| Excerpt:
PROLOGUE
"Is that her?" Detective Walsh
asked, talking around the wad of gum in his mouth.
Ryan Donatelli tugged at the
neck of his old football jersey while he looked everywhere but at the body
on the steel examination table. The morgue walls were closing in on him.
"I don't know." Even to him, his voice sounded tinny, far off. "Shelley's
small, but this woman seems much smaller. It's hard to say." The obvious
resemblance struck him, but he looked for any reason he could to deny
it.
"Dehydration, from the burns,"
the gray-haired coroner said. "It changes the facial appearance."
Ryan glanced up and noticed
the older man's immense nose and his astonishing resemblance to the comedian
and singer, Jimmy Durante.
The detective shrugged. "Well,
if you can't be sure, I guess we'll just have to…wait a minute! What
about this?" Walsh removed a small envelope from his jacket pocket and extracted
a plastic bag containing a necklace that had been tagged for evidence.
Ryan's stomach spasmed. Acid
scorched his throat. Every conscious thought screamed denial, yet his trembling
hand reached for the bag. Under the fluorescent lights, the ruby pendant
glowed like a hot ember. He squeezed it in his palm, trying to feel its pulsing
warmth--like the warmth of Shelley's smile.
Oh, God! It was as cold as the
body on the table.
"You okay?" The detective's
voice was muffled.
Ryan wanted to laugh at the
stupidity of the question, but at this moment, mirth was a foreign emotion
to him. With his index finger, he traced the outline of the small stone before
turning it over to read the inscription he knew he would find. Unshed tears
blurred his vision, but there it was. Happy B-day, Love, R.
"It's Shelley," he said and
turned away. He could no longer deny the evident truth, or hang onto the
tiniest thread of hope that this was a terrible mistake.
Sweet, stubborn Shelley, his
baby sister. She'd never argue politics, movies or anything mundane as the
weather again. Shelley loved to challenge him. She'd made him think in new
ways and consider new options. What would he do without her?
CHAPTER 1
"Al, I need a favor." Natalie
Southard bit her lower lip, uncertain if she was doing the right thing. Her
crazy scheme could get them both fired.
"What? Working overtime on a
Friday night isn't favor enough? By the way, this report isn't due for another
week. You do realize we're the only ones still working, don't you?" Alyson
McCormick sighed as she leaned back into the soft, tufted leather chair,
her arms and legs stretched out in front of her.
"Working on this report was
just an excuse to stay busy until everyone left. Now it's time for the real
favor." Natalie flipped the off switch on her computer, smiled at Alyson
and walked across the plush carpet to the office door. She poked her head
into the hallway and scanned its length for signs of activity. No lights
shone from the dozen other offices lining the wide corridor. The only audible
sound was the soft hiss of the air-conditioning.
Convinced they were indeed alone,
but still cautious, Natalie closed her office door and turned back to Alyson.
"Remember what I told you about DeMarco, that investor of my father's?"
"Yes. But I still don't understand
why you're suspicious. Your father's too shrewd a businessman to get involved
with a scam artist."
"Like I said before--gut instinct
and the media. DeMarco's been on the news and in the papers. He's been arrested
for everything from illegal gambling to murder. Mark my words, he has his
own agenda. I'm sure of it. I just need proof."
"But he's never been convicted."
Alyson squinted. Worry lines furrowed over her dark brows. "Oh, no! You've
got that look in your eyes. The 'I'm Ethel and you're Lucy' look. What
harebrained scheme are you planning now?"
Natalie smiled in spite of the
serious situation. Alyson knew her so well. "I do have a plan, but there's
nothing harebrained about it. You're right about my father being shrewd.
He's never accepted anyone or anything at face value. It's a safe bet he's
done a background check on DeMarco, and stashed the information in a file.
I'm going to find that file. Tonight."
Alyson's jaw dropped. "Are you
crazy? Spying on your own father?"
She knew Alyson was on the verge
of giving her a strong lecture on the subject of family trust and loyalty
so Natalie jumped in to stop her. "I'm not spying on my father. Just DeMarco.
Are you with me on this or not?"
"But your father told you to
back off. I know we used to sneak around and do things behind our parents
back. We're grown now. Since loyalty is a big issue around here, shouldn't
we abide by it?" Alyson smoothed the wrinkles from her too-short skirt, pushing
it down her thighs as far as she could. Her slim figure and petite height
forced her to buy her clothes from the young miss department.
Was she being fair in asking
for her friend's help? Over the years, the two of them had been involved
in some wild antics and spontaneous adventures, but none of them had more
serious consequences than a slap on the wrist or a tongue-lashing from an
irate parent.
At best, rifling her father's
private files after she had been warned to back off could have her banished
from the company. At worst, if her suspicions about DeMarco proved valid,
she could end up chained to a rock at the bottom of the Charles River. It
wasn't too late to send Alyson home. "In or out?"
