Today I’m spotlighting...
Witness Protection Widow by Debra Webb, a February 2020 Harlequin Intrigue release.
Keep reading for more including an excerpt and my review of the book!
Can the witness protection program keep her identity secret?
After Allison James finally escapes her marriage to a monster, she becomes the star witness in the case against her deceased husband’s powerful crime family. Now it’s up to US Marshal Jaxson Stevens, Ali’s ex-boyfriend, to keep the WITSEC widow safe. But as the danger escalates and sparks fly, will Jax be able to help Ali escape her ruthless in-laws?
About the author Debra Webb:
DEBRA WEBB is the award winning, USA Today bestselling author of more than 150 novels, including reader favorites the Faces of Evil, the Colby Agency, and the Shades of Death series. With more than four million books sold in numerous languages and countries, Debra's love of storytelling goes back to her childhood on a farm in Alabama. Visit Debra at www.DebraWebb.com
EXCERPT:
She shivered. The fire had gone out. She kept on her jacket while she added logs to the fireplace and kindling to get it started. Within a couple of minutes, the fire was going. She’d had a fireplace as a kid, so relearning her way around this one hadn’t been so bad. She went back to the kitchen and turned on the kettle for tea.
Bob growled low in his throat and stared toward the front door.
She froze. Her phone was in her hip pocket. Her gun was still in her waistband at the small of her back. This was something else Marshal Holloway had insisted upon. He’d taught her how to use a handgun. They’d held many target practices right behind this cabin.
A creak beyond the front door warned that someone was on the porch. She eased across the room and went to the special peephole that had been installed. There was one on each side of the cabin, allowing for views all the way around. A man stood on the porch. He was the typical local cowboy. Jeans and boots. Hat in his hands. Big truck in the drive. Just like Marshal Holloway.
But she did not know this man.
“Alice Stewart, if you’re in there, it’s okay for you to open the door. I’m Sheriff Colt Tanner. Branch sent me.”
Her heart thudding, she held perfectly still. Branch would never send someone to her without letting her know first. If for some reason he couldn’t tell her in advance, they had a protocol for these situations.
She reached back, fingers curled about the butt of her weapon. Bob moved stealthily toward the door.
“I know you’re concerned about opening the door to a stranger, but you need to trust me. Branch has been in an accident, and he’s in the hospital undergoing surgery right now. No matter that his injuries were serious, he refused to go into surgery until he spoke to me and I assured him I would look after you, ma’am.”
Worry joined the mixture of fear and dread churning inside her. She hoped Branch wasn’t hurt too badly. He had a wife and a daughter.
She opened her mouth to ask about his condition, but then she snapped it shut. The man at her door had not said the code word.
Look for Witness Protection Widow by Debra Webb this month wherever Harlequin Intrigue books are sold!
Title: Witness Protection Widow
Author: Debra Webb
Format: Netgalley ARC
Witness Protection Widow is an entertaining reunion romance filled with suspense.
Allison James is determined to see her evil, murdered husband’s criminal family go down by testifying at trial about their involvement in organized crime. Until that can happen, she’s been placed in witness protection. But shortly before the trial, a car accident injures the U.S. Marshal who has been guarding her requiring her to get a replacement...enter U.S. Marshal Jaxson Stevens, Ali’s ex from when they were younger.
Ali is the last person Jax thought he’d ever see again, especially after she married into the Armone crime family. He is also surprised to find feelings he thought were long gone might still be lingering. As he works to do his job and keep Ali alive to testify, the two grow closer, but relationships can be tough when someone is trying to kill you.
I love reunion romance stories and this is a good one with two likable characters that you want to see find a happy ending together. Although, Ali seems just a tad naive at the beginning in regards to her husband’s criminal activity, I admire her backbone and determination to do what’s right and keep those she cares about safe. And I loved Jax’s protective streak, as well. I also liked the many secondary characters and what they added to the story. Besides the chemistry between the main characters and the fascinating secondary characters, there is also plenty of action and intrigue with an interesting plot making it an entertaining, fast-paced romantic suspense.
Debra Webb did a great job at making the plot and characters seem believable. This was not my first book by Webb, and it won’t be my last.
*I received a free digital copy through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Lyla Dupree