Ahead of the Game

Zoey Jones is trying to stay one step ahead of a life that seems to have changed direction without consulting her. When she left Blythesville, she was filled with hopes, dreams, and the assurance that she was in love. She has returned older, wiser, and single. She is starting over and more determined than ever to make a life for herself and her daughter while she gets to know the parents that she seems to have lost touch with.

While she works as a waitress to make ends meet, an old crush returns to see if there are still sparks between them. Hank Westlake warmed her teenage heart in the eighth grade; Detective Westlake seems to have the same effect on her years later. Zoey feels hope flare when he asks her for a date. However, their evening is interrupted when a burglary/homicide pulls Hank away. When the suspect is none other than her father Charlie, Zoey’s world starts to spin out of control. Is her ailing father truly responsible for the robbery and murder? Zoey resolves to discover the truth, but will she like the answers as she tries to stay one step Ahead of the Game that is playing out around her?

Ahead of the Game was a surprisingly enjoyable romantic suspense. What stands out the most in this book are the characters. Ms. Ledbetter has created a heroine that could be any woman. Readers will find her easy to relate to and even easier to support. The supporting characters are as essential as Zoey and Hank. Readers will enjoy seeing these people interact. The plot is not overly suspenseful; instead it is a unique blend of mystery, romance, and family. The author has balanced the various aspects of the plot into a story that will have you laughing, sighing, and sitting on the edge of your seat in anticipation. This reviewer appreciated the manner in which the author developed the romance between Zoey and Hank. These two have integrity and dedication to family and friends down pat, even when it means their feelings take a back seat. The mystery surrounding the murder and robbery builds to an excellent, emotional ending that is well worth experiencing. 4 Angels.

Reviewed by: Amanda