"Okay, okay. Where do I come
in?" Alyson's voice sounded weary and resigned as she pushed blonde bangs
away from her eyes.
"You don't have to do much.
Really." Natalie's pulse raced with apprehension. She slid her fingers along
her desk's smooth edge before meeting Alyson's gaze. She wiped imaginary
dust from her fingertips with a tissue and cleared her throat.
"I want you to stay in my office
with the lights out and the door ajar just far enough to view the hallway.
If you see anyone coming toward father's office, dial extension 121. Let
it buzz once and hang up. Comprende?"
"Hey, just like a real private
eye or secret agent movie. Just call me Le Femme Nikita from now on."
"Then you'll do it?"
"Sure, but you owe me."
"What do you want?" God only
knew what Alyson would demand. It could be anything from scuba diving to
bungee jumping.
"To be your maid-of-honor."
"That's jumping the gun just
a bit, don't ya think?"
"Maybe, but that's what I
want."
Natalie rolled her eyes. "All
right."
She left Alyson at the door
and continued on her mission. She wasn't sure why she was tiptoeing on the
sky blue carpet. Her father owned the building, and she should be walking
down the corridor like the heiress apparent. But being sneaky made everything
seem eerie. Spooky, even. 
Reviews:
Buy
Suspicious Minds Products
-- Shirts, coffee mugs, hats, apron, tote bags, etc.
SUSPICIOUS MINDS
By: Kim Cox
March 2003
Paperback ISBN: 1-59279-943-4
Electronic ISBN: 1-59279-086-0
"A young man set out to avenge the death of his sister finds more than he
bargained for when he meets Natalie Southard.
Natalie Southards life has changed forever since finding out that her father,
Sam Southard, has dealings with crime boss Nick DeMarco. To her eyes her father
has always been a hero. Now that he is in some dangerous dealings she has
whatever faith she had in her father more than ever. More than ever is the
unexpected death of his secretary, Shelly Donatelli, who is found raped and
strangled. What she did not suspect was that Nick DeMarco would want to get her
also? With the death of Ms. Donatelli there were some papers that could send
both Sam and Nick away to jail if they are found. Thinking that Sam has the
papers, Nick gets rid of him only complicating the deal more than ever. Now that
both of them are dead there is only one person who can possibly have the papers,
and it could mean the end of Natalie Southard.
Ryan Donatelli, a.k.a. Tom Randolph, is a person who has a mission to solve.
Finding the man who killed his sister is just one mission that he cannot forget.
His main goal is putting Sam in prison, and his hidden agenda is taking down
Nick DeMarco as well. This task must not be interfered with even if it's a woman
that has gotten under his skin. Natalie could destroy his plans if she learns
his real identity. Only she is the key to finding not only Shelly’s killer but
also the evidence that could end Nick Demarco’s dealings. The only problem now
is that somebody killed Sam, and now he is a suspect. Only one person knows the
real truth to all the lies, secrets, and deaths that have been happening.
Together they team up to find the person while also trying to keep their
attraction from exploding into more than a sexual attraction. They set ought to
find the real truth only they can solve, the crime that could lay Shelly to rest
and avenge Natalie’s faith for her father.
Suspicious Minds to this reviewer was truly a romantic suspense to read
about and enjoy from the beginning. Kim Cox weaved a tale full of lies,
betrayal, murder and most of wrote about a woman who is persistent in finding
the truth of her fathers secret life. Ryan Donatelli is your typical hero who is
stricken by the death of his sister and coming to grips of finding the killer.
What he never suspected in finding the killer was Natalie. Everything she does
or talks about are things that Ryan would have wanted to have. Having a deep
attraction to each other is something neither of them thought to have. Murder
though is behind their back and a dangerous man is set out to kill them both.
Only working with each other will they find out the main guy through all this
and live a life with each other."
Reviewed by
MELINDA at
Loves Romances
April 2003
*******************************************************
"4 ½ Stars . . . From the intriguing Prologue, to the very end, SUSPICIOUS
MINDS is a
captivating read from a fresh new author. Natalie Southard is determined to
protect her family’s business so that someday she will be able to take over
her birthright as CEO. Yet, her father, normally a cautious and honest
businessman, seems to be endangering everything by dealing with Boston Mafia
boss Nick DeMarco. Why would he be doing this? What does DeMarco have on
him, if anything, or is Southard losing touch with reality?
He won’t listen to her concerns, brushing them aside as if she has nothing
to worry about, but she knows he’s keeping secrets from her—, as is her
boyfriend, Thomas Randolph, who also works for Southard.
Who can she trust? And when her father is murdered, whom can she turn to?
Caught within a web of deceit and intrigue, Natalie and Thomas are forced to
run for their lives while still trying to ascertain who is responsible for
what, who is lying, who is not, and when all is revealed, will Natalie even
be able to trust the man she loves?
