Now You See Her

Note: Originally posted at - www.Bookloversinc.com


Now You See Her is one of my all time favourite books, and it is one of those books I revist again and again, especially at times I need to get out of a book funk or to comfort myself when I need a pick-me-up. I am a huge huge fan of Linda Howard’s, but there is something really magical about this book especially where it stands out among her backlist, and most recently I reread it again for the 5837327 time, and I decided to write an Oldie but a Goodie review.

Paris Sweeny is a quirky artist who is lost in her own world but she isn’t only talented with paints but she also carries other gifts such as, guessing the right answers to Jeopardy, driving and not experiencing a traffic show more jam/red light and her plants always flourish. She is content with life as a loner who is a flourishing artist living in New York. But one day something changes inside her that transforms the insulated world she has formed around herself which brings new possibilities but she also discovers that she has gained a new terrifying gift of painting and predicting scenes of violent murders of people she is acquainted with or knows.

When she goes to her gallery to meet a potential client she notices the gallery’s owner soon to be ex-husband Richard Worth. And her hormones come ALIVE as that instant sexual attraction sparks off and ignites a romance between them. There are complications like the fact that Richard is in the midst of an ugly divorce, with his wife Candra although their relationship ended years ago due to infidelities, and a huge betrayal that broke their marriage up.

At the same time, Sweeney discovers her gift of painting takes a dark turn when she starts to sleep walk and dream paint images of people she knows dying a brutal death, and the aftermath of this takes a serious toll on her emotionally and physically. The after affects of painting a scene causes her to go into deep shock. When Richard finds out he helps to care of her when she has an episode. But worse is to come when someone close to both of them is murdered brutally, and they find themselves in the midst of danger and suspicions.

I love coming of age stories, especially when there is a core romance which helps to awaken the heroine to face new possibilities, and this is a dominant theme in this book. But in this case Sweeney is reawakened, and it feels more like a Sleeping Beauty motif because one day she wakes up and finds that she begins to change her life in little ways- by the way she dresses, paints and notices new things and aspects of herself. And I love her reawakening sexuality which Richard helps to bring out, and discovering there is more to her insular world that she used to protect herself.

However, despite these complications I liked how they refrained from getting sexual(although there’s a scene or two that skated close to the edge). But it helped to stoke up the tension between them and I loved how he cared for her when she had to cope with the aftermath of painting these dark scenes. Linda Howard has a fantastic way with her alpha heroes and Richard is no exception, protective, sexy and tough. I absolutely adored the scenes between him and Sweeney and I melted at the scene where he admitted to her that he would refuse to call her by her surname, and because she disliked being called Paris, I loved his nickname for her ‘Sweetie’ and that really sums up their romance for me. Richard who was betrayed by his wife’s numerous affairs and Sweeney’s troubled childhood, was a wonderful basis for their connection.

Nonetheless, I did find Richard’s ex-wife Candra was a bit two dimensional at times, and I wished her character was expanded a bit more to show more depth. She was selfish, and stupid and shallow and although there was glimpses of more, I felt overall she was used as a source of conflict for Richard and Sweeney.

The mystery did have a twist, I didn’t expect and I was pleasantly surprised by it, especially with the tense and pacey ending. Although I do wished it didn’t end so abruptly. Yes I wanted more *sigh*

However the real heart of the story was the love story between Sweeney and Richard. I remember picking up this book from a book store and the moment I read the first page, and I was so engrossed into the story that when I emerged from the book, I literally read the night away. I know this isn’t a fan fave of the earlier Linda Howard books, but for me there is something magical and comforting about these characters and their romance, and I hope if any of you'll pick it up, that you will feel the same, too. show less

I’m normally not one for a romance novel and this is just that. But the amount of paranormal, suspense and thrill in this book is enough to satiate even the darkest of readers.

Sweeney is a badass on all accounts. A shy, quirky, antisocial and clairvoyant one but a badass nonetheless. She paints, she sees ghosts and now she paints murders after they happen in grisly detail. But what happens when she gets way too involved and way to close with one of the subjects? You’ll just have to read this book to find out! Wait are you waiting for?

Just what would you do if you started seeing ghosts? Paris Sweeney not only sees them, but they seem to want to talk to her (think 6th Sense without the scary music). THEN she starts to have strange black-out/sleep-walking episodes. Throw in one hot man who isn't about to discount Sweeney's psychic talent and you have a very compelling story.

A very talented painter named Sweeney has achieved what few do at her age of 31. She has achieved renown success in the art field and has made herself a comfortable sum along the way. She sells and displays her work at the upscale New York City gallery with her only friend and gallery director. Her life couldn't be better, or could it?
What she doesn't tell her friend is that she seems to mysteriously wake in the wee hours of the morning and paints vivid and horrifying scenes of mayhem and murder without remembering! The latest, a disturbing and gruesome murder scene that happens right after she paints scares her into revealing it to a trusted friend and lover. The information gets to the police investigating the murder and she is thrust show more into the limelight as the prime suspect.

A little bit of the supernatural, some romance, some intrigue. The book was very good. show less

Every so often I reread this book, so first off, it's a keeper and a frequent rereader for me. That being said, I have quite a few problems with the book. This review will contain spoilers, so stop here if you don't want to know more - other than that this is pure Linda Howard, alpha male, good sex scenes.

That all being said, the plot is ridiculous. And Richard's relationship with his soon to be ex wife is difficult for me - he stayed when she was blatantly unfaithful, but left when she told him about her abortion - I can't see a man like Richard staying with a blatantly unfaithful wife.

Also, Sweeney's scruples - I can't sleep with you when you are married, even though you are legally separated, didn't hold up for me, especially the show more precise moment they chose to consumate their relationship. And an added thing that always presses my buttons, is her sudden tick tick tick line at the very end of the book. It was so out of character for her, and unneccessary. Of course, that being said, I reread it about once a year, so obviously I love it far more than I hate it, but these points do annoy me. show less

Enjoyable romantic suspense with a good plot and I always like a hero determined to get his woman. It was refreshing to see a heroine who was honest and open about her feelings. Artist Sweeney is discovering she has special abilities and finds herself attracted to her friends soon to be ex-husband.

Sweeney's life changed when she began to see ghosts. Soon after, she moved from a small town to New York, closer to her gallery. Now her life changes again when she falls for her gallery-owner's soon-to-be-ex-husband, a wealthy financier, and begins sleep-painting murders.

Howard's best book, bar none.