This is the first Harlequin romance that I’ve ever read. It is part of their line of thrillers, called Harlequin Intrigue.

Ali is in the witness protection program. She was a witness to her husband’s murder by his father. They were part of a crime family, and she had information about the crimes they had committed. Ali was assigned a marshal to look after her, but when he was injured, they had to call in another man. It turns out that the new marshal, Jax, and Ali used to be engaged. They spend a lot of time together while he is protecting her, and they rekindle their romance.

This was an interesting concept for a thriller. I’ve never read a book about someone in the witness protection program, but I’ve seen it in many movies. This situation made many twists when her life was threatened.

There was a lot of build up to the court case at the end, which I found kind of disappointing. The whole story was about protecting Ali for her witness testimony, but that was the shortest part of the story. I wished it was longer because it could have created more tension.

There was also a lot of internal monologue of the two main characters. They spent a lot of time reflecting on their feelings, rather than doing things. This may be the format of these novels, but I wish there was more action and less reflection.

This book was a good introduction to Harlequin’s intrigue series.

Thank you Harlequin for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I think I’ve found my new favorite type of romance novel … romantic suspense. There’s a bit more at stake than a relationship.

I loved Ali and Jax. Ali is a relatable and strong character that is easy to root for. Jax is tough but also has a soft spot for Ali.

The story flowed at a smooth pace and wasn’t just about the relationship or sex. Both characters grew.

I enjoyed this book until the end.. I was a little bit disappointed with the ending of this book.  It was all a bit of an anticlimax to a great suspensive read.  I have not read this author or any books in this series before this book.

I enjoyed the characters and found their situation to be realistic and entertaining.  The flow of the read was great and it keeps you wanting to more.  This book was not only a Romantic Suspense but a Second Chance story about Jax and Ali.  

Bob is a character that will win your heart as well on this journey.  Most of the man in this book will give you a nice warm feeling as they all do there job to protect one woman who has made a mistake in marrying the wrong person.  A person portraying himself as someone completely different from the man she thought she would make a life with.

Favorite Quotes:

It was hard to believe now that she hadn’t recognized her fairy-tale life was too good to be true. The trouble was, she had needed it to be true. Sometimes a need was so powerful that it overrode good sense.

She’d expected to possibly end up in a funeral home before this was over. She just hadn’t expected to be alive.


My Review:

Despite her prolific body of work, I had not sampled Debra Webb’s storytelling skills until recently stumbling into several books in her highly engaging series of The Undertaker’s Daughter, and I was an instant fan. Lucky me, this installment had an all too brief drop-in visit with my beloved characters from the previously mentioned series, which brought a delighted smile to my face. Ignore the cheesy cover and unimaginative book title as this was a quick, intriguing, active, satisfying, and well-paced hybrid tale of romantic suspense and second chance romance for first loves with likable and admirable characters, a hauntingly realistic storyline, and a pervasive sense of tension and peril.

I'm part of a blog tour for this book- my first for the Harlequin Intrigue series.
This is a wild ride from start to finish if you are a fan of romance and say love Law and Order? This book is for you.

It’s been years, dare I say a solid decade?, since I’ve picked up a series romance novel. So when I was approached by Harlequin to review a few of their offerings I thought “Why not?” this could be fun! I (probably like most young teens) first dipped my toes into the romance world with series romance and I remembered them as being nothing short of amazing. So I signed up for all three.

The first thing I noted was how different they look. I still have a few physical copies from back in the day in my TBR and these new cover designs look beautiful. They have a simple diamond design in the upper left corner that distinguishes between the lines. I’ll be reviewing each of the three books over the next few Fridays.

I decided to start with the Harlequin Intrigue line. I was sent an eARC of Witness Protection Widow by Debra Webb. Intrigues were my favorite of the line up before and I’ve recently discovered Debra Webb through her Undertaker’s Daughter series. Clearly I’m going need to go back and find Winchester, Tennessee books 1 through 4. I had no idea the little town had its own series romance series going!

I really enjoyed this book. I know I probably shouldn’t sound so surprised but I was really under the impression that I had “grown out of” these books and that they wouldn’t be as good as what I’m reading now. Kind of snobby aren’t I? The good news is I think that now that I know they are just as good, I’ll be digging into these little gems more often.

Witness Protection Widow was pretty good. I was already a little familiar with some of the cast and Winchester itself which added a nice touch. Ali and Jax were completely new to me. This is definitely a second chance romance but it isn’t fluff at all. There were some serious things that happened between the end of their first romance and the time of our story.

