Don't Tell

Do Tell!

Mary Grace Winters finally found a way to escape her abusive husband and reinvented herself as Caroline Stewart and moved to Chicago with her seven-year old son, now named Tom. For the next seven years, she managed to pull herself up by her bootstraps, with the help of a shelter and a kind employer, and create a happy and productive life. Caroline got her GED and went to work for the head of the history department at a small college. Following the death of the chair, a new history professor, Max Hunter, was hired and at his first appearance, both he and Caroline established an immediate connection, one that transcended employer/employee relations.

Meanwhile, after seven years, Mary Grace's car was located in a lake in South Carolina, the contents of which cause her husband, Rob, to suspect she's alive. He becomes consumed with finding her but this has also caught the attention of the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI),who has always believed Rob murdered his wife and son.

The story transitions between Caroline and Max's developing relationship, the SBI investigation and Rob's hunt for "Mary Grace" and his son. Rob is a sadistic and cruel man who is also a pretty bad cop but a skilled detective. The tension mounts as these three stories begin to intersect and the bodies start to pile up. Your pulse rate will increase as you begin to worry for some of the characters, knowing that there will be an eventual climax between the investigators, Caroline and Rob.

Karen Rose has masterfully written a riveting story involving domestic violence and the triumph of the human spirit. Caroline isn't the only one in the story to rise above her circumstances. Max is recovering from a life altering and devastating accident from twelve years ago. Dana, Caroline's best friend and manager of a women's shelter, came out of an abusive marriage. The lead investigator, Steven Thatcher, is raising three sons on his own following the death of his wife. All are involved in the culmination of the confrontation with Rob.

This is a great story, even though there's a whiff of the love-at-first-sight syndrome between Max and Caroline but the events that occur as their relationship develops more than compensate for their beginnings. Their trials and challenges are extremely realistic for two people that don't know each other very well. The police investigation is gritty and well researched. Much of the story is based in North Carolina and the author did her homework in representing the geography of the state.

This is a must read and I plan to read a lot more from this author.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Jennifer Wardrip - Personal Read

Mary Grace Winters held the grand title of "punching bag". An abused wife with a bad-cop husband, Mary Grace had no choice but to take what he gave her. With no job, no skills, and no friends of her own, she had no one to turn to for help, had nothing to allow her to escape the life that she led. In turn, she lived for her son, Robbie, who one day had the horrible misfortune to find his mother lying in a pool of blood at the bottom of the cellar stairs, broken and battered.

Mary Grace used her months in the hospital to form a plan. She needed to escape, to run away, not just for her sake, but for the sake of her son. Rob Winters wasn't just a cop, but a cop that demanded respect and invoked fear not only in her, but in his fellow officers. So she dreamed, and she plotted, and she faked her own death.

Caroline Stewart was a woman with a wonderful job as the administrative assistant to the head of the history department of Carrington College. She's found her niche, and created a nice, sturdy world for herself, when her mentor and boss suddenly dies. Enter Max Hunter, a man larger than life, with a chip on his shoulder the size of a small country. He uses a cane, and should anyone mention it or show him the least bit of pity, he's prepared to use said cane upside their head.

When Caroline, a new woman who's almost put behind her the old world of Mary Grace, and Max, who can't, or won't, put behind his own, collide, much more than sparks start flying. Passion, mixed with pent-up anger, regret, and sorrow, abound from every page, along with enough humor thrown in to make you laugh out loud.

"Don't Tell" is romantic suspense at it's ultimate best. Ms. Rose is a wonderful story-teller, able to breathe life into her pages until you feel as if you're part of the story. I laughed, I cried, I yelled...and all from the words printed on these pages. If you've ever wondered if good can conquer evil, if you're not sure that the good guys sometimes do win, then this book is for you. Karen Rose goes down as a master of suspense in my book, and I can't wait to devour everything else she's ever written...and hopefully will keep writing long into the future.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I loved this book, couldn't put it down at all. It was very we

I loved this book, couldn't put it down at all. It was very well written. Am looking forward to the next book!

Can't wait for more

Don't Tell had everything you could want from a romantic suspense book. A deep rooted hatred for evil that Caroline must overcome if she ever wishes to find true love. This was almost painful to watch play out. I have a great deal of respect for women in these situations and I feel that Karen Rose, did an amazing job of portraying the very real evil that lives behind closed doors. I loved Caroline's support system and the fact that Dana didn't take ANY crap from Caroline and told her like it is. Tom, amazing, resilient, protective Tom. An amazing young man, and wonderfully written. Then, the story with Max. I loved that the author didn't rush the love story, but let it happen naturally. The secondary family characters were a riot. I hope Dana and David get a story, I think that could be...explosive!!

Enjoyed it

I enjoyed this book a lot, and often had a hard time putting it down.

