This is a Romance between a married doctor and her ex-lover's brother. This is a romantic-thriller book with secret about dead family members and a self sacrificing heroine. This is a romantic-thriller book with secret about dead family members and a self sacrificing heroine. Dr. Lara Mallory came to Eden Pass, Texas and opened a medical practice even though it was the town of her dead ex- lover, the senator Clark Tackett. Five years ago Mrs. Lara Porter aka Lara Mallory was involved in a scandal in which she was accused of having an extramarital affair with Clark. After this incident her husband Randall Porter was appointed as the US ambassador for Montesangre. Due to rebellion in Montesangre Lara's husband and her daughter were killed.
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Lara was treated as an outcast in Eden Pass because Jody Tackett, the head of Tackett Oil and mother of Clark threatened anyone who befriended Lara. Key Tackett after returning from Saudi Arabia and getting shot visited Lara not knowing that she was his brother's mistress.
Lara asked Key to fly her to Montesangre so she could bring back her daughter's remain. Initially Key refuses but after having a fight with his mother agrees. They go to Montesangre but find that her daughter was buried in a mass grave. Later they find Randall Porter alive and well and bring him back to US where he again becomes news.
In the last chapters it is revealed that Randall had planned the rebellion with Emilio in which his daughter was killed and for which he was not very sorry. He had left US as a cuckold but wanted to return as a hero. Lara and Clark weren't lovers. Clark was homosexual and he was Randall's lover. Randall used Lara as a cover for his relations with Clark whom he also used for political gains.
In the end Jody Tackett killed Randall because he was responsible for Clark's downfall and eventually led him to suicide.
The subplots involving the Winston's was unnecessary. Also the subplot about Janellene and Bowie Cato did nothing for the story except add a few pages. It is an ok read but not one of Sandra Brown's best. It is neither a good romantic thriller nor a good romance novel. It is quiet lengthy and sometimes is boring.
Best part of story, including ending:
The thing I hate about this book is that it is lengthy and there are subplots which didn't add much to the story.
Best scene in story:
My favorite scene is the climax where it is revealed that Lara was not Clark's lover, she was just manipulated by her husband.
Opinion about the main character:
I dislike Lara Mallory for not standing up to her husband, or revealing Clark's secret even after he was dead. She was way too self sacrificing for my liking.
