Crimson Roses by Tess Thompson

Book Synopsis:

"Romantic Suspense

Pepper Chan tried to leave the scars of her abduction behind her when she joined her current veterinary practice. However, a chance encounter with Roddy Eastman, the brother of her former best friend, leaves her shaken and desperate to keep her distance. The last thing Pepper wants to do is relive the terrible ordeal from so many years ago. Her kidnapper was never caught, and Pepper is afraid to trust anyone.

Attorney Roddy Eastman is determined to find out why Dr. Chan wants to avoid him. He tries to convince himself that his drive to seek out answers from her is just his concern for his sister’s friend and not something deeper—like his long-standing attraction to her since high school.
The sudden murder of her boyfriend makes it clear that a deranged murderer is taunting Pepper, waiting for the right moment to strike. When Pepper reluctantly reaches out to him, Roddy offers her his help. Together, they must dig into her past to uncover the identity of the stalker before his twisted plans can become a reality."

About the Author: Charlene Tess and Judi Thompson are sisters who live over 1400 miles apart. They combined their two last names into the pen name Tess Thompson and have been writing novels together since 2002.

Title:  Crimson Roses
Author:  Tess Thompson
Publisher:  T. T.
Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"Crimson Roses" by Tess Thompson

My Rationalization:

After reading 'Crimson Roses' I am so glad my favorite color of roses are white and yellow!  I never knew that the dark crimson roses are used mainly at funerals that meaning 'sadness and mourning.'  I found this story very sad about how long-time friends meet up again.  We find Roddy being a criminal offense lawyer, Kris [his sister] being a private eye and the other one their friend,  Pepper who was a veterinarian who had moved back to Albuquerque, New Mexico. All three had been childhood friends at one time.  How they meet up was due to a cat called 'Devil Cat' that belonged to Roddy who had been taken to the veterinary clinic.  The story will pick up from there where we find Pepper who will be in the need of help due to a death.  This is where the play of the crimson Roses' comes into the story.  Be ready for a little bit of it all in the mystery read from 'some humor, death, suspense, kidnapping, murder mystery, romance, a stalker, trust issues to many twists and turns' that you will definitely have to keep up with it all. We find that Pepper who had trust issues is still healing from her being kidnapped many years ago.  I really liked how these authors were able to give the reader a storyline that brings it all together in the end because I wasn't aware of who this person really was until toward the end that all tied into Pepper's kidnapping.  And can you believe it all started from Pepper receiving 'Crimson Roses.'

Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley.