Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Review: LOVING GIA TO DEATH by Rena Koontz



Blake Matthews is caught in a deadly Catch-22 predicament. In order to save his daughter, he must prove his wife is a monster. He’ll divorce her and move out, but that leaves five-year-old Gia alone in the house with the very person he suspects is hurting her. But proving his ex-wife is deliberately harming Gia is next to impossible. Few police agencies are familiar with Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy. It doesn't help that his ex points an accusatory finger at him.

Nurse Noreen Jensen is suspicious of both parents and afraid for Gia after she treats the child for a broken arm. Too many unanswered questions overshadow that so-called accident and she undertakes her own investigation into Gia’s numerous hospital emergencies. The more questions she asks, the more intrigued she is by Blake, who grudgingly provides the answers. It’s obvious his devotion to his daughter is steadfast but why did he leave her?

Blake is a firefighter, dedicated to serving the public, just like Noreen. Can he convince her he's one of the good guys?

And together, can they stop her mother from loving Gia to death?





My review: For Lt. Blake Matthews, nothing was too good for his little Gia. Although he didn’t get along with his shrewd ex-wife, he still had his daughter’s best interest.

Suddenly, a 9-1-1 call sends Gia to the hospital. Lately, Gia’s been having a lot of emergencies. Could it be that she was just accident-prone? Surely, his ex-wife couldn’t have anything to do with it…right?

Blake battles the mean ex-wife (A.K.A. The Captain) constantly as worry over his Gia eats away at him.

“He’d die for his daughter. Or kill for her.”

Nurse Jensen seems to be the only one that can see the truth. Blake feels a connection with her as they both share a love for Gia. Readers fear for Gia’s safety, but, fortunately, she has a father that would do anything to protect her.

It’s a powerful story of a father’s love, even though it felt kind of slow at times. It certainly felt more like drama than suspense. But, overall, it was a pretty good read.

My rating: 3 stars



------------------------------------------------------excerpt--------------------------------------------------------- 

After eight years on the job, Blake knew the staff in the emergency room by their first names and he nodded a silent greeting to each one he passed. Likely they’d been informed already of the incoming transport. He snagged a cup of coffee from the EMT hospitality room and paced at the emergency entrance, barely sipping the brew. In minutes, the ambulance arrived. He ran to the rear and waited for Rob and Joe to open the doors.

Gia sat upright on the cot, an oxygen hose clipped to her nose. Nevertheless, her face erupted into a wide smile. “Daddy!”

Perched beside her, his ex-wife scowled. He stepped out of the way while Rob and Joe rolled the cot out of the ambulance, his anxiety allayed by Gia’s pink cheeks and cheerful greeting. They whisked her toward the emergency doors and he turned to follow when Lynne called out to him.
“Really, Blake. Would you at least help me out of this box?”

Her hand stretched toward him in anticipation of his assistance. He fleetingly entertained the urge to leave it hanging there and walk away but his mother raised him better. He respected women and treated them accordingly. Even though his mother wasn’t a fan of The Captain, Lynne’s self-created position in their life, his mom would expect him to be courteous. He reached for Lynne’s hand, eyeing the red high heels and mini skirt. There was a time when an outfit like that would motivate him to crawl into the ambulance with her and lock the doors behind him. But not anymore.
Seductively, she placed both hands on his shoulders and shoved her breasts in his face when she jumped out of the ambulance. Before she could speak, he released himself from her grip and ran double-time toward the emergency doors.

Rob and Joe stood at the counter completing intake paperwork. Joe directed him to the cubicle where they’d rolled Gia’s gurney.

The minute he threw back the curtain and reached her bed, Gia jumped to her feet and launched herself into his arms, causing the oxygen line to snap out of her nose and an intravenous pole to roll forward when the line tugged.

“Daddy!” Her arms wrapped around his neck, a feeling he long ago decided he’d never tire of.
Blake hugged her and then, with his hands on her arms, eased her backward. “Hey, peanut. What’s up? Are you sick?”

Behind him, Lynne’s high-pitched response pierced the air and immediately, Gia’s smile disappeared. “Of course she’s sick. Why else would I summon an ambulance? She’s been puking all over the house. It’s been a helluva mess for me to clean up, I’ll tell you that. By myself no less.”

He ignored her and gazed into his little girl’s eyes. “Honey, tell me where it hurts.”

Wide-eyed, Gia plopped to the bed, crossing her legs Indian style. Her gaze dropped to a spot on the blanket. “I’m all better now, Daddy. It’s okay.”

Blake cupped his daughter’s chin, the skin beneath his hand as soft as flannel. Was it?

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