Marliss Melton Next to Die

Next to Die

Marliss Melton

Warren, August 2007, $.99, 352 pp.

ISBN: 0446618349

Penny and Lia Price thought they lost their father to an automobile accident but after reading his journal they are convinced that one of his work partners was killed him. Their father believed the person responsible is Eric because he needed money to take care of his very ill wife. Lia confronts Eric who warns her she better keep quiet. She moves into Penny's home as a safety precaution.

Joe, a SEAL who lost his squad in Afghanistan is Penny's next door neighbor. She is attracted to him but he hardly even notices her as he is in pain physically and mentally from the wounds he received in combat. Penny, who is frightened that Eric will go after her, comes to Joe trying to help him as she is a physical therapist. The more time he spends with Penny the deeper his feelings grow for her. When Eric is murdered, they realize he was the puppet not the puppet master. When nothing happens to her, police protection is withdrawn and that is when the mastermind strikes.

There are two romantic subplots in NEXT TO DIE; Penny and Joe, and Lia with Vinny a SEAL who is four years younger than her. He challenges her as he woos her not realizing that she is in danger from a murderer. Readers will find him adorable and Lia spunky. Joe and Penny make a great pair as he allows her to heal him by giving him her warmth and he makes her feel wanted. There is a lot of action and suspense in Marliss Melton's latest romantic suspense, a work that is as exciting as at is heartwarmingly riveting.

Harriet Klausner