Wolf Bear Does Books: Karen Rose -- Nothing To Fear

Friday, October 28, 2011

Karen Rose -- Nothing To Fear

Rated: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ . ♥ {4.95}
Action: ♠♠♠♠♠ / Emotion: ♣♣♣♣.♣ / Romance: ♥♥♥♥. ♥ / Sensuous: ♦♦♦♦.♦ / Suspense: ♠♠♠♠♠
Action: 5 / Emotion: 4.5 / Romance: 4.5 / Sensuous: 4.5 / Suspense: 5 // Humor: 4 / Teary: 3

First off, even though it doesn't have anything to do with Karen Rose's ability to write a wonderful un-put-down-able book, the title, of this book just does not fit. Nothing To Fear features one of the most chillingly cold-blooded villains to grace the pages of a romantic suspense novel -- it's characters have everything to fear. Yes, many other books feature psychotic, sociopathic killers, but for some reason Sue Conway, the revenge-seeking villain of Nothing To Fear leaves a cold chill across the spine throughout the entire book. One scene in the book graphically illustrates Sue's pride in her inability to experience humanitarian feelings.

". . . For just a moment she stood and looked at him. Waited for a flicker of compassion for the boy she'd taken from his bed, drugged out of his mind for days. Then she gave a brisk nod when the flicker never materialized. She'd been a little worried that all this bleeding heart shit would rub off. . . ."

There seem to be several reasons why Sue came across as more chilling than other fictional villains; namely, {1} she is a woman, {2} she blames everybody else for the misfortunes that placed her in Hillsboro Women's Penitentiary for ten years; and {3} she occasionally kills for expediency . . . counting the innocent life she took no more important than that of partaking of her next meal to keep her healthy so she can seek retribution.

Sue Conway is introduced in the prologue watching the funeral of her latest victim to see if the "guest of honor" would attend. Rose immediately instills a sense of suspense (who is Sue looking for) and starts the reader down the path of misdirection.

Rose writes scenes so rich with the feelings and thought processes being experienced by the point of view character that the reader is drawn into the emotions and lives of that character. Alexander "Alec" Quentin Vaughn, the deaf and mute twelve-year-old son of Stan and Randi Vaughn is testy at being awakened by the speech therapist hired to train him to use his cochlear implant. His emotions quickly turn to fear when Cheryl Rickman hides him in the closet under a stack of life jackets. Rose increases the intensity of the fear and suspense by using Alec's lack of hearing to reveal to the reader that there are gunshots and that Cheryl and her boyfriend, Paul McMillan, have encountered something evil.

Rose increases the suspense and begins to weave the tangled web of threads that will have to be picked apart by the end of the book by introducing well-developed, intriguing supporting characters. The first character introduced is Sue's seventeen-year-old brother, Bryce Lewis. Bryce is just another tool for Sue to use to reach her goals . . . she does not care that he is in jail, except that he might spill his guts to an overzealous DA and ruin her plans. Bryce is not the only relative to be useful, there is also Uncle Earl and Aunt Lucy.

Uncle Earl's and Aunt Lucy's usefulness quickly become moot because James Lorenzano, the man Sue hired to find her "guest of honor" and then slit his throat when he did so, answered her relatives' phone. The reader is then reminded of Sue's motto (used frequently during the story), "adopt, adapt, and improve." Sue must find a way to hide from James while she uses Alec to draw her prey into her trap. Sue must use two more supporting characters before she can find a way to hole up in Hanover House, a woman's shelter in her home town, Chicago.

Tammy Fields, Sue's cell mate for five years, had once sought sanctuary at Hanover House. Sue contacts Fred Oscola, a guard on Sue's cell block because he could be bought and used to have unwanted (and retribution-inducing) "heart-to-heart" chats with Sue during her incarceration. Through Fred, Sue came away with an address and a battered face that would ensure her immediate admittance to the woman's shelter.

