Deadly Obsession by Elle James
Series: Devil’s Shroud Series (# 5)
Release Date: May 1, 2016
Publisher: Harlequin Digital Sales Corp.
Pages: 288
Source: Book provided by NetGalley for review
Real estate whiz Jillian Taylor thinks heroes and haunted houses are bogus. But when a series of strange events leaves her in danger, Stealth Ops Specialist Chance McCall is quick to the scene. Jillian can’t resist the chemistry brewing between her and the sexy agent. But as she and Chance deconstruct her nightmares, someone becomes more desperate to keep those secrets from surfacing.
Chance knows there’s more going on at the derelict Victorian manor than just ghosts—just as he knows there’s something about the blonde beauty he can’t resist. If only he could help decipher the meaning of Jillian’s tortured dreams…and keep her safe in his arms forever.
Review: Jillian Taylor never expected all the trouble that started after she purchased a house in Cape Churn, but sometimes old secrets demand to be revealed. Author Elle James dishes out a suspenseful read in Deadly Obsession, setting the stage for drama with an intense prologue. While the romantic element is definitely present, the author has created an interesting mystery to be solved.
Aside from the prologue, my expectation after reading the first chapter was a storyline featuring a woman who helps a man deal with PTSD. While that is correct to a certain extent, it appears that Jillian is more of a complex character. As events unfold, she and Chase begin investigating the history of the house.
Bad dreams appear to be the key to unlocking the secrets. While I was able to figure out most of the events as the story progressed, there were enough loose ends to keep me interested. I definitely didn’t expect the outcome.
Jillian and Chase have good chemistry together, with their encounters including the right amount of detail. Since this is part of series, the other characters made cameo appearances in this installment. My favorite part of the story has to do with the kittens. It didn’t take too many clues before I caught on to the stray animal connection to the book’s theme.
Overall, it was a good story with all of the trademark Harlequin features — interesting characters, good mix of suspense and romance.
