"Sexy Bad Boy"

Brandon Carlyle is a famous Hollywood heartthrob. He has fame and money to spare but how did it all go so wrong? He is an alcoholic and had gone to prison accused of rape and manslaughter. Now he is hiding out in the small Texas town where he had grown up and lived with his aunt and uncle. He is licking his wounds, trying to stay clean and to figure out what to do to get his life on track. He is angry and frustrated when Alyson James drops out of a tree camera in hand. She is photographing the handsome hunk for a popular scandal sheet. Telling a tall tale, she convinces Brandon that she wants to write the true story of his life.

Brandon has so many problems and is at his wits end to know what to do. Not only does he have his career to worry about but also he is receiving threatening notes from a stalker that calls herself "Anticipating" and his aunt has suffered a stroke. In the town of Ticky Creek, some people love him while others hate him and are jealous of his good looks and fame.

Alyson wants to make a career move and realizes that getting a story about Brandon might do the trick. She is attracted to him and his angry attitude just adds appeal to Hollywood's "bad boy". The more she learns about his childhood, the more she understands and cares about him. She becomes entangled in her lies and as her attraction grows finds it difficult to tell him the truth about herself.

The town of Ticky Creek has its share of unusual characters. There are some very gritty revelations of Brandon's childhood and his mother that are not easy to read. The romance is a major part of the book and what a romance it is!! Brandon is a wonderful sexy "bad boy" but Alyson can match him perfectly with her feistiness. Their love affair is very hot and burns up the pages. There are a few red herrings but the reader has an idea who "Anticipating" is early in the book. But no matter.... Darkling I Listen is well worth reading and enjoying. Also, there are a few unexpected twists and turns along with a very exciting ending. The book moves along at a fast pace and it is well written. Katherine Sutcliffe's venture into romantic suspense has done her proud. I enjoyed Whitehorse and her latest, Darkling I Listen, pulls you in and doesn't let go until the last page. I will be looking for more books by this author.

Reviewed by Marilyn Heyman
Posted December 17, 2001

Summary

2002 RITA Finalist

Bestselling author Katherine Sutcliffe introduces a brand new novel-and a bold new direction-in her stellar career. A contemporary novel about love...and obsession.

Even though Brandon Carlyle's acting career seems to be stalling, it hasn't stopped an anonymous fan from becoming a malicious stalker. Hoping to get away from it all, he returns to his Texas hometown for some peace and quiet. But when he meets a sexy journalist, he isn't sure if she's the woman of his dreams-or the woman of his nightmares...