Suspect Lover

by Stephanie Doyle

Eager to start a family, Caroline Sommerville marries Dominic Santos in a whirlwind courtship. Then the unthinkable her husband becomes the prime suspect in the murder of his business partner.With Dominic on the run from the police, Caroline is his last hope. Though she's only known him a short time, she's certain he was framed.But there's so much about him she doesn't know. And when a damning secret in Dominic's past surfaces, Caroline has to decide whether she believes in the man she married. Is he the murderer he's accused of being? Or is he the husband who needs her trust and love?

Genres: Romance, Romantic Suspense

215 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

It all started with Shanna and Star Wars. An odd combination, I know, but what people don't appreciate about Star Wars is the deep romantic element between two of the lead characters. I wasn't seven years-old when I was able to clearly spot that Han and Leia were supposed to be a couple.

Sure most of my friends, who at the time weren't nearly as mature as I was – after all some of them were still six, thought that Leia loved Luke. But anyone really looking could see that Han and Leia were the couple to beat.

That's when I discovered romance.

Then at about fifteen or so I was babysitting one night, bored out of my mind – the children were fast asleep at this point – so I picked a book from the shelf. I wasn't much of a reader at the time, but I liked the orange cover. It was Shanna by Kathleen Woodiwiss.

That's when I discovered romance novels.

Making up stories – that's just something I've always done. It's like breathing for me. But it wasn't until I began to read actively that I thought maybe I could actually write a book. The benefit of writing over reading is that I get to have everything just the way I like it. I should mention at this point that I'm a little bit of a control freak.

But I didn't go to school for writing. In fact I went to school to be the President of the United States - make that a power hungry control freak.

I attended Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. And no, that is not a school to learn how to become a nun. Although, since I'm not married yet, my mother believes that subliminal messages were piped into the dorm rooms through hidden speakers.

I strayed from the presidential track. Figured instead of running the country I would do something really meaningful. I became a school teacher and spent two amazing years in Seattle.

Eventually I came back home to South Jersey. I got a temp job to hold me over until I could find another teaching position and have been at my current company for eight years. I keep telling my boss that I'm only staying for a little while longer. But he has since stopped listening to me.

So what else is there to know about me? I write. I work. I exercise. I try not to eat. I fail. I beat myself up for not succeeding to not eat. Then I drink. It's a simple life I lead.

I date. But that's a whole other story….

Reviews

[Saly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Suspect Lover, it was really different.

Caroline is a mystery writer, ever since she lost her parents she has played it safe and surrounded herself with things she feels comfortable with. She signs up with a match-making service and after a few weeks of phone-calls and e-mails comes to meet Dominic, so she is nervous and a bit excited about the step she is taking.

Dominic is a work-alcoholic and he was upfront to Caroline about it. He runs an encryption company along with two partners, one he started out with, another who came in later. Caroline's presence in his life shakes things up, he tries to keep things simple but she is coming into his thoughts during work. Since they both want kids, they get married, Dominic tells her that he is not sure if he will be a good husband and father but he will try his best. He is short with her one time since he wants his control back and then apologizes but Caroline isn't that forgiving and accepting, she pushes his boundaries, wanting to know things he keeps hidden and tries to distract her with sex.

Then chaos breaks lose, Dominic's partner is murdered, he goes missing and things come out about his past, like his real name and that he was an ex-con and that their marriage is void. Caroline has a choice to make, she can walk away but she takes a chance, she believes in Dominic's innocence and when she gets a call from him thinking it is all over and goes back home finds him.

Dominic tells her the truth about his past, how prison changed him and made him all reserved, how he hit his father for not being there for his mother. He tried to let her go but then couldn't.

I loved the book, it was very different, the manner in which it was written.

[Coral · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars. I love this book. The plot is predictable and I could guess who the murderer was early in the story. But different story progression is what sells the story. It's also different in which the secondary couple are ones more involved with the suspense part of the story to the point they almost steal the show. But the budding romance between the main leads were the selling point for me.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the romantic suspense aspect of the story, once it kicked in -- though I thought it took much too long to get going. The first part of the book is about the rapidly developing relationship between Caroline and Dominic, and it drags a bit. But once the murder happens and Dominic gets framed, the story really gets going. I really liked the secondary characters -- specifically the detective and Nora. They added another believable romantic element to the story, which I enjoyed. (B+)

[Elinor · Rating 4 out of 5]

C'était franchement très bon. En 200 pages, Stephanie Doyle nous sert un couple crédible, des personnages intéressants et avec une psychologie (quand certains bouquins de plus de 350 pages la font passer à la trappe), des personnages secondaires sympathiques, le tout enveloppé d'un petit suspens somme toute bien mené et d'une écriture agréable. Une réussite donc, mais je ne suis pas étonnée après le premier livre que j'ai lu de cette auteure que j'avais déjà beaucoup beaucoup aimé.

[Molly O'Keefe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really believed the progression in thier romance, I thought the letters between them were revealing. I also really believed her motivations for getting in the relationship - and then, well, once the action really kicked it - I couldn't put it down.

[Jen_C · Rating 3 out of 5]

All the good dialogue was from Nora and Mark, the secondary characters!