Absolutely loved Dana Dupinksy, the heroine of Nothing To Fear, when met her in Rose's first book, Don't Tell. The dialogue between Dana and Caroline was so realistic, funny, and emotionally engaging in both books. It was wonderful to get to see how Caroline and Max's relationship (Don't Tell) was progressing as Caroline continued to visit Dana and Hanover House because she played a small, but integral part of Dana's story.

The reason Nothing To Fear did not get a five-star rating is because Dana did not inspire the same depth of emotional connection as all the other heroines of Rose's previous books. Could not figure out why could not warm up to Dana's character. Yes, it was easy to become emotionally entangled with Dana as the story progressed, but the guilt and angst Dana suffered because of her scarred and battered past did not bring forth the same sorrowful tears nor inspire as many heart-felt laughs.

Dana continues to run Hanover House with great concern for the welfare of her friends and the clients she houses, but shows a lack of self-caring by continuing to meet needful women at the bus stop alone (against the often-expressed warnings of friends). When Rose reveals why Dana is self-destructive and guilt ridden, the picture she paints of a down-trodden past does not seem to embrace the current strength of character and capability that Dana now possesses. The question that came to mind was: "how can Dana have risen from such disastrous beginnings to become such an intelligent Psychologist, understand and help so many people, yet fail to realize her own worth?"

Two other supporting characters that were featured in Don't Tell also inhabit a place in Dana's heart and in her story as well. David Hunter, the fun, intriguing brother to Max Hunter (Caroline's husband) spent a lot of time taking care of Dana and Hanover House. What a shock it is that {1} Dana and David are just friends, and {2} Dana cannot see that David is in love with her. Really liked that Rose continued to develop David's character in this book (as he will eventually have his own book), but was disappointed that David's wonderful sense of humor was not featured. He was a regular, little worry-wort.

Evie Wilson, Dana and Caroline's friend, the girl who was brutalized by the villain in book one, still lives at Hanover House and helps Dana with the clients. Evie's scars are both physical and psychological. (In fact, Sue, thinks of Evie as "Scarface."). Evie inspires caring and frustration as she and Dana are constantly at odds throughout this book. Although Evie is still hiding from the world because of her scars, she is also trying to develop her own strengths by condemning Dana for the stringent rules she applies to Hanover House. The fact that Evie decides to ignore Dana's rules adds a strong thread of suspense and intensity to the plot.

Other major threads interwoven into the story line are based on the hero, security specialist, Ethan Buchanan. Ethan grew up as the best friend of Stan's older brother. Even though Stan blames Ethan when Richard did not return from Afghanistan, he calls Ethan to handle the kidnapping and ransom demand for his son. Ethan's character was so well-developed that it was easy to feel the sense of guilt (alive because Richard saved him at the cost of his own life) and responsibility Ethan felt for his godson when he comes to Stan and Randi's aid.

Ethan involved his partner, former Marine and ex-DC cop, Clay Maynard in the quest for Alec. Even though the kidnapper has demanded that authorities not be called, Ethan has to convince Clay to refrain from calling the law and to become part of the search for Alec. While Clay is left behind to deal with the feuding Vaughns, Ethan follows the kidnapper's path to Chicago.

Rose squeezes much detail about so many characters that are necessary for an intricate, suspense-building plot in her books. Another character featured in finding Alec is Wight's Landing's new Sheriff, Louisa J. Moore, previously of Boston. The small-town Maryland sheriff quickly figures out that Stan, Randi and Clay are hiding something when she is called out to deal with the dead body the Vaughns found in their boat shed. Rose adds another layer of interest to the story -- keeping it realistic and intriguing -- not only are Clay and Lou secondary characters trying to solve clues to find a missing boy, but there is the possible undercurrent of something of a romantic nature developing between them.

Rose has the amazing ability to develop richly written secondary characters, while spending very little time in their presence. With just a few choice scenes with Ethan, Clay and Randi, Stan comes across as a real jerk. Having quickly developed a fondness for Ethan and his angst, it is easy to want to bop Stan upside the head and say, 'you are not even worthy of being Richard's brother, how dare you judge Ethan so harshly?'

Randi is portrayed as an emotionally distraught mother, who inspires the desire to say, 'you should have left the womanizing jerk years ago and then your son would not have been kidnapped!' But Rose shocks readers by revealing a great big surprise that explains why Randi stayed with Stan. It is the intriguing and astonishing twists and turns like this that make it so difficult to interrupt the reading of Nothing To Fear.

Rose does not skimp on the romance when it comes to her Romantic Suspense novels. Loved the way that a sense of peacefulness settled over both Ethan and Dana when they first met at the Chicago bus station. The love-at-first-sight theme, and Dana's words ("wrong place, wrong time") reveal that there is not going to be a smooth road to their happily-ever-after. Amazingly enough, both Dana and Ethan snatch remarkably poignant, funny, revealing scenes together as they both struggle to keep from falling for the other during this stressful time in their lives.

The sexual tension that radiates between Ethan and Dana makes it impossible for them to ignore the connection. Rose has a great talent for keeping Ethan and Dana in an instant and constant awareness of the other as they deal with the suspenseful events that are drawing the reader deeper into the story line. Stressful events cause Dana to seek Ethan's comforting arms, where they cannot help but make passionate, heated love. Rose's love scenes magically draw the reader into the emotional and magic wonder of love.

As with previous Rose books, Nothing To Fear has all the requisite characteristics to make it a must read. {1} An intelligent, determined, flawed, hunky alpha hero, who immediately falls under the spell of {2} a likewise strong-willed, attractive heroine, who is determined to help right some of life's injustices; {3} amazingly well-written, well-developed, realistic supporting characters who greatly add to the depth of the story; {4} lots of action that keeps the story moving at a quick pace; {5} two chilling villains that aid the edge-of-your-seat suspense; {6} a special sense of romance and intense interest that flows between Ethan and Dana; {7} spicy, heated, magical love making; {8} a visit with several of the stars from Rose's previous books; {9} the continued development of characters who will eventually have their own books; {10} great dialogue; {11} a bit of humor; {12} a few teary moments; and {13} an action-packed, tense finale where the hero gets to help rescue the heroine, which leads to the requisite happily-ever-after.

This is second time to have read Nothing To Fear. It is going to remain on my "to be re-read list." Rose writes such amazing stories containing so much action, suspense and varied and intriguing characters, that it is easy to become so immersed in the story that it is next to impossible to put the book down.
--Vonda M. Reid (Monday; May 16, 2011 : 1:32 p.m.)

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Karen Rose Novels

#	Date	Title	Hero	Heroine
01.	07-2003	Don't Tell	Dr. Maximilian "Max" Alexander Hunter	Caroline Stewart / Mary Grace Winters
02.	02-2004	Have You Seen Her?	Special Agent Steven Thatcher, NC SBI	Dr. Jenna Marshall, Teacher
03.	10-2004	I'm Watching You	Detective Abe Reagan	Kristen Mayhew, ASA
04.	08-2005	Nothing To Fear	Ethan Buchanan, Security Specialist	Dana Dupinsky, Woman's Shelter Manager
05.	12-2005	Dirty Secrets [1]	Christopher Walker, Professor	Dr. Emma Townsend
06.	04-2006	You Can't Hide	Detective Aidan Reagan	Dr. Tess Ciccotelli, Psychiatrist
07.	02-2007	Count To Ten	Lieutenant Reed Solliday	Detective Mia Mitchell
08.	09-2007	Die For Me [2]	Detective Vito Ciccotelli	Dr. Sophie Johannsen, Archaeologist
09.	05-2008	Scream For Me [2]	Special Agent Daniel Vartanian, NC SBI	Alex Fallon, RN
10.	02-2009	Kill For Me [2]	Special Agent Luke Papadopoulis, NC SBI	Susannah Vartanian, NY ASA
11.	08-2009	I Can See You	Detective Noah Webster	Eve "Evie" Wilson, Student
12.	06-2010	Silent Scream	Firefighter David Hunter	Detective Olivia Sutherland
13.	06-2011	You Belong To Me [3]	Detective J.D. Fitzpatrick	Dr. Lucy Trask, Pathologist
14.	06-2012	No One Left To Tell [3]	Grayson Smith, State's Attorney	Paige Holden, Private Investigator

