Beguiled

Sometimes books show up in my mailbox and I don't know from whence they came. Sometimes I recognize the title and know where they came from, but am unsure why they came. Sometimes when this happens I go ahead and read the book because I'm just flighty enough that I could have agreed to review said book and just forgot that such a thing occurred. Wouldn't want to go against my word, ya know.

I tell you all this because the following book is not my standard read. You'll notice the lack of a historical context. Maybe a lacking of WWII themes. Or rhyming meter. You'll notice the presence of suspense. Which I don't read. And at which point in the book (page, oh, two) when I knew without a doubt that there was no way that I, in sound mind, agreed to read this book. Anymore I only read suspense when a good friend wrote it. Say, Andrea Sisco. Period. End of story. And even THEN, sometimes I don't read it. (I did, Andi, breathe.) Unless it is historical suspense, at which point in time, I do occasionally imbibe. If, say, Sara Mills wrote it. Who, wait, I would consider to be somewhat of an acquaintance if not a "friend" friend. Hmmm.....off track.

However....

I can't leave a character to be stalked and maybe murdered on her late night walks through Charleston, so I did finish and even enjoyed Beguiled and on the off chance that I really did agree to review this book, I figured I might have a reader or two that likes to lose sleep at night, or doesn't dream, or flat doesn't care. Or, gasp, likes suspense.

So, back cover copy says:

In the shadows of Charleston, someone is watching her...

Rylee Montoe, a dogwlker in Charleston's wealthiest neighborhood, never feared the streets at night. But now a theif is terrorizing the area and worse, someone seems to be targeting her.

Reporter Logan Woods is following the break-ins with the hope of publishing his coverage as a true-crime book. The more he digs, the more he realizes this beguiling dogwalker seems to be at the center of everything.

As danger draws ever closer, Logan must choose: Chase the girl, the story, or plunge into the shadows after the villain who threatens everything.

As danger draws even closer, Logan must choose: Chase the girl, the story, or plunge into the shadows after the villain who threatens everything?

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If you like romantic suspense, this is probably the book for you. There are healthy doses of both romance and suspense between the covers. It opens by giving women home alone the creeps as well as the desire to scream at the otherwise bright heroine, "DON'T GO UP THE STAIRS!" (How many horror flicks do you have to watch to know that isn't a good decision? Call the cops for cryin' out loud!) Strangely enough, though, after the first couple of chapters of creeps, I was able to read through the rest of the book without the feeling someone was watching me through my bedroom window shades. It felt rather like if the bad guy was intent upon hurting her (rather than her reputation) he would have done it already. Without her person being harmed, I could handle the obliteration of her life. Especially if it lead the the Happily Ever After that inevitably finishes up Romantic Suspense. There are characters that you love to hate and those that you don't understand the purpose of, but overall, and as far as romantic suspense goes, it was a pretty good read. Not nightmare inducing, thank goodness, but not a yawner either. Just my Big Honkin' Chicken Club style. (I think the head nod goes to Deborah Raney for that club title.)