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Romantic Suspense #3
Наблюдавам те
Знам престъпленията им� и ще ги открия�
Главният прокурор Кристен Мейхю има опасен таен обожател. Той сякаш познава всяка нейна мисъл, всяко нейно движение, изпраща и писма и дори започна да избива престъпниците, които тя самата е безсилна да накаже.
Анонимният отмъстител знае дори причината тя да се откаже от любовта си към детектив Ейб Рийгън, заклел се да я пази, докато смъртта ги раздели. Подобно на Кристен, Рийгън също се бори с непреодолима загуба, но в сянката на безскрупулен сериен убиец, двамата имат нужда един от друг и преоткриват любовтa си. Ще успеят ли обаче да открият и убиеца, когато Кристен се превръща в негова основна мишена?
„Добре дошли в изкривения свят на един обсебен сериен убиец, за когото това е единственият начин да изрази чувствата си. Не четете късно вечер, нито на тъмно.�
- Amazon
Главният прокурор Кристен Мейхю има опасен таен обожател. Той сякаш познава всяка нейна мисъл, всяко нейно движение, изпраща и писма и дори започна да избива престъпниците, които тя самата е безсилна да накаже.
Анонимният отмъстител знае дори причината тя да се откаже от любовта си към детектив Ейб Рийгън, заклел се да я пази, докато смъртта ги раздели. Подобно на Кристен, Рийгън също се бори с непреодолима загуба, но в сянката на безскрупулен сериен убиец, двамата имат нужда един от друг и преоткриват любовтa си. Ще успеят ли обаче да открият и убиеца, когато Кристен се превръща в негова основна мишена?
„Добре дошли в изкривения свят на един обсебен сериен убиец, за когото това е единственият начин да изрази чувствата си. Не четете късно вечер, нито на тъмно.�
- Amazon
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
410 people are currently reading
5,090 people want to read
About the author
Karen Rose
57books5,258followersOFFICIAL WEBSITE:
Internationally bestselling, RITA-award winning, author Karen Rose was born and raised in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC. She met her husband, Martin, on a blind date when they were seventeen and after they both graduated from the University of Maryland, (Karen with a degree in Chemical Engineering) they moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. Karen worked as an engineer for a large consumer goods company, earning two patents, but as Karen says, “scenes were roiling in my head and I couldn't concentrate on my job so I started writing them down. I started out writing for fun, and soon found I was hooked.�
Her debut suspense novel, DON'T TELL, was released in July, 2003. Since then, she has published fifteen more novels and two novellas. Her seventeenth novel, ALONE IN THE DARK, will be released in 2016.
Karen's books have appeared on the bestseller lists of the New York Times, USA Today, London's Sunday Times, and Germany's der Spiegel (#1), and the Irish Times, as well as lists in South Africa (#1) and Australia!
Her novels, I'M WATCHING YOU and SILENT SCREAM, received the Romance Writers of America's RITA award for Best Romantic Suspense for 2005 and 2011. Five of her other books have been RITA finalists. To date, her books have been translated into twenty-four languages.
A former high school teacher of chemistry and physics, Karen lives in Florida with her husband of more than twenty years, her two daughters, two dogs, and a cat.
Internationally bestselling, RITA-award winning, author Karen Rose was born and raised in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC. She met her husband, Martin, on a blind date when they were seventeen and after they both graduated from the University of Maryland, (Karen with a degree in Chemical Engineering) they moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. Karen worked as an engineer for a large consumer goods company, earning two patents, but as Karen says, “scenes were roiling in my head and I couldn't concentrate on my job so I started writing them down. I started out writing for fun, and soon found I was hooked.�
Her debut suspense novel, DON'T TELL, was released in July, 2003. Since then, she has published fifteen more novels and two novellas. Her seventeenth novel, ALONE IN THE DARK, will be released in 2016.
Karen's books have appeared on the bestseller lists of the New York Times, USA Today, London's Sunday Times, and Germany's der Spiegel (#1), and the Irish Times, as well as lists in South Africa (#1) and Australia!
Her novels, I'M WATCHING YOU and SILENT SCREAM, received the Romance Writers of America's RITA award for Best Romantic Suspense for 2005 and 2011. Five of her other books have been RITA finalists. To date, her books have been translated into twenty-four languages.
A former high school teacher of chemistry and physics, Karen lives in Florida with her husband of more than twenty years, her two daughters, two dogs, and a cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 475 reviews
November 24, 2016
A MASTERPIECE. Five stars is not enough!
It's been a while since I've read a book that made me lose track of time. I found myself turning the pages like crazy and unable to put it down even for a minute.
This was my first read by Karen Rose. I've heard many good things about her works and I can wholeheartedly say that I’m Watching You thoroughly lived up to its hype. Not only was I drawn effortlessly into the story, but I was also entirely engrossed in it from the first paragraph to the last.
I still wonder how the author can come up with such a gripping story. The clever and well-knit plot kept me guessing, wondering, and questioning right up until near the end.
In this romantic suspense story, we meet Chicago Assistant State’s Attorney Kristen Mayhew and Homicide Detective Abe Reagan.
Kristen found that someone left evidence of a multiple homicide in the trunk of her car. Each dead body's evidence was accompanied by a letter that started "My dearest Kristen" and signed "Your Humble Servant". All the victims had been defendants unsuccessfully prosecuted by her. It seemed like the murderer knew her very well and he really admired her hard work, so the vigilante justice had been done on her behalf.
Abe had been assigned to this case. The more they worked together, the stronger their feelings grew for each other. While the killer had sought retribution, Kristen had become the target for murder. Abe swore to keep her safe and chase away her nightmares.
I rarely find the book ending as satisfying as this one. When I finished the epilogue, I felt like the whole world lit up before my eyes. It was so beautiful and delightful!
This is, hands down, one of the most thrilling reads I've read this year. If you’re looking for a great solid romantic suspense novel, then you shouldn’t miss this one. Highly recommended!
June 9, 2023
Reseña completa:
Me ha gustado, pero no le doy mejor puntuación porque al principio me ha costado meterme en la historia.
Karen Rose se toma mucho tiempo en poner en antecedentes al lector presentando todos los personajes que forman parte de la trama. Y entre ellos, la pareja protagonista, que me ha gustado mucho, con una historia lenta dada su pasado. Hacen muy buena pareja, pero no puedo dejar de comentar que Abe me ha parecido demasiado perfecto, tanto como hombre, como policía como con esa familia estupendísima.
Pese a ese comienzo espectacular, me ha costado meterme en el tema, quizás porque le ha faltado un mejor ritmo al comienzo, ya que pese a ser un thriller, la historia transcurre de forma pausada.
Eso sí, llegada la mitad de la novela, ha sido un no parar.
Mi única pega es que, sabiendo que el justiciero tenía que ser uno de los secundarios, la autora juega una mala pasada al lector ya que no le da pistas suficientes. Quizás eso ha hecho que me costara meterme más a la historia
Lectura recomendable, a ver si poco a poco voy leyendo la serie, al menos los que estén traducidos, que ahora he visto que hace un tiempo leí la historia de Mia, la compañera de Abe
Me ha gustado, pero no le doy mejor puntuación porque al principio me ha costado meterme en la historia.
Karen Rose se toma mucho tiempo en poner en antecedentes al lector presentando todos los personajes que forman parte de la trama. Y entre ellos, la pareja protagonista, que me ha gustado mucho, con una historia lenta dada su pasado. Hacen muy buena pareja, pero no puedo dejar de comentar que Abe me ha parecido demasiado perfecto, tanto como hombre, como policía como con esa familia estupendísima.
Pese a ese comienzo espectacular, me ha costado meterme en el tema, quizás porque le ha faltado un mejor ritmo al comienzo, ya que pese a ser un thriller, la historia transcurre de forma pausada.
Eso sí, llegada la mitad de la novela, ha sido un no parar.
