Beguiled

Title: Beguiled
Authors: Deeanne Gist & J. Mark Bertrand
ISBN: 978-0-7642-0628-3

From the back cover:

Rylee Monroe, a dogwalker in Charleston's wealthiest neighborhood, never feared the streets at night. But now a thief is terrorizing the area and worse, someone seems to be targeting her.

Reporter Logan Woods is following the break-ins with the hope of publishing his coverage as a true-crime book. The more he digs, the more he realizes this beguiling dogwalker seems to be the center of everything.

As danger draws ever closer, Logan must choose: Chase the girl, the story, or plunge into the shadows after the villain who threatens everything?

My take:

Although I loved the cover, I don't think it fit with the contemporary setting. It almost looks as if the book belongs perhaps in the 30s or 40s.

I'm a Deeanne Gist fan. I have to say I was hoping for more of the kind of romance she usually writes. This book is much tamer in that department. I believed there was chemistry between them and it was realistic that their romantic relationship might be more appropriate once this "crisis" situation was put behind them. It even made Logan seem more noble. He obviously was attracted to Rylee. They didn't write this where he just liked her for her personality. Both of them wanted to go to the next level, but when someone is stalking you, possibly threatening your life and framing you for multiple thefts... it may not be the best time to start a new relationship.

The story itself was very good. I was hooked and finished it within two days. Since I wasn't feeling well, that was pretty fast. They were able to keep the pace high and me second guessing myself all the way to the end.

I thought the setting and characters came alive. I loved Rylee and Logan. I can picture her on roller blades with Logan keeping a safe distance from one of the bigger dogs. :o) Secondary characters like Rylee's friend and neighbor,Liz, the dogs she walks like Romeo & Toro, the mysterious Mr. Gibbon, and even the police detective Nate Campbell all come across as much more than two dimensional.

I do believe if you enjoy suspense with a touch of romance, you just may be beguiled by this one. :o)