Obsessed [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Susan Anderson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 10, 2004

A New York Times Bestselling Author

After months on the trail of the twisted Seattle serial rapist, Detective Vincent D'Ambruzzi is closing in on his quarry - no thanks to the uncooperative Ivy Pennington, M.D. Soon, D'Ambruzzi discovers that he isn't the only one infuriated - and captivated - by the beautiful ER physician. Hidden in the shadows, looming closer with every phase of the moon, is the stranger he seeks - and he's bent on making Ivy his next victim . . .

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Susan Anderson, CSW, is a psychotherapist who has specialized in helping clients deal with heartbreak, loss and abandonment for more than 25 years. She has led workshops on abandonment recovery, conducts seminars and lectures, and has appeared on radio and television speaking on the related issues of addiction, parenting and abandonment.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Wheeler Publishing; 1 edition (June 10, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1587247038
• ISBN-13: 978-1587247033
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,714,216 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Susan Andersen writes contemporary--some claim humorous--romantic suspense. Her books have spent many weeks on the USAToday and New York Times bestseller lists, and have twice been included in RWA's Top Ten Favorite Books of the Year. the proud mother of a grown son, she's a native of the Pacific Northwest, where she lives with her husband and two cats.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good, but not Susan's Best, December 10, 2001

By 

Nicole Miale - See all my reviews

This review is from: Obsessed (Zebra Romantic Suspense) (Paperback)

I'm a longtime romance fan who has learned over the years to be wary of rereleases because they usually can't live up to the author's newest work and you wind up being disappointed. I think that's the case with Obsessed, which is a good book, and is worth checking out, but will disappoint you if you're looking for the quality/level of Susan Andersen's latest works.

I'm a Susan Andersen fan, and Obsessed contains all the elements that make her writing so much fun for me: hot cranky hero, smart, "sassy" heroine, great banter and dialogue between all the characters (not just the heroine/hero), and HOT sex scenes. The emotional baggage the characters carry is well drawn and the suspense is creepy enough to live with you after the book is finished and sitting on the bookshelf again. The rapist theme itself is handled sensitively.

The main problem I had with Obsessed is that it feels like a retread of some of Ms. Andersen's other books. In actuality, since this one was published first, the opposite is probably true. This book doesn't feel as well developed or as cohesive as Exposure or Baby, I'm Yours, but has a lot of the same plot/character devices. It is very similar to Present Danger in feel, an Andersen rerelease that I think was a better book overall.

If you're an Andersen fan already, then you'll want to read Obsessed to keep your collection complete, and it's worth it as long as you don't expect too much. If you haven't read anything by Ms. Andersen yet but want to try this one, just be forewarned that it isn't her best. Any of the others I've mentioned in this review are better bets to start out.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Dark Subject But A Good Story Full Of Human Emotion, May 10, 2002

By 

Kristi Ahlers (Illinois) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Obsessed (Zebra Romantic Suspense) (Paperback)

This is a story about a very dark and serious subject that of rape. There is a rapist on the streets. He only attacks on the night of a full moon and he carves a broken heart onto the chests of his victims. A keepsake for them to remember him by.

Vincent is a detective in the Special Assults Unit of the Seattle police department. He investigates these types of crimes and he is frustrated and getting no where in finding his attacker. Yet every full moon ends up giving him a victim. If his job is not enought to keep him dark and edgy his personal past adds fire to the flames. His ex-wife was unfaithful (more then once and everyone knew about it) and this has left a huge scar on his soul. He trusts no one especially women.

Ivy is a doctor in a trauma unit. She lives in a close knit family and is trusting and dedicated to her job. She is finally ready to take to start dating now that she is done with medical school. She has moved out of her aunt and uncles garage apartment and is moved into a new unit right next door to Vincent.

There first meeting is not the greatest but they can not deny the attraction that they feel for each other. Thinking that it will be easy to avoid each other they go about their individual businesses until the rapist hits again and the victim is sent to Ivy's unit. Vincent is shocked to see Ivy as the attending doctor and can't believe that all of his preconcieved ideas about her are wrong. Not realizing it at the time the rapist has followed the latest victim to the hospital. His "voices" have not been quited this time and he is mad about this until he sees Ivy. She quites his voices and sees her as his good luck charm.

The end result is Ivy is pulled into a situation that has her being attracted to untrusting, dark, brooding man and the object of worship by a rapist.

This is a good book and I feel that Susan Andersen was true to her characterization and her characters by not dismissing out of hand the effects that Vincent's life would have on any type of relationship that he might be involved in. The topic is dark and scary and I feel that she did justice to it. You won't find any of SA trademark humor in the book but I feel that humor would be a out of place. Despite all of this a relationship is formed that is strong and full of emotion. Don't buy this book if you are looking for a light read but DO buy it if you like suspense, romance, and are not afraid of human emotion.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not Andersen's best, but only because she's that good, August 3, 2004

By 

Mimi (Winston Salem, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Obsessed (Zebra Romantic Suspense) (Paperback)

The characters were wonderfully developed and the story line was rich. Andersen takes us through the twisted tale of a serial rapist, those whom he is stalking and those who are trying to track him down. It was nice to get a perspective from all three parties.

The serial rapist, who is referred to as Hart, because he carves a heart on all of his victims, becomes infatuated with the ER doctor, Ivy, who saves the life of one of his victims. (He wants his victims to live so that they will remember him and what he did.) When Ivy starts receiving mysterious gifts and puts 2 and 2 together, she realizes that she is now the object of Hart's attention. Enter Det. D'Ambruzzi, the one night stand man who left Ivy with strong feeling of being used. D'Ambruzzi is working on the serial rapist case, while still trying to get over the horrible things his ex-wife put him through. Now he has a hot neighbor next door who is making him feel things he never thought he'd feel again, and a mad man chasing after her.

I definitely recommend this book to romantic suspense readers. If you're new to Andersen, I suggest that you also read some of her newer novels, such as Getting Lucky, All Shook Up, or Head Over Heals. You'll enjoy those even more.



Happy reading...