Ohhh this one was an intense one. Kept me on my toes and the pages turning the whole time.
I loved how compelling this read was. It was s shorter one for me. But it could just be that I couldn't put it down haha

New to me author and first time reading her and I can definitely say this will not be the last time reading her!The amount of romance and suspense in this book was perfect mixture to keep fans of both genres intrigued.

After Allison James finally escapes her marriage to a monster, she becomes the star witness in the case against her deceased husband’s powerful crime family. Now it’s up to US Marshal Jaxson Stevens, Ali’s ex-boyfriend, to keep the WITSEC widow safe. But as the danger escalates and sparks fly, will Jax be able to help Ali escape her ruthless in-laws?
This was a decent read. It was well written and quick to read. The characters were likable and the overall plot was good. I recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

DISCLAIMER: I received an advanced reader copy (eBook) of Witness Protection Widow by Debra Webb from Harlequin through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Witness Protection Widow is part of the February 2020 Harlequin Series Blog Tour. It's a novel in the Harlequin Intrigue line.

Allison “Ali” James is a young widow in the witness protection program. She’s awaiting a trial to testify against her deceased husband’s father and their powerful crime family. US Marshal Jaxon Stevens (aka Jax) is the marshal assigned to Ali to keep her safe until the trial. He also happens to be her hot ex-boyfriend. Sounds intriguing, right?

Witness Protection Widow by Debra Webb is part of Harlequin’s new Harlequin Intrigue line. When I read the book summary for this novel, I was indeed intrigued. My expectations were as follows – a steamy romance with a hot guy and an action-packed suspenseful story. This novel had so much potential to be all of those things, but unfortunately, I was left an unsatisfied reader. Don’t get me wrong, there were parts of this story that I did enjoy.

The most intriguing part of Witness Protection Widow was reading about Ali’s backstory, and why Ali stayed with her evil husband for five torturous years. I liked Ali’s story because it was real and raw. Sadly, she suffered mental and physical abuse, but I think it’s good that this book sheds a light on relationship abuse. Ali’s story seems to be on the extreme side of the spectrum, but I’m sure anyone in an abusive relationship can relate to Ali’s situation to some degree. Maybe they aren’t shackled in chains, but metaphorically they feel shackled to a relationship they can’t escape from.

While reading Witness Protection Widow, I wanted to give it 3 stars. I was highly anticipating the trial between Ali and Armone Senior. But, when it was glossed over, I had to lower my rating. Unfortunately, I’m giving Witness Protection Widow 2 out of 5 stars. The book isn’t bad. Truly, I love Ali’s story, and I’m glad there’s a book out there that shines a light on relationship abuse. But, the ending had the potential to be suspenseful and action-packed, and it fell short. Although as a reader I wanted more, I recommend reading Witness Protection Widow for Ali’s story because her story deserves to be heard.

Check out my blog to read my full review:
http://www.candisbarbosa.com/book-review-witness-protection-widow-debra-webb/

This was a pretty good read with just the right amount of romance and suspenseful tension to keep me coming back to finish.

The book follows Ali, the widow of a mobster who was murdered by his own father. She is the star witness in his upcoming trail, and he will stop at nothing to make sure she does not live to testify.

I am a SUCKER for a good Mob story (what can I say? I’m Italian) and it delivered. Although I did not see as much of the ins and outs of the mob as I would have liked, the constant threat of what Mr. Armone would do to Ali was always present and caused just the right amount of tension.

Ali: I loved Ali. She is seriously one tough chick. I’m not going to spoil the book by telling you what she went through with her horrible husband and his criminal family, let’s just say it was bad. Like REALLY bad. What I liked about how her character was how she was portrayed. Ali was a normal woman who was thrust into an abnormal situation and rose above it. She was basically terrified and had anxiety from beginning to end, because you know, people were trying to kill her... but she never once gave up. Sure, she did have the added benefit of a sexy US Marshal watching over her, but she was not a weak victim that needed a man to protect her. She was a tough bitch that time and time again chose survival over defeat.

Jax: Ok, so here is the thing. It literally says in the book that Jax DOES NOT WEAR A COWBOY HAT... But that did not stop me from picturing him in a cowboy hat. He also happened to look exactly like Timothy Olyphant in Justified, in my mind at least.

Jax was exactly what a story like this needs in a love interest. He was just the right mix of sensitive romantic and bad ass. Most importantly, he protected Ali without it ever seeming like he was her protector or like she was a victim. His job was to keep her safe but it never seemed like she was a weak little thing who would fall apart without her man to protect her.

