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Guilty
One cold November night when Kat Kominski was fifteen years old, she and some friends held up a convenience store. In the heat of the moment, one of the others shot and killed an off-duty cop moonlighting as a security guard. Kat and her pals fled the scene in a panic, and no one was caught.
Sixteen years later, Kat --- now Kate White --- has built a new life for herself. Now a single mom with an eight-year-old son, she works as a prosecutor in the Philadelphia DA's office. But her dark past rears its head when she walks into court one day and has a devastating encounter with a prisoner, Mario Castellanos, one of her companions from that terrible night.
Hardcore criminal Mario is facing a possible sentence of twenty years. He lets Kate know that he is counting on her, his old friend turned prosecutor, to make sure he goes free instead. If Kate doesn't do what he wants, he'll claim she was the one who killed the off-duty cop.
Kate is in a bind: If the truth about her past gets out, she stands to lose everything, including her son. But she can't do what Mario wants, either. As Mario ups his demands, blackmailing and terrorizing her, she is forced to turn for protection to a sexy homicide detective, Tom Braga, who suspects her of ... something. The two clash repeatedly as Tom keeps digging into her past, trying to learn the truth.
Then another, far more menacing, threat rears its head, and Kate realizes that her life --- and her son's --- are in terrible danger. Frantic, she sees that she has nowhere to turn. Except, maybe, to Tom ...
Sixteen years later, Kat --- now Kate White --- has built a new life for herself. Now a single mom with an eight-year-old son, she works as a prosecutor in the Philadelphia DA's office. But her dark past rears its head when she walks into court one day and has a devastating encounter with a prisoner, Mario Castellanos, one of her companions from that terrible night.
Hardcore criminal Mario is facing a possible sentence of twenty years. He lets Kate know that he is counting on her, his old friend turned prosecutor, to make sure he goes free instead. If Kate doesn't do what he wants, he'll claim she was the one who killed the off-duty cop.
Kate is in a bind: If the truth about her past gets out, she stands to lose everything, including her son. But she can't do what Mario wants, either. As Mario ups his demands, blackmailing and terrorizing her, she is forced to turn for protection to a sexy homicide detective, Tom Braga, who suspects her of ... something. The two clash repeatedly as Tom keeps digging into her past, trying to learn the truth.
Then another, far more menacing, threat rears its head, and Kate realizes that her life --- and her son's --- are in terrible danger. Frantic, she sees that she has nowhere to turn. Except, maybe, to Tom ...
408 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1998
389 people are currently reading
1355 people want to read
About the author
Karen Robards
135 books3,238 followersKaren Robards is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of more than fifty books and one novella. She has won multiple awards including six Affaire de Coeur Silver Pen Awards for favorite author.
Karen has been writing since she was very young, and was first published nationally in the December 1973 Reader's Digest. She sold her first romance novel, ISLAND FLAME, when she was 24. It was published by Leisure Books in 1981 and is still in print. After that, she dropped out of law school to pursue her writing career.
Karen was recently described by The Daily Mail as "one of the most reliable thriller....writers in the world."
Karen has been writing since she was very young, and was first published nationally in the December 1973 Reader's Digest. She sold her first romance novel, ISLAND FLAME, when she was 24. It was published by Leisure Books in 1981 and is still in print. After that, she dropped out of law school to pursue her writing career.
Karen was recently described by The Daily Mail as "one of the most reliable thriller....writers in the world."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 252 reviews
August 20, 2016
This was a good commute audio read for me, where distraction doesn't matter and the content isn't heavy. A reformed bad girl in Philly has turned her life around, a successful soon to be D.A. Bit of fluffy mystery, a bit of romance, with no real flair anywhere. It was ok, nothing fancy! I liked all the character names (sometimes bad character names bother me). Have never read this author before, I may or not grab her off the shelf if I saw her at my library again. Probably being generous with three stars, but it's fine. Hey, Tom was pretty hunky ;) Oh, wait on, I do have one of her books on my shelf. No rush, it would mean I'd need to find it anyhow!
June 27, 2016
This book was entertaining but very unrealistic. The love scenes in this book were very random and weirdly placed. The mystery and crime was very unrealistic. How she found her son was extremely unrealistic.
But again, the book was entertaining.
But again, the book was entertaining.
February 24, 2018
Didn't really do it for me. Not sure why. Something missing. Second book I have read by this author but not sure I will be reading any more.
Given her situation, not sure she would have done what she did.
I don't know, just did not wow me.
Given her situation, not sure she would have done what she did.
I don't know, just did not wow me.
April 5, 2018
3.5 *
June 10, 2011
I don't read Karen Robards for anything deep or even anything particularly believable. Her suspense novels are fast-paced fluff that don't overload my brain too much when it's already full.
Even so, this was AWFUL! (Warning: Rant approaching!)
When Kate was 15, she had a hard life. She had spent half her life in the foster care system and her latest foster mom's boyfriend was looking at her in ways he shouldn't look at a 15-year-old girl. She has some rough friends, and she sneaks out to take a joyride with them late one night, after most of the city is closed. They go to a convenience store where Kate and a friend go around back to use the ladies' room. While inside, they hear gunshots, and when they investigate, they find that one of their friends has shot a cop, and he's bleeding to death. Kate rushes to help, trying in vain to stop the bleeding, while the rest of her friends take off in the car. When she hears sirens approaching, she runs away (from both the incident and her life).
Thirteen years later, she has a LAW degree and is a prosecutor. Here's where the book gets bad, because one of the friends from that car (the one who probably killed the cop), is going to use that incident to blackmail dear Kate.
What crime did she commit, you might ask, for which she could be blackmailed? I'm not entirely sure. It is possible there's something in that story that could have gotten her in trouble at 15, but 13 years later, it seems rather doubtful, between the fact that she was a minor and there is a statute of limitations on many crimes. Not to mention the fact that she wasn't an accessory! She ran away, which she shouldn't have done, but...okay...on to the blackmail.
There's a massacre in a courtroom. The man she's prosecuting gets a gun (somehow) and starts shooting, along with a few other prisoners. The judge dies, deputies die, random people in the crowd die. Kate is used as a hostage by the last man standing, who drags her back into the holding area and says he'll shoot her if he doesn't get a helicopter.
Enter the killer of the original cop...who recognizes the girl he called "Kitty Kat" as a child. He shoots the man holding her hostage and tells her to say she'd shot him, and then he tells her he expects her to help get him out of jail, or he'll tell people about the original incident.
OK, NOW you're an accessory! This guy was part of a massacre, but you pretended he wasn't involved. You lied again and again, OBVIOUS lies that no one in his right mind would accept. Your justification: If you get put in jail for your past sins (still confused why that would be), your 9-year-old son will end up in the foster care system like you were. Oh, honey, I'd really like to buy the whole maternal protective instinct, but I can't, because you have a law degree, so surely you realize you're putting him in MORE danger with these lies.
But let's pretend, for the sake of argument, that you're some kind of idiot who cheated to pass the bar exam. So you succumb to the blackmail at first. And then, over the next few days, gang members begin threatening you, your son, breaking into your house, kidnapping you at gunpoint, and stealing your car.
Hmmmm....so is your son more likely to be in foster care because his mom's in jail or dead? And in the latter case, he might go down with you! Maternal instincts no longer apply.
Meanwhile, our "hero" is falling in love with her despite the fact that he knows she's lying and his own brother was critically hurt in the shooting. "Oh, you sexy little liar, come here so I can give you a steamy, hot kiss!" Um? Only if you get off on power trips and think you can control this woman with sex? She should go to jail. I don't care if she didn't plan the shooting. It's immaterial. She's involved.
I'm not sure what happens after that, but I suspect if I find out, my brain will implode.
In case you can't tell, I don't recommend this one to anyone.
Even so, this was AWFUL! (Warning: Rant approaching!)
When Kate was 15, she had a hard life. She had spent half her life in the foster care system and her latest foster mom's boyfriend was looking at her in ways he shouldn't look at a 15-year-old girl. She has some rough friends, and she sneaks out to take a joyride with them late one night, after most of the city is closed. They go to a convenience store where Kate and a friend go around back to use the ladies' room. While inside, they hear gunshots, and when they investigate, they find that one of their friends has shot a cop, and he's bleeding to death. Kate rushes to help, trying in vain to stop the bleeding, while the rest of her friends take off in the car. When she hears sirens approaching, she runs away (from both the incident and her life).
Thirteen years later, she has a LAW degree and is a prosecutor. Here's where the book gets bad, because one of the friends from that car (the one who probably killed the cop), is going to use that incident to blackmail dear Kate.
What crime did she commit, you might ask, for which she could be blackmailed? I'm not entirely sure. It is possible there's something in that story that could have gotten her in trouble at 15, but 13 years later, it seems rather doubtful, between the fact that she was a minor and there is a statute of limitations on many crimes. Not to mention the fact that she wasn't an accessory! She ran away, which she shouldn't have done, but...okay...on to the blackmail.
There's a massacre in a courtroom. The man she's prosecuting gets a gun (somehow) and starts shooting, along with a few other prisoners. The judge dies, deputies die, random people in the crowd die. Kate is used as a hostage by the last man standing, who drags her back into the holding area and says he'll shoot her if he doesn't get a helicopter.
Enter the killer of the original cop...who recognizes the girl he called "Kitty Kat" as a child. He shoots the man holding her hostage and tells her to say she'd shot him, and then he tells her he expects her to help get him out of jail, or he'll tell people about the original incident.
OK, NOW you're an accessory! This guy was part of a massacre, but you pretended he wasn't involved. You lied again and again, OBVIOUS lies that no one in his right mind would accept. Your justification: If you get put in jail for your past sins (still confused why that would be), your 9-year-old son will end up in the foster care system like you were. Oh, honey, I'd really like to buy the whole maternal protective instinct, but I can't, because you have a law degree, so surely you realize you're putting him in MORE danger with these lies.
But let's pretend, for the sake of argument, that you're some kind of idiot who cheated to pass the bar exam. So you succumb to the blackmail at first. And then, over the next few days, gang members begin threatening you, your son, breaking into your house, kidnapping you at gunpoint, and stealing your car.
Hmmmm....so is your son more likely to be in foster care because his mom's in jail or dead? And in the latter case, he might go down with you! Maternal instincts no longer apply.
Meanwhile, our "hero" is falling in love with her despite the fact that he knows she's lying and his own brother was critically hurt in the shooting. "Oh, you sexy little liar, come here so I can give you a steamy, hot kiss!" Um? Only if you get off on power trips and think you can control this woman with sex? She should go to jail. I don't care if she didn't plan the shooting. It's immaterial. She's involved.
I'm not sure what happens after that, but I suspect if I find out, my brain will implode.
In case you can't tell, I don't recommend this one to anyone.
May 16, 2008
So glad to finally be done this book. I generally enjoy books by Robards, but there really wasn't a thing that I liked about Guilty. Parts of the plot felt forced and the event that happened in the beginning was never really fully explained. The romance was barely believable. But what really bugged me about the book was the absurd logic throughout. I generally don't pick on realism and feasibility in fiction because I like how authors push boundaries and make readers stretch their imaginations, but when the logic is so far-fetched that nothing makes sense, it just doesn't work.
