Romance Books

I am thouroughly enjoying this trilogy. Once I get started, I don't want to put these books down. I think Brenda is an entremely talented writer and I loved the characters. The biggest flaw was the lack of depth her heroine Allie has. She doesn't feel real as a cop. I could believe her more a P.I. The part about losing her gun just doesn't ring true. I also (although I LOVE Clay) had a problem with how quickly he opened up to Allie, after keeping so closed into himself the past nineteen years. These are small things, which truly don't distract from the book much, but unfortunately its enough to knock my review down to four stars. I eagerly look forward to Dead Right (which is sitting on my beside TBR pile right now) and I would recommend this trilogy to any fans of suspensful/crime fiction.

I bought this trilogy of books based on a friend's suggestion. I thought that they were poorly written, and really very boring. I got tired of this whole family and their secrets very quickly. Save your money!

Clay Montgomery has been the only one to remain on the farm after his stepfather Reverend Lee Barker went missing and has guarded it fiercely. The people of Stillwater are convinced Clay murdered the reverend but haven't been able to prove it, Now Allie McCormick, a cold case detective, is in town to discover exactly what happened that fateful night nineteen years ago that changed the Montgomery's lives forever.

While looking into the disappearance of Lee Barker, Allie is called out to Clay's farm where his girlfriend Beth Ann tells Allie that Clay admitted to killing Lee and beating her. Allie doesn't believe Beth Ann is telling the truth since there isn't any evidence to back her statements up, but she has to proceed with the investigation by the book.

Allie starts to develop feelings for Clay and doesn't think he killed his stepfather but when she starts spending more time with him she discovers that Clay has some pretty powerful enemies who are determined to make him pay for the reverend's disappearance whether he is innocent or guilty.


Dead Giveaway is the second book in the Stillwater, Mississippi series by Brenda Novak. This book can be read as a stand alone book but after reading it you will be wanting the first book in the series Dead Silence.

Dead Giveaway is a gripping tale that tells the story of Clay Montgomery. Clay is a very strong man that had to grow up fast at young age after his father walked out of their lives. He felt it was up to him to make sure the family was protected. As an adult, Clay knows he will never get the chance to have a family of his own and his inner turmoil at the thought is painful to watch. While getting to know Clay, you want so much to give him the serenity he needs even as you admire his loyalty to his family.

Allie has had so many problems of her own that brought her and her daughter back home to live with her parents. She is such a strong, independent woman that you can't help but to admire her tenacity.

Dead Giveaway is packed full of danger and deception that will leave you wondering what will be around the next corner. Brenda Novak has done a phenomenal job in creating a story that pulls readers into the world she has created, leaving them hanging on every word. This is one series you do not want to miss!

By Tammy
Fallen Angel Reviews

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

Almost everyone in town believes Clay Montgomery murdered the Rev Lee Barker nineteen years ago. But the only people who know the truth are Clay, his mother, and his sisters and they will do anything to protect their secret. He has never been able to have a real relationship due to the fact his number one priority is protecting his family. He has faced suspicion and innuendos ever since that fateful night but things are about to get far worse.

Allie McCormack and her young daughter return to Stillwater, where her father is police chief, after a bad divorce. Here she decides to put her experience as a cold case detective to work, starting with who really killed Rev Barker. Allie knows the rumors and the lack of evidence point to Clay Montgomery as a murderer, but upon meeting him, her heart tells her otherwise.

Can Clay find it in his heart to trust Allie with the truth? Will Allie be able to stand up to the bullets flying her way and her rising suspicions about who Rev Barker really was really like to support Clay no matter what truth is uncovered?

As a cop, Allie of course has very strong beliefs that no matter the crime, if someone did it, they must pay. As she uncovers more of Clay's family secrets and gets a glimpse into the sick and twisted mind of Rev. Barker, everything she's ever known is put to the test. Even if Clay did do the deed, does he really deserve to suffer if his actions were for the right reasons? Allie's struggle encompasses so much of the story.

Not that Clay doesn't have to struggle himself... His entire life since the night Rev Barker went missing has been about protecting his family and doing whatever necessary to keep his dark secret, even to the extent he'll go to jail if it means his family will be left alone. As a result, he has never been able to trust anyone until Allie comes back to town. She challenges him to let go of the past and move forward in the present so he can finally have a little happiness of his own.

