Without Consent

Those who prefer a strong romantic plot line and frequent references to food are most likely to enjoy Degner’s grim thriller. The dramatic opening sets the stakes for what’s to follow. In Sonora, Calif., Dr. Sarah Frazer is confronted by a man she plans to report to the AMA “for unethical and unprofessional conduct.” He severs her spinal cord before dumping her to die in a pool. The news of this tragedy devastates Sarah’s pregnant daughter, Ariel, who suffers another horrific loss within the week, under circumstances that lead her to fear that she’ll be the next to die. To protect herself and her unborn child, Ariel flees to her grandmother’s home in Scotland, where she falls in love with an old friend who has carried a torch for her for years. The investigation into Sarah’s death and its connection with her medical work takes a back seat for much of the book. Readers should be prepared for the details of seemingly every meal Ariel eats. [em](BookLife) [/em]