Untrue Colors
by Veronica Forand
Genre: Romantic Thriller
Release Date: March 10, 2015
She's on the run...
Brilliant art appraiser Alex Northrop's ex used stolen art to fund his nefarious activities. Now he wants her dead. But it isn't just herself she's worried about - if he discovers who she really is, he'll kill her family.
Professor Henry Chilton is shocked to find a beautiful stranger passed out in his bed, and even more so when the she reveals a priceless painting is a forgery - the painting he'd planned to use to fund a woman's shelter. She's mysterious and frightened, and he is determined to discover why.
Alex's knowledge of art is undeniable--just as Henry's attraction to her is irresistible. But in order to help him recover the real painting, Alex isn't just risking exposure...she's risking her life.
I’m a big fan of romantic suspense and loved the thriller aspect that Untrue Colors added to the mix. The story was original, the characters multi-dimensional, and it was paced perfectly to keep me turning the pages to get to the end. There was a lot going on in this story and the author does a nice job introducing characters and giving you the backstory you need, when you need it, to help understand the actions and emotions of the characters.
Henry was an interesting hero for me. It was tough to peg him in a role – you could feel his alpha side wanting to come out when it came to Alex, but it usually sat at a simmer and never got to a full boil – which was one of the reasons he was so good for Alex. But one thing I wish would have been more developed and explored was Henry’s military service – since he is now just a university professor, Alex constantly underestimates Henry’s ability to protect her, and he really doesn't do much to plead his case otherwise. I would love to have seen Henry shock Alex a time or two with his abilities – nothing too crazy since Alex was running from an overbearing, abusive ex, but just a little show of alpha once or twice. I did love Henry’s sweet side, and loved how Alex snuck her way in to his heart without him realizing it.
Alex was strong, but because of her situation she has started doubting her own judgement. This of course leads her to make some decisions that don’t turn out so good for her or the people that have helped her. Knowing her background and what she is running from, it was easy to understand why she continually second guesses herself, but it was frustrating at times, especially when it came to trusting Henry.He kissed the top of her head, ignoring his yearning to kiss her lips. Her body shivered as her arms circled his waist, and she hugged him close. Nothing had ever fit his body so perfectly. Nobody had ever fit his body so perfectly. She’d have a hard time getting rid of him. She needed a guardian angel, and he’d just appointed himself to the task.
The secondary characters added great color and additional depth to the story. From Henry’s half-brother Simon, who was easy to love and hate, to Luc, the abusive ex who threatens anyone and everyone who gets in his way, each character in this book added another layer to the plot and helped weave the story together.
This was a great read that had a gritty layer to it that added to the romantic suspense aspect of the story, making it a real thriller. The darkness in Luc added an edge to the story that I really enjoyed. I would definitely recommend this one to anyone who likes their romantic suspense served with a bit of a dark edge.
I received a copy of this book from the Author for an honest review.
Oh I have it on my list now. I love a good rom-suspense. Thanks for the intro Margaret!
ReplyDeleteLet me know what you think when you get to it. It really had a nice dark edge to it (crazy-ass villain) and I loved the whole underground art world setting.
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