Leave No Trace by Lynn Romaine
Wild Rose Press
Contemporary, Suspense
ISBN: 1-60154-831-1
Reviewed by Miranda




Department of Natural Resources agent Nikki Seek is used to a solitary existence researching wolves and wildlife but now she is working undercover trying to expose eco-terrorists.  When she stops in Lost River, Missouri to check on her Aunt Jessie and ex-uncle Dexter, she discovers Dexter has been murdered and her Aunt is missing.

Sheriff John McGuinn came back to Lost River 18 years ago after a failed marriage. John’s  life is pretty normal, he has a good job, and a weekly date with a friend for some no strings action, but everything he knows gets turned upside down when a vicious murder is committed and one hellcat by the name of Nikki Seek enters his life.

Nikki decides to stick around in Lost River to find her Aunt Jessie.  She quickly becomes embroiled in the murder investigation.  After an attempt is made on her life, evidence turns up and she becomes a suspect in the murder.  Nikki hits the road to find her Aunt and discover the real killer.  McGuinn is determined to find Nikki, he just can’t decide if it’s to bring her in for murder or because he wants her for himself.

Leave No Trace is an excellent whodunit!  Lynn Romaine has created an intense plot driven romantic thriller not to be missed.  I was left on the edge of my seat, desperate to figure out: where is Jessie, who murdered Dexter, and when will Nikki and McGuinn finally trust each other?  Nikki and McGuinn ooze sex from the first time they meet and the fact that they are on opposite sides elevates the intensity of their attraction.  Nikki really pulled at my heart strings.  I was so distressed for her character.  Her life hasn’t exactly been easy and things seem to be getting worse, but she is a strong woman determined to fend for herself.  There were even times while reading Leave No Trace where I was yelling at the characters to “do this, not that.”  I love it when I get so involved in a novel.