Editorial Review

In the first book of the Prescription for Trouble series, Code Blue means more to Dr. Cathy Sewell than the cardiac emergency she has to face. It describes her mental state as she finds that coming back to her hometown hasn t brought her the peace she so desperately needs. Instead, it s clear that someone there wants her gone...or dead.

Cathy returns to her hometown seeking healing after a broken relationship, but discovers that among her friends and acquaintances is someone who wants her out of town...or dead. Lawyer Will Kennedy, her high school sweetheart, offers help, but does it carry a price tag? Is hospital chief of staff Dr. Marcus Bell really on her side in her fight to get hospital privileges? Is Will s father, Pastor Matthew Kennedy, interested in advising her or just trying to get her back to the church she left years ago? When one of Cathy s prescriptions almost kills the town banker, it sets the stage for a malpractice suit that could end her time in town, if not her career. It s soon clear that this return home was a prescription for trouble. ... Read more

Reviews

Not really a medical thriller...
This book involves a doctor who is being harassed and that's about as "thriller" as it gets. Mabry's book is really a book about re-finding one's faith in God and learning to trust fellow humans and the church in times of crisis. I would not have downloaded the book if I had known that in advance as I thought I was getting a true medical suspense/thriller book. Also, the writing is not as good as it could be although it's a decent first effort. I won't be reading any more books in this series--I read the synopsis for the second book and it sounds exactly like this book with a different set of characters. It would be nice to see Mabry put his obvious wealth of medical knowledge to use in a different plot formula.

Perfect dose of Medical, Suspense and Romance!!!
When I think Christian fiction, I always automatically think female authors, and very rarely do I associate a male author. I think female authors because they create characters that are unforgettable and with whom I can undoubtedly relate to in some way or another. But I must confess and say that I am super pleased with Richard Mabry's work. CODE BLUE is a terrific start to a new medical series written by a highly talented male author.

In CODE BLUE,book 1 in the Prescription for Trouble series, we get a healthy dose of crisis, suspense, faith tested and of course, romance! Inject that with a bit of humor and mix it up for the perfect drug! It will cure any ailment! The characters in this particular story blend well with the plot of suspense. This plot is one that grips your soul and puts you right in the middle of the medical action! I loved the thrill of not knowing what was gonna happen next to Dr. Sewell, and I also loved the feeling that Mabry created by those perfect injections of God's love and faith. It certainly made for better entertainment than those TV medical dramas!

My advice to you? Read CODE BLUE. It's 5 star worthy, like Candace Calvert's Mercy Hospital Series....BETTER than any Grey's Anatomy, ER, or House episode could ever be. I can't wait for a second dose of medical mystery and fast paced thrills with this amazing series! And we'll get that with Prescription for Trouble's book 2: MEDICAL ERRORcoming in September of 2010!

Read this one STAT!
Richard Mabry, MD has retired his stethoscope and now writes novels instead of prescriptions. And he has quickly earned a spot on my shelf next to Harry Kraus MD, Candace Calvert, and Hannah Alexander as an author of great medical fiction. Code Blue is so fast-paced, suspenseful, and authentic that I could practically hear the sirens! Dr. Cathy Sewell longs to establish her practice in her hometown, but the obstacles mount. Obstacles such as the sacred "good old boys" club that seems determined to thwart her at every turn. And the fact that someone apparently wants her permanently removed from the scene, causing her to interact more often with the local EMTs as a patient than as a physician. When she treats the local banker for a heart condition and his prescription results in his coming perilously close to death, even those who supported her begin to question her competency. Will her career be resuscitated or will it flatline before it even begins? Grab a copy of this compelling book; it's just what the doctor ordered!

Code Blue: Good medicine for readers of medical thrillers
Do you like to settle in at night with a great book? Get ready to lose some sleep if you pick up Code Blue. Each twist and turn of this debut novel is bound to keep readers turning pages as retired doctor-turn-novelist Richard Mabry ratchets up tension chapter after chapter.

Main character Dr. Cathy Sewell returns to her hometown in Texas to start all over, only to face unyielding opposition. People she grew up with seem to hold grudges. And someone might even want her dead. The cast of potential villains is staggering as Dr. Mabry does a great job of casting suspicion upon just about everyone who crosses Cathy's path. Even the man she once loved. She must fight for economic and physical survival as one mishap after another begins to tear her world apart. She begins to question everything--even her relationship with God.

This novelist has taken a lifetime of experiences in the medical field and created a page-turning medical thriller that is hard to put down. This novel is just what the doctor ordered.

Code Blue resuscitates Christian Medical fiction single handedly
Dr. Cathy Sewell is finding her hometown reception cool when she returns to practice medicine. Several near misses cause her to wonder if she is being paranoid, a victim of mental illness as her mother was presumably so, or on someones hit list. The list of prospects that would want her gone-in one sense of the term or another-grows and getting to the bottom of who has the most against her takes time, patience, and nerves of steel.

Accented by a host of supporting roles-Will, his parents, Marcus Bell, and the always helpful Jane-Code Blue is an intense ride along side Dr Cathy as she relentlessly tries to establish her practice in spite of the odds stacked against her. I've worked the ER and have participated in treatment scenarios first hand and found my pulse quickened and racing during some of the medical drama's. Not many writers can recreate medical situations so closely that they adequately stir the adrenaline that accompanies the pace. Mabry not only sufficiently describes and stimulates the precise emotions, as a writer, he is superior at creating a fictional recipe of medical drama, thrills, and romance. By page 50 or so, I was so enraptured by the action, characters and plot, I did a speed read to get to the end, and then felt sad to close the last page. As a reader you will fall in love with everything about the book-from characters to story lines. I also appreciate an author that keeps his scenes short because that keeps the pace rolling along. And, need I say it again, am indebted to any author that is not afraid to mention a Christian lifestyle in their novels and incorporate it effectively so that the story revolves around God, not vice versa. I respect Mabry for capitalizing on Christianity by showing love in action, not condemnation.

Code Blue, the first in the Prescription for Trouble series, is a promising start to what I believe will be a long standing writing career for Mabry.

A Fresh New Voice In Christian Fiction
Cathy Sewell doesn't just find herself a woman doctor in a man's world. She is a family doctor in a town ruled by specialists. And she has to prove herself and her abilities to gain the hospital privileges she needs to best help her patients. But someone doesn't want her to succeed.

I enjoyed watching Cathy prove her worth over and over. But would it be enough?

Richard L. Mabry, MD is a writer to watch. He brings a fresh new voice to Christian Fiction and medical suspense.

Couldn't put it down, refreshingly authentic medical mystery!
I admit, as an RN/nursing supervisor, I'm usually skeptical of medical-related fiction. But Dr. Mabry's CODE BLUE had me in the first few paragraphs. His use of medical knowledge and details is accurate, but not overwhelming; in-depth, but not over-powering. The storyline captivated me, too. I really felt Cathy's struggle with learning to trust again, and her relationship with Will was believeable, tender, and inspiring. This is a perfect snuggle-under-the-covers-and-stay-there-'til-you're-finished mystery. I read this in one day becuase I couldn't put it down, and can't wait until his next book is released!

quick flowing light thriller!
found it hard to put this book down. fun and inspiring look into a new doctors life in a small town. good character development, and a hard to figure out who done it until the last page turn. ... Read more

Editorial Review

"Please God, if you're listening, keep Rachel safe." She couldn't turn her back on her family in their time of need. So when her sister was injured, financial expert Andrea Hampton traded the big city for Amish country to help turn her grandmother's house into an inn. But life with the Plain People took a treacherous turn when a string of accidents and pranks threatened her family. Someone didn't want the secrets the old house harbored to come to light. Trusting anyone—even the handsome carpenter who seemed so genuine—was a battle for Andrea, but her life depended on her ability to find the truth.

Reviews

Excellent start to the series
Andrea Hampton is used to the safety and security of her big city job. However, nothing will keep her from running back to her sister's side after Rachel is involved in a horrific accident. But helping Rachel and her grandmother open up a bed and breakfast? Ridiculous...and yet that is the position she finds herself in. Carpenter Cal Burke seems willing to help. Just what is going on with this rash of accidents plaguing the inn and its owners?

I read the first two books of The Three Sisters Inn series out of order, but the overall beauty of this series remains intact; HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT is the first book and an excellent start to the series.

Marta Perry creates such beautiful settings for her tales. HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT is set in the heart of Amish country. The peaceful setting provides a sharp contrast to the increasingly dangerous attacks on the Hampton family. In fact, the atmosphere accentuates the danger that lurks in this seemingly tranquil environment.

Marta Perry develops characters the reader wants to revisit over and over again. Andrea's transformation over the course of the book is a joy to behold. The issues of faith are sensitively addressed through the eyes of both Andrea and Cal. The importance of family and friends is especially notable in HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT.

HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT is yet another fantastic book from Marta Perry. I am quickly becoming a fan of both Marta Perry and the Love Inspired Suspense line as both evoke such strong emotions. Easily recommended!

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

Romance and Suspense. Good Read
Andrea Hampton is the successful sister; important job, important opinions, important woman. Sister Rachel stayed home with their grandmother and is determined to turn the family home into a bed and breakfast. Andrea doesn't approve. But when Rachel is injured in a hit and run accident, Andrea drops everything to hurry to her bedside. You take care of family.
Unfortunately, Andrea has to swerve to avoid an Amish buggy on a dark road and ends up in the ditch. Calvin Burke rescues her and takes her to the hospital to see Rachel. Andrea is grateful until she learns he is her grandmother's tenant. Not everyone in town wants another bed and breakfast, and things begin to happen, some of them very dangerous. Andrea, who is used to doing everything herself, has to learn who she can trust.
Hiding in Plain Sight is a suspenseful story of intrigue and romance, salted with a strong faith message. Things aren't always the way they seem and it's easy to trust the wrong people. Fans of Marta Perry will enjoy Hiding In Plain Sight. ... Read more

Editorial Review

In the Colorado mountain town of Glenwood Springs, not far from Aspen, artist/photographer Gwyn Sanders discovers a cryptic letter her sister Kelly left behind.The victim of a deadly hit and run, Kelly reveals she was sexually involved with her sister’s boyfriend and is scared for her life. Both Gwyn and her remaining sister Linda have since married their boyfriends, so either of their husbands could be guilty of murder. The sisters received a large inheritance before meeting these men, and know little of either man’s background. Worse, both Gwyn and Linda love their husbands deeply, but steps must be taken to find the truth. And the truth is complicated. Is it one of the two men, or another previous lover? Or none of them? Danger abounds and everyone is a suspect as Gwyn tries with the help of a gifted private detective to track a killer....

