TEST
I admit, once in a while, like, let’s say, when I’ve had it with my day job, I dive into my little fantasy of having some sexy, mysterious man take me away to a deserted island, where I am surrounded by luxury and don’t have to deal with petty office politics. After reading this book, however, I may not indulge in that fantasy anymore, for whereas The Morning After is a great thriller, I can’t even remotely consider the ending a traditional, comforting HEA.
Temple Banning awakens in a luxurious honeymoon suite. She is surrounded by rose petals, and still hears the echo of a man’s voice in her head, calling her Princess. A wedding dress and veil are there, as is a bottle of champagne. A stunning wedding set sparkles on her finger. There’s only one problem: Temple doesn’t remember getting married. Has she married the fiancé she just broke up with or is there something else going on?
As Temple begins to cope with the aftermath of her “wedding,” she finds that she has almost nothing to go on except the marriage license with the name Michael St. Gerard, her new “husband.” It’s a name she has never heard before, but a note from the mysterious Michael directs Temple to Mark Challis, an investigator who is as dark and enigmatic as St. Gerard, if he even exists.
When she returns to work, Temple’s supervisor shows surprise that the honeymoon was apparently cut short, while her friend Annette (who also recommends Mark’s services) is in shock when Temple tells her the entire story. There is more, however: Temple is pregnant. As a survivor of the deadly virus that killed her parents in Zaire years ago, she fears that the virus might have been recently awakened in her, or that it may damage her unborn baby.
Mark Challis and Temple are attracted to one another, although Temple doesn’t know if trusting Mark is a good idea. When one attack after another threaten Temple’s life, Mark takes over and whisks her away to a secluded island where he usually keeps clients who are in danger. Her only links to the outside world at that point, are Dr. Llewelyn, who shows up regularly for check ups, and the few phone calls she is allowed to make.
What is actually going on involves a web of lies that rivals the premise of The Truman Show. I won’t give away the rest of the plot, but let me say that there is only one person in this whole bunch that Temple can trust.
As a thriller, this book succeeds, for the most part, only if you accept the degree to which Temple’s life is taken from her and the reasons for it. As a romance, however, it is a failure.
I can understand the motivation for everyone’s actions up to a point, and I will buy that desperate times take desperate measures. What I can’t buy is a thirty-year-old pregnant virgin who has just decided to stop being a caretaker for her fiancé and her sister. Who then moves to another city to have her own life, and then shocks everyone by finally taking said life in her own hands, and then decides to spend it with Mark Challis. Does that sound confusing? It is.
Forster is capable of writing good psychological suspense, and this is no exception. She can also create a lush, opulent world wherein her characters move with ease, although the richness here becomes somewhat excessive. The romance, however, was completely missing. Sure, there was uncertainty, fear, even sexual attraction, but romance? Trust? Not anywhere I could see. If I had been Temple Banning, I would have taken my baby and myself far, far away from every single character in this book. Aside from that one person I trusted, that would be the last any of these people would ever have seen of us.
Grade: B-
Book Type: Romantic Suspense
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 09/03/00
Publication Date: 2000
Related Reviews
Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.