In sales and popularity, Quick's (vaguely) Regency-period romance formula continues to wear exceedingly well after its 11 other manifestations, all with eye-wink titles (Mystique, 1995, etc.). Here, again, are a hoydenish heroine, mighty of will, and a titled foe-turned-lover, mighty of, well, just about everything. They'll collide, sizzle, and finally meld in True Love while solving mysteries and thwarting enemies. Stouthearted Imogen is not the least put off when encountering, in her late uncle's sarcophagus/bed (uncle collected odd artifacts), a caped figure—none other than that of Matthias, the Earl of Colchester, complete with icy eyes and a white streak in his ``midnight-dark'' hair. Imogen plans to draw Colchester into a scheme to avenge what she believes is the murder of her friend Lucy at the hands of Lucy's detested husband Lord Vanneck. As a scholar and expert on the customs and artifacts of the ``lost island of Zamar,'' Matthias is necessary to further Imogen's plot. (Never mind why.) Soon the pair—``Coldhearted Colchester'' and ``Immodest Imogen'' (the latter societal rep imposed when in the past Imogen was surprised, innocently, in a bedroom with Vanneck)- -are weaving and feinting through the intricacies of the ton. By the close, there are three murders left to solve; a lost journal; a duel attended by a corpse; Matthias' young sister used as a pawn in a dastardly plot; and a dusty showdown in a Zamar museum. While crises loom, Imogen—full of purpose and cries of ``bloody hell!''- -discovers the thrills of ``Zamarian'' lovemaking. A tidy package: Lively lovers, a tiny but respectable mystery, sex both lavender and jovial, and good humor throughout. More of the saleable same.
Pub Date: July 1, 1996
ISBN: 0-553-09355-X
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Bantam
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 1996
Roberts’ newest is part thriller, part romance, part survivors’ psychological study with a touch of New Age magic—and a...
The victims of a mass shooting—including two young heroes from the tragedy—are moving forward in their lives, affected in different ways, when they're stunned to discover a serial killer is targeting survivors.
Simone Knox and Reed Quartermaine were both survivors of a mass shooting at a mall in Portland, Maine. Afterward, Simone, grateful to be alive, vows to be a better daughter and at first tries to conform to her parents’ conservative expectations. However, she soon realizes she’ll never be happy appeasing them and finally chooses to follow her artistic dreams in order to lead a more authentic life. Reed, inspired by Essie McVee, the first police officer on the scene, becomes a detective, eventually becoming Essie's partner and close friend. Years later, survivors of the massacre begin to die, and Reed is convinced the deaths are connected—but not even Essie takes him seriously until the killer targets him. Reed is wounded but survives, and suddenly everyone believes him. The cunning psychopath escapes into the ether, armed with money, lots of false identification, and a seething desire for revenge. Taking time to heal, Reed visits Tranquility Island, Maine, his childhood vacation spot, and falls in love with the place. He also meets a charismatic older woman who helps him land the house of his dreams and the position of police chief. Falling in love with her granddaughter, Simone—whom he had been aware of since the tragedy but had never met—seems like fate. Reed settles into his new job and hooks up with the FBI regarding the case, convinced their face-off has frustrated the vengeful killer. As heroic survivors, Reed and Simone are prime targets, and now that they’ve found each other, the stakes are higher than ever. Facing the hunter means fighting for their lives, love, and happiness while silencing the violent echoes of the worst day of their lives. Fascinating characters—Simone's grandmother is a standout—and a sprawling plot that covers a lot of ground yet keeps the reader engaged offer a surprisingly compelling and poignant redemption story that begins with a tragic mass shooting.
Roberts’ newest is part thriller, part romance, part survivors’ psychological study with a touch of New Age magic—and a lively, captivating read.Pub Date: May 29, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-250-16159-8
Page Count: 448
Publisher: St. Martin's
Review Posted Online: March 4, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2018
With frank language and patient plotting, this gangly teen crush grows into a confident adult love affair.
Eleven years ago, he broke her heart. But he doesn’t know why she never forgave him.
Toggling between past and present, two love stories unfold simultaneously. In the first, Macy Sorensen meets and falls in love with the boy next door, Elliot Petropoulos, in the closet of her dad’s vacation home, where they hide out to discuss their favorite books. In the second, Macy is working as a doctor and engaged to a single father, and she hasn’t spoken to Elliot since their breakup. But a chance encounter forces her to confront the truth: what happened to make Macy stop speaking to Elliot? Ultimately, they’re separated not by time or physical remoteness but by emotional distance—Elliot and Macy always kept their relationship casual because they went to different schools. And as a teen, Macy has more to worry about than which girl Elliot is taking to the prom. After losing her mother at a young age, Macy is navigating her teenage years without a female role model, relying on the time-stamped notes her mother left in her father’s care for guidance. In the present day, Macy’s father is dead as well. She throws herself into her work and rarely comes up for air, not even to plan her upcoming wedding. Since Macy is still living with her fiance while grappling with her feelings for Elliot, the flashbacks offer steamy moments, tender revelations, and sweetly awkward confessions while Macy makes peace with her past and decides her future.
With frank language and patient plotting, this gangly teen crush grows into a confident adult love affair.Pub Date: April 10, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-5011-2801-1
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2018
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
bookshelf
