Dr. Halona Moore and her autistic daughter Laura are moving to a new town to be near Halona’s sister Fran and for a special facility for Laura. When they arrive at Fran’s they find her dead and the transition to their new home starts spiraling downhill from there. What should have been a good move for Halona is a nightmare. Harris “Mac” Macklin, a disillusioned cop, shows up with the police to investigate the murder and is instantly attracted to Halona but both of them have been burned and are not looking for a relationship. Halona insist that her sister was murdered but the police say they have to consider all possibilities including the possibility of suicide. Then, to add to the pressure in Halona’s life she is uncomfortable with some of the policies of the facility she has put Laura in but she feels she doesn’t have any other options at the moment. Plus at her new job, are children dying that shouldn’t have? Can Halona, with the help of Mac, figure out what is going on at the hospital and can Mac solve the mystery of Fran’s death?

Temple of Serpents by Jane Toombs is a good romantic thriller with a paranormal twist. The paranormal comes from an institute in the town that believes in holistic healing including the laying on of hands and has a leader that claims to have prophetic visions. Halona and Mac tangle with the people at the institute but they don’t believe in the “powers” of the leader; some things, however, just can’t be explained. The characters of Halona and Mac are wonderful. They are intelligent, independent, stubborn, caring, and can barely stay away from one another. There is more than one plot and subplot running through the story, not so much that you can’t follow it, but enough to keep you guessing and on your toes throughout the story. Ms. Toombs is a master of suspense; the action starts right at the beginning of the story and builds to a climax at the end. This story is very well done and I really enjoyed it!

Reviewed by: Stephanie B.