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Fatal #1
Fatal Affair
an alternate cover edition can be found here
Washington, D.C., Metro Police Detective Sergeant Sam Holland needs a big win to salvage her career--and her confidence--after a disastrous investigation. The perfect opportunity arises when Senator John O'Connor is found brutally murdered in his bed, and Sam is assigned to the case. Matters get complicated when Sam has to team up with Nick Cappuano, O'Connor's friend and chief of staff...and the man Sam had a memorable one-night stand with years earlier. Their sexual chemistry still sizzles, and Sam has to fight to stay focused on the case. Sleeping with a material witness is another mistake she can't afford--especially when the bodies keep piling up.
Washington, D.C., Metro Police Detective Sergeant Sam Holland needs a big win to salvage her career--and her confidence--after a disastrous investigation. The perfect opportunity arises when Senator John O'Connor is found brutally murdered in his bed, and Sam is assigned to the case. Matters get complicated when Sam has to team up with Nick Cappuano, O'Connor's friend and chief of staff...and the man Sam had a memorable one-night stand with years earlier. Their sexual chemistry still sizzles, and Sam has to fight to stay focused on the case. Sleeping with a material witness is another mistake she can't afford--especially when the bodies keep piling up.
294 pages, ebook
First published June 21, 2010
About the author
Marie Force
183 books8,247 followersMarie Force is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary romance, romantic suspense and erotic romance. Her series include Gansett Island, Fatal, Treading Water, Butler Vermont and Quantum.
Her books have sold more than 12 million copies worldwide, have been translated into more than a dozen languages and have appeared on the New York Times bestseller more than 30 times. She is also a USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller, as well as a Speigel bestseller in Germany.
Her goals in life are simple—to finish raising two happy, healthy, productive young adults, to keep writing books for as long as she possibly can and to never be on a flight that makes the news.
Join Marie’s mailing list on her website at marieforce.com for news about new books and upcoming appearances in your area. Follow her on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/MarieForceAuthor and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/marieforceauthor/. Contact Marie at [email protected].
Her books have sold more than 12 million copies worldwide, have been translated into more than a dozen languages and have appeared on the New York Times bestseller more than 30 times. She is also a USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller, as well as a Speigel bestseller in Germany.
Her goals in life are simple—to finish raising two happy, healthy, productive young adults, to keep writing books for as long as she possibly can and to never be on a flight that makes the news.
Join Marie’s mailing list on her website at marieforce.com for news about new books and upcoming appearances in your area. Follow her on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/MarieForceAuthor and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/marieforceauthor/. Contact Marie at [email protected].
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,285 reviews
November 11, 2013
“Do you ever get used to telling people their loved ones have been murdered?”Chief of Staff Nick Cappuano wasn’t prepared for what he’d find when he went looking for his boss, Senator John O’Connor who wasn’t answering his phone calls. It wasn't unusual for John to oversleep, and it was up to Nick to make sure the Senator got where he needed to be on time. This particular morning should have been nothing all that different from what Nick had dealt with in the past, but in the past he’d never found his boss and best friend stabbed to death.
“No, and I hope I never do.”
Detective Sergeant Samantha Holland has just come off of leading an assignment that has to be every law enforcement officer’s worse nightmare; the death of a child caught in the crossfire of a drug bust gone terribly wrong. Even though she did everything by the book and has been cleared by the department, the press and the community are calling for blood, and her career very well could be on the line. Now she has only one chance to prove she’s got what it takes to keep her job – finding the person who murdered Senator John O’Connor. Under the pressure of this huge case and having to prove herself, she doesn’t need any additional complications, but she’s got a big one. Nick Cappuano is the man who, six years earlier, she’d spent a single night of incredible passion and emotional connection with, but then never heard from him again. And now he’s a 'material witness' in the crime.
Fatal Affair is the first book in the Fatal series and a fantastic introduction into this world of money, politics and sex. Marie Force wrote a story that, quite honestly, grabbed me from the first page and held me in its grip right through to the last. I was up until after 3am reading it because I couldn’t put it down! I needed to find out “whodunit” and why, and see if Sam and Nick could put the past behind them and move forward in their relationship. I loved the characters, the plot, everything about it. Fatal Affair has what I need in a 5 star read – action, romance, a compelling, believable storyline, and characters I can get behind and really care about. I was every bit invested in the murder storyline as I was in the romance of Fatal Affair.
I found this quote to be not only totally apropos to the story, but completely true as it applies to real life:
Early the next morning, as she stood over the lifeless, waxy remains of Senator John Thomas O’Connor, age thirty-six, it struck Sam that death was the great equalizer. We arrive with nothing, we leave with nothing, and in death what we’ve accomplished—or not accomplished—doesn’t much matter. Senator or bricklayer, millionaire or welfare mother, they all looked more or less the same laid out on the medical examiner’s table.
The bottom line – I loved this book and the first thing I did when I woke up this morning was begin the second book in the series, Fatal Justice.
February 16, 2020
4.5 stars
October 13, 2023
2023 Review
the setup…
Nick Cappuano, irritated because his boss, Virginia US Senator John O’Connor is late for a major vote, enters his apartment and discovers him brutally murdered. Metro Homicide Detective Samantha (Sam) Holland is assigned the case and is stunned when she enters the scene and sees the man who captured her heart one night six years ago and then ghosted her. She needs this case after the disaster of her last one and decides in that moment not to reveal their past interlude. Nick is O’Connor’s chief of staff and quite possibly a suspect, too.
the heart of the story…
Now knowing all the details of Sam and Nick’s encounter six years ago, I have a stronger opinion about her failure to disclose this to her superiors. It was immediately obvious that both were still emotionally connected to that night, especially after determining why she never heard from him. The case was heartbreaking because John was adored by his family and staff but the nature of his attack suggested it was highly personal and the senator had a secret life that no one seemed to know about. The list of suspects was kind of long and my theories were all over the place. But always in the background was Sam’s conflict of interest in the case and the developing romance with Nick. Not sure her career could have survived in real life.
the narration…
I’m rereading the series and listening to the first books since I switched to audio around the fourth book but they had a different narrator. I liked Felicity Munroe but I came to love some of the voice depictions created by Eva Kaminsky in those later books, especially her version of Sam’s partner Freddie.
the bottom line...
It made such a difference listening to the prequel before this book the second time around. My imagination of their earlier encounter didn’t even come close to the high octane emotion of the reality. That’s why it felt so wrong that Sam didn’t fess up about it but I also was much more invested in the romance. It didn’t feel like insta-lust this time and it came across more authentically. I’m loving this reread as it now has a different vibe. And, I couldn’t remember who murdered John!
2013 Review
This is a great start to the series!
Detective Sam Holland is called to investigate the murder of a U. S. senator and runs right into a long ago one night stand. Nick Cappuano is the late Senator's chief of staff and is one of the suspects. He and Sam apparently left a lot of things unfinished.
There's lots of action, suspense and mystery, ending with some unforeseen twists and shockers. Sam and Nick's romance smoldered throughout the investigation and I'm looking forward to what's next for them and more action.
the setup…
Nick Cappuano, irritated because his boss, Virginia US Senator John O’Connor is late for a major vote, enters his apartment and discovers him brutally murdered. Metro Homicide Detective Samantha (Sam) Holland is assigned the case and is stunned when she enters the scene and sees the man who captured her heart one night six years ago and then ghosted her. She needs this case after the disaster of her last one and decides in that moment not to reveal their past interlude. Nick is O’Connor’s chief of staff and quite possibly a suspect, too.
the heart of the story…
Now knowing all the details of Sam and Nick’s encounter six years ago, I have a stronger opinion about her failure to disclose this to her superiors. It was immediately obvious that both were still emotionally connected to that night, especially after determining why she never heard from him. The case was heartbreaking because John was adored by his family and staff but the nature of his attack suggested it was highly personal and the senator had a secret life that no one seemed to know about. The list of suspects was kind of long and my theories were all over the place. But always in the background was Sam’s conflict of interest in the case and the developing romance with Nick. Not sure her career could have survived in real life.
the narration…
I’m rereading the series and listening to the first books since I switched to audio around the fourth book but they had a different narrator. I liked Felicity Munroe but I came to love some of the voice depictions created by Eva Kaminsky in those later books, especially her version of Sam’s partner Freddie.
the bottom line...
It made such a difference listening to the prequel before this book the second time around. My imagination of their earlier encounter didn’t even come close to the high octane emotion of the reality. That’s why it felt so wrong that Sam didn’t fess up about it but I also was much more invested in the romance. It didn’t feel like insta-lust this time and it came across more authentically. I’m loving this reread as it now has a different vibe. And, I couldn’t remember who murdered John!
