Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
Terrific mix of suspense and romance. A pharmaceutical company in West Virginia is the victim of product tampering and the TCD is sent to investigate. In addition to the public team that is sent, Jace and Laura are sent undercover as a married couple. Laura will be the admin assistant to one of the executives while Jace will work on the floor of the factory. Neither of them is especially happy about the assignment as they don't get along very well.
I enjoyed the interactions between Jace and Laura. The tension between them at the beginning was evident. Laura is very much a by-the-book agent while Jace tends to be a little more creative in his approach. Laura thinks Jace is a loose cannon and Jace thinks Laura is wound too tight. Both will deal with their dislike to catch the killer. I loved watching the changes they went through as they were forced into close proximity. On the professional side, there were several occasions when Laura saw the benefits of working outside the box. On the personal side, the development of their relationship was fun to watch. Previously they only saw each other as fellow agents, but living together gave them a whole different outlook. The sparks of antagonism that flew before now turned to sparks of passion. Jace notices Laura's long legs and softer appearance when she is dressed casually. Laura gets quite a surprise when she gets a look at Jace in a wet shirt. The more time they spend together, the stronger those sparks grow and the closer they get. As the case nears its end, both Laura and Jace have to decide what will happen with their relationship. A close call at the end opens their eyes to what they really want.
The suspense of the story was fantastic. It opened with a bang, literally, as a bomb detonated at the factory soon after Jace and Laura started their new jobs. Jace and Laura look for motive and opportunity from within the factory while the rest of the team looks at the broader picture of who might have a grudge against the owners or the company. There are multiple options for suspects and with each new attack, the number seems to grow. When a note is found that says "two down, four to go" the TCD is determined to find the killer before anyone else dies. The tension grew as the team closed in on the culprit. I was on the edge of my seat as my suspicions grew about one person. The final confrontation was very much a mind game between the killer and the agents until Jace figured it out. Then it was a race against time to save the last target.
I enjoyed the interactions between Jace and Laura. The tension between them at the beginning was evident. Laura is very much a by-the-book agent while Jace tends to be a little more creative in his approach. Laura thinks Jace is a loose cannon and Jace thinks Laura is wound too tight. Both will deal with their dislike to catch the killer. I loved watching the changes they went through as they were forced into close proximity. On the professional side, there were several occasions when Laura saw the benefits of working outside the box. On the personal side, the development of their relationship was fun to watch. Previously they only saw each other as fellow agents, but living together gave them a whole different outlook. The sparks of antagonism that flew before now turned to sparks of passion. Jace notices Laura's long legs and softer appearance when she is dressed casually. Laura gets quite a surprise when she gets a look at Jace in a wet shirt. The more time they spend together, the stronger those sparks grow and the closer they get. As the case nears its end, both Laura and Jace have to decide what will happen with their relationship. A close call at the end opens their eyes to what they really want.
The suspense of the story was fantastic. It opened with a bang, literally, as a bomb detonated at the factory soon after Jace and Laura started their new jobs. Jace and Laura look for motive and opportunity from within the factory while the rest of the team looks at the broader picture of who might have a grudge against the owners or the company. There are multiple options for suspects and with each new attack, the number seems to grow. When a note is found that says "two down, four to go" the TCD is determined to find the killer before anyone else dies. The tension grew as the team closed in on the culprit. I was on the edge of my seat as my suspicions grew about one person. The final confrontation was very much a mind game between the killer and the agents until Jace figured it out. Then it was a race against time to save the last target.
Kristina A. reviewed Running Out of Time (Tactical Crime Division, Bk 4) (Harlequin Intrigue, No 1946) on + 1528 more book reviews
Running Out of Time by Cindy Myers has Agents Laura âSmittyâ Smith and Jace Cantrell going undercover in Mayville, West Virginia. Someone has tampered with Stroud's Stomach Soothers causing six deaths and two people to be hospitalized. Laura and Jace are going to pose as a married couple and will be working at Stroud's. They are enjoying dinner out after their first workday when there is an explosion. Someone planted a bomb on one of the factory doors at Stroud's causing another death. Are the poisoner and the bomber the same person? The Tactical Crime Division needs to find out before another individual dies. Running Out of Time is the 4th novel in the Tactical Crime Division series. Each book in this series can be read on its own. The four books go well together, and I enjoyed reading the TCD series. I thought Running Out of Time was well-written and it moved along at a quick pace. There was plenty of action in this romantic suspense with poisoning, bombings, and bedroom activities. Sparks flew between Laura and Jace. They say that opposites attract and that is the case with this pair. There are steamy intimate scenes between Laura and Jace (I am surprised the trailer windows did not steam up). I liked that we get to learn more about Jace and Laura. You get a better understanding of their behavior once you learn about their backgrounds. The mystery was intriguing. I wish it had been more challenging to solve, but I did enjoy the mystery and suspense. There was some humor mixed in there as well such as when Laura first sees their accommodations in Mayville. Running Out of Time has suspense, action, mystery, and romance blended into one entertaining story.