Mi única pega es que, sabiendo que el justiciero tenía que ser uno de los secundarios, la autora juega una mala pasada al lector ya que no le da pistas suficientes. Quizás eso ha hecho que me costara meterme más a la historia
Lectura recomendable, a ver si poco a poco voy leyendo la serie, al menos los que estén traducidos, que ahora he visto que hace un tiempo leí la historia de Mia, la compañera de Abe
April 19, 2017
I was recommended this author from a family member and, after seeing such rave reviews of her books on ŷ, was excited to dive in! Despite this being the third book in the Romantic Suspense series, this is (for reasons unknown to even myself) the first book I read.
And I was disappointed.
I think quite unfairly so on this book's part, as the title of this series does quite unsubtly suggest this, but I was unprepared for such a heavy romantic focus. I generally prefer my fiction to be less romantically inclined. I found the actual crime fascinating and innovative, and as dark as I had anticipated, but this was overshadowed by the romantic elements of the plot.
I found the romance also quite cliched and the character's emotions felt a little stale: it felt as if I had read many variations of this romance before. And all of them in crime fiction books!
The ending had twists I had foreseen coming but I enjoyed reading of the crime portion's plot trajectory. If this had less of a romantic inclination I could see this being a series I would relish reading. Not a bad book but, unfortunately, not for me.
And I was disappointed.
I think quite unfairly so on this book's part, as the title of this series does quite unsubtly suggest this, but I was unprepared for such a heavy romantic focus. I generally prefer my fiction to be less romantically inclined. I found the actual crime fascinating and innovative, and as dark as I had anticipated, but this was overshadowed by the romantic elements of the plot.
I found the romance also quite cliched and the character's emotions felt a little stale: it felt as if I had read many variations of this romance before. And all of them in crime fiction books!
The ending had twists I had foreseen coming but I enjoyed reading of the crime portion's plot trajectory. If this had less of a romantic inclination I could see this being a series I would relish reading. Not a bad book but, unfortunately, not for me.
February 26, 2019
Ella, fiscal del distrito. Él detective de homicidos.
Ella, la reina de hielo. Él tratará de derretirlo.
Ella y él persiguiendo (y siendo perseguidos) por un asesino.
Una historia en la que el suspense y el romance se mezclan en la dosis necesaria para generar un buen entretenimiento.
Ella, la reina de hielo. Él tratará de derretirlo.
Ella y él persiguiendo (y siendo perseguidos) por un asesino.
Una historia en la que el suspense y el romance se mezclan en la dosis necesaria para generar un buen entretenimiento.
September 28, 2016
"Sleep well knowing these heartless murderers have been rendered final justice.... Your Humble Servant"
This is my first Karen Rose novel and first book with a 'two in one', the first being 'Im Watching You', and the second 'You Cant Hide', and ill be damned the first novel was so good! Easy to follow, intriguing characters and an awesome plot twist, what more could you want? I picked this up because a friend of mine who is not that much of a reader recommended me Karen's books because it was the first author that sparked his interest enough to read a whole novel in a day, and he was right this was an addictive read. For a non reader, i think that's says alot. I'm curious to read more from her now, especially because this book is read in the perspectives of Kristen Mayhew, Detective Abe Reagan , Reporter Zoe Richardson and the unknown killer, giving the reader tiny bits of information of each character as the novel progresses.
Kristen Mayhew is the star prosecutor at the Chicago Public Defender's office, having a high conviction rate doesn't always mean that all the criminals she faces serve the justice that their victims seek. Having lived a lonely life, with hardly any family or friends, Kristen's life turns upside down when she finds 3 bodies in the trunk of her car, with letters written for her signed 'Your Humble Servant' This unknown person is watching Kristen, giving her advice for work she does around her home/ listening to conversations, picking random cases she's failed and then killing the accused.
After a new reporter reports to the public that Kristen herself may have hired someone to do her dirty work, someone out there is seeking justice for her 'Humble Servant's' work. Putting Kristen, her guilt and those she loves in great danger.
Kristen is a strong independent character, even when tested she refuses to change her life to suit someone's sick idea of a game. Having been labelled frigid, ice queen, around her office, Kristens troubled past holds the key to why she isn't trusting or close to anyone, that isn't revealed till a while later. Befriending lead Detective Abe Reagan who has a troubled passed all of his own, Kristen has to confront feelings she hasn't ever let herself to feel. When their friendship slowly builds into a romantic connection things start getting complicated and now more lives are at risk, while Kristen is being watch by her secret admirer and accused of going above the law to bring justice to the victims of her failed cases.
My most hated character in this would have to be news reporter Zoe Richardson, this bitch is dumb as. Not only does she have an unhealthy hatred towards Kristen for literally no reason at all, she sleeps with high up married business men just to get her scoop of the day.
Unfortunately this takes a big impact on Kristen, even threats her life when Zoe stupidly gossips to the world that the star prosecutor could have hired this 'Humble Servant' herself.
I dont like manipulative, asshole-ish types in real life and i certainly dont like them in books.
All in all, i really enjoyed seeing where this novel went, and finding more and more about the characters as it went along. Unfortunately i picked the killer, basically because I've always been obsessed with murder/mystery books and its become a bit of a skill for me to pick them out. Dont get me wrong i dont get the why , how, when or anything like that, im just real good at connecting the dots when it comes to who the killer might be. In saying that, its still a really captivating read, and Karen Rose should be proud of such a great romance/suspense novel.
Recommend for: Murder Mystery/ Suspense/ Romance
January 28, 2021
Get it here:
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Audio re-read 1/28/21
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Audio re-read 1/28/21
May 27, 2013
ASA Kristen Mayhew works hard to take scum off the streets but even her hardest efforts sometimes fail. But now she is getting some unwanted help. Someone is killing the criminals that got away and leaving her photos and letters with the location of the bodies. Detective Abe Reagan just started working in the homicide division after being undercover in Narcotics for five years.
Listed as a romantic suspense, this is heavier on the suspense than the romance but I didn't mind it since the suspense was so intense and engrossing. The romance/attraction happened fairly quickly in the story but it didn't seem forced. Both characters have their personal issues that they each have to work through. Highly recommended to Romantic Suspense fans!
Listed as a romantic suspense, this is heavier on the suspense than the romance but I didn't mind it since the suspense was so intense and engrossing. The romance/attraction happened fairly quickly in the story but it didn't seem forced. Both characters have their personal issues that they each have to work through. Highly recommended to Romantic Suspense fans!
July 23, 2014
Well, I'd read Karen Rose again, but there is something that really bothered me about this particular book that won't let me give it more than three stars.
Oh, but besides ^^that rant^^ I didn't guess the killer correctly so that was fun.
August 11, 2008
This was another great book from Karen Rose. The third in the series, I'm Watching You, certainly didn't disappoint. I enjoyed it every bit as much as her first two books. I thought that the hero and heroine were very sympathetic characters, and there were numerous secondary characters that I would love to read more about. I found this plot to be a little different from that of most romantic suspense books. The main antagonist in the book actually believes that he is helping the heroine instead of feeling like her adversary as in most novels of this type. For me, this unusual storyline was refreshing, as it was so unlike anything else I've read.
Minutes after the first time she meets homicide detective Abe Reagan, assistant state attorney, Kristen Mayhew, is stunned when she finds evidence of multiple murders in the trunk of her car. As Abe and his partner lead the investigatation into the contents of the trunk, they discover that the perpetrator of the murders has killed three men, all released after being tried in court by Kristen for unspeakable crimes. The vigilante killer wrote letters to Kristen that have an intimate tone and indicate that he has been following all of her actions very closely. Abe is worried about Kristen and makes certain that she arrives to a safe home for a couple of evenings. Abe and Kristen are immediately drawn to one another, but they both have tragedies in their past that make a relationship between them an unlikely possibility. Soon it becomes clear that Kristen is in real danger as the vigilante murders continue and relatives and cohorts of the vigilante's victims start to target Kristen. Abe is determined to protect her from harm, and their attraction and feelings for one another begin to intensify. Abe soon realizes how fortunate he is to experience these feelings again, but Kristen has much to overcome before they can have a future together. As events escalate, putting not only Kristen, but all of those close to her, in danger, Abe and his team must race to find out the identify of the vigilante and to stop the others who are intent on harm.
