“It is only when we love with our hearts and we are loved in return by another that we dismantle all our walls and safeguards. It is the dismantling of this fortress we build to protect our heart from mortal damage that makes love risky; so risky, that some are willing to give up their bodies and live out their lives with someone who does not love and adore them, and will never marry them, rather than risk their heart. They will never take the chance. But love is always worth the risk, because the rewards are incalculable.”

Noir written with a present-day setting is a tough thing to pull off, but Bobby Underwood does so with this fantastic entry in his noir-shot series. It’s a bit different from his other noirs, in that it has more sensual/romantic scenes as the protagonist and the love of his life try to thwart a possible deadly showdown that they know is coming. The suspense is in the how and where, and what they’ll do to avoid it. Even though the novel’s setting is in today’s world, it has a gothic feel like those romantic dramas of old, yet spiced with a tasteful sexiness that gives the story a lot of zing. Even though the love between Jack and Harper is sudden and unexpected, it’s real, and Jack explains it to her with this great quote:

“Perhaps love is a magic between two people which should never be questioned, whether it happens in a heartbeat, or over time. Because to question it is to destroy its magic.”

Something else that’s magic is how Underwood creates a combination of a foreboding atmosphere with a beautiful love story full of joy. Another top-notch shot of noir from the pen of Bobby Underwood. ( )