[1] novella in book: Hot Pursuit (with Carla Cassidy and Annie Solomon)
[2] these three books are tied together: The Vartanian Trilogy
[3] these books are part of The Baltimore Series

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Nothing To Fear Quotations:

81	"Fate is the opportunity. Choice is what you do with it."
123	. . . It can be hard to be the one that lives. Guilt and all that added responsibility . . . You were spared. . . . It makes a lot of people wonder why, makes them search for a purpose they weren't as sensitive to before.
259	. . . I was part of something bigger than just me. I was doing something important. Using everything I'd learned to protect my county. To make a difference in the world. . . .
426	. . . I think that's when I began to understand that I resented Mother choosing the easy way over us. She would always see herself as having no choices. I just saw her as weak. Not loving us enough. . . .
428	"I wasn't a child when I pushed her to make a choice." . . . Me or him. Choose. . . .

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Characters Found In "Nothing To Fear"

Character / Location	Description / Relationships	Found In
Lucinda Banks Wight's Landing, MD	[no appearance in book] Ethan's Buchanan's grandmother; raised that boy right (290)	04. Nothing To Fear
Betty Chicago, IL	[very minor secondary character] coffee shop waitress // fifty-plus; man-hungry (68)	04. Nothing To Fear
Beverly Chicago, IL	[very minor secondary character] Hanover House resident; Dana preparing false papers so she can go to California (222)	04. Nothing To Fear
Ethan Buchanan Wight's Landing, MD Chicago, IL	Hero: ran a security consulting business; keep hackers out of computer systems; set up surveillance; not a cop; ex-Marine; P.I. license (27) electronics specialist (28) steady green eyes; soft green of new leaves after a long winter (66) golden giant of a man; polite (67) strong, tanned column of throat (68) gorgeous enough to take the breath of any woman with a pulse; nice mouth; nice lips (69) blond brow (71) big golden cat, stalking his prey (72) built; war hero; electrical engineer; electronics specialist; communications expert (96) grandmother died year after got out of academy (142) mother died when he was seven; his father on submarine (143) single-minded determination; hair glinted golden; broad shoulders; lean hips (181) honest; sincere (183) intelligent; articulate (215)	04. Nothing To Fear
William "Bill" Bush Chicago, IL	[very minor secondary character] Security Manager at Chicago bus station; working with Ethan, while reviewing security tapes // retired Chicago PD (98)	04. Nothing To Fear
Charlie Chicago, IL	[no appearance in book] Dana's ex-husband // met at parole office (219)	04. Nothing To Fear
Sue Conway Wight's Landing, MD Chicago, IL	The most chilling villain ever to grace the pages of a book // taller than Cheryl; wild hair; crazy white eyes (8) light sleeper; had been in prison ten years; got out six months ago (9) rock-hard biceps thanks to Hillsboro Women's Penitentiary (15) well-developed arm muscles and C-cup (56) eyes not white, blue, but so light they were almost invisible (202) stylized capital A on tattoo under shoulder strap (225) little cross tattoo just under knuckle of left ring finger (prison tattoo) (226) white blond hair (385)	04. Nothing To Fear
Walter Conway	[no appearance in book] Sue's father (406)	04. Nothing To Fear
Dora Wight's Landing, MD	[very minor secondary character] Lou's secretary (178)	04. Nothing To Fear
Dana Danielle Dupinsky Chicago, IL	Heroine: Director of Hanover House (82) Psychology degree (19) full-time therapist; part-time forger (21) too independent (43) rich copper of short hair (59) wide, brown eyes; long, statuesque legs; curvy hips; generous breasts; soft, husky voice (60) warm brown eyes; sharp, intelligent; attractive, but not classically beautiful; air practically vibrated around her; she had something more (61) humor (98) mn: Danielle (259) born in Chicago; never left Illinois; father alcoholic; mother hotel maid; dad died when Dana ten; mother married wife, kid beater; at 14, Dana quit school ran away; got in trouble; juvie; stabbed step-father (216) biker chick for year; had tattoo; married Charlie; violent; ended up in hospital; got divorced (219)	01. Don't Tell 04. Nothing To Fear 07. Count To Ten