A fast-paced, well-written Romantic Suspense, Ms. Cox has come up with a
winner. I recommend SUSPICIOUS MINDS without hesitation. My only reason for
deducting half a star results from some awkward dialogue that appears to be
leading the reader, not very subtly, to draw certain conclusions. This
propensity will undoubted be cured by more writing experience. Kim Cox is an
author to watch." ~Judy Gill at
ScribesWorld Reviews~
*******************************************************
" Ryan Donatelli, a New York Times reporter, goes undercover as a stock broker at
Southard & Southard in Boston to find his sister's killer. FBI agent Shelley
Donatelli was working undercover at the firm when she died in a tragic fire.
Ryan, posing as Thomas Randolph, quickly builds a list of suspects: the firm's
owner Sam Southard, a goon with suspected mafia connections by the name of
DeMarco, Southard's Vice-President Albert Lawrence, and Southard's daughter
Natalie. To get him closer to the case, Ryan, posing as Tom, begins dating
Natalie. Although she voices her own concerns about DeMarco to Ryan, he can't
completely trust Natalie. And she suspects him of working with DeMarco.
Neither can help falling in love.
The stakes get higher when Sam Southard is murdered in his own home. As
Natalie and Ryan dig around in the company hoping to uncover documents that they
discover Southard was keeping on all of his dealings with DeMarco, Ryan realizes
that someone is stalking Natalie. Through the entire story, which keeps you on
the edge of your seat, you never know who to trust or where the plot will turn
next. The suspense builds with murders, fires, kidnappings, and plots that lead
Natalie and Ryan into danger and each other's arms. And leads Natalie to
discover Ryan's true identity and the lies he had felt forced to tell her. Just
when you think nothing else can possibly happen, the couple is thrown into yet
another tragic circumstance that tests their love for each other.
Ms. Cox weaves a story with nail-biting excitement and a romance that is
fun and refreshing with enough intrigue to keep you guessing right up to the
end. I can't wait to read her next offering.
Overall rating:
Sensuality rating:
Mildly Sensual
Reviewer: Susan Lanier-Graham --theromancestudio.com
April 18, 2003
*******************************************************
"Ryan Donatelli was in the morgue. His stomach ached,
and acid scorched his throat. Ryan was there to identify his sister. The body
on the table looked nothing like her; it had been badly burnt. The only way he
had to identify her was a necklace that had been found with the body. “It’s
Shelly” Ryan said. He could no longer deny that it wasn’t her. His baby sister
was gone. What would he do without her?
Natalie Southard wanted to know what her father’s
relationship with Nicolas DeMarco was. DeMarco had been in the news for a lot
of things, and none of it had been for anything legal. He had been arrested for
everything from illegal gambling to murder. Nothing had ever stuck though.
Whenever Natalie would ask her father Sam about their relationship he would tell
her that DeMarco was just an old friend as well as a client. Natalie thought
whenever DeMarco came in to the brokerage firm he acted like he owned the
place. Sam told Natalie not to worry about his client. Natalie would not take
that for an answer. She decided to look through her father’s files to see if
she could find anything on DeMarco. Natalie asked her friend Alyson if she
would help her by being a lookout. If anyone came down the hall Alyson would
call the phone in Sam’s office and Natalie would hide.
Natalie had looked though all the desk drawers except
for the one that was locked. She was looking for something to unlock it when
the phone buzzed. She had to find somewhere to hide. She chose the closet
deciding whoever it was would not be going in there. She cracked the door just
enough to see what was going on in the room. Someone was reassembling the
phone. Were they bugging the phone? When Natalie made a noise her boyfriend
Thomas Randolph discovered her in the closet.
Ryan Donatelli had gotten a job at the Southard
brokerage firm, as Thomas Randolph, because he knew that somehow Sam Southard
and Nicolas DeMarco were responsible for his sister Shelly’s death. When he
finds Natalie hiding in her father’s office, he wonders if she could help him
find out what he needed to know. He hadn’t been honest with Natalie because he
wasn’t sure whose side she was on. But finding her snooping around her father’s
office in the dark made him think maybe she was someone he could trust.
Natalie wasn’t sure she could trust Thomas. Was he a
plant for DeMarco? She would have to be cautions until she found out. Natalie
decided the only way she could find out about Thomas was to keep him near her by
continuing to date him until she knew for sure.
Kim Cox’s story is one that keeps you on the edge of
your seat. Natalie and Ryan are not sure that they can trust each other, but
the attraction between them seems to overwhelm them. They know they shouldn’t
get involved but it is happening just the same. The two of them are thrown into
more danger when Natalie’s father is killed. They now have two murders that
seem to lead back to Nicolas DeMarco and no way to prove it. Can they prove
that he did it? Can Natalie forgive Ryan when she finds out about his deceit?
These are a few of the many questions that get answered in this fast-paced
story. Get this story, sit down and buckle yourself in for a very bumpy and
fast paced ride as these two set out to find the truth, and live to tell about
it."
Lydia Funneman at
Writers Unlimited
*******************************************************
"From the intensely riveting cover art, into the prologue and driving
straight
through to the end Suspicious Minds will pull you in and keep you pinned to
the story line like a butterfly on a peg board.
The unusual protagonist, Natalie, begins her investigation of organized crime
ties to her family’s business like the Keystone Cops. In her very first ‘
undercover’ activity she is discovered hiding in a closet. The author likens
Natalie and her friend/accomplice, Alyson, to Lucy and Ethel; a detail that
not only gives us a fun insight to these characters but also is easy for all
ages to relate to.
We have a cold, uncaring father who has as much feeling for his daughter,
Natalie, as most people have for a paper clip. He is the owner/head of a
brokerage firm who may or may not be involved in the murder of an FBI agent,
Shelley. Shelley’s murder brings her journalist brother, Ryan, into the mix.
A romance between Ryan who is known to Natalie as Tom, a financial broker in
the firm and Natalie is compelling and anticipatory. You find yourself
rooting for them to ‘get it on!’ But is Tom/Ryan just using Natalie to
uncover his sister’s murderer or are his feelings genuine? Is Natalie just
using Tom as a tool in her desire to rid the firm of the organized crime
influence or are her feelings genuine? I’m reminded of a statement from
Staying Alive when Laura tells Tony, "everybody uses everybody." Ryan and
Natalie remain ambivalent in their feelings for each other but independently
decide that they are better off as a team. However, as time goes on they find
themselves deep in murder and mayhem while their ambivalence begins to turn
into lust, then love.
When Natalie’s father suddenly dies, we are off on the roller coaster ride of
our lives. All positions are now moved up one. Natalie must take care of her
distraught mother. The mother must take care of Natalie as she deluded
herself into believing that her husband had done. Ryan has to take care of
his sister’s murderer. Organized crime has to ‘take care’ of Natalie and is
the household help ‘fer us or agin us?’ Just as we begin to relax a little
in the denouement, we are treated to another thrill ride as the tension once
again accelerates.
The sides keep changing but Kim Cox writes with such clarity that we are
never confused. She creates immensely likeable characters and treats the
reader to a plot that is anything but shallow. Much like the great Agatha
Christie who wrote mysteries without divulging information too early and thus
boring us for the finish, so writes Kim Cox. Suspicious Minds gets a huge ‘OH
YEAH’ and five exclamation points."
Cheri L. Ahner at
Word
Museum
*******************************************************
"Natalie Southard and Ryan Donatelli are perfectly matched lovers. And though the
attraction between them is instantaneous and sizzling, their minds are caught up
in suspicions of each other. In the beginning, Natalie doesn't even know
Tom/Ryan's real name. How can she trust him?
Both Tom and Natalie are seeking the same answers. Natalie who works in the
family firm wants to know the truth of her father's dealings with the mob. Ryan,
because his sister, an FBI agent, is killed while working as Nat's father's
secretary, is searching for that same truth.
Ryan wonders about Natalie. How can he trust her when her father probably caused
his sister's death? Could Natalie be involved in the dealings with mob boss? But
after Nat's father's death, Ryan and Natalie join forces against the mob.
This is an action packed read with no time to catch a breath, no place to lay
the book aside. There isn't a page you can afford not to turn. All the
characters are vivid and alive. The plot is tight and engrossing. The ending is
spectacular. Ms Cox will have to work hard to top her debut book. I can't wait
to see if she manages to do it. Somehow I think she will."
Review by: Lyn Morgan
AQPLynLawrence | Powered by CafePress.com
All About Murder Reviews
http://www.allaboutmurder.com
4 ½ daggers
***************************************
4 Stars!
Ryan Donatelli was devastated at the death of sister, Shelley. She had been
an agent for the FBI, trying to apprehend mobster Nick DeMarco and business
tycoon Sam Southard. Ryan vowed vengeance. Not only would he finish Shelley's
work, but he would also print it all over the front page of the newspaper.
He became Thomas Randolph and infiltrated the company of Southard and Southard.
Then he began dating Natalie Southard, Sam's daughter, in hope of using her
for information. However, he never expected to care for her.
Natalie knew her father and DeMarco was up to no good. She was not blind
to her father's dark side. But she still loved him. She also knew that her
father would keep secret files on DeMarco and she was determined to find
them. As much as she was coming to care for Tom, she could not help but be
suspicious of him. He kept popping up at odd times and snooping around in
areas he was not allowed to be in.
Neither trusted the other. The bodies began piling up. Unless they could
figure out how DeMarco was linked with the company and expose him quickly,
they would become the next corpses!
**** This one has a strong plot that keeps the reader guessing. It is packed
to the brim with danger, betrayal, and excitement! This novel will not
disappoint! Recommended! ****
Debra Fitch at
HUNTRESS
REVIEWS
************************************************
SUSPICIOUS MINDS by Kim Cox * * * * * 5 stars
Romance - Suspense
When the FBI become suspicious that Sam Southard is laundering money for
the Mafia through his company Southard and Southard, they send in an agent,
Shelley Donatelli, to work undercover as a secretary. When she finds the
evidence that supports the suspicions of a money laundering scheme, she tells
her brother, Ryan. But someone else must have been listening because she
is found brutally raped and murdered the very next day, her body burned beyond
recognition in a house fire. The police are not too concerned and write it
off as an accidental death.
However, her brother Ryan, a reporter for the Times, knows differently. He
decides to avenge her murder by bringing the guilty people to justice. He
is sure DeMarco has mob connections and ordered his sister's murder. He changes
his name to Thomas Randolph and applies for a brokerage job with Southard
and Southard so he can work undercover there. Once established, he begins
dating Natalie, Southard's daughter, only to find out inside information
about the firm. But soon his feelings change and he falls in love with Natalie
and becomes her fiance.
Natalie isn't too happy with her father especially the abusive way he treats
her mother and she's certain he's involved in the Mafia. When she tries to
investigate the files in his office, she catches her fiancee bugging her
fathers telephone. Just who is this man who proclaims to love her? Can he
be trusted? Ryan, too, begins to wonder about Natalie's trust when he overhears
a conversation she has with DeMarco.
When Natalie's father is found murdered in his office, Ryan becomes the chief
suspect. How will he prove his innocence? Was Southard having DeMarco launder
money for the mob? Now that Southard is dead just who is hiring people to
murder those who get too close to the truth?
After her father's death, Natalie and Ryan realize they are in grave danger
and decide to team up to investigate. They end up running for their lives
from the Mafia. Will they escape with their lives and their relationship
in tact? Who can they trust? How many more people will be murdered before
the truth is known?
SUSPICIOUS MINDS will keep you reading right to the end. Kim Cox's characters
are so well developed that you feel like you know them. The plot contains
enough red herrings and spine-tingling chills to keep you rooted in the story.
Kim Cox has set her star high with her *first* book, SUSPICIOUS MINDS. I
only
hope that Kim is a fast and prolific writer.
Cathy Gladstone at
Simegen
*******************************************************
Suspicious Minds
by Kim Cox
Review:
Kim Cox explodes onto the romantic suspense scene with her dynamite debut
novel Suspicious Minds.
When rich Bostonian Natalie Southard investigates the strange happenings
going on in her father’s firm, she never expects to discover danger,
the Mafia, love…or betrayal.
Reluctantly, she teams up with one of her father’s employees, Thomas
Randolph, uncertain he doesn’t number among the enemy. Despite suspicions
that her handsome partner isn’t being completely upfront with her, she
can’t keep herself from falling in love with him.
Intense, Suspicious Minds wove a bewitching spell over me that kept me reading
into the wee morning hours. I bit my nails wondering how a person could withstand
such pain and suffering as Natalie was forced to endure on her quest for
the truth and justice. I enjoyed the vivid imagination behind this tale and
look forward to a long, successful career by this new star on the horizon.
Elaine Hopper at
Knowbetter.com
Elaine Hopper is the author of fourteen published books, among them Lion's
of Judah at Novel Inc.,
***************************************************
Suspicious Minds
by Kim Cox
Natalie Southard is suspicious. Certain that her father's business associate
is using the firm as a front for various illegal activities, Natalie dabbles
in some amateur sleuthing to find the proof. All attempts, however, are thwarted
by her co-worker/boyfriend, Tom Randolph. Natalie suspects Tom of nothing,
to his relief.
Tom Randolph, mild-mannered broker, is actually Ryan Donatelli, passionate
Times journalist. Tom/Ryan is also suspicious of the shady dealings going
on at Southard's company, and his determination to expose Southard's mob
connections is fueled by the murder of his sister, who died trying to collect
said proof. When the elder Southard is also found murdered, Tom/Ryan and
Natalie join forces to find the killer, and suddenly all suspicion is cast
upon them by Southard's business associates.
Suspicious Minds is a romantic suspense story of great intensity. Cox injects
moments of passion, humor and terror at all the appropriate moments, giving
the story a magentic flow. Tom/Ryan is convincing as a man torn between his
duty in the name of justice and his growing love for Natalie. The guilt that
plagues his being as he continues his deception is compelling to read, and
Cox's eye for such detail will win many romance readers.
Kathryn's
Mystery Women Reviews
**********************************************
Romantic Suspense
SUSPICIOUS MINDS
Kim Cox
Natalie Southard gets the surprise of her life when she goes sleuthing for
clues into her father's mysterious business activities and runs smack dab
into her beau, Thomas Randolph.
Tom is angry for allowing Natalie, who may have some involvement in his sister's
death, to catch him bugging her father's office. He has to convince her that
he's not the enemy.
Together they work towards a common goal: to put the man responsible for
money laundering and several murders behind bars.
Will they succeed in their quest, or will evil triumph? SUSPICIOUS MINDS
is exciting down to the last word. A wonderful, suspenseful read.
