Death Angel

Drea Rousseau has learned to survive by attaching herself to wealthy, dangerous men. When she decides to leave her current criminal boyfriend with millions in stolen money, she sets off a deadly chain of events. Rafael Salinas sends his most brutal assassin to hunt Drea down. She manages to escape the initial attempt on her life but finds herself trapped between ruthless adversaries with no one to trust. As Drea fights to stay alive, she forms an unlikely alliance with the hired killer who was meant to end her life. Together they must outmaneuver Salinas's criminal empire while confronting their growing attraction to each other. The novel explores themes of redemption and reinvention against a backdrop of crime and survival. Through its central romance, it examines how trauma and violence can forge unexpected connections between people.

Readers note this romantic suspense novel moves at a fast pace but requires suspension of disbelief around the main premise. Readers appreciated: - The chemistry between the leads - Tight plotting and action sequences - The redemption arc of the female protagonist - Blend of romance and thriller elements - Howard's straightforward writing style Common criticisms: - Implausible near-death experience plot device - Too much focus on mundane details - Rushed ending - Some found the male lead too controlling - Violence level makes some readers uncomfortable Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (15,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (300+ reviews) Sample reader comments: "The premise is far-fetched but the execution is gripping" - Goodreads reviewer "Great chemistry but the supernatural element feels out of place" - Amazon review "Would have been better as a straight crime thriller without the paranormal aspect" - LibraryThing review

The Witness by Nora Roberts A woman who witnessed a mob crime assumes a new identity and finds protection from a small-town police chief while killers hunt her down.

Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard Four women create a list of qualities for the perfect man, which leads to murders and forces a detective and the sole survivor to catch the killer.

The Search by Iris Johansen A search-and-rescue dog trainer with a dark past teams up with an FBI agent to track a killer who has returned to finish what he started.

Deep Kiss of Winter by Kresley Cole, Gena Showalter An assassin and her target become trapped together during a blizzard, forcing them to confront their attraction while surviving both the elements and their enemies.

Kill and Tell by Linda Howard A nurse inherits evidence of a conspiracy from her murdered father and must trust a homicide detective to keep her alive as she uncovers the truth.

🔹 Death Angel was inspired by the author's observation of a man in a business suit riding a motorcycle - she wondered what would make someone who was clearly wealthy choose to ride a motorcycle instead of a luxury car. 🔹 Linda Howard wrote Death Angel while recovering from surgery, completing the manuscript in just six weeks despite being on pain medication. 🔹 The book's protagonist, Drea, was deliberately written as an anti-heroine - a departure from traditional romantic suspense heroines who typically start with more admirable qualities. 🔹 The novel features one of the most unusual near-death experiences in romantic fiction, becoming a pivotal plot point that transforms both the story and the main character. 🔹 Author Linda Howard has been inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame and has sold over 10 million copies of her books worldwide.