Even knowing Dead Giveaway is Clay's story, my heart breaks for poor Maddy. She is so utterly blind to the true nature of her father and her love for him has grown over the years since his disappearance into a sort of hero worship. She adored her father and if she knew who he really was what would it do to her? She is so sweet and true that she can't even comprehend the evil some people are capable of and this naiveté provides a counter to the dark tone of the rest of the book. As such, I couldn't help but feel terribly sorry for her. If she were to know the whole truth, how would she be able to go on? I so desperately want to see her get her answers but it will crush her if she learns everything. I want so badly for her to have closure and find her own happiness.

There is an additional story going on in the background as well which adds a little different depth to the story. I don't want to say too much about it since it could be construed as spoilers, but that side story is a little sad to think about as well.

Wow! This trilogy just gets more intense with each book! I loved Dead Silence and eagerly look forward to Dead Right, but Dead Giveaway is the glue that holds it all together, just like Clay does for his family. Events unfold and more hints revealed, leading up to the cliffhanger ending, that I was engrossed from page one. I have to see how the story ends!

© Kelley A. Hartsell, August 2007. All rights reserved.

The people in the town of Stillwater, Mississippi are seeking closure for the disappearance of their beloved Reverend. No one wants answers more than his only child, Madeline.

Allie moves back home with her daughter after a divorce and she joins her father, the chief of police, on the Stillwater Police Department. Her specialty is cold cases, she's solved plenty in Chicago and when Madeline asks her to look in to the Reverend Barker case, she readily agrees.

The Stillwater people are still pointing the finger at the Montgomery clan, Madeline's step family, they think Clay murdered him and his two natural sisters and mother covered it up. Allie is the first officer to investigate the case with complete objectivity. However, she discovers that the Montgomery family isn't the only family that has secrets and when she starts having feelings for Clay, her objectivity wavers.

Clay is the epitome of a great hero, he has sacrificed a lot to keep his family safe, and he doesn't regret anything he has done to do so. He loves his family and is willing to do what it takes. As he watches his sister finally start to let go of her past and embrace happiness with her new family, he begins to crave it a little himself.

This is the second book of the series and it adds plenty of twists and turns to an already suspenseful tale. The characters are becoming desperate and as more secrets are revealed, the emotions in this book are at their height. Even though the reader knows what happened to the reverend in the first book, watching everything unfold and waiting for the truth to finally come out and the pieces get put together had this reader on the edge of her seat and up real late. You find out a little more detail with each chapter and discover the Montgomery's aren't the only ones who know what happened 19 years ago.

I am dying to get my hands on Dead Right (The Stillwater Trilogy, Book 3) to see how she ends this gripping and disturbing tale. I'm loving every minute of it.

Dead Silence (The Stillwater Trilogy, Book 1)

Cherise Everhard, June 2008

The characters are so thick and juicy, believable and faulted, I think I would have followed them anywhere on the fateful night they meet. I fell in love, watching them fall, and enjoy every minute of the ride they let me tag along on.
The only warning is that while both characters are pretty "straight edge" and don't smoke or drink, they are sexually experienced and confident, which made me feel a little cringy. (Though it is told in a PG-13 way)Be wary if this isn't the type of characters you like to follow.
Well worth the read.
Can't wait for the movie, which looks as though the casting is pitch-perfect.
Rock on Nick and Nora

this is a great book, i read it twice within three days. it is a heartwarming story of two punks who fall in love. the book is full of the twists and turns of normal adolescent infatuation. i would recommend this book to any one who has ever had a "crush on a girl" or has ever been to a punk rock show.

Just finished this book. Its 2AM and I think its a perfect time to writ about this book. Short, sweet, it captures the vibrancy of the Lower East Side to perfection. Nick and Norah (I hope they got their names from the Thin Man characters?) are two sort of off-beat unsure teenagers, who find all they need in one another. The music rocks. Really fun to read.

