No Escape

Shannon K. Butcher

Grant Kent has left the Delta Force and is on his way to Denver to start a new job with an old friend. But he stops in Springfield, Missouri, to visit a friend from childhood. He had rescued Isabelle once when they were both foster children. Fourteen years later she is afraid of a different threat and he feels he needs to care for her again before he goes on to his new life. He has to settle his old life.

Isabelle has grown into a strong, independent woman. She is an elementary school teacher and has taken in a foster child of her own. But her childhood friends from the foster home are dying. Although they all appear to be suicides, she believes they were murdered. She is warning the other foster children because she is afraid for their safety. She hadn't expected Grant to appear on her door step after her warning.

After Grant studies her facts and suppositions, he agrees with her. The others had been murdered. But how to prove it? And how to stop it when they don't know who or why - just the connection of the victims? If Grant doesn't get to Denver in the next day or two he will lose the new job. But he can't leave Isabelle. There is not only the mysterious "suicide" threat, but also her foster son's father is trying to come back and take away the son he abused. Grant refuses to leave her or their remaining childhood friends until the problems are solved.

Besides that, Isabelle's green eyes pull Grant back in to the friendship they had as teenagers with more adults feelings thrown in. He doesn't want to leave her but also knows he is not right for her and cannot stay.

No Escape is the third book in Shannon K. Butcher's romance suspense trilogy. While still edgy, this one is not as violent as the first two. I appreciated that. It's a romance so I knew everything would work out. Even so, the story sucked me in and kept me wondering how it was going to be resolved.

There is a contradiction in Grant's character that was never explained to my satisfaction, but otherwise he's the tough Alpha male who can be tender at the right times and the complete romantic hero. (You know, romantic suspense fare.) The murders scenario works well, too.

I recommend this book - as long as you don't mind the graphic sex scenes. The foster children angle makes it stronger (and adds a social comment). I had heard that Ms. Butcher wasn't happy with the final, edited version of this novel. I wonder what we the readers have missed? I also heard she has had a fantasy series accepted. I'm looking forward to it.

Notice: Explicit sexual content, Non-graphic violence, Strong indecent language

No Regrets
No Control
No Escape