Monday, December 8, 2008

Fact: 1 Out of 12 Women Have Been Stalked

"I'll be watching you ... "
the cryptic e-mail read.

Taylor Halstead, psychologist and successful radio personality, is terrified that she'll never be safe again. Coming on the heels of a series of tragic and terrible events, the e-mail sends chills racing up her spine. Her safe, secure world has already been violated by her cousin Stephanie's boyfriend, Gordon Mallory, in her own apartment. Only the door buzzer and Stephanie's intervening voice rescue her, but not before Gordon promises to return. Soon after, he is killed along with Stephanie in an inexplicable explosion aboard his yacht. Or is he?

The e-mail is just the beginning. The terror campaign escalates when an electronically disguised voice on Taylor's telephone threatens to kill her, and her life becomes a nightmare. It seems the only one she can turn to is attorney Reed Weston, her confidant, protector, and, ultimately, lover. But is Reed's determination to protect her enough to avert disaster? And can Taylor trust Gordon's identical twin, Jonathan, who always seems to show up when she least expects him?

Grief and dread unravel Taylor's sanity, playing tricks with her mind and heart. Someone out there wants her dead -- a crazed fan or the troubled teenage boy she's been counseling or, impossibly, Gordon himself. His vow to return and those final menacing words -- "I'll be watching you" -- haunt her day and night. Whoever is out there is coming closer, and Taylor Halstead has nowhere to run and nowhere to hide.

Title: I’ll Be Watching You
Author: Andrea Kane
Start & Finished: 7/3/08- 7/4/08
Published: 2005
Publisher: Avon Books
Pages: 408 (paperback)
Genre: Romance-Suspense

Seventeen years ago author Andrea Kane published her first novel: a historical romance. She quickly became a best-selling author but in 2000 she tried the fairly new genre romantic suspense and has been writing them ever since. I'll Be Watching You is one of her most recent stand-alone novels.

I guess I had become kind of pampered with the cozy mysteries that I'd been reading lately because the edgy grit of the book took me kind of by surprise. In some ways it was almost like a John Sandford mystery but it obtained the romantic angle that was done so well only a true romance author could have written it. There was also the creepy way Ms. Kane was able to put the audience into the main character Taylor’s shoes- I had to go make sure the doors and windows were locked afterwards.

Having never even heard of Andrea Kane before, I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I picked up the book. I sure didn't expect a romantic suspense story and to be honest, I wasn't exactly sure that was what it was until I was almost halfway through it. Not sure if any of the author's other books can compare to I'll Be Watching You but she does have a couple that may be just as good. I think I might pick up Wrong Place, Wrong Time soon...

Links: Wikipedia, Book Trailer

Picture Explanations
Radio Station:
Taylor has a radio show where she counsels people.
Necklace: Excerpt-

"Inside on a bed of cotton lay a necklace- a simple gold chain with a single gemstone dangling from it.
The stone was a blood-red ruby in the shape of a teardrop.
Nestled as it was on the snowy cotton, the contrast between crimson and white was as starkly chilling as the e-card she'd received on New Year's Day. And the symbolic impact was irrefutable. Her blood. Her tear. Wrapped around her throat. A gift and a threat all in one."

10 comments:

  1. this sounds like an intense read, great review.
    its a good thing when the author is able to creep the reader out :P
    http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  2. This sounds good but kind of creepy :) I love a good thriller though so onto my TBR list this goes. Great review!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I've heard of Andrea Kane, but I've never read her books. For a while, stalker books were all the rage and I got kind of burned out on them.

    BTW, Tink, I absolutely love the way you illustrate your posts with photographs. I don't know if I've ever told you that.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Naida: Always a good thing!

    Samantha: It was a lot better than I thought it would be. Hope you're able to get it!

    Bookfool: I haven't read too many stalker books but I could see how a person could quickly burn out on them.

    Aw thanks! I really try to make it a kind of interactive experience with pictures and videos (if I can find them). For some reason the pics help me remember the story better when I go back and look. My brain can be a total sieve sometimes!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've been wanting to read a book by this author...looks good!

    ReplyDelete
  6. J. Kaye: I've added a couple more of her books to my need to read list lately.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Nice review. I limit how many suspense novels like this I read because I am picky. This sounds like one I will have to add to my list to try. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks for the background on this author, that was interesting. And this book sounds SO scary! If I read it, I will have to make sure I'm not alone in the house at night.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Stephen King used to creep me out that way! I was working in retail when I read Christine, and the far parking lot was pretty dark when the store closed at 10 ... I walked a good way away from the parked cars (which my mind knew were empty, and unable to start on their own, but he is such a powerful writer he did that to me!)

    ReplyDelete
  10. IceDream: I'm kind of picky myself. If it's not a paranormal suspense, I usually don't bother. Interested to see what you think of it though!

    Carolyn Jean: Lol. It wasn't too too scary but it would make you look closely at the people around you more often!

    Dawn: Christine! I love Christine! It's been so long since I read that book. I really ought to do a re-read...

    ReplyDelete

NO SPAM WILL BE TOLERATED!

Thank you so much for leaving me comments and coming by!

Don't forget to visit my other blog:
Up Close and Personal with LadyTink I'd love to hear your opinion or just "meet" you!

I do leave answers to your comments here.

Search This Blog