Their romance itself was cute. They had a relationship ten years prior, and that left them with both feelings and baggage neither had properly dealt with. One issue I often have with romance books is that it all seems to happen too fast. In this case the romance had already happened so it was completely realistic for them to rekindle their love in a short time period.

My only complaint was that the ending wrapped up quickly and I would have liked to see more of the actual courtroom drama.

All in all it was a delightful surprise!

After suffering unimaginable horrors at the hands of her husband, Allison, who thought she was marrying a prince charming, runs away and becomes the main witness to a crime.

To protect her from the gang of dangerous and cruel mobsters who pursue her, she will have as protector nothing less than her former love, Jaxson. He is a correct and hardworking policeman who sees this mission as a chance to advance his career. What he doesn't imagine that the witness was his old girlfriend and great love.

The meeting of the two is chilling and the conviviality will be very difficult because both keep a lot of hurt from what they lived in the past, but little by little it becomes impossible not to succumb to the old passion.

I really liked the atmosphere of tension and mystery that permeates the pages, I only expected a stronger impact on the court scene and that Jaxson would have a less emotional and prejudiced attitude as soon as he saw Allison.

The story between them ends up becoming very beautiful to follow and the ending is exciting.
3,5/5 stars

Allison has no idea she has married into a crime family. She thinks she has finally found the love of her life. The abuse and horror she begins to face every day becomes overwhelming. Then her father-in-law kills her husband and threatens to take her as his own. She finally finds the strength to run!

Allison has agreed to be the star witness against this crime family. She is being protected at a secure location. But, her handler has been injured in an accident. Enter, Jaxson Stevens. Allison and Jaxson have a past. (Now how convenient is that!).

These two have a rough go at first. It is awkward and just a tad stiff between Allison and Jaxson. But, as the suspense and danger builds, so does their relationship.

As most of you know, romantic suspense is one of my guilty pleasures. I can get so lost in a good romance when the hot guy sweeps in a saves the damsel in distress. And trust me….this one is a good one! This is a very quick read. It moves like lightening plus…I adored Jaxson. He is my favorite type….strong and silent.

Grab your copy today! You will not be disappointed!

I received this book from the publisher for a honest review.

This book was everything I hoped it would be: Well-written and intriguing, with great characters and a suspenseful storyline. I like Debra Webb’s writing and will definitely be looking for more books from her. This story did not feel rushed, and thought the plot was timed very well.
I’m interested in reading more books in this series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Witness protection widow by Debra Webb.
After Allison James finally escapes her marriage to a monster, she becomes the star witness in the case against her deceased husband’s powerful crime family. Now it’s up to US Marshal Jaxson Stevens, Ali’s ex-boyfriend, to keep the WITSEC widow safe. But as the danger escalates and sparks fly, will Jax be able to help Ali escape her ruthless in-laws?
A brilliant read. I loved the story and some of the characters. Ali and Jax were my favourite. I loved how he protected her. 5*.

I really enjoyed this story. The suspense, the 2nd chance romance. I plan on looking up more books that have witness protection story lines.

Alison James thought she had a dream marriage until the dream became a horrific nightmare she couldn’t wait to escape from. She hadn’t realised her husband was a key member of a powerful crime family but when she did her fairytale life was over. It was only after witnessing her father in law assassinating her husband that she managed to escape with evidence to help bring him to justice. The only problem now is staying alive to testify. She certainly didn’t anticipate her first love, Jayson Stevens, being the US Marshall in charge of protecting her . . . . nor did either of them expect their love to be rekindled! However, there’s betrayal and peril ahead before justice can prevail and their second chance romance has any opportunity for a HEA.

This is an action packed story with great characters – including one that’s canine! There are secrets to be revealed as the drama unfolds. It is a page turner that I enjoyed reading but confess that I really wanted to know the verdict of the court case and felt irritated by it not being revealed – but that’s probably just me wanting all the loose ends tidying up neatly but it does mean I want to read the next book in this series ASAP!

I requested and was gifted a copy of this book and this is my honest review after choosing to read it.

This was the first book I read by this author. This was a great story. The characters are well developed and well fleshed out. I felt like I was watching an action movie in my mind. There were quite a few surprises and this book kept my attention.

I liked the story of Ali and Jax and thought that the plot that brings them together was a good one. However, even though this book can be read as a stand-alone, there are references to previous books. I got the distinct feeling that I would have enjoyed it more if I read the others in the series first. Regardless, it was a fast read and suitable for a brain break. Had I the frame of reference from the first four books, this would have been a four-star review. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for a pre-release digital ARC of this book.

