Review: Kill Me Again by Maggie Shayne

Kill Me Again by Maggie Shayne (Secrets of Shadow Falls #2)
July 27, 2010
Romantic Suspense
Paperback, 394 Pages
Mira

Reviewed by Tori

Olivia Dupree has been hiding in Shadow Falls for 16 years. Never getting to close to anyone. When a man is brought to the hospital with a gunshot and her business card is in his pocket, Olivia assumes it is Aaron Westhaven, a recluse author she had invited to speak at her university. Only, Aaron doesn’t remember who he is or why he is there.
When Olivia is the victim of a break in, Aaron comes to the rescue and her past is suddenly brought to light. As Aaron’s feelings begin to deepen for Olivia; he is also regaining his memories. Soon is becomes clear that Aaron wasn’t sent to save Olivia. He was sent to kill her.

In Kill Me Again Ms. Shayne takes us back to Shadow Falls and tells us Olivia’s story. We first met Olivia Dupree in Killing Me Softly. Olivia Dupree is a quiet self isolated English Professor with a huge secret. She ran away from an abusive relationship and faked her own death 16 years ago.Now is seems her ex lover has found her and wants her dead.

Aaron Westhaven has no idea who is is or why he is in the Shadow Falls hospital. All he has is Olivia Dupree’s business card. When Olivia is called to help identify him she is at a loss. She has never met Aaron Westhaven; only knows him through his books. When Olivia is attacked in her home, Aaron rushs into save her. From there the two decide to take fate in to their
own hands and find out who he is and who wants Olivia dead.

A suspenseful romance, you figure out early on what the mystery is while the rest of the story flushes out the suspense and romance between Aaron and Olivia. For me the story was rather bland till the last 100 pages.There is no substance or structure to it.

The majority of it is watching Aaron and Olivia interact. I really had a hard time connecting with either of these characters. Olivia is a mess of contradictions. She has spent 16 years hiding. She flow under the radar by maintaining low social and no emotional relationships. But once she hits the road with Aaron her personality becomes bi polar. She is attracted to him and propositions him after knowing him two days but in the next breathe talks of how she doesn’t trust men at all.

Aaron is the strong silent type and seems to know he is not an writer but knows nothing beyond that. He has flashbacks to his old life and is horrified by it.His character is a bit more believable. He reacts as a person with amnesia would. While he is attracted to Olivia he has the sense to know he needs to figure out who he is and where he fits in to this whole scenario.
As we progress towards the finale, the story picks up pace but becomes jumbled with it’s multi layered twists and turns.

Overall the story felt forced and lacked Ms Shayne’s usual style and flair.

Rating: 2/5

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This Series Includes:
Killing Me Softly
Kill Me Again
Kiss Me, Kill Me – September 2010

Author’s Website.