Behind the Mask

Rating:
Summary: Winner of the WordWeaving Award for Excellence
Review: Adam Webster offers a million dollars for Michael Sullivan to find his wife Elisabeth and the disk she stole. Adam had groomed Elisabeth since she was fifteen for his private pleasure, and he intends to have her back. He has little regard for his missing son who monopolized his wife's attention, and has no qualms of disposing of the child. But he carefully guards his possessive streak and his hatred for his child from Michael.

Five years ago Michael abruptly resigned his position as a police officer in Houston following his partner's death. Michael holds himself responsible for Pete's death, believing that he could have prevented the tragedy. Consequently, he also provides financially for Pete's family, and a million dollars will go a long way to secure Pete's widow and son's futures. But when he finds Elisabeth, the facts do not match his preconceptions.

Elisabeth knows that behind Adam's mask of social perfection lurks a monster. In fear for her son's life, she fled her gilded cage, leaving Adam Webster his fabulous wealth far behind. But twice Adam's men have close to catching her, and Elisabeth cannot let her guard drop for even a moment. Not even for the handsome stranger who becomes her only chance for survival.

This richly textured plot keeps the pages turning quickly in Metsy Hingle's BEHIND THE MASK, as Elisabeth and Michael's traitorous emotions and savvy survival skills keep them alive. Each major character of the novel wears a mask: Adam wears a mask of respected businessman; Elisabeth wears a mask of beauty and little brains; and Michael wears a mask concealing his identity from the woman he falls in love with. Each possesses nuances and possibilities that none expect, and underestimating anyone can be deadly. These vividly realized characterizations and desperate motivations give BEHIND THE MASK a fascinating depth. Indeed, Hingle once again proves her consummate artistry as she paints her tale and her characters with vitality and verve. A riveting read that readers will find impossible to put down, BEHIND THE MASK earns the WordWeaving Award for Excellence.

Rating:
Summary: Behind the Mask
Review: After reading the Wager, I knew I had to purchase this book and it lived up to my expectations and more. Very romantic, intriguing, a wonderful read. I look forward to more of Metsy's books. I put her as an author in the league of Sandra Brown and Jayne Ann Krentz.

Rating:
Summary: Behind The Mask
Review: Bounty Hunter and ex Houston police officer Mike Sullivan sees his chance to atone for letting his partner Pete get killed when a millionaire offers him an exhorbitant sum of money to find his missing wife and son. It would allow him to give Pete's widow and children enough money to be financially secure forever, and maybe have something left for himself. However, when he finds Lily Webster hiding in New Orleans, he quickly finds that some things are more important than money. When Micheal hears her story and learns she was fleeing for her life and that of her son, he switches sides to become her protector, never revealing that he is also her betrayer.

As they run for their lives, Michael and Lily become closer, but can not escape the fact that she is married and to a killer at that. On the run from a man who will stop at nothing to reclaim what is his, not even killing the innocent. Even should they survive, how will Lily react when she learns that the man she loves almost sentenced her to a fate worse than death?

***** Although this book uses many plot elements that are familiar, they have combined to create a captivating story that holds one's attention from the first page to the last word.

The magic of New Orleans, a classic, tortured Alpha hero, and beautiful naive and savvy both heroine all make this a book to put on the keeper shelf. Ms. Hingle has made the leap to more serious fiction with great aplomb, and I look forward to reading her future work. Not only are the main characters well defined, but the supporting cast is believeable and fulfill their respective roles with no waste of time or words. Small details add depth and dimension so that though you may have read similiar books, you will still find this one to be a gem. *****...

Rating:
Summary: Great
Review: Great read, exciting, touching and romantic. Tend to go more in for the Lindsey style, and romances like "Anything, My Love" by Cynthia Simmons, but this book was just great.

Rating:
Summary: Decent but not compelling
Review: I am a great Metsy Hingle fan, and this book is her best so far. The characters and plot are believable, the New Orleans background is fun, and the suspense is well crafted. I really enjoyed this one.

Rating:
Summary: Her Best Book So Far
Review: I am a great Metsy Hingle fan, and this book is her best so far. The characters and plot are believable, the New Orleans background is fun, and the suspense is well crafted. I really enjoyed this one.

Rating:
Summary: Decent but not compelling
Review: I enjoyed this book but there wasn't much mystery involved. The romance was sweet but it wasn't enough to make up for the loose ends.

The bad guy was really evil and the hero was a great and generous guy. The woman was sweet and gentle but not helpless and I liked that too. The problem was the subplots that were never really developed. I thought there was too much left unsaid.

Rating:
Summary: exciting romantic suspense
Review: Though several years have passed, former Houston police officer Michael Sullivan still feels guilt over the death of his partner. Mike goes out of his way to help Pete's family. When Adam Webster offers a million dollars to find his missing wife and son, Mike accepts the offer though he finds his client distasteful. Mike sees the payoff as a means of assisting Pete's family.

Mike tracks Adam's wife to New Orleans where she works as a waitress at a diner. Lily Tremont claims to be a widow raising her son. She fled her spouse Adam not because of his treatment of her as a trophy wife sex kitten, but when she realized he will one day kill their child. Following the call back to Miami, Mike realizes he made an error and now tries to keep Lily and her son safe. However, as Mike and Lily fall in love, he wonders if he survives the evil chasing them how will he live with knowing he is Judas to a nice boy and the woman he cherishes.

Though the plot is exciting as so many romantic suspense novels are, Metsy Hingle freshens up the story line further through a strong cast. The lead couple is a wonderful pair and the secondary characters provide depth so that the audience understands the motives of Lily and Mike. Readers will wonder why Mike could not wait to learn why Lily gave up wealth for a diner even with the ticking clock and his obsession. This is a very powerful tale that will gain Ms. Hingle a lot of new readers.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: exciting romantic suspense
Review: Though several years have passed, former Houston police officer Michael Sullivan still feels guilt over the death of his partner. Mike goes out of his way to help Pete's family. When Adam Webster offers a million dollars to find his missing wife and son, Mike accepts the offer though he finds his client distasteful. Mike sees the payoff as a means of assisting Pete's family.

Mike tracks Adam's wife to New Orleans where she works as a waitress at a diner. Lily Tremont claims to be a widow raising her son. She fled her spouse Adam not because of his treatment of her as a trophy wife sex kitten, but when she realized he will one day kill their child. Following the call back to Miami, Mike realizes he made an error and now tries to keep Lily and her son safe. However, as Mike and Lily fall in love, he wonders if he survives the evil chasing them how will he live with knowing he is Judas to a nice boy and the woman he cherishes.

Though the plot is exciting as so many romantic suspense novels are, Metsy Hingle freshens up the story line further through a strong cast. The lead couple is a wonderful pair and the secondary characters provide depth so that the audience understands the motives of Lily and Mike. Readers will wonder why Mike could not wait to learn why Lily gave up wealth for a diner even with the ticking clock and his obsession. This is a very powerful tale that will gain Ms. Hingle a lot of new readers.

Harriet Klausner