Elizabeth was a young widow with two small children when she met Congressman Richard Baker. Handsome and wealthy, with a sparkling public image, Richard seemed like the perfect man to provide the security that Beth and her kids were craving. But when she uncovers a dangerous secret about her new husband, Beth realizes he will go to any lengths—even murder—to keep it. After barely escaping with her life, she and her children flee. They eventually make their way to a secluded estate in the Pennsylvania countryside, where Beth dares to hope she has found a safe place at last…
Forced into retirement by an unexpected injury, Philadelphia homicide detective Jack O’Malley is mourning the loss of his career when his uncle abruptly dies, leaving Jack to dispose of his crumbling country house. Unbeknownst to him, his uncle engaged a caretaker just before his death, a mysterious woman with two children and a beautiful face that haunts his dreams. Determined to know her, Jack begins an investigation into Beth’s past. When he uncovers the shocking truth, and a local woman is viciously murdered, Jack puts his own life on the line to keep Beth and her children safe.
Elizabeth has been on the run from her husband, with her 2 kids, for 10 months when she takes a job as caretaker with Daniel O’Malley. When she gets to the house, however, she finds that Daniel has died and his nephew, Jack, is now in charge. Jack agrees to a probation period of two weeks to see what happens with Beth and her kids. Jack knows almost immediately that something isn’t on the up and up with Beth but he wants to bide his time to find out what the problem is.
Beth and her kids end up staying at the house and working with the horses as well as getting farther ingrained in Jack’s life. They are skiddish around each other but there is definitely some feelings of attraction there.
Beth is afraid for her children as well as for herself. What she saw her husband doing, and the reason she ran, is something that she is sure he will kill her for and she wants the kids to be taken care of above anything. Multiple “accidents” start to happen to Beth but she isn’t sure that they’re really accidents or if they’re caused by her husband’s people.
On top of all that Beth and Jack have to deal with that fact that there’s also a serial killer on the loose and he’s looking at Beth as his next victim.
Melinda Leigh has written an engaging suspense story. I was intrigued by the plot line and as I turned pages I wanted to learn more and more. She definitely kept my attention and gave me just enough info to make me want to know what happened next.
As I mentioned there was the romance between Jack and Beth as well as the issue with her husband, and the serial killer. I didn’t mention it before but there was also a small part that had to do with her uncle and his “visions” that was a part of the story There was definitely a lot going on in the story but the flow of the book worked out nicely.
I think the only issue I had with the book, and unfortunately it was a biggish one, is that the heroine of the book was in continuous peril. There were constant “accidents” and after a bit I was thinking that it was just too much. Falling and needing stitches, car accidents, being accosted by assholes in the supermarket, being attacked with a knife and so on (I won’t tell all of the times but you get the picture). The constant need to be saved got a bit old for me. It was written well, and in the end I saw exactly what the cause was, but as a reader I felt that it was just too much for one woman to handle.
There was one fun and exceedingly bright spot in the book and that was the German shepherd, Henry. He was a police dog reject and was just a happy go lucky guy. Nobody really thought he was anything but playful but in the end he more than proved his worth in so many different ways – as a friend, a companion and savior. I don’t want to say that he stole the show in every scene he was in but almost. Now if I could just find a Henry of my own that doesn’t shed. lol
In the end a good book that kept me turning pages – which is something I love in a book. lol
Rating: 4 out of 5
Melinda Leigh
First, you know I LOVE when a romance is paired with mystery/suspense and this sound's like my kind of book. Second, there are just some people whose lives are a mess–one catastrophe and then it seems they are in a downward spiral. It's called the classic "Greek Tragedy." I know it can be emotionally exhausting and there are authors who seem to wring the person in question out of every last emotional drop, but it does happen, not only in fiction but, unfortunately, in real life. Sounds like a very good book. (Like I need one more book to read.)
Great review, Tracy! But it probably would annoy me too much that the heroine is in continuous peril. Although I like suspense I don't have a lot of patience for that kind of victimizing of the heroine…