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gossamerwingedgazelle's review against another edition
3.0
As with other books by Elizabeth Lowell, this book had the "female expert gets involved in something dangerous" plot. Was it good? Yes. Was it the most original plot ever? No. However, I wasn't reading it for originality. I'll definitely read the next one in this series.
novelesque_life's review against another edition
3.0
3 STARS
"The powerful Quintrell family of New Mexico has spent decades in the public eye. Now the recent death of the clan's patriarch, a former U.S. senator, has placed his son, Governor Josh Quintrell, squarely in the spotlight as he prepares his run for the highest political office in the land. It is not a good time to be rattling skeletons in the family's closets.
Researching personal histories isn't just Carolina "Carly" May's profession, it's her passion. When the governor's eccentric Aunt Winifred invites Carly into the Quintrells' private Taos compound to compile a genealogical record of the illustrious residents, she can hardly believe her good luck. But digging into the past is raising troubling questions about the would-be president's private life, his late father and catatonic mother, and the grisly street crime that left his notorious drug-addicted sister dead. And it soon becomes frighteningly apparent that the motivation of the dotty old woman who hired Carly might be something more akin to revenge -- and that someone is determined to remove the inquisitive genealogist from the picture by any means necessary.
As a dark world of twisted passions and depraved crimes slowly opens up before Carly, she realizes that there is no one whom she dares to trust -- perhaps least of all Dan Duran, a dangerous and haunted mystery man who's somehow tied to the Quintrells' past. But she will need an ally to survive the terrible secrets a father carried to the grave and an even more devastating evil that lurks among the living -- because following the bloodlines of the wealthy and power-hungry can be a bloody business ... and some dead secrets can kill." (From Amazon)
An okay romantic suspense - shows promise so will try book two in the series.
"The powerful Quintrell family of New Mexico has spent decades in the public eye. Now the recent death of the clan's patriarch, a former U.S. senator, has placed his son, Governor Josh Quintrell, squarely in the spotlight as he prepares his run for the highest political office in the land. It is not a good time to be rattling skeletons in the family's closets.
Researching personal histories isn't just Carolina "Carly" May's profession, it's her passion. When the governor's eccentric Aunt Winifred invites Carly into the Quintrells' private Taos compound to compile a genealogical record of the illustrious residents, she can hardly believe her good luck. But digging into the past is raising troubling questions about the would-be president's private life, his late father and catatonic mother, and the grisly street crime that left his notorious drug-addicted sister dead. And it soon becomes frighteningly apparent that the motivation of the dotty old woman who hired Carly might be something more akin to revenge -- and that someone is determined to remove the inquisitive genealogist from the picture by any means necessary.
As a dark world of twisted passions and depraved crimes slowly opens up before Carly, she realizes that there is no one whom she dares to trust -- perhaps least of all Dan Duran, a dangerous and haunted mystery man who's somehow tied to the Quintrells' past. But she will need an ally to survive the terrible secrets a father carried to the grave and an even more devastating evil that lurks among the living -- because following the bloodlines of the wealthy and power-hungry can be a bloody business ... and some dead secrets can kill." (From Amazon)
An okay romantic suspense - shows promise so will try book two in the series.
pither's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Incest
laurenjodi's review against another edition
4.0
Always Time to Die
4 Stars
Synopsis
Carly May is a genealogist hired by Winifred Castillo to trace the history of her family. But someone in the Quintrell-Castillo line would rather keep old and dark secrets buried with the dead. Soon Carly finds herself the target of a sinister foe who will stop at nothing to prevent her from discovering the truth. The only person Carly can turn to is Dan Duran, a dangerous enigma with ties to the Quintrells and secrets of his own.
Review
Well-paced action and suspense.
The history of New Mexico is interesting and the genealogical aspects well-researched and explained in a way that even this science-phobe could understand (the table at the front of the book is especially useful for keeping track of who's who). Some readers may find the details excessive and tiresome but it is relevant and necessary to the plot.
The mystery is intriguing and there are just enough clues to figure it all out in time. Nevertheless, the story lacks a sense of urgency and the big confrontation scene never comes. Moreover, the transition to the epilogue is so sudden that I thought my copy might be missing a few pages.
