In Too Deep
Grade : C

The main problem with Janelle Taylor’s In Too Deep is not bad writing or poorly crafted characters. The problem is that once you’ve read the first few pages of the book, you can guess pretty much everything that is going to happen with a high degree of accuracy. In other words, there's not much suspense in this romantic suspense novel.

Geneva (Jenny) Holloway is estranged from just about every male in her life. She married Troy Russell when she was very young to escape from her overbearing, wealthy father and realized early on that she'd made a mistake. Troy was viciously abusive and had it not been for her father Allen paying him off, Jenny would not have been able to escape him. Before she left him, Jenny didn't tell Troy that she was pregnant. Fifteen years, later Jenny is coping with a rebellious teenager, Rawley, and pretty soon there will be much more for her to deal with.

Hunter Calgary is after the man responsible for the death of his sister Michelle and you can guess who that man is. He is contacted by Allen Holloway to be an unseen bodyguard to Jenny, who is moving to Santa Fe and opening up her own restaurant with the inheritance she has recieved from her late mother. First, however, Jenny is taking a much-needed vacation to Puerto Vallarta, and Hunter must follow her, because Troy is now asking Allen for more money. Their meeting results in a mutual attraction and she asks him to protect Rowley and her from Troy, who is getting closer and closer to his prey with every day that passes.

This one was a tough one to grade. Ms. Taylor’s crafting of the characters and suspense is well done for the most part, except for the fact that Jenny seems more careless than her background would seem to demand. She is easier to know and understand than Hunter, who is a stock character with a necessarily tormented past. The writing style is easy to follow and allows the events to unfold at an even pace. However, if you’ve read a few suspense novels, you'll guess what is going to happen to Hunter, Rawley and Jenny before it happens. You'll know that Troy will find people who will inadvertently give him information he needs for his plans; you'll know that Hunter and Jenny will get together and there will be hurt feelings when the truth is discovered and you'll know what Rawley’s rebelliousness will mean, at the very least.

While the love scenes between Jenny and Hunter are not all that explicit, there is some skanky sex where Troy is concerned, made especially vile because he’s usually thinking of hurting people. He’s definitely a nasty villain, the kind who talks about mother-son sex and kicks dogs.

While not a bad read, In Too Deep is pretty much the sum of its parts - not less, but definitely not more. As far as romantic suspense goes, this one was by-the-numbers compared to other, better offerings out there.

Reviewed by Claudia Terrones
Grade : C

Sensuality: Warm

Review Date : December 20, 2001

Publication Date: 2001

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Claudia Terrones

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