Nick loses it when he sees his ex-girlfriend at the punk club, so he asks the girl next to him to pretend to be his girlfriend. Norah wouldn't agree under normal circumstances, but she happens to know the girl who dumped Nick, a girl she doesn't particularly like, so she kisses him in response. What starts as a five-minute relationship turns into the beginning of a strong bond between the two. That night, they explore New York City, the meaning of the connections between people, and fall in love.

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist is a beautiful love story blossoming from a shared love of punk music. Both Nick and Norah were interesting and sensitive characters, each with their own relationship problems, each afraid to enter into a new relationship. I thought it was sweet how they fit so well for each other. Each time one left the other, I felt almost anger, because throughout the entire story, I there was a sense that Nick and Norah were meant to be together, and that they couldn't be apart. This is the type of bond I was looking for in Reincarnation by Suzanne Weyn, so I was a little surprised to find it in this novel. But this link made the story so romantic and sweet.

I also really liked the alternate narrations between Nick and Norah, because I got to see their feelings. It was amusing how, for example, Nick thought something and Norah thought the exact opposite of the same situation, but somehow everything turned out fine. I didn't feel that I completely got to know them, because the story took place over the course of only one night and only certain aspects of their characters were explored, but I did like what was shown of them.

I most definitely recommend this novel, but be aware of the excess of profanity used in the writing (I counted exactly 250 appearances of the f-word) and a continuous yearning for sex. However, since the story was so sweet and optimistic, I look forward to reading the next book coauthored by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List.

[...]

When I saw a book was written by two of my favorite authors together, I couldn't resist. The book had a unique plot with many unexpected turns. The end left me wanting a sequel to see where Nick & Norah's other adventures might take them. After I read it, about 5 of my friends did too and tehy all loved it.

This book was suggested by a random person. I was immediately enthralled from the first chapter and could barely put it down. It is the perfect book to read when you are ready to begin reading yourself.

This is a great book and I have already recommended it to several of my friends. If you are looking for personal growth and spirituality from within then this is definately the book to read.

This is a great book to help anyone looking for lasting love. It will help you understand why you are the way you are and how to change into the person you would love to be to get the love you deserve. I will read this book over and over again for sure.

This book got me through a rough time in my life. Made me realize I surrounded myself with people that cant seem to get out of "Basement" mentality,making me unable to pull mylife forward.If you have ever felt "stuck" I suggest you read,and re-read this book.... you will be able to let go of the people that are afraid to go forward with there own lives and pull you down with them......and finally move on to a loving,happy,life of your own.

Iyanla did a fabulous job with this album. Her voice is so inspiring, and just helps you get through it or over it! I remember being in a very long relationship and when it ended I did not know which way to turn. A friend made me listen to this album, and I can truly say "that was all she wrote!" Iyanla takes you step by step to begin healing after having to let go. The songs are so inspring as well. If you don't have a copy of this album I suggest you go ahead and get it. You won't regret it!

This is one of my all time favorites. I bought this copy as a gift for a friend. Nearly every literate person has heard the tales of Camelot and King Arthur. This classic novel expertly focuses on the women's perspective. I've read it several times and find insights into the origin of legends and religions, especially the feminine aspects of the Divine. If you enjoy it, I highly recommend the prequels, The Forest House and Priestess of Avalon.

I read this book years ago, in my 8th grade year of school. It's a big book, but it was so good that I just kept on reading. I could hardly put it down. I've been trying to get my hands on the book for a good price ever since i finished it (I had borrowed from the library). This book really got me into Arthurian legend. It was great, I'm in love with it.

What an amazing book. All of the other 5 star reviews say what I want to say, so I'll leave it at that.

This review is for the 2000 hardcover edition by Del Rey - beige cover. I saw it in a bookstore, and it is truly a beautiful edition made with with quality paper (thick, smooth pages). If you are looking for a collectible item for your library, this is a good choice.

The entire premise behind this novel is a good one. It is the legend of King Arthur, Camelot, and Avalon but told from the point of view of the women involved, particularly the priestesses of Avalon. Central to the plot is that Vivianne, Avalon's powerful high priestess, tricks Morgaine, her apprentice (and the novel's main character), into sleeping with her brother Arthur in order to produce a son that has Avalon running through his veins from both sides. Arthur himself is a product of Vivanne's goal of ensuring that Britian has a High King who will remain faithful to Avalon and keep peace between Christians and the follower's of the Goddess of Avalon. Otherwise Avalon is in danger of diasappearing into the mists forever.

