Jonetta (Ejaygirl)

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.

• Rated 4 stars

“I knew I wanted to read this book as soon as the series was announced. My only concern was whether it would meet my expectations or was my excitement going to build them up too high. It was needless worry.

The Set Up
Triplet sisters Savannah, Samantha and Sabrina Wilde lost their parents in a brutal "murder-suicide" in Midnight, Alabama when they were 10 years old. It was blamed on their father but we know that's not so from the prologue. Their paternal grandfather is left to raise them and when Savannah was 18, she fell in love with Zach Tanner, a noble boy from a troubled home.

The Conflict
It's 10 years later and Savannah returns to Midnight for a couple of months, not having seen Zach in all that time. He's hoping for forgiveness for what tore them apart and she's not sure she can handle seeing him again. Both have secrets that they've held back.

The Mystery
Somebody murdered Beckett and Maggie Wilde 18 years ago and they killer or killers are still out there with no one really aware someone other than Beckett committed the crime. The suspense element slowly elevates as the story evolves.

What I Loved
Zach and Savannah. I felt like I knew exactly who they were in their teens and again ten years later. They were always true to character, and awfully appealing ones at that. There's a humble nobility about Zach...he's not perfect but he comes close. And, Savannah epitomizes beauty, grace and Southern elegance. Having the undiscovered and unsolved murder as a backdrop added a subtle edge to the entire story. Their romance was poignant, tragic, lovely, steamy...all of that. And, it was always at the forefront of the story. The Southern element was pitch perfect, too..no caricatures here, just a realistic portrayal of what's true about the culture.

What Didn't Work
Nada. This is the complete package.

What's Different
There are three timelines in the story: the parents' murder when the girls were 10 years old; Savannah at 18 when she begins seeing Zach; and, Savannah at 28 when she returns home.

Bottom Line
This is a strong start to what promises to be a really good series. The romance was utterly satisfying, the suspense creepy enough, the mystery puzzling and the Southern setting appropriate to the story. We already know enough about the other two Wilde sisters, Samantha and Sabrina, to anticipate their stories and there are a couple of other characters whose stories would reel me in. I really liked this book. 4.5 stars!
”

Jonetta (Ejaygirl) wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“The set up
Em Moore is one half of the ghost writing team of T.E. Blakemoore. She and her writing partner, Teddy Blake are working on the autobiography of a legendary actor and director, Garrett Malcolm. Teddy was just killed in a car accident and the emotionally and socially inept Em is left to finish the project.

The issues
Em is very close to being labeled an agoraphobic (fear of public places) and suffers from panic attacks. Teddy was the interviewer and she did the writing. Everyone (her publisher, Garrett) is concerned about her ability to finish the project without Teddy.

The mystery
Teddy may have discovered some information he wasn't supposed to know about the complex world of Garrett Malcolm. Was his crash really an accident and who might have something to hide?

What works
The story is told through Em's voice so events are captured through her lens but you can also see them differently not matter what her perspective. This is a really skillful piece of writing where the first person narrative permits you to actually experience alternate points of view because of Em's naïveté. Characters initially seem flat and one dimensional but later begin to take on vibrancy and color. I didn't know where the story was going and though sometimes it was a bumpy journey it was compelling.

Anything special
The story is told using three formats: Em's musings to the dead Teddy, almost as if she were writing in her journal; Teddy's interviews with the people in Garrett's world as background for the book; and the police report updates to the chief by the detective investigating Teddy's accident.

What didn't work
The beginning was a bit bumpy for me because of the story format. I didn't know who anyone was, where the story was beginning, etc. BUT! If you hang in there, the payoff is huge.

Bottom line
This was one of the more fascinating stories I've read in a while. While the format slowed me down in the beginning, it really ended up being a brilliant device to tell this story. The ending was incredible and could only be pulled off in how it was delivered. It's a humdinger. This is my first book by Linda Barnes and it's definitely not my last. A fine piece of writing.
”

Jonetta (Ejaygirl) wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 2 stars

“The author, Gregg Olsen, is renowned for his true crime novels and I cannot wait to get to them; I don’t question his writing skills in that genre. However, his hand at this work of fiction fell really short for me.

The major problem with this book is with the characterizations and it starts with the main character, Emily Kenyon. She doesn’t seem to have strong relationships with anyone (ex-husband, ex-boyfriend, boss, co-worker) but the underlying reasons of how they got that way were never really addressed and of course they pivot without explanation later in the story. Getting who Emily is was critical to believing and understanding the course of the investigation. When you can’t get a grip on the main character (who does something completely foul in the middle of story), it’s really difficult to relate to her and invest in the rest of the story.

