Sharon Sala Nine Lives

Nine Lives

Sharon Sala

Mira, Nov 2006, $7.99

ISBN 0778323528

When Cat Dupree was thirteen, a tattooed assailant slashed her throat and murdered her father. She recovered, but the culprit escaped and the case became cold. As a result of the assault, Cat lets no one get close to her and she became a bounty hunter to bring some miscreants to justice. The lone exception for the Dallas based Cat is her only real friend private secretary Marsha Benton.

When a pregnant Marsha suddenly vanishes without a word, Cat believes her friend's influential boss, a CEO, wanted to end their affair without any baggage and had her killed. Cat plans to uncover the truth as she feels she owes it to Marsha. Bounty Hunter Wilson McKay is attracted to Cat and decides he will help her on her quest though she objects. She hates the feelings of desire she has for him so hides behind a work only attitude that he seems to be able to penetrate. As they work together on the Marsha disappearance with clues leading to Mexico, they fall in love, but Cat fears caring because people die.

Nine Lives is an exciting romantic suspense thriller that focuses more on the investigation and related escapades than the romance, but the feelings of love between the lead couple is always a heartbeat away. Readers of both genres will appreciate this fine tale. Cat is terrific as the center of the tense storyline while Wilson shows patience and impatience with her efforts to shut him off. Though the final spin seems off for this superb bounty hunter saga, fans will enjoy Sharon Sala's solid suspenseful story.

Harriet Klausner