For one, Kate had this big bad secret she was hiding that if it came out, her life would be ruined and she'd likely go to jail for a while, leaving her young son with no one. Yet she decides to become an A.D.A. in a big city where she'd have a really good chance of ending up in the public eye. That just makes no sense. For a supposedly intelligent woman with a lot to lose, it was a dumb risk. You'd think she'd go for something much more low-key. I could have maybe bought into it if she'd had a good reason for getting the job, but no reason at all had been given except that it would hopefully one day get her a job at a big-wig law firm (yet another high-publicity potential job). The logic of this just left me shaking my head.
Secondly, I realize the choices she made were based on protecting herself and her son, but I was really bothered by the fact that she never once considered how her actions hindered the investigation into the courtroom massacre. That was just wrong. She held back information that could have led to solving the senseless deaths of numerous people, but that fact never occurred to her - a prosecuting attorney. That really makes no sense at all. Sure, if she had considered it, she probably still would have done the same thing as she ended up doing, but for it to not even occur to her at all...well, it doesn't say much for her lawyer skills.
Third, the whole relationship angle between Kate and Tom...there wasn't a thing about that that worked. She knows he believes she's lying about the massacre, knows that he's digging for answers, so what does she do, get involved with him! Right. Whatever. And Tom, he thinks she had something to do with the massacre, and knows for a fact that she is doing some serious lying, but he sleeps with her and gets all involved anyway. It made their relationship completely unbelievable.
Throughout the book, Kate just came off as rather stupid and self-serving. I just wanted her to go away. But aside from that, the neglect of details was also irritating. Robards never once told us what happened to Kate after the shooting in Balimore and before Atlantic City - a pretty important time period for her. Tom's brother was injured at the beginning, but she never says how, except that he's in ICU. Plus a few other things like that. These are things readers want to know, but Robards didn't come through.
Bottomline, just a really subpar book from Robards, in my opinion. I've read reviews that said that this was a really great, engaging thriller, but I just didn't see it. I was hopelessly bored. And like another reviewer said, I think on Amazon, Robards last few books all seem to blend together into an indistinguishable lump for some reason. They don't quite have the stand-out pizazz that her older books do. Reading and trying to finish Guilty was a major chore for me.
For one, Kate had this big bad secret she was hiding that if it came out, her life would be ruined and she'd likely go to jail for a while, leaving her young son with no one. Yet she decides to become an A.D.A. in a big city where she'd have a really good chance of ending up in the public eye. That just makes no sense. For a supposedly intelligent woman with a lot to lose, it was a dumb risk. You'd think she'd go for something much more low-key. I could have maybe bought into it if she'd had a good reason for getting the job, but no reason at all had been given except that it would hopefully one day get her a job at a big-wig law firm (yet another high-publicity potential job). The logic of this just left me shaking my head.
Secondly, I realize the choices she made were based on protecting herself and her son, but I was really bothered by the fact that she never once considered how her actions hindered the investigation into the courtroom massacre. That was just wrong. She held back information that could have led to solving the senseless deaths of numerous people, but that fact never occurred to her - a prosecuting attorney. That really makes no sense at all. Sure, if she had considered it, she probably still would have done the same thing as she ended up doing, but for it to not even occur to her at all...well, it doesn't say much for her lawyer skills.
Third, the whole relationship angle between Kate and Tom...there wasn't a thing about that that worked. She knows he believes she's lying about the massacre, knows that he's digging for answers, so what does she do, get involved with him! Right. Whatever. And Tom, he thinks she had something to do with the massacre, and knows for a fact that she is doing some serious lying, but he sleeps with her and gets all involved anyway. It made their relationship completely unbelievable.
Throughout the book, Kate just came off as rather stupid and self-serving. I just wanted her to go away. But aside from that, the neglect of details was also irritating. Robards never once told us what happened to Kate after the shooting in Balimore and before Atlantic City - a pretty important time period for her. Tom's brother was injured at the beginning, but she never says how, except that he's in ICU. Plus a few other things like that. These are things readers want to know, but Robards didn't come through.
Bottomline, just a really subpar book from Robards, in my opinion. I've read reviews that said that this was a really great, engaging thriller, but I just didn't see it. I was hopelessly bored. And like another reviewer said, I think on Amazon, Robards last few books all seem to blend together into an indistinguishable lump for some reason. They don't quite have the stand-out pizazz that her older books do. Reading and trying to finish Guilty was a major chore for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2018
Guilty by Karen Robards is a great edgy romantic suspense novel. Tom, a homicide detective and Kate, a prosecutor, were great characters, I enjoyed the relationship between them and their story kept me intrigued for the duration of the book. I loved Kate’s 9 year old son, Ben, a clever and interesting little man. Plenty of suspense, some good action along with a touch of romance. Loved it! And what a terrific ending.
Looking forward to reading more books by Karen Robards.
*Book ‘r’ of the a-z author challenge 2018
Looking forward to reading more books by Karen Robards.
*Book ‘r’ of the a-z author challenge 2018
August 21, 2013
I started out really liking this book, and I had high hopes for it. I read all genres but have been focusing on the YA fantasy genre for a while now and I thought that this book might be able to pull me back into the mystery/thriller genre.
Sadly, it wasn't so. Kate was just really stupid, I thought. I mean, in the beginning she was just being blackmailed, and then things escalated to her son actually being approached by a *strange bad guy at their home*, and then being carjacked and having a fresh dead body deposited in her house(!), and all this time, she very determinedly kept quiet and told lies to the detective (who became her lover and someone she could trust!). Her son was safe in the beginning, and Tom was always around, protecting them, and she wouldn't talk.