Normally, serial killers are the most well defined characters in a mystery/suspense story. The one here seemed to be pretty clear until we get to the end of the story and nobody is behaving to type. I still don’t understand what happened and why.

This was a convoluted plot with poorly developed characters that in the end didn't make a whole lot of sense. It was hard to predict character's behaviors as I never felt I got to know them, really. The device where the story goes back and forth in time was okay but when we were reading the thoughts of undefined and unidentified characters who never showed up again, it was hard to figure out what was important. If Olsen had spent more time developing the main characters and the serial killer, the story would have worked better. As it was, this was just a mess for me.

I will definitely read the two true crime novels I’ve purchased but I can’t continue this series, even though I bought the next (and last) book. I peeked and found out what I needed to know.
”

Jonetta (Ejaygirl) wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.

• Rated 4 stars

“I came ever so close to not downloading this book and am I ever grateful that I gave it a second shot. It wasn’t another story about a wild-child-turned-rocker who comes home to prove to the hometown crowd he could be somebody (what I thought it would be). Instead, it was a tender, loving story about a guy, Cain Black, who had a bit of bad boy in him, was incredibly talented as a teen-ager and everyone knew it and returns home when one of his best friends from that time was killed in action in Afghanistan. The group that was affectionately called the Bad Boys of Crystal Lake get to reunite for the first time since high school but sadly with one missing.

Maggie is one of the first people Cain sees when he gets back for the funeral reception and it’s all sparks and sizzle from thereon out. She’s pretty reluctant to let him into her life, not only because he’s a rock star and all that implies, but she’s got a 7-year old son and a secret past that could threaten her safety and security. The red-haired Maggie is no push over and makes him work for her, not too much, just the right tempo. It’s a contemporary romance but with a slight bit of suspense and intrigue thrown in to make it just a little spicier.

What works about this story? The hometown embraces Cain and his friends and we learn a lot from their recollections. The friendship and closeness of the Bad Boys is fun and entertaining. Cain has all of the things we love about musicians…oozing charisma, a strong presence and the ability to touch you emotionally with melody and lyrics. Even though I couldn’t really hear them, he struck some really nice chords:) Cain’s relationship with Maggie and her son Michael is just well done. No shortcuts are taken here and they tackle substantive and realistic issues.

This isn’t a fluff piece with stereotyped angles. It’s a well-written story with characters you care about, like and lust over (Cain is simply delicious). Cain’s friends, Jake and Mac, give us a clue about their future stories and I know enough now to definitely commit to reading them as soon as they’re available. Put this on your shelf and read it. Rated 4.5 stars.

(I received an ARC from NetGalley)
”

Jonetta (Ejaygirl) wrote this review Thursday, April 25, 2013. ( reply | permalink )

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.

• Rated 4 stars

“Tasha Gordon met Andre De Laurent when her best friend married his brother. The two were instantly attracted to each other and embarked on a light hearted, flirty affair. When Andre's maternal uncle died and left him a fortune with strings attached, he found himself in need of a wife and sought out Tasha with a lucrative offer. Before he could make it, Andre discovered she was pregnant and never let on his original purpose of a marriage proposal.

I was surprised that this story ended up being more substantive than the first. My first impression of Tasha painted her as more of a good time party girl, a bit self centered and ambitious. Fortunately, those first impressions weren't lasting and this marriage had a real shot at lasting as both Tasha and Andre's feelings for each other ran deeper than either of them knew. The secret Andre kept from her was certain to derail them if she ever found out and distant relatives played a role in trying to make that happen.

Certainly, there were fun moments but for the most part, this was a story of two people coming together for reasons other than love and ultimately creating a new relationship based on trust, commitment and genuine love. It is a mature story that had me run through a gamut of emotions. It was a most pleasant surprise and I'm looking forward to the next in the series. ”

Jonetta (Ejaygirl) wrote this review Tuesday, April 23, 2013. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“Joe didn't have any intention of seeing Keri beyond that first meeting but within five minutes knew he needed more time with her. His crazy plan wasn't well thought out but he pulled out all the stops. Keri chose her career over Joe years ago, determined to make a name for herself, and now she had to stay committed to because she didn't just break Joe's heart but her own, too.

This first story in the series was full of laugh out loud moments as this is a big, boisterous family who enjoys being with each other. They go along with Joe's plan, except his twin sister,Terry, who hasn't forgiven Keri, who was also once her friend. Keri's life may seem glamorous now but she hasn't formed any lasting relationships that even come close to what she gave up when she left for Los Angeles.

