Friction

by Sandra Brown

2016

Status

Available

Publication

Grand Central Publishing (2016), 480 pages

Description

"Crawford Hunt wants his daughter back. Following the death of his wife four years ago, Crawford, a Texas Ranger, fell into a downward spiral that left him relegated to deskwork and with his five-year-old daughter Georgia in the custody of her grandparents. But Crawford has cleaned up his act, met all the court imposed requirements, and now the fate of his family lies with Judge Holly Spencer. Holly, ambitious and confident, temporarily occupies the bench of her recently deceased mentor. With an election upcoming, she must prove herself worthy of making her judgeship permanent. Every decision is high-stakes. Despite Crawford's obvious love for his child and his commitment to being an ideal parent, Holly is wary of his checkered past. Her opinion of him is radically changed when a masked gunman barges into the courtroom during the custody hearing. Crawford reacts instinctually, saving Holly from a bullet. But his heroism soon takes on the taint of recklessness. The cloud over him grows even darker after he uncovers a horrifying truth about the courtroom gunman and realizes that the unknown person behind the shooting remains at large . . .and a threat. Catching the real culprit becomes a personal fight for Crawford. But pursuing the killer in his customary diehard fashion will jeopardize his chances of gaining custody of his daughter, and further compromise Judge Holly Spencer, who needs protection not only from an assassin, but from Crawford himself and the forbidden attraction between them" --… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member Loried
I was pleased to receive an advance copy of Friction. It is a perfect summer read; you get what you expect from Sandra Brown. As always, it was a great blend of a mystery/thriller with a nice romantic story. It was an exciting read with lots of twists and turns, and I couldn't put it down. Despite
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my label of the book as a summer read, there were actually interesting ethical issues in the story that enhanced the book. I highly recommend the book.
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LibraryThing member Cats57
I really wanted to like this book, the description made it sound so wonderful and it would have been great had I not had to suspend my disbelief to the point of no return. I understand that this is fiction and therefore can defy most logic...but this was too much for me.

Frankly, the 'mystery' was
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extremely easy to figure out, the characters defied all logic and were annoying caricatures of what a judge and a highly thought of Texas Ranger should have been. It almost seems as if the author had only been going though the motions of writing a mystery/suspense/love story. None of this worked for me.

Some of the action was quite exciting, the sub-plot of Hunt trying to get back custody of his little girl was emotionally satisfying and that is what accounts for me not giving this book a lesser rating.

The main character of Crawford and Holly really got on my nerves. Crawford is an egocentric, semi-misogynistic (I would have expected his kind of character in an erotica) rule breaker and Holly is ruled by her hormones, stubbornness and poor decision making.

Some of the secondary characters are even more caricature like than the two main ones.
I finished this book only to see if Crawford got his daughter back.

I see that others thought this book rocked, so you might want to give it a chance.

Happy reading!
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LibraryThing member BookDivasReads
Crawford Hunt enters the courthouse in Texas expecting to do nothing more than battle his in-laws for custody of his daughter. He winds up saving a judge's life in the courtroom ambush and chasing down the suspect, but it leads to even more trouble in Friction by Sandra Brown.

Crawford Hunt is a
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Texas Ranger that has pulled himself out of depression and the bottle and is now determined to regain custody of his daughter. He has relocated from Houston to his in-law's hometown just to be closer to his daughter. Shortly after the shootout in the courthouse, he knows that the guy caught and killed wasn't the shooter. If that's not enough to deal with, his father-in-law is willing to do anything possible to ensure he doesn't regain custody. Needless to say his attraction to Judge Holly Spencer needs to be put on the back burner, but the mutual attraction won't allow him to take the necessary step back. Judge Holly Spencer was appointed to the bench and is currently campaigning to retain her position on the court. The last thing she wants or needs is a relationship . . . especially a relationship with someone that has appeared before her in court. While Crawford and Holly fight their attraction to one another (they lose), they must also contend with an investigation that seems more focused on them than the shooter and his motives. Will they be able to find the truth behind the courthouse shootout before more lives are sacrificed?

