A racy pleasure that offers shocking twists and turns.
In this debut thriller, a relationship between a billionaire and an alluring, younger woman is consumed by jealousy, sexual obsession, and murder.
Angelica Mercedes desires the finer things in life, and her wealthy parents indulge her every whim—at least, at first. Her intelligence earns her a spot at a prestigious university, where she graduates with honors, but then her father ends his financial support. Angelica takes a job at a strip club, where she meets Hyde Hyatt, a billionaire who’s more than twice her age. They embark on a passionate affair and eventually marry, settling in the town of Full Moon Bay in Northern California and purchasing a beautiful waterfront home. However, two weeks after they move in, the wife of the previous homeowner is found dead, washed up on the beach. About the same time, Hyde’s 23-year-old daughter, Daphne, moves in with the couple. A strange dynamic develops between Hyde, Angelica, and Daphne, fueled, in part, by jealousy; Angelica, who refers to Hyde as “Daddy,” resents his bond with Daphne. As tensions mount, additional murders rattle the community, and the trail of evidence points toward Angelica. Her husband and stepdaughter know that she’s cunning and manipulative, but is she a serial killer? Phelan’s psychological thriller is a flashy, fast-paced tale of eroticism and murder. The author, who also works as a screenwriter, shows a strong sense of pacing; the novel begins with a shocking act of violence and from there, Phelan keeps the momentum going, unspooling a dark, complicated story. She uses a variety of first-person interlocutors to tell it, including Daphne; Hyde’s former wife, Lisa; and Daphne’s fiance, Ken, as well as Angelica and Hyde themselves. An omniscient third-person narrator provides valuable details and context regarding Angelica’s troubled childhood. However, the novel could have used a stronger copy edit to avoid distracting errors, such as “Lu-Lu Lemon” instead of “Lululemon” and “SPEACHLESS” instead of “SPEECHLESS.”
A racy pleasure that offers shocking twists and turns.Pub Date: July 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-4808-6396-5
Page Count: 344
Publisher: Archway Publishing
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2018
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Skillful writing and storytelling, compelling sexual and emotional tension, and a cast of realistic, vulnerable characters...
When a meddling but warmhearted lady’s companion tries to force a reconciliation between a dowager countess and her son, no one can guess at the resentment and betrayals that will be unearthed; but Christmas is the season for forgiveness and new beginnings—and possibly a little romance?
The Earl of Devonmont is quite clear on two things in his life: He wants nothing, ever, to do with his mother, and he’s determined to never marry. So, even he is surprised when, after receiving a letter from Camilla Stuart, his mother’s companion, indicating the dowager is on death’s door, he high-tails it to his country estate where his mother lives simply in the Dowager House. And he's even more surprised when, upon seeing evidence of the lady’s good health, he allows his intended immediate departure to be delayed by the intriguing employee. One day flows into many, and while he and his mother move into a more civil relationship than they’ve had since she abandoned him as a child, all three of them realize they must get to the heart of the matter—the truth behind the abandonment and the secrets of the Dowager’s past—before real peace and understanding can be achieved. Meanwhile, Camilla and the earl grow ever closer, and for the first time, Devonmont considers marriage, though Camilla knows a match between them is unacceptable. She’s a foundling widow with a young child, and he’s, well, an earl. Jeffries’ latest historical romance is an enchanting holiday charmer with a complex and captivating plot; characters that interact with emotional authenticity; and a rich set of conflicted, heart-tugging obstacles—all of which combine to provide a satisfying happily-ever-after set against a fun holiday backdrop.
Skillful writing and storytelling, compelling sexual and emotional tension, and a cast of realistic, vulnerable characters contribute to a lovely, spirited Christmas winner.Pub Date: Oct. 30, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-4516-4246-9
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Sept. 29, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2012
An Edwardian theater love story that tests the boundaries of just how unlikable a romance hero can be.
Two thespians strut and fret and argue throughout their hour upon the stage together.
The Honorable Miss Fenella Grantley knows she should be grateful for her life of ease and privilege, but everything feels unrelentingly gloomy to her. Except, that is, when she sneaks out to Bloomsbury for her acting classes. Those classes get even more interesting when playwright Edward Tremayne, by-blow of the Earl of Pendleton, comes to class with a draft of his newest work, Sapphire. She takes an immediate dislike to Edward and his “arrogance and contempt,” so he takes her for hot chocolate to apologize for his rudeness. And despite the fact that the two can’t go more than a few sentences at a time without bickering, they soon become intimate, and a few days later, they’ve not only slept together, but Fenella is also concocting elaborate excuses to spend the night at his lodgings. Both are prickly and prone to misunderstandings, but they are continually drawn back to each other and have to decide whether their chemistry can or should survive the tumult of these continuous conflicts. Unfortunately, it will be hard for many readers to look forward to this happy ending. From their first meeting, Edward seems unnecessarily unkind to Fenella, and although this is supposedly because of his nerves and attraction to her, modern sensibilities may find him creepy and overbearing rather than charming. Additionally, his obsession with Sapphire and insistence that Fenella perform her role in exactly the way he’s imagined it is an unfortunately timeless example of a male artist who puts his ego before all others—not exactly the swoon-inspiring stuff of a romance hero. For her part, Fenella is pleasingly independent, which makes her attraction to Edward all the more confusing. The book, second in a series but able to stand alone, may appeal to Feather’s longtime fans but is unlikely to work for readers who aren’t already inclined to give her the benefit of the doubt.
An Edwardian theater love story that tests the boundaries of just how unlikable a romance hero can be.Pub Date: Jan. 28, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-4201-4362-1
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Zebra/Kensington
Review Posted Online: Jan. 12, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2020
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