Allison James is in serious trouble. Her abusive husband is dead, but his mobster family is still controlling her. She plans to see that come to an end when she testifies against them. However, to get to that point, she must be protected at all costs. She enters the witness protection program and is shocked when her old flame, Jaxson Stevens is the US Marshal assigned to her case.

Their old feelings resurface, but there’s no way Allison was going to let Jaxson get caught up in her mess. She doesn’t care that it’s his job to protect her, she is determined to protect him against her evil in-laws.

For Jaxson, his old feelings for Allison are still very much alive, but he can’t help wondering how she could marry into a crime family. He never stopped loving her and he vows to make sure she survives her testimony.

The sparks fly right off the pages in this one. Allison and Jaxson have many demons in their past. They try and put it all behind them, but it's not easy.

It’s been awhile since I read a Harlequin Intrigue, but this was a great way to get back into the line. Debra Webb did a great job of bringing romantic suspense alive. Witness Protection Widow is #5 in her Winchester, Tennessee series. It's the first and only book I’ve read in this series. I didn’t feel as if I was missing anything. The book mainly features Allison and Jaxson. There are no cliff hangers and the storyline is all wrapped up by the end of this book.

The story is fast-paced and felt like a roller coaster ride. My heart was in my mouth as they tried to get away from the bad guys. It was hard to know who was trustworthy and who wasn’t.

This book is filled with romance, suspense and a little mystery. I’m definitely going to be checking out this author’s backlist.

Spine-chilling suspense and heart-pounding romance are mixed deliciously and deftly in Debra Webb’s latest nail-biting read, Witness Protection Widow.

It had been love at first sight for Ali when she had met Harrison. Charming, sophisticated and debonair, Harrison had seemed to have stepped out of one of her fantasies and after sweeping her off her feet and making all of her dreams come true, Ali had thought that a lifetime of marital bliss awaited her. However, reality proved to be a far different proposition. Harrison hadn’t exactly been honest with Ali and had kept his true identity a secret: he was a member of one of Atlanta’s most prominent crime families and as the scales began to fall from her eyes, Ali realized that her husband was a very dangerous man who would stop at nothing to achieve his objectives and who would not let anyone or anything stand in the way of getting whatever he wanted. Her husband was a violent, cruel and sadistic man who made her life hell and when he was murdered right in front of her very eyes, Ali is the star witness in the case against his immensely powerful crime family.

Ali is not safe and she has nobody she can turn to and no one she can trust. After weeks of planning, she managed to make her escape from the gilded cage that had been her home for so long. On the run and with danger lurking around every corner, Ali manages to make it far enough to alert the authorities about who she is and the violent thugs who would do whatever it takes to ensure that she does not spill the beans about what really happened on the night of her husband’s murder. Placed in witness protection and taken to a cabin in Tennessee, Ali is on tenterhooks and on a knife’s edge, counting down the days until she can finally be free of the dark shadows of her husband’s family. However, little does Ali realize that the only person who can protect her is a figure from her past who awakens feelings deep within her which she thought long-buried, her former boyfriend, Jaxson Stevens.

A US Marshal who takes his job very seriously, Jaxon is stunned when he comes face to face with Ali once again, however, he must not let his feelings get in the way of his mission. One false move and a single error of judgement is all it takes for evil to triumph and Jaxson is not about to allow a single head of Ali’s head to be harmed – regardless of their turbulent history. With Ali’s in-laws willing to do whatever it takes to shut her up for good, can Jaxson ensure that justice is served? Or are these enemies simply too powerful to defeat?

An unexpected twist of fate has brought Ali and Jaxson back together, but will it be second time lucky for the two of them? Or is it simply too late?

Debra Webb has a wonderful gift for writing romantic suspense and Witness Protection Widow grips from the off and will keep readers on the edge of their seats completely and utterly enthralled by this first class tale of love lost and found, ruthless adversaries, dangerous secrets and healing from the past. Jaxson and Ali are two fantastic characters who are so brilliantly rendered that their story will keep you turning the pages late into the night and not let you get any sleep as you find yourselves completely and utterly consumed by their story.

Emotional, enthralling and immensely enjoyable, Debra Webb’s Witness Protection Widow is another winner by this master storyteller.

My thoughts exactly

Rating :4

Would I recommend it ? Yes

Would I read more of this series ? Yes

Would I read more by this author?yes

In fact this is book 4 of hers that I've read so far and I actually own one that I have to read , while this is book 5 in a series and I've actually already read book 6 as well I had no trouble understand what was going on fact this one of my favorite types of romance to read , where the characters go up against the bad guys and one of the main characters is a cop, one of the things I loved about this was how the many character wasn't afraid to stand up for what was right and that was going up against her husband's family . Another thing I love was just like her other books I got lost in her story and wasn't even upset that I spent the day away reading it . With that said I want to say thank you to Harlequin Intrigue as well as Netgalley for inviting me to read and review it ,and I can't wait to read more by her .