Her Last Letter is approximately 96,000 words long. ... Read more

Reviews

Compelling and Suspenseful
Highly recommended. Well-written and suspenseful. Johnson succeeds in balancing plot and characters, no easy feat. This story is full of people so real you feel as if you could call them on the phone and chat with them. At the same time, she seamlessly develops a very suspenseful tale for them, enmeshing them in intrigue and sometimes danger. You really feel for the main character, Gwyn, who is grieving for a dead sister. When a clue to her sister's murder pops up, Gwyn embarks upon a search for the truth that calls much of her own life into question. Can her friends be trusted? Her surviving sister? Her own husband? Did he marry her for her inheritance? There are plenty of viable suspects, and it was entertaining to follow Gwyn as she pursued -- and tried to survive -- her quest. I also enjoyed the vivid details that enrich the story, from Gwyn's art to the exciting skiing scenes. I'm looking forward to reading more of Johnson's novels.

A Cool Mystery
I read Her Last Letter during the scorching heat of summer, so the wintery setting of the book really cooled me off. The fact that the protagonist had reason to suspect all those around her of murder made for a tense plot, and the fact that she kept deciding to remain under the same roof with one suspect made me a nervous wreck! I really enjoyed this book.

A great mystery.
I knew I was going to like the book before I even started reading it. I'm always a sucker for a good mystery. Nancy gets you interested right from the beginning, and once I got started, I couldn't put it down. The sign of a good book is one that sticks with you long after you've finished reading it. This is one of those books. Oh, and did I mention I LOVE the cover. ... Read more

Editorial Review

After Hudson Savage betrayed her, Dana Cardwell hoped never to lay eyes on the seductive cowboy again.Until a bunch of old bones showed up on her family ranch. Suddenly her former lover was back in her life in a big way—to investigate a decades-old crime.

Reviews

LOVE THAT COVER! [grin] love to meet him.
Ah, Murder in Montana!
Dana Cardwell had caught Hud Savage in her sister's bed - no explanations necessary. She broke their engagement. He left town. Guilty as sin??

Well what do you know? Warren Fitzpatrick gets Dana up early and takes her to the old homestead on the ranch. The old well had never been filled in - yup! there were bones at the bottom.

They called for the Marshal of the area. Turns out that Hudson Savage is now in charge. Dana wants to avoid him at all costs. She can never forgive him. Yet now there is a murder to be solved. And like it or not her family might be involved. Hud even suspects his own father.

Lanny Rankin, a lawyer, is angry that Hud has returned as he had hopes of marrying Dana.

There is Jordan, Clay and Stacy Cardwell, siblings of Dana's, that want her to sell the ranch. Was it possible that they were involved in some way? Stacy seems to know something, but what?

Rupert Milligan make a disturbing discovery, the same gun was used in the robbery and murder of Judge Raymond Randolph. About the same time that Hud had left the area.
The Judge hated Brick Savage, the former Marshal. Was Brick involved?

Excellent plot, excellent twists and great characters.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED -m - I would keep it for the cover alone. Those eyes!

wonderful story
This is my first book by B. J. and will not be the last, I am looking forward to reading more of her books. It was a fast pace book, and you could never really tell who did the crimes till the end, she had you thinking it was one person or another.
Dana and Hud were a great couple, would love to see them show up in another book together.

More than an Intrigue
Daniels has more than an intriguing suspense story; she has put together an explosive tale of love, trust and the twisted ties among an embattled family." Pat Cooper, Romantic Times Magazine starred review (4 1/2 stars)

Great book to get me started reading again...
I've never liked to read. In fact, the only books I've absolutely gotten caught up in was the Harry Potter books. I haven't bought a book since, though. My friend at work owns a kindle and has over 500 books, and when I saw the kindle app for my iPod, I decided to get it and start reading again. This is the first book I got, and I absolutely loved it. I read it within two days, which is highly unusual for me since I never liked reading. It's a great story and I could read it over and over again. ... Read more

Editorial Review

"A psychological thriller that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go, not even at its shocking conclusion."--Vicki Tyley, Thin Blood and Sleight Malice

99 cents for a limited time. DRM-free and professionally formatted by Dellaster Design.

Identical twins vie for a family empire built on deceit, cruelty, and dark secrets--and one woman stands between them while another waits in the shadows.

DISINTEGRATION

When a mysterious fire destroys his home and shatters his family, Jacob Wells is pulled into a downward spiral that draws him ever closer to the past he thought was dead and buried.

Now his twin brother Joshua is back in town, seeking to settle old scores and claim his half of the Wells birthright. Jacob’s wife Renee is struggling with her own past and her attempts to salvage Jacob are driven by guilt and ambition.

As Jacob and Joshua return to the twisted roles they adopted at the hands of cruel, demanding parents, they wage a war of pride, wealth, and passion. They share a poisonous obsession with the provocative, manipulative Carlita, whose immigrant family helped build the Wells fortune.

Joshua wants other things, too, but Jacob’s desires are divided between the forbidden love he can’t possess, the respectability he can never have, and the revenge he is dying to taste. And Renee has dark motives of her own.

If only Jacob can figure out which of them to blame. But the lines of identity are blurred, because Joshua and Jacob share much more than blood.

And the childhood games have become deadly serious.

-----
A crime thriller from Scott Nicholson, #1 Kindle bestselling author of THE RED CHURCH, THE SKULL RING, SPEED DATING WITH THE DEAD, CURTAINS: MYSTERY STORIES, and 13 other books. He's also written six screenplays, the graphic novels DIRT and GRAVE CONDITIONS, and, as L.C. Glazebrook, the YA paranormal series OCTOBER GIRLS. Visit him at Author Central or www.hauntedcomputer.com

"Always surprises and always entertains."--Jonathan Maberry, Patient Zero

"Buy everything he writes. He's the real deal."--Bentley Little, The Disappearance

"Keep both hands on your pants, because Nicholson is about to scare them off."--JA Konrath, Shaken

... Read more

Reviews

Fascinating and disturbing, October 27, 2010
Another reviewer called this book "an emotional rollercoaster" and it sure was for me, too. I was sad, angry, I laughed insanely, and I hated this book at times. I wanted to throw it at the wall (except it's in my Kindle and, of course, I didn't want to ruin my eReader), but I couldn't stop. I'm not a thriller lover and now I know why. I want my characters to be flawed, troubled, even tortured but I want them to be basically good people, and the characters in this novel are anything but decent.
So why am I giving this novel 5 stars? Because, it is so well written. There is never a dull moment; each scene moves the story forward, giving just enough hints to build tension. I stayed up half the night, reading, wanting to know what's going to happen next. There are so many surprises, yet there is enough foreshadowing to lead the reader along the way to its shocking end. Lovers of thrillers will have a heyday with this. Highly recommended.

Beautifully written, October 31, 2010
The writerly craft of this book is amazing. The description of pain is so right on I will refer people to it when they ask what my Fibromyalgia is like. The story pulls you along as your understanding of the characters deepens and changes. Saying any more might give something away and you need to experience this book without any forewarning. The only thing keeping me from giving it a 5+ is that I hated the ending. It's not badly done, it's just not the type of ending I wanted. Mr. Nicholson is a wonderful writer, I just wish he'd write something less dark and twisted for me to read.

Powerful, dark and brilliant, October 28, 2010
Jacob Wells wakes to the smell of smoke. Flames engulf the hallway to his 9-year-old daughter's bedroom. Frantic he tries to save her, in the process sustaining a dislocated hip and second-degree burns to over twenty percent of his body...

A psychological thriller that grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go, not even at its shocking conclusion. It literally tore at my insides. Intense and emotional, this is Scott Nicholson at his finest.

Powerful, dark and brilliant.

Disturbing Psychological Thriller, December 9, 2010
I liked this book a lot, but it really confused me at times. I know that it was meant to be confusing, but it kind of made me feel disorienated sometimes. One thing I really liked was that I didn't figure everything out. I can usually tell what the plot twists are going to be, but this one fooled me. At one point, I was sure I had it figured out...but no. If you like psychological thrillers, this is one you need to check out.

Fantastic writing, Heart Wrenching, Dark, Heart Pounding story !!, October 27, 2010
New author Scott Nicholson's "Disintegration" is the first psychological thriller that I have read. It is about twin brothers who vie for their family empire built on cruelty, deceit and very dark secrets.

From the beginning of chapter one to the very last chapter this story is so detailed, very intense, emotionally exhausting, vividly descriptive, mind boggling, heart pounding and heart wrenching book that I have read.

At the end of the first chapter I was in tears and said- this book is not for me at all. I put my Kindle down and found myself picking it up a bit later to see what the next chapter would be like- I did this through out the entire book-- put it down, pick it back up again, put it down yet again saying nope I can't finish this book. Well this was quite an experience for me and quite a ride let me tell you. I did finish this book and only skipped over the chicken area.

I found myself gasping at times, saying thing's like OMG, put this book down , take a break NOW, do not pick this up again etc. How Scott molded this entire story together is an art. His mind and thought's keep pulling you in even when you don't want to finish this book.

Then when Joshua brings Jacob to their father's house, the empire, and all the evil that happened their, this story turned into a very dark psychological thriller to me, yet I still could not put the dang story down, I was sitting on the edge of my seat at times.
There were a few times I laughed like the description of Carlita being wrapped into a tortilla ( hot and spicy) or when the twins were sitting together in the car and are described as two embroy's in a womb and the vision of duct tape and a snake. This author has so much imagination and must read all types of genre's and retain every single thing forever.Plus he has been given a great gift of writing.
Scott Nicholson is a genius at writing and has the capability of becoming a well established author, IMHO .
I thought about this story and it kept going through my head well after reading it and I am reliving it as I give this review . I feel like Scott absolutely deserve's a 5 star review because his writing is amazing and I am a firm believer in giving credit where credit is due. Kudo's to Mr. Nicholson for writing " Disintegration" and giving me a ride I won't forget...

I am hooked on reading indie books and am trying to read different genre's.

I had to keep reading, December 10, 2010
Disintegration is a very emotionally draining book, but one I had to keep reading. I didn't necessarily like the main character, or really any of the characters, but at the same time, I found them fascinating. It takes a really talented author to pull that off. This is a very dark book, but one I'm glad I read. I do admit that when I finished it, I had to go watch old sitcom reruns to shake off the cloud of despair the book left me with. I know it seems like I didn't like the book, but actually I did. Would I recommend it? Yes. Just be prepared for its intensity.

Graphic and arresting, November 23, 2010
This is one of those novels where the Amazon blurb just tells you far too much of the story. Check it out if you want. For my part I'll just tell you about the beginning of the book from my point of view.

It opens with one of the most horrifying "hooks" that I have read this year.
Jacob Wells smelled smoke seventeen seconds before hell opened its door.
Jake and Renee are in their bedroom with the door locked and their 9 year old daughter Mattie is in her room down the passage behind a closed door. Jake manages to wake Renee and opens the door into the passage. He tells Renee to dial 911 and then to get out of the house herself. He will get Mattie. He struggles to crawl to Mattie's room beneath the smoke, and then realises that opening the door to her room will let the fire into it. The image of what happens when Jake opens the door is very graphic and memorable.

After the fire we learn that tragedy has already struck Jake and Renee. They lost a baby girl Christine to SIDS less than a year before.