As most of you know, I enjoy reading mysteries, suspense, suspense thrillers, and romantic-suspense, needless to say, I was quite happy when I obtained a review copy of Ms. Brown's latest romantic-suspense thriller Friction. Once I closeted my inner prude (Crawford and Holly have a brief sexual encounter shortly after the shooting), I was able to fully enjoy Friction. I found this to be a fast-paced and enjoyable read with realistic characters and plausible action. Crawford has to deal with a local police officer that suspects him of most of the criminal activity taking place and ignores all evidence to the contrary. His father-in-law is out for blood and willing to do whatever he can to ensure Crawford doesn't regain custody of his daughter. Crawford has reconnected with his alcoholic father, a father that abandoned him after divorcing his mother. And then there's the Judge. Holly Spencer wants to stay on the bench, but she isn't willing to compromise one man's career, namely Crawford's, to do so. She must battle her campaign manager, the local police detective in charge of the case, and her attraction to a man that should be off limits. Friction is filled with plenty of suspense, family drama, and sexual tension. If you enjoy romantic suspense, then you'll definitely want to add Friction to your TBR list.
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LibraryThing member jfe16
Widowed Texas Ranger Crawford Hunt is in family court, seeking to regain custody of his little girl, Georgia. While he freely admits that he was not able to care for the child when his wife, Beth, died in an accident he blamed himself for, over the past four years he has “cleaned up his act”
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and complied with the court requests. Now he wants to bring five-year-old Georgia home. Naturally, her grandparents, who have raised her since their daughter’s death, want to retain custody.

In the midst of Crawford’s testimony, a gunman enters the courtroom and begins shooting. Crawford protects the judge, then takes the fallen bailiff’s gun and goes after the shooter.

But there are those who believe Crawford is behind the shooting and they relish the opportunity to go after the hotshot Ranger who is not above a little rule-bending and a lot of reckless grandstanding to bring the culprit to justice.

As the investigation proceeds, there are more questions than answers. Who was the gunman’s intended target? What was the real reason for the shooting? Will Crawford find the answers before more people die? Even as he risks his life to save others, will his often-reckless impulsiveness force the court to deny him custody of little Georgia?

When focused on the relationship between Crawford and Georgia, this is a can’t-miss page-turner at its shining-bright best: touching, heartfelt, complex, emotional, and real.

While the story is populated with some realistically flawed but larger-than-life characters who are a bit over the top and who don’t necessarily make the best choices, readers who are willing to suspend disbelief and go with the story will find more than enough action and plot twists to fuel the dramatic events surrounding the courtroom shooting and the subsequent investigation.

Although astute readers will be able to figure out the who, if not the why, long before the final reveal, this fast-paced story ultimately satisfies.

Recommended.
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LibraryThing member TexasBookLover
Fiction
Brown, Sandra
Friction: A Novel
Grand Central Publishing
978-1-4555-8116-0, hardcover, 410 pgs., $26.00
August 18, 2015

FRICTION is the latest thriller from the prolific Sandra Brown, who has more than 70 books to her name, 68 of which are New York Times best sellers. Friction follows the
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tried-and-true formula that is so well established. Set in deep East Texas, Friction has all of the patented Sandra Brown elements: political intrigue, family drama, romantic entanglement, numerous plot twists; Friction also has Texas Rangers, organized crime, and fracking.

Texas Ranger Crawford Hunt is in the witness box in Judge Holly Spencer’s courtroom for a custody hearing that will determine whether he regains custody of his daughter, Georgia, from her maternal grandparents, when a gunman bursts through the doors. Hunt throws himself atop the judge to protect her and then pursues the gunman when he flees the courtroom. Hunt confronts a man on the roof holding a gun, and SWAT takes him out. As the investigation proceeds, doubts about the identity and motivation of the suspect arise and Ranger Hunt’s past comes back to threaten him and those he loves in the present.

