The reviewer was drawn to 'Don’t Tell' by Karen Rose due to their interest in stories about domestic abuse survivors and their positive experiences with the author's previous works. They found the protagonist, Caroline, to be a vibrant and relatable heroine who maintained her sense of humor and independence despite her past trauma. The reviewer also appreciated the realistic portrayal of Caroline's relationships, particularly her friendship with Dana and her bond with her son. Max, the love interest, was well-developed and suited to Caroline's needs. The suspense plot was expertly executed, with the villain, Rob, being particularly chilling due to his realism. The reviewer loved that the ending was not overly saccharine and acknowledged the lasting impact of the characters' experiences. Overall, the reviewer found the book to be a well-crafted and engaging romantic suspense novel and is eager to read more by the author.
Quick quotes
I spent a few months a couple of years ago volunteering at a local shelter for survivors of domestic abuse, which was something I really enjoyed doing, so I find books with abused woman plots oddly compelling. I’m always afraid the author will get something wrong. Needless to say, Ms. Rose knows what she’s talking about.
Caroline herself is a great heroine. She’s not perfect, but then, nobody in the book is, which is one of the things I liked. I liked that she kept her sense of humor, and I loved that she wasn’t just a weak little flower, constantly needing to be rescued.
I also really loved that the ending wasn’t too pat. Ms. Rose deals with the fact that the characters have a lot to go through when all is said and done, some of which will leave scars. I appreciated that she didn’t sugar-coat things, but that she also left the book on a satisfying note.