2013 Review
This is a great start to the series!
Detective Sam Holland is called to investigate the murder of a U. S. senator and runs right into a long ago one night stand. Nick Cappuano is the late Senator's chief of staff and is one of the suspects. He and Sam apparently left a lot of things unfinished.
There's lots of action, suspense and mystery, ending with some unforeseen twists and shockers. Sam and Nick's romance smoldered throughout the investigation and I'm looking forward to what's next for them and more action.
December 4, 2013
4.5 Stars! Marie Force is a hit or miss author for me, and I'm pleased to say...this one was a HIT!
Great start to this series. Drew me in and held on tight! Loved the chemistry between Sam and Nick, and the relationship between Sam and Freddie, sort of reminded me of Eve and Peabody, from the In Death. Not quite as good, but I liked that the focus wasn't always on the main couple, and their banter was a great diversion. I'm hoping that Freddie's role will be more than as a secondary character as the series moves forward, I know he has a story to tell. I also really enjoyed Sam's relationship with her father, his body might not be as it once was, but his mind's still sharp. Would love to see him involved in the crime solving process in future books.
I enjoyed the mystery and didn't have a clue who the killer was, which made it that much more suspenseful. The narrator, Felicity Munroe, was excellent! I think I'm going to enjoy this series!
December 1, 2016
This book took over my life for 24 hours, keeping me guessing right until the end, and the summary can be quickly covered by a conversation between myself and a friend:
Friend: Must go, work to do.
Me: I must resume my quest to discover who stabbed this Senator and cut his willy off.
Friend: Uh...
*pauses*
Friend: ...Nic? WTF are you doing?
Me: The perp left his willy in his mouth btw.
Because yes, of all the words I can pick for a male appendage, I picked willy.
Anyway, my review.
Marie Force isn't a new author to me by any stretch; I love her Gansett Island series, I've read several on her standalones and the Fatal series has been calling me to read it for some time. She writes suspense very well and intersperses all the drama, action and guessing with a good dose of the sexy between the deceased Senator's Chief of Staff and best-friend, Nick Cappuano and the officer leading the case, Sergeant Sam Holland; a couple with a history, reacquainted under dreadful circumstances, yet the chemistry between them still burns bright.
"I’m not one of those women who finds this whole alpha-male act sexy. In fact, it’s a major turn off."
I sense another one of my binges commencing, because I enjoyed Sam and Nick together, I'm loving the fact that this whole series focuses around them and with plenty to go at I'm off to get myself another fix in Fatal Justice.
Friend: Must go, work to do.
Me: I must resume my quest to discover who stabbed this Senator and cut his willy off.
Friend: Uh...
*pauses*
Friend: ...Nic? WTF are you doing?
Me: The perp left his willy in his mouth btw.
Because yes, of all the words I can pick for a male appendage, I picked willy.
Anyway, my review.
Marie Force isn't a new author to me by any stretch; I love her Gansett Island series, I've read several on her standalones and the Fatal series has been calling me to read it for some time. She writes suspense very well and intersperses all the drama, action and guessing with a good dose of the sexy between the deceased Senator's Chief of Staff and best-friend, Nick Cappuano and the officer leading the case, Sergeant Sam Holland; a couple with a history, reacquainted under dreadful circumstances, yet the chemistry between them still burns bright.
"I’m not one of those women who finds this whole alpha-male act sexy. In fact, it’s a major turn off."
I sense another one of my binges commencing, because I enjoyed Sam and Nick together, I'm loving the fact that this whole series focuses around them and with plenty to go at I'm off to get myself another fix in Fatal Justice.
July 30, 2015
**2.5 stars**
Fatal Affair started great. The mystery was multi-layered with a complex victim. Most of the time in mysteries/romantic suspense, murdered people are just bodies and the reader rarely gets to see them as real people with virtues and vices. Not in this one. The friends and family of the murdered Senator showed real grief at his passing and it was wonderful to see Nick, the hero, being overwhelmed by the murder of his best friend.
But around a third of the way in, the story became dragging and boring. At this point, the focus was on the investigation and we had to see every single interview Sam (the heroine) conducted and her pushing around all the witnesses. Worse, the relationship between her and Nick jumped from non-existent to her telling him (over and over and over) how they couldn't be together while she was on the case. It seemed unbelievable to me that a man in his position wouldn't understand the issues of a detective getting together with a material witness.
Then when it seemed as if there was some headway in the investigation, the focus switched to Sam's myriad issues. A stalking first husband, a couple of health problems, several work related controversies including a previous case gone horribly wrong plus her relationship with Nick. She should have been pulled off the case so fast but everybody kept giving her chances and chances. And the constants pats on the back!! Every two seconds somebody would mention what a great cop Sam was, how insightful, blah, blah, blah. It was maddening.
Her relationship with Nick was so sugary and maudlin. They confessed their love really fast and every other minute were giving declarations of undying love *roll eyes* or fighting because she felt she had to call all the shots.
At the end, the solution to the murder was rushed with several more bodies thrown in just for kicks - which btw, Sam didn't pay as much attention and she should have.
The narration was good but I had to speed it up at around 1/3 in. I don't blame the narration, just the slow pace of the story.
Even though I had problems with this book, I was considering checking out the rest of the series until I learned the rest of the books feature the same couple! I didn't like Sam enough to be in her head so much.
Fatal Affair started great. The mystery was multi-layered with a complex victim. Most of the time in mysteries/romantic suspense, murdered people are just bodies and the reader rarely gets to see them as real people with virtues and vices. Not in this one. The friends and family of the murdered Senator showed real grief at his passing and it was wonderful to see Nick, the hero, being overwhelmed by the murder of his best friend.
But around a third of the way in, the story became dragging and boring. At this point, the focus was on the investigation and we had to see every single interview Sam (the heroine) conducted and her pushing around all the witnesses. Worse, the relationship between her and Nick jumped from non-existent to her telling him (over and over and over) how they couldn't be together while she was on the case. It seemed unbelievable to me that a man in his position wouldn't understand the issues of a detective getting together with a material witness.
Then when it seemed as if there was some headway in the investigation, the focus switched to Sam's myriad issues. A stalking first husband, a couple of health problems, several work related controversies including a previous case gone horribly wrong plus her relationship with Nick. She should have been pulled off the case so fast but everybody kept giving her chances and chances. And the constants pats on the back!! Every two seconds somebody would mention what a great cop Sam was, how insightful, blah, blah, blah. It was maddening.
Her relationship with Nick was so sugary and maudlin. They confessed their love really fast and every other minute were giving declarations of undying love *roll eyes* or fighting because she felt she had to call all the shots.
At the end, the solution to the murder was rushed with several more bodies thrown in just for kicks - which btw, Sam didn't pay as much attention and she should have.
The narration was good but I had to speed it up at around 1/3 in. I don't blame the narration, just the slow pace of the story.
Even though I had problems with this book, I was considering checking out the rest of the series until I learned the rest of the books feature the same couple! I didn't like Sam enough to be in her head so much.
November 1, 2018
I hit finished at the end of the book on my Kindle but I wanted to come back out here and say that I really enjoyed this one. I'm moving on to book #2!
Sam was great. She is a strong woman and rather feisty. But she is also sweet and caring.
Nick is almost too good to be true but it is nice to have a hero that is a great all around guy. Of course I love how things are starting with him and Sam. I have a feeling though that these two will be going through a lot as I read through the series.
The mystery surrounding the murders was interesting and kept me guessing. I did figure it out but not until close to the end.
Then you throw in a wonderful group of secondary character and voila! You have a great beginning to what I am hoping is a great series. :)
Oh I should mention this book (and series I think) has the In Death vibe going on. And y'all know how much I love Eve and Roarke. ❤
November 19, 2018
4.5 stars
In a few words: steamy second chance suspense
Sam, a DC Detective Sergeant in the homicide dept, gets pulled into a case where the lead material witness to the violent murder of a young US Senator is none other than Nick, the man she met 6 years ago and has not been able to get out of her mind or her heart. Nick is Senator John O'Connor's right-hand man, and when he finds his best friend of nearly 20 years brutally dismembered and left on display, he is devastated. On top of that shocking discovery, the detective assigned to the case is the woman who has consumed his thoughts for the past 6 years since they met, had a memorable and incredible night together, and then she never returned his many calls. A quick conversation very early in the story reveals that Sam never received Nick's messages as they were taken by her then roommate, jealous and possessive Peter, who manipulated and managed to keep her trapped in a loveless marriage until she finally got out 2 years ago. Their chemistry is instantly reignited, but Sam has a job to do, and Nick, though not a suspect, is a witness. Can she manage to work closely with him and not give into their palpable attraction?