The fire investigators believe the fire may have been deliberately lit. Joshua is back thinks Jake. Who is Joshua? the reader asks. Davidson, the female fire investigator, says they believe the fire was started downstairs by an intruder who entered through an open sliding glass door.

As we read on in this story, we realise that things are far from normal in the Wells family. Jake and his twin were warped in their upbringing by cruel manipulative parents. And that's not all. I think this story will shock most readers when you finally untangle its strands.

I think that Scott Nicholson has overdone the horror element just a bit. The imagery though is very strong. Towards the end the story resolves with one shock wave after another. For me it is a thriller rather than murder mystery although certainly murder (several actually) is done.

Very good effort..., November 15, 2010
Downloaded this book on whim based on the limited reviews and the dollar price. Fortunately, got my money's worth and more. The author has a gripping writing style and his horror genre roots are unmistakable. He must have been channeling Stephen King and Christine in his description of the old Chevy. It's clear that this guy can write. As to the story itself, man, is it dark. Scott gets you deep inside the heads of the characters. So deep, sometimes you want out. Also, he throws in some good twists. You think you have one of these characters figured out and he throws you for a loop.

My biggest gripe is the plausibility of the last couple of chapters. I enjoy plot twists and turns, but in my opinion, there were one too many at the end and a couple that were a little too far off from, lack of better description, the characters' core essences. Without giving away too much, I just felt there were one too many complete 180 degree switches in character.

Nevertheless, this was still a great and worthwhile read. Recommended.

What a Surprise!, December 10, 2010
This was a good read. I was expecting a surprise ending and tried to figure it out while I was reading. However, when I got to the end, it was nothing like what I was expecting! Maybe a bit stretched, but it is fiction and I was reading for enjoyment. I appreciate an author that can give me something unexpected. I recommend this one.

A dark, twisting, unrelenting thriller, December 7, 2010
"Disintegration" was my first ever Kindle download based on Nicholson's track record and the nice $.99 price.
**Spoiler Free**
Scott Nicholson's "Disintegration" starts with a gut-punch of a hook and travels a path of plot twists and turns--each darker than the one preceding--until you're left wondering how he pulled off this dark thriller.
"We all wear masks, all the time, happily ever after. Wish me not to be in my daughter's graveyard."
The above quote comes from the midway point of the book, when you think you've figured out the characters and the plot, when you're mentally storing little telling details you've read along the way to prove you've gotten the plot figured out. But if you thought you had it figured it out, you'd be wrong. And the next time you're certain you have the plot square and the characters pigeonholed, perhaps as soon as the very next chapter, you'd still be wrong.
The characters always seem to choose the darkest possible option. This would be a fatal flaw if they weren't given any moral or humane qualities early in the book. From this foundation, Nicholson whittles away at Jacob and Renee, and to a lesser extent, Joshua, Jacob's black-sheep of a twin brother. You question their choices, their loyalties, their humanity. And by the end, you'll tremble at the thought that such people could ever exist. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Steven Ashton, a billionaire from New York, and Emily Grant, on the run from the law... and when they meet he can’t help falling for her.What he doesn’t know is that interfering in her life will put his own life in danger.

Not What She Seems holds you in suspense from the moment you begin down the path of murder and romance.

Synopsis:
When billionaire Steven Ashton couldn’t stand his high society social life anymore, he left the stress of New York on a vacation for his soul.The need to meet real down to earth people lead him to a small Nebraska town he remembered visiting as a child.He didn’t want to lie about who he was, but he couldn’t exactly tell them the truth.

Emily could have easily fallen in love with Steven, under different circumstances, but her past was catching up with her and she needed a new life. If the authorities found out about her, she could lose the one thing that meant everything, her four year old son.

Not What She Seems is approximately 67,000 words long.

This book is a "sweet" romantic suspense, appropriate for all ages. ... Read more

Reviews

The Unexpected Twist, April 20, 2010
Haven't we all wished we were so wealthy we needed to pretend to be a "working stiff" just to get away from our own success? For me Victorine's character, Steven Ashton, is the embodiment of a modern Prince Charming for the poor misunderstood Emily, a single mom with a twisted history. From the start, and right up to the last chapter, this book kept me guessing as to just who held the smoking gun. Which is always a nice change from the other easy to foretell story lines.

I found, overall, the pace was good and captivated my interest. Though, perhaps not a polished printed publication, this book certainly delivers a high return of suspense, entertainment, and yes, even romance, on a less-than-a-hamburger investment. One of the book's biggest assets is the ease with which the author paints the players. The reader quickly gets to know and becomes emotionally invested in the characters. One of the book's biggest set-backs is the fact that the story could lend itself to several more chapters and this reader felt the end was a little rushed.

All-in-all an enjoyable read and worth every penny.

Pulls you in but needs a tighter grip, July 20, 2010
I chose this novel after seeing a great number of Ms. Lieske's posts on Kindleboards. The summary sounded interesting, so I figured, "Oh, why not? It's only [...]" For the price, it was certainly a bargain, and hundreds of sales and positive reviews don't lie, right? Right.

I'll start off with the good. The storyline was interesting, keeping the reader in a constant "whodunnit" frame of mind. Every suspect had a reasonable motive, and all of it tied together rather nicely in the end.

Now, for the less appealing part of review-writing. In general, I'm able to appreciate shorter sentences. Few people can imitate Charles Dickens today and get away with it in that respect. With that being said, the language was occasionally choppy, which would have been really distracting were I not so drawn into the plot. There were also a couple of instances were a bit more variety would have been nice, such as scenes where "said" or "asked" was used first in one line, then again in the next...but this is nitpicking.

I was very interested in the heroine and what became of her. Overall, however, a lot of the emotions felt forced. The groundwork was there, but a few more chapters scattered throughout the novel would have developed the relationships and connections and character backgrounds a bit more. For instance, the interaction between Steven and Emily wasn't sufficient for me to believe in their feelings for each other. Motives were also being thrown in left and right without giving a reader the time really to absorb it all and weave it into his own mental construct of the complicated web of intrigue. In short, the fast-pacing of the story came at the cost of credibility. There were minor editing errors, but they weren't egregious enough to give me pause. I think I'll dub them "reasonable."

Overall, I did enjoy this story. I did. I just wish that there had been more of it to flesh things out.

Stimulated Outlet Book Reviews

Well Plotted Page Turner, May 15, 2010
Not What She Seems is a story that will grab the reader's attention from the beginning until its conclusion. Emily is a character who is running from her past. Steven is someone who is trying to escape his present. Together they must find a way to solve a murder mystery and overcome the dangers which threaten them, so that they can build a future. Their story is a well written romantic thriller that has enough twists and turns to keep the reader's interest until the very end. The author provides enough clues along the way to allow the reader to come close to solving the mystery without ruining the sense of suspense she has created. I wish that the characters had been a little more developed. They never seemed to be completely three dimensional. However, the strength of this book is in the plot, and that is enough to make Not What She Seems a story worth reading.

From "Red Adept Reviews", November 8, 2010
Plot/Storyline: 3 3/4 Stars

The plot for this romantic suspense novel was pretty straightforward. There were a couple of twists, but only one was a surprise. Unfortunately, I found that "surprise" to be a rather doubtful revelation, mostly because I found the character involved to be too convenient throughout the book.

The storyline was pretty fast moving, making for an entertaining read. One thing I was impressed with was the lack of "googly eyes" during the romantic scenes. In other words, the characters didn't spend all their time looking at each other's various body parts and drooling. This was what a romantic suspense novel should be, in my opinion. The suspense should come first.

The storyline had two rather unbelievable parts that really stood out for me. One: If a person is running from the law, even going so far as to get a fake Social Security Card, then why the heck would they be using their real name? The second one was an event toward the end where one character pretty much disappeared from the scene. It was later explained where that character was, but the event that led to their exit just didn't make sense. I couldn't imagine the character leaving at that time.

Overall, it was a pretty enjoyable read. There were some really good scenes that kept me glued to my Kindle.

Character Development: 4 1/2 Stars

I really can't delve into too much detail when discussing the characters due to spoilers. Emily was, for the most part, a pretty well developed character. I found her to be a rather weak woman, and none too bright, but that fit into her circumstances, so it worked. Steven, the love interest billionaire, was probably one of my favorite characters. Even though his financial status irritated me with the whole "Pretty Woman" scenario going on, he was still an engaging character.

My biggest problem with all of the main characters was that they all seemed to act like they had known each other longer than they did. Rose, the owner of a cafe and long time resident of a small town, calls people she has only known for a few weeks when tragedy strikes. I'm not saying she wouldn't have called, just that you would think she would have had plenty of friends and family, including her two grown sons, to keep her company and give support. And, with all of Steven's billions, he never thought to secretly hire Rose's family some help on their farm?

Writing Style: 3 1/2 Stars

There were some sentence structure issues where the writing could have been tightened up. Here is an example: "Steven waved at Connor and gave him a wink, and then he headed down the street to his truck." This should have been, "Steven waved at Connor, gave him a wink, then headed down the street to his truck."

The dialogue was very well done with good voice. The descriptions were also good.

*This Review is from a Review Copy provided by the author.

couldn't stop reading, June 11, 2010
This is a very thrilling book! Of course we all wish for a Prince Charming, so of course we love reading about them. And don't we all wish we were devastatingly beautiful so that Prince Charming would risk everything for us too?! This was a good read. Developing the characters more would lead to a longer book and make me wait even longer to find out all of the answers, so I don't know that I would want that to happen. I really was guessing right to the end but then it all made perfect sense. Well worth the price and more.

PEFECT FOR THE HALLMARK CHANNEL, December 27, 2010
After reading this story I thought, this would make a perfect tv movie for Hallmark or WE channels. The love story is sappy and full of soap opera plot lines.

The heroine is an insecure young mother from the poor side of town who married the high school star from the rich side of town. She bravely put up with her husband beating her until one day she could not take it anymore and shoved him. Her husband hit his head against the furniture as she ran out to her only friend, an old high school chum named Richard. Richard's mother was killed by his abusive father so he is protective of Emily and helps her escape town. It turns out that Emily's husband died and now she is wanted by the police for questioning. As it turns out, Emily is pregnant when she runs away and now she fears loosing her son if she ever tries to go back. Her life with Richard has become seedier still as he plots to use a billionaire's interest in Emily to their monetary advantage. This billionaire, Stephen, is traveling incognito to get away from the drudgery of his rich life style. Throw in a couple of other made for soap opera characters and plot lines and you have this story wrapped up.

The mystery element was okay but not edge of your seat since you saw it coming. The writing style was a bit too simple for my tastes and the constant use of the same sentence structures wore on me but the story is a sappy love story of a poor beaten down woman who finds true love with a rich Prince Charming. A familiar theme that will work for those interested. It was worth the price at 99 cents.

Complex romantic suspense with some lighter moments, August 19, 2010
Contemporary romantic suspense is probably my favorite type of book, but only if the plot is complex and unpredictable, and the tension is balanced with some lighter scenes and/or humorous moments. Victorine Lieske's "Not What She Seems" gets high marks from me in both of these categories.

Now, for about the first quarter of the book, I was not impressed. There were only a few important characters, and I thought I had the whole plotline figured out lickety-split. I was wrong. At about that point, the story underwent the proverbial "plot thickening", like a well-made holiday gravy. Many more locations, characters, and twists and turns began to unfold, and the initially simple plot turned into a roller coaster ride with no easy exit (I actually read everything beyond the first chapter in one 24 hour span). A plethora of potential suspects presented themselves, all with reasonable motives and opportunity, such that I was reminded of a lively round of "Clue", where everyone from Miss Scarlett to Colonel Mustard was looking good for the deed.

With all of those characters and locations, however, I would have liked to have seen a little more development of personalities, interrelationships, and time spent on setting. But I may be alone in this; many readers prefer the fast-paced, plot-focused novel and find the other elements merely a slow down.

As this is an indie published work, I was prepared for formatting and technical difficulties in this book, but instead, it was as free of those problems as any traditionally published novel I've seen. I only spotted a couple of grammar/spelling errors and no noticeable point-of-view gaffes. There were a few minor plot elements that struck me oddly, and I found the action at the climax scene at Vincent's house a little confusing, but these were minor flaws that didn't detract from the overall story.

Finally, as mentioned, I appreciated Ms. Lieske's moments of humor that broke up the otherwise breakneck pace. She made me laugh out loud more than once, notably at the "Spiderman sheets" comment. If you are a reader who enjoys steady action, a complex plot that keeps you guessing, and prefer to go easy on the life histories and weather reports, your money will be well-spent on Victorine Lieske's "Not What She Seems".

Captivating tale of murder, intrigue and romance, July 14, 2010
A woman on the run for murder. A man escaping his high society life. A chance encounter...

I was hooked from the first page. Victorine Lieske weaves a captivating tale of murder, intrigue and romance. The writing is fluid and easy reading, pulling you right into the story. With all its twists and red herrings, I was suspicious of everyone, never sure who to trust. Not What She Seems kept me guessing right to the end.

Not what she seems, indeed. An impressive debut.

Not What She Seems, May 25, 2010
I found Not what She Seems to be one of those books that hold you captive. From the beginning to the end I could not put this book down. It was full of supense and with each page there was more to hold your attention. Romance, murder, supense, and all done with charm and intregue, proving that there is still quality reading without all the sex and gore. Well done Victorine Lieske!!! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Mother, wife, private investigator...vampire. Six years ago federal agent Samantha Moon was the perfect wife and mother, your typical soccer mom with the minivan and suburban home. Then the unthinkable happens, an attack that changes her life forever. And forever is a very long time for a vampire.

Now in VAMPIRE MOON, sequel to MOON DANCE, private investigator Samantha Moon finds herself hunting down a powerful crime lord and protecting an innocent woman from her ruthless ex-husband — all while two very different men vie for her heart. And as the stakes grow higher and her cases turn personal, Samantha Moon will do whatever it takes to protect the innocent and bring two cold-blooded killers to justice — her own brand of justice.


**Acclaim for the Novels of J.R. Rain**

"Gripping, adventurous, and romantic — J.R. Rain's The Lost Ark is a breakneck thriller that traces the thread of history from Biblical stories to current-day headlines. Be prepared to lose sleep!"
—JAMES ROLLINS, international bestselling author of Altar of Eden and The Doomsday Key

"I enjoyed this immensely. The protagonist, Samantha Moon, is a female vampire with a husband and children. Those predate her condition; six years ago she was attacked by a vampire and rendered into one. Now she's trying to carry on with family and private eye business, and she's a feisty, skilled person, so is doing mostly okay. It is not a horror story; she buys animal blood to eat and doesn't generally prey on humans. But her husband has an increasing problem with her coldness — not of spirit, but of body. 'You sicken me and scare the hell out of me,' he tells her. 'And when I touch you it's all I can do to not gag.' She replies, 'Words every wife wants to hear.' I love this! What makes it special are her character and nature."
—PIERS ANTHONY, New York Times bestselling author of A Spell for Chameleon and On A Pale Horse

"Dark Horse is one of the best books I've read in a long time! A great classic detective story with a modern twist. Unique and interesting characters (I think I'm half in love with Jim Knighthorse now!), a great plot that kept me guessing until the end, and some of the funniest lines I've read anywhere."
—GEMMA HALLIDAY, author of Deadly Cool and Play Dead

"Impossible to put down. J.R. Rain's Moon Dance is a fabulous urban fantasy."
—APRIL VINE, author of The Midnight Rose and Blindfolded by Lust

"Moon Dance is absolutely brilliant!"
—LISA TENZIN-DOLMA, author of Understanding the Planetary Myths and The Dolphin Experience

"Moon Dance is a must read. If you like Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum, bounty hunter, be prepared to love J. R. Rain's Samantha Moon, vampire private investigator."
—EVE PALUDAN, author of Letters from David and The Romance Writer's Pink Pages

"I totally loved The Body Departed. As someone who communicates with those who are either earthbound or have crossed over — your descriptions and interpretations of the dialogue and circumstances could not have been written more accurately. My favorite scene is the one of Jesus stepping down from the cross and then the passionate and compassionate way it was treated as he went back to the cross. I will relive that for a long time to come. You're a wonderfully descriptive writer who paints a very creative, visionary canvass based in a paranormal pallet that only a few experience and many can enjoy."
—JULIE BELMONT, author of The Path to Personal Success and Freedom and Seizing Your Success

"I thoroughly enjoyed The Vampire With the Dragon Tattoo from one of my favorite authors. A great way to spend a few hours of the afternoon."
—JEN ASHTON, author of The Pleasure Diaries and Ashton Ashton We All Fall Down

"I love Jim Knighthorse! Please write faster, Mr. Rain!"
—ELAINE BABICH, author of You Never Called Me Princess and Relatively Normal

"Powerful stuff!"
—AIDEN JAMES, author of Cades Cove and Deadly Night ... Read more

Reviews

Great Read!, October 14, 2010
A really fun book, definitely leaves you wanting more and sets up nicely for a 3rd installment! The main character, Sam is an ex wife, ex FBI Agent and mom of two who ends up a vampire and is working on getting her "life" back together and dealing with her new abilities and limitations.She has settled into her life as a PI and is dealing with the post divorce issues with her ex and children. Sam starts coming to terms with her darker proclivities which makes her more interesting in this book and gives her more impowerment especially when dealing with her ex husband.

arrgh! what a cliff hanger!, October 14, 2010
Great next installment in the Vampire for Hire series. The author keeps developing the storyline around Sam's family, as well as with her friends (werewolf, fang, etc). Although this book seemed short, and left me wanting to see where Sam goes with Werewolf Boy...it was well written, and I'm definitely pre-ordering the next one!

I am definitely frustrated with the ending!! I don't think I can wait until next April to find out Fang's identity....I've got a few guesses though...

Interesting and adventurous, November 10, 2010
I liked this book, the story line was easy to follow and I've not long taken an interest in reviewing books so this was an important aspect for me.

This was book was better than the first one of this series that I read and the storyline got more interesting with this book.

A definite must read for all who like vampires.

Excellent read, October 31, 2010
Having read the first book, I was looking forward to reading Vampire Moon, and was not disappointed. Total page turner and I finished it in one day. But the ending -- what a tease!

J.R. Rain has easly become one of my top five favorite authors., October 11, 2010
K.L.H. Clovis, CA



A) I truly enjoy the "Vampire for Hire" serries greatly. Book two as much as book one. This author has such a uniquely creative imagination (for which I am greatful for) that keeps both the writting and story telling fresh.


B) Which is why I must ask; Really? I have to wait until April 2011 for the third book in this serries? Excuse me if I find that just on the side of tortureous. The "cliff hanger" is just too big to have to wait so long. I mean.... people only had to wait three months to find out "who shot JR"! Just saying. :)


C) Thanks to the author. I've read 70% of your work thus far. I feel rewarded with each book I read. I absolutely loved "Elvis has Not left the building".

2nd Samantha Moon, November 15, 2010
Great book! I couldn't put it down. I love that these books are written for my Kindle. The characters in this book are amazing. I loved the ending (kind of), but--- I want to know what happens next!

Write faster, please!! :) (especially Samantha Moon and Jim Knighthorse books.) I am very glad I found these books!

Love J.R. Rain's Vampire for Hire Series, November 13, 2010
I first read J.R. Rains' book "Body Departed". I enjoyed it so much that I started reading the "Vampire for Hire" series. They are full of adventure, excitement and suspense and a really fun read. I could hardly put the books down. Can't wait till the third in the series comes out. I just have to know what happens next (in Vampire for Hire #3). I am definitely going to read some of his other books. Thanks!

J. R. Rain takes the prize again!, November 12, 2010
This is great vampire stuff! If you like original, non derivative, writing this book is for you!! Her first book the Vampire for Hire #1 is totally recommended as well but this book could be enjoyed without reading the first.

Fun read, November 5, 2010
I absolutely loved this story. Sam Moon is a woman who has taken a lot of curve balls from life and has managed to pitch them right back out into the universe. This book left me wanting and waiting (NOT so patiently) for more on Samatha Moon.

Lovely As Always, November 4, 2010
What a great read! I enjoyed every moment of this book. Mr. Rain has proven, yet again, that he is a true contender in the world of popular Vampire novels. Two thumbs up! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Mother, wife, private investigator...vampire. Six years ago federal agent Samantha Moon was the perfect wife and mother, your typical soccer mom with the minivan and suburban home. Then the unthinkable happens, an attack that changes her life forever. And forever is a very long time for a vampire. Now the world at large thinks Samantha has developed a rare skin disease, a disease which forces her to quit her day job and stay out of the light of the sun. Now working the night shift as a private investigator, Samantha is hired by Kingsley Fulcrum to investigate the murder attempt on his life, a horrific scene captured on TV and seen around the country. But as the case unfolds, Samantha discovers Kingsley isn't exactly what he appears to be; after all, there is a reason why he survived five shots to the head. ... Read more

Reviews

Just Outside the Norm for this Genre - And Couldn't Be More Pleased!, May 3, 2010
Moon Dance (Vampire for Hire) by J.R. Rain

This may sound somewhat melodramatic, but every once in a while a story will come along and grab you by the throat. It will suck you in and it will make you care about the characters. It may make you cheer them on or it may make you hate them. And if you are lucky, a single story will have all of that and more. Moon Dance (Vampire for Hire) has all of that and then some. It has a paranormal (I call it speculative fiction) bent, with the tiniest bit of supernatural romance...I would have like a bit more to tell the truth, but that's just me! I am hoping that a series is going to come out of this one book. There is so much potential for a great mystery/sleuth/paranormal series here. Moon Dance was outside of the norm for this genre since most of these sorts of books are true romances; with the "monster" being idolized, loved, craved, sexually potent, romanticized and revered.

JR Rain took this genre into a whole new territory for me, and I LOVED it. No, I am not a friend of his, I've never met him nor was I asked to do a review. I am just a person who bought this for my Kindle while waiting for a flight; it was an Amazon Recommends For Me book.

I have to say that normally I stay well away from self-published books...I wasn't aware at the time of purchase that this was self-published and I'm glad I didn't know it. I would have never found a book or a writer with more potential. So why do I stay away from self-published books? Well they generally are not edited very well, they aren't proof read very well, nor are the stories very consistent. And while this book could have had some tighter editing and much better proof reading, the flaws are easily overlooked because the story is just so intense, the character of Samantha is a likable, strong intelligent and a clever lady who is a wife a mother and an PI- she just happens to have been changed into a Vampire against her will. The secondary characters shine, some are sympathetic, some are evil but all are written very clearly and three dimensionally.

I see serious potential for a series and if not then I may have to send off a flurry of e-mails and nag Mr. Rain into doing so. I want to know what happens to everyone! Does Detective Sherbet get his "talk" with Sam, does Sam and Kingsley get to live a "happily ever after"? Is Fang, Kinglsley (I hope I didn't miss something obvious!) will Samantha ever get to have a "normal" relationship with her kids again? I really want to know

A surprsingly great book, April 29, 2010
I have never heard of this publisher, and a quick search didn't show a web presence, so I was leery about buying this book given the amount of poorly edited, terrible stories I've read by innocently purchasing 'self published' Kindle books.
I am so, so glad I decided to give this author a go. This is definitely the gem among the chaff.
This book is GREAT. Very 'human', if a story about a vampire can be human. Angst, foibles, the-world-is-still-screwed-up even though (and sometimes because) the protagonist is a vampire. Readers who like Charlaine Harris' OTHER series (not the one made into a TV series, but her other work) will adore this heroine. Feisty, confused and doing her damnedest to make the best of a horrible situation.
The only thing I didn't like was a too neatly tied up plot line (had to do with the vamp who turned her).
I hope the writer continues the story line in future books. I will definitely be keeping an eye out!

Moon Dance by J.R. Rain, April 23, 2010
Lately, I had been thinking that vampire stories were overdone. I have my favorite authors in the genre and honestly wasn't looking for anymore. It seems that authors don't want to write about normal people anymore. The stories all seem to have vampires, witches, wizards, and zombies in them. I was looking for an author that wrote normal stories not paranormal. Spies, police officers, detectives, these were the heroes that I was looking for.

I first ran across J.R. Rain's work on myspace. I had a friend request waiting in my inbox. I accepted and went to look up his work. Wow, what an impressive list of reviewers, what could my thoughts possibly mean after so many great authors have said such positive things about his work.

While I was debating which book to start with for our book club I got the opportunity to read Moon Dance. I have never been overly impressed with first person fiction, with a few notable exceptions. Maybe, because I never felt like I could become the character.

Right there Mr.Rain's story had two strikes against it. Strike One - Main character is a vampire (paranormal). Ball One - Detective. Strike Two - First Person narration. The count was 2-1 and I was waiting for that third strike to fly directly over the plate and pound into the catchers mitt, instead Mr. Rain's story connected directly with the ball (my mind) and knocked it out of the park.

Mr. Rain managed to make me fall so far into the character that I couldn't put the story down once I started reading.

Odd Vampire tale, May 20, 2010
I liked this book for two reasons. First, it was very odd for a vampire tale. We don't usually see a vampire mother. Here is poor Sandra trying to cope with being a vampire and still raising kids. And, kids being what they are, want stability, predictability, and security. Little hard to do these as a vampire. I liked this concept quite a bit. Secondly, I liked J. R. Rain's writing style. Crisp, well thought out, and nothing missing. Easy to read and internally consistent.

Unfortunately, for me, there ar so many left open characters. Detech Sherbet is interesting. I want to seem more of him. And, of course, Mr. Kingsley.

The one story line is the vampire hunter. I found that interesting. It was the only internally inconsistent piece in the whole story. If the hunter had realized that she was not a monster, why did he still try to kill her?

But, even with that quibble, it was a good story and I will purchase the next in this series.

Moon Dance, April 27, 2010
Here's a fun vampire story to read! I love JR's style of first person story telling.

I found it interesting that other human characters either know Sam is a Vampire or they know something is a bit unusual about her. The grudging acceptance that such creatures might just exist..... I almost felt like the life of Samantha could be taking place before the story begins in the tv series "True Blood" when Vampires become part of every day life.

There are some wonderful surprises in the story but it reads easily.

My favourite line had me laughing, "Like an umbrella, its fur sprang open. Pop". I leave you to find it.

Loved It!, April 26, 2010
J.R. Rain takes a tired genre and tosses it a NoDoz. Written in the first person, we get to know Sam, a female private detective who is also a vampire. Sam struggles with her new "disease" as she chases down bad guys. At the same time, she deals with the alienation of her husband, while trying to care for her children.

Rain's writing style is smooth and effortless. The plot moves quickly and the characters have all those human traits that make them feel real. A great book!

Easy To Get Lost In, July 28, 2010
This was the first book in a long time where I could see everything play out in my mind from cover to cover. The author has a great style that allowed me to get immersed in the story and stay there.

Something I really liked was that the main character always seemed so normal, even though she obviously wasn't. While she sometimes got emotional and had to come to grips with the strangeness of her life, she did it without becoming a big ball of crazy. She dealt with her situation in a way that I thought was easy to relate to, and the story was well thought out and entertaining. The end result was that I pretty much polished it off in one sitting over the course of a lazy afternoon. I'm very much looking to the next installment and highly recommend giving this one a try.

J.R. Rain is brilliant!, May 27, 2010
I absolutely cannot wait until the sequel to Moon Dance is released. I read to be entertained and I am a huge fan of scifi/fantasy. Recently, thanks to Amazon and my Kindle, I've been introduced to many new authors. J.R. Rain is now one of my favorites and I'll be downloading all his books today. I'm partial to Sam of course..she is an amazing character. I look forward to getting to know her better. I look forward to finding out more about all the characters in this book, except for Danny. Buy this book! Great price, excellent read.

A Different Twist.................Reviewer: Sucker For Freebies, May 26, 2010
This book was an interesting take on the world of vampires.. the heroine is a married vampire with children and a not-so-loving husband. Vampires are apparently acknowledged to exist in this world, although nobody seems to like them much. Also, there doesen't seem to be any sort of Vamp society, since Sam's maker was a hit and run, and for the six years that she has been a vampire nobody has taught her anything about being one. I think this has promise for a series, if Rain continues to build Sam's World, and I'll be interested to see how it develops, since there were many questions left unanswered. Will Sam's relationships with the Were and Detective Sherbet continue? Will she continue to have contact with her children? Most of all, WHO IS FANG???
Recommended.

Time well spent!, May 19, 2010
I've read just about every vampire book out there, and this one stands out!!! I did not put it down until I was finished. ... Read more

Editorial Review

When the abused decide to fight back, the abuser's world might just shatter.

Lauren Covington's family maintains a grand facade that belies the life they live behind closed doors. Alex Covington, Lauren's father, keeps a tight rein on his family through dominance, abuse, and obsessive control. Consequently, Lauren doesn't believe she could ever trust a man, much less fall in love with one.

When Lauren meets Jesse Ryder, her carefully constructed protective wall shatters. She falls hopelessly and completely in love. It's only fitting that Jesse is a private detective who had once worked for her father, had defied him, and was now the subject of Alex Covington's wrath.

Amidst devastating loss, betrayal, and her father's destructive pursuit of Jesse, Lauren finds the trust and love she had always longed for. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Editorial Review

After U.S. Marine Logan Thibault finds a photograph of a smiling young woman buried in the dirt during his tour of duty in Iraq, he experiences a sudden streak of luck -- winning poker games and even surviving deadly combat. Only his best friend, Victor, seems to have an explanation for his good fortune: the photograph -- his lucky charm.

Back home in Colorado, Thibault can't seem to get the woman in the photograph out of his mind and he sets out on a journey across the country to find her. But Thibault is caught off guard by the strong attraction he feels for the woman he encounters in North Carolina - Elizabeth, a divorced mother -- and he keeps the story of the photo, and his luck, a secret. As he and Elizabeth embark upon a passionate love affair, his secret soon threatens to tear them apart -- destroying not only their love, but also their lives.

Filled with tender romance and terrific suspense, THE LUCKY ONE is an unforgettable story about the surprising paths our lives often take and the power of fate to guide us to true and everlasting love. ... Read more

Reviews

Sparks Struts His Stuff, October 1, 2008
THE LUCKY ONE
Nicholas Sparks
Grand Central Publishing
Hachette Book Group
ISBN: 0-446-57993-9
$24.99
326 pages
Reviewer: Annie Slessman

You can bet if Nicholas Sparks puts a book out there, it is going to sell. This scenario is due to his expertise as a storyteller extraordinaire. His latest work, The Lucky One will be touted by readers as one of his best works. Having written books like Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember, The Notebook, readers know what they can expect when they buy a Nicholas Sparks book...great characters, great storyline and an electricity that stays with you long after you have finished reading the story.

Sparks main character in The Lucky One is ex-marine, Logan Thibault. Logan has served three tours of duty in Iraq and believes his survival is due to a lucky picture he found of an unknown woman. Once he completes his tour of duty, he walks from Colorado to Hampton, North Carolina in search of the woman in the picture.

Once he arrives in North Carolina, he takes a job at a dog training facility where he meets Nana, the elderly owner of the facility, Elizabeth, her granddaughter and her young son, Ben. Elizabeth, he discovers is the woman in his lucky picture.

The storyline stays true and builds to an exciting climax. There are stories within this story that adds story interest. Sparks knows how to build a story and keep a reader anxiously turning pages.

If you are a Nicholas Sparks fan, you won't be disappointed with this work. If you have never read Nicholas Sparks, this work is a great starting point.

Nicholas Sparks is the author of fourteen best selling works of fiction. Several if his works have been adapted to movies. Sparks and his family lie in the Carolinas.

A great love story, October 3, 2008
This is a wonderful novel, told in a way that is fascinating and enjoyable. Nicolas Sparks knows how to tell a story. The characters are real and believable. I found myself caring about them early in the book. The author has the ability to make people come alive in just a few pages. Once I began to care about them, I was hooked. I couldn't put the book down until I was done. The Lucky One made for a few very enjoyable hours. That is what I want in a book: discovering people that I care about, and a good story to follow them through. It may not be great literature for the ages, but it suits me.

I don't usually read love stories, but I am glad that I found this one. After finishing this novel, I decided to look up the author's other books. I believe that he has written some other good stories that I will enjoy. I believe that you will too.

A Good But Not Great Read, October 10, 2008
After seeing this book was #2 on the NYT bestseller's list, I read the jacket and dove in. The book starts extremely well with a modern and interesting narrative. The flashback scenes are well done and at no time lose the reader.