Then all of a sudden, her son was kidnapped by said bad guys, and actually in danger of being killed if she didn't do what they said, and *then* she decided to tell Tom everything?!
Her reasoning was, Ben, her son, is going to get killed anyway, so if she told, she would at least get a chance of getting him back safe, rather than guaranteed dead.
Unfortunately, I totally don't buy it. I don't buy the whole thing from the beginning, honestly.
I would believe Mario wanting to use her, but if the gang Black Dragons were so powerful and had so many people (in the police force, *and* also the public defender) working for them, why would they need Kate so badly? She was a newly graduated prosecutor who didn't have all that many connections.
But ok, say that I buy that they need her and want to use her... why would she think that Ben would surely be killed? Obviously, they would want to use her long-term, the way they'd been using all the other dirty cops and lawyers. It was in their best interest to let her and Ben live, so that they could control her again in the future. Anytime they wanted.
So, here's the thing, Kate keeping quiet in the beginning is stupid. Kate telling Tom everything when the bad guys had Ben, is *extremely* stupid.
Of course, it's a book, everything works out in the end. But as a reader, the believable factor is just not there. If this happened in real life, Ben would be dead.
Sadly, it wasn't so. Kate was just really stupid, I thought. I mean, in the beginning she was just being blackmailed, and then things escalated to her son actually being approached by a *strange bad guy at their home*, and then being carjacked and having a fresh dead body deposited in her house(!), and all this time, she very determinedly kept quiet and told lies to the detective (who became her lover and someone she could trust!). Her son was safe in the beginning, and Tom was always around, protecting them, and she wouldn't talk.
Then all of a sudden, her son was kidnapped by said bad guys, and actually in danger of being killed if she didn't do what they said, and *then* she decided to tell Tom everything?!
Her reasoning was, Ben, her son, is going to get killed anyway, so if she told, she would at least get a chance of getting him back safe, rather than guaranteed dead.
Unfortunately, I totally don't buy it. I don't buy the whole thing from the beginning, honestly.
I would believe Mario wanting to use her, but if the gang Black Dragons were so powerful and had so many people (in the police force, *and* also the public defender) working for them, why would they need Kate so badly? She was a newly graduated prosecutor who didn't have all that many connections.
But ok, say that I buy that they need her and want to use her... why would she think that Ben would surely be killed? Obviously, they would want to use her long-term, the way they'd been using all the other dirty cops and lawyers. It was in their best interest to let her and Ben live, so that they could control her again in the future. Anytime they wanted.
So, here's the thing, Kate keeping quiet in the beginning is stupid. Kate telling Tom everything when the bad guys had Ben, is *extremely* stupid.
Of course, it's a book, everything works out in the end. But as a reader, the believable factor is just not there. If this happened in real life, Ben would be dead.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2013
1.5 stars
For a girl to be smart enough to pull herself out of the slumps.. And kudos to her.. But she's dumb in thinking that hiding something that happened when she was 15 could catch up to her and ruin her life.. Versus lying to the cops about what happened in the court room.. And not exactly lying very well considering all the holes in her stories!
The reason/excuse for her to not confess to the cops was not strong enough in my opinion to hold the story. It was too weak, the author needs to find a better excuse for this. And then for her to be 'in love' with Tom and not be able to fess up? That's not love if you can't trust the dude.
And Tom bein a cop and getting involved? Knowing that she's lying?? I can see that it's a novel and u need to fit the romance in... But it just didn't fit right...
The plot itself needed a bit more background/ detailing... U've got these people tailing her and trying to cause harm.. But most times u don't know who why what purpose nor does she or the cops.. And the cops seems so clueless in all this. And then all of a sudden in 5 pages the whole mystery unravels wig her hinting it may be a cop.. yet through out the entire plot.. nothing mentions of cops being involved! and then it happens to be the police sergeant and some other corrupt cops.. She needs better hinting.. Character development.. And just a better scene setting.. The party itself where things were to happen was barely mentioned. The warehouse.. The bad men.. I couldn't picture it well.
Overall everything was weak. Plot/characters/romance/sex/mystery.. I need something more.
For a girl to be smart enough to pull herself out of the slumps.. And kudos to her.. But she's dumb in thinking that hiding something that happened when she was 15 could catch up to her and ruin her life.. Versus lying to the cops about what happened in the court room.. And not exactly lying very well considering all the holes in her stories!
The reason/excuse for her to not confess to the cops was not strong enough in my opinion to hold the story. It was too weak, the author needs to find a better excuse for this. And then for her to be 'in love' with Tom and not be able to fess up? That's not love if you can't trust the dude.
And Tom bein a cop and getting involved? Knowing that she's lying?? I can see that it's a novel and u need to fit the romance in... But it just didn't fit right...
The plot itself needed a bit more background/ detailing... U've got these people tailing her and trying to cause harm.. But most times u don't know who why what purpose nor does she or the cops.. And the cops seems so clueless in all this. And then all of a sudden in 5 pages the whole mystery unravels wig her hinting it may be a cop.. yet through out the entire plot.. nothing mentions of cops being involved! and then it happens to be the police sergeant and some other corrupt cops.. She needs better hinting.. Character development.. And just a better scene setting.. The party itself where things were to happen was barely mentioned. The warehouse.. The bad men.. I couldn't picture it well.
Overall everything was weak. Plot/characters/romance/sex/mystery.. I need something more.