There's also a serious side as Terry's marriage is on the rocks and their brother Mike and his wife are experiencing some stress. These issues blended well in the background of Joe and Keri's romance, sometimes being a factor in Joe's plan.

What we ended up with is a great story, a bittersweet romance and lots of funny moments as Joe and Keri try to find a way to reconnect in the woods of New Hampshire with the entire Kowalski clan. I loved the family dynamics as well as these outgoing and attractive Kowalski men. I'm already hooked to the series. ”

Jonetta (Ejaygirl) wrote this review Tuesday, April 23, 2013. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“I've looked forward to going back to Barefoot Bay for months and this book didn't let me down. Zoe's story promised to be interesting as we knew she was hiding from something or someone. The last story ended with her running from Dr. Oliver Bradbury when he recognized her at the resort grand opening while performing the emergency delivery of Lacey's baby.

Zoe's story and past may have been tragic but Oliver certainly was a big payoff. He is smoldering sexy and head over heels in love with this woman who is conditioned to run when people get too close. Time after time he affirms his love (in some really great ways) and commitment to her but Zoe has no frame of reference for loving someone without having them be taken away in some manner. While her behavior is understandable, it got old after awhile (my reason for deducting a 1/2 halo). As if Oliver wasn't a complete enough package, his precocious 8-year old son Evan, brought the best out of him and everyone else around him.

I also continue to be drawn to the close-knit circle of women friends that make this series cohesive. Their relationships with each other aren't always perfect but they're devoted to each other. We don't see enough of these type of relationships between women and they're a great model.

Here I am again, primed and ready for the next book in this refreshing series but will have to wait a few months. You don't have to read these books in order necessarily as you can get up to date pretty easily. But, I wouldn't miss a paragraph about any of the women in this circle and would serve them up in order. It's a sexy, fun romance involving women with some tough issues paired with men you'll just keep dreaming about. ”

Jonetta (Ejaygirl) wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“Myron extracts a promise from the daughter of his high school friend and she takes him up on it by calling him for help in the middle of the night weeks later. Against his better instincts, he picks her up and drops her off at a friend's house, no questions asked. Well, at least none she would answer. When she later turns up missing, Myron's in trouble with just about everyone.

This was an interesting and meandering ride to solve this latest mystery. It's six years since the last encounter with Myron and his business has changed, he's dating a new woman and he's stopped being an amateur detective. Only as a favor to his friend is he willing to get back in the game. I like this new, introspective Myron and the story was at times frightening and sad and at other times typically humorous. As with the previous books, I missed the solution by a long shot.

The one downside...Harlan narrating the audiobook. Apparently, Jonathan Marosz, the narrator of the first seven books retired in the six years between this and the last book. Thankfully, the next books are narrated by Steven Weber because Harlan's great skills don't extend to narration. ”

Jonetta (Ejaygirl) wrote this review Wednesday, April 17, 2013. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“This is a short story that packs a lot of emotion in a few pages. It begins in July 1945, right before the Allied occupation. I have to admit I cringed initially at the idea of a Nazi soldier being the hero of the story paired with a Jewish heroine. Aurel Rothstein was the head doctor at the camp, which made me even more nervous.

Sarah is beautiful but she's no shrinking violet and is destined for trouble once she reaches the camp. She and Aurel have an immediate connection at first sight and both take incredible risks.

It's a haunting story, complete with the reality of the horrors of the concentration camps as a backdrop for a touching romance. By the end, Aurel emerged as a more honorable man than I believed but no excuses were made for his contribution to the Nazi effort. He's not quite an Oskar Schindler but nor is he a Josef Mengele. Sarah is his redemption and he's her future.

Martin has written a provocative story that serves as an excellent discussion about redemption, forgiveness and the blindness of love. I'm still thinking about it.
”

Jonetta (Ejaygirl) wrote this review Tuesday, April 16, 2013. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“Drew finds out from his girlfrien's reading material that she has ménage fantasies and decides to make it a reality for their one-year anniversary. He enrolls his best friend Brody to be the third partner, unaware that he's got some kind of thing for Sidney. While she's at first a bit startled, Sidney accepts this "gift" and things go amazingly well...at first.

The ménage scenes are definitely well done but more importantly, the story that deals with the complexity of everyone's feelings and the aftermath is even better. Everyone's perspectives are offered and woven seamlessly for such a short story. I really enjoyed it and plan to read Brody's story next. ”

Jonetta (Ejaygirl) wrote this review Tuesday, April 16, 2013. ( reply | permalink )