ESCAPING THE PAST

Author: Julianna Stephens ISBN: 0451222148 11/2007 CONTEMP/SUSPENSE Publisher: WILD ROSE PRESS

Lou Smith would be the first to admit that she’s the luckiest woman on the face of the earth. She lives on a farm where manners matter and the farm hands all come to eat when the dinner bell rings. Life is comfortable – so comfortable that it seems almost too easy. But Lou comes with a past, one that she will be forced to face, or die trying. Lou’s early years were never easy. She lived a life of poverty and depravity, never staying in one place for very long. She grows up quickly when she suddenly becomes a mother and is thrust into the world alone. She resolves to try to un-live the life that her mother lived. And it seems to be easy to avoid sex, love, and danger. It’s easy until she meets Brody Wester, that is. Brody is a handsome, successful surgeon who is way too busy for family. In fact, it’s been twelve years since he’s been home. He’s forced to face some demons from his own past when Lou calls him home to attend his dying mother. But his mother is not the only person who holds his interest. From the outside, Lou Smith looks like an average twenty-seven year old woman. She has a successful career, a family and a daughter. But she has a secret. Most women do have secrets but Lou’s secret is more powerful than most. And it’s coming to find her.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

ESCAPING THE PAST by Julianna Stephens is a suspense-filled romance that grabs the reader's attention from the very beginning with its strongly compelling characters and rich storyline. It tells the story of Lou Smith, a woman that has found happiness after a nightmarish childhood. Her happy life is disrupted when her employer and friend's health begins to fail, resulting in her employer's son's return to his family home.

Brody Wester is an arrogant and handsome surgeon who only returns because he believes his mother is dying. When he meets Lou, he finds himself overwhelmed with desire, but he does not trust this woman that has made herself a part of his mother's life. Suspense builds as Lou's past catches up with her, bringing danger and excitement to the story.

Lou is a character that I found I liked from the very beginning. Her childhood experiences gained my sympathy as well as piqued my curiosity, as it becomes evident that there are secrets that need to be revealed. Her loving nature and need to help others make her a person that deserves to find happiness. This makes it easy to dislike Brody when he first shows up in the story.

I found myself quickly put out by his suspicious nature as well as his arrogant and assuming manner. He has to work hard to earn my approval after he turns me against him in the beginning, but he is up to the challenge and soon things between Lou and Brody quickly heat up. The sexual chemistry between the two is off the chart, and I found myself just waiting until the two would finally give in to their desire. As Lou and Brody get to really know one another, their feelings deepen and a true romance seems to be in their future. Trouble comes when they are faced with difficulties and danger from their past. I found myself only hoping that their newly developed feelings for one another would be able to survive all that would be revealed.

ESCAPING THE PAST demonstrates the true meaning of family as the characters come together in a warm setting of laughter and compassion. A wonderful romance and a mystery that will keep you guessing, makes this book a must read. I look forward to future books such as this from Julianna Stephens.

Anita Hartsell