December 6, 2012
The more I forged ahead with this book the less I liked it. Admittedly, it started off alright with the courtroom murder and hijacking scene, and the introduction of potentially great characters, but as the story progressed it all fell flat.
All the ingredients and elements were present to make this romantic thriller work, unfortunately the author didn’t come through. It got boring very fast, especially the depiction of the female lead: she was such an uninteresting woman. Tell me, how in heavens name can a young woman with so-called survival skills and with the brains and capabilities of becoming lawyer be so darn scared and dumb all along this story? I just couldn’t empathize with her. This book seriously lacked in suspense and characterization. It was just too repetitive and tiresome and I was glad I got to the end.
I suppose there are other Karen Robards books better than “Guilty”. Although I have to admit that Karen Robards hasn’t been delivering the great stuff she used to. Not that I can judge all her work: I might’ve only read 4 or 5 books, over a decade, and from those 1 or 2 were up to par. I need to make a note to myself not to purchase any of her other books in the future.
All the ingredients and elements were present to make this romantic thriller work, unfortunately the author didn’t come through. It got boring very fast, especially the depiction of the female lead: she was such an uninteresting woman. Tell me, how in heavens name can a young woman with so-called survival skills and with the brains and capabilities of becoming lawyer be so darn scared and dumb all along this story? I just couldn’t empathize with her. This book seriously lacked in suspense and characterization. It was just too repetitive and tiresome and I was glad I got to the end.
I suppose there are other Karen Robards books better than “Guilty”. Although I have to admit that Karen Robards hasn’t been delivering the great stuff she used to. Not that I can judge all her work: I might’ve only read 4 or 5 books, over a decade, and from those 1 or 2 were up to par. I need to make a note to myself not to purchase any of her other books in the future.
August 4, 2020
Hay tantas descripciones que aburre y la trama un desastre.
February 28, 2013
I recently picked up a book by Karen Robards and enjoyed the book very much which is what prompted me to pick up Guilty by her. I generally get so into books that I enjoy that it's very hard for me to put down once I start reading, but a quarter way through this book I was bored out of my mind. Everything from the characters to the wall paper was described in so much detail that at times I found myself scanning to the next paragraph to find something more interesting. I actually did not even finish the book it was so long drawn out. I would say it needed more attention to thrill and action rather than details of everything offered. It was also listed under the Romance/Fiction section at my local library and this resembles more of a flat out fiction book rather than trying to catch the attention of true romance/suspense novel lovers.
July 8, 2018
I really wanted to love this book. The idea of it was so interesting to me and I thought that if it was done correctly this book could be quite the page turner. It was not done correctly. I had a lot of issues with this novel, specifically the fact that there was no character development at all which made me not care about or what happened to the characters. I thought the suspense throughout the novel was exactly the opposite of suspense, I was clearly able to determine what was going to happen throughout the novel, predictable is an understatement. The one character that I did love in the novel Tom, I felt did not get enough time or development and I almost wish that the book had been more about him and less about Kate. I don't see myself reading another one of Robards books in the future.
Longer review coming soon!
Longer review coming soon!
November 15, 2008
Ugh!!!!!!!!!!!
April 21, 2010
It might seem trivial, but there were way too many geographical errors that took me out of the story. The Philadelphia Naval Yard on the Chesapeake Bay? Really??
June 24, 2024
Our heroine has a checkered past, and today it is catching up with her. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time as a teenager and invertedly participated in a robbery. Now someone who recognizes her wants her to use her influence as a member of the DA to get him free.
A good book with strong characters.
A good book with strong characters.
July 14, 2021
I loved this book. It was so cute and intriguing. You think you have something figured out and then something else happens. There was action, suspense and romance.
The only thing I didn’t like was that Bryan was spelled both Bryan and Brian in the book.
The only thing I didn’t like was that Bryan was spelled both Bryan and Brian in the book.
November 12, 2022
It's a pity the writing is poor - way too much over explaining what the reader can already understand. A pretty good story.
September 12, 2025
Bardzo mi się podobał pomysł na fabułę, niestety wykonanie nie oddało. Gdyby może ta książka miała o 200 więcej stron to ta historia bardziej trzymałaby się jakiejś formy czasowej, ale i tak super zabawa
June 18, 2020
Culpable de Karen Robards es un thriller romántico que no me convenció demasiado. Si bien es la primera vez que leo este tipo de género, no fue lo que esperaba. La sinopsis me había atrapado, pero no así la historia.
Este thriller está narrado en tercera persona, desde el punto de vista de dos personajes. Para mi gusto, está lleno de pensamientos y descripciones que no nutren a la trama e hizo por momentos que mi atención se difuminara.
Recién, pasada la mitad del libro, pude engancharme por como iba avanzando y complicando el accionar de ciertos personajes, logrando el factor sorpresa y el suspenso. También en esta etapa, es donde prevalece el romance, aunque un poco precipitado al igual que el final.
Este thriller está narrado en tercera persona, desde el punto de vista de dos personajes. Para mi gusto, está lleno de pensamientos y descripciones que no nutren a la trama e hizo por momentos que mi atención se difuminara.
Recién, pasada la mitad del libro, pude engancharme por como iba avanzando y complicando el accionar de ciertos personajes, logrando el factor sorpresa y el suspenso. También en esta etapa, es donde prevalece el romance, aunque un poco precipitado al igual que el final.
November 24, 2014
I've come to a point where I know it's Karen Robards without checking the cover.
Her signature plot. Single mom, former delinquent and fresh on the scene district attorney Kat watsherlastname is caught in some mob business during a jail bust gone wrong and rushing in to save the day is detective Tom Braga.
