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Capitol Chronicles #1
Under the Sheets
Robyn and Grant Richards' happily ever after was short lived. He is captured and held prisoner in Lebanon and her government-coerced testimony against a crime network whisked her into Witness Protection as Brooke Johnson. Five years later a critical accident involving Brooke's daughter forces her hand. She reveals Grant's location to the doctors. Never believing he'd deliver Kari's rare blood type in person, her powers of acting indifferent are sorely tested when she comes face-to-face with the only man she's ever loved. Grant could swear his dead wife stood in the hospital waiting room - until she turned around and only her hair reminded him of Robyn. Yet there was something about her and her precious daughter that had him flying in to see them more often than necessary. Despite Brooke telling him she didn't want a relationship, he refused to take no for an answer. Being with Grant endangered them all. The crime network may have gone underground, but they would never stop looking for Robyn or anyone she loved.
293 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 1994
312 people are currently reading
508 people want to read
About the author
Shirley Hailstock
97 books132 followersShirley Hailstock loves reading. She'd like nothing better than to find a corner in the library and get lost in a book, explore new worlds and visit places she never expected to see. Now as an author, she can not only visit those places, but she can be the heroine of her own stories.
A past president of Romance Writers of America, Shirley began her writing career on a dare. Taking a year to complete her first manuscript, the writing bug bit her and she discovered telling stories of love and adventure was what she wanted to spend her life doing.
A past president of Romance Writers of America, Shirley began her writing career on a dare. Taking a year to complete her first manuscript, the writing bug bit her and she discovered telling stories of love and adventure was what she wanted to spend her life doing.
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October 7, 2015DNF'f at 15%. Totally implausible and farcical in places. A man does not recognise the woman he married five years ago?? Even though he thought she was dead??? That is simply beyond comprehension unless she had had extensive plastic surgery.
And then the said 'wife' - the mother of a child who has been at death's door - leaves her child in hospital and goes home. No way. Come on, do you really expect me to believe that? Yes, the child was asleep, but there is no way on God's earth I would leave any child of mine in a hospital until I had seen her awake and known she was alright. (or perhaps its an American thing - All I know is that here in the UK, in the hospitals I have experienced, parents are encouraged to stay with their children and pull-out beds or recliner chairs provided for them as well)
And... maybe this is just me, but the name 'Kari' read as 'Karl' - most off-putting.
Not rating because I simply gave up in exasperation, but it would have been a 1*
And then the said 'wife' - the mother of a child who has been at death's door - leaves her child in hospital and goes home. No way. Come on, do you really expect me to believe that? Yes, the child was asleep, but there is no way on God's earth I would leave any child of mine in a hospital until I had seen her awake and known she was alright. (or perhaps its an American thing - All I know is that here in the UK, in the hospitals I have experienced, parents are encouraged to stay with their children and pull-out beds or recliner chairs provided for them as well)
And... maybe this is just me, but the name 'Kari' read as 'Karl' - most off-putting.
Not rating because I simply gave up in exasperation, but it would have been a 1*
June 4, 2016
sometimes I like a good romance with a bit of suspense but this was so implausible from beginning to end that it just kept annoying me. the suspense was really the only thing about it that made me pull through at all (with plenty skipping over whole passages towards the end). not a complete waste of time but I wouldn't recommend it.
November 14, 2015
Interesting, convoluted mystery. Sometimes a little too confusing? Maybe that's why I sometimes had trouble sticking with it.
September 17, 2014
Under the Sheets, by Shirley Hailstock, is the first in a series called “Capitol Chronicles”. Don’t worry, though – this is a series, NOT a serial, so this book DOES have an ending! There is a great job done with this romantic suspense story – especially with its twist that the husband doesn’t realize the wife is actually alive while she tries not to give herself away, even with her surgically altered appearance.
I’d give this 4.5 stars if I could simply because it was overall a great story, but I have a few things that really bothered me as I read it, and also after I finished.