Friction is peopled with a diverse cast of characters, from judges and law enforcement to campaign managers, crime bosses (those are not the same thing), strip club operators, and veterans. Ranger Hunt and Judge Spencer are given complex and believable backstories. Unfortunately, Judge Spencer either doesn’t stay in character or has multiple personalities. She morphs from an ethical, by-the-book, no-nonsense dispenser of justice into a quivering mass of ethically challenged hormones who allows herself to be frog-marched about by Ranger Hunt. I had hoped we were past the repressed, buttoned-up career woman who needs a real man’s man to free her essential femininity trope.

Friction is sometimes funny: “The qualities that made William Moore a good lawyer worked against him as a likeable human being.” And: “Marilyn [campaign manager] seemed to drain those around her of their vitality, then absorb it, giving her a surplus.” Brown tugs at our heartstrings in scenes between Ranger Hunt and his daughter, a Shirley Temple lookalike, which are genuinely sweet. These scenes provide some relief from the bodice-ripper–style sex scenes in which Ranger Hunt (frequently “growling”) is “claiming her mouth with his…wild and willful tongue.” Brown’s word choices are too often stilted, leading me to suspect a well-thumbed thesaurus. No one uses the words “culprit” or “derring-do” in conversation and no one “accesses” their phone apps.

Friction’s strengths are an intricate, well-constructed plot, nonstop action, and enough plot twists to produce whiplash and keep you guessing. It is entertaining but ordinary. So if those are the qualities you most value in your reading, then you’ll love Friction. However, if you prefer your thrillers to also incorporate imagery, nuanced characterization, and thoughtful language, then look elsewhere. And don’t tell me that no thriller contains all of those elements. It’s rare, this is true — but it happens. Feel free to contact me for suggestions.

Originally published in Lone Star Literary Life.
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LibraryThing member Harley0326
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for an honest review
This a good story about Crawford Hunt, a Texas Ranger who is desperately trying to get his daughter Georgia back. After his wife dies in a tragic accident, Crawford starts to drink and his life begins to unravel .

The custody of his
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daughter is given to the grandparents who feel Crawford can't take care of himself and certainly not his daughter. The custody disputes come to a head one morning in court. Crawford is determined to show the court he has changed and wants full custody .

Just as Judge Holly Spencer is about to render a decision, chaos breaks out in the courtroom. A lone gunman starts shooting. Who is the gunman's target? The story zips along at a face pace with action and a mystery of who the gunman is. Will Crawford discover the true identity of the gunman?

I liked the character development , but it did seem that the relationship between the Judge and Crawford was a little rushed. Overall the book was well written and had just the right amount of action to keep fans of Sandra Brown satisfied with another great book that holds your attention.
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LibraryThing member Kathy89
Crawford Hunt (a Texas Ranger) is in Judge Holly Spencer’s courtroom for a custody hearing for his 5 year old little girl who is in the custody of her late mother’s parents. Before the judge can state her ruling a man enters with a gun, wearing a mask and shoots the bailiff. Everyone thinks the
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intended target was the judge. Typical Sandra Brown – the main characters dislike each other, help each other, are attracted to one another while facing danger.
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LibraryThing member B.J.O.
4.5 "Who Done It?" Stars for the story and narration.

Every year I eagerly await Sandra Brown's romantic suspense release. Over the years Ms. Brown has proved again and again what a dominant force she is in the romantic suspense arena. And I am happy to report that once again Ms. Brown has managed
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to come up with a completely new and original set of circumstances where she takes her readers and listeners on an adventurous ride of action/suspense and passion/love amidst the most dangerous, threatening of circumstances. In that regard, Ms. Brown has a knack, shared by few writers, for putting together characters, who at first blush you might think would never attract, but then has them go through a uniquely, dangerous and bond building, adrenaline filled journey where the two characters come together to survive and find an indestructible, love bond in the process.

Moreover in Friction, as is the case with many of Ms. Brown's other romantic suspense titles, Ms. Brown manages to weave several smaller sub-plots together to keep her audience entertained along the way. And just when you think everything is unrelated, Ms. Brown always manages to find a way to wrap it all together in the end. I will add one caution of note though for the die-hard romance fans, who like their suspense secondary to the romance, this is definitely a book that leads with the suspense, so if that is not your cup of tea, then please be forewarned.