Sheriff Eastman Ocean City, MD	[very minor secondary character] contacted Lou Moore regarding Bryce Lewis's visitor	04. Nothing To Fear
Sergeant Elliott Wheaton, IL	[very minor secondary character] officer who arrived to investigate fire at Hunter's homestead // local Wheaton PD (441)	04. Nothing To Fear
Tammy Fields Hillsboro Women's Penitentiary	[no appearance in book] provided information about Hanover House to Sue // Sue's cell mate for five years; got 25 to life for killing wife-beating husband (15)	04. Nothing To Fear
Stuart Fletcher Ocean City, MD	[very minor secondary character] Bryce Lewis's public defender	04. Nothing To Fear
Lillian Goodman Chicago, IL	[no appearance in book] Mia broke news to Dana, husband beat her and her mother to death Thursday; lasted less than a week out of Hanover House	04. Nothing To Fear
Naomi Goodman Chicago, IL	[no appearance in book] Lillian's daughter	04. Nothing To Fear
Ben Goodman Chicago, IL	[no appearance in book] Lillian's son	04. Nothing To Fear
Mr. Goodman Chicago, IL	[no appearance in book] tool for mis-direction; Mia warned Dana that Goodman not in custody, dangerous (47) arrested in Detroit (29)	04. Nothing To Fear
David Hunter Chicago, IL	[important secondary character] Max's brother; secretly in love with Dana; helped out around Hanover House // a face that women fell in love with; Dana's treasured friend (42) charming; made Dana want to grin (43) gray eyes (45) tall; dark (46) muscular back (200)	01. Don't Tell 04. Nothing To Fear 07. Count To Ten 11. I Can See You 12. Silent Scream
Dr. Maximillian "Max" Hunter Chicago, IL	[minor secondary character] Caroline's husband (18) David's brother (47) tall man; used cane (110) Dr.; coaches basketball team at Y (441)	01. Don't Tell 11. I Can See You
Caroline [Stewart] Hunter Chicago, IL	[important secondary character] helped Dana at Hanover House; attacked by Sue // Dana's best friend; Hanover House success story; married two years; baby due in six weeks (18) blue eyes (79) blond brows (81) shiny blond hair; calm eyes; serenely content (89)	01. Don't Tell 04. Nothing To Fear
Phoebe Hunter Chicago, IL	[very minor secondary character] David's mother	01. Don't Tell 04. Nothing To Fear 12. Silent Scream
Tom [Stewart] Hunter Chicago, IL	[very minor secondary character] Caroline's son (18) tall; blond; boy (441)	01. Don't Tell 04. Nothing To Fear 11. I Can See You 12. Silent Scream
Huxley Wight's Landing, MD	[very minor secondary character] Lou's head deputy; veritable encyclopedia of town and inhabitants (153)	04. Nothing To Fear
Jill	[no appearance in book] Ethan's ex-wife; married for wrong reasons (134) Navy pilot (135)	04. Nothing To Fear
Detective Janson Morgantown, MD	[minor secondary character] found Cheryl Rickman's body; working with Lou Moore // homicide division in Morgantown (154)	04. Nothing To Fear
Captain Johnson Washington, DC	Clay's captain in DCPD (277)	04. Nothing To Fear
John Kehoe Wight's Landing, MD	[very minor secondary character] County Coroner (75) thirty-year career as medical examiner (178)	04. Nothing To Fear
Stephanie Kelsey Chicago, IL	Lawndale Fire Department EMT; Sue's alias at Hunter fire	04. Nothing To Fear
Dr. George Lee Chicago, IL	[very minor secondary character] helped Dana with clients of Hanover House; became Sue's murder victim // (243) small man; 5'6"; 130 lbs; seventy at least (244)	04. Nothing To Fear
Mrs. Leeds Sun City, Florida	[no appearance in book] Randi's mother (329)	04. Nothing To Fear
Bryce Lewis Ocean City, MD	[minor secondary character] Arrested for petty theft in Ocean City, Maryland // Sue Conway's brother; stuttered (9) 17-y-o (10)	04. Nothing To Fear