Completely unrealistic

The story line was good but handled very poorly. I love every other book by this author, but I was so disappointed this time. Clearly, Karen Rose has no experience with abused women and did not take the time to research it either. Any woman who has been so severely abused as to change her name and run with her child for seven years would certainly not suddenly trust some man and tell him everything in 2 weeks. As if that weren't bad enough, Max is abusive in his own way. Every time they have a disagreement, he is intimidating her with threats that it is his way or the highway. The only person that made any sense in the whole book was the 14 year old son. Even her best friend who runs a shelter for abused women is encouraging her to spill her guts to this man after 2 weeks. Utterly ridiculous. The author ought to be ashamed of herself for portraying this strong woman who has survived abuse as some bumbling idiot who would let her guard down with a complete stranger after 2 weeks. Same goes for the best friend. I finished the book mainly to find out if any of the characters would come to their senses and hoping the husband would get his in the end. But all in all I am truly disgusted with the character portrayal of an abused woman.

this was ok

thats all

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Wow!

Excellent book. good reading. suspenseful and intriguing. kept me interested throughout the entire book. would recommend to everyone who likes murder, romance, mystery.

Don't Tell is exciting from the first page to the very last! There is no lull in the story.

Karen Rose is amazing. From the first paragraph you are drawn into the story. The characters are so well written and developed that you feel like you know them. She hits on every emotion with her amazing story telling, making you feel for Caroline, her son Tom, and Max. I would recommend any of her books to anyone at anytime. Great reads worth owning.

Amazing

Don't tell was one of those books that brings out a lot of emotions in the reader. Karen Rose truly is a genius...nothing is left to the imagination, and the reader can see everything clearly in thier mind's eye. When I pick up a Karen Rose novel I have to make sure that my home is clean and I have nothing pressing to do for at least a day and a 1/2. This book was truly amazing and I highly recommend it...you won't be disappointed.

A reviewer

Mary Grace Winters held the grand title of 'punching bag'. An abused wife with a bad-cop husband, Mary Grace had no choice but to take what he gave her. With no job, no skills, and no friends of her own, she had no one to turn to for help, had nothing to allow her to escape the life that she led. In turn, she lived for her son, Robbie, who one day had the horrible misfortune to find his mother lying in a pool of blood at the bottom of the cellar stairs, broken and battered. Mary Grace used her months in the hospital to form a plan. She needed to escape, to run away, not just for her sake, but for the sake of her son. Rob Winters wasn't just a cop, but a cop that demanded respect and invoked fear not only in her, but in his fellow officers. So she dreamed, and she plotted, and she faked her own death. Caroline Stewart was a woman with a wonderful job as the administrative assistant to the head of the history department of Carrington College. She's found her niche, and created a nice, sturdy world for herself, when her mentor and boss suddenly dies. Enter Max Hunter, a man larger than life, with a chip on his shoulder the size of a small country. He uses a cane, and should anyone mention it or show him the least bit of pity, he's prepared to use said cane upside their head. When Caroline, a new woman who's almost put behind her the old world of Mary Grace, and Max, who can't, or won't, put behind his own, collide, much more than sparks start flying. Passion, mixed with pent-up anger, regret, and sorrow, abound from every page, along with enough humor thrown in to make you laugh out loud. 'Don't Tell' is romantic suspense at it's ultimate best. Ms. Rose is a wonderful story-teller, able to breathe life into her pages until you feel as if you're part of the story. I laughed, I cried, I yelled...and all from the words printed on these pages. If you've ever wondered if good can conquer evil, if you're not sure that the good guys sometimes do win, then this book is for you. Karen Rose goes down as a master of suspense in my book, and I can't wait to devour everything else she's ever written...and hopefully will keep writing long into the future.

A Romantic Spine Tingler That's Difficult To Put Down!

Mary Grace Winters was desperate. An abused young wife with both her and her son's lives on the line, she escapes her cop husband and settles in Chicago with a new identity: Caroline Stewart... Caroline has worked hard to put her past behind her. She's working as a University secretary while putting herself through law school and raising her fourteen-year-old son. She's carefully avoided involvement with another man ... until she meets her new boss, Max Hunter... Max has also fallen in love with Caroline, and gains her trust. The two are getting closer and closer, but are unaware that Rob Winters, the man Caroline thought she escaped, is closing in on them ... Karen Rose has crafted a wonderful romantic suspense that will make you fall in love, and look over your shoulder as you turn the pages. This was the first book I had read by this talented author, but it certainly won't be the last.

Don't Tell

I am going to tell everyone I can about this author. This book was great, it had everything you could ever want in a book. Rob Winters was one scary SOB. Max and his family was great. I went out and bought her other two books when I finished this one. Have you seen her is one of my all time fav. I am reading I'm watching you right now and love it.

Don't Tell

This book was the first book I have read in a long time that truly scared me I had all my doors locked and all the lights on. Rob is just evil.The book is wonderful. Buy the book because you wont want to give it back once you've read it.

Awesome debut!!!

This is an awesome book. If you love romantic suspense, this book is for you. It keeps you till the end. I truly enjoyed this book!! A truly great author, looking forward to her next book.

READ THIS BOOK!!

I've never been inspired to write a review before but this book is extraordinary. It has a great plot, the characters are so well drawn you really love them (or hate them!) I wizzed through this book in two days and that's only because I had to work one of the days! It's really hard to believe that this is Karen Rose's first book, it's a stunner. I will be impatiently waiting for anything else she may write.

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