Natalie Dunbar A Model Spy

A Model Spy

Natalie Dunbar

Silhouette Bombshell, Jan 2006, $4.99

ISBN: 0373513887

Vanessa Dawson enjoyed her modeling work until the downsizing of the jet set party lifestyle hammered home with the abundance of drugs available; she became an addict. Realizing she needed to quit the drugs, Vanessa also concluded her modeling life left the temptation too great, so she left that too to start over.

Vanessa has also joined the Gotham Roses, whose mission is to insure justice is meted to the wealthy who break the law without a care. However, The Roses assign her to go back into the modeling world where drugs hooked her; she fears the temptation is too great. Someone murdered two models in Miami, including her former roommate with rapper-clothing, designer Taye Rollins, as the prime suspect. Vanessa is to work from within to uncover whether he committed homicide, and if not who did.

Vanessa is an absorbing protagonist as she fears going right back into the fishbowl with the conditions that led to her fall, yet intrepidly does so out of loyalty to her murdered friend. Trey would also be interesting, but pales next to Vanessa. Readers will enjoy the murder investigation as Vanessa, who already has doubts about her judgment, kicks herself for falling in love with the prime suspect. Though the ending seems abrupt and rushed, fans of the Gotham Roses will appreciate their latest mission.