When Morgain finds out it was her brother Arthur who she slept with she turns on Vivianne, leaves Avalon, and goes to live with her scheming sister Morgause in the wilds of Lothian. There she gives birth to Mordred but then falls vicitim to her sister's scheme when Morgause finds out Mordred is King Arthur's son. Morgause takes Mordred from her an does not allow Morgaine to form a bond with her son in the hopes that by raising him it is she who will be the real influence behind the throne when he is High King.

Meanwhile, Arthur has married Gwenhwyfar, a devout Christian and a woman who seems to suffer from one phobia after another. She sees her inability to give birth to a child as punishment from God for Arthur's divided allegiance to both the followers of Avalon's Goddess and the Christian God. She uses Arthur's love for her to convince him to turn his back on Avalon and make Britian an entirely Christian nation. This, Mordred waiting in the wings, and the fallable nature of human being's sets the stage up for conflict and destruction that will destroy all of the orignal plans for peace and unity between Christian's and Avalon. And Morgaine, after years of living outside of Avalon yet longing to return, discovers that leaving Avalon was easy but finding her way back is anything but.

While all these factors seem to be the ingredients for an amazing read, this reader was dissapointd with several aspects of the novel. To start with, the author's pro-Pagan anti-Christian views come shining through each page of this novel. I think it's wonderful that a novel was published with such a different point of view. No matter what your religious orientation, it's always good to question and see things from another vantage point. The problem I had was that after several hundred pages of this it began to grate on my nerves. Eventually it was like, "OK, I get it already!!!" It was just too much and the entire novel would've benefitted from a much more subtle approach.

Then there was the extreme long-windedness of the author. Now, don't get me wrong, I love a good long novel but not when it seems to just go on and on and on and on about what, IMO, were not major plot points in the novel. Some serious editing needed to be done here. This novel could've shaved off a couple hundred pages and not suffered a thing.

I also thought the portrayal of Gwenhwyfar as a whiney, wimpy, 'fraidy cat was too over the top. I get that the author was trying to portray the difference and the conflict between her and Morgaine, which represented the heart of the conflict between Avalon and Christians, but she just has no reedeming qualities whatsoever. In what is supposed to be an novel told from the women's viewpoint, the author seemed to do the same thing she accuses Christians of doing, laying the blame for the sins and downfall of the world at the feet of a woman. It seemed that she Gwenhwyfar was the author's scape goat here. I wouldn't have minded the less than flattering portrayal of Gwenhwyfar if would've at least attempted to be somewhat fair and at least allowed the reader to discover some reedeming quality about her.

OK so I know I've waxed verbose about what I didn't like about the novel but there were some things that I thought were great. In fact, overall I didn't hate this novel it's just that the above gripes keep it from getting too great of a score. As a heroine, I absolutely loved Morgaine. She was flawed yet sincere, very human, and yet somehow very spiritual and divine. She was not the typical beauty but yet she radiated with an inner beauty. She made mistakes over and over again and suffered for those mistakes as did others.

I also enjoyed the humanity of so many of the characters. They were so recognizably human, flawed, caring, violent, and yet they yearned for peace. They made mistakes and suffered the consquences. That was painfully depicted here in a way I haven't seen in many other novels. It was very atmospheric and, when I wasn't pulled out of the story by the above irritants, I was swept away into ancient Britian and the world the author created.


I enjoyed reading about the conflict of cultures as Christianity began to spread across Britian. Just the fact that there is a novel with such a different point of view than we are used to, female and Pagan, is a very good thing. I would love to try and read more about the ancient religions. I just wish that, as a whole, this particular novel had been written better. But this is one I'm going to hang on to and reread in a few years and compare my reactions.

Overall I do recommend this novel because of it's very different premise, I love the heroine, and you may not have the same issues I did with the presentation of the story. 3 1/2 stars.

ETA: I don't get the complaint from so many reviewers that this is a "feminist" novel. It's told from the viewpoint of the women involved, does that make it feminist? Even if it was "feminist" what's so wrong with the idea that men and women should be equals? Since when is that a bad thing?

