Renee Esterhaus was on the run. She didn't commit the crime the police said she did, but no one would believe her. She wasn’t about to go to prison for something she didn't do. When Renee met John DeMarco, she didn't know he was a police officer who is just taking some time away from his job. He was the first person she saw at the diner when she ran in for help. She just needed someone with a car to get her away from the bounty hunter who is after her. After Renee pours her heart out to John, he starts to believe her story. John decides to take in it his own hands, regardless of the consequences, and help her find the real person behind the robbery.

This was an intense, sit on the edge of your seat, book. I couldn’t put it down. It’s a wonderful romantic suspense story with characters will want more of. This is the beginning of a new series and it is starting off with a bang.

The story of Renee and john.

She is on the run from the police after being arrested for a crime she didn't commit. Only problem is that the person she turns to for help turns out to be a police officer. Can she convince him to help her?

A fast paced and entertaining read.

Looking forward to the rest of the books in the DeMarco family series!

‘John closed his eyes. That damned kitten story? Again? “I just pulled the stupid thing out of the water before it could go under. I don’t even like cats!”

“So that’s why you took it home and blow-dried it?”'

. . . .

I was pretty much in love with this book from the description—partly because it exuded strong One for the Money vibes, and secondly, it seemed like it would be ridiculous and fun. And it was exactly all that.

Renee Esterhaus was born down on her luck, having clawed herself up from a neglectful upbringing and a youth spent on the wrong side of the law, she’d finally made something of herself at age twenty-six. She’s a newly appointed assistant manager at a fancy restaurant, Renaissance.

Everything is going well until she’s accused of robbing a convenience store and shooting the owner. With evidence piling up on her and a defender who doesn’t even believe her, she skips bail and is determined to do anything to keep herself out of jail. But when she ends up tangled with off duty police officer John, while fleeing from a psychopathic bounty hunter, the complicated becomes even more convoluted.

This was absolutely brilliant, filled with the hilarious and light-hearted drama I’ve come to associate with 2000’s romance books. The continual banter and ever-changing status of the relationship between characters had you on your toes, and the many added characters that filled the book were dimensional and lovable.

Renee was the perfect juxtaposition between rough and capable, and quiet and kind. She was instantly likeable, but the more you discover about her family history and her quiet resilience, you can’t help but root for her and her story. The slow build up between her and John was addictive, they were the perfect balance.

John DeMarco is sent on holiday by his Captain after losing his cool when a criminal he’d caught, manages to get away without punishment. While on his forced R&R he gets propositioned by a gorgeous blonde who’s obviously hiding something. He’s married to his job, works ridiculous hours, and unlike his fellow police officer brothers, can’t seem to leave his work at work. The straight arrow is constantly at war with what his conscience wants and what is expected from him by his family and job.

My only complaint was the ‘who-did-it?’ mystery never was much of a mystery. The details are pretty hard to see coming but I wasn’t overly surprised or shocked. But the real gem with this novel is the characters, and you get enough from them to never really mind that you can see what’s coming—or at least I did.

I cannot wait to read the next book in this series, I’m already slightly in love with Alex (although I’m not sure why).

I was really emotionally torn with this romance. Renee is implicated in a crime she didn't commit and is running from a determined bounty hunter when she meets John in a diner. She persuades him to take her home with him and she backs out of having sex with him. After more lies and deception, he finds out she's wanted for a crime and he's hell bent on taking her in. This is where it gets tricky for me.
On one hand I admire Renee's resolve to maintain her innocence and avoid jail but she does nothing but run when she gets the chance. Why not try to prove your innocence instead of involving John, a cop, who has the obligation of turning in fugitive? I know things become complicated between them but I felt more could have been done to proof her innocence sooner.
Which leads me to my issue with John. Although he seems like an upstanding guy and he is under the most impossible situation, I still felt that in my fantasy romance, he would tear down the town to prove the innocence of a woman he begins to fall for way sooner than he did. His instincts were telling him she was innocent but he kept on distrusting her. It was so frustrating. But I get it, it's not easy being a cop whose seen a lot of bad guys get away with stuff to consider that an assumed criminal can actually be innocent.
Despite all of the moral complexities and frustration with these characters, this was a well written novel with some humor. I would definitely read the next installment.