She's My Mom: Count on a Cop

by Rebecca Winters

She can't remember her husband— or her son

"You're my mom!" That's what thirteen-year-old Brett Corbitt blurts out when he sees the woman who calls herself Martha Walters. His mother, Susan Corbitt, is presumed dead, although her body was never found, and Brett's convinced that Martha and Susan are the same person. His father, Detective Grady Corbitt of the Las Vegas Police, is skeptical—until he meets Martha face-to-face. Then he, too, believes it.

Grady knows that someone tried to murder Susan. She survived, but her memory didn't—so she can't provide any clues about the identity of her would-be murderer. Grady's certain that she's in danger; he persuades her to come home with him and Brett, where she'll remain hidden until the killer is caught.

Susan soon finds herself falling in love with the handsome detective for the second time—even if she can't remember the first!

Genres: Romance, Suspense

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 2002

About the author

aka Rebecca Brown Burton, Rebecca Burton

Rebecca Winters, born Rebecca Brown Burton, was the author of over 175 romance novels published with Harlequin, delighting readers worldwide for more than 35 years. Her stories, translated into many languages, have sold nearly thirty million copies. A French teacher turned novelist, she combined her love of language, family, and storytelling into a remarkable literary legacy.

Reviews

[Preeti ♥︎ Her Bookshelves · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot and its ingredients are fresh, absorbing and dramatic.
But the book stops from being really fast paced or gripping. The execution lacks somewhat and a dramatic thriller is, curiously not. It's almost as if expecting to watch a movie, I get to see a documentary.
Still an easy 3.65*

*Major spoilers* A woman, supposedly the h, dies in an explosion of two cars, seen as an attempted murder-suicide by a desperate man (serious crime involvement also suspected) - all caused by the h's CPA job that endangered her life while her cop husband remained unaware of the dangerous stuff she'd unearthed as part of her job. I know confidentiality etc. but he's a cop and she never confides her fears to him?

On the personal front, the husband and son are grieving the dead h, unable to cope or move on even as they have friends and family helping them in this difficult time.
Then, dramatically the son sees a woman who he knows is his own mother but who acts like a stranger. The traumatized and amnesiac h is brought home and the three of them try to put their life back together.
While they try piece together the mystery of who the villain/s could be, they also struggle to find their old footing back. The mother-son find back their equation quickly enough but the wife struggles with awkwardness around her husband and subconsciously knows that there are other issues that are blocking her memories of him from emerging out.

I like that she doesn't let her amnesia stop her from loving him - but as the 'new' her. In fact, she resents the 'old her' and wishes that he'd accept that this new assertive side of her as easily. But the H is also struggling with his hurt feelings on her selective amnesia where he's concerned, and wants the girl he'd fallen for and his wife of 17 years back. In short, he wants everything as it used to be. I like this presumption and struggle between the mcs but the length and slow-burn stopped it from being truly engaging story.
The suspense is also handled in a strangely simplistic way - for the melodramatic premise and background we are given. And it's difficult to accept this kind of ott mystery angle with a routine small-marriage-troubles theme.
The ending is sweet enough though!

Have to mention the son who's a sweet, smart and remarkable boy. His hurt at his mother not recognizing him or not hugging him is poignant and painful to read.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 Stars ~ Six months ago Susan Corbitt was presumed dead and her husband, Grady and son, Brett, were devastated. Though Susan's body had never been recovered, there was no reason to doubt she hadn't perished in the horrific explosion. When 13 year old Brett passes by a maid in a hotel stairwell, he recognizes her as his mother. Susan was left to die in the Nevada desert and a native couple took her in. She'd suffered a terrible concussion from a blow to the head, and had no memory. Her identity remained a mystery as no missing person report matched her description and so Susan was forced to begin her life again. Grady's a detective with the LVPD and he's familiar with head trauma. He realizes that Susan may never remember her past, but in the meantime he's not letting her out of his sight until her killer is behind bars. As the three start to piece together Susan's past she begins to remember small tidbits, but all seem to be of her son, not a murmur of her husband. This is heartbreaking for Grady, because the woman in his house looks, sounds and has mannerisms just like his wife, but she's a stranger too.

This is one of those love stories that captures your imagination and you just have to keep reading to find out what will happen next. All the characters have been so wonderfully written that they seem to come alive. Brett is a bright young teen who has had to grow up a lot during the time he thought his mother was dead. He sees how bad his dad feels when every memory restored does not include him. Susan is remarkably brave and fights hard to regain her family. Grady struggles, for the woman he'd always felt was the love of his life seems to be just out of his reach. Ms. Winters kept me on an emotional rollercoaster. I'm sure I'll want to read this one again and again.

[Saly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 3.5 stars
Heroine who has been presumed dead for 6 months is found by her teenage son. Her lack of memories especially about her husband causes immense pain, we see the growing pains and adjustment problems.. A good book.

[Vikas Rawat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok read........... would have been better she never remembered him........ and they somehow worked on their marriage like the movie VOW.........

[Coral · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plot:3/5
Characterisation:5/5
Prose: 4/5
How much I enjoyed it: 4/5

[David Ferguson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story. I don't normally read romance, but as a writer of fiction, with my second novel, BEAR RUNNERS having a significant element of romance in the story, I felt it necessary to keep abreast of this segment of the trade.
Winters weaves a good tale of a woman believed to be dead but accidentally discovered by her son, living with amnesia.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bit of mystery, lots of sweetness, some romance and a dash of spiritual faith. Interesting characters and like the title says its all about the teen son of h and H who stars in this book.

[Rainbow Unicorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

An awesome amnesia based mystery, romance story. What struck me most was that even if the mind forgets, the heart remembers.

[Barbara ★ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really sweet story of a mom who is presumed dead and six months later spotted by her 13 year old son working as a maid at a local hotel. Heartbreaking at times as the mom has amnesia from the accident and doesn't remember anything about her husband, child or her entire life. Her husband, Grady, has the toughest time with the situation.

The writing is great and the mystery of who tried to kill her and why is well developed. All likable characters except the bad guy who everyone disliked all along but didn't realize why.