Her Mysterious Stranger : Secret Identity

Rating:
Summary: Romantic Times Review
Review: Her Mysterious Stranger (Harlequin Intrigue No. 587) Secret Identity
by Debbi Rawlins

She was working as a bounty hunter to save money for a better life for her daughter and herself. When a mysterious attorney shows up offering a huge sum to track down a missing person, it could be the offer of a life time. But she's not sure she can trust him, and the case is not as it seems. With excitement and a good sense of energy, HER MYSTERIOUS STRANGER by Debbi Rawlins is a nice read.

Rating:
Summary: Her Mysterious Stranger
Review: The Secret Identity series continues with Debbi Rawlins' "Her Mysterious Stranger." The storyline is hard to explain without giving anything away since it doesn't begin to pick up steam until the midway point. Let's leave it at this: Taryn Scott's job is to find people. One night she is hired by attorney Nick Travis to find a man who has been missing for a year. The case seems clear cut, until Taryn finds herself in danger and naturally the mysterious Nick is not what he seems.

I began "Her Mysterious Stranger" with hope. There were no obvious hooks and the story sounded fresh. I should have known better. The familiar plot elements take a while to make their presence felt but they're there. The basis of this story and the ultimate revelations are all standard and predictable. The entire story hinges on a plot twist that would be more effective were it not foreseeable from a mile away. Not only was the exact same twist used just as obviously in an Intrigue from the old "Hidden Identity" promotion a couple of years ago, but there really is only one twist that could make this story interesting. Such inevitability ensures that it isn't.

The first half of this story is deadly dull; the second half a mix of unconvincing romance, eye-roller plot twists and uninvolving action. The first part isn't boring because nothing is happening (Although an entire chapter is dedicated to Taryn and Nick sitting in a bowling alley having an impromptu date. I nearly fell asleep.). Taryn does standard detective work on the case, so things ARE happening. It is boring because Taryn and Nick don't seem to have anything at stake in what's happening. Nearly all Intrigues revolve around crimes and mysteries in which the hero and heroine have a personal interest. That is vital to making the story emotionally compelling. Here Taryn's investigation is dull because there is nothing to give the mystery an emotional element. The people who knew the missing man all act suspicious. Why should we care? Things do improve when Taryn's meddling finally puts her at risk, but the personal element comes too late to salvage the story. Everything that follows is too predictable and cliched, though I can't say why without "ruining" it. I will say this. The revelations open a giant plot hole that is never clearly resolved and only ensures the story doesn't make much sense.

Recent attempts by American Romance writers to pen Intrigues have been mixed, from the fantastic ("When Night Draws Near") to the average ("Little Girl Found") to the subpar ("A Man of Honor"). This is the weakest yet. Unless you haven't read much romantic suspense and are surprised easily, I'd skip this one.

Rating:
Summary: Her Mysterious Stranger
Review: The Secret Identity series continues with Debbi Rawlins' "Her Mysterious Stranger." The storyline is hard to explain without giving anything away since it doesn't begin to pick up steam until the midway point. Let's leave it at this: Taryn Scott's job is to find people. One night she is hired by attorney Nick Travis to find a man who has been missing for a year. The case seems clear cut, until Taryn finds herself in danger and naturally the mysterious Nick is not what he seems.

I began "Her Mysterious Stranger" with hope. There were no obvious hooks and the story sounded fresh. I should have known better. The familiar plot elements take a while to make their presence felt but they're there. The basis of this story and the ultimate revelations are all standard and predictable. The entire story hinges on a plot twist that would be more effective were it not foreseeable from a mile away. Not only was the exact same twist used just as obviously in an Intrigue from the old "Hidden Identity" promotion a couple of years ago, but there really is only one twist that could make this story interesting. Such inevitability ensures that it isn't.

The first half of this story is deadly dull; the second half a mix of unconvincing romance, eye-roller plot twists and uninvolving action. The first part isn't boring because nothing is happening (Although an entire chapter is dedicated to Taryn and Nick sitting in a bowling alley having an impromptu date. I nearly fell asleep.). Taryn does standard detective work on the case, so things ARE happening. It is boring because Taryn and Nick don't seem to have anything at stake in what's happening. Nearly all Intrigues revolve around crimes and mysteries in which the hero and heroine have a personal interest. That is vital to making the story emotionally compelling. Here Taryn's investigation is dull because there is nothing to give the mystery an emotional element. The people who knew the missing man all act suspicious. Why should we care? Things do improve when Taryn's meddling finally puts her at risk, but the personal element comes too late to salvage the story. Everything that follows is too predictable and cliched, though I can't say why without "ruining" it. I will say this. The revelations open a giant plot hole that is never clearly resolved and only ensures the story doesn't make much sense.

Recent attempts by American Romance writers to pen Intrigues have been mixed, from the fantastic ("When Night Draws Near") to the average ("Little Girl Found") to the subpar ("A Man of Honor"). This is the weakest yet. Unless you haven't read much romantic suspense and are surprised easily, I'd skip this one.