Secrets

March 3, 2008
Romance titan Deveraux (Someone to Love
, etc.) packs her latest with jagged surprises, but the pieces fail to fall together satisfyingly. At age 12, Cassandra Madden has been in love with also 'tween Jefferson Ames, whom she meets on a business trip with her mother. After college, Cassie moves to Jeff's hometown of Williamsburg, Va., and eventually becomes nanny to widower Jeff's daughter, Elsbeth. Jeff treats Cassie as part of the family, but reserves his romantic feelings for gorgeous Skylar, who despises Cassie and ignores Elsbeth. When she hears gunshots next door and finds aging film star Althea Fairmont lying prone but unharmed, she and the famous Althea become friends. As Cassie begins to archive Althea's Hollywood memorabilia, she uncovers Althea's hidden history and is drawn, with Jeff, into a dangerous web of secrets, lies and murder. The story has moments of humor and romantic chemistry, but they do little to salvage the unruly plot.

In Deveraux's romantic suspense, the world appears to be out to get Cassie Madden. She's been in love with Jeff since she was 12, but her love has not been returned. Now Jeff is a widower, and Cassie takes a job as nanny for his daughter, hoping for the obvious. What she encounters are Jeff's romantic feelings for yet another woman AND a murder mystery involving an aging Hollywood movie star. As unlikely as this scenario seems, narrator Natalie Moore makes it a believable story that may appeal to listeners. Moore does little more than read in an ordinary-sounding voice, but by doing so she portrays a real heroine who is credible in her vulnerabilities and flaws. The result is an engaging listening experience. L.B. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

April 15, 2009
Many of the characters in "New York Times" best-selling novelist Deveraux's latest romancefollowing "Carolina Isle" (2006)are CIA agents who've been placed in the neighborhood to protect a famous actress who was herself once a spy and whose life is now in danger. The convoluted and complicated plot unfolds slowly; theater actress Barbara McCulloh reads adequately but somewhat dramatically. Deveraux's many fans will want this title, but they will likely be disappointed. Public libraries should expect demand. [Abridged recording available from S. & S., with Natalie Moore reading; the Atria hc was "highly recommended," "LJ" 5/1/08.Ed.]Mary Knapp, Madison P.L., WI

Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.