Uncle Earl Lewis Chicago, IL	[no appearance in book] James's murder victim // Sue Conway's Uncle; raised Sue and Bryce // Sue believed he had mushed Bryce's brain (10)	04. Nothing To Fear
Aunt Lucy Lewis Chicago, IL	[no appearance in book] James's murder victim // Sue Conway's Aunt; raised Sue and Bryce // Sue believed she had mushed Bryce's will(10)	04. Nothing To Fear
Shauna Lincoln Chicago, IL	[very minor secondary character] battered woman Dana meeting at bus station	04. Nothing To Fear
James Lorenzano Chicago, IL	[minor secondary villain] Sue hired James to find people for her, then had slit his throat, but failed to kill (14) minor mob ties in New York (288) late 40s, early 50s; distinguished thug; silver temples lending air of dignity (478)	04. Nothing To Fear
Maddie Chicago, IL	[no appearance in book] Dana's estranged sister; blames Dana for mother's death (425)	04. Nothing To Fear
Maria Chicago, IL	[no appearance in book] started Hanover House; Dana attended her support group (426)	04. Nothing To Fear
Donnie Marsden Chicago, IL	[minor secondary character] Sue planned to join forces with him to exact retribution // leader of drug trafficking ring Sue was part of; served seven of ten-year sentence (109) got AIDS from attack in prison (348)	04. Nothing To Fear
Clay Maynard Wight's Landing, MD	[important secondary character] stayed in Wight's Landing with the Vaughn's to help while Ethan followed clues to Chicago // Ethan's partner; cop after the Corp (28) served in Marines with Richard and Ethan (31) trains security guards; trains police departments in small towns on assault weapons and personal defense (39) 38-y-o; DC resident; former cop, 8 years with DCPD, decorated; former Marine; security consulting business (180) black eyes (453)	04. Nothing To Fear
Paul McMillan Wight's Landing, MD	[no appearance in book] Sue's murder victim // Cheryl Richman's fiancé (26) architect in Baltimore (32) about 25-y-o (153) 5'11"; 175 lbs (155)	04. Nothing To Fear
Mia Mitchell Chicago, IL	[important secondary character] closely involved with Hanover House; part of investigation of numerous murders // homicide detective; Dana's friend; petite blond (46) round blue eyes (465)	01. Don't Tell 03. I'm Watching You 04. Nothing To Fear 06. You Can't Hide 07. Count To Ten
Sheriff Louisa J. Moore Wight's Landing, MD	[important secondary character] investigating the murder of Paul McMillan; dealt closely with Clay, Ethan, Randi // previously worked special victims in Boston (159) dark hair barely brushed her shoulders; early 30s; pretty face (319)	04. Nothing To Fear
Todd Murphy Chicago, IL	[no appearance in book] Detective / worked with Abe and Mia	03. I'm Watching You 04. Nothing To Fear 06. You Can't Hide 07. Count To Ten
Fred Oscola Hillsboro Women's Penitentiary	[minor secondary character] Sue exacted revenge after hiring him to help with a few chores // he applied bruises to Sue's face (87) guard on Sue's cell block (88) got the girls whatever they wanted for a price (88) prison guard at Hillsboro Women's Penitentiary (320)	04. Nothing To Fear
Abe Reagan Chicago, IL	[secondary character] investigating deaths around Chicago area with Mia // Mia's partner; big man (241) had worked undercover narcotics (242) detective; piercing blue eyes (295)	03. I'm Watching You 04. Nothing To Fear 06. You Can't Hide 07. Count To Ten
Kara Reagan Chicago, IL	[no appearance in book] Abe's seven-month-old daughter (241) chubby little girl with bright red curls (329)	04. Nothing To Fear
Cheryl Rickman Wight's Landing, MD	[secondary character] Sue's murder victim; played very small role in beginning of book // Alec's speech therapist (5) live-in speech therapist (12) slender; fine-boned (56) fingerprints on file with Baltimore School District (154)	04. Nothing To Fear
Ruby Chicago, IL	[no appearance in book] youngest member of Hanover House; eighteen; terrified of her father; her baby's father; Dylan: her baby	04. Nothing To Fear
