I'm Watching You (Warner Forever) by Karen Rose (2004-10-01)

Just having discovered Karen Rose, I loved Don't tell, but was disapointed with Have You Seen Her. I thought I'm Watching You was way better and I am glad I was not disappointed a second time. I'm Watching You combined all the essentials: suspense, great plot, developed, likeable characters with a past, and non-stop plot twists and turns. The romantic piece of the story was written in well, and was not overpowering as in Have You Seen Her. I can't wait for Rose's next novel!

If you have read Karen Rose's books starting with the first book "Don't Tell" you can tell that her progression of story telling is vastly improving. I do not mean to imply that the other two were not good books, because they were but this book had me up late trying to finish it. I have read this book so much that I will probably have to buy another copy. She blended the right amount of suspense and romance to keep the reader interested in the book, but also caught your attention from the beginning to make you want to read more. If Karen should read this I must say congratulations because you have became one of my must have authors which puts you right there with J.D. Robb, Laurel K. Hamilton, Erica Spindler, Linda Lael Miller, Sharon Sala, Linda Howard, Lisa Jackson, Patricia Cornwell, Tami Hoag, Christine Feehan, and Sherrilyn Kenyon. Those are just a few of my favorite authors and my must have books.

It worked! My daughter bought this one for me for my birthday! I knew if I kept hinting, she would get it for me! Getting more and more. My collection is growing! And thanks to you for the books being in the shape they are.....very good!

This novel centers around Chicago Public Defender, Kristen Mayhew. An obsessed vigilante is murdering criminals that she has failed to convict, and then sending her letters of admiration. Dectective Abe Reagan of the Chicago Police Department is sent to protect her, as it is feared Kristen could become a target of the vigilante, or other criminals.

I found this story a bit of a disappointment. Having read a number of Karen Rose novels, I am starting to see a 'sameness' about them, which I don't like. I found myself cringing at times, at the dialogue between the two main characters, who wereunconvincing. The story was a bit more slow moving, also, in comparison to other Karen Rose novels that I have read. Not one of her best.

Karen Rose is another one of my favorite authors. By chance I picked up her books and now I am always looking for her next release. This book was good. It has suspense, romance, murder. It's got it all. It's worth reading and reading all of her other books.

I spent all day yesterday reading "I'm Watching You," but I regret having done so. First, there are way too many characters (about 20) to keep straight. Second, [...] Third, the last 20 pages wrap up everything very quickly, giving necessary background information which should have been incorporated more smoothly. Fourth, Kristen (the heroine) is stupidly stubborn, insisting that the murderer "will not drive her out of her house." [...] No, Kristen will not leave. (Nor apparently will she buy shades). Even when she has to have a 24 hour police guard, plus the hero (and later, his father) keeping watch, Kristen will not leave her house. This stupid contrivance exists just to put her in danger. I got very tired of the many times that she fought off various people who wanted to kill her. To complete her status as a character who is Too Stupid to Live, is her uninformed assumption about the seriousness of the effects of surgery. (Yes, I bet you can figure the effect of this too). A gifted artist who is now a dedicated, articulate, principled prosector never has this assumption verified, even fearing it will end her engagement to the hero? Yeah, sure. Yes, "I'm Watching You" is a page turner, but I found it to be very unpleasant. Even skipping the explicitly violent parts, I found this book increasingly nasty. [...]

I spent all day yesterday reading "I'm Watching You," but I regret having done so. First, there are way too many characters (about 20) to keep straight. Second, [...] Third, the last 20 pages wrap up everything very quickly, giving necessary background information which should have been incorporated more smoothly. Fourth, Kristen (the heroine) is stupidly stubborn, insisting that the murderer "will not drive her out of her house." [...] No, Kristen will not leave. (Nor apparently will she buy shades). Even when she has to have a 24 hour police guard, plus the hero (and later, his father) keeping watch, Kristen will not leave her house. This stupid contrivance exists just to put her in danger. I got very tired of the many times that she fought off various people who wanted to kill her. To complete her status as a character who is Too Stupid to Live, is her uninformed assumption about the seriousness of the effects of surgery. (Yes, I bet you can figure the effect of this too). A gifted artist who is now a dedicated, articulate, principled prosector never has this assumption verified, even fearing it will end her engagement to the hero? Yeah, sure. Yes, "I'm Watching You" is a page turner, but I found it to be very unpleasant. Even skipping the explicitly violent parts, I found this book increasingly nasty. [...]

*An outstanding thriller by author Karen Rose. Combined with suspense and thrill-seeking moments from the very first chapter to the shocking conclusion. It's a must read............."Not Guilty!" Listening to those two words seep into her mind, prosecutor Kristen Mayhew felt like she was about to become ill. She was just as positive as she was yesterday that a guilty verdict was bound to happen, but instead, a damn acquittal! What next? While not concentrating when leaving the courtroom, she was stunned when she walked right into a hard warm chest and gazed up at one of the most handsomest men she ever laid eyes on. Homicide detective Abe Reagan, only saw Kristen Mayhew once before in the past, and she was even more beautiful now then she was back then. He had been in deep undercover for five long years, losing his wife in the crosshairs after putting all the bad guys away, and now, he was back doing his job as a detective in the homicide division. Abe walked Kristen to her car and they both noticed she had a flat tire and with his urgency to help, Kristen agreed to let him only to discover a horrific scene in the trunk of her car. Inside was three boxes containing body parts, with pictures and a letter in each one addressed to Kristen. At the M.E's office, it was later established that all the remains were that of the perpetrator's victims who not only escaped the system, but the assailant wrote a letter personally to Kristen, signing it "Your Humble Servant". What did it all mean? Did they have a vigilante on their hands? And why write to Kristen? Abe hadn't a clue but he was determined to keep a close eye on Kristen, besides, he had selfish reasons that even he, hated to admit. She was the first woman, since the death of his wifen that stirred something inside of him so strong, that he couldn't even deny if his life depended on it. Could she sense it? Their connection? As much as she tried to concentrate on her work, Kristen couldn't help but think of Abe Reagan. The man was gorgeous, downright appealing, and most importantly, he made her blood boil every time he was near. But she still had to focus on the case. Who was the murderer? Members of the victims families? Or someone close to their cases? Cops? Lawyers? Or someone who suffered a tragic loss? And why was she singled out? Was she in danger? After attempts are made on Kristen's life, the tension and sexual chemistry ignited into flames between Abe and Kristen, both finding themselves entangled in a passionate love affair, with Abe vowing to protect her at all costs, but nothing would spare them both for the shock of their lives when the identity of the killer is finally revealed, or even worse, more closer to home than they ever thought possible!...........I loved this book.....thank you..........♡♡

I have spent the entire summer feasting on Karen Rise's books. I have enjoyed every one of the 13 books I read this summer. The romance twisted with serial murders by an unknown assailant until the end kept me reading long into the night. I cannot recommend them any less than some of the BEST crime/romance novels I've ever read. I can hardly wait for her book coming out in October.