This was a very engaging read because the action moved quickly; I appreciated that the angst factor was kept low as the author could have chosen to play out the miscommunication issues between the two main characters, which typically irritates me as a reader. Their insta-love reconnection was very believable (especially since I had read the prequel published years after this book was originally released), and their chemistry was explosive. There were many moving parts (an angry mother of an unrelated crime victim with a vendetta against Sam; a crazy ex; a Senator whose life even his best friend had no idea was so complex; and a whodunnit with plenty of suspense).
Overall, this was a fantastic, fast-paced, thrilling, hot & steamy read that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys those ingredients in an escape!
Plot/Story Line --- 4.5/5
Main Characters --- 5/5
Supporting Cast --- 4/5
Steam Level --- 4/5
Language --- some (not egregious)
Violence --- the murder scene is described in pretty decent detail; some other violence (none of the domestic variety/triggering), mostly in the form of individuals after Sam for various reasons
POV --- 3rd
In a few words: steamy second chance suspense
Sam, a DC Detective Sergeant in the homicide dept, gets pulled into a case where the lead material witness to the violent murder of a young US Senator is none other than Nick, the man she met 6 years ago and has not been able to get out of her mind or her heart. Nick is Senator John O'Connor's right-hand man, and when he finds his best friend of nearly 20 years brutally dismembered and left on display, he is devastated. On top of that shocking discovery, the detective assigned to the case is the woman who has consumed his thoughts for the past 6 years since they met, had a memorable and incredible night together, and then she never returned his many calls. A quick conversation very early in the story reveals that Sam never received Nick's messages as they were taken by her then roommate, jealous and possessive Peter, who manipulated and managed to keep her trapped in a loveless marriage until she finally got out 2 years ago. Their chemistry is instantly reignited, but Sam has a job to do, and Nick, though not a suspect, is a witness. Can she manage to work closely with him and not give into their palpable attraction?
This was a very engaging read because the action moved quickly; I appreciated that the angst factor was kept low as the author could have chosen to play out the miscommunication issues between the two main characters, which typically irritates me as a reader. Their insta-love reconnection was very believable (especially since I had read the prequel published years after this book was originally released), and their chemistry was explosive. There were many moving parts (an angry mother of an unrelated crime victim with a vendetta against Sam; a crazy ex; a Senator whose life even his best friend had no idea was so complex; and a whodunnit with plenty of suspense).
Overall, this was a fantastic, fast-paced, thrilling, hot & steamy read that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys those ingredients in an escape!
Plot/Story Line --- 4.5/5
Main Characters --- 5/5
Supporting Cast --- 4/5
Steam Level --- 4/5
Language --- some (not egregious)
Violence --- the murder scene is described in pretty decent detail; some other violence (none of the domestic variety/triggering), mostly in the form of individuals after Sam for various reasons
POV --- 3rd
April 17, 2015
As a very visual person I like to peruse the reviews before starting a new book to see who my friends and other reviewers envision as the MCs. Surprisingly I didn't find any ideas for Sam and Nick so here are mine:
Sam
Nick
Sexy people over 30....they actually do exist ;)
Fatal Affair was an entertaining romantic suspense that managed to hold my attention right from the start. Unfortunately there were some similarities to my all time favorite series, J.D. Robb's ...in Death, which forced me to make comparisons. And although Sam put in a damn good effort, no other female detective can hold a candle to my fictional girl crush Eve Dallas. So in the end while this was far from perfect - the writing and suspense were good but not great - I found myself instantly warming to and rooting for Sam and Nick. They were the heart and soul of the book and despite their relationship being a bit rushed given how much time had passed since their one night together, their chemistry was undeniable. Throw in a bunch of great secondary characters and well placed humor and you've got a fantastic start to a series I can't believe I waited so long to get around to.
December 4, 2010
A U.S. Senator is brutally murdered in his own home. His best friend, and chief of staff, is not only "fortunate" to find his mutilated body, but the lead Detective on this case is the same woman Nick spent one night with sex years ago, and never heard from her again.
Sergeant Samantha "Sam" Holland hasn't the time to think about the night she spent with Nick. She has bigger fish to fry, she desperately needs a "win" after a bust gone wrong recently, and finding the Senator's murdered just might do the trick.
And that means no PDA in public or in private with the witness, Nick Cappuano, despite the fact they both want more than PDA.
The murder investigation comes first. But is the killer trying to lead them down the wrong path? Was it politics, was it rivalry or was it a fatal affair?
(Sorry, couldn't resist that one.)
For one week in September Carina Press gave one of their books for free a day in one of my favorite ebook stores on the web. This was the first of the bunch, and I grabbed it after a quick perusal of the blurb. Mostly it was the cover that did it for me (minimalistic, yet conveying-almost-everything this book is about...and I loved the colors).
Boy, am I glad today I grabbed it.
Marie Force is a completely new author for me, but she caught my attention immediately and didn't let go until the last e-page of this intriguing romantic suspense novel.
It had it all - romance, tension, blood, gore, intrigue, drama, suspense, politics, sex, fetishes, dark secrets, double lives, stalkers, etc. Ticking it all off it maybe sounds a bit crowded, but let me tell you, it wasn't. Ms. Force did a truly amazing job with this book.
The characterization was great, I loved both Sam and Nick, their mutual past didn't detract from the main story, but added a nice little spin on it all. An the secondary cast created a nice backdrop for this strong leading couple. The pacing was excellent, everything flowed nicely without any of those gray spots of boredom. The mystery was nicely-crafted, with all the requisite red-herrings strewn here and there, the villain's identity remained an enigma until the moment Ms. Force decided to reveal it, which usually doesn't happen, and I'll admit I was fooled as well, never expecting what happened...
Gosh, I could go on and on about this story, but I'll stop and let you see for yourselves (if and/or when you decide to read this one).
Just one more thing. Usually publishers and authors like to give away for free stuff that sucks (short-stories, mostly). Well, this one was a long freebie that actually worked, delivered on what it promised, and took this satisfied reader on a great, exhilarating, passionate, sparkling, intriguing, and intense ride.
I can't wait for the next book (even if it won't be for free ^_~).
A highly recommended book!
Sergeant Samantha "Sam" Holland hasn't the time to think about the night she spent with Nick. She has bigger fish to fry, she desperately needs a "win" after a bust gone wrong recently, and finding the Senator's murdered just might do the trick.
And that means no PDA in public or in private with the witness, Nick Cappuano, despite the fact they both want more than PDA.
The murder investigation comes first. But is the killer trying to lead them down the wrong path? Was it politics, was it rivalry or was it a fatal affair?
(Sorry, couldn't resist that one.)
For one week in September Carina Press gave one of their books for free a day in one of my favorite ebook stores on the web. This was the first of the bunch, and I grabbed it after a quick perusal of the blurb. Mostly it was the cover that did it for me (minimalistic, yet conveying-almost-everything this book is about...and I loved the colors).
Boy, am I glad today I grabbed it.
Marie Force is a completely new author for me, but she caught my attention immediately and didn't let go until the last e-page of this intriguing romantic suspense novel.
It had it all - romance, tension, blood, gore, intrigue, drama, suspense, politics, sex, fetishes, dark secrets, double lives, stalkers, etc. Ticking it all off it maybe sounds a bit crowded, but let me tell you, it wasn't. Ms. Force did a truly amazing job with this book.
The characterization was great, I loved both Sam and Nick, their mutual past didn't detract from the main story, but added a nice little spin on it all. An the secondary cast created a nice backdrop for this strong leading couple. The pacing was excellent, everything flowed nicely without any of those gray spots of boredom. The mystery was nicely-crafted, with all the requisite red-herrings strewn here and there, the villain's identity remained an enigma until the moment Ms. Force decided to reveal it, which usually doesn't happen, and I'll admit I was fooled as well, never expecting what happened...
Gosh, I could go on and on about this story, but I'll stop and let you see for yourselves (if and/or when you decide to read this one).
Just one more thing. Usually publishers and authors like to give away for free stuff that sucks (short-stories, mostly). Well, this one was a long freebie that actually worked, delivered on what it promised, and took this satisfied reader on a great, exhilarating, passionate, sparkling, intriguing, and intense ride.
I can't wait for the next book (even if it won't be for free ^_~).
A highly recommended book!
July 18, 2016
From the very first chapter of this book I knew it was going to be a winner. With several of my favorite components included 1) being a story about cops and 2) being a romantic suspense, this book had my attention.
It starts off with a bang and never lets go. I loved the hard core Sam who had a weakness for her long lost hookup, Nick. With plenty of heat and steam to keep the pages turning plus a ton of twists and turns, this book kept me captivated and guessing until the end. Nick is a sweetheart and a perfect compliment to Sam. Hot and sexy parts intermixed with suspense, drama, and crime equals a captivating read all around!
