The White Picket Fence by Karen Rose – a Review

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Description:
Tino Ciccotelli is a sketch artist who discovers his newest client, a victim of a vicious assault, is his former high school art teacher. He is devastated to see her injuries and determined to help the police catch her attacker, but he must also deal with the return of her niece, his first love who left him when their lives were just beginning.

Charlotte Walsh has always regretted leaving Tino, her fear of being stuck in marriage like her parents driving her away from Tino and his dreams of a house with a white picket fence. Her life did not play out as she’d expected and, after an assault by a stalker, has returned to Philadelphia, only to have her aunt targeted for violence.
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Now she and Tino must work together to find the man who left her aunt for dead, but soon realize the killer’s true target is much closer than they think.

Review:

The White Picket Fence by Karen Rose is a novella based on her romance suspense series (30.5). An old favorite returns, Tino Ciccotelli; who is a sketch artist, passionately dedicated to helping victims identify those who were assaulted.   Tino returns to Philadelphia, to help a former high school art teacher who was brutally beaten; together Tino and the teacher are able to draw what she remembers. Tino is also faced with seeing his former girlfriend, watching over her aunt; she was his first love, who left him 17 years ago.

Charlotte Walsh has never forgotten Tino, and always regretted leaving him; which was due to her family and wanting to be free.  Charlotte was very close to her aunt, and she is devasted by the assault by an unknown stalker.  Charlie was a food critic, and one day she gave a bad review, which led her to be assaulted; the attacker was sent to jail.   Her life was difficult, especially with her continued damage of her attack; now she worries about her aunt. 

Tino and Charlie slowly begin have feelings again, but they both try to keep it at a distant, since there is someone out there who is determined to find Charlie.  Tino will get his brother, Vito (a detective) to help find out who is behind the threat against Charlie.  They learn that the man who attacked Charlie a few years ago, was murdered in prison. This leads to another person who is killing those close to Charlie; some one from the past, who will stop at nothing to kidnap her. Tino was determined to protect Charlie at any cost, despite Vito trying to keep him from getting involved. Will Tino save Charlie? 

I really liked Tino and Charlie together, and hoped they would find a way to start again.  It was also very nice to see Vito and Sophie again, as they were wonderful together. As we get closer to the end, all hell breaks out, as both Tino and Charlie’s life is in danger, with a twisted killer on the loose.  The White Picket Fence was a terrific read, that had us holding our breath.   The White Picket Fence was so very well written by Karen Rose.   This was a fast paced and exciting thriller, which I suggest you read. 

Reviewed by Barb

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