Alicia Samson University of Morgantown	[no appearance in book] Sue's murder victim // name on credit card abductor used in Morgantown (57) student at university in Morgantown; doesn't answer phone (58)	04. Nothing To Fear
Kristie Sikorski Chicago, IL	[very minor secondary character] Sue's murder victim // pediatric nurse; mother of three (222) slightly overweight (221)	04. Nothing To Fear
Lieutenant Marc Spinnelli Chicago, IL	[very minor secondary character] Lieutenant of Detectives; Abe and Mia's boss	01. Don't Tell 03. I'm Watching You 04. Nothing To Fear 06. You Can't Hide 07. Count To Ten
Sandra "Sandy" Stone Chicago, IL	[very minor secondary character] Sue's murder victim; worked with Dana at Hanover House // social services (276) fortyish; graying hair; thick glasses; kind eyes (281)	04. Nothing To Fear
Officer Taggart Chicago, IL	[no appearance in book] officer who arrested Sue eleven years ago (418)	04. Nothing To Fear
Jack Unger Chicago, IL	[no appearance in book] revealed to readers that Jack and Julia were still a couple // Abe asked if Jack was holding down things at home for Julia (395)	03. I'm Watching You 04. Nothing To Fear 06. You Can't Hide 07. Count To Ten
Dr. Julia VanderBeck Chicago, IL	[very minor secondary character] medical examiner // showed Mia another body with same bullet wound as Mrs. Sikorski; Mia recognized Dr. Lee	03. I'm Watching You 04. Nothing To Fear
Alexander "Alec" Quentin Vaughn Wight's Landing, MD Chicago, IL	[main supporting character] Son of Stan and Randi Vaughn; Godson of Ethan Buchanan // kidnapped by Sue Conway to use as pawn to exact retribution // scrawny kid; twelve; looked ten (11) deaf; mute (12) got meningitis when two years old, almost died; left him deaf, epileptic; cochlear implant 3-y-a (33) stubborn; not bad; thoughtful (34) gray eyes (459)	04. Nothing To Fear
Brenda Vaughn Wight's Landing, MD	[no appearance in book] Richard's wife	04. Nothing To Fear
Dick and Edna Vaughn Wight's Landing, MD	[no appearance in book] Richard and Stan's parents; salt of the earth; retired; traveling (153)	04. Nothing To Fear
Randi Vaughn aka: Miranda Cook Wight's Landing, MD	[main supporting character] Alec's mother; married Stan ten years ago (24) Ethan had known 10 years (23)	04. Nothing To Fear
Richard Vaughan Wight's Landing, MD	[no appearance in book] served in Afghanistan with Ethan; Stan blamed Ethan for Richard's death // Stan's brother; wore dress blues to wedding; best man (24) Ethan's best friend; had stayed to shield Ethan when ambushed in Kandahar (28) spoke Farsi (34) had 3 daughters (35)	04. Nothing To Fear
Stan Vaughn Wight's Landing, MD	[important supporting character] Alec's adopted father; Randi's husband // Ethan knew 25 years; oldest friend (23) slimy bastard (180) Stan laundering money in New York, New Jersey area (176)	04. Nothing To Fear
Leroy Vickers Chicago, IL	[very minor secondary character] Sue's target // testified against Sue years ago for a lesser plea (108) flabby arms; flabby legs (149)	04. Nothing To Fear
Jackie Williams Chicago, IL	[very minor secondary character] Sue's murder victim // Randi's neighbor (356)	04. Nothing To Fear
Eve "Evie" Wilson Chicago, IL	[important secondary character] resident of Hanover House; at odds with Dana; occasionally took care of Alec // half of face still as stone from madman's attack two years ago; dark eyes (17) nerves in right hand damaged; three surgeries lessened scars (18) studying psychology (19) 20-y-o; hiding in women's shelter because afraid to face the world (20) brought to center when 15; terrified runaway; quick mind; sassy mouth (20)	01. Don't Tell 04. Nothing To Fear 11. I Can See You
Rob Winters Asheville, NC	[no appearance in book] Caroline's ex-husband; the monster who injured Evie (169)	01. Don't Tell 04. Nothing To Fear
Zach Wight's Landing, MD	[no appearance in book] Huxley's son; played with Richard and Ethan as children (290)	04. Nothing To Fear