A part of the Fatal series, the newest ebook edition (which is not this cover) also gives you the beginning story of Sam and Nick which was a delightful interlude too! Now on to the other stories in this long series!
It starts off with a bang and never lets go. I loved the hard core Sam who had a weakness for her long lost hookup, Nick. With plenty of heat and steam to keep the pages turning plus a ton of twists and turns, this book kept me captivated and guessing until the end. Nick is a sweetheart and a perfect compliment to Sam. Hot and sexy parts intermixed with suspense, drama, and crime equals a captivating read all around!
A part of the Fatal series, the newest ebook edition (which is not this cover) also gives you the beginning story of Sam and Nick which was a delightful interlude too! Now on to the other stories in this long series!
June 2, 2018
So we're doing an episode on romantic mysteries for Read or Dead and I picked this up from the library on a whim cause it looked kind of ridiculous but I ended up mostly liking it? You can hear my work out my feelings with finding a romance that I didn't hate in the episode, probably. (Also helped me fulfill the Read Harder task of read a book with a terrible cover cause MAN that cover is terrible)
See me talk about this book briefly in my February wrap up: https://youtu.be/pbHr4Jc3Y_M?t=3m26s
See me talk about this book briefly in my February wrap up: https://youtu.be/pbHr4Jc3Y_M?t=3m26s
July 17, 2014
4 stars
I debated for a long time how to rate this, and it took even longer to write this review(which itself is longer than planned, lol). I hope you find it helpful.
The Mystery
Senator John O'Connor was found murdered in his bed on the morning of the most important vote of his career. The nature of the crime made it feel very personal, but can the timing be a coincidence? Slowly, as the book develops, we find out The Senator had many, many secrets and that there were a lot of people who had a reason to find him dead. I can honestly say this book contains one of the best, most complex mysteries I've seen in Romantic Suspense books. It's interesting, unusual, and it's methodically and gradually solved. There is no easy, obvious answer and each step of the investigation is explained and reasonable. I really enjoyed following the steps of the case and I was surprised and sad at the ending.
The Heroine
Sergent Sam Hollard has had a lot of problems lately, including a catastrophic incident, triggered by her decision, which resulted into a child's death. Now she needs to redeem herself and this high profile case is her ticket back. Sam is a damn good cop. She is smart, stubborn, proud and has good instincts. I found it interesting and admirable she had dyslexia and fought it. She's also had a bad experience with a man and she's not sure she'll be able to have a relationship with a man. Her job presents a big obstacle and you know the saying.Once burned...
The Hero
Nick Cappuano was John's best friend-and his chief of staff. He had been "The man behind The Man" half his life and he was good at it. Now he has lost his BFF, his position and he has been seriously rattled by seeing Sam again. In the same way I found Sam's dyslexia interesting, I liked his anal tendencies. The constant reshuffling and meticulous cleaning was very sweet.
The Romance
Now this is the area I had most problems with. The story goes like this. Sam and Nick met once years earlier and had a one night stand. Then afterwards there was a mix up, and they never got to take their relationship further. Later they often allude to that night and the years they could've had. Now, that's the thing I don't like with reunion stories, the What Could Have Been. So let's recap. That night, they met and had an incredible connection, that was close to love, had sex and lost each other. Hmmm. I felt in that case we should've seen something of that encounter, or it could've been explained to us, through a dialogue , since it was that important and that magical, since it was obviously love at first sight. Maybe as a Prologue. Moving on.
Since Nick is a witness, their relationship is a big *No-No* and Sam is determined to follow the rules. Or not? I felt there were a lot of mixed signals on her side, saying "it's impossible", then kissing him,, etc. It's either that or he was too pushy and he didn't listen to her. Either way, it's not good. Once that passed, it was better. There were a few outbursts on their part, but they always owned up to it when it happened. I loved the banter and the humour that was present between them.
The side characters
I thought it was important to mention them, since every single person that showed up in this book, whether a suspect, or a family member or a cop was amazingly written, with all their quirks. The most notable ones are:
1. Freddie, Sam's partner, whom I loved. He's very original and sweet. He eats a lot of fast food, he's religious, innocent despite his job. Really a great addition.
2. Sam's dad, who used to be a cop, but was involved in a shooting recently, making him paralyzed. Seeing him deal with his condition, his daughter and his fiancee was fascinating.
3. John's family. Most of whom were suspects, but you could really see and understand them, at the end.
Some pet peeves
There were some thing that I felt were unexplained at the end. What happened with the will? What was the occasional pain Sam keeps experiencing? And...What happened with Freddie at the ending and
Still, I suppose some of that will be answered in the later books and I'm really looking forward to reading them. I just hope Freddie gets his own book, eventually.
I debated for a long time how to rate this, and it took even longer to write this review(which itself is longer than planned, lol). I hope you find it helpful.
The Mystery
Senator John O'Connor was found murdered in his bed on the morning of the most important vote of his career. The nature of the crime made it feel very personal, but can the timing be a coincidence? Slowly, as the book develops, we find out The Senator had many, many secrets and that there were a lot of people who had a reason to find him dead. I can honestly say this book contains one of the best, most complex mysteries I've seen in Romantic Suspense books. It's interesting, unusual, and it's methodically and gradually solved. There is no easy, obvious answer and each step of the investigation is explained and reasonable. I really enjoyed following the steps of the case and I was surprised and sad at the ending.
The Heroine
Sergent Sam Hollard has had a lot of problems lately, including a catastrophic incident, triggered by her decision, which resulted into a child's death. Now she needs to redeem herself and this high profile case is her ticket back. Sam is a damn good cop. She is smart, stubborn, proud and has good instincts. I found it interesting and admirable she had dyslexia and fought it. She's also had a bad experience with a man and she's not sure she'll be able to have a relationship with a man. Her job presents a big obstacle and you know the saying.Once burned...
The Hero
Nick Cappuano was John's best friend-and his chief of staff. He had been "The man behind The Man" half his life and he was good at it. Now he has lost his BFF, his position and he has been seriously rattled by seeing Sam again. In the same way I found Sam's dyslexia interesting, I liked his anal tendencies. The constant reshuffling and meticulous cleaning was very sweet.
The Romance
Now this is the area I had most problems with. The story goes like this. Sam and Nick met once years earlier and had a one night stand. Then afterwards there was a mix up, and they never got to take their relationship further. Later they often allude to that night and the years they could've had. Now, that's the thing I don't like with reunion stories, the What Could Have Been. So let's recap. That night, they met and had an incredible connection, that was close to love, had sex and lost each other. Hmmm. I felt in that case we should've seen something of that encounter, or it could've been explained to us, through a dialogue , since it was that important and that magical, since it was obviously love at first sight. Maybe as a Prologue. Moving on.
Since Nick is a witness, their relationship is a big *No-No* and Sam is determined to follow the rules. Or not? I felt there were a lot of mixed signals on her side, saying "it's impossible", then kissing him,, etc. It's either that or he was too pushy and he didn't listen to her. Either way, it's not good. Once that passed, it was better. There were a few outbursts on their part, but they always owned up to it when it happened. I loved the banter and the humour that was present between them.
The side characters
I thought it was important to mention them, since every single person that showed up in this book, whether a suspect, or a family member or a cop was amazingly written, with all their quirks. The most notable ones are:
1. Freddie, Sam's partner, whom I loved. He's very original and sweet. He eats a lot of fast food, he's religious, innocent despite his job. Really a great addition.
2. Sam's dad, who used to be a cop, but was involved in a shooting recently, making him paralyzed. Seeing him deal with his condition, his daughter and his fiancee was fascinating.
3. John's family. Most of whom were suspects, but you could really see and understand them, at the end.
Some pet peeves
There were some thing that I felt were unexplained at the end. What happened with the will? What was the occasional pain Sam keeps experiencing? And...What happened with Freddie at the ending and
Still, I suppose some of that will be answered in the later books and I'm really looking forward to reading them. I just hope Freddie gets his own book, eventually.
July 4, 2021
2021 Update!!!!:
I've just done another reread of probably my #2 favorite series. I love this series by Marie Force and it never gets old! I want everyone to love it as much as I do. There is something for everyone: mystery, suspense, action, politics, humor, lots of humor, romance, yes, romance, just close your eyes for those parts if you don't like it and the most fabulous characters that grow with each succeeding book! Do yourself a favor and give this series a chance.
