What Doesn't Kill Her: 2 (Cape Charade)

What Doesn't Kill Her by Christina Dodd takes us to Willamette Valley in Oregon where the Di Luca Winery is located. Kellen Adams (aka Cecilia Adams) is adjusting to living at the Di Luca Winery with Max Di Luca, their seven year old daughter, Rae and Max's mother, Verona. Kellen lost a year of her life while in a coma from a gunshot wound and she then disappeared upon awakening. She is now the mother the precocious Rae and no clue how to relate to her. Kellen misses working and Max finds her a job that will give her time away to think about the future. Nils Brooks hires Kellen along with Richart Movers to transport a mummy head into the Olympic mountains to a reclusive man for authentication. Kellen can tell something is off as soon as they pick up the artifact. Her suspicions are soon confirmed, and Kellen finds herself in the mountains without a vehicle or a phone. However, Kellen does find a stowaway. Rae decided to join Kellen on the trip so they can bond. Thankfully, she did leave a note behind (of sorts) for Max and Verona. Kellen must get the artifact along with Rae and herself up the mountain to the Restorer (as the man is called) without being killed by the armed men following her. Come along for Kellen's adventure in What Doesn't Kill Her.

What Doesn't Kill Her is a well-written and engaging romantic suspense novel. It is fast-paced with plenty of action. While What Doesn't Kill Her can be read alone, but I highly recommend reading Dead Girl Running first. The summary just does not do Kellen's situation justice. Rae is the highlight of What Doesn't Kill Her. She is an active, intelligent and sassy little girl. Her witty dialogue will have you chuckling along with her obsession for pink, purple, heroes and her princess dolls (the poor dolls). Rae has just found her mommy and she has no intention of a lack of bonding get in the way. These parents are going to have their hands full with the spunky and mischievous Rae. Kellen should have known not to take a job from Nils Brooks. He deserves everything Rae, Max and Kellen dish out. I started reading What Doesn't Kill Her and just kept going until I reached the end. The book is character driven with plenty of action. Christina Dodd created developed characters that suit the story. I can understand why Kellen hid under the bushes to avoid Rae at times as well as the large Di Luca clan. There is a funny scene where an event is planned under the same bushes. Avid mystery readers will be able to pinpoint the evildoer, but I loved the chase. I like that when bad things happen it is not described in gory detail. There is foul language sprinkled throughout the book (just letting you know). I do want to warn readers that we are left with a cliffhanger at the end of What Doesn't Kill Her (and we must wait until October). I am giving What Doesn't Kill Her 5 out of 5 stars (I loved it). I enjoyed the suspense, action, intrigue, humor, mystery and romance in this thrilling adventure. Not many writers can create a book that makes a reader feel a range of emotions. I cannot wait to read Stranger She Knows when it releases in October. Buckle in for another exciting adventure with Kellen and her sidekick, Rae in What Doesn't Kill Her.