Thursday, December 7

Bogeyman by Gayle Wilson

I found an author I'm adding to my autobuy list after one book. Maybe I lucked out, but I don't think so. Bogeyman by Gayle Wilson is definitely a must read for romantic suspense lovers.

From the cover:
"This supsenseful, up-all-night story hits with a terrifying paranormal twist. Look out or the Bogeyman will get you!"--Karen Harper

From the back blurb:
A year after the death of her husband, Blythe Wyndham moves with her four-year-old daughter, Maddie, back to the small town where she grew up. But soon after they move in to their new home, strange things begin to happen. Maddie has disturbingly intense nightmares--so intense that Blythe fears one night she may not be able to awaken her daughter. A psychologist explains that Maddie's dreams are simply the result of her father's death, but Blythe knows something else is wrong. Because she's also heard the ghostly tapping at her daughter's window...

Convinced the house is haunted, Blythe researches the town's history and discovers that a little girl had been brutally murdered in the area twenty-five years ago. Could there be some connection between this dead child and Maddie? With the help of Sheriff Cade Jackson, Blythe tries to separate past horrors from present dangers and struggles to distinguish the real from the imagined. But someone is clearly determined to keep a secret--and will kill again to do so.

This book barely qualifies as a romance, attraction, a kiss and possible HEA, technically makes it a romance. But to be completely honest, I needed no romance to make this a really good book. It proves my theory that at least for me the "suspense" is much more important than the romance when it comes to "Romantic Suspense."

The characters come to vivid life... Blythe is strong and determined to protect her daughter. Cade does his job even when he's doubting what's going on around him. Maddie is a realistic 4 year old. The secondary characters are also fully developed and interesting. The ghost story seems realistic and the ghost's past blends beautifully with the current action--arson and a new murder in a small town.

I woke up in the middle of the night and picked this up to finish. At 4:00 this morning I hit a scene that literally gave me goosebumps, that never happens. Rarely do I come across a scene the gives me chills, but this one did. Kudos to Ms. Wilson, I'll be searching out her backlist at the UBS very soon.

6 comments:

Rosario said...

I've read a few of this author's books, but they were all historicals. I'll give this one a try, since it sounds so good.

Tara Marie said...

Rosario, I don't think I've read any of her historicals. I called the UBS today and they have several of her RS in stock so I'll be picking them up tomorrow.

Off Topic, I loved your column today on RTB, but it wouldn't let me comment, for some reason my comments seem to get eaten up by the blog comment monster.

Anonymous said...

oh good, a real good suspense . i like that you are tough on romantic suspense and romance. it all should be good. since u dont mind paranormal and suspense with nto too much of romance in them why not try kay hooper. im just starting yher books. they are really good books to me . i now want the bogey book , mm i did see that somewhere must keep an eye out for them . ther another author barbara freethy out there maybe u should check out huh. today was gloomy overcast and ever so mild today weahterwise . later , mamx

Kristie (J) said...

I've read a number of her Harlequin books - both historical and RS. I liked them. I was wondering if this one was good or not. Now I'll have to find a copy.

Anonymous said...

This is an ebook, yeah! I'll have to give it a try.

Tara Marie said...

Kristie, the UBS had all of her RS and a bunch of her historicals, they're all on hold for me. If you like them I'm likely to also.

Jane, I'll be looking for your review.

Keishon, what planet am I on? I'd never even heard of her until Bogeyman, but now I have a whole bunch of books to look forward to.