Only one prisoner left alive, with half the courtroom covered in bodies, Kat is held at gunpoint while said prisoner tries to hatch an escape deal. Not only is Kat mind-blowingly gorgeous, she's the perfect mom who's raised a well-behaved 9-year-old son and whose douchebag ex husband was conveniently dead. Tom Braga, also smoking hot with the body of a greek god, was tipped of by his equally handsome deputy brother that something was going down at the courthouse. Rushing in to save the day, he kept his focus on taking down the bad guy to avoid the risk of a raging hardon after a five-second eye sexing marathon with Kat.
From then on, he knew they were meant to be, because his impressively large package told him so. Didn't hurt that she was a perfect mom with a kid the same age as the one he had lost.
Unfortunately, Kat's criminal past comes back to haunt her when she's blackmailed into helping someone from a gang called "Black Dragon". She doesn't tell Tom for three-quarters of the novel even with Tom's prowess in bed and awesome daddy qualities. She denies any knowledge of the mob and prisoners, knowing that if she didn't the plot would end too soon. Instead, she falls in love with Tom Braga and makes stupid decisions that throws her life in danger. Luckily, Tom Braga was overprotective, bad-tempered and smoking hot, enough to save her life.
Even after three incidents, sticking his neck out to save her, Kat refuses to tell him her secrets until her son's life was threatened.
Throw in evil doers, lots of guns and more sexy Braga, you got yourself a great romance suspense and thriller.
Love Robards!! Pardon the acid review, didn't get enough sleep.
Her signature plot. Single mom, former delinquent and fresh on the scene district attorney Kat watsherlastname is caught in some mob business during a jail bust gone wrong and rushing in to save the day is detective Tom Braga.
Only one prisoner left alive, with half the courtroom covered in bodies, Kat is held at gunpoint while said prisoner tries to hatch an escape deal. Not only is Kat mind-blowingly gorgeous, she's the perfect mom who's raised a well-behaved 9-year-old son and whose douchebag ex husband was conveniently dead. Tom Braga, also smoking hot with the body of a greek god, was tipped of by his equally handsome deputy brother that something was going down at the courthouse. Rushing in to save the day, he kept his focus on taking down the bad guy to avoid the risk of a raging hardon after a five-second eye sexing marathon with Kat.
From then on, he knew they were meant to be, because his impressively large package told him so. Didn't hurt that she was a perfect mom with a kid the same age as the one he had lost.
Unfortunately, Kat's criminal past comes back to haunt her when she's blackmailed into helping someone from a gang called "Black Dragon". She doesn't tell Tom for three-quarters of the novel even with Tom's prowess in bed and awesome daddy qualities. She denies any knowledge of the mob and prisoners, knowing that if she didn't the plot would end too soon. Instead, she falls in love with Tom Braga and makes stupid decisions that throws her life in danger. Luckily, Tom Braga was overprotective, bad-tempered and smoking hot, enough to save her life.
Even after three incidents, sticking his neck out to save her, Kat refuses to tell him her secrets until her son's life was threatened.
Throw in evil doers, lots of guns and more sexy Braga, you got yourself a great romance suspense and thriller.
Love Robards!! Pardon the acid review, didn't get enough sleep.
June 16, 2015
CD/Unabridged/Romance: This book was so bad. Surprisingly bad. And after everything was said and done, our heroine isn't punished for being complicit in a murder.
Here are my updates from Goodreads:
03/13
10.0% "I'm just about done with the first disc and I am already seeing problems. Our "smart" heroine is in debt for $100K in college loans,only to get a paycheck-to-paycheck job? Really? Were you a C student? For a $100K, you should have gotten into a different branch of law!"
03/13
10.0% "Then there was the cliche "talking toddler in the courthouse gallery" during an all day assault trial. Really? Who does that?"
03/14
10.0% "On disc 2 and police procedure was thrown out the window. Letting civilians, including paramedics and reporters into a unsecured crime scene? Seriously? And Kate can take her briefcase out of the crime scene? NO! It is evidence at a crime scene now. Kate, as an officer of the court you should damn well know that."
03/18
20.0% "Middle of disc #3: So you're telling me you had all that tragic drama you witnessed and you can sit in a car and have a calm heart-to-heart with your 4 grader? Seriously?"
03/31
70.0% "Disc 8: Dude uses the "dead baby card" to get the chick in bed...and doesn't use a condom! For someone who doesn't want a commitment and doesn't trust her, he just made a potential 18-year mistake. And another thing, [paraphrasing] "You can tell me what's in your juvenile record or I'll just get a warrant." Dude, get a warrant! She lies like a dog!"
04/01
80.0% "Stop listening to her. She is a liar."
04/02
80.0% "Disc 10: Rolled my eyes so high, I almost got them stuck. You can't get DNA results in ONE DAY no matter what your pull is. Give me a break."
Skip it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here are my updates from Goodreads:
03/13
10.0% "I'm just about done with the first disc and I am already seeing problems. Our "smart" heroine is in debt for $100K in college loans,only to get a paycheck-to-paycheck job? Really? Were you a C student? For a $100K, you should have gotten into a different branch of law!"
03/13
10.0% "Then there was the cliche "talking toddler in the courthouse gallery" during an all day assault trial. Really? Who does that?"
03/14
10.0% "On disc 2 and police procedure was thrown out the window. Letting civilians, including paramedics and reporters into a unsecured crime scene? Seriously? And Kate can take her briefcase out of the crime scene? NO! It is evidence at a crime scene now. Kate, as an officer of the court you should damn well know that."
03/18
20.0% "Middle of disc #3: So you're telling me you had all that tragic drama you witnessed and you can sit in a car and have a calm heart-to-heart with your 4 grader? Seriously?"