Crawford Hunt, a Texas Ranger, is ready to take back custody of his five-year old daughter. After the death of his wife, he relinquished custody to his in-laws, while he coped with the bitter loss, a loss for which he still blames himself. However, now that he is ready to assume his role as a father, his in-laws have decided to oppose his petition.

It is during a hearing to determine Crawford's daughter's custody, in the chambers of the Honorable, Judge Holly Spencer, that he is forced to put his possible future with his daughter on hold again as his Texas Ranger instincts kick in and he pursues a masked gunman who breaks into the courtroom. Crawford may be convinced that a woman like Judge Spencer would never give a man like him back custody of his daughter, but he can't just watch her be gunned down.

But nothing is what it seems, and soon the investigation turns on him. With Judge Spencer possibly being the key to identifying the true gunman, Crawford can't seem to stay away from her, even when the heat of the moment leads to an awkward reunion. But the more Judge Spencer gets to know Crawford, the more she realizes she just may be the safest in his arms. However, with a reelection campaign underway, following her gut may just cost her what she has been planning in her future. Will this unlikely duo of allies be able to work together long enough to apprehend the gunman and, if they do, will they be able to do the "right thing" once its time go their separate ways to pursue their future goals?

This was my first time listening to Stephan Lang. Interestingly, while Mr. Lang might not be the obvious choice to narrate a romance (with his deep, action drama styled voice), he fit the bill perfectly for this title. A more believable Crawford, I could not imagine. He sounded exactly how I would expect an independent, shoot from the hip, Texas ranger to sound. Moreover, Mr. Lang nailed the alpha nature of Crawford.

Mr. Lang also delivered a believable female voice for Judge Spencer. Heightening the tone of his voice just enough, to convincingly portray Judge Spencer as a confident, mediator, who has a talent for diffusing charged situations by brokering compromises.

Furthermore, Mr. Lang also did a great job of pacing his delivery to match the mood of the scene. From the action-packed sequences, to the slower more suspense-filled ones, and then of course the explosive passionate ones, I highly enjoyed Mr. Lang's rendition of this addictive story.

All in all, Friction is another hit for Sandra Brown. I will once again wait on pins and needles for her next release, and now I also have a new narrator to look forward to listening more of in the future!

Source: Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member busyreadin
Advertised as best book ever by Sandra Brown...not her usual style. Wrong! Typical romance/heroine in danger.
LibraryThing member jbarr5
Friction by Sandra Brown
Texas rancher Crawford Hunt thought it might not go his way today. He hopes to get custody of Georgia, his little girl.
The gunman enters Judge Holly's courtroom and shoots the court bailiff and Crawford throws the judge on the floor covering his body to protect her. Others
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hit the floor as the gunman approaches and he is able to throw him off by hitting him in the knee.
He flees and Crawford follows him after taking bailiffs gun and is able to find him on the roof where others are there but he ends up dead.
Crawford and Holly do meet later the next day and the unthinkable happens and they talk to discover it wasn't the real gunman who died.
Their romantic encounter throws her off guard and avoids him...
Action and adventure along with smokey hot sex scenes and more plots all come to a head...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
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LibraryThing member lrhubble
Prentiss, Texas

Crawford Hunt is a Texas Ranger that wants his daughter back. When his wife died four years ago he fell into a downward spiral that left his five-year-old daughter, Georgia, in the custody of her grandparents and he was relegated to desk work. Since then Crawford has met all the
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court-imposed requirements and cleaned up his act. Now the fate of his family lies with Judge Holly Spencer.

Holly is ambitious and confident. She also temporarily occupies the bench of her mentor who is recently deceased. She must prove herself worthy with the upcoming election if she wants to make her judgeship permanent. That also makes every decision high-stakes. Holly is wary of Crawford’s checker past despite his obvious love for his daughter and his commitment to being an ideal parent. Her opinion radically changes when a masked gunman barges into the courtroom during the guardianship hearing. Crawford reacting instinctually and saves Holly from a bullet.

