?Review: The Truth Behind the Mask by W.L. Brooks

Posted on June 30, 2021 by Nadene @ Totally Addicted to Reading in Reviews / 16 Comments

?Review: The Truth Behind the Mask by W.L. BrooksTitle: The Truth Behind The Mask
Author(s): W.L. Brooks
Series: McKay #4
Published by The Wild Rose Press on June 9, 2021
Pages: 302
Genre(s): Romantic Suspense
Source: Author
Format: eBook
Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon
Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne Star
Series Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne Star
Heat Level: One FlameOne FlameOne FlameHalf a Flame

Is Alexandra McKay the reason her sister Fletcher left town? Yes. Does that mean Alex wants to put her life on hold to bring the little beast back? No! But when she discovers her sister's been abducted, Alex will do whatever it takes to rescue her. Giving up his PI gig was tough, but Jake Keller would rather do that any day than partner up with Alexandra McKay. Unfortunately, if he wants to find his friend Fletcher, he has to work with Her Royal Pain-in-the-Behind-ness. Hot or not, the woman makes his jaw twitch. Forced together by circumstance, and ensnared in a web of clues, the pair submit to their undeniable passion. But if they're unwilling to face the truth, they will risk not only Fletcher's life but their own chance at happiness.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.

The Truth Behind the Mask by W L Brooks is the fourth book in The McKay series. It tells the story of Alexandra McKay (Alex) owner of a bed-and-breakfast, and Jacob Keller (Jake) a private investigator. They couldn’t stand to be in the same space with each other. However, when a close family member and friend went missing, they had no choice but to work together in locating her.  

 

At the start I felt discombobulated, as I felt I was dropped in the middle of an ongoing story. It was at this point I realised that this was the fourth book in the series. Nevertheless, I continued reading and in no time I connected the dots. I ended up having a good time with this story.  

The gist of the story is the sudden disappearance of Alexandra’s sister, Fletcher, who also is a friend of Jake. Alex and her sister are not on good terms, but that doesn’t stop her from wanting to find her, even if it meant she had to work with her enemy. I was curious to see how this association would play out and boy oh boy did sparks fly. Beneath the sheets and in the field they ignited the pages.

The story provided the perfect blend of romance and suspense. I enjoyed watching them progress from enemies  to lovers. The journey was not without its challenges. Alex, despite her tough persona, struggled with abandonment issues and feared surrendering her heart. Then there were issues of communication and interference by well-intentioned but nosy family members.

I found the search for Fletcher intriguing.  The clues she left behind when possible, though cryptic, aided with the search. Alex and Jake encountered challenges, some of which place them in dangerous situations. 

The story did not provide details of Fletcher’s feelings throughout her ordeal. Neither did it provide specifics as it relates to the villains mindset throughout the story. I believe these details would increase the intensity and excitement of the story.

Conclusion/Recommendation

Overall, The Truth Behind the Mask was a good read and fairly easy to follow despite it being the fourth book in the series. Fans of the genre should consider adding it to their reading list.

 

 

Story Evaluation
Plot
3.5
Characters
4
World Building
4.5
Writing Style
4
Pacing
4.5
Cover
3
Enjoyment
4
Ending
4.5
Overall: One StarOne StarOne StarOne Star

 

EXCERPT

“Get the hell out of there, Alexandra. Get the hell out or I’m coming in,” he warned through her earbud.
“Just stick to the plan,” she hissed.
“I will if you will. Shit!”
She got to the first landing. “What now?”
“Neighborhood security. Damn it all to hell.”
“Show your PI license.” She cocked her head to the side. Was someone up here?
“I know that, princess, but I’m going to have to cut off communication so we don’t get arrested. Get out of the house! Good evening, officers…”
Static filled her ears, and she slipped the earpiece out. There was no way she wasn’t going up to the second landing. Jacob would have to get over it. The wood under her feet groaned; she cringed. She glanced up the last few steps. Nothing. She tiptoed into the hall; it looked like some creepy maze. Wonderful.
She walked with her back to the wall until she came upon the only room with light shining under the door. Putting her ear against the cool wood, she tried to make out any movement; again nothing. Dr. Drake didn’t have any pets or girlfriends, so what in the hell was going on? She took off her goggles and hooked them onto her belt; she didn’t want the light to make her hesitate. She took a deep breath, put one hand on the knob, the other on the door, and pushed it open…

About W.L. Brooks

W.L. Brooks was born with an active imagination.  When characters come into her mind, she has to give them a life- a chance to tell their stories. With a coffee cup in her hand and a cat by her side, she spends her days letting the ideas flow onto paper.  A voracious reader, she draws her inspiration from mystery, romance, suspense and a dash of the paranormal.  A native of Virginia Beach, she is currently living in Western North Carolina. Pick up her latest novel, Unearthing the Past – available now!

Nadene @ Totally Addicted to Reading
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16 responses to “?Review: The Truth Behind the Mask by W.L. Brooks

  1. I might be frustrated with this one, I find it hard to jump into an established series, you are more patient than I am 😉