This is a Romance Suspense book. I really love the suspense story in this book. The main characters Ryan and Nadia where great, and I loved their romance. The characters where developed. I have to say their was not a boring moment in this book. Between the romance and the suspense storylines I did not want to stop reading it. I loved this story so much. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Harlequin Intrigue) or author (K. D. Richards) via NetGalley, so I can give honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

This was fine, I loved the representation as Harlequin does definitely need to improve in that realm. However, the romance was WAY too insta love and WAY too convenient for my liking. They did include some of my favorite tropes like forced proximity, but it just fell average for me.

5 Stars / 4 Steam Fans

Read for Black Author Readathon - Romantic Suspense

Pursuit of the Truth is everything you could want in romantic suspense! It starts with pops and bangs in the action department. It moves into a mystery that grabs your attention. Then it fills you with so much sexual tension that you know that the main characters will be getting it on soon. I enjoyed all the twists and turns that the storyline ended up taking, and the ending though complete for this couple, teases you with the next couple so well that you need it NOW! I cannot wait to read more from this author and these characters.

Pursuit of the Truth was also the featured video book review in this sneak peek video on my YouTube Channel.

Video review available in Week 6: Feb 7 – Feb 13, 2021, full weekly book reviews available on Steph's Romance Book Talk Patreon.

For other bookish content, check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.

Who is Nadia? Where does she live? What does she do for a living and where do we find her this morning? What catches her attention in a window she looks at? Who are Ryan, Shawn, and Olivia? What do they each do? Who is Mike? Why does he show up at Nadia's office? How does she know him? What does he want? When Nadia gets home from work one night, what does she see and hear and what happens because of it? Who is Erik? What does Nadia say to him and what happens after that? Who is this Smith character? What happens when Nadia finds him in her office? What happens when she calls a realtor? Why does she go see Erik? Oh, the tangled web we weave. Oh goodness, I did not see some of that coming that happened! Read and see what I mean!

There's something about seeing the Harlequin logo that has me one-clicking, ready to indulge in a great romance. And this author definitely brought me that. This story really got to me. This was hot!

Nadia is a CEO who has been in a couple strange events but its when she falls in front of a taxi that things start to seem like a pattern. Ryan West is security for her busniess and will do everything to protect he while they try to figure out why a person might be after her and how it might have a connection to her brother who recently passed away.

If you love mystery suspense novels you'll enjoy this book I loved seeing the progression as clearly someone was after her but the question was why. Then theres the whole thing about her brother and what was really going on. I had a couple of people I was thinking might be behind things but I loved that with this book it kept me guessing which made this book that much more enjoyable. There was the bit of romance going on but with high tension people look towards relief and these who found it in eachother. Overall great book I really enjoyed it.

RATING - (A) | REVIEWER- Wayne Jordan

Ms. Richards makes her Harlequin Intrigue debut with a perfect blend of romance and suspense. She pens a story that is not only a page-turner but satisfies the reader who loves a great emotional read. PURSUIT OF THE TRUTH, West Investigations Book #1, puts two individuals, Nadia Shelton and Ryan West, who seems so different together, but despite the current situation they are experiencing, find themselves growing to care for each other.

Nadia is forced to take over the family business when first, her father dies and then her brother is killed in a car accident. She is determined to make the chain of hotels a success and is glad the Ryan’s company is responsible for its security. When an attempt is made on Nadia’s life, Ryan realizes that he not only has to protect the company, but Nadia. Of course, his attraction to Nadia complicates matters and he tries very hard to fight his feelings for her. Nadia is a strong, confident woman who knows her stuff despite the self-doubt that niggers at her. She is confused by her attraction to Ryan but tries to focus on the unusual things happening to her and the growing suspicion that her brother is not dead.

At the end of the book, the mystery of solved and truth revealed, but the journey there was not a simple one. Ms. Richard’s forte lies in her ability to create well-developed characters. Both Nadia and Ryan are likable, but not perfect. The secondary characters are not caricatures and are significant to the story. Nadia’s ex is particularly odious. The other West men are well-developed, and I am sure that readers are already waiting for their stories.

PURSUIT OF THE TRUTH is a welcomed addition to Harlequin Intrigue romance suspense line. Let us hope this book is a start of more diverse voices in this genre. If Ms. Richards’ debut is an example of the quality of her writing, I am definitely looking forward to her next effort in the West Investigations Series.

3.5 stars

I enjoyed this and I'm looking forward to the next one. Nadia and Ryan were good together; low-angst, competent, flirty, and fun. "Pursuit of The Truth" was a fast paced, sexy story full of action, banter, and steamy scenes.