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Karen Rose

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Nothing To Fear Reviews:

Rated	Posted	Site	Notes, Comments, Etc.
3.50	09-....-2005	A Romance Review
B / warm	07-31-2005	All About Romance
4.33 average	{33 reviews}	Amazon	as of: October 25, 2011
B	07-04-2007	Aneca's World	also posted on Good Reads
4.00	05-30-2006	Armchair Interviews	also posted on Amazon
4.91 average	{11 reviews}	Barnes and Noble	as of: October 26, 2011
3.00	--	Book Loons
3.80 average	{5 reviews}	Doo Yoo [UK book seller site]	as of: October 27, 2011
10 / 8 / 10	08-09-2005	Eye On Romance
4.03 average	{62 reviews}	Good Reads	as of: October 26, 2011
A-	08-09-2010	Leslie's Psyche
4.17 average	{6 reviews}	Library Thing	as of: October 26, 2011
--	08-31-2011	Maroon Weekly	not a review; a recommendation
3.00	01-09-2011	One Good Book Deserves Another	also posted on Amazon, Good Reads, Shelfari
4.34 average	{25 reviews}	Paperback Swap	as of: October 26, 2011
--	02-21-2009	Paranormal & Romantic Suspense Rvw	{no review}
4.33 average	{3 reviews}	Play . com [UK Seller]	as of: October 27, 2011
--	--	Publisher's Weekly	found on Reader Store
5.00	09-01-2005	Romance Junkies	also posted on Amazon, B&N, Good Reads, Library Thing, Paperback Swap, Shelfari, We Read
4.00	09-25-2005	Romance Reader At Heart
B	11-04-2009	Rosario's Reading Journal	Uruguayan reader
4.50 top pick	--	RT (Romantic Times) Book Reviews	2005 Suspense Nominee
4.11 average	{9 reviews}	Shelfari	as of: October 27, 2011
10 out of 10	04-27-2011	Sherri's Thoughts and Ramblings	also on posted on Good Reads
4.00	12-21-2009	The Allure of Books	only posted on Good Reads
4.00	08-12-2011	The Book Shelf, My Book Blog	also posted on Good Reads
4.00	09-04-2005	The Mystery Reader	duplicate of The Romance Reader
4.00	09-03-2005	The Romance Reader	duplicate of The Mystery Reader
B+	09-29-2007	Thrifty Reader
4.59 average	{18 reviews}	We Read	as of: October 27, 2011
4.95	10-27-2011	Wolf Bear Does Books	shorter post on Amazon, Good Reads, Shelfari

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