True Confessions [Paperback]

Rachel Gibson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 26, 2007

Welcome to Gospel, Idaho, where everyone knows that there are two universal truths. First, God did His best work when He created the Sawtooth Wilderness Area. Second, every sin known to heaven and earth—from the hole in the ozone to alien abductions—is all California's fault.

This is the story of what happened when a Californian came to visit . . .

Hope Spencer knows wacky: as a writer for The Weekly News of the Universe she's "spotted" Bigfoot, Elvis, and the face of Jesus on a tortilla. Arriving in Gospel hoping for some peace and quiet and normal . . . she quickly figures out that there's nothing normal going on in Gospel. From the Barnes sisters with their color-coordinated hair, to the toilet-tossing sportsmen . . . to the murder victim whose body had been found in her house years before, the Gospel truth really is stranger than fiction—even tabloid fiction. Hell, she should have stayed in L.A.

And then there's local sheriff Dylan Taber. He's no made-up character from one of her stories. She could never create anything that good. Dylan's all too real . . . and soon Hope is forced to face the awful truth—she's been too long without a man. But once she gets wind of a Hollywood actress somehow mixed up in Dylan's life, Hope realizes that if they are to have any chance together, he has some true confessing to do.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Sheriff Dylan Taber takes one look at city girl Hope Spencer and bets she won't last a week in Gospel, Idaho. But Ray Bans, tiny spandex tops, and a silver Porsche are not the sum total of a woman, and Hope not only stays more than a week, she makes an indelible impression on the local population while she's driving Dylan crazy with lust and longing. Not that she plans to make the sheriff crazy. Hope just wants to end the writer's block that has plagued her for months so she can return to being a star reporter for an L.A. tabloid.

Fortunately for her, the residents of Gospel provide inspiration for her fertile imagination and she's soon cranking out new stories that her publisher loves. Meanwhile, she's making new friends and falling in love--with the Sawtooth Mountains, with small-town life, and with Dylan Taber. Dylan is keeping a secret, however, and when he finds out that Hope isn't just a writer of nonfiction, but a member of the notorious tabloid paparazzi, all hell breaks loose in Gospel. Can Hope convince him that her actions were innocent and will Dylan ever believe her?

From the waitress in the Cozy Corner Cafe to the patrons of the Buckhorn Bar, from the neighbor next door with big hair to seven-year-old boys and their endearing shenanigans, Gibson nails small-town life to perfection. True Confessions is sexy, funny, well-plotted, and a darn good novel. Don't miss this latest offering from one of the rising stars of romantic comedy. --Lois Faye Dyer --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

From Publishers Weekly

When California tabloid reporter Hope Spencer roars into the mountain town of Gospel, Idaho, in her silver Porsche, turquoise Tony Lamas and ultra-tight, "seal-a-meal" jeans, Sheriff Dylan Taber knows that her presence will create quite a stir among the locals. The sassy blonde has awakened some familiar urges in Dylan himself, but as single father and lawman trying to live down his wild past he knows that he can't put his reputation on the line for a fling with a flatlander. Hope has plans of her own for her six-month "working vacation" and they don't include romance. Still recovering from a disastrous marriage, Hope has come to Gospel to heal and to spin a few alien-adventure articles for her editor. She's unprepared for the gossip-loving, toilet-tossing locals, however, and she soon finds herself making friends among them and falling in love with the town sheriff. The only problem is that Hope has yet to tell Dylan what she does for a living, and Dylan seems to be keeping certain details about his past from her as well. Gibson's (It Must Be Love, etc.) characters are quirky and endearing and her clever, snappy dialogue amuses at every turn of the page. With each novel, Gibson's storytelling seems to improve, and this sweetly sexy romance is evidence of her now-considerable skill. (On-sale: July 31)Forecast: A fresh, sweetly suggestive cover and generous advance praise from Jayne Ann Krentz, Elizabeth Lowell and Karen Robards will ensure that this frisky, fun read will sell to its 350,000 first printing.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (June 26, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060772743
• ISBN-13: 978-0060772741
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.8 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (74 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #79,253 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

With the publication of New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Rachel Gibson's first book, readers discovered one of contemporary romance's freshest voices. Four of her novels were named among the Top Ten Favorite Books of the Year by Romance Writers of America.

Rachel's storytelling career began at the age of sixteen when she ran her Chevy Vega into the side of a hill, retrieved the bumper and broken glass from the ground, and drove to her high school parking lot. With the help of her friend, she strategically scattered the broken pieces and told her parents she'd been the victim of a hit and run. They believed her, and she's been telling stories ever since.

When not writing, Rachel can be found boating on Payette Lake with Mr. Gibson, shopping for shoes, or forcing her love on an ungrateful cat.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rachel Gibson does it again, August 3, 2001

By 

"booksrme2" (Cary, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: True Confessions (Mass Market Paperback)

I have been a big fan of Rachel Gibson and have thoroughly enjoyed all her books. With True Confessions, Ms. Gibson again demonstrates her fabulous talent for entertaining the reader with laughs as well as steamy love scenes. Her talent allows you to read and feel like the characters are real. It's definitely a one night read. Hope Spencer arrives in little Gospel, Idaho, in order to try to rejuvenate a slump in her magazine writing career, (if tabloids can really be categorized as magazines!!!). The town's hunk of a sheriff, Dylan Taber, a single father to seven year old son, Adam, is intrigued by the newcomer, and the attraction starts to become mutual. Throw in a number of local citizens, with their bizarre lifes and stories, a Hollywood actress, along with a stalking professional wrestling midget and the book because a hillarious and steamy roller coaster ride of pure reading fun. Rachel Gibson ranks among my favorite authors of Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Susan Howard and Julie Garwood. Don't deny yourself the pleasure of a great book, go out and buy it today, you won't be disappointed!

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love in a small town - with the proper cowboy!, June 24, 2003

By 

baltimore0502 "Hon!" (BALTIMORE, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: True Confessions (Mass Market Paperback)

Rachel Gibson is now pretty much an auto-buy for me. I've enjoyed the three books I've read so far and look forward to "Truly, Madly Yours" and "It Must be Love". Heck I'll probably even read "Lola Carlyle" though it doesn't look as good and hasn't gotten as positive reviews as her other books.

Single dad, town sheriff and sought after hunk Dylan Taber figures trouble has arrived in tiny Gospel, Idaho when a gorgeous woman driving a porsche with "MZBHAVN" California vanity plates pulls into town. What's a sophisticated city girl like her doing out here in the wilderness? Though suspicious of her, he's also intrigued and attracted. But he's got his son to consider and seriously guards his privacy. But is it because news travels so fast in a small town or is there something more to it?

Hope Spencer writes (i.e., makes up) stories of alien abductions and bigfoot sightings for a tabloid. After some unpleasantness with one of the few subjects she based on a real person results in stalking and a restraining order, her boss sends her to the boonies to lay low for six months. She's not really interested in mixing with the locals (and keeps her occupation to herself), but several encounters with the sexy sheriff Taber bring her out of her self-imposed exile.

As Hope and Dylan flirt, she also opens up enough to befriend her neighbor Shelly - her first female friend in a long time. And Dylan's son Adam is also surprisingly enjoyable to be around. As things heat up between them, Hope wonders if she could ever make a life here in a town with no movie theater or even a 7-11. But it also seems like Dylan is ashamed of their relationship, not wanting anyone to find out about them. Hope's not going to be anyone's dirty little secret, but when a famous TV actress Hope once crossed paths with in LA also seems to be mixed up in Dylan's life, both will have a lot of `splaining to do!

Hope and Dylan are a fun and sexy couple with lots of chemistry. Dylan is especially appealing if you like the confident, sexy cowboy type. A recommended read!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Romantic comedy gem, April 10, 2008

By 

Tracy Vest (Northern California) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: True Confessions (Paperback)

Tabloid reporter Hope Spencer has fled to the mountains of Idaho for a little R&R after being stalked by one of her subjects. She wants to keep her identity a secret, but finds herself attracted to Dylan, the sexy town sheriff who seems just as attracted, but is keeping secrets of his own. As she enjoys her days spending time with Dylan and his son Adam, her reporters instincts kick in when she discovers that Dylan shares a past with an infamous actress who Hope has crossed paths with, and finds herself having to make a decision between love and the advancement of her career. Which will she choose?

Set in Truly, Idaho, Gibson's fictional town populated with eclectic and endearing citizens, this is one of her shining moments as a novelist, as plot, character development, romance, and humor collide to make a near-perfect story.