C-Squared’s review of Talk Me Down by Victoria Dahl
Contemporary romance released by HQN 1 Jan 09

Molly Jennings has just moved back to her hometown.  She left the big city because her stalker ex-boyfriend was making her life miserable.   Molly has another secret she isn’t sharing with the hometown folk, too – she writes erotic romances.

One of the first people she encounters is her high school crush, her brother’s best friend and the current police chief – Ben Lawson.  The sparks she thought she imagined when she was young are still there and even more sparkly.

Not long after she moves into her house, Molly notices some strange things happening and calls the police (one of very few logical decisions she makes).  Soon she and Ben are doing more than throwing sparks.  Even though she continues to keep her secrets from Ben and everyone else.  Even though she knows he doesn’t like secrets.  Even though he knows she is a big bundle of secrets.

Molly is an interesting character.  On one hand, she is a strong, funny, intelligent, independent woman who’s not afraid to take charge of her sexuality (the love scenes are smokin’!) and on the other hand, she borders on TSTL.  If you have had issues with a stalker and move to a new house in a new town and are old friends with the chief of police, wouldn’t you mention it?  Wouldn’t you make sure the house was extra secure?  Or get a dog, at least??  If you know the man you’re getting involved with intensely dislikes secrets, wouldn’t you try to be honest?  At least, as honest as you can?

I am certainly not in favor of giving out too much information – especially to family and friends – when you know it will only worry or disappoint people.  But that line of reasoning stops when danger to my person rears its ugly head.  Jeez.

Ben is a good guy – he personifies the old adage about still waters running deep – and he obviously has the patience of a saint.  Most people would have thrown their hands in the air and walked away from Molly’s shenanigans, no matter how hot the sex was.

This was my first book by Victoria Dahl and it won’t be my last.  It was very good.  With a few tweaks to the characterization of Molly, it would have been excellent.

Grade: B

Summary:

Molly Jenkins has one naughty little secret: her job as a bestselling erotic fiction author. Until her inspiration runs dry-thanks to a creepy ex-and it’s time to skip town and move back to tiny Tumble Creek, Colorado.

One look at former high school hunk chief of police Ben Lawson and Molly is back in business. The town gossip is buzzing at her door and, worse still, a stalker seems to be watching her every move. Thankfully, her very own lawman has taken to coming over, often. The only problem now is that Molly may have to let the cat out of the bag about her chosen profession, and straitlaced Ben will definitely not approve….

Read an excerpt.