I love this series by Karen Rose! Her books are definitely some of the most engrossing and intense romantic suspense novels that I have read recently. The suspense in this book was great, and the romance was definely touching. I enjoyed reading about how the hero and heroine overcame their pasts in order to find happiness with one another. I am looking forward to beginning the next novel in the series.
Minutes after the first time she meets homicide detective Abe Reagan, assistant state attorney, Kristen Mayhew, is stunned when she finds evidence of multiple murders in the trunk of her car. As Abe and his partner lead the investigatation into the contents of the trunk, they discover that the perpetrator of the murders has killed three men, all released after being tried in court by Kristen for unspeakable crimes. The vigilante killer wrote letters to Kristen that have an intimate tone and indicate that he has been following all of her actions very closely. Abe is worried about Kristen and makes certain that she arrives to a safe home for a couple of evenings. Abe and Kristen are immediately drawn to one another, but they both have tragedies in their past that make a relationship between them an unlikely possibility. Soon it becomes clear that Kristen is in real danger as the vigilante murders continue and relatives and cohorts of the vigilante's victims start to target Kristen. Abe is determined to protect her from harm, and their attraction and feelings for one another begin to intensify. Abe soon realizes how fortunate he is to experience these feelings again, but Kristen has much to overcome before they can have a future together. As events escalate, putting not only Kristen, but all of those close to her, in danger, Abe and his team must race to find out the identify of the vigilante and to stop the others who are intent on harm.
I love this series by Karen Rose! Her books are definitely some of the most engrossing and intense romantic suspense novels that I have read recently. The suspense in this book was great, and the romance was definely touching. I enjoyed reading about how the hero and heroine overcame their pasts in order to find happiness with one another. I am looking forward to beginning the next novel in the series.
June 7, 2020
Have read quite a few of Karen Rose books and this one has to be one of my favorites.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from the very first page to the very last.
The ending made me really generally happy for Abe and Kristan, I know its just a story but the characters in the book were so likeable that it was hard not to get deep into the story and the lives of these characters.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from the very first page to the very last.
The ending made me really generally happy for Abe and Kristan, I know its just a story but the characters in the book were so likeable that it was hard not to get deep into the story and the lives of these characters.
July 29, 2019
Oh Abe! **swoon**
As with all of Karen Rose's books. I get hooked as soon as it begins. There is action from the start. And we have all the old faces from previous books, coming back to join in the fun!
In 'I'm Watching You', the 3rd in the romantic suspense series from KR - we have a serial killer who is avenging the deaths/miscarriages of justice of those who the courts/prosecutors failed. Namely one such prosecutor - Kristen Mayhew. However, far from blaming Kristen, he actually feels sorry for her, and our vigilante killer is taking out the criminals, defence attorneys and judges that got away with these heinous deeds. Our serial killer knows Kristen tried her hardest and so is 'rewarding' her with packages containing information on where to find the bodies of said criminals.
Meanwhile, Abe Reagan has just come back from being deep undercover in the drugs world, and has joined up with fellow officer Mia, to catch this bad guy. Abe lost his wife, Debra, to a gunshot meant for him and so is all kinds of conflicted and guilty.
Suffice it to say, that Kristen and Abe meet, sparks fly and they battle together to try and take down the killer before he kills too many more people, whilst hurdling all their respective insecurities and living happily ever after in the end... maybe.
As always, KR has written a gem here, I love it, and I love all the characters. The secondary characters of Abe's family are the best bit. Shouldn't everyone have a family like that? :)
This book is gruesome, it's gory, it has sex and violence and ... wait, no, there's no rock n roll. But it is fantastic and I recommend it highly. This was my second read through and it won't be my last. Looking forward now to the 23rd in the series coming out at the end of the year!
As with all of Karen Rose's books. I get hooked as soon as it begins. There is action from the start. And we have all the old faces from previous books, coming back to join in the fun!
In 'I'm Watching You', the 3rd in the romantic suspense series from KR - we have a serial killer who is avenging the deaths/miscarriages of justice of those who the courts/prosecutors failed. Namely one such prosecutor - Kristen Mayhew. However, far from blaming Kristen, he actually feels sorry for her, and our vigilante killer is taking out the criminals, defence attorneys and judges that got away with these heinous deeds. Our serial killer knows Kristen tried her hardest and so is 'rewarding' her with packages containing information on where to find the bodies of said criminals.
Meanwhile, Abe Reagan has just come back from being deep undercover in the drugs world, and has joined up with fellow officer Mia, to catch this bad guy. Abe lost his wife, Debra, to a gunshot meant for him and so is all kinds of conflicted and guilty.
Suffice it to say, that Kristen and Abe meet, sparks fly and they battle together to try and take down the killer before he kills too many more people, whilst hurdling all their respective insecurities and living happily ever after in the end... maybe.
As always, KR has written a gem here, I love it, and I love all the characters. The secondary characters of Abe's family are the best bit. Shouldn't everyone have a family like that? :)
This book is gruesome, it's gory, it has sex and violence and ... wait, no, there's no rock n roll. But it is fantastic and I recommend it highly. This was my second read through and it won't be my last. Looking forward now to the 23rd in the series coming out at the end of the year!
December 6, 2015
This was so thrilling to read, damn!!! Suspenseful from page one and there was a nice build-up to the big reveal. I just didn't like how quickly the main relationship developed. It happened way too fast. She let her guard down way too fast, especially after the trauma she suffered. 'Twas a bit unrealistic, but other than that, I loved it.
April 7, 2021
Karen Rose ist eine sehr beliebte Autorin im Thrillergenre, die bekannt dafür ist, gekonnt Romance und Thrillerelemente miteinander zu kombinieren. Auch mir hat die Geschichte rund um Kristen, Abe und den Rächer gut gefallen.
Ihr Schreibstil liest sich wunderbar flüssig und unterstützt durch die kurzen knackigen Kapitel bin ich förmlich durch die 600 Seiten geflogen.
Besonders gut haben mir die Charaktere gefallen. Kristen ist eine starke Staatsanwältin, die für ihre Klienten einsteht und alles in ihrer Macht stehende für die Gerechtigkeit tut. Dabei ist sie knallhart, aber auch unglaublich sympathisch.
Der Anfang war sehr stark, aber je länger die Geschichte voranschritt, umso mehr rückte der Fokus von Kristens Arbeit weg und verlagerte sich ausschließlich auf die Machtspiele der Mafia und die Morde. Ich hätte gerne durchgängig mehr von Kristens Alltag mitbekommen, denn es ist durchaus viel passiert, aber auch sehr viel, was gar nicht mit dem Fall zu tun hatte. In diesem Moment sind wir bei Abe Reagan angekommen, der nicht nur den Fall bearbeitet, sondern ebenfalls den Love Interest in der Geschichte darstellt.
Ich hätte mir niemals zu träumen gewagt, dass ich das mal sagen werde, aber mir war der Romanceanteil eindeutig zu groß. Ich mag Kristen und Abe und Abes herzensgute Familie, die der Geschichte stellenweise eine Wohlfühlatmosphäre verliehen hat, aber leider plätschert der Fall die Hälfte der Zeit vor sich hin, was ich sehr schade finde, weil ich die Auflösung des Falls eigentlich sehr gelungen finde.
Den Epilog möchte ich am liebsten unter den Teppich fallen lassen. Dieser ist an übermäßigem Kitsch und "Würg Momenten" nicht zu überbieten. Ich finde es unglaublich schade, dass so ein guter Thriller mit einem 0815 Liebesromanende abgeschlossen werden muss! Für mich ging der Schuss eher nach hinten los.
Insgesamt sympathische Charaktere, ein interessanter Fall, der sich ab der Hälfte leider im Kreis dreht und ein Epilog, der jedem 0815 "Frauenroman" alle Ehre machen würde. Ich vergebe 4/5�
Ihr Schreibstil liest sich wunderbar flüssig und unterstützt durch die kurzen knackigen Kapitel bin ich förmlich durch die 600 Seiten geflogen.
Besonders gut haben mir die Charaktere gefallen. Kristen ist eine starke Staatsanwältin, die für ihre Klienten einsteht und alles in ihrer Macht stehende für die Gerechtigkeit tut. Dabei ist sie knallhart, aber auch unglaublich sympathisch.
