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The Second Mrs. Malone
Who was she?
She'd been found wandering down a street in the middle of the night, covered in blood - not her own. She knew her name was Andrea, but not what had happened to the man whose wedding band she wore. Or why the family she was supposed to belong to hated her so much.
The only shelter she'd found in the nightmare days was Sergeant Troy Stoner, the policeman assigned to her case. When she looked into his dark, intense eyes, she knew she was a woman of passion. But how could Troy trust - or love - her, when she didn't know the answer to the most important question of all: was she victim - or villainess?
- GenresRomance
248 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 1997
17 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Stevens
266 books2,230 followersAmanda Stevens is the award-winning author of over fifty novels, including the modern gothic series, The Graveyard Queen. Her books have been described as eerie and atmospheric, “a new take on the classic ghost story.” Born and raised in the rural south, she now resides in Houston, Texas, where she enjoys binge-watching, bike riding and the occasional Horror Night with friends.
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The Graveyard Queen trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrCf_e...
http://twitter.com/AmandaStevensTX
http://facebook.com/amandastevensbooks
amandastevensbooks@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 15, 2020
Saw some of it coming, but not all
January 22, 2026
It was good but had some flaws. I guessed who the villain in the story was pretty fast, but the whole thing with the psychiatrist was too over-the-top. The parts about the h's past and the way her memories kept coming back in bits and pieces was good, and recent events mixing with childhood ones keeps you guessing about what's really going on.
But too much wasn't explained. The h said she returned to Houston after her aunt died which was only a year before the story began. In that short a time she worked as a teacher in a private school, and just a short time later (maybe a month or two) became such good friends with someone that they recommended her to be the nanny for millionaire mogul's daughter and she's accepted, just like that??? since when do wealthy, high-profile people hire someone with no prior experience as a nanny, just on the recommendation of a friend of the wife's, who has only known her a short time? They would no doubt do extensive reference checks and after finding out about her background, NO WAY would they have hired her!
I HATE when authors insult your intelligence!
It makes sense that the little girl would become attached to the h, but for the father to trust her so much in so short a time that he's willing to let her adopt his daughter after his death, be in charge of his financial empire until his daughter is of age and give her 10 million dollars as well is really stretching it to the limit! Sure, he'd want to keep her away from her horrible grandmother and irresponsible uncle, but there wasn't anyone else at all??? Too implausible for me, wealthy people don't operate that way!
And the whole marriage thing was only thrown in to throw a wedge between the H and h, just like the OM was. Not only was that guy an embezzler, but he was also the biggest jerk! The h went out on a few dates with him, and he considered her his property! She couldn't even stand to have him touch her!
And on the subject of touching: while you expect there to be a love/sex scene, the timing of it couldn't have been worse. The h's (in name only) husband was found murdered, she was a suspect and she'd just inherited millions from hid estate. So what does she do? She goes to the H's apartment and practically begs him to make love to her. And he gladly does it! She knew the case could be compromised and his job on the line and though it was understandable she needed comfort and to feel loved, she was still acting selfish by going to see him in the first place, knowing where it could lead.
As for the H: despite his feelings for her, he was a cop in the middle of an investigation where the h was a suspect. He may not have been able to help how he felt, but he sure as hell could have avoided sleeping with her, even if it meant pouring ice down his pants! What kind of a cop was he, anyway? Not a very good one in my opinion, since he had previously fallen for a woman suspected of the same crime as the h and slept with her, too! It's a wonder he wasn't thrown off the force!
Not to mention, the very next day, when he should have been arresting her, he buys the lame excuse she gives him and lets her get away! (She wasn't really escaping, she wanted to prove her innocence and had figured out a way, but still, this guy needed to have his badge taken away. In real life, he would have been toast!)
