Brian Cato, New York Times best-selling author of horror and suspense novels, would like a son – without the hassles of a wife. Women, even would-be surrogate mothers have brought nothing but trouble to his successful, but lonely career. Natalie Stover, newly published romance novelist, dreams of writing the all-time best seller. She has tried marriage, but prefers her fictional heroes to the real ones. Until she meets Brian for a passionate weekend at a writers’ conference and becomes pregnant with his child.
I really liked this book in the beginning and throughout, but the closer to the end I got, the less I liked it. I actually liked both Brian and Natalie, although I feel like this author is like Natalie, in that this book was more about flowery romance (without any real sex scenes) and a beginning shot at a mystery. That’s not to say it wasn’t worth reading, I just had some issues with it, like thinking a stalker can outsmart an ex-Secret Service man and two intelligent people. I will most likely keep reading this author though as overall I did enjoy reading the book.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

Persistent Intruder, Kay Brooks

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Romance

I saw the romance tag, didn't realise it was also suspense, but that's fine, I like romantic suspense for an occasional read. I enjoyed this story, though I felt the actual romance side wasn't particularly strong.

Brian, well, when we first meet him and learn of his plans for a child I thought he was pretty cold, didn't really like him. I know he's had a problematic past with women but even so, he seemed so clinical about the whole thing.
Its back to my personal feelings about how children show be welcomed to be loved, not to be an accessory or simply an heir for someones genes, and I got the impression that heir was what Brian really wanted, not a child to love.
Still, there's a quick burst of passion between him and Natalie, and of course the pregnancy that results. There isn't a relationship though, will Brian just want the child and not her, if she tells him she's pregnant? He has the money to do what he wants. Can she take that risk?
Then of course there's that passion that they both thought would be easy to leave behind after the weekend, but feelings aren't that easy, don't fall in with our plans do they?
Of course that's all complicated by the deranged stalker Brian has, and that suspense angle was excellent in the main, even though I did feel actions from all of them stretched credulity at times.

It was a fun read, interesting but I felt the romance side wasn't as well worked as the suspense. For me I prefer the romance to be the stronger part of the story and I wasn't totally convinced in Brian and Natalie.

Stars: Four, an easy read, but I would have liked more emphasis on relationship building, the romance side, to balance the very cold Brian we first met. I wasn't convinced he could change that easily.

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

An enjoyable read , it was fast paced but I found I didn’t quite connect with he characters as much as I usually do. The story was good, I think the characters just needed more work for me. A nice story.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion