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Circumstantial Marriage
When someone wanted her dead, Audrey Ellison had nowhere else to turn but to reporter-turned-recluse Jason Stone. Only her uncle's onetime prot�g� could discover what got him killed and why an assassin was hot on her heels. But Audrey wasn't prepared for the darkly handsome, deeply tormented man who was to become her hero...and her husband.
Posing as newlyweds was the best way to investigate the small Virginia town teeming with secrets and scandals. But even the best plans had pitfalls. Audrey's feelings for her sexy pretend husband became all too real...and as dangerous as the killers closing in on them.
Posing as newlyweds was the best way to investigate the small Virginia town teeming with secrets and scandals. But even the best plans had pitfalls. Audrey's feelings for her sexy pretend husband became all too real...and as dangerous as the killers closing in on them.
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 9, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 5, 2025
Audrey Ellison is attacked in her apartment by someone demanding to know where a book is. After she manages to escape, she realises the intruder was referring to her uncle's book about Senator Richard Bridges, who is due to announce his bid for presidency. Her uncle thought he was sitting on some explosive revelations. But when Audrey goes to her uncle's house, it has been burnt down and her uncle is dead.
The first person she thinks of for help is Jason Stone, a reclusive reporter (he retreated from life after his wife and daughters were killed in a car bomb meant for him) who was her uncle's protege and probably the only other person her uncle told about the book. Indeed, he is a target too, so they decide to head to the senator's hometown, where he is expected to make the presidential announcement, to see whether they can find out what her uncle discovered.
This was a very pleasant surprise! Although it is pretty easy to figure out who hired the assassin to go after Audrey and Jason, the book has plenty of other plot twists up its sleeve, one of which took me completely by surprise. It's all a little soap opera-ish, but this delivered the sort of plot twists I would ordinarily expect from a major release thriller. There's a lot of showing, not telling, a bit of convenience/contrivance here and there, and a sex scene that feels like it goes on forever, but there's not much else I can fault here. The plot moved at a fast pace and it was never boring.
As for the romance aspect, it doesn't quite land. Jason is still haunted by the death of his wife and daughter and isn't sure whether he wants to live or die. It was a bit dark and depressing. However, it was one of the better handled dead-wife tropes in this category. Connor finds a good way for Jason to address his grief and achieve a character arc, all without making Audrey seem like a convenient second choice or replacement. I got the feeling they could make a go of things.
Fast-paced, lots of twists and turns, characters with a bit of depth and believability - all I could really ask for in a thriller!
The first person she thinks of for help is Jason Stone, a reclusive reporter (he retreated from life after his wife and daughters were killed in a car bomb meant for him) who was her uncle's protege and probably the only other person her uncle told about the book. Indeed, he is a target too, so they decide to head to the senator's hometown, where he is expected to make the presidential announcement, to see whether they can find out what her uncle discovered.
This was a very pleasant surprise! Although it is pretty easy to figure out who hired the assassin to go after Audrey and Jason, the book has plenty of other plot twists up its sleeve, one of which took me completely by surprise. It's all a little soap opera-ish, but this delivered the sort of plot twists I would ordinarily expect from a major release thriller. There's a lot of showing, not telling, a bit of convenience/contrivance here and there, and a sex scene that feels like it goes on forever, but there's not much else I can fault here. The plot moved at a fast pace and it was never boring.
As for the romance aspect, it doesn't quite land. Jason is still haunted by the death of his wife and daughter and isn't sure whether he wants to live or die. It was a bit dark and depressing. However, it was one of the better handled dead-wife tropes in this category. Connor finds a good way for Jason to address his grief and achieve a character arc, all without making Audrey seem like a convenient second choice or replacement. I got the feeling they could make a go of things.
Fast-paced, lots of twists and turns, characters with a bit of depth and believability - all I could really ask for in a thriller!
April 29, 2012
There's a huge compliment coming for this book, and a huge however. It's the first time I've experienced a book this way so I'm interested in reading other reviews.
The plot for this book is EXCELLENT. I didn't see the twist until the final clue was revealed and it was a doozy. The story kept driving me through the book, almost desperate to know what happened.
HOWEVER, I didn't connect with either character. To the point where I was skipping the romance to get to the next action sequence. I can't put my finger on why - I didn't think the book was badly written and I liked the notion of a hero putting his life on the line because he didn't want to live any more. But I just didn't care if they got together or not. They weren't too perfect or too stupid - but I felt no emotional connection to the main characters.
And Harlequin - what a dreadful title. I would have never have read this if it wasn't in a two-read book.
The plot for this book is EXCELLENT. I didn't see the twist until the final clue was revealed and it was a doozy. The story kept driving me through the book, almost desperate to know what happened.
