Soft Focus by Jayne Ann Krentz [Review]

Soft Focus by Jayne Ann Krentz
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: September 11, 2024

Purchase Links: Kindle

Jayne Ann Krentz
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Elizabeth Cabot is all business. She knows how to maximize her investments and cut her losses--in both her career and her personal life.

So when she discovers that Jack Fairfax has deceived her, she's determined to end their relationship. Putting a stop to their budding romance is easy. But breaking up their business deal will be more difficult. Despite all her efforts, she has no luck disentangling herself from Jack's client company, Excalibur. But the situation becomes even more strained when a new obstacle emerges: a lethal act of sabotage that could put both of them out of business for good.

Elizabeth is no fool. If she can help Jack save Excalibur, she'll recoup her substantial investment plus millions in profit. Putting her emotions aside, she insists on helping him search for the scientist who's disappeared with a valuable new crystal that could revolutionize the high-tech industry. She'll go in, solve the problem--and get out.

The trail leads Elizabeth and Jack to a fringe film festival, but their goal is as elusive as the shadowy black-and-white images from classic noir films. Life starts to imitate art, and double-dealing seems to be the name of the game. For these business adversaries turned reluctant partners, keeping an eye on each other--and the lid on a sizzling attraction--seems the only insurance against further treachery. But with millions at stake, trust can turn to betrayal in the blink of an eye.

Thoughts on Soft Focus: I read a lot of JAK back in the day, so it's highly possible I'd read this one before, but since my memory on it is a little fuzzy (which is no reflection on the book itself, but more about how many books I read) it felt new to me. Which works on every level. (For the record, even if I HAD remembered reading it, I likely wouldn't have remembered who did it because that's totally a thing with me.)

Anywho. Elizabeth and Jack. They had what turned out to be a one-night stand (for reasons) and then ended up working together on a project. Which wasn't nearly as terrible as it could have been, actually. The biggest hurdle they have in relationshipping is that Elizabeth was holding Jack's involvement in another takeover against him without knowing the reason why he was involved in it in the first place. On the plus side, neither of them could stop thinking of the other in the months since their infamous night together. As we all know, that's an EXCELLENT sign.

When circumstances have them sharing space as they try to track down their wayward crystal (and the scientist behind its theft) THINGS HAPPEN. Because when two people who are unattached and can't stop thinking about one another spend time together, well, sometimes things really do just happen.

Throw in some fancy films, a whole lot of film noir, complicated family dynamics, an auction, and a little danger, and Jack and Elizabeth have plenty to deal with on top of their budding romance. Which works for me because that's EXACTLY what I was here for.