I read this book as I had seen a 5-star review of it from one of my favourite authors Susan Elizabeth Philips. I was expecting to be blown away. I wasn't. It was good but not great.
I suppose this falls in the category of romantic suspense. For that, the romance was almost not there.
The chemistry between Sarah and Mick was just not built up. He has some things like he likes getting home to her, likes the way she keeps everything tidy, likes that she is not promiscuous. There is no actual build-up of a romance or a relationship.
On the suspense. It wasn't well done. Not like a Baldacci where the changing of identities is complex, the suspense is built up.
Also, she has been on the run forever. When she is with Mick just after losing her car and changing her hair, she ducks. He asks her and reveals all. Why? What is so special about Mick. Why does she trust him and not any of her previous employers?
Philip as a character was quite annoying with his constant dependency on Violet.
There was a nice twist at the end with Jane and some reveals.
Certainly a fair read but not I think one where I would expect one of my fav authors to give it a five star and say it was unputdownable. Towards the end with Philip, Violet and all it was definitely put downable ( )

When the employment agency sends Rachel Jones to work as an assistant for critically acclaimed film director Mick Talford, she has no idea that the young woman is actually heiress Sarah Rainsford, on the run from her abusive husband, police lieutenant Kevin Hawkins who wants only to get his hands on Sarah’s substantial inheritance. Somehow, Sarah always seems to find herself just one step ahead of Kevin; with this new position, she’ll be living on-site and, hopefully, far out of Kevin’s reach.

Mick Talford expects his new personal assistant to be a man; thus, Rachel’s appearance at his front door leaves him feeling a bit taken aback. He also finds himself strangely attracted to her and, despite his gruff and somewhat caustic attitude, the young woman sets about efficiently managing every task he requests her to handle.

But when Mick discovers that Rachel has been living a lie, will he push aside his growing feelings for her? Will Kevin finally track down and prehend Sarah? And will the trusted family lawyer find a way to free her from Kevin’s relentless pursuit?

The well-drawn-leading characters keep the pages turning in this difficult-to-set-aside thriller. There’s strong chemistry between Sarah and Mick, but the best parts of their story lie in their vulnerabilities, their shared truths, their delightful banter. Their relationship is believable, as are the steps they take to allow Sarah to reclaim her rightful identity and her inheritance.

The intriguing plot is relatively straightforward, filled with tension and the continually-building suspense related to Sarah’s never-far-behind husband. Astute readers may guess some of the unexpected plot points, but there are definitely some didn’t-see-that-coming surprises and the revelation of long-held secrets bring more surprises as the unfolding story manages to touch readers’ hearts.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book through the LibraryThing Early Readers program ( )