This weekend, to get ready for Tuesday’s releases, I listened again to Fatal Affair by Marie Force. For those of you who are unfamiliar with it, the Fatal series is a romantic suspense series centered around Washington, DC, Sgt. Sam Holland and her lover, Senator Nick Cappuano. Before I go any further, let me tell you that this sixteen-book series is one of my top five series of all times. If you like the Rachel Caine or Kendra Elliot, this series is even better in my opinion. Any new book that comes out in this series is an auto-buy for me. There is plenty of mystery, action, suspense, romance, and even comedic relief as Sam interacts with her family and her partner Det. Freddie Cruz. I cannot even begin to explain how much I love this series. I have read/listened to the entire fifteen book (now sixteen) series probably four or five times and it never gets old. I listened to this book on Audible with the narrator of the first book Felicity Munroe, who I felt was a little too sweet for the voice of Sam, a strong independent cop. With that said, I also read this book on Kindle, and this amazing book warranted five stars. Give it a chance and the following books as the characters grow and take you over. The sixteenth book, Fatal Fraud, release tomorrow and this girl will be reading nothing else.
I've just done another reread of probably my #2 favorite series. I love this series by Marie Force and it never gets old! I want everyone to love it as much as I do. There is something for everyone: mystery, suspense, action, politics, humor, lots of humor, romance, yes, romance, just close your eyes for those parts if you don't like it and the most fabulous characters that grow with each succeeding book! Do yourself a favor and give this series a chance.
This weekend, to get ready for Tuesday’s releases, I listened again to Fatal Affair by Marie Force. For those of you who are unfamiliar with it, the Fatal series is a romantic suspense series centered around Washington, DC, Sgt. Sam Holland and her lover, Senator Nick Cappuano. Before I go any further, let me tell you that this sixteen-book series is one of my top five series of all times. If you like the Rachel Caine or Kendra Elliot, this series is even better in my opinion. Any new book that comes out in this series is an auto-buy for me. There is plenty of mystery, action, suspense, romance, and even comedic relief as Sam interacts with her family and her partner Det. Freddie Cruz. I cannot even begin to explain how much I love this series. I have read/listened to the entire fifteen book (now sixteen) series probably four or five times and it never gets old. I listened to this book on Audible with the narrator of the first book Felicity Munroe, who I felt was a little too sweet for the voice of Sam, a strong independent cop. With that said, I also read this book on Kindle, and this amazing book warranted five stars. Give it a chance and the following books as the characters grow and take you over. The sixteenth book, Fatal Fraud, release tomorrow and this girl will be reading nothing else.
September 16, 2016
Overall, great book. It did start out kinda slow for me, but picked up momentum the further we got in the story. It starts right off with the Senator's murder and the first half of the book was more about Sam interviewing suspects with the secondary story being about her reconnecting with Nick, the Senator's Chief of Staff and Sam's old flame. It took about half way through the book before I felt like the story really picked up. Once things started to heat up, I began to really enjoy this book more. This story is definitely for readers who love a good "who done it" plot with politics thrown in .
I received a complementary copy from NetGalley but I also purchased the audio book. I loved the Narrator. I've listened to a handful and she did the best impersonations of the men's character I've heard to date. I had no trouble distinguishing the switch in characters.
I received a complementary copy from NetGalley but I also purchased the audio book. I loved the Narrator. I've listened to a handful and she did the best impersonations of the men's character I've heard to date. I had no trouble distinguishing the switch in characters.
October 22, 2023
Detective Sgt. Samantha (Sam) Holland is given the lead on the Senator John O'Connor homicide investigation. Senator O'Connor's body was discovered by this Chief of Staff and best friend, Nick Cappuano. Sam wonders if Nick will be a major obstacle in solving this murder since she had a one-night stand with him six years ago. As Sam uncovers the details and secrets of Senator O'Connor's life, Nick helps her with the investigation. But concentrating on the case is not easy when her feelings for Nick keep coming to the surface.
The first book in Marie Force's Fatal series is a winner. We have a solid mystery, great romance and well-developed characters. Although there wasn't a lot of suspense in it, the story has the feel of a police procedural since we see the investigation step by step. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
2023 Re-read: I am re-reading this series with a Goodreads group. I'm happy to be back in Sam and Nick's world. This time around, I thought Sam should have informed her bosses that she had a past relationship with Nick. Of course, they probably would have removed her from the case and we wouldn't have had this story. Yes, you have to suspend disbelief in some parts of the story, but it is worth it. My rating is still 4.5 Stars.
The first book in Marie Force's Fatal series is a winner. We have a solid mystery, great romance and well-developed characters. Although there wasn't a lot of suspense in it, the story has the feel of a police procedural since we see the investigation step by step. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
2023 Re-read: I am re-reading this series with a Goodreads group. I'm happy to be back in Sam and Nick's world. This time around, I thought Sam should have informed her bosses that she had a past relationship with Nick. Of course, they probably would have removed her from the case and we wouldn't have had this story. Yes, you have to suspend disbelief in some parts of the story, but it is worth it. My rating is still 4.5 Stars.
July 17, 2010
Marie Force is one of my favorite authors. She writes wonderful and entertaining contemporary romance. In "Fatal Affair," she has written an intelligently well-developed suspenseful plot containing twists and turns that will keep you guessing from the beginning until near the end who committed the murder of a United States Senator. The characters, both main and secondary, are superb and well-defined. The chemistry between the two main characters is absolutely sizzling. Although the mystery is front and center, there is certainly plenty of romance to balance the scales. Set in our nation's capitol, this book is the beginning to an intriguing new political series and one I believe is going to be a winner. "Fatal Affair" certainly delivered a fantastic day of reading for me. I'm anxiously awaiting the next book to see what lies ahead for Sam and Nick. I highly recommend this book, along with each of Marie Force's previous books.
September 6, 2023
My first experience with Marie Force - won't be my last. What a great book for an introduction to a series. It had everything I look for in a good, no make that a great read. Extremely well written, scenes, etc. not over described. Fairly fast paced from cover to finish. The 2 main characters are interesting and flawed - great police procedural/murder mystery - lots of suspects, twists and turns with an indication of inner turmoil yet to come.
Looking forward to the rest of the books in his series - 2 thumbs up!
Looking forward to the rest of the books in his series - 2 thumbs up!
July 22, 2022
Nick, the man behind the man, finds the man in his bed... murdered. And who happens to catch the case? The woman who he hasn't been able to stop thinking about since their one night together. It's been six years since he's seen Sam, but she has never been far from his mind... or he hers.
I really enjoyed this story and how the author meshed the romance with the chaos of the murder investigation. And while I did find Sam's attitude to be too aggressive and irksome on occasion, it wasn't enough to overshadow how truly wonderful she was. It was probably because of how well her character played off of Nick. She constantly had something to prove, but she had her reasons (psycho ex that she should never have married, boys club on the police force, legacy of her cop father, etc.)
I didn't enjoy the way that Sam worked the case. She created theories and tried to fit the evidence to her theories, which wasn't what I would expect from a seasoned investigator. It's like the evidence didn't mean as much as the story she was hoping the murder would tell. I knew from the start that she was offbase, however, I didn't know who the murderer was and loved being surprised.
My favorite person was obviously Nick (with Freddie coming a close second and I'm looking forward to reading more about the virgin homicide detective) and he definitely made this story for me. His compassion, strength of character, and capacity for love and understanding made him a standout in this story. So for every moment I was annoyed by Sam, I had to only remember that Nick was worth it.
Find more on the blog
I really enjoyed this story and how the author meshed the romance with the chaos of the murder investigation. And while I did find Sam's attitude to be too aggressive and irksome on occasion, it wasn't enough to overshadow how truly wonderful she was. It was probably because of how well her character played off of Nick. She constantly had something to prove, but she had her reasons (psycho ex that she should never have married, boys club on the police force, legacy of her cop father, etc.)
I didn't enjoy the way that Sam worked the case. She created theories and tried to fit the evidence to her theories, which wasn't what I would expect from a seasoned investigator. It's like the evidence didn't mean as much as the story she was hoping the murder would tell. I knew from the start that she was offbase, however, I didn't know who the murderer was and loved being surprised.
My favorite person was obviously Nick (with Freddie coming a close second and I'm looking forward to reading more about the virgin homicide detective) and he definitely made this story for me. His compassion, strength of character, and capacity for love and understanding made him a standout in this story. So for every moment I was annoyed by Sam, I had to only remember that Nick was worth it.
Find more on the blog
July 18, 2016
Fatal Affair by Marie Force is a 2010 Carina Press publication.
I have read some of the books in Marie Force’s other series, but have always wanted to dive into this one, since it is so popular. One thing, sadly, that has kept me at bay is the lack of availability of these books. Some subscription services have titles from other series, but not this one. Both of my Overdrive library accounts have a waiting list for every very single book in the series, so I just kept putting it off.
