The night before his wedding, Zander Walsh, his parents, and his husband-to-be are all shot when they return home and interrupt a mysterious robbery in progress. After three weeks in a coma, Zander wakes up to find out he is the only survivor, and his perfect life falls apart in an instant.
Hunky FBI Agent Jake Elliot is investigating the case, and he eventually apprehends the killer—who soon escapes. Following six months of searching, Zander and Jake realize they’re being stonewalled by the FBI... and that they have slowly formed an unbreakable bond that is beginning to turn into much more.
Once they embark on a journey to apprehend the killer for the second time, they’ll discover that one terrible night was much more than just an interrupted robbery. Can big business and politics cover up the truth, or will Zander and Jake’s quest to unravel the mystery be the end of their newfound love and their lives?
Scotty Cade penned a great murder mystery/love story in Bounty of Love. Zander Walsh is set to marry the man of his dreams, Darren Jordan. On the eve of that major event, Darren, Zander and Zander’s parents are hosting a huge party after the wedding rehearsal. Once the rehearsal is over, Zander drives the family back to his parent’s house, drop everyone off and goes to park the car. As he is getting out, he hears a gunshot, then another. As he enters the house, he is also shot. When he awakens in the hospital, he learns that he is the only survivor and that his family interrupted a burglary in progress when they arrived home that fateful night. But there was nothing missing from the house.
This is a bittersweet story about love and loss, and finding love again. It’s captivating and romantic, with some very loving characters as well as a few bad guys thrown in for good measure. Cade does a great job of keeping the reader engaged throughout the book, rooting for the good guys and hoping that it all works out. It’s a wonderful story and a very easy read. There are just enough plot twists and subplots to keep you interested, but not too many to distract you. I found myself wanting to read ahead to see what happens but I wouldn’t do it. I’m glad I didn’t. The ending was worth the wait.
BOUNTY OF LOVE
by Scotty Cade
(Dreamspinner Books, August 2011, $14.99 softcover)
Zander Walsh wakes up in a hospital to learn that he, his fiancé Darren and his parents were shot by an apparent thief they surprised at his parents' home, and only Zander survived the shooting. As he tries to put his life back together, some bits of information seem to suggest that this was not a random theft, by a planned assassination of his father, an influential senator. FBI agent Jake Elliot is assigned to the case, essentially to shadow Zander and make sure he remains safe, a situation that results in a familiarity that evolves into mutual attraction. As more details about the crime become available, and Jake notices some strange reactions among his FBI superiors, the two find themselves in a confusing and potentially very dangerous situation.
It's a riveting (though occasionally over-the-top and a bit unrealistic) story of corporate greed and political jeopardy, with lots of nail-biting scenes to appease any action junkie. Generally well written, and I'd give it three stars out of four.
Action-packed mystery thriller