Soon though his heroism takes on the taint of recklessness. After he uncovers a horrifying truth about the courtroom gunman the cloud over him grows ever darker. He also realizes that the unknown person that is behind the shooting is still and large and still a threat.

Crawford is determined to catch the culprit as it is now a personal fight for him. Soon his chances of gaining custody of his daughter is in jeopardy and Judge Holly Spencer is further compromised as he pursues the killer with this customary diehard fashion. Holly needs protection not just from an assassin but also the forbidden attraction between herself and Crawford but also from Crawford himself.

This is a book that is extremely hard to put down once the reader starts it. The twists and turns that the story takes will have readers questioning just what will happen next and who is behind what is happening. It will also have readers on the edge of their seats as the action doesn’t stop until the end and as reader tries to guess where this one will end up. This is definitely one book to check out for anyone that loves thrillers and/or romantic suspense. The characters are flawed and relatable and will have readers hoping that everything will work out for them in the end. This is a must read.
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LibraryThing member mchwest
The book started out great, suspenseful plot right off the bat, then the twist which was awesome, and then just non-plus for me. Not my favorite Sandra Brown.
LibraryThing member bbofje
I received a free copy of Friction by Sandra Brown courtesy of The Reading Room. I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller. The characters were realistic and there were many twists and turns in the plot. I highly recommend any one who enjoys murder mysteries and intrigue to read Friction.
LibraryThing member musichick52
Since the death of his wife, Crawford Hunt, a Texas Ranger, has truly messed up his life, including losing custody of his daughter to her grandparents. The process of finding the shooter of the custody judge leads him on a merry chase. This Sandra Brown volume is non-stop action. Fasten your seat
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belts for a whirlwind evening of suspense. I loved it. My thanks to the author and Goodreads for a complimentary copy.
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LibraryThing member ebrahmstadt
Friction by Sandra Brown was a fast paced Romantic suspense with vibrant intelligent characters who find themselves strugging with their attraction to each other and ethical considerations. Good read.
LibraryThing member pammykn
AUTHOR Brown, Sandra
TITLE: Friction
DATE READ 05/05/16
RATING 3.5/C+

GENRE/ PUB DATE/PUBLISHER / # OF PAGES Suspense/ 2015 / Grand Central Publishing / 410 pgs
SERIES/STAND-ALONE: SA
CHARACTERS Crawford Hunt/Texas Ranger ' Holly Spencer/Judge
TIME/PLACE: Present/ TX
FIRST LINES Crawford Hunt woke up
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knowing that this was the day he'd been anticipating for a long time.
COMMENTS: Couldn't seem to get the reading rhythm on this one, my mood, too much romance over suspense … Crawford Hunt is in custody hearing trying to win back his young daughter when a masked man enters the courtroom and kills a bailiff. Crawford dashes in front of the judge to save her life. At first it seems the judge was the one intended for the bullet … but as Crawford researches it appears he may be the intended victim. His custody hearing has been delayed … and he becomes involved w/ the judge.
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LibraryThing member Becky_McKenna
This is going on my favorites shelf! Friction is a well crafted story with a hard-nosed Texas Ranger as its leading man. Crawford Hunt is as tough as they come. He runs toward danger, doing whatever it takes to get the bad guys and protect the innocent.

Life has been difficult for Crawford since
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his wife died. He's put himself back together, learned to cope with the grief. Now that the day of his daughter's custody hearing is finally here, he's hoping for a ruling in his favor...for another chance to be with the daughter he loves more than life itself. No one expected a masked gunman, or an assassination attempt, or that Crawford Hunt would become embroiled in a dangerous case...or a forbidden romance that could send his world spinning off its axis

There's a lot to like in this story. I really enjoyed watching Crawford work this case. He's quick witted and a pro at verbal sparing. He usually gets in the last word, having left his opponent so furious they can't think clearly. Some of his lines are pretty amusing! The only time we see his softer side is when he's with his daughter. These scenes between father and daughter have a genuine feel to them and ooze tenderness. It's adorable to watch this little girl wrap such a rough and tough lawman around her innocent little finger. Crawford's dedication and sacrificial love for his daughter completley melted my heart. Completely. I really need more of this guy! Can we get another book? Please?