However, with the tenth book coming out soon, I decided to get busy before I get so far behind I can't catch up. I may have to skip around some, but I’m fine with that. At least I had a copy of this first book in the series and was able to establish the foundation on which the series has been based.
This first book starts off with the shocking death of a Senator, a man Nick loved like a brother. When Sam arrives to take over the investigation, she and Nick realize the attraction they had for one another, six years ago, is as strong as ever. But, because Nick is a witness in the case, Sam has to keep him at arm’s length. But, Nick is pretty persistent, so…
But, Sam and Nick will soon discover the senator had a few skeletons in the closet, which could have been the catalyst that caused his death. Other outside influences emerge that complicates Sam’s life and put Nick in danger, creating tension within the newly rekindled relationship.
We also meet Freddie, a charming character, and one I hope stays in the series for a while, as he adds a little humor to the story.
I knew this series was super popular and very well received and after reading this book, I can see why it caught on like wildfire. Smart dialogue, lots of action, a solid mystery, well drawn and likeable characters, and a great romance, makes this a well rounded novel, and gives the series a solid foundation to build on.
I am sure the series gets stronger as it goes along and I so I will be patiently waiting for my library holds to become available!
Overall, 4 stars
I have read some of the books in Marie Force’s other series, but have always wanted to dive into this one, since it is so popular. One thing, sadly, that has kept me at bay is the lack of availability of these books. Some subscription services have titles from other series, but not this one. Both of my Overdrive library accounts have a waiting list for every very single book in the series, so I just kept putting it off.
However, with the tenth book coming out soon, I decided to get busy before I get so far behind I can't catch up. I may have to skip around some, but I’m fine with that. At least I had a copy of this first book in the series and was able to establish the foundation on which the series has been based.
This first book starts off with the shocking death of a Senator, a man Nick loved like a brother. When Sam arrives to take over the investigation, she and Nick realize the attraction they had for one another, six years ago, is as strong as ever. But, because Nick is a witness in the case, Sam has to keep him at arm’s length. But, Nick is pretty persistent, so…
But, Sam and Nick will soon discover the senator had a few skeletons in the closet, which could have been the catalyst that caused his death. Other outside influences emerge that complicates Sam’s life and put Nick in danger, creating tension within the newly rekindled relationship.
We also meet Freddie, a charming character, and one I hope stays in the series for a while, as he adds a little humor to the story.
I knew this series was super popular and very well received and after reading this book, I can see why it caught on like wildfire. Smart dialogue, lots of action, a solid mystery, well drawn and likeable characters, and a great romance, makes this a well rounded novel, and gives the series a solid foundation to build on.
I am sure the series gets stronger as it goes along and I so I will be patiently waiting for my library holds to become available!
Overall, 4 stars
September 14, 2011
I loved this book!
This is the first Marie Force book I have read and am now a fan. I decided to read this book as quite a few friends on here were talking about it and I had just had an email from Carina press advertising their sale. When I followed the link it showed this title for $0.99 which was a bargain so I grabbed it not really knowing how soon I would read it. Low and behold the reviews kept coming in and a few friends who I dilegently follow reviews from (as they have never steered me wrong!)posted their reviews and comments praising both the book and the author all the way so I took the plunge.......A few chapters in I was wondering what on earth I had been waiting for as this was turning out to be a fantastic read.
I really like Ms Force's style of writing and she sure knows how to write a good suspense and there was also a lot of romance which kept me happy. I am usually pretty good at dissecting the information I read and coming up with the correct baddie (well 90% of the time anyway ;) ) but with this one it kept me guessing all the way to the end. Yes I had a few suspects but they were illiminated as the story progressed which left me scratching my head which is why this really made a winner for me. I was up until the early hours of the morning desperately trying to keep my eyelids open and ended up literally falling asleep with Ereader in hand and had to admit defeat and crawl to my bed at 2.30 in the morning. I desperately wanted to start reading it again in the morning but just didn't have the time so had to wait the whole day which was slowly killing me.
Did I say I love this book ;)....if not I am gonna say it again and I would recommend it to everyone who loves RS.
This is the first Marie Force book I have read and am now a fan. I decided to read this book as quite a few friends on here were talking about it and I had just had an email from Carina press advertising their sale. When I followed the link it showed this title for $0.99 which was a bargain so I grabbed it not really knowing how soon I would read it. Low and behold the reviews kept coming in and a few friends who I dilegently follow reviews from (as they have never steered me wrong!)posted their reviews and comments praising both the book and the author all the way so I took the plunge.......A few chapters in I was wondering what on earth I had been waiting for as this was turning out to be a fantastic read.
I really like Ms Force's style of writing and she sure knows how to write a good suspense and there was also a lot of romance which kept me happy. I am usually pretty good at dissecting the information I read and coming up with the correct baddie (well 90% of the time anyway ;) ) but with this one it kept me guessing all the way to the end. Yes I had a few suspects but they were illiminated as the story progressed which left me scratching my head which is why this really made a winner for me. I was up until the early hours of the morning desperately trying to keep my eyelids open and ended up literally falling asleep with Ereader in hand and had to admit defeat and crawl to my bed at 2.30 in the morning. I desperately wanted to start reading it again in the morning but just didn't have the time so had to wait the whole day which was slowly killing me.
Did I say I love this book ;)....if not I am gonna say it again and I would recommend it to everyone who loves RS.
September 9, 2015
I thought this was a so -so read. The plot sounded interesting and I liked the fact that it was part of a series. However, the book really didn't really grab me. I didn't think the characters were anything special and I found them quite boring and "off". Nick kept trying to be Sam' s protector, yet she's a gun totin' cop and he's an unarmed suit. Really guy? He couldn't seem to wrap his head around the fact that that is what she does day in and day out - protect people. And he started many a fight over this. Second thing that irked me is Sam seems to have a chemical imbalance or some sort of wire misfires in her brain. She seemed to fly off the handle easily, which I found annoying.
This was a new author to me, so I didn't know what to expect going into it. It was an OK read for me, but I will probably pass on future books in this series as I 'm sure they will be a continuation of Sam and Nick.
This was a new author to me, so I didn't know what to expect going into it. It was an OK read for me, but I will probably pass on future books in this series as I 'm sure they will be a continuation of Sam and Nick.
April 28, 2020
An excellent mystery romance. Strong characters! The character that seems to change the most is the dead guy. We begin our story with a murder. A respected senator is found dead in a hotel room. His death is especially vicious so all eyes turn to the women in his life who would want revenge. If only there weren't so many.
Our hero was his best friend since college. They were close as brothers and even though the senator had some faults, our hero stayed loyal. Which helped since his job was to manage the senator's life.
Now he wants to work with our heroine, the intrepid police detective to find the killer. Added to their search for a killer is their sexual chemistry that was halted after a one night stand years earlier.
Great story with wonderful characters.
Our hero was his best friend since college. They were close as brothers and even though the senator had some faults, our hero stayed loyal. Which helped since his job was to manage the senator's life.
Now he wants to work with our heroine, the intrepid police detective to find the killer. Added to their search for a killer is their sexual chemistry that was halted after a one night stand years earlier.
Great story with wonderful characters.
October 23, 2014
This one crossed my radar because of Katie and Jess, and I can really see what they both liked about it - the heroine being the cop, and being competent and the one in protective mode was definitely good. I also liked the mystery plot fine, despite feeling it went a bit gratuitous for what was really needed from the baddie. Sam's father was a great character too.
Unfortunately, the romance didn't work at all for me. So instead of a nice combination of solving the crime and sorting the relationship I found it read more like this:
Sam: OMG, he's a PERSON OF INTEREST in this case (which is my last chance to redeem myself and EVERYONE IS WATCHING FOR ME TO SCREW UP) so I really, really, seriously, no messing shouldn't but I WANT TO JUMP HIS BONES. We had one night of sex 6 years ago and WE HAD A CONNECTION.
Nick: My heart is broken because my bff died and he was the brother of my heart and this woman with whom I HAD A CONNECTION really, seriously, no messing shouldn't be involved with me until the case is over, but HEY, SAM, WE SHOULD HAVE SEX NOW.
Nick (and everyone): The US Senator who was murdered was LOVED BY ALL, DISLIKED BY NONE - even though he had no experience and got elected on his father's name, charm and -- petrol fumes? Hey, just because he was a complete and utter creep, and his family was worse - SO WHAT?
Sam: Oh, obvs, it was a woman who loved the Senator and was scorned. Or passed over. Or - I DON'T KNOW. IT WAS A WOMAN WHO DONE IT, ALL RIGHT?
Sam: The concept of waiting until I solve the crime to have HOT NEKKID SEX WITH NICK (with whom I HAVE A CONNECTION) doesn't seem to have occurred to me. It could ruin the case!! Destroy my troubled career!! BE HOT.