Der Anfang war sehr stark, aber je länger die Geschichte voranschritt, umso mehr rückte der Fokus von Kristens Arbeit weg und verlagerte sich ausschließlich auf die Machtspiele der Mafia und die Morde. Ich hätte gerne durchgängig mehr von Kristens Alltag mitbekommen, denn es ist durchaus viel passiert, aber auch sehr viel, was gar nicht mit dem Fall zu tun hatte. In diesem Moment sind wir bei Abe Reagan angekommen, der nicht nur den Fall bearbeitet, sondern ebenfalls den Love Interest in der Geschichte darstellt.
Ich hätte mir niemals zu träumen gewagt, dass ich das mal sagen werde, aber mir war der Romanceanteil eindeutig zu groß. Ich mag Kristen und Abe und Abes herzensgute Familie, die der Geschichte stellenweise eine Wohlfühlatmosphäre verliehen hat, aber leider plätschert der Fall die Hälfte der Zeit vor sich hin, was ich sehr schade finde, weil ich die Auflösung des Falls eigentlich sehr gelungen finde.
Den Epilog möchte ich am liebsten unter den Teppich fallen lassen. Dieser ist an übermäßigem Kitsch und "Würg Momenten" nicht zu überbieten. Ich finde es unglaublich schade, dass so ein guter Thriller mit einem 0815 Liebesromanende abgeschlossen werden muss! Für mich ging der Schuss eher nach hinten los.
Insgesamt sympathische Charaktere, ein interessanter Fall, der sich ab der Hälfte leider im Kreis dreht und ein Epilog, der jedem 0815 "Frauenroman" alle Ehre machen würde. Ich vergebe 4/5�
January 15, 2018
El primer libro que leo en este año y el primero que se va a llevar las cinco estrellas. ¿Por qué? Porque no he adivinado quién era el malo hasta que lo descubre la misma autora casi al final del mismo y eso en un libro de estas características es un gran logro, ya que pocas autoras o autores logran que no se descubra todo más pronto.
Pero no solo por eso se lleva las cinco estrellas, obviamente los protagonistas tienen muchísimo que ver en ello. Los dos me han encantado desde el principio. Ella, más conocida por ser la mujer de hielo, no deja de ser una mujer que ha sufrido y mucho y que lo único que hace es ayudar a otras mujeres (aunque no siempre se lo pongan fácil) y poner un muro a sus sentimientos. Pero es él el que los derrumba poco a poco, con espacio, cariño y buenas palabras y acciones y sin darte cuenta te has enamorado de la gran persona que es.
Un libro maravilloso que no puedo más que recomendar y obviamente no será el último que lea de la autora :D
Pronto la reseña en el blog!!
Pero no solo por eso se lleva las cinco estrellas, obviamente los protagonistas tienen muchísimo que ver en ello. Los dos me han encantado desde el principio. Ella, más conocida por ser la mujer de hielo, no deja de ser una mujer que ha sufrido y mucho y que lo único que hace es ayudar a otras mujeres (aunque no siempre se lo pongan fácil) y poner un muro a sus sentimientos. Pero es él el que los derrumba poco a poco, con espacio, cariño y buenas palabras y acciones y sin darte cuenta te has enamorado de la gran persona que es.
Un libro maravilloso que no puedo más que recomendar y obviamente no será el último que lea de la autora :D
Pronto la reseña en el blog!!
April 24, 2020
A second book in the Chicago series, and it's as good as, if not better than � a serial killer story with a difference. Criminals involved with sex attacks, that somehow escaped justice start turning up murdered, and all of them seem to be connected to the same prosecuting attorney who failed to convict them; and that's just the start, as the killing escalates, and the press and other parties interfere the tale gets more and more compelling as it progresses. Another fine piece of crime suspense writing with, as in in her previous book a lot of time building up the lives of the main characters. 6 out of 12.
December 10, 2016
What a great series!
April 16, 2022
my comfort books are now serial killer romantic suspense books. idk how to process this.
September 15, 2014
I was totally surprised at who the villain was! It wasn't as surprising as the fact that I was surprised, though. So often I immediately know who the killer is and I'm so glad I didn't know until the end of this book. You know, when you're supposed to find out. It's a whole new experience for me! *pees a little*
And shocker of all shockers, the heroine wasn't a complete twitbag! She stayed in the car when the alpha-hero told her to stay! OMG! That never happens. Never. When she almost got killed, it wasn't even her fault! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! YOU'RE BLOWING MY MIND WITH THE ORIGINALITY! The crazy part is, I'm not even joking. You guys really have no idea how thrilled I am to finally read a book where the female lead doesn't repeatedly put herself in danger because being a strong, independent career woman is supposedly the equivalent of Kevlar and common sense.
Oh! OH! And the couple didn't spend 85% of the book fighting with each other, denying their attraction, trying to convince themselves they only want a no-strings fling, -insert generic plot contrivance here-, etc. That was just... so totally new for me.
The characters were fleshed out enough for me to understand their behavior and cheer for their HEA. The plot was tasty, with a nice balance of action, sex, and mystery to keep me reading (nearly) nonstop until the last page. Sometimes I feel like books in the 'romantic suspense' genre should be in the 'erotica' genre and a few should just switch to 'suspense'. This book traveled the line very well.
I didn't love this book. I feel that is partly because of Kristen's total naivete about sex. I understand where the author was coming from, but she made the character a little too... I really don't know what word would be best. Childish, maybe? Yeah, her response was too childish for me to feel completely comfortable. For a moment, I felt like I was reading about the seduction of an innocent young teenager or something. If it had continued, I would have stopped reading.
The other reason I can't love this book is because of the HEA. The final scene in the epilogue. It was just too... convenient, I guess? Almost a cop out on the author's part.
"I don't want to leave that plot thread dangling, so I'll just fake the reader out a la 'Dallas' Season 8." *
I'd recommend the book, for sure. I just wouldn't press my friends to read it now so we could discuss it over coffee.
*
And shocker of all shockers, the heroine wasn't a complete twitbag! She stayed in the car when the alpha-hero told her to stay! OMG! That never happens. Never. When she almost got killed, it wasn't even her fault! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! YOU'RE BLOWING MY MIND WITH THE ORIGINALITY! The crazy part is, I'm not even joking. You guys really have no idea how thrilled I am to finally read a book where the female lead doesn't repeatedly put herself in danger because being a strong, independent career woman is supposedly the equivalent of Kevlar and common sense.
Oh! OH! And the couple didn't spend 85% of the book fighting with each other, denying their attraction, trying to convince themselves they only want a no-strings fling, -insert generic plot contrivance here-, etc. That was just... so totally new for me.
The characters were fleshed out enough for me to understand their behavior and cheer for their HEA. The plot was tasty, with a nice balance of action, sex, and mystery to keep me reading (nearly) nonstop until the last page. Sometimes I feel like books in the 'romantic suspense' genre should be in the 'erotica' genre and a few should just switch to 'suspense'. This book traveled the line very well.
I didn't love this book. I feel that is partly because of Kristen's total naivete about sex. I understand where the author was coming from, but she made the character a little too... I really don't know what word would be best. Childish, maybe? Yeah, her response was too childish for me to feel completely comfortable. For a moment, I felt like I was reading about the seduction of an innocent young teenager or something. If it had continued, I would have stopped reading.
The other reason I can't love this book is because of the HEA. The final scene in the epilogue. It was just too... convenient, I guess? Almost a cop out on the author's part.
"I don't want to leave that plot thread dangling, so I'll just fake the reader out a la 'Dallas' Season 8." *
I'd recommend the book, for sure. I just wouldn't press my friends to read it now so we could discuss it over coffee.
*
March 15, 2016
Really a great thought provoking romantic-suspense that is a little darker than others in this genre, but very well done.
Both the hero, Abe and heroine, Kristen are people that life has dumped on. Abe is a Chicago detective who lost his wife after she spent 5 years in a vegetative state as the result of a gunshot meant for him. Kristen, a prosecuting attorney, also carries some heavy baggage that is slowly explored throughout the book. In addition to their personal issues, there is a vigilante killing sex offenders, murderers and those who helped then escape justice whose cases were handled by Kristen.