I really enjoyed the characters and the concept. It could have easily been on an episode of Law & Order. I loved Ali for her strength and determination. Jax is a total alpha male and therefore thinks he knows all. I’d like to say it was nice to watch him learn that he doesn’t but I’d be lying. It was devastating.

The only downside that I had was that the story wasn’t as long as I would expect from such a large story. I’m having a hard time explaining this. It was fleshed out and a great story but it moved very quickly. That’s great because the story never once got boring but I also didn’t really feel like there was time to breath between it all.

Overall, this was a great read and I’ll definitely be checking out the first four books in this series to see what I’ve missed!

This one is definitely a great suspense read. This is the kind of book that got me always expecting something bad will happen on the next page, my heart racing most of the time, and then there's also that sweet fiery second chance romance that puts some sweetness in those intense suspense. The end left me flabbergasted though, I keep checking if there are more pages at the end, with all those craziness that happened, the story just stopped in a blink of an eye, it's like everything suddenly just finished, the end absolutely not my favorite part. But in the end I still enjoying it nonetheless.

If you're looking for a fast-paced suspense romance read, this book is definitely for.

I have been reading Harlequin books since I was 17. I remember one of my aunts had given me a box full of different books ( most were Harlequin) and that is how my love for adult romance books started. I have stopped reading Harlequin for a few years but I just starting to get back into them now.





I devoured this book in one day. This story is a fantastic romantic suspense story that got me hooked from the very beginning. I love Jax and Ali together.





Witness Protection Widow is book 5 in the Winchester, Tennessee series but really it can be read as a stand-alone.





If you are looking for quick action-packed romantic suspense to read I do highly recommend this.





I am giving this 5 out of 5.

I read this in one sitting and enjoyed it very much. Webb does a great job with the procedural elements of the story and really amped things up in the suspense department when our couple had to literally run for their lives. I was completely swept up in the story and loved the second chance romance elements.

What I liked

First of all, I liked the pace of this book. It was fast-paced, which is just what I like in books. I never felt bored and especially I never felt the need to put down the book. I could have read it in one sitting if I wouldn’t have been in a reading slump.

Witness Protection Widow wasn’t a long book. Which means that you get through it pretty fast. Which is great, to be honest. I’ve been reading so many big books these past few months that this was an enjoyable surprise. I liked nearly everything I’ve read and this comes from a person that always thought to never enjoy romance books. But look at me. I did like this book a lot.

Last but not least I loved the writing style of Webb. It was comprehensible, there weren’t long sentences and the descriptions were well done. My reading experience was smooth and I found practically nothing to argue about.

What I didn’t like

The only thing I have to criticize is the fact that at some parts of the story the pace might have been a little bit too fast. Especially more at the end. I thought that it was a bit rushed but that is my personal opinion only.

Overall, if you are a fan of suspense novels and romance Witness Protection Widow is the perfect book for you.

This was my first title from the Harlequin Intrigue line as well as from Debra Webb and I was not disappointed. This story was a non stop from the beginning to the end and filled with action. While I'm not a huge fan of a lot of misunderstandings, it was understandable between these characters considering their past. I really enjoyed the way they were written as well as their points of view while going through the story.

Webb's writing was easy to read and really enjoyable, I just loved the fast pace of the story and flew through this story. I will definitely be looking forward to future in this line and from Debra Webb herself as I really enjoyed her writing!

When you unwittingly marry into the Mob, even the death of your husband isn’t an escape, as Allison James discovers. Fleeing for her life, her only hope is to take down those who would destroy her… by going to the FBI and testifying against them. Sent into witness protection, as the trial draws closer and the danger increases, when the marshal protecting her is seriously injured in a car crash, the last thing she needs is for his replacement to turn out to be Jax Stevens, her long-lost childhood sweetheart.

The chemistry between Jax and Ali is off the charts, even though he starts off resenting her because he thinks she knew what she was getting into when she married a mobster. She’s scared to let him get close because she’s well aware the target on her back is big enough to cover them both. Everything is intensified by the tight timeframe - the whole book takes place in under a week - and the fact that her enemy is getting desperate.

Honestly I did think it was a bit TOO tight; everything seemed very rushed and Jax and Ali barely got to have a conversation. Things seemed to jump from zero to a hundred pretty much instantly in the intimacy department too; the book is non-stop action in every department. Frankly, I think it could have done with being about 50% longer, and then they’d have had time to have some conversations and really talk, catch up on more than just the trauma Ali had been through.

