Remembering That Night

Remembering That Night By Stephanie Doyle

Greg Chalmers is a human lie detector.  Confident in his theory about the physiology of lying, he walked away from his psychology practice after he was proven fallible by one of his patients.  Afterward, his life spiraled out of control, causing him to lose his much the rest of his life to the darkness that consumed him.  A year after hitting rock bottom he knows what his weaknesses are and has surrounded himself by the people who have his back.  Then he is called in to consult on an hysterical amnesia case after a beautiful woman is picked up on the side of the road, covered in blood.  Can he keep a professional mindset when all evidence point to her guilt, but all of his instincts are tell him she is not lying?

The first memory Eliza Dunning has is being picked up by a police officer on the side of a highway covered in blood.  She doesn't remember her name, where she is from, or how she came to be where she was in the state she was in.  Desperate to unravel her own story she turns to Greg, the only person willing to believe that she truly doesn't remember anything.  As bits of her memory start to surface, and her identity is revealed, she becomes to focus of a murder investigation.  The problem is, though the facts say guilty, her gut says not.  Can she keep Greg on her side long enough for her to remember what really happened?

What this story lacks in actual romance, it makes up for in suspense and drama.  Typically, I am not enamored with or sucked into crime dramas, but this one had a great set-up.  Neither characters' story was divulged all at once, so the readers feels like two mysteries are unraveling at the same time.  It does get a little frustrating that both characters have a hard time accepting help.  Whereas, in the second book of the series the characters' independence helped build them up, this time the trait actually tears them down.  It is very painful to watch, yet you get drawn in and feel you have to.

As far as the supporting characters go, in a complete reversal to all of my previous reviews for this series, Chuck and Elaine are not a strong point in this book.  Chuck is far from likable and Elaine comes off as immature and whiny.  Their romance is believable, but lacks the yearning undertones that make a romance worthwhile.  Hopefully, by the time their story is told in full we will learn something that makes the book worth reading.

Overall, the story is well written; the characters are well fleshed; the scenarios are fantastical, yet grounded in reality.  Normally this would be a formula for a 5-star book.  Yet the supporting characters drag this one down.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 4 

Language – 3 

Storyline – 4

Overall – 4

For the First Time

For the First Time by Stephanie Doyle

Former CIA agent Mark Sharpe is the best at what he does...just ask him.  Having decided to leave the Agency in order to be a full-time dad to his reluctant teenage daughter, Mark has set up as a private investigator specializing in cold cases.  Now, one of those cases seem to have come back to haunt him, forcing him to bite the bullet and hire on a brilliant partner who simply rubs him the wrong way.

JoJo Hatcher is a non-conformist.  If someone can't tell that from her attitude, her tattoos will leave them in no doubt.  She knows no amount of camouflage will work on Mark, but she finds herself oddly drawn to the idea of working with this genius of observation.  Can she keep her growing attraction from distracting her from her job?  Especially now that Mark's daughter has been threatened and he needs her so desperately.

The main characters are transparent.  Sometimes this can be a good thing, other times...not so much.  In this case it is a mixed blessing.  Mark's transparency worked great in the previous book, where he acted as the foil to the main character, Ben Tyler.  In this book, his transparency is a hindrance because there are only so many believable ways he can react to a situation, and none of them are very complimentary to him.  JoJo's transparency works in a way that is unexpected.  The reader knows that JoJo is motivated by her past, and as such will do what ever it takes to keep history from repeating itself.  This works because the reader does not get all of the backstory all at once, so we are kept guessing as to what really happened to her to make her the way that she is.

Once again, the supporting characters save the day.  Greg's story is intriguing, and as we are only given a morsel of it, we find ourselves salivating for more.  Sophie is a typical teen with an atypical life.  We can relate to her angst, but also marvel at her strength while she deals with stuff that most adults will never even deal with.

Overall, this is a good read.  I really enjoyed the story, but often found myself distracted by Mark being somewhat unlikable.    

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 4 

Language – 3 

Storyline – 4

Overall – 4

An Act of Persuasion

An Act of Persuasion By Stephanie Doyle

After a life of leading teams of CIA agents through life threatening maneuvers, Ben Tyler never believed he would be brought to his knees, especially by his own body.  There was no way he was going to allow cancer to kill him slowly, so he decided to undergo a drastic treatment behind the back of his personal assistant, and primary support.  Now, twelve weeks later, he is cancer free, and Anna-free.  Can he talk her in to forgiving him?  Especially now that his future is in her hands.

The only thing Anna Summers has ever wanted is a home.  Abandoned at the age of six by her mother, and spending twelve years of her life being bounced from house to house, she thought she had finally found that home caring for her boss, Ben.  Everything changes after one night when barriers come crashing down and they give in to a passion she is sure is mutual.  However, in the aftermath, she is left feeling used and betrayed.  Though leaving him was the hardest thing she had ever done, she will willingly walk back in to his life now that she is carrying the only child Ben will ever father, but it is going to be on her terms only.

This story is emotionally captivating and beautifully written.  The characters are both strong, in the sense that life has taught them that it is better to be independent than a victim.  That being said, it is understandable why they are drawn to each other.  Anna sees Ben as the only person who has ever truly needed her, and Ben sees Anna as the only person who has never pitied him.  It is also why they are wary of each other.  Anna doesn't want to be controlled, and Ben doesn't like being out of control.

The introduction of Mark and Sophie in the side story gave a great contrast to Ben's control.  Mark is confident and good at what he does.  But Ben has an emotional detachment that really becomes emphasized when compared to a peer who lacks that detachment.

Overall, this is a great read and my personal favorite of the series.  The language is strong at times, but in an isolated manner.  The love scenes are well written and the storyline never really lags.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 5 

Language – 3 

Storyline – 5

Overall – 5

One Final Step

One Final Step By Stephanie Doyle

Michael Langdon did not have the most auspicious start in life.  Growing up on Detroit's infamous 8 Mile, Michael used cars to escape the reality around him.  After serving time for theft, he once again used cars to escape reality, and forget the horrors behind him.  From car thief to racing legend didn't seem too far of a jump, but now he needs another image make-over:  to mechanical innovator and corporate poster boy.  An old friend sends him the best publicist in the business, now all Michael has to do is convince her to take a chance on him...and not let her get too close to the truth.

Madeline Kane is a King Maker.  Once a highly respected member of the political scene, she let one moment of weakness get the better of her judgement, and it destroyed everything.  Now, seven years later, she has been called back in to service by her employer as a favor to an old friend. but can she work with such a high profile man without getting sucked back into the nightmares of the past?

This story surprised me by how captivating it was.  Both characters suffer from serious PTSD from their experiences, but what really got me was the heart break that occurs when one of them manages to pull out of it and realizes that they can't "fix" the other one.  To love someone so much and not be able to help them hurts, but then to know that they won't even try to help themselves is just killer.

His dark secret was a shocker; her dark secret was not so much a secret but a confession.  Either way, both of these characters are deserving of pity, and neither want it.  He doesn't want people to know about it, and she doesn't want people to even remember she exists.

My favorite part in this book was actually the sub-plot involving Ben and Anna, Madeline's boss and his assistant.  Their issue helps to mellow Madeline out and put her life into perspective, but it also gives us a glimpse at the next book.

Overall, it's surprisingly and fun and sexy read.  The subject matter should keep it from being sexy, but it really doesn't.  In fact, it brings a larger intensity to it all.  Warning on the language, though.  He grew up on 8 Mile and spent time in prison.  Expect cursing.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 5 

Language – 3 

Storyline – 5

Overall – 5