Both the hero, Abe and heroine, Kristen are people that life has dumped on. Abe is a Chicago detective who lost his wife after she spent 5 years in a vegetative state as the result of a gunshot meant for him. Kristen, a prosecuting attorney, also carries some heavy baggage that is slowly explored throughout the book. In addition to their personal issues, there is a vigilante killing sex offenders, murderers and those who helped then escape justice whose cases were handled by Kristen.
January 15, 2019
A thriller with suspense and with a predictable romance. An escapist read, wel written and better than lots of others in the genre. Great book to read on lazy vacation days. Guilty pleasures, they’re called. Somewhere between 3 and 4 stars.
August 2, 2014
Reviewed for
I can't believe it's been almost three years since I last read a Karen Rose novel. I have no idea why it's taken me so long, except that her books tend to be longer and I oftentimes have trouble fitting long books into my reading schedule. Her books have not disappointed me yet though, and I'm Watching You was no exception. It is a meticulously plotted story that unfolds slowly and methodically as it gradually builds to that final nail-biting climax. As I've come to expect from Ms. Rose, the body count is quite high, but despite the sheer number of deaths, for some reason, this one didn't seem quite as gory as the last one. Perhaps that was owing to the author using a different type of villain this time, who wasn't as utterly frightening, which I'll discuss later. In any case, I loved everything about this book, the characters, the plot, everything, and I wouldn't have changed a thing.
The heroine, Kristen is the primary focus character. She's a talented prosecuting attorney, who is a determined bull-dog in the courtroom. She's driven to seek justice for victims of violent crimes, because of painful events in her own past. In fact, it hurts her like she's reliving her own past every time she loses a case, but when that happens, the victims and their families often end up blaming her. As a result, she's admired and envied by some for her tenaciousness, but has become a convenient scapegoat for others. One of her admirers has become a vigilante serial killer, carefully choosing his victims from the list of perpetrators she unsuccessfully prosecuted, as well as the weaselly defense attorneys who represented them, and then dedicating his kills to her. Kristen is a very courageous woman. I greatly admired her strength and outward composure, even though inside, she felt like falling apart. She's been through so much in her life already and although her vigilante admirer would never hurt her personally, his actions end up causing her more pain and suffering. I was so glad that Abe was there to help her through everything. Kristen is a beautiful and compassionate woman who is anything but the frigid female she's been accused of being. If anything she's a woman with underlying passions that can only be tapped by one man.
Abe is a prince among men. He experienced his own personal pain when his pregnant wife was shot in the head by a bullet that was meant for him. She spent the next five years in a persistent vegetative state, before finally succumbing to death. Abe has lost so much, and he coped primarily by burying himself in his work. Throughout the years that his wife was on life-support, he worked undercover narcotics, only surfacing occasionally to visit his family. Now that she's gone, he's transferred to the homicide division. Abe first saw Kristen two years earlier and was extremely attracted to her. Of course, he felt guilty for that, given the state his wife was in, but since he was deep undercover at the time, nothing ever came of it. He hadn't seen her again, except on TV, until the vigilante killer case comes across his desk. As they start working in close proximity, the old attraction burns hot. Karen Rose really knows how to create some delectable heroes. I loved that Abe has been celibate all those years. It shows how committed he is in relationships and how much he truly loved his wife. Yet, when things start heating up between him and Kristen, he's very patient, never pushing her to do more than she's comfortable with. Abe is a true gentleman in every sense of the word, and I adore how he sees into Kristen. He intuitively knows what she's been through and wants to be the man to tear down the walls she's erected around herself and draw her out. Family means a great deal to Abe. He's always there to support them and vice versa, and they readily accept Kristen into their fold, which is exactly what she needs in her life. Abe is very protective of Kristen but at the same time he's a gentle man who cares for her tenderly. In fact, Abe is so sweet, I'm half-tempted to classify him as a beta hero, except that he is a cop after all.;-)
It takes a while for things to heat up between Abe and Kristen, but I had no problem with that. Sometimes slower is better, and this was one of those cases. Their attraction is immediate and palpable, yet their romance progresses at a languid though steady pace. Given Kristen's history this made perfect sense. In the meantime, Karen Rose is masterful at building that romance and sexual tension with mere looks and touches which is something I can deeply appreciate. There's so much meaning in their every interaction, and Ms. Rose doesn't waste a single opportunity to explore their budding relationship. It was very nicely woven into the fabric of the mystery, such that I was never anxious while waiting to get back to the romance. The love scenes, while not overly descriptive, were very sweet and sensual. Even though the story unfolds within a mere ten day period, it felt like Abe and Kristen had known each other half their lives, which made the speed at which their relationship blossomed much more believable.
The main villain in I'm Watching You is the vigilante serial killer. He's an interesting departure from the terrifyingly cold-blooded murderers of the previous two books I read. Not only was I scared to death of those villains, I hated, loathed and despised them. I recall that one was so evil I even wanted to jump into the story and off him myself. The vigilante in this book is entirely different in that he actually comes off as somewhat sympathetic. We know from the prologue what's driving him to take such extreme actions, and he only targets individuals who, in his mind, and often in reality, have done something wrong but never been justly punished. Therefore, he's set himself up as their judge, jury and executioner. While his actions unintentionally end up hurting innocents, including Kristen, he never actually sets out to do those who aren't culpable any harm, and when he realizes that his actions are having unintended consequences, he has the decency to feel guilty about it. While what he was doing was definitely wrong, I'm not the only one who kind of sympathized with him. Some of the victims and their families wanted to throw him a party for ridding the streets of such evil, and even Kristen and the cops had a hard time condemning his choice of victims to target. Perhaps to give readers someone to truly fear, the author set up secondary villains in the form of a mob boss and his lackey who start meting out their own brand of vigilante justice after the mobster's son is killed by the real vigilante. Then there was Zoe, the mean-spirited, self-serving newshound readers will love to hate, who got far more than she bargained for in the end.
I've been reading Karen Rose's books in the chronological order in which they were published so that I can get the full effect of her complex character web. While all the characters in I'm Watching You are brand new to the character palette, many of the ones in this book will appear again in future books. Abe and Kristen themselves will pop up as secondary characters in several other books that take place in the Chicago area. Abe's brother, Aidan, seems like almost as good of a guy as Abe. He'll be a supporting character in the next book, Nothing to Fear, before becoming the hero of the following book, You Can't Hide. Abe's partner, Mia, can't seem to find Mr. Right, but she'll get her chance as the heroine of Count to Ten after playing supporting roles in the next two books as well as the later book, I Can See You. I was slightly disappointed to find that Jack, the head of the CSI team, and Julia, the ME, don't have their own book. I kept thinking these two needed a romance of their own. I guess they kind of got together, but it was little more than a mention. The rest of the police force and Abe's gregarious, close-knit family round out a superb cast.
I honestly can't say enough good things about I'm Watching You and Karen Rose's books in general. I love how she delves deep into the psyche of her characters, both good and bad, and allows the reader to really feel like she knows them. Reading this book has reminded me of all the reasons why Karen Rose became one of my favorite authors so quickly. I'm really looking forward to continuing my foray into her work, so I'll try not to wait so long this time to get to the next story.
I can't believe it's been almost three years since I last read a Karen Rose novel. I have no idea why it's taken me so long, except that her books tend to be longer and I oftentimes have trouble fitting long books into my reading schedule. Her books have not disappointed me yet though, and I'm Watching You was no exception. It is a meticulously plotted story that unfolds slowly and methodically as it gradually builds to that final nail-biting climax. As I've come to expect from Ms. Rose, the body count is quite high, but despite the sheer number of deaths, for some reason, this one didn't seem quite as gory as the last one. Perhaps that was owing to the author using a different type of villain this time, who wasn't as utterly frightening, which I'll discuss later. In any case, I loved everything about this book, the characters, the plot, everything, and I wouldn't have changed a thing.
