Zack Hunter is on a plane, just about to do a skydiving jump, when the familiar pain hits: guilt; he feels guilty because he had not accompanied his uncle Jackson, who died while on an extreme adventure. However Zach is not the rich playboy on an X-Force Adventure Vacation Company holiday: he's an undercover cop, albeit officially off the case, but he's investigating just the same: three men died in three years while on extreme vacations, one of them his uncle.

Samantha Steele, a TV news reporter, is waiting for local businessman and friend, Maxwell Wentworth, to do his parachute jump; he's on the same plane as Zack's. Zach jumps first, and comes down a bit quickly with his parachute, he's about the hit the ground, but Sam's not moving, and he crashes into her. He makes sure she's alright, they get to know each other a bit, and then it's time for Maxwell Wentworth's jump. But something's wrong: the businessman is not moving and he crash lands heavily; he's dead. Sam rushes to Wentworth's side, her mother had dated him for a few years.

Sam still has to do her live report on TV after witnessing her friend's death, and she barely holds it together. She soldiers on because she supports her sister and her now ailing mother; she cannot afford to lose her job. When she's done, she crumbles and Zach rushes to her side, and holds her while she cries. Detective Stuart Johnson, a friend of Sam's, is on the premises, and after talking to Sam and Zach, they all realise that there is foul play involved; those deaths were more than sheer bad luck. Detective Johnson tells Sam she has his blessings to investigate; he also senses there's more to Zach than a rich man on holiday, as does Sam. She tells Zach she suspects he's some sort of investigator, and that she won't blow his cover if he'll be her partner; Zach doesn't do partners but she doesn't leave him any choice.

ALIVE AT 5 starts off with a bang and sets the tone for the rest of the book: the action never lets up; from the first paragraph, I was drawn into the story. I love all the characters; they are genuine and whole. The chemistry between Sam and Zach is palpable, and they acted, talked and interacted with each other like normal, intelligent people. Although they are attracted to each other, it's neither love at first sight nor hate at first sight; no one jumps to conclusions nor make silly assumptions; it was really nice for a change.

ALIVE AT 5 is extremely well written, fast paced, and what a joy it was to experience, even vicariously, skydiving, scuba diving, and swimming with sharks! Ms. Bond has crafted a superior romantic suspense, and Sam, Zach, and Sam's cameraman George make such a fine team, I dare hope it's the beginning of a series! No chance of dozing off while reading ALIVE AT 5!

Book Summary

TV news reporter Samantha Steele is one panic attack away from losing her job. Future on the line and cameraman in tow, she follows her mentor on an exhilarating adventure vacation. When he dies while skydiving, her investigative instincts scream "murdered," and lead her to gorgeous thrill-seeker Zack Hunter.

Zack is an undercover police officer investigating his uncle's death through the same adventure vacation company. Samantha is a thorn in his side the moment they meet. Not only is she investigating the same case, but the emotionally wounded loner doesn't want another partner, especially one whose goal is to splash evidence all over the evening news. But Samantha's persistence is quite a turn-on, and Zack's overpowering desire makes it harder for him to push her away.

When the killer turns his attention to Zack, Samantha might be the only one who can save him, forcing the anxiety-riddled correspondent to finally face her greatest fear.

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