EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE

Author: Judith McNaught ISBN: 0345479904 1/2006 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: BALLANTINE

High atop a snow-covered hill, the stately old Wyatt mansion is perched like a crown, its stone spires pointing upward, its stained glass windows glowing like colorful jewels. Such opulence means success and, surely, happiness. But on the eve of wealthy philanthropist Cecil Wyatt’s eightieth birthday, all the money in the world won’t bring back his missing grandson, William Wyatt. The only thing for certain: Foul play was involved. The family, the police, the media–all have tried in vain to discover the young man’s fate. Now suspicion has turned shockingly toward William’s own half-brother, the rather distant and enigmatic Mitchell Wyatt. Kate Donovan never dreamed that a chance romantic encounter on a tropical island paradise would tag her as a suspect in a high-society murder case. But after Kate tangles with the darkly charismatic Mitchell Wyatt, she finds herself cast in a shadow of guilt and mistrust. As the Chicago police tighten their net, it will take all of Kate’s ingenuity to clear her name. With her calm, cool wit, and the help of a man who may or may not be a dangerous catch, Kate vows to claim the life and love she desires.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

If you are a devoted fan of Judith McNaught, you know that she has written some marvelous books. While EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE isn't in the same league as those marvelous stories, it's not boring or dry either. Its just a lighter read than what I prefer from McNaught, despite its bit of mystery and drama.

The hero and heroine have only a few days together before they separate, which made it hard for me to get into them as a couple. Their dialogue and interaction focused mostly on whether or not to sleep together, in such a short time, and what the consequences of the act might mean to one another. That didn't exactly make them a power couple in my book. They also spend a lot of time second guessing each other (go figure, since they barely know one another) but it seems to me with such strong chemistry you might try TALKING to one another before jumping to the conclusions that they did. I wish I could explain that last one more, but I don't want to ruin the story for you. Suffice it to say that too much time is wasted apart, when a simple phone call or civil conversation could have cleared up their problems in a day!

Even though this isn't my favorite McNaught—it's predictable, light on the depth of the characters, and even a bit aggravating at times—it's still one to add to your collection.

Shannon Johnson