ccgwalt's review
3.0
TBR Challenge 2011- General: this book has been on my TBR list since July 2010.
2.5* Rounding up to be nice.
Stubborn characters and a weak plot characterize this romantic suspense. The most interesting parts of the book had to do with (somewhat outdated) information on the Russian economy as it switched to free market, or amber. I was surprised to find I enjoyed the author's tangents on amber, and I even enjoyed some of the boating information. the plot was silly and any semi-smart reader is going to figure it out way early in the book, even with the over-abundance of characters involved. The romance was okay, but Honor held on to her stubborn opinions much longer than necessary, and the resolution between Honor and Jake was shallow and abrupt. I'd hope to see a little angst as they both tried to let the other know they were interested in a future.
Some of the dialog was just silly and unnecessary, making Honor especially sound like a flippant teenager. Too many characters rambled in this book, and there were too many unlikeable ones.
The narrator was so-so. She had a nice voice, but she didn't distinguish well between characters and her timing was uneven.
Added to that, through no fault of the author or narrator, the audio file is messed up. At one point in the second half of the book, the story jumps forward, plays on for a while, then jumps back to where it was, then jumps back to resume the story. Very confusing! I do NOT recommend buying this audiobook from audible.com. (A source I usually enjoy.)
2.5* Rounding up to be nice.
Stubborn characters and a weak plot characterize this romantic suspense. The most interesting parts of the book had to do with (somewhat outdated) information on the Russian economy as it switched to free market, or amber. I was surprised to find I enjoyed the author's tangents on amber, and I even enjoyed some of the boating information. the plot was silly and any semi-smart reader is going to figure it out way early in the book, even with the over-abundance of characters involved. The romance was okay, but Honor held on to her stubborn opinions much longer than necessary, and the resolution between Honor and Jake was shallow and abrupt. I'd hope to see a little angst as they both tried to let the other know they were interested in a future.
Some of the dialog was just silly and unnecessary, making Honor especially sound like a flippant teenager. Too many characters rambled in this book, and there were too many unlikeable ones.
The narrator was so-so. She had a nice voice, but she didn't distinguish well between characters and her timing was uneven.
Added to that, through no fault of the author or narrator, the audio file is messed up. At one point in the second half of the book, the story jumps forward, plays on for a while, then jumps back to where it was, then jumps back to resume the story. Very confusing! I do NOT recommend buying this audiobook from audible.com. (A source I usually enjoy.)
picky_book_b1tch's review
2.0
Not for me. I couldn't connect with the characters and the plot was difficult to follow and implausible.
jemifraser's review against another edition
I really enjoy this series by Elizabeth Lowell! I read them a few years back and am re-reading them now. Lots of emotion and action and suspense. A great read!
rumpfie's review against another edition
4.0
Wasn't as good as Nora Roberts. It was slightly repetitive and slow. Just meh. Not too enthused about it. The characters were sort of boring, and the plot was just dragged out, I felt like I read the same paragraphs over and over again. 100 pages could have probably been cut out and it would have made it quicker and better.
ki4eva's review against another edition
4.0
This book doesn't get old. I have probably reread this book 6 times, and each time I get caught up in the story.
dontmissythesereads's review against another edition
1.0
Book #12 read in 2016
There might have actually been a great story hidden underneath the pages and pages of boring descriptions of things that were of no interest to me. Do I really need a manual on how to drive a boat? I don't think I'll read more by this author.
There might have actually been a great story hidden underneath the pages and pages of boring descriptions of things that were of no interest to me. Do I really need a manual on how to drive a boat? I don't think I'll read more by this author.
katekat's review against another edition
5.0
Elizabeth Lowell books are obviously fairly formulaic but I still find them to be an enjoyable quick read. I think her books are at their best when they are part of a series so she has a chance to develop the characters and story a bit more. I especially like her series that deal with rare artifacts. This series is one of hers that I think works the best.
kerveros's review
3.0
So I wasn't planning on re-reading this (or the rest of the series) anytime soon, however I recently read another series where the sex scenes were so poorly done and inserted into the overall plot, I wanted to read something that I recalled had those scenes done well.
Unlike that other series where the sex seemed to overthrow the plot a bit, here there is enough of a plot that the sex seems natural. That said this is almost chick-lit (I don't class it as such, as to me, chick-lit is generally more light hearted and this series can be rather dark at times), so of course we have two beautiful people who are immediately attracted to one another. That said, the book includes women who are more beautiful than Honour, and both she and Jake are rather intelligent (something that not a lot of chick-lit characters are).
Honestly though, the sex in this book is not the main point (otherwise it would be erotica), the main plot - of Honour trying to find her brother, and the trade of amber is really rather riveting and I think that if you took out the sexual tension you'd still have a very good book left.
This is also the 75th book I have read this year, and therefore completes my Reading Challenge. I could have waited to read this but the other book I am mainly reading at the moment is ... an uphill struggle so I wanted my challenge completing book to be one that I knew I liked. So yeah, a decent book, an interesting plot, some well utilised sex scenes... an overall solid read.
Unlike that other series where the sex seemed to overthrow the plot a bit, here there is enough of a plot that the sex seems natural. That said this is almost chick-lit (I don't class it as such, as to me, chick-lit is generally more light hearted and this series can be rather dark at times), so of course we have two beautiful people who are immediately attracted to one another. That said, the book includes women who are more beautiful than Honour, and both she and Jake are rather intelligent (something that not a lot of chick-lit characters are).
Honestly though, the sex in this book is not the main point (otherwise it would be erotica), the main plot - of Honour trying to find her brother, and the trade of amber is really rather riveting and I think that if you took out the sexual tension you'd still have a very good book left.
This is also the 75th book I have read this year, and therefore completes my Reading Challenge. I could have waited to read this but the other book I am mainly reading at the moment is ... an uphill struggle so I wanted my challenge completing book to be one that I knew I liked. So yeah, a decent book, an interesting plot, some well utilised sex scenes... an overall solid read.
ibeforem's review
2.0
I thought this was just all right. I went into it expecting just a romance, so I wasn’t expecting much out of the plot. However, I was *so* glad when they finally had sex, because I was getting a little tired of the constant mention of the sexual tension. I really didn’t feel like reading about how tight his pants were every time he looked at her. What an easy guy! Really, this was very thin on plot, and the conclusion was too neat and tidy for my tastes.