HOWEVER, I didn't connect with either character. To the point where I was skipping the romance to get to the next action sequence. I can't put my finger on why - I didn't think the book was badly written and I liked the notion of a hero putting his life on the line because he didn't want to live any more. But I just didn't care if they got together or not. They weren't too perfect or too stupid - but I felt no emotional connection to the main characters.
And Harlequin - what a dreadful title. I would have never have read this if it wasn't in a two-read book.
August 4, 2020
Just escaped from a violent intruder, Audrey Ellison discovers her uncle has been killed in a housefire. She immediately understands he has discovered something dark on the Presidential candidate he was writing a biography on, she also knows she will be the next target. If she isn't able to discover the truth and reveal it to the world, she won't survive. Therefore she needs the help of her uncle's apprentice Jason Stone, but he has disappeared into thin air.
This story was quite ok. It pretents to be a thriller, but it never gets really exciting and the romance part is also kind of lackluster. I found this book in one of my bookbins and thought it would be quite a fun read, but it ended up being kinda mweh. Could have been a lot better, but a fun easy read when you don't want to think to much into the story.
This story was quite ok. It pretents to be a thriller, but it never gets really exciting and the romance part is also kind of lackluster. I found this book in one of my bookbins and thought it would be quite a fun read, but it ended up being kinda mweh. Could have been a lot better, but a fun easy read when you don't want to think to much into the story.
May 3, 2019
Not terrible, but this was just not for me.
2 stars
2 stars
June 10, 2017
HI #1268 = 4+ stars
March 26, 2012
Hal Ellison, un célébre journaliste d'investigation prépare une biographie détonnante sur le sénateur Bridges qui
brigue le poste de président. Il est assassiné avant de pouvoir publier son livre. Le tueur, persuadé que sa nièce Audrey est en possession du manuscrit, la harcèle. Mais elle ne s'en laisse pas compter et décide de prendre l'affaire en main pour à la fois sauver sa peau et trouver le meurtrier de son oncle. Et pour cela, elle doit s'associer avec l'ex collaborateur d'Hal : Jason Stone.
L'aventure est menée tambour battant. La rencontre d'Audrey et Jason est typique : l'héroine volontaire et energique et le héros tourmenté et blessé par la vie. Mais l'enquête dans les arcanes du monde politique prend rapidement le pas envoyant au second plan l'histoire d'amour.
Le rythme est rapide ; l'intrigue totalement improbable et cliché et la relation amoureuse a peine esquissé. On peine car il est difficile de s'attacher aux personnages et comme l'enquête est coussue de fil blanc, on s'ennuie.
Un bon point cependant pour la fin qui évite de tomber dans le mélo et dans la leçon de morale. Le monde politique étant un monde de requins, un univers trouble rempli de coups tordus, cela aurait vraiment été plus qu'invraisemblable.
brigue le poste de président. Il est assassiné avant de pouvoir publier son livre. Le tueur, persuadé que sa nièce Audrey est en possession du manuscrit, la harcèle. Mais elle ne s'en laisse pas compter et décide de prendre l'affaire en main pour à la fois sauver sa peau et trouver le meurtrier de son oncle. Et pour cela, elle doit s'associer avec l'ex collaborateur d'Hal : Jason Stone.
L'aventure est menée tambour battant. La rencontre d'Audrey et Jason est typique : l'héroine volontaire et energique et le héros tourmenté et blessé par la vie. Mais l'enquête dans les arcanes du monde politique prend rapidement le pas envoyant au second plan l'histoire d'amour.
Le rythme est rapide ; l'intrigue totalement improbable et cliché et la relation amoureuse a peine esquissé. On peine car il est difficile de s'attacher aux personnages et comme l'enquête est coussue de fil blanc, on s'ennuie.
Un bon point cependant pour la fin qui évite de tomber dans le mélo et dans la leçon de morale. Le monde politique étant un monde de requins, un univers trouble rempli de coups tordus, cela aurait vraiment été plus qu'invraisemblable.
January 31, 2015
This is the first book I have read by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it. As I came near the end of the book I realized that this was really well written, something that can not be said for many books by any author.
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December 24, 2014Miniseries: Thriller
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December 24, 2014Miniseries: Thriller
Category: Suspense
Category: Suspense
March 25, 2011
A woman someone wanted dead, a former journalist with some answers who no longer cares about life, a trail of dead bodies, deceit, betrayal, action, and romance. An excellent story.
July 26, 2011
Very exciting, a little romance and mystery.
October 6, 2012
the ending was like whoa didn't see that coming!!:))
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews