Friday, August 18, 2017

Review: Before the Dawn by Cynthia Eden


Publication Date: July 25th 2017 by Harlequin Books
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

About the book:

The Killer Instinct series from New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Eden continues as an FBI profiler tracks a case that resurrects ghosts from his past

Ex-SEAL Tucker Frost knows that the world is full of evil. He saw it in the face of his own brother, Jason Frost, a cold, methodical, sadistic killer. A killer Tucker put down with his own hands in order to save Jason's final victim--Dawn Alexander, the only girl who got away from the infamous "Iceman."

It's Tucker's up close and personal experience with evil that's made him perfect for Samantha Dark's experimental profiling division in the FBI. And when women start turning up murdered with the same MO used by the Iceman, Tucker is sent back to Louisiana to investigate.

Seven years have passed since the night that Tucker faced down his brother...and since he last saw Dawn, his one-time lover. But as Tucker and Dawn grapple with a desire that never died, they must also face the shared shadow from their pasts. Both have the same question--has Jason Frost come back from the dead to hunt again? And this time, will he succeed in killing the victim who got away?
My Thoughts:
Cynthia Eden’s Killer Instinct series focuses on FBI Agents that have had up-close and personal relationships with killers.  Their dark pasts provide a unique perspective into the minds of killers, making them better at catching them. Or so they hope.

FBI agent Tucker Frost found out his brother, Jason Frost, was the infamous serial killer “The Iceman”, seven years ago, and killed him the same night to save his girlfriend, Dawn.  Dawn and Tucker couldn’t get past the tragedy, and parted ways.  Tucker wasn’t surprised, how could she look at his face, a face that closely resembled her torturer and not be scared?  But Tucker has never got over Dawn. 

Tucker left his heart and Louisiana soon after, but returns for a case when a woman is found murdered in the same way Iceman killed.  Is this the work of a copycat, or did Jason survive those bullets? Either way, Tucker must confront his past, because the victim turned up in the exact city where Dawn now lives.  Coincidence or sinister plan?

Dawn is the Iceman’s only survivor, but she no longer considers herself a helpless victim.  I admired the strength it took to cope and move on.  She’s worked hard to establish herself as a private investigator, earning a solid reputation for solving cases. Dawn’s street smart, and trained to defend herself, but finding out about a possible copycat rattles her, because Jason’s body was never found.  Even so, there’s no way she’ll stay on the sidelines of the investigation, even if Tucker wants her to keep safe.

Before the Dawn combines two of my favorite kind of stories: second chance romance and romantic suspense.  I know when I pick up a Cynthia Eden novel I’m guaranteed a sizzling romance and thrilling ride!  Even though I figured out the killer’s identity pretty early on it was still an exciting read; fast-paced, and full of action. This killer gets personal mighty quick, and it forces Tucker and Dawn to stick close, and overcome the past.  I love it when two people who should’ve been together get a second chance to make it right and get their HEA.  There are forces that try and separate and plant doubt between them, but I was pleased with this couple’s united front.  This romance doesn’t disappoint!

Cynthia Eden sets the stage for the next book in the series, Into the Night.  I know that Macey was a victim/survivor of a serial killer, but I’m not sure Bowen’s past. I’m looking forward to finding out!

4 Suns



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3 comments:

  1. The premise of this series sounds interesting. I read and enjoyed one of her romantic suspenses a while back. I'll have to check out this series.

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  2. I read one of hers, a pnr one, and enjoyed it even though I do not like pnr these days for some reason. So rom sup....now that I could be on board with

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  3. I need to get my hands on this, it's been a while since I read romantic suspenses and miss the good ones. This one sounds chilling , especially with the fact that his own brother tried to kill her

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