The 4 year old daughter is put between the two adults, while the Mom is driving (it said she was holding her hand) – which means front seat. Since the story is plotted in the US, the whole “no car seat” thing for a toddler was a total MISS for the author.
I just did NOT “get” the whole thing about the husband and the microchip in his pilot uniform. I’m still unclear if he is simply a pilot, or if he’s working for an alphabet agency, or how he would have been involved. I’m hoping that a re-read will help clear that up for me…?
I wish there had been more of a why/how reveal from the bad guy – and I won’t get any further into that simply because I don’t want to offer up any spoilers. But trust me – I have LOTS of questions!
One thing I thought was really weird was that if Marianne was in place to “protect” Brooke & Kari, who protected them during Marianne’s once-a-month weekend jaunts to report to Jacob? (Yeah, sorry – I was having trouble getting to sleep last night so I had weird crap running through my head. Now you get it.)
Now for the good stuff !
This is a really good, involved suspense novel. What puts it over the top is the emotional component to the book – what happens when you run into your wife that you’ve been grieving for, for over five years – but don’t know it’s her because she’s been surgically altered to help her hide? Do you recognize your soul mate… and what happens after that?? While the basic conflict is similar to that found in Lora Leigh’s “Wild Card” (Nathan & Sabella Malone), this throws in the addition of a child and that child’s instinctive draw to her father. It is emotionally wrenching – fear that the truth will come out warring with the hope that the truth will come out. It’s hard to read, especially when it seems that there won’t be a chance for a “happily ever after” and the bad guy(s?) aren’t easily picked out with Shirley Hailstock effectively presenting a variety of possible suspects.
I look forward to seeing how she expands this series; after looking at her website it appears there are currently five books in this “Capitol Chronicles” series (although some are also subtitled “Lies & Liars” – but then again, it’s about capitol shenanigans, so lies & liars is apropos!).
I’d give this 4.5 stars if I could simply because it was overall a great story, but I have a few things that really bothered me as I read it, and also after I finished.
The 4 year old daughter is put between the two adults, while the Mom is driving (it said she was holding her hand) – which means front seat. Since the story is plotted in the US, the whole “no car seat” thing for a toddler was a total MISS for the author.
I just did NOT “get” the whole thing about the husband and the microchip in his pilot uniform. I’m still unclear if he is simply a pilot, or if he’s working for an alphabet agency, or how he would have been involved. I’m hoping that a re-read will help clear that up for me…?
I wish there had been more of a why/how reveal from the bad guy – and I won’t get any further into that simply because I don’t want to offer up any spoilers. But trust me – I have LOTS of questions!
One thing I thought was really weird was that if Marianne was in place to “protect” Brooke & Kari, who protected them during Marianne’s once-a-month weekend jaunts to report to Jacob? (Yeah, sorry – I was having trouble getting to sleep last night so I had weird crap running through my head. Now you get it.)
Now for the good stuff !
This is a really good, involved suspense novel. What puts it over the top is the emotional component to the book – what happens when you run into your wife that you’ve been grieving for, for over five years – but don’t know it’s her because she’s been surgically altered to help her hide? Do you recognize your soul mate… and what happens after that?? While the basic conflict is similar to that found in Lora Leigh’s “Wild Card” (Nathan & Sabella Malone), this throws in the addition of a child and that child’s instinctive draw to her father. It is emotionally wrenching – fear that the truth will come out warring with the hope that the truth will come out. It’s hard to read, especially when it seems that there won’t be a chance for a “happily ever after” and the bad guy(s?) aren’t easily picked out with Shirley Hailstock effectively presenting a variety of possible suspects.
I look forward to seeing how she expands this series; after looking at her website it appears there are currently five books in this “Capitol Chronicles” series (although some are also subtitled “Lies & Liars” – but then again, it’s about capitol shenanigans, so lies & liars is apropos!).
September 20, 2014
Loved the book from the start!
