What do you think?
Rate this book
Anniversary, Texas #3
Texas Secrets, Lovers' Lies
Karen Whiddon's story of abduction in the Lone Star state will have your pulse racing!
Every time Brock McCauley locks eyes with Zoe Onella, his heart aches. Though Zoe explains why she skipped town, leaving him at the altar years ago, Brock refuses to go down that road again. After all, she's only back in Anniversary, Texas, to help investigate the bizarre disappearance of her best friend, Shayna.
The sooner they find Shayna, the sooner Zoe can return to New York. But Brock can't stop thinking about the hot passion they once shared. And when danger surrounds Zoe, he must protect the only woman he's ever loved. Even if it costs him everything.
Every time Brock McCauley locks eyes with Zoe Onella, his heart aches. Though Zoe explains why she skipped town, leaving him at the altar years ago, Brock refuses to go down that road again. After all, she's only back in Anniversary, Texas, to help investigate the bizarre disappearance of her best friend, Shayna.
The sooner they find Shayna, the sooner Zoe can return to New York. But Brock can't stop thinking about the hot passion they once shared. And when danger surrounds Zoe, he must protect the only woman he's ever loved. Even if it costs him everything.
- GenresRomanceContemporary
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
5 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
Karen Whiddon
206 books131 followersKaren Whiddon spun fanciful tales for her younger brothers as early as the age of eleven. Growing up in the Catskill Mountains of New York, then the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, she found enough magic in the rugged peaks to keep her imagination fueled for years.
Now making her home in North Texas, she shares her life with her hero-like husband and three doting dogs. She writes paranormal tales for Harlequin Nocturne including the popular Pack series and romantic suspense stories for Harlequin Romantic Suspense.
She's also written Fae novels for Lovespell and a long time ago, she wrote five Precious Gem Romances for Kensington publishing. These she now owns again and has put them up for sale on Amazon.com among other places
Now making her home in North Texas, she shares her life with her hero-like husband and three doting dogs. She writes paranormal tales for Harlequin Nocturne including the popular Pack series and romantic suspense stories for Harlequin Romantic Suspense.
She's also written Fae novels for Lovespell and a long time ago, she wrote five Precious Gem Romances for Kensington publishing. These she now owns again and has put them up for sale on Amazon.com among other places
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 18, 2013
I had a really hard time connecting with this book. Zoe has come back to town to see if she can find her best friend Shayna. She hasn't been back since her mother's murder and dumping Brock shortly before their wedding. She doesn't want to see him, but it's a small town so she knows she will. Meanwhile Brock is still furious over her actions and doesn't want to be around her either. They have to work together to figure it out and discover that their passion never went away. But can they overcome past hurts and move forward.
Zoe has come to help find her "best friend". I started right there having a problem with Zoe. She had been gone for five years. In that time she had never invited Shayna to visit. She only talked to her occasionally on the phone and the last time Shayna called Zoe blew her off because she was going out. Those are not the actions of a best friend. Now that she's back she's having to deal with her feelings for her ex-fiance. She had never stopped loving him and had left him for his own safety after she was threatened by the man who killed her mother. She didn't come back after he was caught because of some devastating medical news that again she kept from him for his own good. Their interactions during their search were erratic. First she'd be glad of his help, then push him away because she didn't trust herself with him. Even though she knew that she owed him a complete explanation of her actions she was still going to leave without telling him. I did like her determination to find out what happened to Shayna.
Brock has spent the last five years trying to cope with Zoe's abandonment. He tried drowning his sorrows for awhile, but got sober and now doesn't drink at all, though her reappearance causes the temptation to do so. He dated a lot and had one-night stands. He even had a short relationship with Shayna before they became just friends and roommates. He doesn't believe that there's foul play at first, thinking that Shayna had finally followed through on plans to leave town. He can't believe that he is still attracted and finally admits that he never stopped loving her. He spends most of the book blowing hot and cold also. He'll work with her for a bit then blow up and walk away, or just try to avoid her. He finally gets a partial explanation of why she left but senses that she hasn't told him everything. He realizes that he doesn't want Zoe to leave again and wants a second chance for a future.
The suspense part of the book just wasn't there for me. Yes, there was the mystery of what had happened to Shayna and having to sort through all the conflicting information. But there just wasn't any real sense of urgency until the very end. Even the culprit wasn't that much of a surprise. The other books I've read by her have been great, but this one just didn't compare for me.
Zoe has come to help find her "best friend". I started right there having a problem with Zoe. She had been gone for five years. In that time she had never invited Shayna to visit. She only talked to her occasionally on the phone and the last time Shayna called Zoe blew her off because she was going out. Those are not the actions of a best friend. Now that she's back she's having to deal with her feelings for her ex-fiance. She had never stopped loving him and had left him for his own safety after she was threatened by the man who killed her mother. She didn't come back after he was caught because of some devastating medical news that again she kept from him for his own good. Their interactions during their search were erratic. First she'd be glad of his help, then push him away because she didn't trust herself with him. Even though she knew that she owed him a complete explanation of her actions she was still going to leave without telling him. I did like her determination to find out what happened to Shayna.
Brock has spent the last five years trying to cope with Zoe's abandonment. He tried drowning his sorrows for awhile, but got sober and now doesn't drink at all, though her reappearance causes the temptation to do so. He dated a lot and had one-night stands. He even had a short relationship with Shayna before they became just friends and roommates. He doesn't believe that there's foul play at first, thinking that Shayna had finally followed through on plans to leave town. He can't believe that he is still attracted and finally admits that he never stopped loving her. He spends most of the book blowing hot and cold also. He'll work with her for a bit then blow up and walk away, or just try to avoid her. He finally gets a partial explanation of why she left but senses that she hasn't told him everything. He realizes that he doesn't want Zoe to leave again and wants a second chance for a future.
The suspense part of the book just wasn't there for me. Yes, there was the mystery of what had happened to Shayna and having to sort through all the conflicting information. But there just wasn't any real sense of urgency until the very end. Even the culprit wasn't that much of a surprise. The other books I've read by her have been great, but this one just didn't compare for me.
July 24, 2013
3 STARS
This book has a good plot story but it is such a downer in all of it. There is a lot of action and suspense. I want some happy times in a romance. Zoe left 5 years ago Brock almost at the alter because she witnessed her mother's murder. Plus she had another secret that was a downer and kept her away from hometown. Now her best friend is missing. Everything she finds is more of a downer. A Tornado destroys a lot but they are saved. Sex scenes and no tender just saying it was a mistake. alcoholics and drug scenes, affairs, murder and attempted murder.
I think this was the wrong choice of book for me on this day. I liked the characters for the most part. I like that the heroine Zoe came back to help find her friend Shayna. She also writes a blog and gets lots of followers. She really tells her feelings on her blog because no one supposed to know who she is. I should have her help me learn how to do more with my blog!.
Two different people claim to be Shayna's best friends but they don't really know her what she was going through. Zoe realizes that she should have been a better friend. I think we can all be better friends before it is to late.
I was given this ebook to read and asked to give honest review of it when finished by Netgalley & Harlequin.
10/01/2013 PUB Harlequin Imprint Harlequin Romantic Suspense ISBN 9780373278435 288 pages
Description below taken off of Netgalley.
Karen Whiddon's story of abduction in the Lone Star state will have your pulse racing!
Every time Brock McCauley locks eyes with Zoe Onella, his heart aches. Though Zoe explains why she skipped town, leaving him at the altar years ago, Brock refuses to go down that road again. After all, she's only back in Anniversary, Texas, to help investigate the bizarre disappearance of her best friend, Shayna.
The sooner they find Shayna, the sooner Zoe can return to New York. But Brock can't stop thinking about the hot passion they once shared. And when danger surrounds Zoe, he must protect the only woman he's ever loved. Even if it costs him everything.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2018
A romance that will leave you whipping your eyes and blowing your nose as you read this romance story. Putting your self in Zoe's shoe you feel her pain and want to give comfort to her, Brock needs the same thing and a little more coming back from the bottle, and Mana Bell and Husband needs more because of a loss of their daughter. But it the daughter's death that bring these wonderful people together to find out what happened to her and to bring a town back together as was in the past. But more importantly was bring two people that wear meant to be together from the very being.
October 1, 2013
Zoe is back in town to find her best friend who is missing. Even if that means she will have to face the life she ran away from 5 years ago. Zoe and Brock were engaged, but Zoe left him with no explanation, but now that she is back in town, he wants to know why. The chemistry is still there and there is no denying they want each other.
Brock can't stop thinking about Zoe, but he needs to push his feeling aside and help her find her missing friend.
I enjoyed this story it was a mix of romance and suspense that left you guessing until the end. I felt it was well written and the characters were unique and easy to follow.
Copy Provided by NetGallery in exchange for an honest review.
Brock can't stop thinking about Zoe, but he needs to push his feeling aside and help her find her missing friend.
I enjoyed this story it was a mix of romance and suspense that left you guessing until the end. I felt it was well written and the characters were unique and easy to follow.
Copy Provided by NetGallery in exchange for an honest review.
September 28, 2013
I had a hard time getting into this book. The mystery/suspense just wasn't intense enough for me. That is not to say it wasn't well written, just not compelling reading, it was a little too predictable for me. The characters were well drawn, the settings detailed, I just didn't connect. It was stronger as a romance than as suspense. That was the part of the story that really held my interest. So if you like your romances to have a little mystery, this might be for you.
*I received my copy from NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
*I received my copy from NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
April 27, 2014
Zoe is back in Anniversary, Texas after many years. She left Brock almost at the church and disappeared without a word. How could he still love her when she almost destroyed him. Even now, she refuses to reveal her secret. She is back because her best friend, Shayna has disappeared. Is Shayna dead or running. They need to put their differences aside to find her.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews