Sophia Rose is here with the second romantic suspense in the New Orleans series, Beneath Dark Waters by Karen Rose. Come see Sophia’s thoughts on this riveting tale.
by Karen Rose
Series: New Orleans #2, Romantic Suspense #28
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Heat Level:
Deadly secrets lie beneath the murky waters of the Louisiana bayou in this pulse-pounding new romantic suspense novel from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Karen Rose.
There's no safe place for a child to hide when danger comes from every direction.
Public prosecutor J.P. "Kaj" Cardozo has only lived in New Orleans for six months, and he's already working on a high-profile celebrity sexual assault case that's made headlines all over the country. But when his son becomes the target of a kidnapping attempt as a threat to Kaj, he is desperate to keep him safe and turns to a private investigative firm famous for their protection services.
A veteran Marine, Val Sorensen is glad to have found a new career with Broussard Investigations. Her latest assignment as the bodyguard to ten-year-old Elijah Cardozo reminds her why--Val is a kick ass guardian with a tender heart. Through her duties, Val grows fond of the boy--and his handsome father.
But when the high-stakes investigation reveals an explosive network of crime through a revived drug gang, lingering deep-seated corruption in the NOPD, and a group of murderers-for-hire targeting Kaj, Elijah, and his star client, they're all left scrambling for safety...
Sophia Rose’s Review
Back in the sultry, dark world of Karen Rose’s New Orleans series, the Broussard Investigations is called on once again to face off in an all-out effort against evil villainous criminals. Karen Rose writes amazing loathsome antagonists, but also equally incredible teams of criminal investigators who get the job done without missing a beat in the romance department.
Beneath Dark Waters is a standalone second book in the New Orleans sub-series and the twenty-eighth entry in the overall Romantic Suspense series. There are connections to the previous book, but not in such a way that new readers couldn’t grab this one and appreciate all they were getting.
Beneath Dark Waters opens with a terrible kidnapping attempt that did not succeed, but put New Orleans Assistant District Attorney, JP “Kaj” Cardozo on the alert that one of his cases caused someone to go for his vulnerable son, Elijah. He is guilt-ridden, but doesn’t waste time skipping the dubious protection of NOPD and goes straight to Broussard’s. He’s assigned former Marine, Val Sorensen.
Val has demons of a personal nature she fights after a gang rape back in her military days that she bravely didn’t allow to be swept under the rug. She’s a good security expert and particularly with kids. This shows when she gets herself up to speed on Elijah’s diabetes issue and doesn’t let her mutual attraction with Kaj prevent her from doing her job of protecting and investigating. She also champions Jace who as a teen had a tough lot in life already even down to his part in Elijah’s kidnapping attempt.
It was stomach churning for Val to discover that the gang associated with Elijah’s kidnapping isn’t entirely disconnected from her own past. Everyone at Broussard gets on board with Kaj and Val to work on the situation when they learn what is in back of the connection both his cases share.
And, to hype up the tension, the major villain gets narration time as well. I really wanted some big-time justice there and Karen Rose delivered.
In the end, this story was a blend of dark and light which is the author’s specialty when presenting the dregs of human nature. There were a few lagging moments in the first half as it was setting the table, but it was riveting when it counted. Warnings to those who can’t read about abuse and a past rape which is all handled carefully, but is part of the narrative. There are troubles that come out of the cases and Kaj’s family, but good things from his romance with Val and the teamwork of the expanding Broussard Investigations that go after the powerful evil in New Orleans. Romantic Suspense fans who want a gritty case balanced with a solid romantic pair look no further than this series.
Check out Sophia Rose's review of Beneath Dark Waters by Karen Rose. #NewOrleansSeries #RomanticSuspense #bookreview Share on XAbout Karen Rose
Internationally bestselling, RITA-award winning, author Karen Rose was born and raised in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC. She met her husband, Martin, on a blind date when they were seventeen and after they both graduated from the University of Maryland, (Karen with a degree in Chemical Engineering) they moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. Karen worked as an engineer for a large consumer goods company, earning two patents, but as Karen says, “scenes were roiling in my head and I couldn't concentrate on my job so I started writing them down. I started out writing for fun, and soon found I was hooked.” Her debut suspense novel, DON'T TELL, was released in July, 2003. Since then, she has published fifteen more novels and two novellas. Her seventeenth novel, ALONE IN THE DARK, will be released in 2016. Karen's books have appeared on the bestseller lists of the New York Times, USA Today, London's Sunday Times, and Germany's der Spiegel (#1), and the Irish Times, as well as lists in South Africa (#1) and Australia! Her novels, I'M WATCHING YOU and SILENT SCREAM, received the Romance Writers of America's RITA award for Best Romantic Suspense for 2005 and 2011. Five of her other books have been RITA finalists. To date, her books have been translated into twenty-four languages. A former high school teacher of chemistry and physics, Karen lives in Florida with her husband of more than twenty years, her two daughters, two dogs, and a cat.
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About Sophia Rose
Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Rolé @ Hooked By That Book
I just finished it and also thought it was tense and very well done. Jace was my favorite.
Sophia Rose
Yes, very Role’! Jace, he had my heart. 🙂
Rachel @Waves of Fiction
Oh, yes! I wanted some big time justice too! I’m so happy she delivered. So happy to see you loved this too, Sophia!
Sophia Rose
Yes, these romantic suspenses have been solid since the first one I picked up in the Cincy series. 🙂
Anne - Books of My Heart
I loved this so much! But this author just never disappoints with her world, characters or plots.
Sophia Rose
Totally agree! I’ve not read her entire backlist for the series, but she’s never missed since I jumped on board. 🙂
Nadene
I have enjoyed the author’s work in the past. This one sound well done.
Sophia Rose
I have done well keeping up with the recent newer releases, but I need to go back for many of the early ones. She really does write some fab ones.
Silvia
I like that the author seems to have handled sensitive topics well, and it seems that the dark world she has created is compelling and full of intriguing characters! I can see why you are enjoying this series so much 😉
Sophia Rose
She definitely has, Silvia. I’ve read some dark, depths of humanity stuff over the course of the series, but she treats sensitive subjects well and doesn’t shy away from what really goes on in a city’s underbelly.