Knowing Vera by Rachelle Ayala

Vera's dating Zach, casually, not committed, when she discovers her long-departed father is the killer of Zach's mother many years ago.

Meanwhile, Zach reevaluates his life after losing his leg in a tragic accident and realizes he's falling in love with Vera.

Can their timing be so wrong? Vera knows the relationship is doomed, but she cannot resist the tugging of her heart and Zach's panty-melting grin.

Caught in a web of family secrets and hidden agendas, Vera and Zach must depend on each other for survival. A dangerous killer is on the loose, and Vera must find the truth, wherever it leads, even if it destroys her chance for love forever.

Knowing Vera is a suspenseful, cross-cultural romance mixing an unsolved murder, adventure, and hot, steamy love scenes

When you pick up this book you will be shocked at how it sucks you in on the first page.  Vera is a strong female character but as you read you will see just how broken she really is.  Watching her father jump off the bridge to what she believed was his death as a little girl, she blocks the memories that led her to that point.  How did the blood get on her dress, what happen to her little bear?  The pictures she drew for the child psychologist, what did they mean?  Who was the little boy with her in those pictures?  With her never speaking of what happen, she is forced to piece this together and clear her father of murder.

The first thing she has to do is break up with Zach, the man she cares about and is more than likely in love with, but Vera’s father is accused of killing Zach’s mother, only he doesn’t know.  Vera didn’t put the pieces together till Zach was recovering in the hospital from losing one of his legs while he was trying to save Vera’s friend from being kidnapped by a rapist.

The lies that Vera finds she grew up with will turn her world around.  As the lies are discovered, the truth is not far behind.  Watching her solve the murder of Zach’s mom, accepting her father wasn’t who she thought he was, realizing why her mother always acted like she didn’t love Vera, the list goes on as we watch her world crumble and be transformed on the foundation of reality. 

Will Zach and Vera find their way back to each other and can Vera allow someone into her heart now that she knows the truth as to what happen that fateful day?  Vowing to never let another person love her like her father did, will that rule change now?

I found this story very fast paced, full of twists and turns and the love between Zach and Vera had me both melting from the passion and wanting to slap her for continuing to run when Zach got to close.  The characters were well developed and although there are a lot of characters in the story it was very easy to follow and keep you on the edge of your seat.  I really recommend this book to readers who love a love story that is complicated by suspense, lies and drama.