Review: One secret after another
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 6, 2013
A vast number of mysteries arise all through IDENTITY CRISIS, and many of their eventual explanations are completely unanticipated. This is the first romantic suspense story by Eliza Daly, and she skillfully builds the emotional tension along with any physical danger.Right after the funeral of her father, Olivia Doyle is given a letter written by him. What is stated in the note is startling, as she learns they have been in the Federal Witness Protection Program since she was very young. An accompanying newspaper article tells how her dad helped a particular mob obtain and sell fake artwork, and then turned against them. Olivia wants answers and contacts the U.S. Marshall whose number was listed in the letter but he does not answer.When she goes to the home of her father, it is obvious someone has ransacked the place. A man arrives and informs Olivia that he has taken over for the federal marshal who helped her dad. She is at first suspicious of Ethan Ryder, as there are so many things she does not know at the moment plus she has been taught to not trust any person besides her father. Questions about her parent also continue to mount, and she speculates as to whether he could have illegally used the art gallery she owns to sell more paintings. Ethan knows if he is to keep Olivia safe, he will have to gain her trust. When the threats continue, they decide to leave and travel to the town where family members she does not recall still live. While Ethan watches over Olivia, his feelings start to become involved. But he knows this should not happen, as he must always stay focused or something dire could take place.Quite a few scenes in IDENTITY CRISIS build up the anticipation of what will occur next, as Eliza Daly cleverly gives slight hints to keep you guessing. There were so many times when I was just as stunned as the characters when an undisclosed fact finally becomes known, and being caught off guard certainly makes the story even more enjoyable. Ms. Daly cunningly tosses in plenty of these unexpected turns from time to time, and this kept me eagerly turning the page. Numerous scenes had me wondering about what several characters are actually thinking and how it is relevant to the storyline, thus more mystery. When suspense is featured in a plot, I am always delighted as this has always been a favorite genre. An added bonus is when there is also convincing romantic elements added in, and IDENTITY CRISIS hits the mark on both themes. Any threats that take place seem probable, and the jeopardy associated with these incidents would definitely have frightened me. As details come to light about Olivia and her father, I could easily sense her confusion plus the pain it caused her. When Ethan enters into her life, the uncertainties seem to double because her emotions become conflicted for new reasons. The connection between these two is realistically depicted with sincerely honest responses, especially when their inner feelings are the driving force behind all spontaneous reactions. Olivia often feels Ethan is so dedicated to his career that a relationship between them is doomed before it really starts. This causes much sexual tension whenever they interact, because the spark is truly there but he tries to not fan the flames and make it ignite. Eliza Daly has created a satisfying romance filled with suspenseful danger, and I hope she writes more in this genre. IDENTITY CRISIS has intriguing mysteries and heartfelt emotions.Single Titles review - 4.5 Stars