As much as I enjoyed Crawford and Holly, I didn't get a good grasp on who Holly is when she's not Judge Spencer. I did like her patience. She has a solid sense of self, and knows her own moral boundaries, especially when it comes to protecting children. I also liked her confidence and no nonsense air of authority. That serves her well and helps take the rough edges off Crawford when his temper is up. I think because a lot of the plot focuses on Crawford and his past, there wasn't time to delve into her background, except for a casual mention here or there. Did it affect my enjoyment of the book? Not a single bit.

Friction is a fast paced, action packed thriller that lopes steadily to an explosive and emotional ending that will leave you breathless! This is Sandra Brown at her best!
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LibraryThing member Carolesrandomlife
I liked this book quite a bit. As a long time fan of Sandra Brown, I am always excited anytime a new book is released. I can't think of another writer of romantic suspense that can even compare to Sandra Brown. This book really grabbed a hold of me from the very beginning and I could not wait to
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see how everything would come together in the end. This wasn't my favorite Sandra Brown novel but it is a very entertaining and solid story.

Crawford Hunt is in court in an attempt to regain custody of his daughter when the unthinkable happens...a gunman enters the courtroom and opens fire. Crawford immediately jumps into action protecting the judge and chasing the suspect. He soon finds himself in the middle of an investigation where every one of his actions is met with suspicion and criticism.

Holly is the judge that was hearing Crawford's case when the gunman entered the courtroom. She is grateful to Crawford for protecting her during the ordeal. Holly is in middle of a campaign in the hopes of holding onto her position as judge. She knows that she should stay away from Crawford but keeps finding herself being pulled to him and the search for the gunman.

As I have come to expect in a Sandra Brown novel, this book was fast paced with a lot of action. The book opens with a bang and the excitement only increased from there. I thought the second half of the book was very strong and the ending was wonderfully executed. The characters in this book were colorful and interesting, with a couple of individuals that meant to be hated. I didn't really feel the chemistry between Crawford and Holly at first but by the end of the story I was won over.

I really had some trouble understanding why everyone in this story had so many issues with Crawford's actions. Yes, he chased the gunman to the roof of the building. What was he supposed to do? Let him get away? It seemed like he couldn't do anything right. If he hadn't chased the gunman, he would have been criticized for that decision. I just don't like the parts of the book that focused on tearing his actions apart.

I did like Holly and Crawford together by the end of the book but this was a couple that I had some trouble with at the beginning. Holly was very focused on maintaining her ethical code so I find it a bit of a jump that she would get involved with Crawford in the first place. I really didn't feel that much chemistry between the pair in the beginning of the story either.

I would highly recommend this book to fans of romantic suspense. Sandra Brown is an author that is not to be missed and I cannot wait to read more of her work.

I received an advance reader edition of this book from Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley for the purpose of providing an honest review.
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LibraryThing member CLDunn
I loved this book. Sandra Brown always writes good stories but I really liked this one. Was up at 4 a.m. this morning to finish it before going to to work.

A custody hearing is being held for Texas Ranger Crawford Hunt to get custody of his daughter when a gunman enters the court room. The aftermath
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of that event takes you on a ride of that keeps you turning the pages. Crawford saves the life of the Judge Holly Spencer and is determined to protect her from the threat of whoever targeted her court room.