It's the "good Pagans, bad Christians" theme repeated ad nauseum that causes this novel to suffer, not the fact that it's told from a female perspective. And I'm agnostic so I don't claim one religion over another, I just don't like it when an author's personal POV overtakes what otherwise could be a good story.

This was an excellent story. This is the first time I have read this authors books, but plan on reading some of the others that she has written. The book came in perfact condition as if I had bought it new.

After reading and absolutely loving Emilie Richards' Wedding Ring I eagerly went out in search of another book in the Shenandoah Album series. I picked up Touching Stars knowing I was not only going to be entertained, but enriched by the story. I was not disappointed. Ms. Richards has once again crafted a beautiful and richly layered story, incorporating history into the modern and complex lives of the characters in the small borough of Tom's Brook. I am thrilled to have discovered such a talented storyteller and I hope she will continue to write this series for many years to come.

Great Story of a current family and historical Family'
Good Read.
Would have liked to have a clearer picture of how the families were connected with the other Shenandoah Stories.

Touching Stars was one of those that you can't put down until it is finished. Reality was on every page, and everyday problems presented in a tasteful manner. It would be quite easy to put yourself in the place of the characters,. and coping with the young adults more than real.

In TOUCHING STARS, author Emilie Richards again exhibits her wonderful ability to create realistic characters and interesting stories. This book is in her Shenandoah Album Series. All of the books in this series have some quilters living in the stories and there's always a quilt on a frame waiting to be finished.

Gayle Fortman is the divorced mother of three sons. They make their home in Virginia's beautiful Shenandoah Valley. Gayle's a smart and very resourceful woman who also runs a successful Inn that she named Daughter of the Stars. Her former husband Eric is a well-known television newscaster who travels the world reporting on various stories. After the divorce their relationship has not been close, but usually friendly. Her biggest regret is that her boys never had a father who was there when they needed one. Over the years they had not see their father enough and his relationship with his youngest son is almost non-existent. When Eric experiences a horrible attack on his life in the Middle East, he is wounded and traumatized. Gayle invites him too stay and recuperate at the Inn. Having Eric with the family again causes many feelings of old resentments and also a longing for what could have been. It also makes them wonder if the family could be together again.

TOUCHING STARS also contains a second story. A local summer day camp for teenagers is doing an archaeological dig on a nearby property. There is some mystery about the family that had lived there during the Civil War and the students and their teacher hope to find an answer to some old questions. This aspect of the book was particularly fascinating to me!

The author's choice for the name of her Inn and the book's title came from the word SHENANDOAH which means "Daughter of the Stars," and it's the American Indian name used for both the river and the beautiful valley. The Inn also has numerous "star" quilts in many of the rooms.

The other books in the Shenandoah Series are: WEDDING RING, ENDLESS CHAIN and LOVER'S KNOT. I recommend them all!

Judith Miller

I really enjoyed this book. What happens in the dark always come out in the light and this book proved that. Natasia was a trip and Jasmine finally met her match. I love this author-Keep up the good work!!!

I read this book in 3 days. It's great story about trust, lies, and forgiveness.

A continuation of A Sin and A Shame. Jasmine Larson may have finally met her match when Natasia comes into the picture. This was the best book I've read so far this year. Victoria has once again given her readers the finest in Christian fiction.

Diva Reviewer
www.divasread2.com

I loved this book. The writing is great. Although I could definitely read more, not many writers transition well from one storyline to the next without getting lost. Plus, I appreciate as a Christian, how realistic the characters were. I am trying to hold back from getting another novel because I'm on a budget.

The great thing about this book is that while we are Christians, we are still human and fallible. And it's never too late to go back to God.

Jasmine Larson Bush - the lying, conniving, cheater - is back, and up to her old ways! You would think she had learned her lesson when her marriage to Hosea, a mighty man of God, was put through the fire after he learned the truth about one of her most devastating secrets. But no, Jasmine is still harboring secrets, causing untold strife and turmoil not only in her marriage, but others as well. Even though Jasmine goes to great lengths to keep her devious behavior under wraps, she soon learns that the age old adage - everything that is done in the dark will eventually be brought to the light - is true.

