Darkling I Listen by Katherine Sutcliffe

From Barnes & Noble

Katherine Sutcliffe's novel is dark, gritty and intense, but the power of love shines through it all, even for Brandon Carlyle, who stopped believing in love a long time ago. A child TV star who went on to superstar status in movies as an adult, Brandon was lionized in Hollywood and worshiped by millions of women. When he took his life-on-the-edge existence too far, the Hollywood idol came crashing down, sexy bad-boy image and all. The jail sentence that followed was a wake-up call and, once he got out of the slammer, Brandon went back to his small-town roots. Now he's helping his beloved uncle, refusing to consider a comeback -- and wondering how the person stalking him (and sending him threatening love letters signed "Anticipating") has managed to follow him to Ticky Creek, Texas. That's when photographer Alyson James arrives on the scene and tempts Brandon to trust her, despite the fact she could make the anonymity he craves a thing of the past. With Alyson, Brandon can finally share the bitter secrets that shaped him...until she knows so much that they are both in danger of losing much more than their hearts. It may be hard to say which gives this book more sizzle, the compelling characters or the taut pacing, but it's definitely a winning combination.

From the Publisher

At the end of three long years in the penitentiary, movie star Brandon Carlyle's bad boy career is on the skids. He seeks sanctuary with his beloved aunt and uncle, who live in the tiny, eccentric town of Ticky Creek, Texas. But there's nothing about Ticky Creek that's truly peaceful. The local corrupt sheriff, who put him away the first time, is going for him again; the sheriff's horny sister is going for him, too. What's more, a crazed anonymous fan has been writing him a series of threatening letters that could mean harm for him and his family. As the stalker closes in, beautiful tabloid journalist Alyson James appears; she seems like the right woman for Carlyle, but could she be the stalker?

Publishers Weekly

Boozing, brawling and a three-year stint in the state pen for manslaughter have left Brandon Carlyle's movie career in shambles. After being released from prison, the Hollywood bad boy seeks refuge on his aunt and uncle's farm in Ticky Creek, Tex., but he quickly discovers that he can't hide from the ghosts of his past: a stalker named Anticipating is sending him threatening letters, and the corrupt town sheriff is determined to put him back in the slammer. In addition, Brandon must fend off the sheriff's sister, who believes she's the reincarnation of Marilyn Monroe, and the advances of a sexy, underage Wal-Mart checker. When beautiful tabloid reporter Alyson James stumbles onto his property claiming that she intends to write his autobiography, Brandon realizes that he may have found the woman he can settle down with, but first he must contend with Anticipating. Sutcliffe (Fever, etc) captures the atmosphere of this backwater town and engages readers with her convincing cast of oddball characters. Although the stalker's identity is never a mystery, readers will enjoy watching this tangled web unravel. (Sept.) Forecast: Readers who are unfamiliar with Sutcliffe's books may be put off by the novel's blurry, red-washed cover and misleading title (drawn from John Keats's Ode to a Nightingale), but her many fans will embrace this edgy romantic thriller. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

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