Sorry, but all my prudish nature comes flooding over me at the idea that they can't say that they both deeply regret the misunderstanding that so tragically parted them 6 years ago, and as soon as the case is closed, they'll get together. Also at the idea that one great night of sex *six years ago* is being interpreted as love within about 5 minutes of their sorting out the misunderstanding. ALSO, I have all the sympathy with rebound relationships (whether with person, romance novels or cuddly dogs who NEVER let you down), but Sam's marriage was ridiculous. She clearly didn't feel they had *that* much of a connection after that one night, if she wouldn't even, y'know, try phoning him, maybe? (I know I'm mentioning that their night was six years ago a lot, but the book does it a lot a lot.)
And one odd thing, which might have been only the ebook version I got, but the formatting was screwy on this one, and noticeably so. There are quite a few one or two line bits of dialogue, and often there's no "s/he said"s after them, but there are many cases where a question is asked and answered on the same line, without identifier. Very weird.
Tragically, I asked if it was possible to borrow an ebook on inter-library loan and was told it wasn't, but my system was looking into getting it for me. I thought this might take months if it ever happened, got an email a day later saying it would be available the next day, and then another saying all eight books of the series were now available. I may have to borrow them all just to show my gratitude. Or guilt. I can see trying the next, just to see if I like Sam and Nick better as an established couple, but not so sure about 7 more.
Unfortunately, the romance didn't work at all for me. So instead of a nice combination of solving the crime and sorting the relationship I found it read more like this:
Sam: OMG, he's a PERSON OF INTEREST in this case (which is my last chance to redeem myself and EVERYONE IS WATCHING FOR ME TO SCREW UP) so I really, really, seriously, no messing shouldn't but I WANT TO JUMP HIS BONES. We had one night of sex 6 years ago and WE HAD A CONNECTION.
Nick: My heart is broken because my bff died and he was the brother of my heart and this woman with whom I HAD A CONNECTION really, seriously, no messing shouldn't be involved with me until the case is over, but HEY, SAM, WE SHOULD HAVE SEX NOW.
Nick (and everyone): The US Senator who was murdered was LOVED BY ALL, DISLIKED BY NONE - even though he had no experience and got elected on his father's name, charm and -- petrol fumes? Hey, just because he was a complete and utter creep, and his family was worse - SO WHAT?
Sam: Oh, obvs, it was a woman who loved the Senator and was scorned. Or passed over. Or - I DON'T KNOW. IT WAS A WOMAN WHO DONE IT, ALL RIGHT?
Sam: The concept of waiting until I solve the crime to have HOT NEKKID SEX WITH NICK (with whom I HAVE A CONNECTION) doesn't seem to have occurred to me. It could ruin the case!! Destroy my troubled career!! BE HOT.
Sorry, but all my prudish nature comes flooding over me at the idea that they can't say that they both deeply regret the misunderstanding that so tragically parted them 6 years ago, and as soon as the case is closed, they'll get together. Also at the idea that one great night of sex *six years ago* is being interpreted as love within about 5 minutes of their sorting out the misunderstanding. ALSO, I have all the sympathy with rebound relationships (whether with person, romance novels or cuddly dogs who NEVER let you down), but Sam's marriage was ridiculous. She clearly didn't feel they had *that* much of a connection after that one night, if she wouldn't even, y'know, try phoning him, maybe? (I know I'm mentioning that their night was six years ago a lot, but the book does it a lot a lot.)
And one odd thing, which might have been only the ebook version I got, but the formatting was screwy on this one, and noticeably so. There are quite a few one or two line bits of dialogue, and often there's no "s/he said"s after them, but there are many cases where a question is asked and answered on the same line, without identifier. Very weird.
Tragically, I asked if it was possible to borrow an ebook on inter-library loan and was told it wasn't, but my system was looking into getting it for me. I thought this might take months if it ever happened, got an email a day later saying it would be available the next day, and then another saying all eight books of the series were now available. I may have to borrow them all just to show my gratitude. Or guilt. I can see trying the next, just to see if I like Sam and Nick better as an established couple, but not so sure about 7 more.
October 12, 2023
10/12/23 - I have tried to ignore the ways this book is so like the In Death series. It's just not possible to do that. I stand by my original review. But I must say that the plot was good, and I really liked the characters. I still can't believe that both Sam and Nick never bothered to seek out the other in six years.
11/24/19 - I saw a lot of similarities between Sam and Nick with Eve and Roarke from Nora Robert's In Death series. This book was in no way as good as any book in the In Death Series. The romance was hot, but not very believable, although I thought that the attraction still being there after six years was very sexy. The mystery/suspense elements, well, I just didn't buy it from the very beginning and the more I learned about the victim, the less I liked him. Everyone loved him, but he was a real SOB.
Sam Holland, a Washington, D.C., Metro Police Detective Sergeant, needs this case of a murdered US Senator to help rebuild her reputation. When Sam finds a one night stand she had six years ago, Nick Cappuano, found the body and is the Chief of Staff, and best friend, of the murder victim, Senator John O'Connor, things could get dicey. Nick insists on being part of the investigation, especially when Nick learns that Sam never got the messages he left after their night together and he finds that the attraction, for both of them, is just as hot now as six years ago. Trying to keep this investigation professional proves to be impossible.
11/24/19 - I saw a lot of similarities between Sam and Nick with Eve and Roarke from Nora Robert's In Death series. This book was in no way as good as any book in the In Death Series. The romance was hot, but not very believable, although I thought that the attraction still being there after six years was very sexy. The mystery/suspense elements, well, I just didn't buy it from the very beginning and the more I learned about the victim, the less I liked him. Everyone loved him, but he was a real SOB.
Sam Holland, a Washington, D.C., Metro Police Detective Sergeant, needs this case of a murdered US Senator to help rebuild her reputation. When Sam finds a one night stand she had six years ago, Nick Cappuano, found the body and is the Chief of Staff, and best friend, of the murder victim, Senator John O'Connor, things could get dicey. Nick insists on being part of the investigation, especially when Nick learns that Sam never got the messages he left after their night together and he finds that the attraction, for both of them, is just as hot now as six years ago. Trying to keep this investigation professional proves to be impossible.
August 23, 2010
US senator John O'Connor is murdered in his home and Detective Samantha Holland is given the case. Sam needs vindication badly because she was the detective that ordered the shooting on a crack house the resulted in the death of a child.
As she gets to the crime scene she runs smack into Nick Cappuano, O'Connor's chief of staff and the guy she had a memorable one night stand with 6 years earlier. The two reconnect while solving the murder.
This book was a definite page turner with the suspense element being the strongest part of the book. There were plenty of suspects although I was a little disappointed in the resolution.
The romance part of the book was also very nice. Sam and Nick had a great connection and I like the fact that they didn't play around. They got right to the point, they acknowledged their feelings and began to work through new couple issues.
I had the biggest problem, though with some plotting elements and characterizations.
First I thought there was too much going on. Sam was working on the murder plus the fallout from the crack shooting incident plus her crazy ex husband plus a vindictive superior. All these things wouldn't necessarily have been so bad, but at least two of them were actively trying to kill her.
Second, sometimes I thought the characters just didn't act logically. Sam dragged Nick to various witness interviews when he was not only a civilian but could have still have been construed by some as a viable suspect.
Nick gets upset because when a shooter opens fire in a public place, she pushes him down and won't let him protect her. Uh, dude, she's a cop. That's her job. There seemed to be a disconnect between that. Nick seemed determinedly oblivious to the fact that her job is dangerous. And Sam wasn't forceful enough, imo, in making him face that fact.
And O'connor really had to be the dumbest senator in the world. His old brother disgraces himself and loses any chance of even running for senate because he was picked up on a DUI charge before he announced his candidacy, and yet O'connor is basically a slut who has rough sex and threesomes and gives out his home keys like Halloween candy to his various women with whom he never has more than a one-week relationship.
I only guessed the identity of the killer very late in the book, so that was a plus. But I was never completely sold on the guilty party's motive. We did get the why, but it never really resonated because absent any other concrete characterization of this person, the murder seemed extreme for the motive. I like it best when the murderer is revealed and you can immediately think back to hints dropped in the book and see why this is the case. That didn't happen here.
Overall not a complete hit out the ball park but still an engaging read.
As she gets to the crime scene she runs smack into Nick Cappuano, O'Connor's chief of staff and the guy she had a memorable one night stand with 6 years earlier. The two reconnect while solving the murder.
This book was a definite page turner with the suspense element being the strongest part of the book. There were plenty of suspects although I was a little disappointed in the resolution.
