HIDDEN SHADOWS

Author: Lauren Hope ISBN: 1601542429 6/2008 SUSPENSE Publisher: WILD ROSE PUBLISHING

With a failed marriage and bitter betrayal tucked in her suitcase of baggage, Jenna Gregor is admittedly cynical and pessimistic concerning men and the prospect of a lasting relationship. When Bennett Aston sweeps into her life like a sturdy gust of wind, she jumps to defend herself at every angle from his easy confidence, southern charm, and unnerving good looks. But in the shadows of Jenna’s past lay deep secrets. And there, a mad woman lurks in the darkness, ready to ruin all Jenna holds dear. As life as Jenna knows it begins to unravel, she finds herself in a tangled web of lies, suspicion, and murder. She must look deep inside herself to find the courage for forgiveness, trust, and self-acceptance. Only then will she discover love, redemption, and ultimately, survival.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Lauren Hope sets her suspenseful romance, HIDDEN SHADOWS, in the area surrounding Nashville, Tennessee, where Dr. Jenna Gregor works at a reproductive health clinic and unknown to her, she has been being stalked and sabotaged by a former patient for a number of years. She feels like a loser in life and love, her two small children being her only lights. That is, until the handsome, single, interested landscaper Ben Aston plants himself in her life. She finally has another chance at happiness, but will her stalker let her get away with it?

Hope draws wonderful characters that are three dimensional and very genuine. Ben is not only strong, but gentle; Jenna is caring, yet life and her stalker have turned her into a cautious, fearful woman. The kids are definitely part of the game and not only act like kids, but have full featured personalities as main characters. The stalker is crazy in ways that would scare the daylights out of any mother, and even though it seemed obvious to me who the stalker is, Hope keeps her cool, not revealing the stalker's identity to the end.

The plot is well thought out and evenly paced. The suspense builds to the end and is nicely broken up with reprieves of lighter scenes with the kids, or intimate moments with Jenna and Ben that feel just right.

I recommend HIDDEN SHADOWS to any reader who likes a good suspenseful story with well-rounded characters. The only thing that didn't work for me is that an obligatory minor character who looks like Jenna gets killed off accidentally as the stalker fails to achieve her ultimate goal.

Susan Barton