Nadia and Ryan have danced around each other for a year, interested but keeping their distance. Ryan's security company, well, it's a family business, provides security for Nadia's chain of hotels, also a family business. They've avoided each other romantically because of the professional connection but when Nadia's life is threatened, Ryan doesn't hesitate to step up and keep her safe. One thing you don't usually see in romantic suspense where one MC is a bodyguard or in the security business was talk about the cost of providing security. Ryan knows Nadia can't afford round-the-clock protection so he calls in favors and is prepared to pay for the cost himself. It was nice to see it addressed as often it's not even acknowledged.

Nadia is not a stupid or flighty heroine nor is she a damsel in distress. She's not a hard-ass either but she is strong. She accepts Ryan's protection but won't just hide in a safe house; she has a business to run. She works with Ryan to find a way to still live her life while taking precautions. Since her brother's death a year ago, she's running the business on her own. So of course, this is when a competitor makes an offer to buy her company. While she's fending that off, there are business problems, attacks on her life, and questions about her brother's death. While I did figure some of the mysteries out, others kept me guessing and Richards neatly balanced emotional moments with action or drama. Ryan and Nadia communicated well, and there were no major conflicts keeping them apart though Ryan had some insecurity around the fact that he was a college dropout and Nadia had a college degree. But that was a minor conflict, not a big deal. The action and death threats ramped up the intensity of Ryan and Nadia's romantic relationship but they already had a foundation as they had known each other for a year; that helped to keep the HEA from feeling too fast, as sometimes happens in a romantic suspense.

"Pursuit of The Truth" was sexy, action-packed, and an entertaining story, and a good start to the series.

Terrific romantic suspense. A page turner that makes you laugh, bite your nails, and root for the couple to have their happily ever after. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley.

Terrific combination of romance and suspense. Nadia took over as CEO of the family hotel chain when her brother died in a car accident almost a year earlier. Since then, she has had no time for a personal life, but that hasn't stopped her from noticing Ryan West, the head of the security company they use. Unbeknownst to her, Ryan is equally interested in her. But because of their professional relationship, neither one made any attempt to alter the situation. All of that is about to change.

On the way to work the morning of her quarterly meeting with Ryan, someone pushed Nadia off the curb and into traffic. She was lucky to get out of it with just some scrapes and bruises, carefully treated by a very concerned Ryan. That concern increases exponentially when Nadia barely escapes a kidnapping attempt, leading Ryan to make her safety his personal mission. This includes taking her to stay at his apartment, opening them up to all kinds of complications.

I liked the development of the relationship between Ryan and Nadia. Nadia knows she needs Ryan's protection, but she's not about to stay hidden away. She is determined to continue to run her business, and Ryan respects her intelligence and strength enough to work with her to make it happen. As the attacks on Nadia escalate, Ryan's insistence on remaining professional is undermined by the intensity of the attraction between them. I loved that their respect for each other's intelligence and capabilities, combined with excellent communication, made it possible for their relationship to grow and deepen. I liked that when he realized the depth of his feelings for Nadia, Ryan didn't freak out and try to push her away but accepted it. Ryan endured a fair amount of teasing from his brother and coworkers because of it. I also liked that Nadia had the confidence to go after what she wanted while maintaining her professionalism when needed. Protectiveness is a two-way street for her, and she doesn't hesitate to get involved when she thinks it's necessary. I especially enjoyed seeing her go to bat for Ryan against her smarmy ex-boyfriend. The ending was excellent, with the simple admission that it's never been just a working relationship between them. I hope to see more of them in the next book.

The suspense of the story sucked me in from the beginning. From the moment Nadia was pushed off the curb to the final confrontation with the bad guy, I could not put the book down. Nadia has a lot to deal with - a rash of unexplained incidents, an ex-boyfriend pushing her to sell her hotels to him, and the growing suspicion that her brother isn't dead. The escalation of attacks, from the minor ones of a dead rat and a keyed car to attempted kidnapping, attempted murder, and being taken as a hostage, kept Nadia, Ryan, and his team on their toes as they searched for answers. I loved the teamwork as they worked through the unexpected and unbelievable to arrive at the truth. The final confrontation was a nail-biter that took many moving parts to pull off. The ending was entirely satisfactory.

Good book! This book had suspense, action, drama, and had some steam! Its definitely worth reading but I wouldn't say it was my all time favorite but still worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for sharing this book with me!