I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
Scorched
by
Laura Griffin
It is part of the Tracers #6 series and is a romantic suspense in Paperback edition that was published by Pocket Books on October 30, 2012 and has 387 pages.
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Other books in this series include [books_series]
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Deadly Promises, Untraceable, Unspeakable, Unforgivable, Snapped, Twisted, Exposed, Thread of Fear, Desperate Girls, Her Deadly Secrets, Total Control
Sixth in the Tracers romantic suspense series revolving around law enforcement and the employees at the Delphi Center. The couple focus is on Dr. Kelsey Quinn and her ex-boyfriend, Navy SEAL Gage Brewer.
In 2013, Scorched won the RITA Award by Romance Writers of America for Best Romantic Suspense.
My Take
Sure, I get why she and Gage broke up. It’s tough maintaining a long-distance relationship. But for Kelsey to get ticked because Gage can’t tell her the top-secret details about his missions is just incredibly stupid. Does she tell him the details about cases she’s working? I didn’t think so. So, what’s the difference?
Ahh, it’s so cute that Kelsey thinks she can make Gage back off. Heck, between the protection and sharing a bed with a hot Navy SEAL…what is her problem?
As irritated as I was by Kelsey’s attitude, this was a great story. Griffin gave us lots of action, answered (and left) lots of questions, and I loved the loyalty their friends showed both Gage and Kelsey. I do think Griffin could have ratcheted up the tension a bit. We know that Kelsey will come out okay and I vibrated at the thought of them going after Gage, and almost all the instances of the bad guys going after them were just a little too easy. I enjoyed Derek’s cheekiness as he misled Elizabeth. I can’t wait to read their story!
The Story
Dr. Kelsey Quinn is on the lam. The FBI thinks she murdered or saw who murdered her ex-fiancé, Special Agent Blake Reid. The truth is she did see who murdered Blake, and she can’t trust anyone in law enforcement!
It’s days later that the FBI shows up on the base in San Diego, wanting to talk to Gage about his whereabouts before Gage learns what happened. That Kelsey is missing. Uh-uh. He’ll find her and without that FBI tail.
The Characters
Dr. Kelsey Quinn is the bone doctor, a forensic anthropologist at the Delphi Center. Her Uncle Joe is Gage’s CO. Aaron is her field assistant. Her friends at Delphi include Ben Lawson in cyber-crimes (Mark Wolfe runs the division, Twisted) and Dr. Mia Voss, a DNA analyst (her story is in Unforgivable). Dr. Froehler is the medical examiner for Travis County.
Lieutenant Gage Brewer is a SEAL (read up on this and Kelsey’s back history in Deadly Promises: “Unstoppable”). His teammates include Mike Dietz; Lieutenant Junior Grade Derek Vaughan — he’ll be stepping up to help Gage out with Elizabeth, although he wants nothing to do with Kelsey; Luke; and, Jones. Jeff Hallenback is their new CO taking Joe’s place.
Special Agent Blake Reid of the FBI is also Kelsey’s ex-fiancé. And he’s got information for her on the DNA she sent him from the Philippines. Special Agent Trent Lohman is a coworker. Rick Bolton is the head of Counter Terrorism for the FBI.
Elizabeth LeBlanc is a newbie FBI agent sent to pick up Supervisory Special Agent Gordon Moore who is arriving in town to investigate Blake’s murder; he’ll use Elizabeth’s inexperience for his benefit. Nor is it his only tacky move.
Charles Weber in Utah is really Dr. Robert Spurlock, a scientist specializing in microbiology, Bacillus anthracis in particular. Dr. Shamus at UC Berkeley whose doctorate is in civil engineering. Marissa Ramli has a young daughter, Leila. And she is supportive of her brother Adam Ramli, a.k.a., Asmar Husin. Manuel Artigas is a career criminal and a snitch in South Texas.
The Cover and Title
The cover looks like a lava field all reds, oranges, and a hint of green while a finger of a plateau [does anyone know the proper term for this?] and Kelly are silhouetted in black.
There are many possibilities in this story, but my favorite is the number of people who are Scorched by events in this installment.
