Barbara Freethy - Taken

Praise for Barbara Freethys novels

Dont Say a Word

This is one of those books that gives you the shivers, its so good. This story of a woman with a haunting and secret past will wrap around your heart and wont let go until the last page is turned. Poignant, romantic, and suspenseful, its the perfect read.

Susan Wiggs

Sheer hold-your-breath suspense. Powerful and moving, its characters will have you cheering them on to the end.

Karen Robards

Barbara Freethy at her best! An absorbing story of two people determined to unravel the secrets, betrayals, and questions about their past. The story builds to an explosive conclusion that will leave readers eagerly awaiting Barbara Freethys next book.

Carla Neggers

A page-turner that engages your mind while it tugs at your heartstrings... Dont Say a Word has made me a Barbara Freethy fan for life!

Diane Chamberlain

All She Ever Wanted

A haunting mystery... I couldnt put it down.Luanne Rice

Freethy succeeds in developing a suitably eerie atmosphere.

Publishers Weekly

A gripping tale of romantic suspense.... Barbara Freethy is a master storyteller. A fascinating blend of romance, mystery, and suspense. Dont miss it! Romance Reviews Today

Sizzling.... Freethys expertly penned novel is a true page-turner.

Romantic Times

A fabulous story! The perfect mix of romantic suspense...

the perfect story to curl up in front of a fire with.

RomanceJunkies.com

Golden Lies

An absolute treasure, a fabulous, page-turning combination of romance and intrigue. Fans of Nora Roberts and Elizabeth Lowell will love Golden Lies.

Kristin Hannah

Freethys smooth prose, spirited storytelling, and engaging characters are sure to send readers on a treasure hunt for the authors backlist books.

Publishers Weekly

Multidimensional characters at all levels (especially the strong-willed hero and heroine), realistic and sometimes funny dialogue, and a well-constructed plot that Freethy un-wraps with such consummate skill that the conclusion is at once surprising and totally logical result in a rich and compelling tale.

Library Journal

Wonderfully intriguing... an excellent book.

Romantic Times

Summer Secrets

Barbara Freethy writes with bright assurance exploring the bonds of sisterhood and the excitement of blue water sailing.

Summer Secrets is a lovely novel.

Luanne Rice

Freethy skillfully keeps the reader on the hook, and her tan-talizing and believable tale has it all romance, adventure, and mystery.

Booklist (starred review)

An intriguing, multithreaded plot, this is an emotionally involving story... sure to please Freethys growing fan base and, like Kristin Hannahs novels, neatly bridges the gap between romance and traditional womens fiction.

Library Journal

Freethys zesty storytelling will keep readers hooked.

Publishers Weekly

Freethy is at the top of her form. Contra Costa Times

A knock-your-socks-off tale of deception, family, and love.

Master storyteller Barbara Freethy draws readers into the characters lives on the first page and keeps them engrossed and enthralled to the end. This riveting tale... will resonate in readers hearts long after the last page is turned.

Romance Reviews Today

Further praise for Barbara Freethy

In the tradition of LaVyrle Spencer, gifted author Barbara Freethy creates an irresistible tale of family secrets, riveting adventure, and heart-touching romance.

Susan Wiggs

A fresh and exciting voice in womens romantic fiction.

Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Superlative. Debbie Macomber

Kudos to Barbara Freethy for a first-class reading experience.

Affaire de Coeur

Freethy is an expert at creating believable characters.

Library Journal

Barbara Freethy delivers strong and compelling prose.

Publishers Weekly

If there is one author who knows how to deliver vivid stories that tug on your emotions, its Barbara Freethy.

Romantic Times

Freethy is a strong storyteller with an unerring ear for dialogue.

The Romance Reader

Ms. Freethy paints a sensitive tale of some of the different kinds of wonderful that is love. Midwest Book Review OTHER BOOKS BY BARBARA FREETHY

Dont Say a Word

All She Ever Wanted

Golden Lies

Summer Secrets

TAKEN

Barbara Freethy

A S I G N E T B O O K

SIGNET

Published by New American Library, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA

Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.) Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England Penguin Ireland, 25 St. Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd.) Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124, Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty. Ltd.) Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi - 110 017, India

Penguin Group (NZ), cnr Airborne and Rosedale Roads, Albany, Auckland 1310, New Zealand (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.) Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd., 24 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England First published by Signet, an imprint of New American Library, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

ISBN: 1-4295-0635-0

Copyright Barbara Freethy, 2006

All rights reserved

REGISTERED TRADEMARKMARCA REGISTRADA Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or oth-erwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

PUBLISHERS NOTE

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.

The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the authors rights is appreciated.

To Terry, Kristen, and Logan

Youre the best!

A c k n ow l e d g m e n t s

While writing is a solitary endeavor, I also received a great deal of help along the way from my writing friends in the San Francisco RWA chapter, especially the Fog City Divas: Candice Hern, Diana Dempsey, Carol Grace, Julie Anne Long, Barbara McMahon, Kate Moore, and Lynn Hanna.

They usually ask more questions than I can answer but in the end the story is better for those questions. I also want to thank Christie Ridgway for offering long-distance support.

And last but definitely not least, thanks go to my terrific agent, Andrea Cirillo, as well as the team at the Jane Rotrosen Agency, for their endless support and attention to detail.