This book had me from the very beginning. It started out as such a fairy tell romance and then the twists and turns started. Robyn and Grant’s lives were perfect until FBI agent Robyn brings down a crime ring and has to go into the witness protection program and restart her life. She chooses to do this without her husband, Grant, and before she found out she’s pregnant. But she did restart her life with her daughter and everything was going along till her daughter was in an accident. She has a rare blood type and with all the blood records saying none was available, she has to send for her husband, who thinks she’s dead, to donate blood for her daughter. Then the story really begins with the twist and turns of someone still out to kill Robyn and Grant wondering why he fell in love with Brook, the new identify of Robyn was given, and why she reminds him of his wife of 5 years ago.
This is the first I’ve read of author, Shirley Hailstock but certainly not the last. She created all the characters with real life and emotions. The entire book was well written, easy to read and most importantly so good I couldn’t put it down!
This book had me from the very beginning. It started out as such a fairy tell romance and then the twists and turns started. Robyn and Grant’s lives were perfect until FBI agent Robyn brings down a crime ring and has to go into the witness protection program and restart her life. She chooses to do this without her husband, Grant, and before she found out she’s pregnant. But she did restart her life with her daughter and everything was going along till her daughter was in an accident. She has a rare blood type and with all the blood records saying none was available, she has to send for her husband, who thinks she’s dead, to donate blood for her daughter. Then the story really begins with the twist and turns of someone still out to kill Robyn and Grant wondering why he fell in love with Brook, the new identify of Robyn was given, and why she reminds him of his wife of 5 years ago.
This is the first I’ve read of author, Shirley Hailstock but certainly not the last. She created all the characters with real life and emotions. The entire book was well written, easy to read and most importantly so good I couldn’t put it down!
May 11, 2015
I loved this book from first page to last! When Robyn meets Grant in Las Vegas, it's love at first sight and marriage almost immediately after. But five years later, Robyn is dead and Grant is called to donate blood to an injured four-year-old girl with a rare blood type that they share. He's immediately drawn to the child's mother, Brooke, who despite differences in looks and voice, reminds him of his late wife. Filled with passion and intrigue, this is a top notch romance!
October 6, 2015
Under the Sheets
I really enjoyed this story. It is full of drama and suspense from start to finish. Witness protection definitely took a new meaning with this book. I think this story has one of the best happily ever after endings.
I really enjoyed this story. It is full of drama and suspense from start to finish. Witness protection definitely took a new meaning with this book. I think this story has one of the best happily ever after endings.
May 16, 2018
Great read!
True love wins out in this story of intrigue and sacrifice. I purchased this some time ago and finally decided to check it out. Brooke goes into witness protection for the safety of herself and her newborn daughter. Five years later, she needs her former husband, Grant to donate blood to save the daughter he does not know about. When he first sees Brooke, she reminds him of his wife, Robyn and he falls in love with her almost as easily as he did with Robyn. As she tries to push Grant away, she still loves him. When it becomes clear that the threat has become real again, her handlers and Grant work together to solve who wants to harm her and we get a really lovely happy ending. I didn't want to put it down.
True love wins out in this story of intrigue and sacrifice. I purchased this some time ago and finally decided to check it out. Brooke goes into witness protection for the safety of herself and her newborn daughter. Five years later, she needs her former husband, Grant to donate blood to save the daughter he does not know about. When he first sees Brooke, she reminds him of his wife, Robyn and he falls in love with her almost as easily as he did with Robyn. As she tries to push Grant away, she still loves him. When it becomes clear that the threat has become real again, her handlers and Grant work together to solve who wants to harm her and we get a really lovely happy ending. I didn't want to put it down.
October 25, 2018
Grant and Robyn’s story was so visceral for me, especially when it involves a child. The fact that Grant did had no idea about her, yet came personally to donate blood attest to the fact that blood is thicker than water. The person who wanted to hurt their daughter was very surprising. I kind of had an inkling, but it was still a shock.
April 17, 2019
Under the Sheets
The storyline was okay. I thought it could have been more exciting. In many places, the writer made comments that were unexplained until later in the book. The story lagged in a few places and jumped ahead in others. All in all, a good story that could have been great.
The storyline was okay. I thought it could have been more exciting. In many places, the writer made comments that were unexplained until later in the book. The story lagged in a few places and jumped ahead in others. All in all, a good story that could have been great.
April 13, 2021
A good suspense
Multiple government agencies and secrets...with a lovely romance. The secrets are prevalent in this book and the romance is sweet. The villain is predictable and given away by one scene, but it didn’t lessen the story or actions. Good writing and great characters. I also enjoyed that there was multiple relationships and friendships at play.
Multiple government agencies and secrets...with a lovely romance. The secrets are prevalent in this book and the romance is sweet. The villain is predictable and given away by one scene, but it didn’t lessen the story or actions. Good writing and great characters. I also enjoyed that there was multiple relationships and friendships at play.
June 7, 2021
Rhapsodic
This is a very harrowing book. There are intense scenes that will make you swoon. Ones that will make you smile. And, ones that will terrify you. One of the things I enjoyed while reading was the author's descriptive language. Her language is rhapsodic and evocative. You get lost in the power of her words.
This is a very harrowing book. There are intense scenes that will make you swoon. Ones that will make you smile. And, ones that will terrify you. One of the things I enjoyed while reading was the author's descriptive language. Her language is rhapsodic and evocative. You get lost in the power of her words.
June 12, 2021
The story line was so confusing at times I couldn't even keep up with it. It was too convoluted to even make sense. Plus being way too drawn out.....even to the very last chapter. On top of all that there were so many mistakes it got to be very irritating. A proof reader was certainly be needed. This was the first book I've read by Shirley Hailstock and I won't be reading another.
June 14, 2020
I got a bit tired of the main character’s rejection after rejection and I did figure out the bad guy pretty early on. However, I still liked the main characters and wanted to get to the end. I downloaded book 2, so it did intrigue me enough to go forward.
October 14, 2018
A nice contemporary romance.
This was a different type of book for me to read. I normally don't read contemporary books. I enjoyed this.
This was a different type of book for me to read. I normally don't read contemporary books. I enjoyed this.
October 17, 2018
Interminable. 47% couldn't take any more 'I know I shouldn't but I'm going to because I'm so helpless to my feelings' was hoping the terrorists would attack soon
October 17, 2018
I really loved this book. A second Chance Romance, secret baby and lots of intrigue and suspense.
November 17, 2018
Loved the creative plot but didn't like the inconsistencies. She may have taken a little too much on.
March 1, 2019
Alright
I have confirmed I am not a fan of romance novels. There was enough mystery and intrigue to mostly keep my interest.
I have confirmed I am not a fan of romance novels. There was enough mystery and intrigue to mostly keep my interest.
July 8, 2019
Different
When I started reading this book I was looking for a good love story. This is like no other book I have read before. Good but different.
When I started reading this book I was looking for a good love story. This is like no other book I have read before. Good but different.
September 5, 2019
Intelligence agencies
A not-very-interesting story about a woman in witness-protection. The bad guy was obvious almost from the beginning, which kinda spoiled it.
A not-very-interesting story about a woman in witness-protection. The bad guy was obvious almost from the beginning, which kinda spoiled it.
September 11, 2019
Great book. A lot of twists and turns. Just not your usual .
July 31, 2020
The witness protection program is full of holes. The idea of running into a past love and not being recognized then falling in love all over again is intriguing.
February 24, 2021
Great
Good plot - keeps you involved. Author write an interesting story and I will definitely keep her on my to-read list.
Good plot - keeps you involved. Author write an interesting story and I will definitely keep her on my to-read list.