The heroine, Kristen is the primary focus character. She's a talented prosecuting attorney, who is a determined bull-dog in the courtroom. She's driven to seek justice for victims of violent crimes, because of painful events in her own past. In fact, it hurts her like she's reliving her own past every time she loses a case, but when that happens, the victims and their families often end up blaming her. As a result, she's admired and envied by some for her tenaciousness, but has become a convenient scapegoat for others. One of her admirers has become a vigilante serial killer, carefully choosing his victims from the list of perpetrators she unsuccessfully prosecuted, as well as the weaselly defense attorneys who represented them, and then dedicating his kills to her. Kristen is a very courageous woman. I greatly admired her strength and outward composure, even though inside, she felt like falling apart. She's been through so much in her life already and although her vigilante admirer would never hurt her personally, his actions end up causing her more pain and suffering. I was so glad that Abe was there to help her through everything. Kristen is a beautiful and compassionate woman who is anything but the frigid female she's been accused of being. If anything she's a woman with underlying passions that can only be tapped by one man.
Abe is a prince among men. He experienced his own personal pain when his pregnant wife was shot in the head by a bullet that was meant for him. She spent the next five years in a persistent vegetative state, before finally succumbing to death. Abe has lost so much, and he coped primarily by burying himself in his work. Throughout the years that his wife was on life-support, he worked undercover narcotics, only surfacing occasionally to visit his family. Now that she's gone, he's transferred to the homicide division. Abe first saw Kristen two years earlier and was extremely attracted to her. Of course, he felt guilty for that, given the state his wife was in, but since he was deep undercover at the time, nothing ever came of it. He hadn't seen her again, except on TV, until the vigilante killer case comes across his desk. As they start working in close proximity, the old attraction burns hot. Karen Rose really knows how to create some delectable heroes. I loved that Abe has been celibate all those years. It shows how committed he is in relationships and how much he truly loved his wife. Yet, when things start heating up between him and Kristen, he's very patient, never pushing her to do more than she's comfortable with. Abe is a true gentleman in every sense of the word, and I adore how he sees into Kristen. He intuitively knows what she's been through and wants to be the man to tear down the walls she's erected around herself and draw her out. Family means a great deal to Abe. He's always there to support them and vice versa, and they readily accept Kristen into their fold, which is exactly what she needs in her life. Abe is very protective of Kristen but at the same time he's a gentle man who cares for her tenderly. In fact, Abe is so sweet, I'm half-tempted to classify him as a beta hero, except that he is a cop after all.;-)
It takes a while for things to heat up between Abe and Kristen, but I had no problem with that. Sometimes slower is better, and this was one of those cases. Their attraction is immediate and palpable, yet their romance progresses at a languid though steady pace. Given Kristen's history this made perfect sense. In the meantime, Karen Rose is masterful at building that romance and sexual tension with mere looks and touches which is something I can deeply appreciate. There's so much meaning in their every interaction, and Ms. Rose doesn't waste a single opportunity to explore their budding relationship. It was very nicely woven into the fabric of the mystery, such that I was never anxious while waiting to get back to the romance. The love scenes, while not overly descriptive, were very sweet and sensual. Even though the story unfolds within a mere ten day period, it felt like Abe and Kristen had known each other half their lives, which made the speed at which their relationship blossomed much more believable.
The main villain in I'm Watching You is the vigilante serial killer. He's an interesting departure from the terrifyingly cold-blooded murderers of the previous two books I read. Not only was I scared to death of those villains, I hated, loathed and despised them. I recall that one was so evil I even wanted to jump into the story and off him myself. The vigilante in this book is entirely different in that he actually comes off as somewhat sympathetic. We know from the prologue what's driving him to take such extreme actions, and he only targets individuals who, in his mind, and often in reality, have done something wrong but never been justly punished. Therefore, he's set himself up as their judge, jury and executioner. While his actions unintentionally end up hurting innocents, including Kristen, he never actually sets out to do those who aren't culpable any harm, and when he realizes that his actions are having unintended consequences, he has the decency to feel guilty about it. While what he was doing was definitely wrong, I'm not the only one who kind of sympathized with him. Some of the victims and their families wanted to throw him a party for ridding the streets of such evil, and even Kristen and the cops had a hard time condemning his choice of victims to target. Perhaps to give readers someone to truly fear, the author set up secondary villains in the form of a mob boss and his lackey who start meting out their own brand of vigilante justice after the mobster's son is killed by the real vigilante. Then there was Zoe, the mean-spirited, self-serving newshound readers will love to hate, who got far more than she bargained for in the end.
I've been reading Karen Rose's books in the chronological order in which they were published so that I can get the full effect of her complex character web. While all the characters in I'm Watching You are brand new to the character palette, many of the ones in this book will appear again in future books. Abe and Kristen themselves will pop up as secondary characters in several other books that take place in the Chicago area. Abe's brother, Aidan, seems like almost as good of a guy as Abe. He'll be a supporting character in the next book, Nothing to Fear, before becoming the hero of the following book, You Can't Hide. Abe's partner, Mia, can't seem to find Mr. Right, but she'll get her chance as the heroine of Count to Ten after playing supporting roles in the next two books as well as the later book, I Can See You. I was slightly disappointed to find that Jack, the head of the CSI team, and Julia, the ME, don't have their own book. I kept thinking these two needed a romance of their own. I guess they kind of got together, but it was little more than a mention. The rest of the police force and Abe's gregarious, close-knit family round out a superb cast.
I honestly can't say enough good things about I'm Watching You and Karen Rose's books in general. I love how she delves deep into the psyche of her characters, both good and bad, and allows the reader to really feel like she knows them. Reading this book has reminded me of all the reasons why Karen Rose became one of my favorite authors so quickly. I'm really looking forward to continuing my foray into her work, so I'll try not to wait so long this time to get to the next story.
April 4, 2011
~* 4.5 Stars *~
This is How Romantic Suspense Should Be
Assistant state's attorney Kristen Mayhew is fiercely dedicated to bringing criminals to justice, driven by a past that still haunts her. She keeps herself closed off from everyone, keeps herself restrained and works herself to the bone, sacrificing everything for the job. Then one night, a flat tire and a run in with homicide detective Abe Reagan lead to a grim discovery in the trunk of her car and the realization that a murderous vigilante is stalking the streets...and Kristen. He calls himself her humble servant, but as the body count rises and the crimes become more and more heinous, Reagan and his partner become more and more concerned that the killer is losing any semblance of control and whatever sick admiration he has for Kristen may become threatening. Abe is determined to protect the fascinating and composed Kristen. It's his job, after all...and she's becoming his passion.
It's been awhile since I've read a book by and now I'm annoyed that I let so much time pass, because she's excellent at the craft. With she's written a complete and well-rounded police procedural and a satisfying romance that delivers entertainment with a slick, seductive style. The book is robust in plotting, pacing, and character development, and uses every page of its impressive length to draw the reader along a twisted path of victimization and heroism without bogging down in technical criminology, as some police procedurals can do. There was a layer of moral ambiguity threaded throughout the criminal aspects of the plot and I thought it was deftly handled. Vicious crimes being perpetrated on the arguably deserving limits righteousness as a motivator and draws into closer scrutiny the precarious balance between the right thing and the just thing.
Even with the tense, tight plotting of the arc of suspense in this book, it was the wide array of characters, all of them fully fleshed out and real, that were the driving force of this book for me. Kristen and Abe were easy to relate to and appealing, and I love that we were given time to really delve into their backstory and history. It made them very three dimensional. The secondary and ancillary characters were handled with similar aplomb, and are so real and so human that they practically step off the pages and sit down beside you. Instead of dipping into a well of cliched stereotypes to fill the character stable, Rose created people you can imagine meeting in everyday life, and that was a particular treat. It is through the characters - primary, secondary, and ancillary - with their fears, frustrations, and fragile hopes, that the story breathes and extends beyond the limits of plotting and story and becomes memorable.