Also (another big flaw), when the H suspected (though he hated the thought) that the h might have been a gold-digger after the rich guy's money, he compared that wealthy lifestyle to the life he'd offer her on a cop's salary, and he didn't do well in the comparison, at least financially. This isn't even discussed between them later, especially after she inherits all that money. What's going to happen? How are they going to live? The book ends with their wedding and all you know is they're going to adopt the little girl, but will they be living in a mansion or his apartment, when they could afford so much more? Will she be keeping the money and living the lifestyle or be content with an average lifestyle and keep the money gathering interest? Will those family dinners at his parents' house turn into evenings at the yacht club?
The author left too much dangling. Personally, I didn't feel enough of a HEA vibe from this couple. There were too many misunderstandings, too much suspicion, too many evaded truths, and not enough honesty.
Not one of the author's best.
But too much wasn't explained. The h said she returned to Houston after her aunt died which was only a year before the story began. In that short a time she worked as a teacher in a private school, and just a short time later (maybe a month or two) became such good friends with someone that they recommended her to be the nanny for millionaire mogul's daughter and she's accepted, just like that??? since when do wealthy, high-profile people hire someone with no prior experience as a nanny, just on the recommendation of a friend of the wife's, who has only known her a short time? They would no doubt do extensive reference checks and after finding out about her background, NO WAY would they have hired her!
I HATE when authors insult your intelligence!
It makes sense that the little girl would become attached to the h, but for the father to trust her so much in so short a time that he's willing to let her adopt his daughter after his death, be in charge of his financial empire until his daughter is of age and give her 10 million dollars as well is really stretching it to the limit! Sure, he'd want to keep her away from her horrible grandmother and irresponsible uncle, but there wasn't anyone else at all??? Too implausible for me, wealthy people don't operate that way!
And the whole marriage thing was only thrown in to throw a wedge between the H and h, just like the OM was. Not only was that guy an embezzler, but he was also the biggest jerk! The h went out on a few dates with him, and he considered her his property! She couldn't even stand to have him touch her!
And on the subject of touching: while you expect there to be a love/sex scene, the timing of it couldn't have been worse. The h's (in name only) husband was found murdered, she was a suspect and she'd just inherited millions from hid estate. So what does she do? She goes to the H's apartment and practically begs him to make love to her. And he gladly does it! She knew the case could be compromised and his job on the line and though it was understandable she needed comfort and to feel loved, she was still acting selfish by going to see him in the first place, knowing where it could lead.
As for the H: despite his feelings for her, he was a cop in the middle of an investigation where the h was a suspect. He may not have been able to help how he felt, but he sure as hell could have avoided sleeping with her, even if it meant pouring ice down his pants! What kind of a cop was he, anyway? Not a very good one in my opinion, since he had previously fallen for a woman suspected of the same crime as the h and slept with her, too! It's a wonder he wasn't thrown off the force!
Not to mention, the very next day, when he should have been arresting her, he buys the lame excuse she gives him and lets her get away! (She wasn't really escaping, she wanted to prove her innocence and had figured out a way, but still, this guy needed to have his badge taken away. In real life, he would have been toast!)
Also (another big flaw), when the H suspected (though he hated the thought) that the h might have been a gold-digger after the rich guy's money, he compared that wealthy lifestyle to the life he'd offer her on a cop's salary, and he didn't do well in the comparison, at least financially. This isn't even discussed between them later, especially after she inherits all that money. What's going to happen? How are they going to live? The book ends with their wedding and all you know is they're going to adopt the little girl, but will they be living in a mansion or his apartment, when they could afford so much more? Will she be keeping the money and living the lifestyle or be content with an average lifestyle and keep the money gathering interest? Will those family dinners at his parents' house turn into evenings at the yacht club?
The author left too much dangling. Personally, I didn't feel enough of a HEA vibe from this couple. There were too many misunderstandings, too much suspicion, too many evaded truths, and not enough honesty.
Not one of the author's best.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2011
Very interesting twist and turns. Even I didn't have a clue that Dorian got her sister involved in the crime. Wasn't able to read it in a short time but it was worth reading every pages of it.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews