STOP ME
The Last Stand Series (Book Two)
Brenda Novak
MIRA
ISBN: 978-0-7783-2460-7
July 2008
Romantic Suspense

Jasmine Stratford's world forever changed when her little sister, Kimberly, was kidnapped sixteen years ago. Now she's received her sister's bracelet in a package with a note simply saying: Stop Me. Jasmine believes her sister's kidnapper sent the package and that he's in New Orleans. She's determined to find him and the truth behind what happened to her sister all those years ago.

Romain Fornier just wants to be left alone. He lost his world when his wife died, and then his daughter was kidnapped and murdered. Romain took the law into his own hands and killed the man he believed was responsible for his daughter's pain and death. He served his time for his crime, then returned to his Cajun roots in a Louisiana small town and rarely ventures out to see anyone. He's not sure what to make of the woman who appears on his doorstep. Could she be right and the man he killed really have been innocent? Is it possible the monster responsible for his daughter's death is still out there hurting other little girls?

Jasmine is a psychological profiler, although she has no formal training, and she's determined to use her knowledge to finally put the past behind her and find out what really happened to her sister. The only way to do that is to find out how Romain's daughter's case is connected to her sister's and who is behind both tragedies. She needs Romain's help even if he doesn't want to be a part of it. Will they find the answers to stop a killer before it's too late? Is there more to these crimes than they could ever expect? And what if their attraction to each other leads to more danger?

STOP ME is book two in Ms. Novak's The Last Stand series following, TRUST ME. I feel readers will better understand this series reading them in order, however if you do start out of order each story can stand alone. With STOP ME we are taken into the world of child kidnappings and killers, and the families they destroy. We see the effect actions by one have on many, and not all villains start out realizing what they are doing is wrong. Jasmine's character is one that will touch your heart; she lost a sister and her family and suffers from deep guilt over it all. Romain faces any parent's nightmare and his actions for me, were completely believable. Ms. Novak has a way of taking readers into the villain's point of view that will leave you breathless. The suspense, romance, and drama, are all woven together in a way that will make STOP ME a hard book to put down. I highly recommend Ms. Novak's The Last Stand series to all fans of romantic suspense. It's sure to find its place on your keeper shelf.

Reviewed by Wendy Keel
Rating 4 ½