September 20, 2014
It's an intriguing premise. After all, what couple who meet in Vegas and marry after knowing each other less than 12 hours have a chane at wedded bliss. Apparently though Our Hero and Heroine beat those odds and love each other dearly. But do to various complications of serving the country, they are separated and Our Heroine ends up in Witness Protection without Our Hero. Could have been a great read. But it isn't.
It's at this point the story becomes implausible for me. She loves him so much that she decides without ever talking to him about it that she will let him think she died rather than ask him to give up flying. Because he just loves to fly that much. Oh and by the way, she is pregnant. Oh and by the way, he also happens to be doing soe sort of spy work for the US government even though he is a civilian. How implausible is that?
The other thing that is implausible is that they meet and although her face has been surgically altered, there are so many drop dead giveaways that she is the same woman, Our Hero has to be braindead not to figure it out sooner.
There is also a subplot with Jacob and Marianne and Jacob and Cynthia, only Cynthia is dead but that is not made clear until about two thirds through the story. Actually I thought Cynthia was Jacob's wife and he was cheating on her with Marianne while being in love with Our Heroine. It just didn't make any sense.
Another thing that was just dreadful about this story was the editing. Letters were missing from words. "is" instead of 'his," for example. Or the wrong word appeared in a sentence. "Bushed" instead of "pushed." There were several such errors and every single one of them jolted me out of the story. It's as if someone relied solely on a spellchecker instead of employing an actual human to read and look for errors.
But the real kicker is that the author offer this book for 99 cents as a bribe. Yep. A bribe. To avoid the appearance of conflict of interest, I am positing review well after the deadline. But here is an exact quote of the bribe, asking for purchases and good reviews:
"n order for my books to become an official “Bestseller” on the Amazon Kindle platform...I need to have real customers with real sales and real reviews posted on the Amazon website. What's surprising is that it doesn't take a million orders to become a best seller. By my estimation, if just 50 people buy my Kindle book (at just .99 cents this week), it will probably top the list of action adventure books. Will you help me?
I'm putting Under the Sheets, a romantic suspense, on sale for only $.99. Do you already have a Kindle Fire? Not to worry. The holidays are coming. Use yours as a Christmas, Hankukah, or Kwanzaa present, or keep the new one and re-gift your older model. For only $.99, you get the opportunity to win a new e-reader valued at $229.00.
What's a better way to motivate you to help me than create an "ethical bribe" so you and a few other readers will buy my Kindle e-book for just $.99, then write a nice review? (Really, it's less than a dollar.) And, if you like it, please rate it 5 stars!
I don't know if only two people will do this favor for me or 100 people, but the odds of you winning the Kindle Fire HDX are better than winning the lottery. Probably about 1 out of 30...that's great odds.
This Friday, I'm going to take all the testimonials directly from the Amazon Under the Sheets book page. I'm going to put them in a jar and randomly pull out the winner of the new Kindle Fire HDX.
Then I'm going to have the brand new Kindle Fire HDX shipped to your home, no matter what country you live in...just for buying a $1 book and writing a nice review. You could get a $229.00 return on your investment. How can you pass this offer up? You can't.
Oh, remember if you don't win, you still get to download and read a really great book that you probably want to own anyway. And, after this promotion, the price goes back to retail ($4.99).
I understand I’m being greedy by asking you to send an entire dollar. You could just write a review on Amazon, even if you don't own the book. But there's logic behind my request...
Book buyers are given more credibility than non-buyers. If you write a review on a book that you don't own, Amazon doesn't think it's very credible. But if you actually buy it with you Amazon account, they think it's highly credible and place your review higher on the page. This helps new people discover and believe Under the Sheets is a great read.
So if you are willing to help get the newly revised Kindle version of Under the Sheets to bestsellerdom...click on the book cover to go to Amazon.com.
Please buy it and post your review before midnight Thursday, September 18, 2014, so I can enter you into the drawing."