Faith V. Smith at
Romantic Times
Magazine
***************************************
Natalie Southard is hoping one day to take over Southard and Southard, a
brokerage firm that her father, Sam Southard, has made a success. Natalie
knows her father is bossy and sometimes abusive where her mother and she
are concerned, but she still loves him. What she doesn't like and what she
is suspicious of is his relationship with Nick DeMarco, a man suspected of
being a Mafia kingpin.
Ryan Donatelli is a reporter for the New York Times whose sister, Shelley,
was an FBI agent. Shelley had been working undercover at Southard and Southard
as a secretary before she was killed. Just before she was killed, Shelley
showed Ryan documents proving Sam Southard was laundering money for DeMarco.
Shortly after their meeting, Shelley is found dead. The police think it is
a botched robbery, even though Shelley had been raped before she was killed.
Their primary suspect is Smoothie Barnes, a small-time crook. Ryan suspects
Southard had ordered the hit for DeMarco, and Ryan goes undercover as Tom
Randolph, a new broker at Southard and Southard.
Ryan/Tom begins dating Natalie as a way to find out what she knows about
her father's connection to DeMarco. The night he decides to search Southard's
office and place a bug in the telephone, he discovers Natalie hiding in the
closet. Natalie can't figure out why Tom would be bugging Sam's telephone
but she decides to continue to date him. Before Ryan or Natalie can get more
information or find the documents Ryan knows are somewhere in Southard's
office, Sam Southard is killed in his office. Ironically, Ryan ends up as
the prime suspect. After Ryan overhears a conversation between DeMarco and
Natalie, he doesn't know if he can trust Natalie or not.
SUSPICIOUS MINDS is filled with interesting characters and a few twists.
It keeps the reader on the edge of their seat wondering what is coming next.
Natalie and Ryan are great characters that have to trust each other, including
their attraction for each other. The action is fast-paced giving the reader
a conclusion that is not expected.
Reviewed by Hattie Boyd at Writers ClubRomance Group on AOL
******************************************
SUSPICIOUS MINDS
Kim H. Cox
In Kim H. Cox’s book, SUSPICIOUS MINDS, New York Times reporter Ryan
Donatelli is out to get the people responsible for the murder of his sister.
He suspects Sam Southard, the owner of Southard and Southard, of having a
hand in it. Shelley Donatelli, an FBI agent, was undercover at the brokerage
firm at the time of her death , trying to get evidence of their suspected
ties to the mob. Taking up where his sister left off, Ryan gets a job there
as Thomas Randall. As he investigates the company, he meets the owner’s
daughter, Natalie, who works for the company and keeps showing up in unexpected
places. She claims to be trying to clear her dad’s name, but is she
just trying to cover up for him - or herself? Sparks fly between them, but
they don’t trust each other, even as they give in to their sexual
attraction. So many questions stand between them. Is Natalie involved in
what’s going on in the company? Does Tom dare tell her who he really
is? Who’s stalking Natalie - and why?
A good story, with lots of suspense and conflict, SUSPICIOUS MINDS does a
pretty good job of holding the reader’s attention from page to page.
I look forward to seeing what Cox can do as her writing matures.
Betty Winslow at
The Word on
Romance
*************************************************
SUSPICIOUS MINDS - Kim Cox
Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Natalie Southard suspects her father is in deep with the mob. His investor,
DeMarco, has been arrested for illegal gambling and other, more serious charges,
like murder. One evening Natalie decides to snoop around her father's office
to find out more. His business, and her inheritance, is at stake, and she
won't let her father stay close-mouthed about this.
A few minutes after her stint as investigator extraordinaire begins, Natalie
hears a sound and hides in her father's closet. Her fear of exposure quickly
turns to astonishment when she learns the intruder is none other than her
new boyfriend and employee at Southard and Southard, Tom Randolph.
Tom Randolph is actually Ryan Donatelli, and he's not a businessman; he's
an investigative reporter trying to uncover the truth behind his sister Shelly's
death. Ryan is working undercover as a broker, trying to find the killer
and nail Southard and DeMarco. He intended to foster a relationship with
Natalie for his own gain, but Natalie stirs emotions in him he hasn't felt
in a very, very long time. Still, to be safe, he remains quiet about his
true motives, and one lie quickly turns into another.
When Sam Southard is found shot dead in his office, the stakes suddenly become
much higher for both Natalie and Ryan. Their need for each other intensifies
while they separately pursue a way to get DeMarco. Natalie learns she must
work under her father's vice president for a year before she can take over
the company, and she doesn't trust the man for an instant, knowing DeMarco
has him in his pocket.
