Book Review: Kiss Me, Kill Me (Secrets of Shadow Falls #3) by Maggie Shayne

Summary:
She's protected him since the day he was born. Since the day the lie began. Since the day she claimed him as her own.
A long-ago act of kindness to a desperate woman changed Dr. Carrie Overton's life forever. Before disappearing into the night, the grateful stranger left her newborn son for Carrie to raise. When the woman is later found murdered, the secret becomes Carrie's alone.
She has kept both it and her son, Sam, safe for sixteen years. But now a friend of Sam's has gone missing. The police in quaint, quiet Shadow Falls, Vermont, believe he's a runaway - until he's found dead and another teen disappears, and talk turns to that long-ago murder.
Newcomer Gabriel Cain is asking too many questions, befriending Sam, getting too close. Carrie distrusts him even as she finds herself falling for him. But Gabriel has secrets, too, secrets to challenge the fierceness of a mother's love.
She's been lying about her son since the day he was born. Lying to everyone who trusts her. Can Gabriel's arrival mark the day the lie finally ends and real life begins?

Review:
This was a good read.  It was part mystery, part love story.  There was very little violence, no sex, and no bad language.  That was a refreshing change of pace from some of my usual reads.  The mystery part had a nice surprise at the end and a neat, Stephenie Meyer-like ending.  I have to say that I'm a sucker for an all-tied-up ending!

The premise is unique.  I was drawn to the story just by reading the summary and the plot did not disappoint.  The love story is nothing we haven't read before, but it is sweet nonetheless.  I would recommend Kiss Me,Kill Me to fans of mystery and suspense novels.  Those looking for a hot-and-heavy romance will be disappointed.  Although I have to say, sometimes a well-written kissing scene is more touching than a typical romance novel love scene.  (The tension between Jace and Clary in The Mortal Instruments series is coming to mind here versus the heavy description of Georgina Kincaid's exploits). Do you know what I mean?   

Just One Gripe:
The dialogue felt a little superficial at times.  The writing was heavy on the dialogue, so the shallowness of some of the conversations got old.

The Best Thing About This Book:
I liked the resolution of the mystery, and how Shayne ties all the characters into the story.

Appropriate for a younger audience:
Yes

Score:
Characters: 3/5
Plot: 3/5
Setting/Imagery: 4/5
Originality: 3/5
Ending: 4/5
Total Score:  18/25




*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an impartial review.


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