Lovers in Hiding (Hide and Seek, Book 3) (Harlequin Intrigue Series #644) [Mass Market Paperback]

Susan Kearney (Author)

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin (December 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373226446
• ISBN-13: 978-0373226443
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 4.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,760,657 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An explosive ending to an AWESOME series!, February 19, 2002

By 

Julie Leto "[e-mail]" (Tampa, Florida USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lovers in Hiding (Hide and Seek, Book 3) (Harlequin Intrigue Series #644) (Mass Market Paperback)

Susan Kearney's HIDDEN YEARS series concludes with LOVERS IN HIDING, the story of the youngest of three children torn apart by the deaths of their parents--and drawn back together in danger as adults.

Melinda is a wonderful heroine! Quirky, independent, free-spirited--the perfect foil for serious, intellectual Clay. I love amnesia stories, but since Melinda's condition is temporary, the thrill of learning details little by little added a fresh twist to a suspenseful storyline. And finally learning the depth of danger behind the CIA's involvement in this series is a great payoff. Brava, Susan Kearney!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Series, December 24, 2001

By 

apoem "apoem" (Bosque Farms, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Lovers in Hiding (Hide and Seek, Book 3) (Harlequin Intrigue Series #644) (Mass Market Paperback)

I have read all of Susan Kearney's 'In Hiding" series. I thought they were all fairly realistic, considering the wild situation the characters are in. The characters were well developed. The women were strong and the men were interesting. Great!

Having said that, this book is my least favorite in the series. I thought that it was just a little bit too pat, particularly the ending. I kind of felt that it ended suddenly. However, just because it's not as good as the others doesn't mean that it is not good.

Enjoy! I did. I thought that Melinda was a strong woman who knew how to be soft and vulnerable. I thought that Clay did a very good job of learning what was important in life. I enjoyed reading about their predicament as well.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Lovers in Hiding, February 9, 2002

By 

Penny Griffin ([e-mail]) (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lovers in Hiding (Hide and Seek, Book 3) (Harlequin Intrigue Series #644) (Mass Market Paperback)

Susan Kearney concludes her Hide and Seek series with the implausible "Lovers in Hiding." CIA code analyst Clay Rogan is sent to track down Melinda Murphy. Melinda's long-lost brother recently came into possession of an old notebook belonging to their secret agent parents and sent a copy to Melinda. Clay's mission is to get the notebook and decode it. But when he finds Melinda, she's under attack and drowning. He saves her, only to discover she has amnesia. Can he unlock the location of the notebook from her mind and protect her from the men who are also after it?

Kearney has gained fans for writing fast-paced stories that keep readers turning pages. They are easy reads that go down quickly. Like most of her books, "Lovers in Hiding" goes by fast, fast, fast. If all you're looking for is a fast read that you'll forget as soon as it's over, "Lovers in Hiding" is an acceptable choice. If you're looking for something more, like characters, believable plots or any plot whatsoever, "Lovers in Hiding" would not be a good choice. There is simply nothing to this book other than the fast pace. There's no mystery to solve because the villain's identity is so obvious from the start. There's no plot to follow. The hero and heroine meet, they run and run and run (and run and run and run and run) and they live happily ever after. The end. There's not much of a love story. The book takes place over a very short period of time and the characters are always running, so they have to fall in love almost instantly. This is the kind of story where characters who just met are hot and heavy for each other within a half an hour. I believed Clay and Melinda were in lust. I did not believe they were in love. There are no characters. Kearney gives a few basic facts about Clay and Melinda but never gives them any dimension or development. The reader never gets to know the characters. It is impossible to believe they got to know each other. Good Intrigues are able to provide a strong relationship, emotional romance, well developed characters and an interesting plot. "Lovers in Hiding" has none of these. I've been able to recommend Intrigues with weak romances if the mystery is that spectacular, or weak intrigue because of a stunning love story. "Lovers in Hiding" doesn't provide either.

"Lovers in Hiding" is also contrived and not very well thought out. The author changes the rules of Melinda's "amnesia" from page to page, shifting what she remembers and doesn't remember until it's impossible to believe she has amnesia. Her "amnesia" lasts for about two seconds and a couple of pages before she starts to remember. One minute she doesn't know anything, the next she's spouting off all of these details about her life, the next she's still claiming she has amnesia. Melinda conveniently remembers everything about her life when she needs it and conveniently can't remember anything that would make the story end sooner, like where the journal is. It doesn't make any sense. She remembers nothing. She remembers everything. No, almost everything. Then she remembers more. But she still can't remember one little thing.... And this is all within the first few chapters. This seems like an obvious attempt by the author, who knows that amnesia books sell well, to get fans of amnesia books to buy this one without her having to write an amnesia book, much the way she did the secret baby plot in "Cradle Will Rock" while having her characters ignore how real people would react to the discovery of a secret child. Kearney's treatment of the CIA is also amateurish and unconvincing. While authors like Gayle Wilson have written dramatic, believable stories about intrigue in the CIA, Kearney's version is lightweight, as realistic as a bunch of kids playing cops and robbers. On a more positive, the ending is typically exciting. Kearney's books are never boring and the climax and epilogue of "Lovers in Hiding" are very nice.

Kearney's fans will likely know what to expect from her and enjoy this one as well. Her stories move so fast some readers may not have time to think about the story any more than the author did. While I've enjoyed some of her books ("A Night Without End," "Little Boys Blue"), this is not one of them. It doesn't approach her worst ("Deceiving Daddy," "Priority Male," "Lullaby and Goodnight"). That doesn't make it good either.