Tricia Campbell is a mystery to those around her. Scott McCall, the paramedic who took her in has agreed not to delve into her past, as have the other people she has met and befriended. With a young son to protect, Tricia must be careful in everything she says and does.

What Tricia can't tell Scott is that she's really Kate Whitehead, acclaimed fashion designer and missing wife of Senator Thomas Whitehead. Backed into an ugly corner due to her husband's abusive ways, she ran.

Now her carefully crafted lie is falling apart. Her best friend, Leah, has disappeared, and Thomas is accused of murdering not only Leah, but a pregnant Kate. Tricia, a.k.a. Kate, must face not only the choice of telling the truth, but also growing feelings for Scott, who has his own secrets.

In this multi-layered novel of love and suspense, Tara Taylor Quinn asks the question, "What if an abuser holds so much power that the victim can't get help?" Kate did what she felt necessary for her safety and that of her unborn child. Beyond that, many aspects of the story were difficult to believe.

With all of the funds available to Kate, a reader may question why she made certain choices, including the choice to go to a bar to find someone to take her in. This does not speak well of her common sense. Nor do many of the other decisions she makes throughout the novel. As a mother, I found one of Kate's decisions absolutely terrifying. The reasons given did not outweigh the danger she put her son into-not with the options available, especially with her level of wealth. Other factors diminish the believability of the overall plot, as well.

Overall, Quinn writes in a technically enjoyable manner. Unfortunately, the characters' actions and certain plot elements just don't carry the story, and it becomes a less than satisfying read.

-Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
05-07-2006

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