Rating: 
Summary: Katherine Sutcliffe has written her first Romantic Suspense
Review: After losing three years of his life in prison, for manslaughter, and having lost his childhood to alcoholism and abuse, Brandon Carlyle returns home to Ticky Creek, a beaten and broken superstar. He hopes the love of his family can heal his wounded soul. The resident's of the small Texas town, along with his Aunt and Uncle, are bound and determined to protect him from the prying eyes of news hounds, and adoring fans. One obsessed fan has somehow found him, and is able to get her demented letters to him. They are all signed Anticipating, and each letter is more threatening, and sinister, than the last. When Alyson James arrives in town to get the scoop on Brandon, and hopefully make a name for herself, she's unprepared for the anguish and terror in this bigger than life super stars eyes. When their relationship escalates from a sexual relationship to real love, Alyson has to hide her true reason for being in Ticky Creek, so that she can stay close to Brandon, and keep him safe. One by one, Anticipation takes away anyone close to Brandon. No one is safe from this fanatic fan. Come hell or high water she will have him all to herself. Katherine Sutcliffe has written her first Romantic Suspense brilliantly! From the very first page I couldn't put DARLING I LISTEN down. The small town of Ticky Creek is chalk full of more crazy people than an asylum. Ms. Sutcliffe keeps you on edge while you are trying to figure out which character is more dangerous than the next. As the abuse that Brandon has had to deal with as a child surfaces, your heart just breaks for him. The love that he shares with his Uncle and Aunt puts a big lump in your throat. And when you see the desperation he feels, and the terror that stalks him, you can't help but cringe in fear. The sexual tension between Brandon and Alyson is fiery! Each consecutive scene is more intense, and arousing, then the last. I hadn't read such hot love scenes in quite a while. I highly recommend DARKLING I LISTEN! If you enjoyed Stephen Kings book Misery, you can't help but truly enjoy this one. Just be prepared for an intensely scarier surprise at the ending of Ms. Sutcliffe's book!
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent but...
Review: Brandon Carlyle is a movie star with a bit of a past. On top of that, there's a stalker, Anticipating, tracking his every movement. Alyson, a tabloid reporter falls into Brandon's vicicnity, his home, while trying to do a tell-all story on the movie star with a prison record. As the two become acquainted, Alyson will try to help save Brandon from Anticipating. Brandon will become enamored with Alyson, a woman with a hidden agenda. To the writer's credit, I was able to read this suspense, but didn't find it particularly suspenseful. I did have some questions about the story, though. Why would a movie star trying to hide, do so in his boyhood home? Why did he live the life of a poor man, doing chores? Why would he trust a reporter, before anyone else? And, why was everyone in Ticky Creek an oddity? a crude southerner? And, I did know who Anticipating was from the first introduction.
There was not alot of suspense then, for me, since Anticipating only had one victim in mind. And, the romance between Brandon and Alyson, seemed to be about...
Rating:
Summary: An excellent book by any standard
Review: Brandon Carlyle, a famous movie actor, has the image of a Hollywood bad boy. Brandon is now in hiding after spending three years in prison for manslaughter. He has sought refuge in the small town he grew up in, Ticky Creek, Texas and is living with his beloved aunt and uncle seeking peace and quiet. Although Brandon was at the top of his movie career when he was sent to prison, the offers for acting are now few and insignificant. Now on parole, he relishes the time he is spending with his aunt and uncle, works hard on their ranch/farm, and is questioning what he will do with the rest of his life. He is still young enough to have many acting years ahead. But, what really counts in life? When we first meet Brandon, he is in a depressed state, asking himself these questions and we can see his inner turmoil and identify favorably with him. He doesn't act out his previous bad boy image and fights to maintain a cool head and stay completely away from what could be considered inappropriate behavior. Of course, he is very handsome and tremendously sexy. Brandon is protected from the outside world by Ticky Creeks' residents who cherish him and keep his whereabouts secret. Alyson (Aly) James is a tabloid writer looking for one last big story that will hopefully provide her with the funds to change her life. Aly has found that big story - she has discovered Brandon's hiding place and wants to be the one to reveal the latest about Brandon Carlyle. Yes, Aly's plans for exposing Brandon are not honorable and she does have a sleazy tabloid background. However, she is a fantastic heroine - one of my favorites. In fact, her description of such a career in reviews of this book, kept me from reading it for some time. I just could not imagine her in a positive light. But the author pulls it off. We read about a heroine who is strong, understanding, kind, and empathetic. She decides that she cannot continue her past career as she gets to know Brandon and his family. She now fully sees that there is always another side to a story. In the case of Brandon Carlyle, his story has an overwhelming and sad side. Darkling I Listen is definitely a very serious, dramatic story. There are a few humorous lines but mostly it lives up to its name in that it is a very dark tale. Brandon and Aly have a great amount of interaction for the first three-fourths of the book. We are in for a stimulating and intensive read as we see Brandon come out of his shell and are allowed to observe the secrets of his agonizing past. Aly plays well into Brandon's recovery. She shows much more character than her past would indicate. The sensual portions of the book have been described by other(s) as some of the most sensual they have read. Although well written and meaningful, these scenes rate about a 4.0 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines). Yes, some of these scenes fall closer to a 4.5 rating but the scenes are infrequent and therefore my reasoning for a 4.0 sensual rating. This is not a book in which you miss sensual scenes. You are so caught up in the entire book that they simply help round out a very beautiful story. Although this is a definite five star rated book, there still were a couple of troubling aspects. First the suspenseful ending of the book was just too much. It was too graphic and violent for my tastes. Second, the epilogue is squandered. It is spent on the many secondary characters (both good and evil) appearing all at the same time to explain their part in Brandon's misery and seek his forgiveness. I wanted interaction between the leads. Instead, I felt that the author wasted the entire epilogue tying up loose ends that we as readers already understood completely. Darkling I Listen is an excellent, excellent book! It is a deeply moving and multifaceted story. With the exception of the violent final portion of the book, this tale lacks nothing. It is truly great reading. This is my first of Sutcliffe's books and I will keep it to read another day. I look forward to reading her other books and have just started her newest, Bad Moon Rising.
Rating:
Summary: Best characters,, and love those bad boys.
Review: How Mrs. Sutcliffe continues to keep up her pace, and constantly challenge us, her avid readers,is always the best aspect of reading her books. She delves deeply into the human condition where other writers most often gloss over the human frailties. Good, bad or pimples on the backside, she bares the characters hearts, and oh, her bad boy heros. No one does them like Katherine Sutcliffe. In Darkling, I listen, I wanted to see redemption and healing for the characters. Kudos, Mrs. Sutcliffe, you never disappoint.
Rating:
Summary: This book was better than 5 stars!
Review: I thought this book was great!! It's a definite keeper. The chemistry between Alyson and Brandon was red hot. You don't really know for sure who Anticipating is, but you get a clue pretty quick. I think Brandon is one of my favorite heros. He wasn't afraid to admit being afraid. He admitted it like no other hero I have ever read and it wasn't just fear of losing Alyson. Sutcliffe made Brandon real. She made him a guy with everyday feelings and emotions. The suspense was great. The end of the book had me on the edge of my seat!!
Rating:
Summary: An edgy contempory suspense I won't soon forget!
Review: I've read several of this author's historical romances and have come to expect a great story rich in characters and details, and I sure wasn't disappointed this time. If anything, Darkling I Listen is my favorite Katherine Sutcliffe book. Not only was I kept guessing 'til the end, this is a gripping, sexy suspense populated by incredibly different, well-rounded characters throughout. I really cared and feared for the good guys, abhored the bad guys, and was swept into a Texas setting that left me feeling like I knew the place. The lead characters Brandon and Alyson are wonderful! The potential spontaneous combustion every time they were within 10 feet of each other kept me on the edge of my seat. Thank you, Katherine Sutcliffe! Hope more of the same is on its way!
Rating:
Summary: Listen to this!
Review: MsSutcliffe belongs right up there with all the popular romance/suspense writers. This was my first read by this author and I couldnt put the book down. Not only was the mystery very suspenseful and weird but the romance was hot. This romance/suspense was very dark in spaces but it all came together at the end. Nice to read about a strong heroine who will not give up on the hero and saves him instead of the other way around. Ladies will love Brandon, believe me.
Rating:
Summary: ANOTHER KEEPER....
Review: Read the Editorial Reviews for the book description: A very good and entertaining read. The characters were very believable and most very likeable. Unfortunately I knew who the villain was when the character was first introduced but KS made up for that with all the twists and turns. The novel was
a bit wordy but still a good and interesting read. Brandon is a man's man with real struggles and a heart breaking past that will make you want to cry for him. His love interest by the name of Alyson was there at first for the story that would boost
her career but fell head-long in love with Brandon. She was a good strong character with fire and some kick to her. I appreciate the fact that KS allowed her to be strong and still when she was wrong didn't allow her pride to talk her out of a future with the man she loved. And KS know she can write a love scene!!!!! HONEY, I WANTED TO JUMP RIGHT IN THE PAGES. Read this novel you will not be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Darkling I Listen
Review: There I was taking a chance NEVER thinking for a minute that I would find anything remotely enjoyable about this book. I saw the name Katherine Sutcliffe and I thought to myself "What is she doing writing a suspense book?" I waited two days to read it (I am kicking myself for that now). I read the first page and I was hooked.
Brandon had all the complexities of Nicholas Sabre Esquire (if you are a true fan you know who that is!) but he had more edge to him. I kept thinking why is he so angry and hurt and when I found out I cried oh how I cried.Alyson was wonderful, a heroine with just the right amount of spunk. The town of Ticky Creek would make you want to move there.
This book is beautiful! I cannot say that I have read a better book this year and I have read a lot of books! This book is amazing. The characters are well developed with foibles and all the redeeming qaulities that make us human. They come to life in "Darkling" as Katherine weaves a tale of both love and terror. I highly recomend this book to anyone who loves to read and especially to KS fans.
I can go on and on but I won't. I am usually a sceptic when it comes to authors moving outside of their genres but I have learned my lesson and what better way of learning it than with this book.
Do something really good for yourself and buy this book!
Rating:
Summary: On the edge of your seat!
Review: This is a real page turner, full of wonderful characters, sass, humor, love, passion, and an incredible mystery. Once again, you don't want to leave these people who you have come to know so well. You hurt for them, and laugh with them. Great story!
| 