03/31
70.0% "Disc 8: Dude uses the "dead baby card" to get the chick in bed...and doesn't use a condom! For someone who doesn't want a commitment and doesn't trust her, he just made a potential 18-year mistake. And another thing, [paraphrasing] "You can tell me what's in your juvenile record or I'll just get a warrant." Dude, get a warrant! She lies like a dog!"
04/01
80.0% "Stop listening to her. She is a liar."
04/02
80.0% "Disc 10: Rolled my eyes so high, I almost got them stuck. You can't get DNA results in ONE DAY no matter what your pull is. Give me a break."
Skip it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 4, 2009
Disasppointing , November 29, 2008
I was disappointed by this installment by Karen Robards. I read "Bait" and loved it and "Vanished" and thought it was okay. Kate seems very much like the main character that was in th book "Vanished", but perhaps a little less annoying. Married at 19, no family, has a child, no father around and manages to make it though law school while raising and infant with no family help at all. Also, it doesn't even seem that Kate has any friends.
Tom is a likeable cop that seems to have protective instincts. In general, I liked him as a character, as well as I liked his partner.
The story centers around Kate getting caught in a courtroom hostage situation where she ends up being blackmailed because of her checkered past. Thoughout almost the entire story, she lies to Tom. She does so much, you actually find yourself sympathizing with Tom, not Kate.
The story just went on and on and Kate's chest was always tighning, stomach twisting into knots, etc. Blah Blah Blah. I found the relationship between Kate and Tom so unbelievable since there were so many lies told and it went on for so long. The story seemed to take forever to develop and it just didn't ring true.
The story had lots of potential, but the string of lies was just drawn out for too long and it made it incredibly dull. I saw nothing between Kate and Tom other than a physical attraction.
Joyce Bean reads the audio version of this book and I have to say, she does deliver on that. She's one of my favorite audio readers and didn't disappoint me there.
I was disappointed by this installment by Karen Robards. I read "Bait" and loved it and "Vanished" and thought it was okay. Kate seems very much like the main character that was in th book "Vanished", but perhaps a little less annoying. Married at 19, no family, has a child, no father around and manages to make it though law school while raising and infant with no family help at all. Also, it doesn't even seem that Kate has any friends.
Tom is a likeable cop that seems to have protective instincts. In general, I liked him as a character, as well as I liked his partner.
The story centers around Kate getting caught in a courtroom hostage situation where she ends up being blackmailed because of her checkered past. Thoughout almost the entire story, she lies to Tom. She does so much, you actually find yourself sympathizing with Tom, not Kate.
The story just went on and on and Kate's chest was always tighning, stomach twisting into knots, etc. Blah Blah Blah. I found the relationship between Kate and Tom so unbelievable since there were so many lies told and it went on for so long. The story seemed to take forever to develop and it just didn't ring true.
The story had lots of potential, but the string of lies was just drawn out for too long and it made it incredibly dull. I saw nothing between Kate and Tom other than a physical attraction.
Joyce Bean reads the audio version of this book and I have to say, she does deliver on that. She's one of my favorite audio readers and didn't disappoint me there.
December 2, 2017
Guilty • by Karen Robards
When Kat White was a teen and packed in a car with a couple of her friends, along with a bunch of others, they stop to get beer. While Kat and her friend are in the restroom they hear gunshots and come out to see the dead store clerk and the car full of kids shouting to run--they run.
Now some 13 years later Kat is an assistant district attorney (ADA) and one of the kids from her past demands she help him get out of prison or he'll expose her involvement in the shooting at the store, all those years ago. Even though she was a kid at the time and not responsible for anyone's death, she fears being accused as an accessory. Even if she isn't sent to jail, she may lose her job.
During an escape attempt at the jail / courtroom, Mario kills his partner who was holding Kat hostage. Mario then slinks back to his cell and convinces Kat to say she killed his partner while freeing herself, but the evidence points to other conclusions.
Mario's gang then kills him and frames Kat for the crime. The gang kidnapped Kat's son and forces her to help with a plot to kill the presidential hopeful. Cops give her immunity and her son is rescued, the bad guys caught. Kat marries her cop pal. All turns out well.
Pitiable • a romance novel trying to play detective, with some sound writing. Please, writers, there is no smell of cordite when firing a gun. Stop it. It just makes you look stupid & your fact checker asleep. Also too many phrases that elicit eye rolling and it lacks believability. Try harder.
•
When Kat White was a teen and packed in a car with a couple of her friends, along with a bunch of others, they stop to get beer. While Kat and her friend are in the restroom they hear gunshots and come out to see the dead store clerk and the car full of kids shouting to run--they run.
Now some 13 years later Kat is an assistant district attorney (ADA) and one of the kids from her past demands she help him get out of prison or he'll expose her involvement in the shooting at the store, all those years ago. Even though she was a kid at the time and not responsible for anyone's death, she fears being accused as an accessory. Even if she isn't sent to jail, she may lose her job.
During an escape attempt at the jail / courtroom, Mario kills his partner who was holding Kat hostage. Mario then slinks back to his cell and convinces Kat to say she killed his partner while freeing herself, but the evidence points to other conclusions.
Mario's gang then kills him and frames Kat for the crime. The gang kidnapped Kat's son and forces her to help with a plot to kill the presidential hopeful. Cops give her immunity and her son is rescued, the bad guys caught. Kat marries her cop pal. All turns out well.
Pitiable • a romance novel trying to play detective, with some sound writing. Please, writers, there is no smell of cordite when firing a gun. Stop it. It just makes you look stupid & your fact checker asleep. Also too many phrases that elicit eye rolling and it lacks believability. Try harder.
