The Rebel by Adrienne Giordano-Review and Book Tour
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 1, 2015
Bad to the bone…in all the right ways
A brilliant civil lawyer, David Hennings has always been the outsider—at odds with his wealthy family, shunning relationships, defying convention as a sexy leather-jacketed biker. Which is why sculptor Amanda LeBlanc agrees to his request to reconstruct a skull from a cold case murder. The instant heat between them is scorching.
But once Amanda takes the job and gets too close to the rebellious attorney, her carefully balanced life is upended by a series of methodical attacks. Someone doesn’t want her to finish the job. Now David will risk everything not to lose the woman he unknowingly put in jeopardy.
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REVIEW: The Rebel begins with Amanda attending a gala and being approached by a detective seeking her help. Five years earlier, he discovered a buried skull while walking his dog and hasn’t been able to solve the case. Amanda is a well known artist and sculptor, but quickly tells the detective that her area of expertise doesn’t include forensic reconstruction. After the detective walks away, Pamela Hennings, who happens to overhear the conversation, strikes up a conversation with Amanda and asks if she will meet with her son, David, who has just moved back to Chicago. He needs some artwork for his new apartment and she thinks that Amanda is just the one to help him out. Seeing as how no one seems to be able to tell Mrs. Hennings no, Amanda agrees. What Amanda doesn’t realize is that Pamela Hennings overheard her conversation with the detective, and thinks that David may be able to persuade her to help out.
When David calls Amanda and goes to meet her, the attraction is immediate. Neither is what the other expected and both are intrigued. However, when David broaches the subject of the reconstruction, Amanda tries to politely decline, but when David ups the ante, she agrees to “look” at the case. Once Amanda decides to take on the task asked of her, her world is turned upside down. She has always lived her life in neutral, afraid of upsetting the balance that she finally gained after the death of her mother years before, who also just happened to be a forensic artist. David can’t believe what’s happening and enlists the help of his father’s law firm, namely, their private investigator. But when David’s sister and he argue in front of Amanda, she thinks they are all crazy and decides that she likes neutral. A lot. When things take a dangerous turn though, it’s David who moves heaven and earth to set things right. Will Amanda be able to accept his help and not lose her heart in the process? Well, my friends, you will just have to read to find out. And, oh, what a read it is.
Adrienne Giordano has once again written a story that grabs you from the very beginning. Amanda is a wonderfully written character, as is David. Amanda’s independent streak and sense of honor will have you pulling for her right from the get-go. David’s love of his mother and family endears him to you immediately, but it’s his protective nature that will hook you. Their chemistry is amazing and how they deal with all that happens will leave you cheering. We also get to see characters from previous stories, which is always a plus in my world. If you’re looking for a mystery wrought with romance, this one is for you. This author has quickly become a favorite of mine and I can’t wait for the next installment. Well done, Adrienne Giordano, very very well done!!
Copy supplied by the tour promoter
Review by Vickie M
Structures like this had a charm all their own that couldn’t be duplicated with modern wizardry. Old buildings, this building, had a life, a past to be researched and appreciated.
Or maybe he just wanted to believe that.
He rapped on the door. No hollow wood there. By the scarred look and feel of its heavy weight under his knuckles, it might be the original door. How amazing would that be?
The door swung open and a woman with lush curves a guy his size could wrap himself around greeted him. She wore jeans and a graphic T-shirt announcing he should make love, not war—gladly, sweetheart—and her honey-blond hair fell around her shoulders, curling at the ends. The whole look brought thoughts of lazy Sunday mornings, hot coffee and a few extracurricular activities, in a bed and out, David could think of.
To say the least, she affected him.
And she hadn’t even opened her mouth. Please don’t be an airhead.
“David?”
Yep. That was the voice from earlier. Soft and sweet and stirring up all kinds of images right along with Sunday mornings and coffee. With any luck, more than the coffee would be hot.
Hokay. Mission Pam Hennings getting derailed by wicked thoughts. Time to get serious.
“Hi. Amanda?”
“Yes.” She held her hand out. “Amanda LeBlanc.”
David grasped her hand and glanced down at her long, elegant fingers folding over his. Her silky skin absorbed his much larger hand, and he might like to stay this way awhile. Nice hands. Soft hands. He’d imagined a sculptor’s hands to be work-hardened and rough. Not that she swung an ax all day, but he’d expected…different.
“Um.” She pointed at their still joined hands. “I kinda need that hand back.”
Epic fail, Dave. He grinned and regrettably slid his hand away. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but where have you been all my life?”
As recoveries went, it wouldn’t be listed among the top hundred in brilliance, but a man had to work with what he had. Still, her lips, those extraordinary, shapely lips, twisted until she finally gave up and awarded him with a smile.
“Good one,” she said. “Come inside and we’ll talk about your project.”
USA Today bestselling author Adrienne Giordano writes romantic suspense and mystery. She is a Jersey girl at heart, but now lives in the Midwest with her workaholic husband, sports obsessed son and Buddy the Wheaten Terrorist (Terrier). She is a co-founder of Romance University blog and Lady Jane’s Salon-Naperville, a reading series dedicated to romantic fiction.
Connect with Adrienne: Website / Newsletter / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Street Team
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