There are also several loose ends such as the origins and nature of St. Kilda's consulting, what really happened to Sylvia Quintrell, why does Alma have it in for Carly, what are Carly's roots and what happened to Lucia and Armondo?
The romance is secondary and while the sexual tension between Dan and Carly is excellent, their chemistry never really materializes. Carly's spunk and sass, however, are a definite highlight and her banter with Dan is simply brilliant.
Overall, an intriguing read that pulled me in and wouldn't let go. I will be continuing with the series.
4 Stars
Synopsis
Carly May is a genealogist hired by Winifred Castillo to trace the history of her family. But someone in the Quintrell-Castillo line would rather keep old and dark secrets buried with the dead. Soon Carly finds herself the target of a sinister foe who will stop at nothing to prevent her from discovering the truth. The only person Carly can turn to is Dan Duran, a dangerous enigma with ties to the Quintrells and secrets of his own.
Review
Well-paced action and suspense.
The history of New Mexico is interesting and the genealogical aspects well-researched and explained in a way that even this science-phobe could understand (the table at the front of the book is especially useful for keeping track of who's who). Some readers may find the details excessive and tiresome but it is relevant and necessary to the plot.
The mystery is intriguing and there are just enough clues to figure it all out in time. Nevertheless, the story lacks a sense of urgency and the big confrontation scene never comes. Moreover, the transition to the epilogue is so sudden that I thought my copy might be missing a few pages.
There are also several loose ends such as the origins and nature of St. Kilda's consulting, what really happened to Sylvia Quintrell, why does Alma have it in for Carly, what are Carly's roots and what happened to Lucia and Armondo?
The romance is secondary and while the sexual tension between Dan and Carly is excellent, their chemistry never really materializes. Carly's spunk and sass, however, are a definite highlight and her banter with Dan is simply brilliant.
Overall, an intriguing read that pulled me in and wouldn't let go. I will be continuing with the series.
csw_1981's review against another edition
Expecting a mystery but it was turning into a corny romance.
sierrarice's review against another edition
2.0
so hard to follow & did not catch my attention. the love story was a plus.
treepark's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
jonetta's review against another edition
4.0
Carolina "Carly" May is a genealogist who was invited by the eccentric aunt of New Mexico's governor, Josh Quintrell, to come to their Taos ranch to compile a record of the Quintrell/Castillo family. She arrives following the death of the family patriarch, A. J. Quintrell, a former U.S. senator. However, digging up the past is creating trouble within the family and Carly finds herself on unsafe footing. Dan Duran, a former Army Ranger and now an agent for St. Kilda was born and raised in the Taos community with ties to the family. He decides to come to Carly's aid both in her research and to protect her from unknown factions.
This is a complicated story as you must keep track of the genealogy of both the Quintrell and Castillo families, along with the progeny from the Senator's exploits outside of marriage. The dynamics within the family are interesting and complex and you will find yourself stumbling around trying to keep up but you'll be intrigued enough to stick with it. The developing relationship between Carly and Dan is well written and the dialogue witty.
My complaint with the book lies in the ending. The story was well crafted to lead to an exciting climax that was rushed and abrupt. It took the wind out of the sails of a pretty fascinating tale, enough for me to drop the rating to 3.5 stars. I'm rounding to 4 because everything leading up to this was pretty compelling. And, we don't learn very much about St. Kilda Consulting!! I guess I'll have to read the next book for those answers.
This is a complicated story as you must keep track of the genealogy of both the Quintrell and Castillo families, along with the progeny from the Senator's exploits outside of marriage. The dynamics within the family are interesting and complex and you will find yourself stumbling around trying to keep up but you'll be intrigued enough to stick with it. The developing relationship between Carly and Dan is well written and the dialogue witty.
My complaint with the book lies in the ending. The story was well crafted to lead to an exciting climax that was rushed and abrupt. It took the wind out of the sails of a pretty fascinating tale, enough for me to drop the rating to 3.5 stars. I'm rounding to 4 because everything leading up to this was pretty compelling. And, we don't learn very much about St. Kilda Consulting!! I guess I'll have to read the next book for those answers.