Judith E. French Blood Kin

Blood Kin

Judith E. French

Love Spell, Sep 2006, $6.99

ISBN: 0505526859

In Rehoboth Beach, teacher Bailey Elliot always knew she was adopted, but had no clues to who her biological parents are. That is until she receives a letter from attorney Forest McCready stating she inherited property from an Aunt Elizabeth Somers on Tawes Island in Chesapeake Bay.

With school out, Bailey has an a chance to learn about her roots so she immediately travels to the island staying at Emma Parks' B&B, which has one other guest local carpenter Daniel Catlin. When she begins to dig into her past, Daniel and others tells her to leave as this is dangerous. Though she learns that her mother was a teen who died just after giving birth, she continues to search for the identity of her father. When someone tries to kill her, Daniel risks his life to keep her safe as both agree that the adversary wants secrets to remain buried with her mother.

Though a murder of a senator lies in the background, the story line starts off as a simple character study in which the readers are introduced to the invading outsider seeking family ties from islanders who trust no mainlander. The storyline abruptly switches gear into a suspense thriller as someone wants the heroine to cease her inquiries. Bailey is a fine protagonist whose need to know is halted by a lack of cooperation from her only known living relative (a hermit uncle) and a town including Daniel wanting her to just leave. Though the villain is a stretch, filled with intrigue Blood Kin is a fine romantic suspense thriller.

Harriet Klausner