It's at this point the story becomes implausible for me. She loves him so much that she decides without ever talking to him about it that she will let him think she died rather than ask him to give up flying. Because he just loves to fly that much. Oh and by the way, she is pregnant. Oh and by the way, he also happens to be doing soe sort of spy work for the US government even though he is a civilian. How implausible is that?
The other thing that is implausible is that they meet and although her face has been surgically altered, there are so many drop dead giveaways that she is the same woman, Our Hero has to be braindead not to figure it out sooner.
There is also a subplot with Jacob and Marianne and Jacob and Cynthia, only Cynthia is dead but that is not made clear until about two thirds through the story. Actually I thought Cynthia was Jacob's wife and he was cheating on her with Marianne while being in love with Our Heroine. It just didn't make any sense.
Another thing that was just dreadful about this story was the editing. Letters were missing from words. "is" instead of 'his," for example. Or the wrong word appeared in a sentence. "Bushed" instead of "pushed." There were several such errors and every single one of them jolted me out of the story. It's as if someone relied solely on a spellchecker instead of employing an actual human to read and look for errors.
But the real kicker is that the author offer this book for 99 cents as a bribe. Yep. A bribe. To avoid the appearance of conflict of interest, I am positing review well after the deadline. But here is an exact quote of the bribe, asking for purchases and good reviews:
"n order for my books to become an official “Bestseller” on the Amazon Kindle platform...I need to have real customers with real sales and real reviews posted on the Amazon website. What's surprising is that it doesn't take a million orders to become a best seller. By my estimation, if just 50 people buy my Kindle book (at just .99 cents this week), it will probably top the list of action adventure books. Will you help me?
I'm putting Under the Sheets, a romantic suspense, on sale for only $.99. Do you already have a Kindle Fire? Not to worry. The holidays are coming. Use yours as a Christmas, Hankukah, or Kwanzaa present, or keep the new one and re-gift your older model. For only $.99, you get the opportunity to win a new e-reader valued at $229.00.
What's a better way to motivate you to help me than create an "ethical bribe" so you and a few other readers will buy my Kindle e-book for just $.99, then write a nice review? (Really, it's less than a dollar.) And, if you like it, please rate it 5 stars!
I don't know if only two people will do this favor for me or 100 people, but the odds of you winning the Kindle Fire HDX are better than winning the lottery. Probably about 1 out of 30...that's great odds.
This Friday, I'm going to take all the testimonials directly from the Amazon Under the Sheets book page. I'm going to put them in a jar and randomly pull out the winner of the new Kindle Fire HDX.
Then I'm going to have the brand new Kindle Fire HDX shipped to your home, no matter what country you live in...just for buying a $1 book and writing a nice review. You could get a $229.00 return on your investment. How can you pass this offer up? You can't.
Oh, remember if you don't win, you still get to download and read a really great book that you probably want to own anyway. And, after this promotion, the price goes back to retail ($4.99).
I understand I’m being greedy by asking you to send an entire dollar. You could just write a review on Amazon, even if you don't own the book. But there's logic behind my request...
Book buyers are given more credibility than non-buyers. If you write a review on a book that you don't own, Amazon doesn't think it's very credible. But if you actually buy it with you Amazon account, they think it's highly credible and place your review higher on the page. This helps new people discover and believe Under the Sheets is a great read.
So if you are willing to help get the newly revised Kindle version of Under the Sheets to bestsellerdom...click on the book cover to go to Amazon.com.
Please buy it and post your review before midnight Thursday, September 18, 2014, so I can enter you into the drawing."
August 19, 2013
Under the Sheets is a story about sacrifices. Robyn gave up her life with Grant when she decided to entered into the Witness Protection Program after testifying against a Crime Network. After five years later, she needed Grant to save their daughter's life, a daughter that Grant didn't know about.
When Robyn meets Grant again, she has a new identity of a Brooke Johnson. Someone is still hunting Robyn for destroying their crime organization. Someone is trying to confirm that Robyn and Brooke is the same person.
