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I wanted to slap some sense into the heroine and punch the "hero" in the face. What kept me reading this book was the mystery - I wanted to find out if my guesses were right. And they were! But the resolution at the end was so full of holes and implausibilities that I wanted to send the author a flaming bag of dog poo in payment for my misspent weekend reading this book. Although maybe I should send it to myself, since I knew better even as I kept reading. ( )

Maris Matherly-Reed tracks an elusive author down on a small island off the coast of Georgia, intrigued by the prologue to a book he submitted. Parker Evans isn't what she expected. Meanwhile, back in New York, her husband Noah is not what she thought.
I don't want to give away too much of the mystery here, but I loved the way the author uses Parker's book to track the main plot's thread. The revenge plot is complex but perfectly tracked as each new fact is revealed. I stayed up very late reading this, unable to put it down.
I admit I wasn't as crazy about the romance aspect of the book. It seemed a little forced to me though it makes more sense by the end of the story. Maris is smart and kind while Parker is profane but a great writer. They're actually a good match though it took me a while to see it. The secondary characters are written well, very believable in their motives and interesting in their own rights.
I also liked the way Ms. Brown describes the settings and the historical background she adds to the story. It melds well into the main plot without being intrusive. This is the first book I've read of hers but it won't be the last. ( )

Long one but worth the read. Great twists at the end! ( )

(2.75 Stars)

What set me off most, is the graphic sexual descriptions and how often it happened. I would describe it to Rated R to Soft Porn almost. Something maybe HBO would make! Now for me personally, I don't need such graphic descriptions, that's just not my thing. Now, maybe 7-10 years ago, it may not have been that bad because I would read quite a few books that were quite vulgar (NIkki Turner, etc) but even back then, I wasn't really into "erotica". And this book was borderline erotica! If not full on in some points!

To add to it, it was just too drawn out for me. Too many details when it could have been taken down by about 80-100 pages (and I do mean much more than the sexual parts). I found myself getting bored, A LOT but I wanted to finish reading it. Thankfully, Audible came to my rescue & offered two free books and this is the first one I went to. I listened more than I read during the last, more than half of the book. I followed along here and there.

There was also a LOT of cursing & vulgarity (which goes back to the sex and things I do NOT need). Now, the cursing, was bearable, but the vulgarity/crudeness, I could have done without. I am not one who is OVERLY sensitive, as I am one who is known to curse, especially when I get mad, but as I get older, the less I can deal with vulgar, crude behavior, and even when I was younger, I didn't really like it too much, but could deal with some low level of it. Maybe it's me getting older, I am becoming a little more sensitive to some things. Especially as a mom & auntie..especially an auntie to young children. I kept having to turn it down [or off] when my kids were in the room and the vulgarity/sex stuff began to come up.

If it had not been for that, it still may have gotten a 3, maybe because of how bored I had gotten and how disappointed I was that I had to continue to struggle this book. I love Sandra's writing generally (the few books I've read) and the ones I have read, tended to get better as they went along, with the occasional bland spot once it picked up. I will continue to give her books a try in hopes that they are no where near as vulgar as this.

Although the writing about the narcissistic ways of these men had me wanting to smack some of them! LOL And how Maris really and truly grew a backbone by the end of the story! Many things saved it from getting a lower rating, and those two are just a couple that I can think of...and without giving away too much! ( )