Heart of Gold

Dear Reader,

Readers often want to know how I got my start as a writer. When I tell people that my first books were romance novels for Bantam’s Loveswept line, they’re sometimes surprised. Although this genre may seem completely different from the suspense I write now, the two have more in common than it seems.

For me, every good story has two indispensible components to it: characters to fall in love with and root for, and a mystery to figure out—whether it’s an unsolved crime or that confusing and complex emotion that baffles us most of all—love. Even the most detailed murder plot can’t compare to the intricate mechanics of the human heart.

In
Heart of Gold
, the first book in a trilogy about a group of college friends, Faith Kinkaid is trying frantically to escape her past, which includes her ex-husband who is on trial for bribery. Despite building a new life for herself and her daughter in the charming seaside town of Anastasia, California, and starting her own bed and breakfast, Faith wants to bring her husband to justice, and agrees to testify against him in a high-profile case. There’s just one catch: The Justice Department decides she needs a bodyguard. When Shane Callan shows up on Faith’s doorstep, she realizes that her new protector has a deep, vulnerable side beneath his impeccable physique and quick wit. Can Faith overcome her fears to break through Shane’s stoic demeanor and give both of them a second chance at love?

Faith and Shane’s story touched my heart all those years ago, and I hope that you’ll enjoy it as much today.

All my best,

Tami Hoag

PRAISE FOR THE BESTSELLERS OF

Tami Hoag

THE ALIBI MAN

“Captivating thriller … [Elena] is a heroine readers will want to see more of.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“Hard to put down.”

—
The Washington Post

“A superbly taut thriller. Written in a staccato style that will have readers racing through the pages … Will leave readers breathless and satisfied.”

—
Booklist

“A suspenseful tale, with a surprising ending; the author once again has constructed a hard-hitting story with interesting characters and a thrilling plot.”

—
Midwest Book Review

“Elena Estes [is] one of Hoag’s most complicated, difficult and intriguing characters…. Hoag enhances a tight mystery plot with an over-the-shoulder view of the Palm Beach polo scene, giving her readers an up-close-and-personal look at the rich and famous….
The Alibi Man
is her best work to date.”

—
BookReporter.com

“An engrossing story and a cast of well-drawn characters.”

—Minneapolis
Star Tribune

“[Hoag] gets better with every book. One of the tautest thrillers I have read for a long while.”

—
Bookseller
(U.K.)

“Hoag certainly knows how to build a plot and her skill has deservedly landed her on bestseller lists numerous times.”

—
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

“Hoag has a winner in this novel where she brings back Elena Estes…. Hoag is the consummate storyteller and creator of suspense.”

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Mystery News

“Tami Hoag weaves an intricate tale of murder and deception…. A very well-written and thought-out murder/mystery. Hoag is able to keep you guessing and you’ll be left breathless until all the threads are unwoven and the killer is revealed.”

—
FreshFiction.com

PRIOR BAD ACTS

“A snappy, scary thriller.”

—
Entertainment Weekly

“Stunning … Here [Hoag] stands above the competition, creating complex characters who evolve more than those in most thrillers. The breathtaking plot twists are perfectly paced in this compulsive page-turner.”

—
Publishers Weekly
(starred review)

“A chilling thriller with a romantic chaser.”

—New York
Daily News

“A first-rate thriller with an ending that will knock your socks off.”

—
Booklist

“An engrossing thriller with plenty of plot twists and a surprise ending.”

—
OK!
magazine

“A chilling tale of murder and mayhem.”

—
BookPage

“The in-depth characterization and the unrelenting suspense are what makes
Prior Bad Acts
an outstanding read. Gritty and brutal at times,
Prior Bad Acts
delivers a stunning novel of murder, vengeance and retribution…. Riveting and chilling suspense.”

—
Romance Reviews Today

KILL THE MESSENGER

“Excellent pacing and an energetic plot heighten the suspense…. Enjoyable.”

—
Chicago Tribune

“Everything rings true, from the zippy cop-shop banter, to the rebellious bike messenger subculture, to the ultimate, heady collision of Hollywood money, politics, and power.”

—Minneapolis
Star Tribune

“Hoag’s usual crisp, uncluttered storytelling and her ability to make us care about her characters triumph in
Kill the Messenger.”

—
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

“A perfect book. It is well written, and it has everything a reader could hope for…. It cannot be put down…. Please don’t miss this one.”

—
Kingston Observer

“[A] brisk read … it demonstrates once again why [Hoag’s] so good at what she does.”

—
San Francisco Chronicle

“Action-filled ride … a colorful, fast-paced novel that will keep you guessing.”

—
Commercial Appeal

“High-octane suspense … Nonstop action moves the story forward at a breath-stealing pace, and the tension remains high from beginning to end…. Suspense at its very best.”

—
Romance Reviews Today

“Hoag’s loyal readers and fans of police procedural suspense novels will definitely love it.”

—
Booklist

“Kill the Messenger
will add to [Hoag’s] list of winners…. This is a fast-moving thriller with a great plot and wonderful characters. The identity of the killer is a real surprise.”

—
Somerset Daily American

“Engaging … the triumph of substance over style … character-driven, solidly constructed thriller.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“Hoag upholds her reputation as one of the hottest writers in the suspense genre with this book, which not only has a highly complex mystery, multilayered suspense and serpentine plot, but also great characterizations … an entertaining and expertly crafted novel not to be missed.”

—CurledUp.com

DARK HORSE

“A thriller as tightly wound as its heroine … Hoag has created a winning central figure in Elena…. Bottom line: Great ride.”

—
People

“This is her best to date…. [A] tautly told thriller.”

—Minneapolis
Star Tribune

“Hoag proves once again why she is considered a queen of the crime thriller.”

—Charleston
Post and Courier

“A tangled web of deceit and double-dealing makes for a fascinating look into the wealthy world of horses juxtaposed with the realistic introspection of one very troubled ex-cop. A definite winner.”

—
Booklist

“Anyone who reads suspense novels regularly is acquainted with Hoag’s work—or certainly should be. She’s one of the most consistently superior suspense and romantic suspense writers on today’s bestseller lists. A word of warning to readers: don’t think you know whodunit ’til the very end.”

—
Clute Facts

“Suspense, shocking violence, and a rip-roaring conclusion—this novel has all the pulse-racing touches that put Tami Hoag books on bestseller lists and crime fans’ reading lists.”

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Baton Rouge Advocate Magazine

“Full of intrigue, glitter, and skullduggery … [Hoag] is a master of suspense.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“Her best to date, an enjoyable read, and a portent of even better things to come.”

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Grand Rapids Press

“A complex cerebral puzzle that will keep readers on the edge until all the answers are revealed.”

—
Midwest Book Review

“To say that Tami Hoag is the absolute best at what she does is a bit easy since she is really the only person who does what she does…. It is a testament to Hoag’s skill that she is able to go beyond being skillful and find the battered hearts in her characters, and capture their beating on the page…. A superb read.”

—
Detroit News & Free Press