DIE FOR ME (A Novel of the Valentine Killer) by Cynthia Eden

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 2013

She thought her fiancé was the perfect man—until he turned out to be the perfect killer…

Katherine Cole is running for her life, desperate to escape the Valentine Killer—so-called because he stabs his victims through the heart and leaves them holding a telltale single red rose. Still he tracks her to New Orleans and begins carving a bloody path to her door. But this time, Katherine refuses to run any farther. This time, she’ll do anything to stop the madman she once loved, even trust the sexy cop promising to keep her safe…

Detective Dane Black never lets his emotions interfere with his job, even as the Valentine Killer surfaces in New Orleans to stalk his prey. But when Dane agrees to protect the killer’s ex-fiancée, Katherine Cole, he can’t ignore the passion kindling between them. After a single unforgettable night binds them body and soul, Dane knows he won’t rest until Katherine is safe in his arms—and the Valentine Killer is dead.

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REVIEW: DIE FOR ME is a contemporary suspense storyline of murder and love. And the sociopathic mind that cannot separate the two.

Cynthia takes the reader on a journey of twists and turns, revelations and obsessions-a serial killer with a need to protect one woman at all costs; and a homicide detective with the same mission-but with a completely different set of morals and obligations. Love comes at a cost.

We follow Katherine as she endeavors to start a new life but the ritualistic murder of a television reporter hits too close to home and Katherine knows that the Valentine Killer has found her again. But going to the police brought more complications when she became their number one suspect. There was only one detective who knew that Katherine Cole was no murderer.

Cynthia intertwines the lives of many of the NOPD detectives, investigators, medical examiners, family and friends-and each will be affected and come into contact with a killer-but is there a copycat doing the work of the Valentine Killer. As the number of murder victims increase, so too, do the accusations, personal vendettas and plots of revenge. And each new victim is somehow linked to Katherine. Is the killer trying to send a message or set Katherine up for the fall?

The attraction between Dane and Katherine was immediate, but Dane knew that sleeping with a potential witness and possible suspect adds a whole other dimension to the investigation. But the pull between Dane and Katherine was obvious to everyone and even the killer kept his eye on Katherine at all times.

DIE FOR ME is a well-written and amazing storyline that you think you have figured out from the start. Although there were certain aspects of the storyline that were easily guessed there are a couple of twists –the question is not so much as whom but how? There is a strong family of secondary characters who play an integral part throughout the storyline. The characters were well developed and you knew that at some point each will have a story to tell.

Copy supplied by Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy