Book Review: Stalker in the Shadows by Camy Tang + Giveaway

Stalker in the Shadows by Camy Tang

Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense (Harlequin)

Publish Date: January 3, 2012

Paperback, 224 pages 
Fiction, Romantic Suspense, Christian
 ISBN: 978-0373444755

My Review:
If you like suspense and romance in a quick-to-read format then this is just the book for you.  Stalker in the Shadows packs quite a punch for a short 200 page novel.  Camy Tang knows how to pace the novel well for this format so that things move quickly but never too quickly and so that my attention never waned.

I loved Stalker in the Shadows and I will now make sure I go back and read the first two books in this series.  Not because I needed to for this book to make sense, but because I liked Ms. Tang's writing and also because I liked the setting and the family.  I want to know more about them.  Stalker in the Shadows was a nice stand alone with characters from the earlier novels and I think there were mentions of things that happened, but nothing that gave away what happened in the books (except the couple outcomes, but the reader knows those going in anyway).

Monica was a great main character.  She was strong, but she had her faults that she needed to work through.  It was something I really didn't see coming, but understand fully as I deal with it as well.  I think a lot of women will find Monica easy to relate to.  She's a great character.  I admired her strength.  I also enjoyed Shaun who is a bit tortured.  He has some things in his past he needs to work through, but in typical human fashion, he thinks he should hang onto that guilt.  I liked watching him in the protector role in the book, it suited him.  I also liked seeing him start to work through his issues.  He was easy to relate to as well, as his issue was guilt and I think we all carry some form of guilt with us.  The chemistry between Monica and Shaun was great as well.  I was cheering for them through the book and at times wanted to hit both of them over the head, but that was what made the book interesting.  There was a build up for their relationship and Ms. Tang did that very well.

As I mentioned earlier, the plot is well-paced.  It built up through the whole book and never felt rushed like the short format can sometimes do.  It came to it's climax and resolved itself in a timely manner and then the book was over.  I felt satisfied with the ending and surprised by the climax, and I was guessing through the whole book who was the stalker.  Ms. Tang does an amazing job with the suspense element also.

Stalker in the Shadows reminds me that the Love Inspired Suspense is s great line from Harlequin.  Clean romances with a Christian focus, yet they don't pound you over the head with Christianity.  Ms. Tang wrote a wonderful, suspenseful romance that had me on the edge of my seat and cheering for Monica and Shaun from the beginning to the end.  It's a great book and I can't recommend it enough.  I also can't wait to go back and read the first two in the series as well.  Camy Tang is quickly becoming a must-read author for me.

My Rating: 5.0/5.0

About the Book:
"Consider this a warning."

Lately, nurse Monica Grant feels she's being watched. Followed. And then she receives a threatening letter—accompanied by a dead snake. If she doesn't stop her plans to open a free children's clinic, she'll end up dead, too. Terrified, Monica turns to former lawman Shaun O'Neill—who believes the same madman murdered his own sister five years before. She understands how much it means to the handsome, heart-guarding man to save her—and her dream. Even if he has to lure a deadly stalker out of the shadows—straight toward himself.


About the Author (from Goodreads.com): 
Camy Tang writes romance with a kick of wasabi. She used to be a biologist, but now she is a staff worker for her church youth group and leads a worship team for Sunday service. On her blog, she ponders knitting, spinning wool, dogs, running, the Never Ending Diet, and other frivolous things. 

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Giveaway:
If you go to Camy's website above and join her mailing list and leave your email address and name below, I'll enter you to win a book from my giveaway page.  Get a second entry if you join Camy's Street Team, please mention my name, Crystal Fulcher, when emailing Camy to join.  You can get the specifics on the Street Team here.  I'll go international with this one, ends 1/17/2012.  You must enter your info on her site and also opt-in with the confirmation email.  I will double-check with Camy to make sure the winner is on the email list.


Note:  Must be new subscribers to Camy's newsletter.

FTC Information: I received this book from the author for an honest review.  I do make money from purchases made at The Book Depository and B&N.com, but all money is used to fund giveaways and shipping for giveaways from the blog.