Scan barcode
ssejig's review against another edition
3.0
The book opens, not unlike many of Krentz's contemporaries, with a murder. We see it through the eyes of the killer. And it seems rather obvious who the killer is as the book goes on, but this is a Krentz novel.
To that end, we do get a hero and heroine. Max Cutler is a former profiler. A case went horribly wrong, stirring up ghosts from his past, and he decided (or the decision was made) for him to leave D.C. He ended up in Seattle, working as a private investigator. His current case involves a dead woman who the police believe to have died from an overdose. Her cousin isn't so sure. He things it's murder.
Normally Charlotte Sawyer considers herself fairly boring. She works in a nursing home as an the activities coordinator. It's true that her former fiance left her at the altar, but she's working to get over that. Charlotte step-sister, Jocelyn, says that she is too trusting, and Charlotte agrees. But it doesn't follow that she is also stupid.
Max and Charlotte's paths cross when Charlotte, watching Jocelyn's house while she's on a tech-free month-long retreat, is the one who picks up the package sent to Jocelyn from the dead woman. A packages that sends her on an adventure.
Regular Krentz readers will definitely enjoy the book. It's very much in the rhythm of her recent contemporaries. The love story was a bit fast and furious and the multiple "epilogues" were a bit tedious but overall a fast and fun read. I do hope we get to hear about Max's brothers, Cabot and Jack and find out whether the guru Zane really did die.
Three and a half stars, rounded up for Goodreads.
To that end, we do get a hero and heroine. Max Cutler is a former profiler. A case went horribly wrong, stirring up ghosts from his past, and he decided (or the decision was made) for him to leave D.C. He ended up in Seattle, working as a private investigator. His current case involves a dead woman who the police believe to have died from an overdose. Her cousin isn't so sure. He things it's murder.
Normally Charlotte Sawyer considers herself fairly boring. She works in a nursing home as an the activities coordinator. It's true that her former fiance left her at the altar, but she's working to get over that. Charlotte step-sister, Jocelyn, says that she is too trusting, and Charlotte agrees. But it doesn't follow that she is also stupid.
Max and Charlotte's paths cross when Charlotte, watching Jocelyn's house while she's on a tech-free month-long retreat, is the one who picks up the package sent to Jocelyn from the dead woman. A packages that sends her on an adventure.
Regular Krentz readers will definitely enjoy the book. It's very much in the rhythm of her recent contemporaries. The love story was a bit fast and furious and the multiple "epilogues" were a bit tedious but overall a fast and fun read. I do hope we get to hear about Max's brothers, Cabot and Jack and find out whether the guru Zane really did die.
Three and a half stars, rounded up for Goodreads.
abookwormwithwine's review against another edition
4.0
This was another hard book for me to rate.... I kept bouncing back and forth between 3 and 4 stars, but finally ended up on 4. I really did like this book, but the romance aspect wasn't exactly believable and to be honest annoyed me at times. The book definitely surprised me at times though and that is the main reason I ended up at 4. It was a really good book and I was never bored with it except at a couple points during the "romance" parts. The mystery part kept me guessing which was awesome, because not all books can be surprising even though they try to be. I will definitely be reading more of this author as long as it isn't a romance book.
bookishmerve's review against another edition
3.0
3.45 ⭐
I love reading Jayne Ann Krentz's books, she is one of my comfort authors. Saying that this one was a bit avarege for me. Plot was entertaining but not surprising, characters were likeable but the didn't stand out. I was more interested in the hero's back story. However translation was awful. I've read the Turkish edition and let me say that Google translate would have done a better job than this
I love reading Jayne Ann Krentz's books, she is one of my comfort authors. Saying that this one was a bit avarege for me. Plot was entertaining but not surprising, characters were likeable but the didn't stand out. I was more interested in the hero's back story. However translation was awful. I've read the Turkish edition and let me say that Google translate would have done a better job than this
deannasworld's review against another edition
5.0
Actual rating 4.5 stars.
Jayne Ann Krentz is one of my favorite authors and she kept me engaged through this entire story with mysteries, plot twists and a lovely romance between Max and Charlotte in classic JAK style.
First impressions say Max is a divorced, burnt out profiler starting over. But he's so much more than that. What you learn as you get to know him is he's sharp, shrewd and intelligent. He's also passionate. But he's also a solid guy you know you can depend on when things get tough. Someone who will stand by you through thick and thin. He's the kind of guy I want to have on my side and by my side.
Charlotte too is deceiving at first glance. With her having been dumped recently by her fiance, you think she's boring and trod upon but what you discover is she's strong, feisty and willing to fight and get involved in what matters to her. She loves her job at the nursing home and cares deeply for the residents there, and she's working on building a better life for herself. She's also gutsy and passionate once she gets involved in Max's investigation. I loved how genuine she was as a person. Someone you could again, depend on and know she'd be there for you in a pinch.
Aside from what great characters Max and Charlotte were, the story was intriguing. There were some interesting philosophical outlooks on life:
"Lately it had dawned on her that until she had come to Rainy Creek Gardens she had spent her life living mostly in the future. As a child, that had meant looking forward to holidays and birthdays and, most of all, becoming a grown-up. Upon achieving adulthood she had discovered that being a grown-up wasn’t nearly as satisfying as she had anticipated. What was more, the future was uncomfortably unpredictable. At Rainy Creek Gardens she had finally begun to realize that, no matter your age, when you looked back it always seemed that your life had passed in the blink of an eye. The past could not be changed and the future was unknowable. The residents of Rainy Creek Gardens were teaching her that the real trick to a good life was to learn to live in the present."
And a brief glimpse into a single male's eating habits which sadly reflect a little too clearly as something my Steve would do when I'm not around to cook for him.
"He opened a can of tuna and made a couple of sandwiches. There was one large dill pickle left in the jar. He added it to the plate. A well-rounded meal required a vegetable of some kind."
I particularly liked Max's approach to eating a fake sausage.
"He took a tentative bite of fake sausage and concluded that it wasn’t terrible. It wasn’t real meat, but it wasn’t inedible. Luckily there was a really big pile of eggs and some toast. He would not starve."
And of course, there was a fabulous plot twist which I did not see coming.
Like every Jayne Ann Krentz story, the dialogue is engaging, it drives the story along at a good pace and held my interest throughout. I will pretty much read anything Ms Krentz writes so I always look forward to anything new she writes.
See more from Deanna's World
Jayne Ann Krentz is one of my favorite authors and she kept me engaged through this entire story with mysteries, plot twists and a lovely romance between Max and Charlotte in classic JAK style.
First impressions say Max is a divorced, burnt out profiler starting over. But he's so much more than that. What you learn as you get to know him is he's sharp, shrewd and intelligent. He's also passionate. But he's also a solid guy you know you can depend on when things get tough. Someone who will stand by you through thick and thin. He's the kind of guy I want to have on my side and by my side.
Charlotte too is deceiving at first glance. With her having been dumped recently by her fiance, you think she's boring and trod upon but what you discover is she's strong, feisty and willing to fight and get involved in what matters to her. She loves her job at the nursing home and cares deeply for the residents there, and she's working on building a better life for herself. She's also gutsy and passionate once she gets involved in Max's investigation. I loved how genuine she was as a person. Someone you could again, depend on and know she'd be there for you in a pinch.
Aside from what great characters Max and Charlotte were, the story was intriguing. There were some interesting philosophical outlooks on life:
"Lately it had dawned on her that until she had come to Rainy Creek Gardens she had spent her life living mostly in the future. As a child, that had meant looking forward to holidays and birthdays and, most of all, becoming a grown-up. Upon achieving adulthood she had discovered that being a grown-up wasn’t nearly as satisfying as she had anticipated. What was more, the future was uncomfortably unpredictable. At Rainy Creek Gardens she had finally begun to realize that, no matter your age, when you looked back it always seemed that your life had passed in the blink of an eye. The past could not be changed and the future was unknowable. The residents of Rainy Creek Gardens were teaching her that the real trick to a good life was to learn to live in the present."
And a brief glimpse into a single male's eating habits which sadly reflect a little too clearly as something my Steve would do when I'm not around to cook for him.
"He opened a can of tuna and made a couple of sandwiches. There was one large dill pickle left in the jar. He added it to the plate. A well-rounded meal required a vegetable of some kind."
I particularly liked Max's approach to eating a fake sausage.
"He took a tentative bite of fake sausage and concluded that it wasn’t terrible. It wasn’t real meat, but it wasn’t inedible. Luckily there was a really big pile of eggs and some toast. He would not starve."
And of course, there was a fabulous plot twist which I did not see coming.
Like every Jayne Ann Krentz story, the dialogue is engaging, it drives the story along at a good pace and held my interest throughout. I will pretty much read anything Ms Krentz writes so I always look forward to anything new she writes.
See more from Deanna's World
tenthomp's review against another edition
4.0
This was a great change of genre for me. This book is fast paced and full of suspense. It was enjoyable enough to read. I never fully figured it out which is always a plus especially with the way the story deals with the past and present. It had just a touch of romance which was also nice.
mackenzierm's review against another edition
5.0
First line: "The killer waited patiently for the target to emerge from the cabin."
First off - I love this type of book, and Jayne Ann Krentz gave me just what I was looking for. Some thrilling events, a little bit of romance, and a great mystery. I loved every second of it.
The main characters felt real, believable and they had a great dynamic. It was a pleasure to read through how they worked through each new puzzle piece and got down to finding the real culprit.
A great read to start off 2017!
First off - I love this type of book, and Jayne Ann Krentz gave me just what I was looking for. Some thrilling events, a little bit of romance, and a great mystery. I loved every second of it.
The main characters felt real, believable and they had a great dynamic. It was a pleasure to read through how they worked through each new puzzle piece and got down to finding the real culprit.
A great read to start off 2017!
meagsbooknook's review against another edition
3.0
Although this book kept me occupied during our honeymoon pool days, I found it be just like every other romance novel that I have read. It was predictable. That is not to say that it wasn't good. I did enjoy it but I was wishing for a little bit more.
kat_2024's review against another edition
5.0
I enjoyed reading this book. My first read by this author and I plan on reading more!