I have been a fan of Ms. Murray's from her first published work. But I have to say that Too Little, Too Late is by far her best work yet. The story, a masterful mix of everyday issues and biblical teachings, is a dynamic testament to the power of trust and forgiveness. With each novel that she writes, Ms. Murray showcases her extraordinary talent for creating storylines and characters that pull you into its vortex, not letting you go until the very end.

As I read Too Little, Too Late, I felt so many emotions deep within my spirit, I was moved to take a deep, painful look at how I've been living my life, realizing sadly that it is not always in conjunction with God's will. When a work of fiction can prompt that type of response, it is the mark of an author that has truly mastered the craft of writing.

Renee Williams, All the Buzz

I only have 3 authors who are writing series books that I read. Fern Michaels Sisterhood Series is a wonderful read for women...I don't particularly recommend it for men. I am always awaiting the next book in the series. This book is as good as the ones before it. I give it all the stars possible.

Love the series, probably a women's book, would recommend to start with the first of the series, "Weekend Warriors"

I wanted to like this book, but the plot was very disturbing-how can anyone feel positive about a book that endorsed this kind of ending?

Women who can outwit the government in this fashion? Yeah, sure.

Everyone has a BMW? Yeah, right.

They don't get caught when they spy? They always get the info they want? That's realistic...


And what happens to the horses? This book was over-dramatized and the characters were 1-Dimensional. The writing showed promise, but didn't deliver. I won't be reading any other books by this author, sad to say.

Fern Michaels', "The Jury" doesn't rest on the success of previous additions to the series. The old southern adage: "You wouldn't want to stoop to their level," doesn't help when your only answer is: "You want to bet." Ms. Michaels provides a vicarious experience and keeps her fans coming back for more.
Nikki is suffering from guilt, even though she brought the members of the Sisterhood to her adoptive mother's attention; she feels the strain of an outsider. Now, her name has been chosen for the next revenge. Nikki believes her membership in the close knit group is under false pretenses as she has reunited with her life's partner without telling her friends. Taking a vacation, Nikki leaves her law firm in the hands of Allison Bank, a replacement for her beloved childhood companion.
Allison betrays her employer for a chance at the big time, and the Sisterhood convenes. In the meantime, Paula Woodley, a Washington wife, is almost beaten to death by her husband. Now Nikki mission becomes twofold, defeat Allison and regain her life's work and help Paula Woodley put an end to the torture she has endured during her marriage.
Nash Black, author of "Qualifying Laps" and "Taxes, Stumbling Blocks & Pitfalls for Authors 2007."

Totally entertaining installment of the Sisterhood series. Is it real? No. Is it believable? No. Could it happen? No. Is it a fun idea to ponder and revel in? You bet! The Sisterhood is a group of women who have been failed by the judicial system as we know it, so they create their own. Myra, Charles, and the gang never fail to entertain. In addition to the entertainment value, this one includes more than one emotional moment with more loss for the Sisterhood. I look forward to the next installment, in fact I've already started it. If there seem to be loose ends at the end of The Jury, they are important to the next book of the series.

I absolutely LOVE Julie Garwood's books... Have all of them and have read and reread them a hundred times... that is, till I got my hands on this book. What IS this?? It read like a first draft to me - there was no romance, the scenes were forced and the plot holes were HUGE. I am terribly disappointed. This book is a waste of space, not to mention the characters like Brodick (oh wait, JUST Brodick - the main characters were so underdeveloped maybe they can be recycled and used for a completely different book and no one would notice... I doubt anyone would remember them from this book. I take that back. They would TOTALLY remember because of how badly the characters were written!). Is there such a thing as a negative star rating?? If Amazon would let me give a no star rating, I would.

I love Julie Garwoods books,however I would have to say this was not one of her best. It fell a little flat for me. The characters and storyline did not deliver like Julies books usually do. It's a good book to borrow from someone but I don't think I'd buy it if you haven't already.