Drama with Crawford's father-in-law over custody, lead cop positive Crawford set up the shooting, leads unraveling every time Crawford gets close all contribute to a good mystery with a little romance thrown in.
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LibraryThing member lrobe190
A Texas Ranger, relegated to deskwork due to past recklessness, petitions to regain custody of his five-year-old daughter, and his case is assigned to a family court judge who is as attractive as she is ambitious. When a masked gunman barges in during the custody hearing with his sights on the
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judge, the Ranger reacts instinctually and goes after him. Will this take-charge lawman jeopardize his chances of custody by going after the would-be assassin?
(summary from ISBN 1478934751)

Another Sandra Brown thriller, full of hot romance, suspense, and plot twists. Very enjoyable!
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LibraryThing member soosthemoose
Good thriller. A little predictable but enough suspense and twists and turns to keep it interesting.
LibraryThing member veeshee
I felt like this novel was just okay. There wasn't anything that was so amazing about it. The character of the ranger was decent; he was a stereotypical rough-around-the-edges kind of guy and, other than his soft spot for his daughter, that was all there seemed to be in terms of his personality. I
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had not known previously that the author writes romance thrillers so I was quite surprised by the romantic aspects and descriptions in the novel. They weren't good or bad.... they just ... were there. They really served no purpose other than to provide some steamy content. At least it all ended in a positive way - that was probably my favorite thing about the novel! Overall, this was a decent story but with nothing remarkable to show. If you like reading thrillers with a little bit of erotic content, then you should read this novel and check out more by this author. If you prefer hardcore action and thriller, then you should probably look elsewhere
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LibraryThing member caslater83
The intensity of this book is good. What a pageturner! It's very well-paced and Sandra Brown keeps you wondering who is really behind it all. It seems that everyone has the potential motive, drive, or desire in some form or another. That's how a suspenseful mystery book should be!

While I don't like
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the foul language, the dialogue is more than just good. It's intense. The stakes are high and it's anyone's guess who is behind it and how it will go down in the end.

The attraction between the Texas Ranger and the judge is undeniable. Holly comes across as this good girl who tells the truth no matter what, but deep down inside, she's a human being with needs, wants, and desires, just like the rest of us. But she's also aware that there are consequences for her actions and her evergrowing attraction to Crawford may have undesirable consequences for her career and her future as a whole. It's also fair to say that Crawford's attraction to Holly may end whatever little chance he has of regaining custody of his daughter.

Please note that sexual references/sex scenes are explicit--so explicit that your grandmother would blush. If you don't like that, this book isn't for you. I don't care for it either, but it's a book club book, so I had to do the best I could to read it and enjoy the rest of it.

If the sex and language had been eliminated, I'd be giving this book five stars and a wonderful round of applause!
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LibraryThing member Carlathelibrarian
I do enjoy a good Sandra Brown book. For those of you not familiar with Sandra Brown, this is a cross between a suspense, crime and romance. It certainly kept me turning those pages to see what would happen next. There are a few plot lines that twist together very well and tell a realistic
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story.

Crawford Hunt, Texas Ranger, arrived to court hoping to regain custody of his daughter. He had given temporary custody to his in-laws after the death of his wife. His father-in-law, who never liked him, blamed him for the death of their daughter and claimed he was a danger to Georgia. While waiting for the Judge, Holly Spencer, to render he decision, a masked gunman bursts into the courtroom, shoots and kills the baliff and is bearing down on Holly. Crawford hurtles the rail and covers her body with his own. As the gunman takes aim, he kicks him in the knee, throws him off balance and the gunman flees followed closely by Crawford. When the gunman is killed on the roof by a Sniper from the SWAT team, an investigation must take place. For personal reasons, Crawford is being investigated and it is insinuated that he hired the gunman. This just gives his father-in-law more ammunition. Crawford and Holly, thrown together by this tragedy, become involved and she must recuse herself from the custody case. As Crawford continues to investigate who and why someone tried to kill Holly, surprises and turns of events occur. This was a great read.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, which did not affect my comments here.
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LibraryThing member rmarcin
Another solid Sandra Brown mystery with a side of romance. Texas Ranger seeks custody of Georgia and while in the court, a gunman comes in and begins shooting. Who was the intended target and why? Feelings for the judge jeopardize many things in this tale - the custody battle, the judge's seat on
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the bench, their reputations, the safety of others.
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Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

2015-08-08

Physical description

480 p.; 4.25 inches

ISBN

9781455581191

Barcode

1601999
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