My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Deadline by Sandra Brown is a Grand Central Publication and will be released on September 24, 2013. Amelia is a widow with two children. She has removed herself from public life as much as possible. Her deceased husband, Jeremy, was murdered by his lover's husband and now Amelia is having to testify at his trial. This has brought out reporters and other media, causing Amelia to attempt to keep a low profile. However, she never suspects someone would go so far as to move in right next door and break in to her home and spy on her. Which is exactly what Dawson did, and he got he caught- by Amelia. Dawson, like Amelia's former husband, is suffering for PTSD. Dawson was a reporter covering the war effort. He came home with horrible nightmares and has resorted to popping pills and drinking too much. When he gets a phone call about covering this trial, he has other reasons for agreeing to it. He never expected to be so drawn to Amelia or her two boys. Amelia is furious at being spied on, so she and Dawson get off to a rather rocky start. But, Amelia's boys just love Dawson and before long, Amelia grudgingly opens up to Dawson a little. However, there have been some rather odd occurrences going on around Amelia's home. She suspects Dawson at first, but he swears he knows nothing about it. Then during a storm, when Amelia's nanny goes into to town for some supplies and never comes back, the investigation opens up the possibility that Jeremy may not have been murdered by his lover's husband after all. While we are pondering on all that, we are given excepts into Jeremy's childhood through a diary his mother kept. Jeremy's parents were vigilantes and his father was particularly cruel. Jeremy didn't fit in with that lifestyle so his parents gave him to a friend to raise. Things might have been alright with Jeremy, but he came back from the war a changed man. Or did he? Since Jeremy's father, Carl, was never found, was it possibly the two of them finally met after Jeremy became an adult? What impact would it have on him to know his father was a killer? Amelia never knew anything about Jeremy's past, but she is quickly getting a lesson from Dawson of all people. This would have to be one of the most different novels by Sandra Brown that I have read. This one called attention to the horrors and realities of war. The PTSD suffered by men and women who see things we couldn't possibly imagine and the effect that has on their coping mechanism. The plot is twisted. So many lives were manipulated by one hard, cold, killer. A man hunt that has lasted for years, the danger Amelia and her sons are in, and the secrets Dawson are keeping, has the suspense mounting. The feelings that develop between Dawson and Amelia can only grow once Dawson is able to come to some kind of peace in regards to his past. Not only about his PTSD, but about his heritage. I loved the way he managed to use his gifts as a reporter to bring about closure, not only for himself, but for many others as well.<br />This is a multi-layered story with Brown's usual twist and turn type romantic suspense, but there were many other issues at hand in this one. I recommend this one to all the lovers of romantic suspense and mysteries, but this one could also appeal to those that like women's fiction and contemporary romance. Another solid effort by Sandra Brown. This one is an A. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the DRC of this book.
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