There were really only a few minor issues that took a wee bit from my enjoyment of the book as a whole. I had an issue with Kristen concerning the habit she had of speaking her thoughts aloud without realizing it. Every time she did that I found it jarring and unrealistic. Who speaks without realizing they've spoken? Once or twice I could forgive, but after a while it just felt like a bad way to get character thoughts and feelings expressed. And without giving any spoilers, I had an issue with the motivation of the vigilante and his emotional commitment given the scope of the relationship he had with a victim. It seemed a little more insanely invested than I could understand. Those were really just minor issues, though, and didn't take away but a smidgen of my overall appreciation for the incredibly complex plotting, the decadent characterizations, and a complete reading experience that was thoroughly entertaining.
I certainly won't be waiting so long before my next exciting romantic suspense by .
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for .
This is How Romantic Suspense Should Be
Assistant state's attorney Kristen Mayhew is fiercely dedicated to bringing criminals to justice, driven by a past that still haunts her. She keeps herself closed off from everyone, keeps herself restrained and works herself to the bone, sacrificing everything for the job. Then one night, a flat tire and a run in with homicide detective Abe Reagan lead to a grim discovery in the trunk of her car and the realization that a murderous vigilante is stalking the streets...and Kristen. He calls himself her humble servant, but as the body count rises and the crimes become more and more heinous, Reagan and his partner become more and more concerned that the killer is losing any semblance of control and whatever sick admiration he has for Kristen may become threatening. Abe is determined to protect the fascinating and composed Kristen. It's his job, after all...and she's becoming his passion.
It's been awhile since I've read a book by and now I'm annoyed that I let so much time pass, because she's excellent at the craft. With she's written a complete and well-rounded police procedural and a satisfying romance that delivers entertainment with a slick, seductive style. The book is robust in plotting, pacing, and character development, and uses every page of its impressive length to draw the reader along a twisted path of victimization and heroism without bogging down in technical criminology, as some police procedurals can do. There was a layer of moral ambiguity threaded throughout the criminal aspects of the plot and I thought it was deftly handled. Vicious crimes being perpetrated on the arguably deserving limits righteousness as a motivator and draws into closer scrutiny the precarious balance between the right thing and the just thing.
Even with the tense, tight plotting of the arc of suspense in this book, it was the wide array of characters, all of them fully fleshed out and real, that were the driving force of this book for me. Kristen and Abe were easy to relate to and appealing, and I love that we were given time to really delve into their backstory and history. It made them very three dimensional. The secondary and ancillary characters were handled with similar aplomb, and are so real and so human that they practically step off the pages and sit down beside you. Instead of dipping into a well of cliched stereotypes to fill the character stable, Rose created people you can imagine meeting in everyday life, and that was a particular treat. It is through the characters - primary, secondary, and ancillary - with their fears, frustrations, and fragile hopes, that the story breathes and extends beyond the limits of plotting and story and becomes memorable.
There were really only a few minor issues that took a wee bit from my enjoyment of the book as a whole. I had an issue with Kristen concerning the habit she had of speaking her thoughts aloud without realizing it. Every time she did that I found it jarring and unrealistic. Who speaks without realizing they've spoken? Once or twice I could forgive, but after a while it just felt like a bad way to get character thoughts and feelings expressed. And without giving any spoilers, I had an issue with the motivation of the vigilante and his emotional commitment given the scope of the relationship he had with a victim. It seemed a little more insanely invested than I could understand. Those were really just minor issues, though, and didn't take away but a smidgen of my overall appreciation for the incredibly complex plotting, the decadent characterizations, and a complete reading experience that was thoroughly entertaining.
I certainly won't be waiting so long before my next exciting romantic suspense by .
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for .
October 19, 2011
Overall Rating: 5 // Action: 4.5 / Emotion: 5 / Romance: 5 / Sensuous: 4.25 / Suspense: 5 // Humor: 3 / Tears: 10
I'm Watching You , Karen Rose's third book, is another must read for readers of the Romantic Suspense genre. As with her previous books, Rose has seamlessly interwoven the threads of sexual tension, angst-filled romance, and spine-tingling suspense into one un-put-down-able book. I'm Watching You is a stand-alone read, as Rose introduces a brand new hero and heroine into her repertoire of characters, but the personalities of several supporting characters introduced in her previous books have been developmentally enhanced.
Love the way Rose reveals the personalities of her characters by their actions, their emotions and their thought processes. Her writing is so filled with great dialogue, incredible amounts of action and realistic views of how her characters think, that one is drawn deep into the lives of the characters and it is almost impossible to put the book down after becoming engrossed in the story.
I'm Watching You contains the necessary qualities that make it a must read. {1} A perfect, hunky, gorgeous, honorable angst-filled hero. {2} A spunky, beautiful, strong-willed, compassionate, adversity-overcoming heroine. {3} Fascinating supporting characters that add depth and interest to the story. {4} Plenty of action (including police procedural) to keep the plot moving at a fast pace. {5} So much intense suspense and so many unanswered questions that it was almost impossible to put this book down . . . want to know what was going to happen next. {6} Incredibly engaging and realistic dialogue between, not only the hero and heroine, but also between them and the supporting characters. {7} Emotionally entangling, well-developed romantic development between the hero and heroine. {8} Beautifully written, magical, heat-filled love scenes. {9} A spine-tingling, action-packed, tension-filled finale. {10} Villains and heros. {11} Tears. {12} Laugh out loud moments. {13} The requisite happily-ever after.
A more in-depth, detailed, review of I'm Watching You appears at Wolf Bear Does Books.
I'm Watching You , Karen Rose's third book, is another must read for readers of the Romantic Suspense genre. As with her previous books, Rose has seamlessly interwoven the threads of sexual tension, angst-filled romance, and spine-tingling suspense into one un-put-down-able book. I'm Watching You is a stand-alone read, as Rose introduces a brand new hero and heroine into her repertoire of characters, but the personalities of several supporting characters introduced in her previous books have been developmentally enhanced.
Love the way Rose reveals the personalities of her characters by their actions, their emotions and their thought processes. Her writing is so filled with great dialogue, incredible amounts of action and realistic views of how her characters think, that one is drawn deep into the lives of the characters and it is almost impossible to put the book down after becoming engrossed in the story.
I'm Watching You contains the necessary qualities that make it a must read. {1} A perfect, hunky, gorgeous, honorable angst-filled hero. {2} A spunky, beautiful, strong-willed, compassionate, adversity-overcoming heroine. {3} Fascinating supporting characters that add depth and interest to the story. {4} Plenty of action (including police procedural) to keep the plot moving at a fast pace. {5} So much intense suspense and so many unanswered questions that it was almost impossible to put this book down . . . want to know what was going to happen next. {6} Incredibly engaging and realistic dialogue between, not only the hero and heroine, but also between them and the supporting characters. {7} Emotionally entangling, well-developed romantic development between the hero and heroine. {8} Beautifully written, magical, heat-filled love scenes. {9} A spine-tingling, action-packed, tension-filled finale. {10} Villains and heros. {11} Tears. {12} Laugh out loud moments. {13} The requisite happily-ever after.
A more in-depth, detailed, review of I'm Watching You appears at Wolf Bear Does Books.
February 25, 2016
There is a vigilante preying on acquitted rapists, their lawyers and crooked judges. He claims to be working for justice on the behalf of the failed Assistant District Attorney Kristin Meyhew who was the prosecuting attorney at their trials.The danger grows for Kristin as the public and relatives of the victims believe that Kristin is in on the murders, and is working with the killer.
There is a lot going on in this book. Kristin,and her painful secret. The vigilante, and how he chooses his prey and executes his killings. The journalist who is looking for the scoop of the century, at Kristin's expense. There is Abe Reagan the lead detective with his heartbreaking past and his growing attraction to Kristin, and the family of the victims who were turning into vigilantes themselves. I really enjoyed this book.The romance was perfect, sweet and hot at the same time. The twists and turns and the growing danger kept me on the edge of my seat. As usual, the characters is what made this book for me. Highly recommend. 5 stars.
There is a lot going on in this book. Kristin,and her painful secret. The vigilante, and how he chooses his prey and executes his killings. The journalist who is looking for the scoop of the century, at Kristin's expense. There is Abe Reagan the lead detective with his heartbreaking past and his growing attraction to Kristin, and the family of the victims who were turning into vigilantes themselves. I really enjoyed this book.The romance was perfect, sweet and hot at the same time. The twists and turns and the growing danger kept me on the edge of my seat. As usual, the characters is what made this book for me. Highly recommend. 5 stars.
