NEVER TELL

Author: Selena Montgomery ISBN: 0312993064 6/2004 SUSPENSE Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Criminal psychologist Dr. Erin Abbott wants nothing more than to live a quiet life. That means no danger, no intrigue-and absolutely no romance. But when Erin suspects a serial killer is roaming New Orleans, her investigation throws her straight into the arms of the only man who can help her. Journalist Gabriel Moss is hot to find his next huge story-and he knows Erin is on to something big. From the moment they meet, Gabriel senses that Erin is hiding something. One thing is certain: Erin's boxy suits and sensible shoes hide a delicate beauty waiting to emerge...and Gabriel is just the man to reveal the woman inside. As they join forces to find the killer, Gabriel slowly seduces Erin with his soft kisses. But Erin knows their love can never be. For she is hiding a terrible secret-and if Gabriel reveals the truth, Erin's life will be shattered forever...

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

NEVER TELL , by Selena Montgomery, is surprisingly good. Why surprisingly? Because it's more exciting, clever, and mysterious than the back cover synopsis lets on. I would bill it as more of a "mystery with benefits" book, than a romance, but the romance wasn't too shabby either.

The best part of this book is the imaginative and terrible killings happening throughout it, and the twists and turns it takes involving our heroine, Dr. Erin Abbott. She is the mystery in more ways than one. Hero, Gabriel Moss, is okay as a heartthrob and Erin's love interest. But that sincerely works here, as the focus is on Erin and her past and present situation.

I haven't read a good mystery book in a long while. Most of them I figure out much too early, but this one kept me guessing nearly until the end. No doubt that there was an inkling of suspicion on my part, on whom the actual killer is, but my attention was quickly diverted by a hot love scene!

All in all, this is a gripping enough mystery to accept the one and only night the hero and heroine are in bed together.

Shannon Johnson