La mémoire volée

The Protectors #24

by Beverly Barton

Quels secrets se cachent entre les murs de l’imposante demeure de la plus ancienne famille du Mississippi ? Missionné par G.W Wesbrook, le patriarche du clan, pour retrouver sa petite fille Leslie Anne qui vient de fuguer, Dante Moran a la sensation gênante de faire intrusion dans une affaire de famille complexe, douloureuse. Une histoire à laquelle il se sent complètement étranger, jusqu’au jour où il rencontre Tessa, la mère de Leslie Anne. Troublé d’abord par la beauté fragile de Tessa, Dante reçoit un choc lorsqu’elle plonge ses yeux dans les siens. Car ce regard réveille en lui l’éclat d’un autre regard, le souvenir d’une autre femme, perdue il y a longtemps…

Genres: Romantic Suspense, Romance, Suspense, Harlequin, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Contemporary Romance

386 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 25, 2004

About the author

Beverly Marie Inman was born on 23 December 1946 in Tuscumbia, Alabama, USA. Daughter of Doris Marie and Walter D. Inman Jr. A born romantic, she fell in love with The Beauty and the Beast epic at an early age, when her grandfather bought her an illustrated copy of the famous fairy tale. Even before she learned to read and write, her vivid imagination created magical words and fabulous characters inside her mind. Movies fascinated her, and by the time she was seven she was rewriting the movies she saw on television and at the local theater to give them all happy endings. By the age of nine she'd penned her first novel. She wrote short stories, TV scripts, poetry, and novels throughout high school and into college.

After her marriage to Billy Ray Beaver, the "love of her life", and the births of her two children, Beverly continued to be a voracious reader and a devoted moviegoer, but she put her writing aspirations on hold until her children were teenagers. At every age of their lives, from infancy to adulthood, the children had been a true joy to her. She devoted herself to her husband and children and considered herself one of the many selfless "supermoms" who put their family's needs first. She believed she had had it all, just not all at the same time.

In her mid-30s, Beverly returned to her former passion — writing — as a hobby, but before 40, she decided that she wanted to make writing a full-time career. And when she rediscovered an old dream — of becoming a published writer — no one was more supportive of her aspirations than her family. Her children were her greatest cheerleaders and her husband was her biggest supporter. After writing over 40 books and receiving numerous awards and nominations, as well as having books on the USA Today list and consistently on the Waldenbooks bestseller list, her career was indeed a dream come true. Having a fantastic family and fabulous friends, as well as making a living doing the one thing she had loved doing since childhood, she considered herself truly blessed. Beverly died suddenly of heart failure on 21 April 2011.

Reviews

[Karen ReadsALot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Totally predictable but engaging.

[Everalice · Rating 4 out of 5]

C'est toujours bon à lire, un romantic-suspense bien ficelé, classique, mais efficace !
Ici, la galerie des personnages, très nombreux, y est pour quelque chose, car le récit, vivant et sans temps mort, s'enrichit de toutes ces personnalités qui s'entrecroisent auprès de la famille Westbrook.
GW, le grand-père fou d'amour pour sa femme, est particulièrement émouvant, mais aussi Leslie Anne, l'adolescente à fleur de peau que l'on voit grandir au sein de la tourmente, et puis tous les autres qui sont très finement dessinés. Quant à Dante, il tient le haut de l'affiche, avec son cœur ravagé de chagrin, de doute et d'amour.
L'intrigue policière tient debout, et l'auteur nous emmène intelligemment, de petit pas en petit pas, sur le sentier de la vérité, un peu tirée par les cheveux, certes, mais tellement incroyable qu'elle passe finalement plutôt bien.
Quant à la romance, si à mon sens elle manque un peu de consistance au début, elle gagne en envergure au fil de l'avancée de l'enquête pour s'épanouir à la fin, et alors, on ressent un joli sentiment de victoire sur l'adversité !
On finit un demi-sourire sourire aux lèvres, avec le cœur un peu serré... Un peu, juste ce qu'il faut !
Bref, voilà un roman à recommander pour celles qui cherchent un bon RS !

[May Mostly Romance · Rating 3 out of 5]

หนังสืออีกเล่มที่แม็กซ์อ่านแล้วร้องไห้จนตาบวม เรื่องไม่ถึงกับเศร้าหรอกนะคะ แต่แค่คิดว่า ผู้ชายคนนึงยอมเปลี่ยนแปลงเส้นทางชีวิตของเขาทั้งชีวิตเพื่อความทรงจำของผู้หญิงคนหนึ่ง ก็ทำให้น้ำตาล้นออกมาแล้วค่ะ

สิบเจ็ดปีก่อน ดังเต้ มอร์แรนไปรับตัวแฟนสาวของเขาจากร้านอาหารที่เธอทำงานอยู่ช้าเกินไป เมื่อเขาไปถึงเอมี่หายตัวไป และเธอไม่เคยกลับมาอีกเลย ต่อมามีการพบศพของเธอเป็นเหยี่อฆาตกรโรคจิตที่ถูกจับได้

ดังเต้ละทิ้งความฝันของเขาแล้วกลายมาเป็นเจ้าหน้าที่เอฟบีไอ และต่อมาทำงานให้กับสำนักงานดันดีเพื่อตามหาความจริงที่เกิดขึ้นกับเอมี่ เขาใช้ชีวิตอย่างโดดเดี่ยว และในวันนึงเขาก็ได้รับมอบหมายงานที่ทำให้เขาต้องกลับมาถามตนเองอีกครั้งถึงความจริงที่เขาคิดว่าตัวเองเข้าใจ เขาถูกจ้างให้ตามหาเลสลี่ หลานสาวของอภิมหาเศรษฐีที่หนีออกจากบ้าน งานนี้ไม่ยากเย็นเลย ด้วยเวลาไม่นานเขาก็หาตัวเด็กสาวคนนั้นจนเจอ ปัญหาก็คือ เด็กผู้หญิงคนนั้นหน้าตาเหมือนกับเอมี่ แฟนสาวของเขายังกับรอยพิมพ์ออกมา นั่นเป็นปริศนาที่เขาต้องไขให้ออก และยังมีแม่ของเลสลี่อีก ที่แม้หน้าตาจะดูคล้ายคลึงกับเอมี่ เธอก็คือผู้หญิงอีกคนที่เข้ามาในชีวิตของเขา

เรื่องนี้ไม่ถึงกับเป็นปริศนาเดายากอะไรหรอกนะคะ แต่อารมณ์ที่อยูในเรื่องทำให้อ่านไปน้ำตามันก็ไหลออกมาเอง

[Helen Aasaleht · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ma ei tea, kas tegu oli lihtsalt halva tõlkega või see oligi äärmiselt halb raamat. See oli täis seksistlikke märkusi naiste kohta, kuidas nad on emotsionaalsed ja saamatud. Lugu ise oli nii uskumatu ning vewwl uskumatult kirja pandud. Mitte ükski tegelastest ei läinud hinge, nad ei olnud ebameeldivad, aga oli suhteliselt ükskõik mis neist saab.
Ma saan aru, et raamatu pealkiri oleks pidanud mulle vihjama, et tegemist on jamaga, aga suur armastus ja saladused võivad kokku anda ka hea loo. See kahjuks seda ei olnud. Kogu lugemine lihtsalt ei tekitanud ühtegi emotsiooni peale selle, et millal see ometi läbi saab.
Ma ei saa aru, miks sel raamatul nii palju kiitvaid arvustusi on.

[Lisa Hardcastle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had it figured out by page 80 ish but finished it anyway. I had hoped it was going to be more of a suspense/mystery than the romance that it was. It all wrapped itself up in a nice big bow but who doesn’t love a happy ending.

[Kelly A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I have not read any other books in this series, but that does not seem to matter. Lost of twists and turns and a great ending. This was a very quick read and very enjoyable.

[Sue Sparks · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Shannon Glen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the easy reading style of writing and loved all the main characters. She develops them well. There were a few problems but not enough to ruin the book for me.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Setting: small towne of Colby, Texas; Dundee Agency; Westbook Estate in Mississippi;

Theme: parental love; young love; mature love; serial killer & pain; truth & lies.

Characters:
Dante Moran – at 18 the bad boy around town – and fell in love with Amy Smith – a shy, sweet, foster daughter who wouldn’t let him kiss her for 6 months. He had a flat tire on night he was to pick her up after work and she wasn’t there, and never found, assumed to be one of Eddie Jay Nealy’s victims – but he never stopped looking. Retired FBI agent who takes a job with Dundee PI’s.

Amy Smith aka Tessa Westbrook – as teen, was reserved, studious, a good foster daughter – and fell in love with Dante – planning to marry when she graduated. But she was missing. And though we don’t find out until the end, G.W.’s daughter was a victim of Nealy – he went to id her body, lied and said it wasn’t his daughter, next day Amy found barely alive – and he id’ed her as his daughter, because his beloved wife was dying of cancer and he couldn’t bare her knowing the truth… He protected Amy/Tessa – and along with other surgeries to repair her body from the torture he had her face surgically altered to better match his daughter. And Amy now Tessa has no memories of her life before she awoke in the hospital. When she was found to be pregnant, assumed it was Nealy’s child, they were going to abort, but his wife heard, and they lied saying it was Charles’ baby… and Tessa loved her daughter from the moment she held her in her arms…

G.W. Westbrook – powerful, rich man; because he couldn’t bear his dying wife knowing the truth, he manipulated and paid off police and doctors to make his lie the truth… and his lie became the truth in his own mind too as he came to love Amy/Tessa as his daughter and his granddaughter.

Sharon Westbrook – suspect; G.W.’s wild never left the 60’s sister; knows most of the truth about Tessa;

Leslie Anne Westbrook- Amy’s daughter; at 17 someone sent her news clippings of her father and his horrific life and death and telling her she is his daughter; she runs off, wanting to think (and almost gets herself raped); Dundee hired to locate her, and Dante takes the case – especially after seeing the identical resemblance of Leslie to his Amy. And Leslie grabs onto him as her protector, as the adult she can trust and who can keep her safe, and a good prospect for her mother.

Lucie Evans – Dundee agent – sent with Dante to find the girl; she has a good eye for seeing the truth of people – even her partner Dante.

Myrle & Cecila – suspects; Tessa’s mother’s sister and Tessa’s cousin; financially supported by G.W. Cecilia is engaged to Charles.

Charles Sentell – G.W.’s godson; G.W. wanted Tessa to marry him – especially after the ‘accident’, but Tessa never felt passion with him and refused, though she counts him as a close friend. Executor of G.W.’s will.

Olivia Sizemore and Tad – suspects; G.W.’s girlfriend and her son; do they want Tessa and Amy out of the way – they don’t like them, and G.W. claims that is why he can’t marry her.

Summary:
Dante on the case of finding Leslie – and does so… but he can tell there is more to the mystery – both on the front that Leslie is still vulnerable, and because he can’t reconcile some inconsistencies and because there is more to why Leslie looks like Amy and why he feels so strongly for Tessa.

And Tessa and he partner up to find the truth – traveling together to talk to the sheriff et al… and he finds the grave of the girl G.W. buried and is sure that it is Amy- and he mourns her death finally – in Tessa’s arms… and they make love… and he finds the birthmark that was the same as Amy’s… and there the one who mailed Leslie the news has now called family and friends to tell them the truth (voice disguised) so they rush back… and Dante confronts G.W. and gets the whole truth…

And it ends up to be Charles who is doing this – with Leslie dead and Tessa incapacitated by grief, he would have control of G.W.’s money (as he well deserves in his own mind) – and he needs to do it before G.W. changes his will to name Tessa executor. He has knocked Leslie out, carrying her to the cliffs to throw her off (suicide)… but after Dante’s talk with G.W. and when they all realize Leslie is missing, Dante stops Charles and rescues Leslie again.

And 3 months later, Dante has his roundabout 2nd chance with Amy – though Tessa is not Amy mentally, he loves her more deeply… and she is pregnant… and Leslie is in fact his biological daughter – not the criminals. ahhhh

[Marsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a romance with a twist and an old mystery that lies at its heart. While I could see the ending coming a mile off, it was interesting to read the various characters that roam about in this melodrama. The rich really are different people and for once its not the romantic lead who holds the purse strings. That lends a different flavor to this story of a missing kidnap victim, a runaway daughter, a gilded family with a tarnished past and the haunted man who’s been holding out hope of finding his lost fiancée.

The only sour note for me was the teenaged girl, Leslie Anne Westbrook. Given the shabby way she handled the shocking news of her birth, you could understand why her mother and grandfather didn’t want to tell her. She got off easy compared to her mother but her cross behavior, nasty tantrums and locking her doors make her seem as if she were the only victim. What a brat! When people kept falling over her to let her have her own way, I just wished someone would smack her.

But all’s well that ends well. The author does her darnedest to make everything turn out splendidly for her leads. She even neatly sidesteps the likely trauma that Tessa and Leslie Anne should have suffered from their respective assailants. Henry James once stated that Americans like tragic stories with happy endings and this romance/murder/mystery definitely fits the bill.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the plot seemed a little far-fetched, this was a pretty suspenseful read. The romance was a bit on the edges of all the action and discovery going on, but I enjoyed it. It was a story of an investigator who lost his fiancé at age 19 to a serial killer and now finds himself hunting down a teen runaway who is a spitting image of his former love. Could it be that the rape/accident victim mother of said runaway could be his one true love, who he'd presumed dead 17 years ago? What kind of giant cover-up could explain such a thing?

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved this book. this book is awesome. its kindda confusing till the end. keeps u gussing who the killer is and what the secert is. it has romance and fitting. i recerermend this book for young adults not kids. thisbook is great for people who love romance,mistery, and action. its has sex in it. if u think sex is gross dont read it cuz theres some clues in the sex parts.

[Patricia Solla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now this was a very interesting story. It involves a serial killer and his victims. It also involves one of the victims who survived as well as one who was killed. But which one is which? The story begins with a young girl who runs away from home. Because she has not been kidnapped a private detective agency is hired. The action is fast and the story that unravels is completely intriguing.

[Cassondra Windwalker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beverly Barton is the top of her field. One day, I will read the last of her books, and I will cry like the day I read the last Nancy Drew book as a little girl. If you enjoy wicked suspense, fascinating characters, and masterful romance, then you have to check out Beverly Barton.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

No surprises here- knew what was going to happen from the first. But still it was a great one day read!

[Mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

this is like a Harlequin novel with a murder. not keen on it.

[Bev Peyton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always enjoy a Beverly Barton Mystery this was a good one

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, but VERY predictable

[Naomi Wheatley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this book as much as I have previous stories by this author. This one seemed a bit too predictable.

[Bryanna Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Very Predictable but I still liked it.

[Judy Feenstra]

Great book! Started to figure out alot 3/4 thru the book; but just the same it was a good read.

[Rosalind · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. Plotline a bit far-fetched but I still enjoyed it.