Jane Richardson - A Different Kind of Honesty

Genre : Contemporary Romance
Reviewer : Lindsay Townsend
From its original, amusing opening, A Different Kind of Honesty is a compelling read. Joey Pescolloni, whom the heroine Maggie Lawless meets in a shady New York diner, is a darkly handsome, charismatic man. An instant connection arises between them, surprising them both. They come together in a night of unforgettable passion and then have to go their separate ways, Maggie returning to London (she is a detective sergeant in the Metropolitan Police) and Joey to his own job and life, but neither can forget the encounter.

Six months later, their jobs bring them together again, where ‘Joey’ is revealed as Tony Valentino, an FBI agent whom she met in his undercover role as Joey. However, as Tony tells her, “Look, Joey Pescolloni took you to dinner that night. But I promise you… it was Tony Valentino who made love to you.”

Jane Richardson writes beautifully. The scenes and encounters where Tony and Maggie come together again and recognise the basic honesty in their relationship are heart-stoppingly tense and at the same time tender. Her secondary characters are vivid and real, adding to the richness of this multi-layered novel. Above all, the theme of honesty and trust is threaded throughout, adding to tension and pace.

For there are also threats, some related to Tony’s previous undercover work and the added threat of distance – Maggie needs to return to the UK with her job, Tony has to remain in the States. And there are rumours of a Mob contract out on Tony…. Then there are other major blows for Maggie, who has already endured the loss of her parents, and Tony is forced into hiding, having to leave suddenly and without saying goodbye. Maggie is devastated and terrified that everyone she ever cares about is always lost to her – is Tony another lost love?

There are many twists and turns for Maggie and Tony on their separate and mutual life journeys but throughout them all the connection and emotional honesty remains constant between them. I read A Different Kind of Honesty in a single sitting, swept along by the power and colour of the story and the lively, complex characters. The ending is utterly romantic, a real three-hankie moment!

I look forward to reading more of Jane Richardson’s sophisticated, realistic and uplifting romances and re-reading her A Different Kind of Honesty.
This review was sent by email to me from Lindsay Townsend