The Rebel

I loved everything about this book. The characters were interesting and the story was exciting! I felt like everything moved along very well, and at a great pace. If something crazy wasn't happening in the story, then there was some fascinating character interaction going on. I thought this book was a very enjoyable easy read with magnificent characters and a riveting story. It was one of those books that is easy to settle in to, and impossible to put down. I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

I adored this book! Lots of mystery and intrigue with a wonderful romance at the core. David Hennings has never quite fit into his family's dynamic. His decision to become a defense attorney rather than follow in his father's footsteps has broadened the rift. He's trying though. He's back in Chicago and working hard to fit in with his close knit family. When his mother asks him to get involved in a case and find an artist to complete a skull reconstruction, he can't say no. That's when he meets Amanda LeBlanc. A fabulous artist who lives a carefully balanced life. Her attraction to David has her saying yes to him rather than playing it safe. If she only knew how crazy her life was about to become! This is one I highly recommend.

What a terrific book! THE REBEL is everything a romantic suspense should be! THE REBEL is David Hennings, a civil lawyer and the black sheep of his family, who is coming back to Chicago to open his private practice. He is attending a fund raiser where a cold case is being discussed by the homicide detective, Larry McCall, who found a skull and a few hairs 5 years before. David’s mother, Pamela, is fascinated by the homicide case, and it just happens that artist Amanda LeBlanc, a painter and sculptor is on the premises. Before anyone knows what hit them, Pamela has schemed and enlisted David, McCall and Amanda to try to find out who was the victim and get the murderer arrested, if they can convince Amanda to do a sculpture reconstruction of the victim, which for personal reasons Amanda is loath to attempt. With THE REBEL, everything is in the execution, which as close to perfect as it can get. The story is pretty much standard fare, albeit solid, meticulously crafted with no plot holes, but where Ms. Giordano shines is in her mastery of her craft. The characters are extremely well fleshed-out, the surroundings carefully described, and the story is perfectly paced. Ms. Giordano also includes pertinent details such as to forensic drawing, which contribute to the overall authenticity of the story. I loved how the romance progressed between David and Amanda; they obviously cannot deny the chemistry the immediately sense, but the romance builds upon the friendship they develop while working together, and being both strong-willed people, there are clashes; their relationship is very organic. THE REBEL displays a perfect balance of romance and intrigue, the story builds slowly, as it should, and when the author springs plot twists, they come as a total shock because the human side of the story is so captivating, they jolt you out of your comfort zone. THE REBEL is a quick read, and I finished it in one sitting because I could not stop reading! I will go back to read the previous books in the series and I hope there will be more because I absolutely loved it, and the Hennings family! I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.