Dear Reader,

As most of you probably know by now, I began my career writing series, or category, romance.I am very proud of my roots in romance, and consider myself lucky to have served a solid writing apprenticeship in a genre that allowed me to combine various elements in pursuit of a good story.

Because love stories can be told against the backdrop of history or within the framework of mystery, suspense, fantasy, paranormal, and even horror plots, I was able to exercise those writing muscles over time, undoubtedly leading to the suspense/thriller novels I’m writing today.Romance is no longer the central focus of what I write, but it remains at the heart of all my work.

So I give you here a romantic story with an edge of suspense, first published in 1989.Lara Callahan has come to the small town of Pinewood to start over–and to hide.Devon Shane has come looking for answers. When the wary woman and mysterious man take roles in a community theater production, they risk far more than the judgment of an audience.They risk their very lives.

Because both of them have secrets. Both are living a lie.And both know the first rule of survival is Tell no one. It’s a rule they’ll have to break.

Kay Hooper

From the Hardcover edition.