Tell Me Why

By Stella Cameron

Book Overview

In Tell Me Why, readers enter the world of jazz pianist Carolee Burns. At its peak, Carolee's celebrated career took her all over the world. Then, eighteen months ago, she dropped out of sight,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1575668203
• ISBN13: 9781575668208
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Kensington Pub Corp
• Length: 358 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 1.3" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

A story from the heart that made my pulse work overtime!

If you don't want to feel and think, don't read this book. Carolee Burns is a jazz singer and pianist with a world reputation, until she walks into her New York appartment after a tour to discover her husband, Kip, is divorcing her without warning. He wants custody of their daughter, Faith, and to make sure he still gets big chunks of Carolee's money.Max Wolfe, an ex-professional football player who had a bad accident, has seen Carolee perform and he's more than slightly obsessed with her. She's distant but he feels there's a lot behind all that.What happens when Max and Carolee start getting involved is tense enough to make you want to start yelling warnings to the characters. They are in a lot of danger and it's leading toward potential murder.Couldn't put the story down.

Suspense and Stella - the best of both!

Every now and then I'll pick up a book and just cannot put it down; TELL ME WHY is one of those books. From the introductory poem to the final sentence, I was 'in' this story. A tone is set in the beginning as readers watch Carolee Burns ache for just a glimpse of the daughter she loves so dearly. She's hiding in the shadows waiting for Faith to come out of her dance class, hoping she can watch her a few minutes before her ex-husband Kip drives up. It's a year since their divorce, but he's still maintaining tight control, and threatens to take the few custody rights she has away. Carolee is a successful jazz pianist, but currently refuses any engagements except for appearing now and then at her friend Brandy's supper clubIt's here that Max finds himself under Carolee's spell, listening to her share her sadness through her playing. Max can't understand his own feelings, but this sexy woman turns him on, and he's there every night she's playing. Max played pro-football for Seattle until a freak accident crushed his legs. He loved the game and has had a hard time dealing with this blow, but he's built a successful computer company and lives a good life, even though it is a lonely one. The last night at the Club, Carolee's dad, Sam is there, and he watches Max watch his daughter. Sam wants his daughter to begin living again, and he has an idea that will jump-start her in that direction. It's her turn to have Faith for four weeks this summer, and a happy Gramps brings home two gifts for her arrival - a puppy and a pony. He's hired a man to teach her to ride - Have you guessed who yet? Yep, Max. Events begin to snowball from this point on that will keep your eyes glued to the pages. When Kip learns there is another man in the picture, he tightens his control. He's going to turn nasty, and Carolee has to dig deep to get the strength to fight. Gramps and Max are there to offer their love and support, and she'll need them.Stella Cameron brings her characters to life with vivid descriptions and heart breaking memories, helping readers feel the warmth, anger, joy, love, hate, frustration, sensuality, and lonliness emanating from them. You are pulled right into her story, rushing through the pages to see what is going to happen next. TELL ME WHY is a very believable tale filled with events to keep you on a roller coaster ride as emotions go up and down with the highs and lows her characters experience. There is angst and suspense, and a beautiful love that grows from a friendship. There is also a villain you'll want to see get what he deserves, and Max is the kind of man you want to see make sure it happens. I've had the privilege of reviewing Ms. Cameron's last three stories - KEY WEST, GLASS HOUSES, and FINDING IAN. While I've enjoyed each tale, I believe her writing of TELL ME WHY is her best effort yet. It's an encouraging and powerful story and one I very highly recommend..Carol Carter, Reviewer (As posted at Romance Reviews Today)

An exciting romantic suspense novel

Almost two years ago, Carolee Burns was an international star playing jazz on a piano as few have ever done. The divorce from her painter-husband Kip would have been painful by itself. However, Kip used Carolee's touring while he stayed home with their child to gain custody of Faith. Kip never bothered to explain that it was Carolee's successes that allowed him studios in their home and that the nanny spent time with Faith not him. Devastated and unable to play, Carolee rarely ventures in public anymore except for occasionally performing at a small club in the Seattle suburbs. Former pro football player Max Wolfe watches Carolee when she performs and sees in her face and her playing the pain of someone terribly hurt. He wants to help her overcome her anguish, but even as they fall in love, Carolee cannot afford anything to interfere with her goal: regaining custody of Faith. TELL ME WHY is an exciting romantic suspense novel that could have been greater if the story line did not turn Kip from a Machiavellian manipulator into a malevolent person. The plot works at its best when Kip outmaneuvers Carolee and seems to nurture Faith. It remains quite exciting even when Kip turns into a villain, but loses some of the raw emotional edge. In spite of that rotation in the plot, readers will realize that Stella Cameron remains one of the sub-genre's top talents.Harriet Klausner