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Behind Closed Doors

CLOSING THE DOOR DOESN'T ALWAYS KEEP YOU SAFE...

Laura Elizabeth Clark saw herself as a peacemaker. Until the day she went against her parents' wishes and married Harry Kendall, a brilliant history professor who happens to be black.

But happily-ever-after goes horribly wrong one night when an intruder forces his way into their bedroom and commits an unthinkable crime. The police say it was a random act of violence, but Harry will never forget those words whispered in the darkness: "White should stay with white."

Seeking justice means confronting a group of white supremacists - the Ivory Nation - with its hush-hush ties to political power. Suddenly, opening the door on truth could threaten not just Harry and Laura's love, but their lives...

Reviews and Comments

...The second in Quinn's Ivory Nation Trilogy, following In Plain Sight (2006), is an intense, dark and thought-provoking look at the damage hatred and fear cause in the world and an affecting drama that reveals how love and hope can heal those same wounds. Combining her usual superb sense of characterization with a realistically gritty plot, Quinn has created an exceptionally powerful book.
--John Charles, Booklist

...A hard look at the motivation behind hate crimes, the Ivory Nation is a deadly and very realistic group that came out of the shadows in Tara Taylor Quinn's novel. Harry and Laura are brilliantly paired individuals who not only have to deal with the day to day obstacles of being an interracial couple but are hit hard by a vicious act of hatred. The brutality and venomous motivation toward the attack had the hair on the back of my neck standing on end. I could not put the book down; it is a riveting story from beginning to end. Leave the lights on; Behind Closed Doors will scare you silly. I stayed up late into the night to finish, turning the pages at a rapid pace.
--Scarlet, Romance Junkies

...I thoroughly enjoyed this book to the point where I could not put it down to attend to such routine things like eating. I was riveted from the first page to the last. This second book in Quinn's Ivory Nation trilogy should go on everyone's must buy list...I highly recommend it, and confidently place it on the Desert Isle Keeper list.
--Keisha Hudson, All About Romance

Laura Clark is a botanist who lives with her brilliant history professor husband, Harry Kendall. In their early thirties they live the life of suburban professionals. This book opens with them waking up in the middle of the night to two men who restrain and beat Harry and brutally rape Laura. The only comments made by the men involve the interracial status of Laura and Harry. Harry is African-American while Laura is Caucasian.
I know readers will wonder why they might want to read a book that begins so violently. I urge them to keep reading. This novel is an excellent study of the complex reactions Laura and Harry have to this brutal assault. As the story progresses Harry becomes obsessed with trying to prove that this was not a random act of violence and instead, represents a carefully planned attack based on his race.
A number of secondary characters lend depth and credibility to this novel and include the detectives assigned to the case, Laura's best friend, Kelly, and Laura's conservative parents who have always disapproved of Harry. Throughout the book is the strong emotional connection between this brave couple who struggle with some very difficult issues alone and together. I have always been aware that there is a faction of white supremacists operative in this country. This book represents a fictionalized account of such a group. Chilling, compelling, and disturbing, violent parts of the novel could be disturbing to some readers. Quinn once more offers readers a very well written book with a strong message. Not to be missed.
--Jeri Neal, The Romance Readers Connection