Robyn tried to push Grant away but their physical attraction to each other couldn't not be denied. Grant would show up time after time after Robyn tried to tell him that they cannot see each other.
Grant is still in love with his dead wife Robyn. There are so much similarities between Brooke and Robyn, that he didn't think it was fair to Brooke but Brooke was the only one that made him feel alive. He also know that Brooke is also hiding a deep secret.
I love the growing attraction between Robyn/Brooke and Grant. After five years, they are still in love with each other. Robyn knows that she couldn't continue her relationship with Grant without endangering them all. Robyn sacrificed their happiness without asking Grant. I don't blame her since she was coerced by the government that Grant will have to give up his dream of flying if he entered into the Witness Protection Program with her.
Robyn and Grant have to rediscover their love for each other and to find if they can still find the happiness that they once have.
I was given a copy of this ebook by the author for review. I received no compensation or was influenced in any way to write an honest review.
When Robyn meets Grant again, she has a new identity of a Brooke Johnson. Someone is still hunting Robyn for destroying their crime organization. Someone is trying to confirm that Robyn and Brooke is the same person.
Robyn tried to push Grant away but their physical attraction to each other couldn't not be denied. Grant would show up time after time after Robyn tried to tell him that they cannot see each other.
Grant is still in love with his dead wife Robyn. There are so much similarities between Brooke and Robyn, that he didn't think it was fair to Brooke but Brooke was the only one that made him feel alive. He also know that Brooke is also hiding a deep secret.
I love the growing attraction between Robyn/Brooke and Grant. After five years, they are still in love with each other. Robyn knows that she couldn't continue her relationship with Grant without endangering them all. Robyn sacrificed their happiness without asking Grant. I don't blame her since she was coerced by the government that Grant will have to give up his dream of flying if he entered into the Witness Protection Program with her.
Robyn and Grant have to rediscover their love for each other and to find if they can still find the happiness that they once have.
I was given a copy of this ebook by the author for review. I received no compensation or was influenced in any way to write an honest review.
September 18, 2014
Okay, I'm going to start this off with what is going to sound like a critical comment, it's really not; the title UNDER THE SHEETS gives the wrong impression for the type of story you are going to find between the covers of this book. Yes, there are steamy scenes of love and desire, but there is so much more. There is forever love, heartbreak, intrigue, and betrayal. You will find monumental sacrifice and a will to push through pain to do the right thing at great personal loss. You will need to be prepared to have your emotions taken on roller coaster ride of extreme highs and drop bottom lows.
Ms. Hailstock has written a love story that is not your normal girl meets boy and after time, and a few trials, love conquers all. This tale is one that was uncomfortable for me because of the torments the protagonists are put through. Ms. Hailstock certainly makes Robyn and Grant work for their change at happy-ever-after. The intrigue evolving a mysterious group called the Crime Network is deliciously twisted to the point you aren't sure who to trust throughout the book. A well written story line grabs your attention and keeps you turning pages. If you like details in a story, there are plenty throughout the book to sink your teeth into. I have to admit that while I love details to fill out and make a story come to life for me there were a few instances where I could have done with a little less description of a room's decor or a few instances of in depth analysis. That said, those minor issues did nothing to take away from the over all enjoyment as I read.
This is a story you should give a read if you love your romances mixed with complicated, well though out intrigue. Very entertaining!
Ms. Hailstock has written a love story that is not your normal girl meets boy and after time, and a few trials, love conquers all. This tale is one that was uncomfortable for me because of the torments the protagonists are put through. Ms. Hailstock certainly makes Robyn and Grant work for their change at happy-ever-after. The intrigue evolving a mysterious group called the Crime Network is deliciously twisted to the point you aren't sure who to trust throughout the book. A well written story line grabs your attention and keeps you turning pages. If you like details in a story, there are plenty throughout the book to sink your teeth into. I have to admit that while I love details to fill out and make a story come to life for me there were a few instances where I could have done with a little less description of a room's decor or a few instances of in depth analysis. That said, those minor issues did nothing to take away from the over all enjoyment as I read.