I really loved this book! I was so happy when she returned to historical... I mean I love her contempories, but she writes a wonderful historical romance. My one problem with this book is that she seems to forget her previous stories in the mix. Early on in the book her previous character Broderick asks Colm if remembers how he met his wife and Colm responds - Yes, when she was returning Laird Ramsey's brother to him. Anyone who read Ransom know that she was returning Alex MAITLAND to his father, not Ramsey's brother. Other than the little mistakes like that, which Ms. Garwood should have caught, this book was awesome and I think a great way to get back into historicals. I am hoping she will write more historicals soon!

I'm going to keep my review to the point & simple: thank goodness I had the sense to borrow this book from the library instead of buying it at hardcover price!! I still can't believe that this book was written by the same Julie Garwood who wrote 'The Secret', 'Honor Splendour', and more. To call the book has a plot is laughable, the dialogues and writing style are so unbelievably bad, complete with characters I could't possibly care less!

Shadow Music just hit the last nail on the coffin. Goodbye, Julie Garwood!

"Was contentment the ultimate to be wished for? Were passion and love and excitement only for dreams? Was it ever possible to have it all?" wonders Princess Gabrielle of St. Biel in Julie Garwood's latest historical romance "Shadow Music." "Shadow Music" is the tale of a beautiful princess promised by King John of England to a Scottish Lord. The union is meant to settle tensions along the Scottish border. Gabrielle's betrothed is murdered and she is taken in by a Highland clan who protects her and accepts her as one of their own. "Shadow Music" is a tale of love, lust, and political maneuvering that, once you get into it, makes for a good read.

The characters leave much to be desired. They are neither multidimensional nor believable. Gabrielle is described many times as being beautiful and troublesome, yet those adjectives hardly create a whole character. What are her hopes? Ambitions? True feelings? What really makes her tick? Her character is flat. I also questioned why Gabrielle was able to speak Gaelic, which she said was her mother's native language, when her mother was from St. Biel, in the Byzantine Empire. I did not find Gabrielle's character to be realistic and was not able to relate to her.

Another example of the lack of character development can be found in the Barons Percy and Coswold. They are in constant competition for Gabrielle's hand until she's excommunicated following false accusations. Garwood does not explain why the two men want Gabrielle so much besides for that she is beautiful. We do learn that Barron Coswold has ambitions about finding the gold of St. Biel, but even those ambitions are not expanded upon. How did he learn about the gold? What does he hope to achieve by finding it? What has brought him to this point in his life? There is no substance behind their names, leaving them unmemorable and unbelievable.

The plot is predictable and the foreshadowing is overkill. Garwood is not subtle in hinting what will come next. She ends chapters with phrases such as "The best-laid plans had a way of changing" and "never in her wildest thoughts could she have imagined what was coming."

Moments that seem important to the plot are covered quickly and with little detail. For example, the feud between the MacHugh and MacKenna clans is spoken of frequently and MacHugh's desire to avenge the attempted murder of his brother Liam is an important side plot. The battle between the two clans is two pages long. Another significant portion of the book that is skimmed over all too quickly was when Isla accused Gabrielle of being a wanton woman. Gabrielle is suddenly shunned from society, excommunicated from her country, and wounded by men throwing stones. I found this highly unbelievable. There was no proof and only a second before she was a pillar of virtue and grace!

There is not much that sets this book apart from others in its genre. I found the book difficult to get in to. However, if one ignores the one-dimensional characters and predictable story line, "Shadow Music" is a decent read. This was my first experience with a Julie Garwood novel, and I probably wouldn't read one of her books again. Some of her novels must be great, though, since she's been on the New York Times Bestseller's list 15 times. This story was not spectacular and the characters were certainly not memorable, but reading this novel is not the worst way to spend a hot summer's day.

These are the first books I"ve read by this author and I can't wait to read the next one. It was refreshing to read a new genre that was not a disappointment.

I loved the earlier books about the Dark Elves but this one just wasn't that good. Book 3 was ok but I found Book 4 to be a jumbled mess. So many things going on at once & I just couldn't get into the characters or the storyline. Maybe Jet Mykles is spending more time on her other books & she just slapped this one together. I enjoyed the series but if the next one is like is this I won't read it.

IF YOU LIKE ELVES THAT LIKE TO HAVE SEX THEN THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU.

MUST READ, I USUALLY BUY ALL BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR FOR I ENJOY READING BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR. MYKLES BOOKS KEEPS YOU READING.

