Type of bind: Hardcover
Format: Bargain Price
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 432
Printing Date: July 01, 2000
Sale Popularity Level: 470149
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Product Description:
In the still shadows of the confessional, the penitent kneels and makes a bone-chilling disclosure: Bless me father, for I will sin.... Slowly, tauntingly, the man describes his murderous past -- how he stalked his victim, worked his way into her life, and then took that life in a violent rage -- and his plan to kill again. Only this time, he has raised the stakes in his twisted game, daring authorities to catch him if they can. This time, he has revealed the name of his subsequent intended victim. I'm a heartbreaker. And I do so love a challenge....
Agent Nick Buchanan has come face-to-face with society's worst monsters and depraved minds in his work for one of the FBI's most elite units. He's about to take a much needed vacation from his high-stress job when he's called on to stop the killer who has mockingly confessed to the deadly crime he's to commit. Nick can't refuse --for this time the threat has hit close to home. The intended victim is his best friend's sister. Soon he is caught up in an intricate chase with one of the most devious psychopaths of his career -- in a case that suddenly, unexpectedly, pulls him in like no other.
Laurant Madden found a home and a sense of security when she moved into the small Iowa town of Holy Oaks -- but her contented life is shaken to the core as a cagey predator closes in on her. Her brother, Tom, insists that she turn to the only man he trusts to help her: Nick Buchanan. As an electrifying attraction grows between Laurant and Nick, so does the danger -- and one false move will cost both of them everything that matters.
Amazon.com Review:
Setting: Holy Oaks, Iowa, present day
Sensuality rating: 4
New York Times bestselling author Julie Garwood breaks new ground in her very first contemporary suspense novel. Long-time fans of Garwood will be amazed at the way the queen of historical romance weaves this tale of love as it blossoms in the face of extreme danger. FBI agent Nick Buchanan is about to take his very first vacation in three years when he receives a phone call from his best friend and former college roommate, Father Tom Madden. Tom relates the horrifying tale of a confession that he heard from a killer seeking absolution for a gruesome crime he has yet to commit. Worse yet, the madman, who calls himself the Heartbreaker, confesses that his intended victim is Laurant Madden, Tom's gorgeous younger sister. The Heartbreaker is crazy about Laurant--really, really crazy.
When Tom and Nick break the news to Laurant, she is furious at the disruption the psycho is causing in her very busy life. With her best friend's wedding quickly approaching and Laurant's own business set to open in two weeks, there couldn't be a worse time to be stalked. But when she learns that the Heartbreaker has already broken into her home and watched her sleep, she reluctantly agrees to Nick's protection, even if it means that she's thrown together with her brother's all-too-sexy friend all day--and all night. Nick, posing as Laurant's fiancé, heads back with her to Holy Oaks. There he encounters a strange cast of characters, the likes of which are grown only in small towns where everybody knows everybody's business--except whether one of them might be a serial killer. Along the way, Nick and Laurant also discover their own hunger for each other. Readers will love the change of pace for perennial favorite Garwood. She creates a sensational story with a truly explosive conclusion. --Alison Trinkle
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Rated by buyers 
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Although Julie Garwood's plot for Heartbreaker is very good; her writing defeats the entire concept because the story just drags on and on way too much. As I was reading, I kept thinking, "Get to the point!". The way the story is written, she could have said it all in 50 pages instead of over-describing every minute detail.
I finally just gave up and skipped to the section that told who the creep was, which I had guessed early on anyway.
Another disappointment with her style of writing is that her characters have flat personalities, they are like cardboard cutouts - they have no depth. It's as though she stands back and watches them and never really gets inside of their emotions. She doesn't allow the reader to feel anything. Laurent was asked if she was scared, she just answers, "Yes, I'm scared.". . . and nothing more, there is no indepth description of how she feels. Very boring.
Rated by buyers 
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This is the very first book of hers that i have read and i just enjoyed it so much. It was a great romance read but it had just as much suspense in it too. I will defintly be reading more of her books.
Rated by buyers 
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I actually wanted to give this a 3.5. I read this book when it very first came out and remembered loving it. I recently re-read it and found it to be a bit boring. I actually liked the suspense/killer part. That was interesting, especially for a romance novel. If I wanted a fantastic mystery/thriller, then I would read one instead of a romantic suspense. Now, that being said, the romance was lacking. Nick has a great storyline. He has a layered, in-depth background complete with friends and family and anecdotes. I can't say the same for Laurant. I'm sorry, but she isn't written realistically. She's not even 30 yet and is written as acting, dressing, and talking much, much older. Very blah and boring and flat. Re-reading this, I can't really figure out why Nick and Laurant fell for each other, other than the fact that they're both hot and are thrown together into this situation.
The scenes between the two of them didn't sizzle or spark or anything.
Noah, however, stole the show. He wasn't flat at all! He had me laughing my butt off, as did some of the other side characters.
This is definitely better than her recent novels, but I just can't get over the flat romance.
Rated by buyers -
I did like the book, however, I just wanted a bit more. I didn't really like the name Laurant either. Story moved quickly, I just wanted a little more from my H/H. The ending was a little too quick. Those are my only complaints... I laughed numerous times.
I love all Julie Garwood's historicals and only have 2 or 3 left to read, so I decided to read a couple of her romantic suspense and save the last historicals for later.
I am reading The Wolf and the Dove by Kathleen Woodiwiss next!
Rated by buyers -
Garwood is a new discovery for me! I enjoy her books and I know that they will keep interested from page one to page end! They are easy beach reads that can be finished in just a few hours if you are an avid reader!
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