NIGHT ECHOES

Author: Holly Lisle ISBN: 0451220943 4/2007 SUSPENSE Publisher: NAL/SIGNET ECLIPSE

When artist Emma Beck returns to her small South Carolina hometown to discover the truth about her roots and long-dead parents, everything she thought she knew about her birth begins to fall apart—especially after she moves into the old wreck of a Civil Ar farmhouse she plans to restore. But Emma is drawn to the house, which seems strangely familiar, as does Mike Ruhl, the young contractor she hires to help her fix it up. She begins to feel frightened, though, when she recognizes Mike as a recurring face in her paintings—including one in a Confederate uniform. And when Emma starts to hear soft whisperings late at night, and Mike discovers lost letters and a hidden journal in the attic, they realize they are caught in a web of ghostly tragedy that once reached out to ensnare Emma's parents, and which now threatens to devour her and Mike as well...

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Holly Lisle's new release, NIGHT ECHOES, is a rather clever combination of suspense, paranormal and romance. Although not my favorite of her books, NIGHT ECHOES still showcases Lisle's gift for writing.

NIGHT ECHOES tells the hauntingly romantic story of Emma Beck and her return to her hometown and to a run down house that she is drawn inexplicably to. It's not only the house that she is drawn to, but she has an unusual sexual response to the local, sexy contractor that she's hired to help her with her house. If that's not unsettling, Emma begins to learn details about her past that are completely unexpected. Emma has a mystery to solve that not only involves in her past, but also her present and future, because this house that she lives in now is taking on a life of its own.

Mike Ruhl, the contractor, knows that he has met Emma before, but that still doesn't explain his intense attraction to her. And that house—there's definitely something strange and scary about that house. He's not the only one that thinks so. His sister, Cara, has had unusual responses to the house that Emma lives in as well.

Somehow Emma, Mike and Cara's lives are entangled in a most frightening way. The ending of NIGHT ECHOES is sure to give you goose bumps! Holly Lisle proves once again why she is a standout name in the romantic suspense genre.

Although, in my opinion, NIGHT ECHOES, isn't as good as her last year's release, I SEE YOU, it is still nevertheless an intriguing read. I would recommend reading it if you're a fan of romantic suspense! However, if you want to read Holly Lisle at her finest, run out and pick up a copy of I SEE YOU—that is truly a fantastic romantic suspense.

Julie Kornhausl