Being Madame Ariadne, Psychic Dream Consultant, wasn’t Prudence Ryland’s ideal gig, but it paid well which was reason enough to do the work—until she realizes that her latest client intends to kill her. But Prudence, a master at reinvention, finds a new job and home as far away as possible and is finally able to relax—which turns out to be a big mistake. Letting her guard down means being kidnapped and drugged and waking up in a bloodstained wedding dress in the honeymoon suite next to a dead man. With the press outside the hotel, waiting with their cameras and police sirens in the distance, it’s obvious she’s being framed for the man’s murder. Prudence knows who is responsible, but will anyone believe her?
It doesn’t seem likely that rumored crime boss Luther Pell or his associate, Jack Wingate, believe her seemingly outrageous claims of being a target of a ruthless vendetta. In fact, Prudence is convinced that the mysterious Mr. Wingate believes her to be a fraud at best, and at worst: a murderer. And Jack Wingate does seem to be someone intimately familiar with violence, if going by his scarred face and grim expression. So no one is more shocked than Prudence when Jack says he’ll help her. Of course, his ideas for helping her involve using her as the bait for a killer, but Prudence feels oddly safe with Jack protecting her. But who will protect Prudence from her growing fascination with this enigma of a man?
Release Date: May 2, 2023
Heat Level: Warm/Sensual
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley
Price: $14.99
“Dark haired and cold eyed, with a face that looked as if it had been chiseled from granite, and the attitude to match, Wingate certainly could have been a visiting crime lord. But she had been forced to reevaluate her conclusion when she realized he was watching her the way a dedicated lepidopterist might examine an unusual butterfly. She got the feeling he was trying to decide if she was a rare enough specimen to be added to his collection. Her intuition had stirred. Who or what are you collecting, Jack Wingate?”
Prudence Ryland is a psychic, but she didn’t foretell her future when she woke up in a wedding dress next to a murdered man. She flees from the scene, but her past is catching up to her in the form of Jack Wingate. He doesn’t believe in the occult or psychics, he is a man who deals in cold hard facts, but there is no denying that someone is framing Prudence Ryland for murder.
You’re a villain. No, you’re the villain. Wait, now you’re the villain too? These were the exact thoughts running through my brain while reading this story. I couldn’t keep up with everyone Quick was making the villain. Instead of it just being a red herring which would have made the story more interesting, she just decided she wanted everyone to be a bad guy. It felt like she wasn’t sure where this story was supposed to be going in the end. It felt rushed and lacked a logical conclusion, in my opinion. I did like the psychic aspect of this story and the way she weaved that into the plot.
Jack and Prudence were complete opposites. She was carefree, and he was extremely no-nonsense, so the juxtaposition of them as a couple really worked. I found myself enjoying their relationships and the moments they had together. I just wish it had a simpler ending.
If you enjoy romantic suspense authors like Julie Garwood or Linda Howard, then take a chance on this one.
~ Michelle
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