA female audience just like the previous two books in “The Heroes of Quantico” series. Mission accomplished once again by Irene Hannon.

Available April 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Father, continue to provide the inspiration for Irene Hannon’s writing. Give her what she needs to do what you’ve asked of her. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.