About 2/3's of the way into the book, the characters become well defined and start to gain a mild complexity. Unfortunately that is where the development stops. In an attempt to create a dramatic ending the book takes on a sit com like aspect. The characters become one dimensional, the story line predictable and you feel the author racing to create a tidy ending.

If the author had further developed the auxiliary characters and ending, it could of been on par with similar books in this genre like "The Bridges of Madison County".

Another Perfect Book, September 30, 2008
Here in New Zealand we were lucky to have this book released on th 26th of Septemeber before the States release date. Another perfect book from Nicholas Sparks and is exactly what you come to expect from him. It truly is amazing how he is able to in each of his books capture the audience the way he does and this book is definatley no exception. You are drawn in with this story and makes you really think if there is such a thing as fate, luck, destiny and true love. I highly recommend this to any fan of Sparks and to anyone who wishes to become a fan. You will not be disapointed.

Spark's Mediocre Work, October 31, 2008
I have read all of Nicholas Sparks' novels (except The Rescue and Three Days...), and his latest, The Lucky One, fails to stand out as being one of his better works. The story started off slow, and ended in a hurry. Sparks did succeed in writing a good background story, and the characters in this book were well portrayed. As I read this book, I realized that the characters and plots were very similar to Sparks' earlier novels (such as the dog-human relationship and the love obsession of The Guardian, the war background of Dear John, the storm sequence of Message in a Bottle / Notebook), therefore ruining the originality aspect of the novel. Also, as I was reading the last 20 pages, I felt the story was a bit rush and it gave me the perception that the story ended right after Sparks got the story rolling. I also felt that the epilogue was a little bit forced and it was only there to make a final unnecessary twist to the story. Overall, The Lucky One is not a poorly written novel, but I expected a lot more from Nicholas Sparks than this since he is a veteran romantic genre author. I will still look forward to his next novel, and I hope that will turn out to be an epic love story.

Definitely not Sparks' Best, November 12, 2008
I am not one of those raving Nicholas Sparks fans that talk about how his books are the end all and be all of the modern romantic tale. At times, I find his books to be a bit corny and hokey and this one was really no exception. Unlike his earlier novels (The Notebook, Nights in Rodanthe, A Walk to Remember), this book just does not seem to have the same zing. In fact, it's almost more of a zud...lol.

The story itself is told through the eyes of three main characters: Elizabeth, Thibault, and Clayton. All the characters are connected in different ways, and their actions with eachother are the true center of the story. At the beginning of the novel, we learn that Thibault is an Iraqi War Veteran, who has walked across the country looking for a woman he has never met. The woman is from a picture that he found half buried in the sand in Kuwait. Thibault views the picture as his "lucky charm," saving him from death many times throughout the war.

Thibault's first meeting with anyone his new town is with Clayton, a self centered, immature, ANNOYING cop from a famously rich family. It is easy to say that this character continually grated on my nerves. Every chapter that was from his point of view made me a bit queasy and I couldn't wait to finish them. Plus, he treats women as nothing more than sexual objects and that totally turned me off from his character.

I don't want to give anymore of the plot away because it will ruin the story for those who want to read it. I'm not saying it was a bad story, it just wasn't Sparks' best and I found it to be a bit far fetched. Who honestly walks from Colorado to the Carolinas with a back pack and a dog? If I were to do it all over again, I would have waited for the MMPB to come out and saved myself some money.

Another solid effort., October 2, 2008
Sparks delivers again with another great story with another set of great characters, who's stories all get intertwined and weaved together somehow yet again. I have to admit Sparks has a way of really getting you emotionally involved in his stories, and it's hard to put the book down until you've read cover to cover.

I don't wanna give anything away, but I have to say I was really impressed how Sparks developed and told his story this time making me care for the characters very early one, and I was actually almost shocked to see a "villain" this time around as well. I will admit a few characters and events seemed a little forced here and there, but I find that in a lot of his stories, so it just kinda goes with the territory. Regardless, I was sucked into the story and I enjoyed til the bitter end.

I do have to say this book really makes you think of things such as fate and destiny and whether or not they exist for people. I personally think they do and this story helps solidify that. I also have to say I actually expected a different ending than what we got...the ending I was expecting would of worked and satisfied me, but the one Sparks delivered gave me a little surprise and also satisfied. So it was a win-win.

A strong 4/5 for me.

Disappointing, October 24, 2008
I have read the reviews by others here, and I am most definitely in the minority. But then, everyone has their own opinion.

I found the book somewhat tedious. Initially, I liked the development of the main character Logan Thibault, as well as the antagonist, Keith Clayton. I thought the development of Beth, the love interest was quite a bit weaker. During some of the chapters developing her character, I found myself scanning and skipping along, rather than absorbing the detail.

The development of the characters of the antagonist and the love interest vacillated in the story telling. In the case of the antagonist (the love interest's possessive ex and father of her son) the author paints him first as a sleeze and then later gives him a decent side, and then back to sleeze again, etc. Very confusing. The love interst character repeatedly switches from being a solid, thinking, quality person to one who flips easily to an irrational/emotional side. Again, disconcerting. One of the late scenes describes her anger at being supposedly duped by Logan. Thereafter, with almost a one sentence reason, she almost instantly reverses herself and goes by to make up after just trashing Logan's life. Either a bad scenario or unrealistic writing.

Finally, the ending just leaps from the exciting danger scene to an epilogue type conclusion, in which the author jumps from the danger scene to several months later, leaving the reader in the dark as to what happened in the interim and how. In the final page (literally), we find that the antagonist died but has miraculously become a beloved father, and, at the same time the protagonist survived. No explanation of the fact that the last time we saw them they were both together, and in the same immediate danger, or how things proceeded from there.

I had not read any Nicholas Sparks books before; I tried this one to see how it would go. Based on the reviews I have read, I'll try one more but this time I think it will be one of his earlier efforts. I am wondering if reading Sparks is like reading Robert Ludlum's writing; which initially was good but ultimately became a caricaturization and lost its originality.

If you read one, you've read them all..., November 10, 2009
Don't know why, but every once in a while I get tempted to give this author yet another chance to finally come up with a book that I like. They often seem promising, yet his writing never changes. It is trite and repetitious, he overuses odd phrases, (for example, "'I'm sorry,' he said, meaning it"--page 150... Then on page 153,"'I'm sorry,' he said, meaning it". Oh, so you're trying to say that he is so very sensitive that when he says he's sorry, he means it?) Later, when Logan and Elizabeth are on their first date at that ridiculous restaurant where wait staff and patrons must recite scripted phrases in order to serve or be served, and the college students there jokingly state "We have crabs!", the author actually explains the play on words to the reader. Really? He didn't think we'd get it?
The characters are one dimensional and not believeable or especially likeable. Even the characters you are supposed to dislike are so stereotypical that you don't even care enough to dislike them. It's a shame, because judging by his picture, Nicholas Sparks looks like a very nice guy, and I want to like his books. But they are so predictable, so full of cliches, and so lacking in originality that I really must remind myself the next time I am tempted to read one that, if you've read one, you've read them all.

Pure entertainment, minimal effort, January 5, 2009
Every time Nicolas Sparks has a new book releasing around Christmas time, I always put in on my wish list. It always provides a fun, easy read and The Lucky One is no different. As long as you keep your expectations in check and temporarily overlook the multitude of clichés, gender stereotypes, predictability and overused character traits, this quick page turner is pure entertainment with very minimal effort. As a frame of reference, I've read just about every one of Sparks' books and I rank this one towards the bottom (The Notebook being the best).

The main character finds a picture of a mysterious woman while in Iraq and goes in search of her by foot upon his return home. He is led to believe that she has brought him luck and safety while at war. Essentially, he finds her and they fall in love...with a few bumps in the road. Does the fairy tale last forever? This is something I shall save for you to find out.

One portion of the book keeps coming to mind, which is the soldier's realization that the stresses of everyday life are minimal in comparison to being in a warzone where you see death and barely survive--a good reminder about putting everything into perspective.

I particularly enjoyed the relationship that the main character had with his dog--that was endearing.

On a final note, I must argue that the ex-husband's behavior at the very end of the book isn't consistent with the build-up throughout and I am left unmoved at the outcome.

Okay, now I am back to reading something a bit more robust and discussion-worthy. But it sure was a fun page turner. And, I'll still ask for the Sparks' next novel when it is released.

Feel free to comment on this review or your thoughts on the book or suggest a book for me to review. ... Read more

Editorial Review

On the run, in each other’s arms, with one last chance to survive
 
A rugged Navy SEAL, Zane Scott was part of a failed mission to rescue Dr. Olivia Strohm from abduction by the terrorist group Dead Man’s Hand—and her anguished screams have haunted him ever since. So when he gets word that the beautiful physician has escaped from her captors in Africa, he’s got personal reasons to storm the continent and save her.

Like her would-be liberator, Olivia carries the burden of a dark secret from her past. Ruthless and relentless, the DMH has threatened to hunt her down—and to systematically hurt anyone she’s close to. The last thing she wants is to be rescued—even by someone as shockingly handsome as Zane. Yet the hotheaded special ops hero has come for her, and together she and Zane just might have a shot at not only stopping DMH’s reign of terror, but also saving what’s left of their souls.


From the Paperback edition. ... Read more

Editorial Review

What would you do if you woke up one day and found out everything you thought you knew about your father turned out to be a lie?

After being bitten by the genealogy bug, Grace Hendricks awakens a conspiracy that's been lying dormant—ever since she disappeared shortly after her father's funeral eleven years ago. Now, here in the present, his military records have been tampered with and his death certificate is no longer on file.

In an effort to unravel the mystery she turns to Eric Wayne, an old flame she thought she'd tucked safely away into the past. Eric has no intentions of getting involved with Grace and her crazy allegations, until he realizes that someone else is buried in his former commanding General's grave. ... Read more

Reviews

Suspenseful Sizzler, September 9, 2010
Ms. Edwards has written another thrilling ride that will take you from a cemetary to a military base and everywhere in between while entertaining you the whole time. Secondary Targets grabbed me from the first sentence and never let go. What a great story, filled with conspiracy theories, spies, covert military operations, secrets, deceptions, love, romance, redemption. Ms Edwards does such a good job of weaving the past relationships of all the characters into a thriller that kept me guessing until the last page. Great plot twists. And the ending gave me a chill.