SUSPICIOUS MINDS is an apt title for this fast-paced romantic suspense. Natalie
is a smart and ambitious heroine who seems to be caught between a rock and
a hard place. She yearns for the love she is experiencing with Tom, but can
her trust survive when she learns his true identity and motive? Ryan is a
tough hero who is similarly conflicted between avenging his sister's killer
and his growing attraction to Natalie. The secondary characters are, for
the most part, either good or evil and are both interesting and well-crafted,
with sufficient dimension to provide entertainment but not detract from the
main story line.
Ms. Cox has created a highly suspenseful, action-packed tale with plenty
of romance to satisfy those of us who like well-written and enjoyable reads.
Give SUSPICIOUS MINDS a try.
Reviewed by Astrid Kinn at
Romance Reviews
Today (www.romrevtoday.com)
**************************************************
SUSPICIOUS MINDS
by KIM COX
Debut author Kim Cox dishes up a thrilling romantic suspense that will at
times, have you biting your nails. Ryan Donatelli, New York Times newspaper
reporter, goes undercover at Southard and Southard brokerage firm, after
his sister Shelley, an FBI Agent working as a secretary is murdered. Ryan,
using the name Thomas Randolph, gets close to Southard’s daughter and
partner, Natalie. He doesn’t know whether she is in with her father
and Mafia bigwig Nick DeMarco, and plays it cool until he finds out which
way the wind blows concerning the beautiful Natalie.
Natalie herself is suspicious of her father and tries to find out what is
going on by searching her father’s office where she meets Ryan one night.
He can’t risk telling her the truth about who he is and she isn't willing
to confide her suspicions with him, thus a cat and mouse game is set in motion.
This book is so nerve racking at points because dealing with the Mafia can
mean death to any that cross them, and Ryan and Natalie have some hair-raising
scares in store for them. There is an excellent cast of supporting characters
who add depth and excitement to this fast-paced romantic thriller.
Excellent writing by a gifted new writer.
Review by Suzanne Coleburn at
Reader to Reader
Reviews
************************************************
Suspicious Minds by Kim Cox
Romantic Suspense
Reviewed by Mary Lynn,
MyShelf.Com
Natalie Southard, a broker in her father's firm, is determined to find out
why her father Sam is associating with a known criminal. One night she enters
his locked office to search for a clue as to what he's hiding from her. She
doesn't get very far before she's interrupted by another would-be sloop.
To her amazement, it's her new boyfriend and fellow broker, Tom Randolph,
who claims he was inspecting her father's phone for bugs, but Natalie knows
that he actually planted the bug. Unaware that his name isn't actually Tom
Randolph and that he has a hidden agenda, she decides to continue seeing him
in an effort to learn what she can from him.
Before long, both Tom and Natalie find their attraction to each other rapidly
increasing. Tom longs to confide in Natalie, but fears that might endanger
his plans to take down her father. When the elder Southard is murdered, Tom
finds that he is a suspect. Although he can't regret Sam Southard's dead,
he does want to comfort Natalie. In the midst of trying to unravel the mystery
behind Sam Southard's death, Tom and Natalie succumb to their mutual desire.
Soon after, they both have reason to fear for their own lives.
On reading the prologue of this book, set in a morgue, I immediately knew
I was in for an intriguing read. I was not disappointed. Suspicious Minds
is a fast moving, suspenseful, and romantic novel. Ms. Cox has done an excellent
job of giving each of her characters, including Sam Southard, rich, detailed
personalities, so that all of their motivations felt real to me, even when
I didn't agree with them. Readers looking for a good suspense novel and tender
yet passionate love story combined in one book, need look no further than
Kim Cox's Suspicious Minds.
Author
Quotes For Suspicious Minds:
"Suspicious Minds
is a romantic suspense that leaves you gasping, smiling and falling in
love--all at the same time. It's a story of family loyalty, spine-tingling
suspense and a hot romance all rolled into one and sure to keep you
turning the pages late into the night." ~Karen
White, author of In The Shadow Of The Moon, Whispers Of
Goodbye, Falling Home~
* * * * *
"Destined to be a winner, Kim Cox
delivers this roller coaster ride of a story that keeps you guessing at
every turn!" ~Pamela
Johnson, Unfinished Dreams, (2002 Eppie Finalist) Echelon Press~
* * * * *
"A fast-paced love story, Suspicious
Minds blends suspense and romance into a great read!" ~Holly
Jacobs Fuhrmann~ author of DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR?, w/a
Holly Jacobs, Sil Rom, 11/01--READY, WILLING AND...ABEL? & RAISING CAIN,
w/a Holly Jacobs, Har. Double Duets, 1/02--MIRACLES FOR NICK, w/a Holly
Fuhrmann, ImaJinn Books, 9/01~
* * * * *
"Kim Cox has e-penned a caper filled
with action, romance, and a smart woman who finds love in the middle of
death and chaos. Natalie Southard, stockbroker and heir-apparent to her
murdered father's firm, is a Grace Kelly-type heroine with money, brains,
and pluck, while her hero, Tom Randolph (aka Ryan Donatelli), is more than
her match in the Cary Grant role. Suspense, sex, and a surefire happy
ending deliver as successfully as a Hitchcock film at its best."