August 18, 2019
I'm Watching You is book two of the Chicago series and book 3 of Romantic Suspense series by Karen Rose. One night the Prosecutor Kristen Mayhew, found out she has a stalker who is killing people that she failed to prosecute. Detective Abe Reagan and his partner detective Mia Mitchell caught the case. The readers of I'm Watching You will continue to follow Detective Abe Reagan, Detective Mia Mitchell and Prosecutor Kristen Mayhew find out what happens.
I'm Watching You is a fantastic book to read. Karen Rose did an excellent job to ensure that I did not guess the ending of this book. I love Karen Rose portrayal of her characters and the way they intertwine with each other. I'm Watching you is well written and researched by Karen Rose. I like the way Karen Rose incorporated the twists and turns in this book that ensure that I did not put the book down until the last word.
The readers of I'm Watching You will learn about the role of prosecutor office in law enforcement investigations in Chicago. Also, the readers of I'm Watching You will learn how mental illness and grief can affect families.
I recommend this book.
I'm Watching You is a fantastic book to read. Karen Rose did an excellent job to ensure that I did not guess the ending of this book. I love Karen Rose portrayal of her characters and the way they intertwine with each other. I'm Watching you is well written and researched by Karen Rose. I like the way Karen Rose incorporated the twists and turns in this book that ensure that I did not put the book down until the last word.
The readers of I'm Watching You will learn about the role of prosecutor office in law enforcement investigations in Chicago. Also, the readers of I'm Watching You will learn how mental illness and grief can affect families.
I recommend this book.
October 6, 2019
Wauw! wat een boek ... het was een tijdje geleden dat ik nog iets van deze schrijfster had gelezen maar na deze thriller ben ik vastbesloten de draad weer op te nemen. Een heel origineel verhaal, spannend, heel veel variatie, kortom dit boek heeft alles om te blijven lezen tot het einde.
Ook het hoofdpersonage spreekt onmiddellijk aan en dat maakt het verhaal helemaal compleet. Zeker een aanrader.
Ook het hoofdpersonage spreekt onmiddellijk aan en dat maakt het verhaal helemaal compleet. Zeker een aanrader.
March 20, 2017
Karen Rose não desilude. Empolgante
September 12, 2011
Kristen Mayhew has a secret admirer of the worst kind...a serial killer who dispenses his form of justice to the criminals she was unsuccessful in prosecuting. She's an assistant State's Attorney in Chicago and those defendants in her losing efforts are being murdered.
Homicide Detective Abe Reagan, along with his new partner, is assigned to the case and he has an immediate attraction to Kristen, as does she for him. But, they both have serious issues from their pasts that stand in the way to their forming a relationship.
It's an interesting case, one that tests your concept of justice as those being murdered have behaved deplorably in life. These aren't sympathetic characters but they, too, deserve to have the killer atone for their deaths. The public reactions are also predictable and those who were unsuccessfully tried by Kristen now live in fear. Her life is threatened and Abe becomes part of her protection, which serves to accelerate their romance.
This is another solid story that meets the expectations set by the previous two books in the series. The cast of characters has dimension...the "good guys" are extremely likable and the "baddies" are deliciously evil, which really heightens the tension between defining good and evil behavior. This is such a good story, even though I correctly pinpointed the killer early on. Rose is good at weaving romance and suspense and I'm anxious to continue with the next book in the series. You'll want to settle back and just immerse yourself in this suspenseful mystery and enjoy the writing.
Homicide Detective Abe Reagan, along with his new partner, is assigned to the case and he has an immediate attraction to Kristen, as does she for him. But, they both have serious issues from their pasts that stand in the way to their forming a relationship.
It's an interesting case, one that tests your concept of justice as those being murdered have behaved deplorably in life. These aren't sympathetic characters but they, too, deserve to have the killer atone for their deaths. The public reactions are also predictable and those who were unsuccessfully tried by Kristen now live in fear. Her life is threatened and Abe becomes part of her protection, which serves to accelerate their romance.
This is another solid story that meets the expectations set by the previous two books in the series. The cast of characters has dimension...the "good guys" are extremely likable and the "baddies" are deliciously evil, which really heightens the tension between defining good and evil behavior. This is such a good story, even though I correctly pinpointed the killer early on. Rose is good at weaving romance and suspense and I'm anxious to continue with the next book in the series. You'll want to settle back and just immerse yourself in this suspenseful mystery and enjoy the writing.
April 9, 2015
Someone is offing sex offenders that walked free despite ASA Kristen Mayhew's efforts in court. The same someone sends Kristen letters after the fact, explaining why he did it, and offering decorating tips as well. But does Kristen know him? Is she the one who hired him? She says no and the police tend to believe her, but the killer's "friendly" behavior toward her has put her in the spotlight...
The third book by Ms. Rose I've read and, after the flop of the previous one, another winner. It was a slow read, but not due to the pace, but "heaviness" of the topic and theme.
Wonderful characters, with issues not as prominent as in , so they didn't take over the story, but helped push it forward. Great suspense, with the villain once more taking center stage along the other characters, and, unlike the previous book, his identity was truly a surprise. Nicely done, Ms. Rose.
I felt Kristen's deepest secret—the one that has kept her from surrendering her heart to Abe Reagan, the police detective sworn to protect her took a bit too long to come out, (almost) everybody knew by then, ending up as anti-climatic as it could get.
Still, I loved the progression of the romance between Kristen and Abe, it was nothing rushed, nothing Romancelandia-like.
Nicely done. 4 ½ stars
The third book by Ms. Rose I've read and, after the flop of the previous one, another winner. It was a slow read, but not due to the pace, but "heaviness" of the topic and theme.
Wonderful characters, with issues not as prominent as in , so they didn't take over the story, but helped push it forward. Great suspense, with the villain once more taking center stage along the other characters, and, unlike the previous book, his identity was truly a surprise. Nicely done, Ms. Rose.
I felt Kristen's deepest secret—the one that has kept her from surrendering her heart to Abe Reagan, the police detective sworn to protect her took a bit too long to come out, (almost) everybody knew by then, ending up as anti-climatic as it could get.
Still, I loved the progression of the romance between Kristen and Abe, it was nothing rushed, nothing Romancelandia-like.
Nicely done. 4 ½ stars
May 19, 2020
Genre: Romantic Suspense / Thriller / Contemporary
Kristen Mayhew, a leading prosecutor in Chicago, makes a grizzly discovery late one night in the trunk of her car. It looks Kristen has an avenger, someone who is bringing to justice those that got away with their crimes. He has nothing but respect for her and has no intention of hurting her. He calls himself "Your Humble Servant" and he wants to help Kristen.
Abe Reagan gets Kristen's case. He is back as a detective after being undercover for 5 years. He went undercover to forget about a deeply personal tragedy. As more dead bodies pile up at Kristen's door, things get more dangerous and complicated...
This was another gripping page turning read from Kare Rose. Abe and Kristen have good chemistry and their relationship is steamy, but also sweet. I like how Karen Rose brings her characters to life and makes you feel that you really know them. It is well balanced story with the murder plot which offer lots twists and turns.
Kristen Mayhew, a leading prosecutor in Chicago, makes a grizzly discovery late one night in the trunk of her car. It looks Kristen has an avenger, someone who is bringing to justice those that got away with their crimes. He has nothing but respect for her and has no intention of hurting her. He calls himself "Your Humble Servant" and he wants to help Kristen.
Abe Reagan gets Kristen's case. He is back as a detective after being undercover for 5 years. He went undercover to forget about a deeply personal tragedy. As more dead bodies pile up at Kristen's door, things get more dangerous and complicated...
This was another gripping page turning read from Kare Rose. Abe and Kristen have good chemistry and their relationship is steamy, but also sweet. I like how Karen Rose brings her characters to life and makes you feel that you really know them. It is well balanced story with the murder plot which offer lots twists and turns.
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