Love Lies Beneath

May 15, 2015
When once-widowed, twice-divorced Tara meets husband No. 4, she must decide whether she's truly in love for the first time-or whether she's being played by a master manipulator. Hopkins (Collateral, 2013, etc.), best known for her teen fiction, brings a much more adult world to life in this new psychological thriller. Tara seems to have it all-beauty, money, gorgeous San Francisco real estate, her pick of sexual partners-but she's compensating for her painful past: her mother, suffering from borderline personality disorder, was abusive. Tara's sister, who seems to have settled into a perfect life with a doctor and their three daughters, struggles with family problems and jealousy of Tara's material success. When Tara injures her knee on the slopes of Lake Tahoe, she meets Cavin, a handsome, wealthy doctor, and it certainly is lust at first sight. Before long, Tara's wondering whether she might actually be in love, but there are some things about Cavin that suggest he might not be as perfect and stable as he seems, most of all his troubled relationship with teenage son Eli. Somebody, it seems, is lying about the details of Cavin's life, but whom can Tara trust? This novel strives to bring depth to a shiny surface, starting with the character of Tara herself, but it fails. The whole thing is superficial, and the characters are unlikable and selfish. The question of "love" is beside the point, though it's ostensibly illustrated by frequent, graphic sex scenes. The one resonant point that Hopkins makes is how lonely and claustrophobic even wealthy unhappiness is. Hopkins' adults are too self-centeredly adolescent to take seriously.

COPYRIGHT(2015) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

November 1, 2015

When 40-year-old Tara is injured in a skiing accident in Lake Tahoe, she doesn't waste any time asking her gorgeous attending doctor, Calvin, for his phone number. This leads to a whirlwind romance and engagement, but as the wedding date gets closer, Tara grows more suspicious of her fiance. His 17-year-old son is doing his best to flirt with Tara and to bring his father's exes, all beautiful and leggy, to her house. Tara has already been married multiple times and has no desire to be a stepmother, but if the boy keeps feeding her mangoes (which she is deathly allergic to), the marriage might not happen. Tara is not a likable character-she's pushy, rude, self-obsessed, and jealous. But she's perfect for new adults who enjoy watching Bravo TV's Real Housewives. After the multiple orgasms in the opening chapters, Tara tries to settle into her relationship, even as she hires a private detective to check up on her fiance, and deals with threatening anonymous messages. The mystery about who is behind the scare tactics wraps up too easily, as does the entire book. But readers who have grown up reading Hopkins will appreciate Tara and her issues, which stem from her growing up in Las Vegas strip clubs with an inattentive mother. Written in prose with nine poems interspersed throughout, this work will have chick lit fans anticipating the sequel. VERDICT Like the author's Triangles (S. & S., 2011), this title isn't school library-friendly, but new adults will enjoy the sexy romp.-Sarah Hill, Lake Land College, Mattoon, IL

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2015
Hopkins, known best for her novels-in-verse for YAs (Rumble, 2014) and adults (Collateral, 2012), turns to prose to explore issues of trust and control. Every aspect of 40-year-old Tara's life is groomed to perfection. A series of marriages and some strategic investments have left her wealthy, and she has no interest in marrying again. She doesn't even believe in love. A freak skiing accident delivers Tara into the arms of Lake Tahoe's most eligible orthopedic surgeon, Cavin Lattimore. Despite Tara's resistance, Cavin woos her, and their sexual compatibility leads to love. But Tara can't let go of the idea that Cavin must be hiding something, and she discovers that he does, indeed, have more than a few secrets, including a worrisome teenage son. Readers may have a difficult time warming up to Tara, whose need to manipulate those around her, including her sister, is downright pathological. Hopkins occasionally enters cliche territoryDid Tara's back story need to include a stint as a stripper?but overall, the characters are strong, the writing is vivid, and the plot is engaging.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)

Starred review from June 15, 2015

Tara Cannon, 40, has been married three times: widowed once, divorced twice. Living on the wealth accrued from her failed marriages, she maintains a beautiful mansion in San Francisco, holds various fundraisers, and isn't shy when it comes to inviting men into her bed. A skiing accident on a trip to Lake Tahoe results in extensive knee surgery and rehab, causing her to lose both her physical and emotional independence. Enter orthopedic surgeon Cavin Lattimore. While Tara's contentedly single, she is drawn to the handsome doctor, who evokes new emotions in her. Just when she thinks she has reached her happily ever after, things start to go awry. She notices a mysterious van parked outside her house and begins receiving threatening emails and text messages. Battling her troubled past and her bright future, Tara must solve the mysteries that haunt her. Hopkins is at her best in this outstanding novel (after Triangles and Collateral) written in gorgeous prose and interspersed with her signature free verse between chapters. She leaves no stone unturned and keeps the reader guessing until the very last page. VERDICT This fabulous, sex-filled masterpiece of mystery and romance has an ending that will give readers major chills. [See Prepub Alert, 1/25/15.]--Erin Holt, Williamson Cty. P.L., Franklin, TN

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2015

A No. 1 New York Times best-selling YA author who ventured into the adult realm with Triangles and Collateral, Hopkins returns with the story of rich and glamorous 40-year-old Tara, widowed once and divorced twice when she falls for the charismatic doctor who tends to her after a skiing accident. Soon, though, creepy things such as the van parked outside suggest that Tara's new relationship is no paradise. Note the Pulse It online teen community promotion.

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 15, 2015

Tara Cannon, 40, has been married three times: widowed once, divorced twice. Living on the wealth accrued from her failed marriages, she maintains a beautiful mansion in San Francisco, holds various fundraisers, and isn't shy when it comes to inviting men into her bed. A skiing accident on a trip to Lake Tahoe results in extensive knee surgery and rehab, causing her to lose both her physical and emotional independence. Enter orthopedic surgeon Cavin Lattimore. While Tara's contentedly single, she is drawn to the handsome doctor, who evokes new emotions in her. Just when she thinks she has reached her happily ever after, things start to go awry. She notices a mysterious van parked outside her house and begins receiving threatening emails and text messages. Battling her troubled past and her bright future, Tara must solve the mysteries that haunt her. Hopkins is at her best in this outstanding novel (after Triangles and Collateral) written in gorgeous prose and interspersed with her signature free verse between chapters. She leaves no stone unturned and keeps the reader guessing until the very last page. VERDICT This fabulous, sex-filled masterpiece of mystery and romance has an ending that will give readers major chills. [See Prepub Alert, 1/25/15.]--Erin Holt, Williamson Cty. P.L., Franklin, TN

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.