*SIMPLY ASTONISHING*, October 24, 2010
THIS IS INTELLECT AT IT'S BEST! AWESOME BOOK!
Another (MUST READ) by Ms. EDWARDS. This is the kind of book you wish you were watching on Screen! Yes it's that GREAT! I don't like to give too much away in my reviews out of consideration for the potential reader but I will say this: It's LOADED with Brilliant Conspiracy and Suspense.
You won't be sorry you picked up this Thriller.
Happy Reading ;)
*Amy E.*

Another Hit For Author Sandra Edwards, October 8, 2010
What would you do if everything you thought was true turned out to be false? That's what Grace Hendricks is facing. Eleven years after the death of her father she learns that he wasn't who she thought he was. Upon returning to his grave she finds that someone else is buried where her father should be. His death certificate is nowhere to be found. It's as if he never existed. There's only one man she can turn to for help, Eric Wayne her ex-fiancee, whom she walked out on eleven years ago. With the help of Eric's best friend Marcus Johnson and his wife the four race to learn the truth. But can Grace truly trust Eric and his friends? Are they in on the conspiracy?

Sandra Edwards has done it again. Secondary Targets is a remarkable mystery/romance that will keep you guessing right till the end with a twist that will blow your socks off. If you love a great romance with lots of mystery thrown in then I highly recommend you don't pass up Secondary Targets.

FANTASTIC BOOK!!!, September 9, 2010
What a cool premise for a book! It has a wonderful beginning, cluing the reader in that this isn't your normal mystery...it's much better, with a twist I never saw coming! Thank you, Sandy, for yet another wonderful plot! I'm glad I own this book!

a plodder, December 16, 2010
For a "tale of intrigue and mystery," very little happens, at least in the first 25%, which is probably where I will leave it.

Also...
- the Army does not generally give awards to Lance Corporals
- there is no decimal point in 9mm
- the phrase is "in vain", not "in vane"
- Four Star General does not need all those caps

Too much romantic angst, December 14, 2010
I struggled through this book and about a third of the way I skipped over to the end. NO surprises there. It reminded me of a soap opera, watch it one day and go back two weeks later and find you haven't lost out on the action. I'm glad I only lost $.99 on this book. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Five New York Times bestselling authors cross over to a realm where suspense, desire, and love have no bounds.

J.D. Robb: Lieutenant Eve Dallas has always sought justice for the dead, but now, a victim will seek her own vengeance-through Eve.

Mary Blayney: An earl and his countess struggle to understand one another, until they spend a day in each other's shoes-and bodies.

Patricia Gaffney: To prove her ancestral home is haunted, a woman hires a spirit investigator, but they end up debunking the mystery of love.

Ruth Ryan Langan: A couple who dies in a car accident struggler to stay in their daughter's life to save her from the wrong man.

Mary Kay McComas: A practical woman is faced with the most impractical ghosts, who can't rest in peace until they find what they have lost. ... Read more

Editorial Review

TRACING KILLERS IS MIA VOSS’S BUSINESS. AND HER WORK JUST GOT PERSONAL.

At first, Mia Voss thinks it’s just bad luck when her already lousy day ends with a carjacking, but what seems like a random incident is followed by another sinister episode. A DNA expert, Mia has made it her mission to put away vicious criminals. Suddenly, she’s become the target of one. And the only way to protect the people she loves most is to deliberately destroy her reputation and risk letting a killer walk free.

Once, Mia trusted Detective Ric Santos, but that was before Ric let his turbulent past ruin his chances with Mia, the sexiest, most intriguing woman he’s ever met. But he can tell when she’s lying—and when she’s scared. The key to catching a sadistic madman lies within a long-buried cold case that has haunted Mia for years. Only she can uncover the truth, but first, Ric will have to get her to entrust him with her secrets . . . and her life. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Within the brotherhood, Rhage is the vampire with the strongest appetite. He's the best fighter, the quickest to act on his impulses, and the most voracious lover-for inside him burns a ferocious curse cast by the Scribe Virgin.

Possessed by this dark side, Rhage fears the times when his inner dragon is unleashed, making him a danger to everyone around him. When Mary Luce is unwittingly thrown into the vampire world, she must rely on Rhage's protection. Knowing that Mary feels the same intense animal attraction, Rhage must make her his alone... ... Read more

Editorial Review

Dying is what changed Mary O’Reilly’s life.Well, actually, coming back from the dead and having the ability to communicate with ghosts is really what did it.
Now, a private investigator in rural Freeport, Illinois, Mary’s trying to learn how to incorporate her experience as a Chicago cop and new-found talent into a real job. Her challenge is to solve the mysteries, get real evidence (a ghost’s word just doesn’t hold up in court), and be sure the folks in town, especially the handsome new police chief, doesn’t think she’s nuts.
Twenty-four years ago, a young woman drowned in the swimming pool of a newly elected State Senator.It was ruled an accident.But now, as the Senator prepares to move on to higher positions, the ghost of the woman is appearing to the Senator’s wife.
Mary is hired to discover the truth behind the death. She unearths a connection between the murder and the disappearance of five little girls whose cases, twenty-four years later, are still all unsolved.As she digs further she becomes the next target for serial killers’ quest to tie up all his loose ends.
... Read more

Reviews

Wonderful start to an interesting series, August 3, 2010
A very enjoyable read. Very likable characters, and an interesting plot.
I really enjoyed Mary's interaction with Stanley and Rosie.
I am interested in seeing what is next for Mary and Bradley.
It had a very satisfying ending, and I can't wait for future installments.
All in all, a great mystery!

'Loose Ends' is Spooky, Funny, and Left Me Wanting More!, August 8, 2010
This Mary O'Reilly Mystery is both scarey and funny, with wonderful characters and lots of action. I was not certain 'who done it' until the very end, and I couldn't put it down until it was all over! AND it ended with a twist, the perfect set up for the next book.

Mary and Bradley are just plain fun together - can't help but laugh out loud - but I found the characters of Rosie and Stanley to be a terrific foil to Mary's dry quips. They are the kind of pals we all wish we had: delightfully honest and totally on your side. Lucky Mary!

Gimme more, Ms. Reid - don't keep us wondering about where 'you-know-who' has been for so long! Alive or...???

Loose Ends is a hit!

A very good read!, August 15, 2010
I saw a tweet about this book which had a link to an article that was written about the author and how she got her first book published through Amazon and I decided to give the book a try. I am all for giving new authors a try and boy am I glad I did! I really enjoyed this book and the characters in it. I found the flow to be very fluid. And even though it is a paranormal mystery, there's no vampires or werewolf anywhere to be seen... THANK GOODNESS! I am going to put Terri Reid on my authors to watch list. It will be fun to see how she develops Mary and Bradley's relationship; there is obvious more that can be written there.

Loose Ends left me wanting more!, August 8, 2010
Loose Ends is perfect mystery and a real 'page turner.' The well crafted plot,engaging characters and a unique spin of the paranormal is a refreshing addition to the mystery genre. I can't wait to read more Mary O'Reily stories! I hope this book makes it to print--I would love to add it to my personal library.

A Great New Find, August 4, 2010
I read Terri Reids' notice on one of the Kindle Community postings and decided to try her book. Boy am I glad I did. It grabbed me from the beginning and I couldn't put it down until I finished it. It was fun, exciting and challenging. Her characters were believable and I wanted more. Hopefully, we'll be seeing new adventures for Mary and et.al. soon. Try this mystery, it's different and enjoyable.

CAN'T WAIT FOR MORE, August 3, 2010
RARELY DO I FIND A BOOK THAT FLOWS RIGHT FROM THE VERY START. THE BUILDING OF THE CHARACTERS MAKES ME WANT TO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING EVEN AFTER I AM FINISHED READING.
KUDOS, CANT WAIT FOR MORE

Just a fun read, August 18, 2010
I have to confess that Terri is a dear friend that I've known for too many years for either of us to admit. I didn't really know what to expect. "Loose Ends" was such a fun read and I heard her voice as I read it. She is a wonderful storyteller in person and her talent is very much in evidence here. Fans of the Dresden books will also enjoy her book. I agree with an earlier reviewer that said that this is a great start to an addictive book series. I also see it as a TV show on the Syfy channel.

Loose Ends = A great beginning, August 27, 2010
I hope this new series is one that regularly treats readers to new installments! Terri Reid skillfully combines mystery, romance, and the paranormal, tying them all together with heartwarming humor, intriguing situations, snappy dialog, and a genuine understanding of small towns and the folks (living and dead) who inhabit them. Mary O'Reilly is a clever, sensible heroine with an unusual gift, and Bradley, the love interest, is awfully easy to love. Finally, the ghostly characters made me wonder if the *author* actually sees (and chats with) dead people. (I particularly loved O'Reilly's interactions with the waspish and very dead gossip columnist.) Loose Ends made me laugh out loud, gave me goosebumps, and touched my heart. What more could I ask for? Book #2, of course!

Great Characters & story with the right mix of spooky & mystery, August 25, 2010
Got a kindle as a prize to a charity drawing, and had my first read today with this book. It hooked me from the start to the point that I read it until I finished the entire book without doing anything else. Good thing I'm on vacation! Loved all of the characters, Mary, Bradley, Stanley and Rosie.

It had the right mix of humor, mystery mixed with a new spin on the paranormal, and was a great story interweaving two cases into one. The characters reactions to the paranormal, disbelief and fear was perfect. The play on words between Mary and Bradley, and Mary, Stanley and Rosie are fun to read, and I quite often found myself laughing out loud. It made the characters feel real. The author had both humorous and serious interactions with the ghosts Mary sees, making you feel their plight and pain. The author proves you don't need a lot of blood and guts to sell a good story, with interesting turns and twists. Would make a great movie or even better a fun, spooky series. Terri Reid spins a story that captures the reader from the start, leaving you wanting for more. I want to know more of Mary and her first experiences with the paranormal, and Bradley's story and his search. And you know that Stanley and Rosie must have an interesting story too. I can't wait to see what happens with these characters in future books!

Kudos, Terri Reid, for a great read---- sure hope you plan on making this a series and give your readers more!

A Great Read!, August 18, 2010
Loose Ends is a great read full of suspense and fun. The writing kept me up until the wee hours. I wanted to know 'who dun it?' I'm looking forward to reading more about Mary O'Reilly's adventures. ... Read more

Editorial Review

In the very first novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series, Eve Dallas gets involved with Roarke, a suspect in her latest murder case. But passion and seduction have rules all their own. ... Read more

Reviews

A truly wonderful series!, May 15, 2001
Naked in death starts out a really great series! Nora Roberts writes these under the name of JD ROBB. I did just start this series as I read everything I can get my hands on from Nora. If you are a new reader, you do need to start with this book and work your way through. I didn't start here first and she really builds the characters through each story that if you don't start from the beginning you miss a lot. I went back and am now starting from the beginning. This series is not Nora's romance format. Of course there is romance in there! This series is a mystery style. It takes place in NYC in the year 2058. When people do travel " off planet" and prostitution is legal. Your car drives you and you have " auto chefs " in house, car , even your office. The way ROBB writes about the future this is truly believable. Lt. Eve Dallas is a tough woman. She is strong, independent, and she truly fights and believes in her job as homicide detective. In this book she finds her main suspect a billionaire name Roarke. He is very charming, Irish, has lived a little on the edge, rich, and good-looking! Eve has now found her match. Roarke didn't have the ideal childhood either and they make the most wonderful couple. This is an excellent series, and keeps you entertained and you don't want to put the book down. Robb does a great job in making the who done it a total surprise! I highly recommend this entire series you will truly be delighted It is awesome!!!

