FINALLY! I've been looking for this book for like 3 years now. I really didn't want to buy it because it's one of Sala's older books and they're hit or miss for me. But the local library didn't have it and I couldn't even find an illegally scanned copy online. Lo and behold, OpenLibrary's copy finally became available and I stayed up until 3:30 am devouring it.

I must say, I'm glad I didn't pay for it because it was a wee bit disappointing. The blurb is insanely misleading, Charlotte isn't in any danger. But Judd helps her brother Wade solve a crime, which is where the 'suspense' comes in. Unfortunately, Sala was a little too free with foreshadowing back in the day. I knew who the villain was, what happened, why they did it, everything - almost from the first bit of foreshadowing. So for most of the book I was just thinking "Oh my god, the answer is RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU! When are you gonna clue in?!" Which is a terrible way to enjoy a book.

The romance was Sala's usual sweet and and wholesome fare. The characters a bit more bland than her usual. I liked Judd, but had a harder time connecting with Charlotte. Rachel, the baby, was absolutely adorable. And Wade was kinda so-so, he didn't have a lot of personality. But the story wasn't about him, so I guess that doesn't matter. I'm probably giving this book an extra half star for the librarian. Oh wow, she was hilarious. Middle-aged woman stumbles across a naked man, the first naked man she's ever seen in person, and she's suddenly changed her whole appearance, got her hair did, wearing short skirts, and she's like "I'm no longer a virgin, I've seen a naked man and now I'm a woman!" I was dying laughing. Why this woman is not given more page time, I will never understand.

So overall, I liked it. Was I a bit disappointed? Yes. But I think part of that is due to the fact that I have been trying to get my hands on this book for years and I built it up in my head. Still, Sharon Sala has written so much better. This is a 16 year old book and it showed, though I have enjoyed some of her older stories. Her writing has improved by leaps and bounds since then. If I were recommending this author to somebody that hadn't read her before, I would not recommend this book. She's got so many more books that would create lifelong fans. This is just not one of them.