~Tracy
Dunham, author of
"The Last Campaign, On the Terror Trail, and Morgan's Land
" (Hard Shell Word Factory)~
* * * * *
"Ryan Donatelli will never forget
having to identify the badly burned body of his younger sister Shelley.
Shelley was an FBI agent and had stuck her nose into the wrong case.
Determined to avenge her, he goes after Sam Southard, the man he feels
sure is responsible for her death. He goes undercover as Thomas Randolph
and assumes a position in Southard's company, biding his time until he
finds the evidence he needs.
Natalie Southard is suspicious about
her father's business dealings with known crime boss Nick DeMarco, and
decides to investigate, thinking he's being taken advantage of. Little
does she know that her boyfriend, Tom Randolph, is searching for the truth
also–but for a far different reason than she. When she discovers
Randolph's real identity and motive, the sparks fly. Will she turn him
in–or will she help him?
SUSPICIOUS MINDS is a thrilling romantic
suspense that will keep you turning the pages, desperate to know if
Natalie and Ryan will emerge with their lives–and their love–intact. There
are just enough red herrings to keep you guessing until the end. This
exciting debut novel from Kim Cox is not to be missed!"
~Elizabeth
Delisi, author of "MIRROR IMAGES" (DiskUs
Publishing, March, 2001); "SINCE ALL IS
PASSING" (Avid Press, Oct. 1999);
and "FATAL FORTUNE" (Petals of Life Publishing, Sept. 1998) ~
* * * * *
"In an untrusting world, intertwined
with lies and fabricated tales, Suspicious Minds takes the reader into a
world where the main characters don't know who to trust, not even each
other. Author Kim Cox has crafted a tale that keeps the reader turning the
pages, rooting for Natalie and Ryan to find that belief in one another
before all that is good is destroyed."
~Patricia
A. Rasey, author of "Deadly Obsession," "Kiss of Deceit," and "Facade" (RFI West Publishing)~
* * * * *
"Edge-of-your-seat suspense will keep
you up all night reading Suspicious Minds until you turn the final page. I
couldn't put it down."
Elaine Hopper,
author of "Secrets" (New Concepts Publishing), and
"Lions of Judah" (NBI, Inc.)
* * * * *
"As Ryan Donnetelli identified the
charred remains of his sister's body, he made up his mind then and there
to make the person or persons responsible pay, and pay dearly. Armed with
a false identity and a mind full of clues, he set out to find the
murderer. What he didn't count on was falling in love with the daughter of
the man to whom all clues pointed. How could he possibly have a life with
the woman if he put her father away?
Kim Cox has created a romantic thriller
with rich characters, intrigue, and a clear glimpse into the shady
business world that will keep you reading long past bedtime."
Sheryl Hames Torres,
WRW Secretary, Excerpts Co-editor at
The Pen is Mightier ... and author of The Masquerade from Seasons of
Romance Anthology (Awe-Struck Books)
Teaser Scene
He sipped his drink, noticing her eyes shifting
from one object to the other. The love seat and chair with its own ottoman
matched the ivory couch. A blue and crimson oriental rug dominated the living
room floor. "Do you like the house?"
"Yes, it's beautiful." Sheer white curtains
covered the double glass doors leading to the dining room furnished with
a black lacquered table and chairs. "It's lovely," she said, touching his
arm.
"Thank you, but I can't take the credit. My
mother redecorated it last year." Ryan looked around as if viewing it for
the first time himself.
"I would love to meet your mother. She has exquisite
taste."
"I have to agree. Maybe one day you will. And, if you're good, I
may take you on the grand tour of the place."
Ryan's face drifted close to hers. He found himself not wanting to carry on
the conversation any longer.
Her black hair, like her eyes, sparkled in the
light. His skin beneath the sleeve of his shirt burned where the tips of
her fingers touched. She smelled like freshly cut gardenias from his
grandmother's greenhouse. Her voice sounded like an angel's song.
All he thought of was kissing her. He wanted
to taste her sensuous pink lips and hold her in his arms until she begged
for more. As if his thoughts scared her, she turned away.
"I-I would be privileged to see it." Did she
feel the electricity sparking between them, too? Did she hunger for him the
way he hungered for her?
He felt her uncertainty as he did his own. Finally,
she looked at him, and he could see the passion burning in her green eyes,
mirrored by his own. The window behind Natalie flashed with light. Their
gazes clashed as the weather outside changed from the earlier sunny day to
a darkened, cloud-studded night. Wind whipped the bay into a frenzy of waves
that slammed onto the beach behind the house.
The rumbling of thunder startled Natalie as
she jumped into his arms. Her breast pushed against his chest and his defenses
crumbled. His mouth covered hers as a hungry moan escaped his lips. She wrapped
her arms around him, returning his never-ending kiss. Her kiss was just as
he'd imagined, sweet and full of passion.
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