The beginning of a great series, October 14, 2000
The "...in Death" series starts with Naked in Death a futuristic series set in New York City in the year 2058. The star of the series is Lt. Eve Dallas a tough as nails female homicide detective who fights for the rights of the victims of murder.

Eve finds the main murder suspect, a billionaire named Roarke who walks a fine line between legal and illegal, to be just a little bit too attractive for her comfort. He's Irish, gorgeous, and very charming.

This series is written by Nora Roberts under the name J.D. Robb. Don't confuse the romance novels usually written by Ms. Roberts with this series. The "...in Death" series is a far cry from her usual romance story. The series is excellent and I would recommend you read all the books beginning with this one, Naked in Death.

Fabulous start to a series, October 31, 2001
Roberts starts her "Death" series with this book. This is a great series for people who like good mysteries with a little emotion thrown in. While I am not normally into futuristic novels, this series about Detective Dallas set 50 years in the future is great. This particular book in the series does a fabulous job at establishing the main characters, the setting, and the tone for the entire series. While each book can be read individually, I think its important to read them in order.

In this book, Eve Dallas is assigned to a high profile murder investigation that encompases politics, prostitution, and blackmail--engrossing right from the beginning. The chemistry between Dallas and Roarke-- one of the suspects--is aparent from their first meeting. More importantly, the mystery is well constructed and left nothing up in the air.

Overall, these are my favorite characters from all of Nora Roberts novels. I'm glad she chose to use them for a series.

This book is unbelievable!, August 5, 1999
I could not put this book down. Eve and Roarke are the hottest couple in print today. I love the mystery but I love the romance even more. These two are so hot I'm surprised the book doesn't go up into flames in my hands. I have reread Naked In Death at least three times and it never gets old. The whole series is great but start with Naked and go in order because it's better that way. Roarke is the ideal lover. Rich, powerful, dangerous, sexy and totally in love with Eve Dallas. Now that is one lucky woman! Eve is a great heroine. She is smart, brave, independent and loyal. At the same time she has a past that makes her vulnerable, too. She is a real person not some flat character. I can not wait for Loyalty In Death to come out. The only bad thing is I finish them so fast. Keep writing about Eve and Roarke, Nora Roberts. Your fans will be forever grateful.

Great Start For Futuristic Mystery Series!, January 5, 2005
"Naked In Death" is the first book in J. D. Robb's Eve Dallas mystery series. I have been hearing positive things about these books for a long time, and now, after reading this terrific novel, I understand why.

New York City, 2058 CE, are the time and setting of "Naked in Death." Robot drones and voice activated machines do menial work, i.e., clean house, serve meals; there is a total ban on guns, (the police use lasers); major improvements have been made in medicine and technology, with advancements in genetics (and strong genetic control); airbuses for public transportation have replaced subways; tele-links replace telephones - it's not a "brave new world," yet...but there are definite pluses midway into the 21st century. Minor armed skirmishes have taken place between China and the US, and France had another revolution which lasted for a few years. The overpopulated world has more limited resources - real coffee is rare and way too expensive, as is beef and other fresh meat. Robb has not written a sci-fi series, however. Far enough into the future to make the storyline more interesting, 2058's world is still easily recognizable.

Lieutenant Eve Dallas of the NYPSD is called to a murder scene where a young licensed companion, (a legalized prostitute ), has been brutally murdered with an antique handgun from the 20th century. The victim, Sharon DeBlass, is from a very prominent family - her grandfather is a US senator. An angry man who preaches morality and leads an ultra conservative branch of his party, the senator would like to totally suppress the case, and perhaps even run the investigation himself. According to friends and relatives, Ms. DeBlass apparently chose her career not only because she liked sex, she did not need the money, but because she was rebelling against her family and strict upbringing. A note was found under her body with the printed words, "ONE OF SIX." So, was the perpetrator a serial killer warning that there were to be five more murders? One of the prime suspects is a sexy Irish billionaire named Roarke. We never learn whether this is his first or last name. Perhaps if one is a billionaire, especially a tall, dark and handsome, with an Irish brogue, billionaire, it doesn't matter. He is quickly cleared of suspicion, and he and Eve embark on a stormy, intense romance - but not before murder #2 occurs.

Eve, although a tough cop who made Lieutenant before the age of 30, is also very vulnerable. She doesn't remember the early years of her life, but knows that she was sexually, physically and emotionally abused by her father, then abandoned at age eight and left to the mercies of Children's Services. She has made her work her life, and letting Roarke get close to her is a first.

Happiness is discovering another excellent series - and from what I have read, this looks like a winner! The writing is tight, as is the plot - an excellent and complex mystery. I really like the characters, Eve, definitely, Roarke - who lives up to his description, Feeney, Eve's partner, and Eve's chanteuse friend Mavis. I can't wait to pick-up book two, "Glory In Death."
JANA

A Great Beginning to A Great Series, June 21, 2001
Naked in Death is the first of several titles in this terrific series and I highly recommend you read the books in order. (If not, it can get confusing trying to understand progressive storylines and relationships.) Set in the not too distant future, the main character Eve Dallas is a tough NY city cop investigating the murder of a female licensed companion (prostitution is now legalized). Complicating her investigation, is her growing attraction to the prime murder suspect - the enigmatic, handsome billionaire Roarke.

The book has something for everyone: murder mystery and action, romance and a healthy dose of comedy thrown in to keep things from getting too heavy. Robb's fleshing out of vivid and likeable secondary characters adds to the book's appeal. Makes for great beach reading and you'll want to continue the series to learn more about what happens next to Ms. Dallas and company.

Eve Dallas Should Be Cloned, September 22, 2003
Eve is one incredibly tough and sexy police lieutenant in NY City and I want her to move to Virginia and have my baby. Eve won't back down from anyone and she has everything this male dreams about...smarts, strength, looks, and is an animal in the bedroom in two very sexy scenes without being pornagraphic. Nora Roberts is an incredible writer and really makes you feel for the characters and root for Eve. This was my first book in the series and I can't wait to join the sexy lady cop as she kicks butt in the other books.

Introduction to an Addictive Series!, December 21, 2001
"Naked in Death" is the first book in J. D. Robb's "In Death" series and it starts the series off with style! We are introduced to Eve, the independent and no-nonsense cop and Roarke, the charismatic billionaire who sweeps Eve off her feet.
The mystery/suspense elements are exciting and well thought out. Eve is investigating the disturbing murders of female licensed companions (prostitution is legal in the year 2058) and Roarke is her main suspect! These two meet as a result of her investigation, and as Eve gets to know Roarke, she becomes quite sure that he is not a cold-blooded killer. Eve cannot resist the lure of this mysterious and sexy man and they soon end up in the midst of a passionate romance.
The romance elements of this book blend perfectly with the murder mystery elements, to provide the reader with a wonderfully imaginative, provocative and thrilling story. The futuristic setting is completely believable, and provides an intriguing backdrop for the story without detracting from it.
The main characters, Eve and Roarke are both complex and well-developed, and the dynamics of their rocky relationship will keep readers turning pages.
This is a truly great read and I am quite sure that readers everywhere will want to read more of Eve and Roarke after finishing this first instalment. Enjoy!

Romantic Murder, February 21, 2001
The book Naked In Death, by J.D. Robb is the first book of a futuristic series, taking place in New York City in the year 2058. Lt. Eve Dallas, a cop for 10 years, has dedicated all of her energy and most of her time toward bringing justice to those who are murdered and finding their ruthless killers. Eve has been put on a code five-murder investigation. One of the murder suspects is a suductive Irish billionaire, Roarke. Eve finds herself in a situation that she has never been in before. She has fallen in love. This causes a great deal of confusion and mixed feelings. Dallas is constantly jumping through hoops trying to get one step closer to cracking the case. She has to meet with the senator, interview suspects, go through testing, and deal with personal problems. Naked In Death is one of the best books that I have ever read. It fascinated me to learn that a female played the role of a very well respected homicide dective. The book is full of mystery and romance, which makes it a definite page-turner. It moves at a fast pace leaving no space for boredom. I strongly advise everyone who loves romance entwined in suspence to read this inviting novel.

Eve Dallas is my hero!, October 31, 1999
I just finished the first four books in the series, and I've enjoyed them all. Nora Roberts has created some wonderful characters in this series. Eve is great--a dedicated cop who is haunted by her past; prickly, wary, a loyal friend to those few she calls friend, and surprised she's in love with Roarke. HE is gorgeous (I keep seeing Pierce Brosnan), rich, shady, totally dedicated to Eve, and indulges her shamelessly despite her protests. Peabody is a refreshing addition to the cast of characters. The stories are great, the bad guys not TOO easy to figure out, and the characters have depth and believability, as well as suprising flashes of humor that leaves the reader chuckling delightedly. Keep 'em coming, J.D. Robb! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Forced together by fate, bound together by desire
 
Framed for a double murder, Delta Force operative Cameron Moore is given a new lease on life by the CIA—provided he pays them back by doing their black ops dirty work. But now Cam is ready to renegotiate the deal, and he thinks he’s found the perfect bargaining chip: Skylar Slavin, bestselling author of espionage thrillers and the daughter of the CIA man who saved Cam from a prison sentence.

Skylar has been living in anonymity, never suspecting that someone so dangerous—and so desirable—would plunge her into a world as treacherous as one of her spy novels. But how can Cam go through with his plan to kidnap Skylar when just the sight of her sets off an explosive attraction he’s never experienced before? And when Skylar falls prey to an even more perilous threat, this special ops soldier must call upon all his combat skills to protect the one person who can help him win his freedom—and the only woman he’s ever loved.


From the Paperback edition. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The latest Arcane Society novel from New York Times- bestselling author of Running Hot and Fired Up-as she introduces her brand-new Looking Glass trilogy.

Jayne Ann Krentz follows up her highly successful Dreamlight Trilogy- written in collaboration with her two alter egos, Amanda Quick and Jayne Castle-with a brand-new story arc that begins in a secluded coastal town in northern California.

Scargill Cove is the perfect place for Fallon Jones, confirmed recluse and investigator of the paranormal. It's a hot spot, a convergence point for unusually strong currents of energy, which might explain why the town attracts misfits and drifters like moths to a flame. Now someone else has been drawn to the Cove-Isabella Valdez, on the run from some very dangerous men.

When she starts work as Fallon's assistant, Isabella impresses him by organizing his pathologically chaotic office-and doesn't bat an eye at the psychic aspect of his job. She's a kindred spirit, a sanctuary from a world that considers his talents a form of madness. But after a routine case unearths an antique clock infused with dark energy, Fallon and Isabella are dragged into the secret history of Scargill Cove and forced to fight for their lives, as they unravel a cutthroat conspiracy with roots in the Jones family business . . . and Isabella's family tree. ... Read more