The romance part of the book was also very nice. Sam and Nick had a great connection and I like the fact that they didn't play around. They got right to the point, they acknowledged their feelings and began to work through new couple issues.
I had the biggest problem, though with some plotting elements and characterizations.
First I thought there was too much going on. Sam was working on the murder plus the fallout from the crack shooting incident plus her crazy ex husband plus a vindictive superior. All these things wouldn't necessarily have been so bad, but at least two of them were actively trying to kill her.
Second, sometimes I thought the characters just didn't act logically. Sam dragged Nick to various witness interviews when he was not only a civilian but could have still have been construed by some as a viable suspect.
Nick gets upset because when a shooter opens fire in a public place, she pushes him down and won't let him protect her. Uh, dude, she's a cop. That's her job. There seemed to be a disconnect between that. Nick seemed determinedly oblivious to the fact that her job is dangerous. And Sam wasn't forceful enough, imo, in making him face that fact.
And O'connor really had to be the dumbest senator in the world. His old brother disgraces himself and loses any chance of even running for senate because he was picked up on a DUI charge before he announced his candidacy, and yet O'connor is basically a slut who has rough sex and threesomes and gives out his home keys like Halloween candy to his various women with whom he never has more than a one-week relationship.
I only guessed the identity of the killer very late in the book, so that was a plus. But I was never completely sold on the guilty party's motive. We did get the why, but it never really resonated because absent any other concrete characterization of this person, the murder seemed extreme for the motive. I like it best when the murderer is revealed and you can immediately think back to hints dropped in the book and see why this is the case. That didn't happen here.
Overall not a complete hit out the ball park but still an engaging read.
April 8, 2012
This book seriously reminded me of the In Death series, we have the heroine Detective Sam, who works homicide who is dedicated to her job, the case takes place within a few days and she works insanely like Eve does, getting into the mind of the killer, forsaking sleep over the case. Then there is Nick, a guy she had a one-night stand with six years and whose call she waited for.
So, the hero Nick's best friend a United States Senator is murdered which brings the heroine back into his life. She has been under fire lately for a shooting call that killed a kid, so she needs the case and doesn't want to re-kindle a fire that still seems to burn between them. In the start itself she finds out that he called her but Peter, her roommate then and later her psycho ex-husband never gave her the message.
Sam loves her job since it gives her a connection to her cop father who she adores. There is her partner Freddie, a foodie and we readers learn a 29 year old virgin, her Lieutenant who dislikes her and the Chief her uncle and strong supporter.
The case is interesting with many facts about the victim's life being revealed, his sexual proclivities, his secret family etc that shocks Nick for whom his friend's family has been a family since he never really had one being born to teenage parents and being raised by a not so great grandmother.
Their relationship moves at a fast pace, with it being implied that their only and only time had had such an impact that they had remembered each other for six years. The hero was the main aggressor, professing his love and she reciprocated with reservations, since her marriage was a disaster with her husband not being able to handle her job and her mis-carriage(s) left her infertile, family being important to Nick.
These two clash as well over her protecting him etc that again reminded me of the push and pull between Eve and Roarke.
By the end of the book Nick has become a Senator for a year and Sam has just gotten a promotion, I will continue with the series when I can since I liked the mystery aspect.
So, the hero Nick's best friend a United States Senator is murdered which brings the heroine back into his life. She has been under fire lately for a shooting call that killed a kid, so she needs the case and doesn't want to re-kindle a fire that still seems to burn between them. In the start itself she finds out that he called her but Peter, her roommate then and later her psycho ex-husband never gave her the message.
Sam loves her job since it gives her a connection to her cop father who she adores. There is her partner Freddie, a foodie and we readers learn a 29 year old virgin, her Lieutenant who dislikes her and the Chief her uncle and strong supporter.
The case is interesting with many facts about the victim's life being revealed, his sexual proclivities, his secret family etc that shocks Nick for whom his friend's family has been a family since he never really had one being born to teenage parents and being raised by a not so great grandmother.
Their relationship moves at a fast pace, with it being implied that their only and only time had had such an impact that they had remembered each other for six years. The hero was the main aggressor, professing his love and she reciprocated with reservations, since her marriage was a disaster with her husband not being able to handle her job and her mis-carriage(s) left her infertile, family being important to Nick.
These two clash as well over her protecting him etc that again reminded me of the push and pull between Eve and Roarke.
By the end of the book Nick has become a Senator for a year and Sam has just gotten a promotion, I will continue with the series when I can since I liked the mystery aspect.
July 28, 2016
Favorite Quotes:
Did you just apologize? I didn't think guys did that. This is a first for me. You'll have to excuse me while I take a moment to enjoy it.
On the sure-to-be rare instances when I'm actually wrong about something, I'll do my best to admit it.
What you require is so far beyond order the sphincter police haven't invented the word for it yet.
You're the key to everything. I knew that years ago when I first met you, and I know it even more now after living without you for so long. You're what I need most.
I'm messy and loud and I swear and sometimes I even tell white lies - I don't mean to, but they sneak out before I can stop them. I'm dyslexic, infertile and my stomach runs my life.
My Review:
Fatal Affair was a well-written and excellently paced story full of intrigue, secrets, misdirection, humor, clever banter, a tender romance, a murder mystery, smart and interesting characters, drama, steamy sensual scenes, and a feisty heroine - I've hit nirvana! I adore these characters and could never tire of their clever banter and interactions. I also highly enjoyed the combination of Sam and her police partner Freddie and how their interchanges while they played off each other while interviewing suspects. Color me impressed. I have a new favorite author. I want to park myself on her listing and stay there for a month or more...
Did you just apologize? I didn't think guys did that. This is a first for me. You'll have to excuse me while I take a moment to enjoy it.
On the sure-to-be rare instances when I'm actually wrong about something, I'll do my best to admit it.
What you require is so far beyond order the sphincter police haven't invented the word for it yet.
You're the key to everything. I knew that years ago when I first met you, and I know it even more now after living without you for so long. You're what I need most.
I'm messy and loud and I swear and sometimes I even tell white lies - I don't mean to, but they sneak out before I can stop them. I'm dyslexic, infertile and my stomach runs my life.
My Review:
Fatal Affair was a well-written and excellently paced story full of intrigue, secrets, misdirection, humor, clever banter, a tender romance, a murder mystery, smart and interesting characters, drama, steamy sensual scenes, and a feisty heroine - I've hit nirvana! I adore these characters and could never tire of their clever banter and interactions. I also highly enjoyed the combination of Sam and her police partner Freddie and how their interchanges while they played off each other while interviewing suspects. Color me impressed. I have a new favorite author. I want to park myself on her listing and stay there for a month or more...
January 26, 2015
I gave up on Fatal Affair.
I don't know who decided that crime and romance was a fusion wanting to happen. In my opinion it doesn't work. At all.
I was very interested in the crime to be solved in this book - a senator murdered in his bed, no signs of a struggle and his penis cut off and stuffed in his mouth. Now that's an interesting story. But sadly, the chief cop woman and the senators aide who found the body and is surely a prime suspect had a one night stand six years ago and so now the reader has to plough through her bruised lips and tingling memories of his hands and other puerile teenage nonsense to get to her cop mind and clear crime solving skills.
I can't respect a professional who staggers and has to lean against walls to prevent herself from slumping to the ground, as memories of a night of passion flood her thoughts. What are we - 16?
If anyone crawled through the dregs of this affair to find out who killed the senator, please let me know.
I just couldn't. I tried but I couldn't
I don't know who decided that crime and romance was a fusion wanting to happen. In my opinion it doesn't work. At all.
I was very interested in the crime to be solved in this book - a senator murdered in his bed, no signs of a struggle and his penis cut off and stuffed in his mouth. Now that's an interesting story. But sadly, the chief cop woman and the senators aide who found the body and is surely a prime suspect had a one night stand six years ago and so now the reader has to plough through her bruised lips and tingling memories of his hands and other puerile teenage nonsense to get to her cop mind and clear crime solving skills.
I can't respect a professional who staggers and has to lean against walls to prevent herself from slumping to the ground, as memories of a night of passion flood her thoughts. What are we - 16?
If anyone crawled through the dregs of this affair to find out who killed the senator, please let me know.
I just couldn't. I tried but I couldn't
January 30, 2015
Sam and Nick
So if I hadn't have read the In Death series first I probably would have adored this one. But it seems like a knock off of Eve and Roarke. Like Eve and Roarke but less. It is still good and I jumped right in to book 2, but its not Eve and Roarke.
So if I hadn't have read the In Death series first I probably would have adored this one. But it seems like a knock off of Eve and Roarke. Like Eve and Roarke but less. It is still good and I jumped right in to book 2, but its not Eve and Roarke.
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