•
February 4, 2012
Ok, the book was readable and I liked the suspense part, but oh my God, wasn't the main character annoying!! Anyone with a little spark of intellect would have told the truth to police immediately. Our paranoic Kate, however, would hide it until the very end. They blackmail her, they attack her, they break into her house, does this teach her anything? No, of course not. She needs to have her son kidnapped to finally realize it's about time she really spoke to police. And what is she hiding with such fervour, you might ask. Well, the fact that once, when she was a teenager, she was a witness to a murder. A witness. That's all. She didn't kill anyone herself, she didn't sell drugs, she didn't assault people. All this stupid fuss about something she wasn't guilty of. And because of that, she would hide a lot of other, quite useful facts, from police - obviously, she doesn't care that this information could help solve another crime. Actually, when it comes to caring, she only cares about her son. Obsessively. She has no life of her own, no hobbies, no friends, and her constant preoccupation with no one and nothing but her son was plain boring to read about.
The only thing I liked about this book was the fact that I read it in a French translation and it was useful for learning new words. That's the only reason why I give it 2 stars and not 1.
The only thing I liked about this book was the fact that I read it in a French translation and it was useful for learning new words. That's the only reason why I give it 2 stars and not 1.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2014
I had a hard time connecting with the main character of this story. The story begins with Kat as a teenager who gets caught up with a bad crowd and bad choices that result in the death of an off-duty police officer. Kat pulls her life together and in spite of being a single parent, she puts herself through law school and is a new prosecutor. Ordinarily, this would be a success story, but when her past catches up to her, Kat begins telling lie after lie, even when she is blatantly confronted, she continues to lie. I quickly became annoyed with her and had a hard time feeling much sympathy for her. The story improved when Kat’s son, Ben, is in mortal danger from some very bad people and Kat finally comes clean to Tom.
I really liked Ben and Tom. I thought Ben was very precocious and adorable. Tom was a great character who is carrying some very painful baggage, but manages to keep his heart open to the possibility of a new relationship. In spite of the lies and deception Kat throws at his feet, he continues to be there for her.
Overall, this story was just OK for me. The ending fell flat with little closure and a lot of gaps. Fans of romantic suspense may be able to overlook the lack of character development and enjoy the story but if you are a reader who needs the characters in their stories to be realistic, then this may not be the book for you.
I really liked Ben and Tom. I thought Ben was very precocious and adorable. Tom was a great character who is carrying some very painful baggage, but manages to keep his heart open to the possibility of a new relationship. In spite of the lies and deception Kat throws at his feet, he continues to be there for her.
Overall, this story was just OK for me. The ending fell flat with little closure and a lot of gaps. Fans of romantic suspense may be able to overlook the lack of character development and enjoy the story but if you are a reader who needs the characters in their stories to be realistic, then this may not be the book for you.
July 27, 2012
This was one of the worst books I've ever read. I read two books by this author, and both were a waste of time. I think she is a horrible writer. Just my opinion. Every article of clothing worn by every single character is described in excruciating detail. She also describes the paint on the wall of every room and the knick-knack on every surface. Even the dust motes in the air. Throughout the book, the main character will catch a glimpse of herself in some reflective surface or other and then proceed to describe her own facial expressions. It's downright painful to read at times. The dialogue is also pretty awful...at one point, after finding out that the hero's infant son had died tragically, the main character actually says "That's so sad. That must have totally broken your heart." I'm not kidding!!! It's THAT BAD!!!!
March 13, 2018
While I enjoyed the performance on this CD, the writing drove me nuts. The author frequently throws long, descriptive phrases into the middle of her sentences which jar the reader/listener when the description stops and the sentences starts back up.
She is supposed to be a savvy prosecutor. Was there ever any evidence that she was present at the scene of the early murder? Or would it have just been the word of a gang banger criminal against that of a member of the court system?
And the last time I checked, the Chesapeake Bay was in Maryland, not in Philadelphia.
She is supposed to be a savvy prosecutor. Was there ever any evidence that she was present at the scene of the early murder? Or would it have just been the word of a gang banger criminal against that of a member of the court system?
And the last time I checked, the Chesapeake Bay was in Maryland, not in Philadelphia.
January 1, 2021
Descent book but I hate books/movies based on deception. Pretty much the whole way through you just want to choke her and tell her to fess up. I “guess” I get why she kept it a secret so long due to her chosen career and her fear of leaving her son alone.
It feels like she could have hired a lawyer (client confidentiality) and then she would have had someone to talk to about it, someone to give her legal advice, etc. Also, as ADA, she should be well aware of deal making and obviously she is in an excellent position with everyone wanting to know about the jail break.
It feels like she could have hired a lawyer (client confidentiality) and then she would have had someone to talk to about it, someone to give her legal advice, etc. Also, as ADA, she should be well aware of deal making and obviously she is in an excellent position with everyone wanting to know about the jail break.
May 20, 2009
This book was 11 long hours. It took me a whole week to listen to it (which is twice as long as usual).
It is about a young assistant district attorney who brings herself up from a bad childhood only to get caught up in a multiple murder inside a court room. Somewhere along the way she falls in love but is trying to protect her child at the same time. Blah, blah, blah. No action till the last 2 hours. The whole time I felt I should have been listening to a Highlander book.
It is about a young assistant district attorney who brings herself up from a bad childhood only to get caught up in a multiple murder inside a court room. Somewhere along the way she falls in love but is trying to protect her child at the same time. Blah, blah, blah. No action till the last 2 hours. The whole time I felt I should have been listening to a Highlander book.
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