A rollercoaster thrillride of a romantic suspense, the only thing I can really find wrong with this is that it’s not long enough. I wanted more of the story of this couple and their relationship. Four stars.

Take a bit of suspense, magnetic attraction, sexual chemistry, along with a powerful crime family and you have Ali and Jax’s second chance story in Witness Protection Widow by Debra Webb, book 5 in her Winchester, Tennessee Thriller series. When Allison James escapes her abusive marriage, she becomes the star witness against her deceased husband’s family. It is the job of the US Marshals to protect her; but Ali is concerned when it’s her ex-boyfriend Jaxson Stevens on the job. Keeping Ali safe should be a no-brainer for Jax, but as the danger to them grows and sexual sparks fly, Jax begins to wonder if he and Ali will escape her coldblooded in-laws alive.

Ms. Webb wrote an emotional, suspenseful, and sexy story that should not be missed. She provided a tale rich with sexual chemistry, humor, and endearing characters giving Jax a chance to prove he still loves Ali and that there really is a future for them; together. I highly recommend Witness Protection Widow to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book

A really wild ride of a story. A little on the cheesey side, but I enjoyed it. A bit of a romance, a bit of a thriller, and just what I was looking for.

Happy February! Today is my tour stop for Witness Protection Widow, by Debra Webb. I was given a copy of this Harlequin Intrigue book in exchange for my honest review. This book was released on January 21, 2020.

Can the witness protection program keep her identity secret?
After Allison James 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 danger escalates and sparks fly, will Jax be able to help Ali escape her ruthless in-laws?

This was apparently the fifth book in the Winchester, Tennessee series, but it was the first book for me both for the series and the author. That being said, I didn't feel like I missed anything from the first books. This very much felt like a stand-alone book. This book was fast paced and full of action. Ali may be a victim, but she's not going to go down without a fight. The book is half romance, half police procedural, which I could definitely appreciate having not spent my life reading many romance books. The action was real. The chemistry between Jax and Ali was real. All elements of the story came together in such a beautiful way.

I do wish this book had been a little bit longer, with a little more detail about the actual case...but I understand that's not what these books are meant to do. Overall, it was a quick read and a cute story.

🌟🌟🌟🌟

This is the fifth book in the Winchester, Tennessee series in the Harlequin Intrigue line by Debra Webb.
But the first one that I have read, I will definitely be picking up the rest of the series!

I read this book in one sitting! I just had to know what happened!
If you love a good romantic suspense mystery thriller, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

Having finally escaped her abusive husband, Ali is in witness protection waiting to testify and bring down a crime empire. Her aim: to simply survive long enough to make it to court. However, Jaxson Stevens – the one that got away – suddenly comes back into her life and before you know it not only is Jaxson protecting her life, but Ali is also protecting her heart.

This had elements that you would expect from a Harlequin Intrigue novel. Packed full of drama with a fight between crime and justice woven throughout, Witness Protection Widow had the foundation for a great story. Unfortunately though, the story fell a little short for me.

I can see where the author was trying to go with this novel but unfortunately it never quite got there. The characters stayed shallow and the storyline never really developed past the superficial.

It also ended rather abruptly. The build-up was good and tension was growing and then suddenly it was just over. It was all good fun and a great way to spend an evening, but the ending was definitely lacking.

I love a good police procedural novel, one that leaves you wanting to read more and keeps you hooked the entire way through. This one does just that, with a romantic twist in it as well, which I loved!

Jax and Ali have a romantic past, as he is her ex-boyfriend. Hearts were broken, feelings were hurt, and time has passed.. Ali has since moved on and gotten married, but have those feelings healed? When Jax is placed to protect Ali from her late husband’s crime family they are both struggling with their feelings and emotions over what happened between them. He is sent to protect her, but will he be able to do his job properly when there are so many emotions and a shared past involved?

A great story that will have you flipping pages to see what happens next. If you like police procedural novels you will love this one as well.

This is the fifth book in the Winchester, Tennessee series in the Harlequin Intrigue line by Debra Webb. All the backstory from the previous four books that was relevant was apparently imprtant to this one, i for sure was a little lost at times. If you are like me and enjoy a good romantic suspense mystery thriller, definitely check this one out.

I was really glad to find out that this could be read as a stand alone. Although after this one I will totally have to read the others, since I haven't done that. This book gives us tidbits of the first 4 titles along side the story in this one. It was a great little story to read and enjoy. I will totally have to read more of these in the future and lucky I work at a bookstore where there are a ton of them.