Sting Review

Title:  Sting
Series:  N/A
Author:  Sandra Brown
Publisher:  Grand Central Publishing
Release Date:  August 16, 2016
Order Info:  Amazon  Barnes & Noble
My Rating:  4 Captive ♥'s

First Thoughts:  Sometimes, the hardest thing to give is trust.

Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing for providing this ARC via Netgally.



Synopsis:
When Jordie Bennet and Shaw Kinnard lock eyes across a disreputable backwater bar, something definitely sparks. Shaw gives off a dangerous vibe that makes men wary and inspires women to sit up and take notice. None feel that undercurrent more strongly than savvy businesswoman Jordie, who doesn't belong in a seedy dive on the banks of a bayou. But here she is . . . and Shaw Kinnard is here to kill her. 

As Shaw and his partner take aim, Jordie is certain her time has come. But Shaw has other plans and abducts Jordie, hoping to get his hands on the $30 million her brother has stolen and, presumably, hidden. However, Shaw is not the only one looking for the fortune. Her brother's ruthless boss and the FBI are after it as well. Now on the run from the feds and a notorious criminal, Jordie and Shaw must rely on their wits-and each other-to stay alive. 

Miles away from civilization and surrounded by swampland, the two play each other against their common enemies. Jordie's only chance of survival is to outwit Shaw, but it soon becomes clear to Shaw that Jordie isn't entirely trustworthy, either. Was she in on her brother's scam, or is she an innocent pawn in a deadly vendetta? And just how valuable is her life to Shaw, her remorseless and manipulative captor? Burning for answers-and for each other-this unlikely pair ultimately make a desperate move that could be their last.

My Review:
The Sting grabbed my attention with the first line, Exactly twenty-two minutes before Mickey Bolden met his maker, he tossed a handful of popcorn into his mouth and said, "A woman walks into a bar."  Mickey Bolden and Shaw Kinnard appear shocked when Jordie Bennet, the woman they have been hired to kill, walks into the seedy, bayou bar as they are discussing their hit.  Clearly, she is out of her element, and they are screwed.  What's going on?  Twenty-two minutes later, something goes down in the parking lot where they have retreated, waiting to carry out their hit as she leaves the bar.  Something goes wrong, and Shaw ends up on the run with Jordie tied up in the backseat.  Both the FBI and the criminal who ordered her death are desperate to find them.  While Shaw tries to outwit them, Jordie tries to outwit Shaw.  After all, there's $30 million dollars and her brother's life at stake.  Shaw knows a place to hide in the swamp where no one will find them, buying him time to get the truth out of Jordie & broker a deal with the highest bidder.  She has no doubt that he will kill her - He has no doubt she isn't telling him everything she knows.  Neither trusts the other.  They hadn't planned on the sizzling chemistry that sparked between them as they hid from the world, waiting to see who would cave first.  And so this story plays out.  

Sandra Brown is a master at manipulating characters and plot lines.  Her classic twists & turns are evident in this book, although there is one "reveal" that I felt was obvious - a matter of "when" it would be revealed rather than "if". A strong, well-developed supporting cast adds depth and a sense of urgency that builds throughout as their stories unfold throughout the search for Shaw & Jordie.  And as the end approaches, yes, there is the classic Sandra Brown shocking twist so evident in her writing.  Another great read for fans of Romance/Suspense!  A Must Read!

My Rating:  4 Captive ♥'s . . . And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . . xxx
Sandra