NEXT TO DIE by Marliss Melton (Warner)

Another great romantic suspense!

SYNOPSIS:  NAVY SEAL Lieutenant Commander Joe Montgomery is the lone survivor of a horrific mission.  How can he forgive himself for the deaths of everyone serving under him?  He comes home only to find his neighbor, Lieutenant Penny Price, offering him assistance.  Or is she just a nosey busybody?  Joe isn't sure at first, but now he finds himself wanting to protect her as the man who killed her father now wants Penny and her sister, Lia, dead.

MY THOUGHTS:  I've read one book before by Mariliss Melton, the first one in this Navy SEALS series, and actually wasn't all that enthusiastic about it.  But NEXT TO DIE really hit a homerun with me!

Joe is a tortured hero, blaming himself for a mission that went seriously wrong.  He's the epitome of a good leader, however, as he doesn't take the lives of the men serving under him for granted at all.  His journey back to living is a powerful one. Penny is the ideal heroine for a man like Joe.  Her steadfastness and inner goodness shine through every single page.  Marliss Melton does an excellent job at showing the love grow between these two characters.

Meanwhile, there is a substory involving Lia and Vinny, a nice romance that adds an additional layer to the story.  The intrigue involving the threats to Lia and Penny only enhance an already powerful story.  NEXT TO DIE captivated me from the first page.  It isn't always an easy story and Marliss Melton definitely takes the reader on an emotional rollercoaster. But boy, am I glad I decided to give Marliss Melton another shot!

The D2K Paranormal Junkies 2008 Challenge