Open Season

Linda Howard

On her 34th birthday Daisy Minor decides it is time to change her life. She's the sterotypical librarian in a small Alabama city - single, bookish, and no social life. She's not even sure how she got into the rut. No more.

Daisy breaks out of her shell and with the help of some friends changes her look and attitude. She starts checking out the local night life. Unfortunately, she doesn't realize that the drunk she saw carried away by two "friends" was actually a man who just had been killed by those same men. When a third man realizes she was a witness, he knows something must be done about her.

Meanwhile Police Chief Jack Russo has also noticed Daisy. Her smile had caught his attention before she changed her style. When she came out with her new look he felt himself pulled right in. He also discovers she is involved with some bad goings ons in their county. Is she involved? Or does he have to keep her from getting killed herself?

This is a predictable suspense romance novel. It is brief without much character development. It's a pleasant, unchallenging read to while away a few hours. I was glad to see that for once there isn't a scene where she is about to be killed and he comes riding to the rescue at the last minute. Instead he realizes her danger and puts her out of reach before someone else finds her. Daisy isn't in the way when the final confrontation occurs. Those scenes usually make a book more exciting but all too often the reader wants to say "Dummy, don't go there! Do what you're told!" Daisy's a librarian - she's smart - she does what she is told.

Notice: Explicit sexual content, Non-graphic violence