Dark Elves 3: Salvation

Irin has lived among the Dark Elves, or Raedjour, since she was two
years old. Eighteen years later, she is a grown woman and the elves
that have protected her from harm her whole life realize that she needs
to find a true mate. In order to do that, they must lift the spell
placed on her years ago in order to keep her safe. Since virginity is
so rare, a contest is given and to the victor goes Irin. She knows
that there is only one man who she wants to be with and so she sets out
to make sure that he wins.

Radin, sorcerer, protector, and extremely sexual being, has loved Irin
her whole life. He knows that he is going to be the first man she is
with, so he sets out to make his nine days with her count. What he
doesn't count on is the fact that she is a mage, and therefore in
danger from the rhaeja, or king. In order to save Irin, Radin calls on
the one man he trusts, his apprentice, Savous. Because Savous has
loved Irin her whole life as well, he is happy to set a spell and in
turn the two men and Irin enjoy each other, forming a bond together.
Sadly, this isn't enough to keep them safe as danger is lurking around
the corner.

Dark Elves 3: Salvation tore me apart. This has to be Jet Mykles
finest work yet. Bravo on a prize of a book that kept me on the edge
of my seat and totally surprised me. I can honestly say that this is
the first book where I couldn't predict the ending, and for that I am
thankful. Rarely do I read such books and this one is just a treasure.
The way Ms. Mykles portrays her characters makes them so real to me, I
can feel their joy and pain. Dark Elves 3: Salvation consumed me and I
cannot wait to see if Ms. Mykles will continue with this series. I,
for one, hope so! ***Talia Ricci for Joyfully Reviewed***

I have read many of Nicholas Sparks' novels, but this one was by far my favorite. The story begins where "True Believer" left off, which is also a very good book. The story of Jeremy and Lexie is continued as they begin their lives together (I won't say too much for anyone wanting to read True Believer!) and the complications that arise while they receive bad news, deal with betrayal, guilt, suspicion, and the stresses marriage can create. I love the way Sparks writes and I feel this was perfectly done. I was left completely emotionally attached to the characters, feeling exactly as they felt as the novel moved along. In the end, I truly cried. I expected to be sad, but hadn't anticipated the ending at all. It was a beautifully touching book that I would recommend to anyone who likes Nicholas Sparks, is getting married, wants to have children/has children, or just enjoys an emotional story written beautifully.

This was my very first novel by Sparks. I was soo looking forward to a good tear-jerker love novel, since I know of his work because the "The Notebook", the movie. Instead, I was very disapponited. I seen the ending coming and I agree with another comment, the main female character, made me mad, leaving me not to feel for her at the end. Mr. Sparks, I don't want to give up on you so soon but I think I need to come back to you at a later time. Any recommendation?

Not a fan of this. I really enjoyed True Believer and thought this was would a great extension of that story. Not so..characters became less and less like-able as the story went on and it was difficult to feel part of their connection and great love story.

This is an emotionally-charged love story that is a continuation of another one of Nicolas Spark's books called True Beliver. This is a much more romantic and exciting book, however! The main characters Jeremy Marsh, the sophisticated writer from New York and Lexie Darnell, the beautiful librarian from Boone Creek, become engaged. The reason they become engaged so soon is that Lexie is pregnant. Jeremy is not sure that he is the father, but he proceeds anyway despite the warning signs. He decides to move to Boone Creek even though he is not sure it will work for career and personal happiness. As the couple get closer and closer to the wedding and the arrival of the baby, new challenges come their way. Throughout the book they are required to make difficult decisions and personal sacrifices if they want to stay together as a couple. In the end true love prevails. The ending of the story is not as I would have predicted, but made the story seem like a true story.

This book is a romance between Jeremy, a successful New York
magazine columnist, who falls in love with Lexie, a country girl, and moves to her neck of the woods away from the city. The author delves into the dynamics of friendship, commitment, marriage, pregnancy and fatherhood. It gave insights into the adjustments involved in entering and maintaining a serious relationship by centering on Jeremy's and Lexie's feelings as their relationship progressed. The ending surprised me so I'd say it is a good book and recommend it to anyone who likes romance.