River Rising

by Merline Lovelace

Hired to investigate the murder of a female Air Force officer, Major Carly Samuels, a top JAG attorney, finds herself drawn to the prosecution's leading witness--and prime suspect--in the crime

Genres: Romance

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

After a 23-year AF career, Colonel Merline Lovelace launched a second career as a writer, basing many of her tales on her own experiences in uniform and on her travels all around the globe.

The USA Today best-selling author now has more than 11 million copies of her books in print. Her works have won numerous awards, including the Romance Writers of America's prestigious RITA. Merline is especially proud to have been named the University of Oklahoma's Writer of the Year and the Oklahoma Female Veteran of the Year.

Reviews

[airwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Primary Subgenre:

⚖️ Legal Thriller / Military Romance (JAG attorney, Air Force murder investigation, courtroom drama)

Secondary Subgenres/Tags:

🕵️ Romantic Suspense (attorney-witness attraction, suspect danger)
💔 Forbidden Love (prosecution’s star witness = prime suspect)
✈️ Military Investigation (Air Force setting, chain-of-command stakes)
🔥 Slow Burn Passion (professional boundaries blurring)
🖤 Morally Grey Hero (is he innocent or playing her?)

Bonus Tropes/Themes:

✔ "Defending the Suspect I’m Falling For"
✔ "Who Hurt You?" (hero’s potential guilt, heroine’s duty conflict)
✔ "Touch Her and Die" (protective suspect vibes)
✔ "Betrayal or Redemption?" (hidden evidence, twisted motives)
✔ *Found Family (military allies, legal team bonds)

Comparable Books/Authors:

Julie James (Something About You – legal + FBI romance)*
Suzanne Brockmann (Troubleshooters – military suspense + heat)*
Allison Brennan (The Hunt – FBI agent + suspect chemistry)*
Catherine Coulter (The Cove – legal twists + danger)*

[ElaineY · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is from a review I wrote back in 2004 when I read the book:


This was an average start, only heating up in the action towards the end, which was terribly abrupt and not at all well done. I know what Lovelace was trying to do, though - end with Ryan and Carly safe and sound and going up to the podium to do the press conference. In a movie it works to end it there as the credits start rolling and the music signaling the end but it does not work in a book.

The relationship was mediocre and the sex was rushed - they did it while stranded in a vacated farm house during a flash flood. I was too worried about the flood carrying them off to enjoy the quickie sex.