Witness Protection Widow by Debra Webb is a quick, pleasant and intriguing read. Allison is under the witness protection program as the star witness for a major case that will bring down the crime regime of much sought after criminal posing as a businessman.

After her parents pass away and her boyfriend leaves to further his career, she finishes her college education and moves out of her town and gets a job, where she meets the charming Harrison Jr. who sweeps her off her feet. But good things rarely last and soon enough, she finds that under the charming exterior of her husband is a coldblooded criminal involved in all sorts of nefarious activities.

Life changes when she realizes this and questions her husband, who then begins to torture her in countless ways. But Ali is not weak. She decides to collect enough evidence so that she can go to the FBI by listening in on Harrison’s conversations with his father. Then one day, something shocking happens. His father shoots him point-blank and without remorse, announces that she’s now his plaything.

Ali plans her escape and manages to get to the FBI, after which there’s no choice but to go under their witness protection program. For six months, she must be kept safe from the evil Harrison Senior who will stop at nothing to destroy her.

Ali is moved across safe places and understands that there might be no future for her after the trial, if she does manage to survive it. As the trial date approaches, the Marshal who is safeguarding her has an accident and a new Marshal, Jaxson Stevens, is assigned to her. This is none other than the boyfriend she broke up with ten years ago.

Harboring a lot of misunderstanding over what happened over the years, they just about manage to tolerate each other. Then events occur that lead to them talking and learning the truth about why they did what they did. They realize that they’re still deeply in love with each other and now, Jax is determined to keep Ali safe.

On trial day, as they set out to the venue of the courthouse, something totally unexpected happens, resulting in them having to bolt and hide. Will they reach the courthouse on time? Will Ali be able to testify as the star witness in putting an end to a master criminal? Will she get her happily ever after with Jax?

What I liked about the book was the simple story line, easy language, great characterization with just the right amount of descriptive prose. I finished the book in one sitting—I am a huge fan of anything that’s crime/law thriller genre. I enjoyed the romance subtly woven into the story. I like how the author built the suspense across the book at various stages.

Read the book. You’ll enjoy it. I am excited to know there’s a series involving some of the characters I met in this book and I intend to dig into them.

Allison was married to a man who was perfect and treated her like gold until the day she found out what he really was and then he turned on her and made her a prisoner. After his death she becomes a witness to , she ends up needing protection. His family was a crime family and needs to be put away but nowhere seems safe for her. US Marshal Jaxson Stevens, is her ex and out to protect her. As the story goes on we find out about their past together and their feelings for each other. Can he keep her safe from everyone that is out to get her so she can't testify in court.
I received this from Harlequin/Harper Collins and NetGalley for review.

Witness Protection Widow by Debra Webb is the fifth A Winchester, Tennessee Thriller. Alison James will testify in four days against the Armone crime family if she can stay alive until then. U.S. Marshall Branch Holloway has Alison stashed in a remote cabin and is supposed to be with her for the final few days. But then Branch is injured in a car accident and calls in U.S. Marshall Jaxson Stevens. Jaxson does not know it is Ali until Branch hands him the file. She is the one he let get away and is baffled why she married into a mob family. Alison is leery of letting Jaxson be her protector because she does not want him harmed. She knows that Harrison Armone Sr. will do what it takes to see her dead before she can testify. Can Jaxon keep Alison alive to testify in four days? Witness Protection Widow is a fast paced novel. There is suspense, intrigue and romantic tension. This book can be read on its own if you have not read any of the other novels in A Winchester, Tennessee Thriller series. Characters from the other books do make an appearance for those who have read the other four novels. The point-of-view switches between Jaxson and Allison. I like getting both perspectives. We get to see how each person feels about a situation and how easily a comment can be misinterpreted. I like the fast pace of the story as Alison and Jaxson try to stay alive. I like Debra Webb’s engaging writing style. She provides just the right amount of imagery (not too much nor too little). There was the right blend of suspense and romance. My one complaint is that there were a couple of unanswered questions at the end. I wish there had been an epilogue to completely wrap up Witness Protection Widow. Be prepared to lose a couple of hours while you are busy reading Witness Protection Widow. Witness Protection Widow has hired hit men, a masculine U.S. Marshall, a malicious mob boss, a worried widow, and four frantic days.