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Ratings9
Average rating3.6
15
Ratings9
Average rating3.6
The #1 New York Times bestselling author presents her latest blockbuster novel, the story of a big-screen legend, a small-town scandal, and a young woman caught up in the secrets and shadows of both.
Cilia McGowan, a former child star, has found a more satisfying life restoring homes. So she comes to Virginia's Shenandoah Valley to save the dilapidated farmhouse that once belonged to her grandmother -- a legendary actress who died of an overdose more than thirty years ago.
Plunging into the project with gusto, Cilia's almost too busy and exhausted to notice her neighbor, graphic novelist Ford Sawyer. Determined not to carry on the family tradition of ill-fated romances, Cilia steels herself against Ford's quirky charm, though she can't help indulging in a little fantasy.
But it's reality that holds its share of dangers for Cilia. A cache of unsigned letters found in the attic points to a mysterious romance in her grandmother's life -- and may be the catalyst for a frightening, violent assault. And if Cilia and Ford are unable to sort out who is targeting her and why, she may, like her world-famous grandmother. be cut down in the prime of her life.
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This was my first Nora Roberts novel and although I came in with no expectations whatsoever, I have to say- I was a bit disappointed. I thought that the smut aspect of it would exceed most other books but I was wrong.
To begin with, the story itself wasn't bad but it wasn't great either. Maybe it's because I don't care much for fixing houses but I found myself feeling distant and withdrawn from the main story line. For this reason it didn't maintain my attention whatsoever and I found myself putting this book down many, many times. I even waited months to finish the last chapter, just because I didn't care that much what happened to the main characters or how the story ended for that matter.
Further on, the pace of the story was a bit too drawn out for my liking. I wanted more action but instead things happened way too slowly and we only got further into solving the mystery towards the end of the book. That's not to say that I don't like romance, I love romance, I would have just liked to see a more equal amount of romance to mystery. Instead, the real action began way too far into the book and before that all we got was romance between the main two characters.
Also, the smut was adequate, that is all. It didn't blow me away or make me want to keep reading, it was just....eh. The reason for this was because it seemed a little too vague, even to the point where I had to reread certain parts because I had a hard time understanding what exactly was going on at some points. I like when smut is not too vulgar and not too vague either and this book just didn't do it for me in that aspect. I don't know whether or not I will try another Nora Roberts novel in the future, we will have to see.
The only redeeming quality I found in this book was the character development and how real the characters themselves seemed. I especially liked that the two main characters had little quirks and hobbies and everything else that actual people have. Cilla was the handyman, the one who's passion was to remake houses, while Ford's was to create comics. It was also unique because the stereotypical traits of a woman and a man were reversed in this case. This made for an interesting dynamic between them and it made the book more enjoyable.
All in all, this novel was okay. However, I would not recommend it to anyone because I think there are many other books out there that are much more worth your time.
A perfectly cromulent book from Our Lady Nora; not my fav of her books but reliably entertaining. Showing its 2008 pub date slightly, and I wish it had more stuff about the Judy Garland-knockoff grandma, but as ever solidly likeable characters and a world with relatively low levels of conflict (aside from like, the mystery assailant, but whatever).
