✱✱Book Review✱✱ INVESTIGATOR Harlequin Series Winter Blog Tour for BURIED COLD CASE SECRETS by Sami A. Abrams

 

BURIED COLD CASE SECRETS

by Sami A. Abrams

Love Inspired Suspense

Recovering her missing memories could be the key to solving a murder. Searching for her best friend’s remains could help forensic anthropologist Melanie Hutton regain her memories of when they were both kidnapped—unless the killer gets to Melanie first. For her safety, Melanie must rely on Detective Jason Cooper, who still blames her for his sister’s death. Can Jason set the past aside to solve the cold-case murder…and shield Melanie from the same fate?

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Buried-Cold-Case-Secrets-Abrams-ebook/dp/B094R941NW/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=BURIED+COLD+CASE+SECRETS+by+Sami+A.+Abrams&qid=1637072482&qsid=133-7575147-1798556&sr=8-1&sres=1335554785%2CB07L1S92HW&srpt=ABIS_BOOK 

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/buried-cold-case-secrets-sami-a-abrams/1139453334?ean=9781335722867 

Harlequin.com: https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781335554789_buried-cold-case-secrets.html 

Momma Says: 4 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐

Buried Cold Case Secrets has a lot going on, but it all comes together wonderfully. The story has plenty of suspense to keep you on your toes, which makes for an entertaining read. Then we have the main characters who were both likable. They certainly have some things to work through, and I loved the inspirational tone of this book. The story is fast paced and engaging from start to finish, and we get a forensic anthropologist heroine! It's been some time since Ive seen that in a main character, and I'm thinking I need more of it. This is Sami A Abrams's debut, and I have to say that she's set the bar pretty high for whatever comes next. I know that I'll definitely be watching for it. 

 

“Does it still hurt?”

She jumped.

“Didn’t mean to startle you. Guess I have a habit of doing that.” Jason rested against the neighboring tree.

Several deep breaths later, she forced a smile. “It’s okay.”

He narrowed his gaze and studied her a moment. “Well? Does it?”

“A little.” Truthfully, a lot, but Jason didn’t need to know that. “I, uh, wanted to thank you for watching out for me today.”

“Just doing my job.” The muscles in his neck and shoulders tensed.

“We both know it’s more than that.” She wiped her hand down her face. “Jason. We’re going to be working together for the foreseeable future. Do you think we can call a truce, at least while we do our jobs?”

His jaw twitched, and he remained silent.

She’d asked a lot, but the strain between them had to stop. She watched him for a few minutes then shook her head.

“Never mind.” She pushed from the trunk and limped to the hole in the ground. Her lead-filled heart threatened to drop to her feet. To think that fifteen years ago, she’d had a crush on him. He’d teased her and Allison, but he’d never allowed others to speak unkind words to them. If only she could return to those carefree days. The days before she had died on the inside and her friend had died for real.

Someday, Allison, I’ll find your body. I promise.

She swiped the wetness from her cheeks and lowered herself into the grave. The movement mimicked her mood. She picked up her trowel and searched for more bones.

An hour later, Melanie’s headache had become unbearable, causing her stomach to roil. Just what she needed, to lose her lunch in front of Jason. Scanning the grave, she spotted the paintbrush she used for delicate work. She grasped the handle, but dropped it. She tried again, but her fingers refused to cooperate. Her eyelids grew heavy. Something was off. She sat on the edge of the hole.

“Jason, help.” Her words were slurred. She struggled to stay upright. The trees in front of her blurred and swayed.

He kneeled down and came face-to-face with her. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know.”

“Help me out here. What’s the last thing you did?”

“I—I…” She struggled against the gray cloud jumbling her thoughts. “Took a break a while ago. Only digging since.”

His gaze flew to a spot behind her.

She wilted into him. Her vision tunneled, and darkness closed in.

“Keith! Grab the cooler and her bag!”

Jason’s frantic voice registered, but her body had shut down.

His warm arms lifted her. Her head bobbed and landed on his shoulder.

Her cheek bounced against his chest in cadence with the pounding of his feet on the path.

His rhythmic breathing was the last thing she heard before the world went dark.

Two-time Genesis winner Sami A. Abrams and her husband live in Northern California, but she’ll always be a Kansas girl at heart. She enjoys visiting her two grown children and spoiling their sweet fur babies. Most evenings, if Sami’s not watching sports, you’ll find her engrossed in a romantic suspense novel. She thinks a crime plus a little romance is the recipe for a great story. Visit her at http://www.samiaabrams.com.