TAKING CARE OF THE TARGET by Cindi Madsen-a review

Amazon.com (paper) / Amazon.ca (paper)/ B&N (paper) / KOBO / BAM /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 23, 2017

Vince DaMarco always liked Cassie, the shy waitress who works at the restaurant that serves as a front for his mob boss uncle. Unfortunately, she witnesses a back alley hit, and while fleeing, she’s struck by a truck. Now she’s at the top of the hit list. Desperate to stop anyone who’d draw out Cassie’s death, Vince volunteers to take care of it.

Cassie Dalton has no recollection of her accident, but she’s told she’s lucky to be alive. A few years are missing from her memory, and the unsettling feeling that something isn’t right—along with the creepy sensation that she’s being watched—won’t go away.

Vince shows up right when Cassie needs him most. In a world of confusion, the rugged stranger is the one thing that makes sense. But little does she know, she’s found refuge in the arms of the very man who’s been sent to kill her.

•••••

REVIEW: TAKING CARE OF THE TARGET by Cindi Madsen is a stand alone, romantic suspense story focusing on waitress Cassie Dalton, and restaurant manager Vince DaMarco.

Vince is the nephew of one of New Jersey’s mob bosses but refuses to get involved in the ‘illegal’ side of the business. His attraction to waitress Cassie Dalton finds our hero battling his allegiance to the family, and his need to protect Cassie when a shake down goes wrong. Cassie will be the prime witness in a murder but an accident will leave our heroine without any memory, and Vince DaMarco is sent to ensure that Cassie doesn’t survive to testify. What ensues is the relationship between Cassie and Vince, and Vince’s struggle to keep Cassie one step ahead of the mob.

The relationship between Cassie and Vince is slow to build as Vince is all about protecting the woman with whom he is falling in love. Vince has been ordered to kill Cassie before her memory returns but our hero finds himself Cassie’s personal security fearing his uncle will call in someone else to finish the job. Cassie is unaware of her previous friendship with Vince, and Vince has yet to tell Cassie the truth. The attraction between Cassie and Vince is palpable; their chemistry is intense; the $ex scenes are mostly implied.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Vince’s troubled brother Bobby, and their uncle Carlo Rossi. We are introduced to a number of friends, law enforcement, acquaintances, employees, and members of the Rossi crime family-most of whom are very loyal to Carlo Rossi.

TAKING CARE OF THE TARGET is a slow building story line as Vince struggles between duty and love. The premise is suspenseful; the characters are dynamic and colorful; the romance is emotional and passionate. TAKING CARE OF THE TARGET is a spirited and intimate look at two people whose lives are thrown together by circumstance and the mob.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy