I've had this book sitting on my bookshelf for well over a year, finally sat down to read it. I met Satin Russell at a craft fair of all places. In conversation about how we both enjoy buying books as much as reading them, I ended up buying hers, The Harper Sisters, #1 and #2. I mean, what if I liked it and I didn't have the next one to dive right into. I'm glad I bought that next one.

Such an easy read, the writing flowed so well I felt more like a spectator than a reader. The characters were well developed, and fit well together. I don't like it when a book has too much romance, or too much violence, definitely not a fan of too much sex, especially if its forced to sell not to add to the story line. I never felt that with these characters. I can't wait to read #2 and see Liz Harper flushed out beyond the grease monkey.

The entire time I read, I never felt that this was a first time author! ( )

Olivia has struggled with keeping her cafe and sisters going after the death of their parents, but now that her sisters are older and have moved out, she is looking forward to whatever the future might bring. Mason is only in town temporarily, staying at his sister's bed and breakfast as his gunshot wounds heal, and while he figures out how to deal with the death of his partner. Olivia and Mason sense the sparks flying between them, but the man who shot Mason has become obsessed with Olivia, and Mason isn't sure he can keep her safe.

Secret Hunger is a very predictable romantic suspense that is almost formulaic in its execution. Several descriptions of settings and characters are over-written, and many of the events don't add much, if anything, to the story. The protagonists are likable, but there is very little chemistry between them and there is no mystery to hold the interest of the reader. The only suspense comes from how long it will take before the stalker, Robert, comes after Olivia. Overall, Secret Hunger checks all the boxes for a romantic suspense story, but the execution is somewhat flat. ( )

I discovered this book pretty much by accident, when I happened to notice the beautiful cover. Something about that cover just pulled me in and held me tight, and so – though it’s not normally the kind of book I read – I decided to give it a try. I’m glad I did, and it provided me with a little reminder about how reading outside your comfort zone can sometimes really pay off. Secret Hunger is a very good romantic thriller indeed.

The narrative follows Mason, a police officer whose life and career have been plunged into turmoil by an incident in which a violent serial stalker, Robert Mendez, killed his partner and shot and injured Mason himself. A convalescing and traumatised Mason goes to stay with his sister in Maine, and while there he meets Olivia, a local café owner and the eldest of three close sisters who have come to depend on one another since their parents’ death.

So far this is a fairly standard romance plot – man suffering the after-effects of a personal tragedy meets a warm-hearted woman who offers not just love but healing – but this is no cosy romance. Just as Mason has headed north, so too has Mendez – and it isn’t long before Olivia is the new target of his unwelcome attentions. Mason and Mendez’s lives seem to be intertwined: before they were opponents, Mason representative of law and order, and Mendez of violence and lawlessness; now they are rivals for Olivia. But whereas Mason’s courtship is respectful, and his feelings reciprocated, Mendez is obsessive, delusional – and ever ready to spiral into violence and degradation.

I especially liked the insights into Mendez’s thinking: he’s a fantasist and unbelievably violent, but from his point of view there’s a reason for, and a method behind, everything he does. In his own mind, the women he targets actually want to be targeted. In his own mind, he’s offering them redemption. It’s creepy, it’s obviously wrong – and yet it’s undeniably compelling.

There are one or two little gripes. On a couple of occasions, the way the paragraphs were constructed made it difficult to work out who was saying what. Some of the scenes went on a little too long, and involved a little too much exposition and detail. To be fair, that may reflect my personal preferences rather than any objective flaw; in any case, they shouldn’t put anyone off reading Secret Hunger. If you’re anything like me, the cover might be the thing that baits you; but rest assured, the story will reel you in.

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