This is a story you should give a read if you love your romances mixed with complicated, well though out intrigue. Very entertaining!
September 18, 2014
This is the first book I have ever read by Shirley Hailstock, but I promise you that it will not be the last. This romantic suspense grabbed me from the very beginning and kept me engrossed in the book until the very end. In fact the last part was so exciting and intrigue-driven that I was absolutely sitting on the edge of my seat.
Under the Sheets is not at all what the title suggests. In fact, I think the picture on the cover better expresses the plot of the book than the title does. The hero and the heroine work together to solve the problem as they manage to find their way back to each other.
Robyn (Brooke) and her daughter are in the Witness Protection Program. Her husband, Grant,has no idea that Robyn is still alive, or that he has a daughter because she had no idea she was pregnant when she went into the program. I don't want to spoil the book, but the author uses a very ingenious way to reunite Grant and Robyn even though he has no idea who she is. Then the fun begins as Ms. Hailstock intensifies the suspense.
This author is a beautiful writer and does a great job of making her characters very realistic. Their dialog, actions and descriptions help us understand all of the characters, their traits and their emotions. She not only makes us love the hero and heroine, but she also makes us love the secondary characters.
For those readers who prefer their suspense books without graphic violence and/or sex, this is the book for you. I would recommend this to all suspense lovers.
September 25, 2014
I bought this book after reading about it from the author’s newsletter. I was a bit hesitant because the blurb makes it sound more like a political thriller, which I’m not a huge fan of, but for a buck, I thought I’d give it a try. I’m happy to say, I was totally captivated by this story, so it was a dollar well spent.
Brooke (aka Robyn) is in the witness protection program. With a new face & identity, she comes face-to-face with the love of her life, her husband, Grant, whom she left behind when she went into the program. Grant believes his wife, Robyn, is dead and can’t help himself with the attraction he feels towards Brooke, who is so different yet similar to his deceased wife.
The story pulls you in and takes you on an emotional roller coaster. You can’t help but feel the heat between the main characters, and the heartache it brings from Robyn trying to protect Grant by pushing him away. I thought Robyn was a strong character, and facing the challenges that she does proves it.
The suspense of the story keeps you on your toes. The secondary characters, Jacob and Marianne, are just as enjoyable as the main characters. This is an older book that’s been re-published, and you really wouldn’t notice unless you’re familiar with Buffalo, as I am. Some of the mentioned landmarks, like War Memorial Stadium no longer exist, so it was a bit of a surprise to me, but I enjoyed the brief memory of it.
Overall, I enjoyed the storyline and characters. It’s a well written romantic suspense and would recommend it to anyone looking for an interesting love story.
Brooke (aka Robyn) is in the witness protection program. With a new face & identity, she comes face-to-face with the love of her life, her husband, Grant, whom she left behind when she went into the program. Grant believes his wife, Robyn, is dead and can’t help himself with the attraction he feels towards Brooke, who is so different yet similar to his deceased wife.
The story pulls you in and takes you on an emotional roller coaster. You can’t help but feel the heat between the main characters, and the heartache it brings from Robyn trying to protect Grant by pushing him away. I thought Robyn was a strong character, and facing the challenges that she does proves it.
The suspense of the story keeps you on your toes. The secondary characters, Jacob and Marianne, are just as enjoyable as the main characters. This is an older book that’s been re-published, and you really wouldn’t notice unless you’re familiar with Buffalo, as I am. Some of the mentioned landmarks, like War Memorial Stadium no longer exist, so it was a bit of a surprise to me, but I enjoyed the brief memory of it.
Overall, I enjoyed the storyline and characters. It’s a well written romantic suspense and would recommend it to anyone looking for an interesting love story.
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