Lori Foster, The Secret Life of Bryan

The Secret Life of Bryan

Lori Foster

Kensington, Mar 2004, $#14.00, 304 pp.

ISBN: 0758203381

Widow Shay Sommers uses her wealth to help rescue child prostitutes. As a storm rages the Preacher notices Shay in a bad neighborhood looking like a prostitute. He offers her residence in a safe house, which she accepts. She says she is not a prostitute so he asks if she is slumming before going into a tirade about rich society dames "helping" the down trodden like the Crown Princess who rejected a victim. Shay defends the "Crown Princess" as that is her. She decides his safe house is ideal for her to help others and get to know her knight.

Bryan, a widower bounty hunter, wonders how his twin brother Bruce the Preacher puts up with these women of the street. He switched identities with Bruce, who was hospitalized after an assault, to catch the SOB, but lusts over the newest hooker Shay. She feels very attracted to him and wants to know him. As they fall in love, Brian tries to avoid Shay while she worries how he will react to her true identity. Meanwhile someone is willing to kill to stop the Preacher's help to hookers.

THE SECRET LIFE OF BRYAN is a powerful romantic suspense that spotlights the impact of prostitution on the supplier. The tale contains strong lead characters and a solid support cast that all seem genuine. Though the villain once revealed near the end seems too weak throughout the tale to be the antagonist and his actions during the final confrontation seem out of character, fans will enjoy this walk on the dark side of the streets.

Harriet Klausner