[Note from Frolic: This post is brought to you by our friends at Kensington. Looking for your next journalist heroine? Look no further than Broken by Rebecca Zanetti, out now!]
In today’s age, we all know the importance of good, reliable journalism steeped in integrity. An investigative journalist is someone that deep dives into a specific topic or type of story. It could be political in nature, or it could be finance or even romance books! While it’s not dangerous, and I’m not often seeking out wrongdoing to expose, I do take pride in researching for months on end different books and authors to share solid recommendations for fellow readers. Yes, It’s a bit of a stretch to lump what I do in with real, gritty investigative journalism, but hey, creative license is a hell of a thrill!
Over my years of reading and talking books, I have encountered many admirable heroines that thrive in journalism, specifically investigative journalism. It’s a career that demands courage, passion, an incredible amount of logical thinking, curiosity, and initiative. These heroines have to have the heart and tenacity to dive in, research, sometimes put their lives on the line, and report out the facts, even when danger and deceit lurk around every corner. Oh yes, journalism in general and investigative journalism, in particular, is a ripe breeding ground for fabulous romantic suspense, and we, as readers, are all the better for it.
I recently read Broken by Rebecca Zanetti, and it ticks off all of the boxes! The third book in her Deep Ops series tells the story of Dana Mulberry, an investigative journalist honor-bound to solve the case of her dead friend and fellow journalist. Our victim, Candy, specialized in the seemingly safe world of high finance. It’s not like she was scouring the wilds of a jungle looking for militant extremists seeking to topple governments; her death was a shocking blow for Dana and one she will not let go unsolved. Dana is a loyal and caring friend with a particular skill set for deep diving into research with a knack for connecting the dots along the way. With a story that hits this close to home for her, it’s not just a job, it’s personal.
Our hero is former Navy SEAL Clarence Wolfe. Oh boy, is he a hero I can get behind, he’s so broken, lost, and closed off, it’s my own personal reading catnip! He’s investigating his own personal case, but unlike Dana, he doesn’t plan on publishing the facts, he plans of taking down a backstabbing killer that betrayed him and his friends. Being the third book in the series, we’ve had the pleasure of watching Dana and Wolfe dance around their attraction for each other for a while now. When they are thrust together because their individual cases wildly intersect, Wolfe’s protective streak and Dana’s stubborn reliance collide in an explosive spark of chemistry and heat that will not be denied.
The danger feels incredibly real, the suspense is edge of your seat at times, and the deep dive investigating literally had me yelling ‘PLOT TWIST” at 2 in the morning! Dana is a fabulous heroine, clever, strong, and stubborn but not reckless. Wolfe is a beast of a man with a sweet, gentle side; he keeps buried until Dana clouds his vision and takes over his heart. It’s such a good story, suspense, and intrigue with a touch of Zanetti humor. And a hefty dose of heat! I love solving a mystery, and watching Dana work the case is fascinating.
I have a couple of suggestions for you to investigate if you’re interested in other amazing journalist heroines
Constant Craving by Tamara Lush
Justine is a journalist trying to keep her family’s newspaper out of bankruptcy. Rafael is the first love of her life, and boy did she pick a sexy one to fall for! He is the financial backing she needs to keep things afloat, but her heart may not survive his very delicious but indecent proposal. The real kicker here that adds an element of authenticity is author Tamara Lush is actually a reporter for the Associated Press. She knows of what she writes in a way that adds layers of details you’ll find intriguing.
Honor Reclaimed by Tonya Burrows
Burrows is known for romantic suspense, and her HORNET series does not disappoint. Former Marine sniper Seth Harlan works with a group of colorful and battle-hardened mercenaries that operate under the radar to rid the world of bad guys. Phoebe Leighton is a photojournalist that finds herself eyeballs deep in an arms deal that’s about to explode…literally! Photojournalism has always fascinated me. Being able to tell a complete story with pictures is a fantastic skill. The lengths photojournalists go to capture the images that tell the story is harrowing, to say the very least. I struggle to capture a good selfie, the idea of snapping pictures in the heat of battle blows my mind!
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