Rating: 
Summary: Impressed
Review: I've never read a Nicholas Evans book before, and was incredibly impressed with this one. Evans weaves a turrent emotional story of love, friendship and duty that his readers are likely never to forget.Connor and Ed have been spending their summers as smoke jumpers in Missouri for several years, and this time, Ed brings his beautiful and captivating girlfriend Julia along. The two are obviously in love, but Connor can't help but desire her, and he falls deeply in love. Julia senses a connection between the two of them as well, but before anyone can contimplate the future, a terrible fire sweeps through their lives, and changes its course for ever... A great bedside book that will have you reading until late in the night. I highly recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: an enjoyable journey
Review: I thought this story started off a little disjointed, but it comes together, as do all of the characters in an exciting story. I think Evans writes in a way that we can clearly see where the settings take place in his story. I feel I was in Montana with Ed, Julia, and Conner, and I also feel that I was with Julia and Conner in Africa. I was immersed in this story, and I have come away from his book with vivid pictures in my mind. I read the Horse Whisperer which I loved, and now I love this book as well. I now have to read The Loop.
Rating: 
Summary: What was that about?
Review: I'm am left somewhere between disappointed and confused by Nicholas Evans' latest, THE SMOKE JUMPER. The far-from-original love triangle between two best friends and one girlfriend actually held some promise for the first half of the novel. This was a nearly complete story filled with enough Montana imagery, longing romance and quick-draw dialogue that I've come to expect from the author. Even the predictible tragedy managed to hold my attention. That is, until the novel went south -- almost literally. I struggled with the second half of this book as the story transports the main characters to far off places, each on their own personal journey to better the world. It was suddenly THE SMOKE JUMPER OUT OF AFRICA. I nearly had to turn back to the cover to make sure I was reading the same novel. All in all, though, THE SMOKE JUMPER managed to keep my interest to some degree and still warrant a decent review -- if only because of the first 150 pages.
Rating: 
Summary: Shallow and contrived
Review: The characters are stereotypical and shallow. The plot is contrived and predictable. The writing is clear and direct, but there is no complexity or depth. I was very disappointed. The behavior of the main characters seems to be the result of the author's plot manipulation rather than their inner conflicts or drives. Reading this book is a royal waste of time.
Rating:
Summary: A Very interesting book
Review: At first, when I originally heard that Evans was coming out with a new novel, I wondered if it was going to be like his first two.
It wasn't and in this case that was a good thing. I liked how he went to a time and caught as up to speed with everything that happened. I didn't really agree with some of the things Connor did but he proved to win it all, and still have good thoughts and memories of his friend, Ed. It was a change of pace for me, and I recommend it if you to read a very realistic book.
Rating:
Summary: More complicated than THE HORSE WHISPERER
Review: Mr Evans tells a great romance adventure, and that't why I like his work, but just one word of warning: pay close attention to who does what to whom. The narrative hops and skips back and forth between the principal characters in, respectively, Montana and Africa, or New York and Bosnia, with careless abandon. It's a great story, but a complicated one.
Rating:
Summary: Another enjoyable read from Evans
Review: This book is consistent with Evans' previous novel where adventure and love play equal parts in telling a story. You feel as if you know the characters intimately. While I found the ending to be somewhat predicatble, it is still a very good read that I highly recommend, especially for fans of his previous work.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Adventure and Love Story
Review: The moment you begin reading this novel you are swept into a great adventure and love story which takes you all over the world and spans a lifetime. The writer takes you to places and lets you feel and see the experiences of the characters. I believe in "soul mates" and "love at first sight" and the writer definately brings to light this reality. You will see the true meaning of friendship,love and loyalty between three friends and the choices they must make in their lives. This novel is very well written and takes you away . . . a good novel to take with you on a getaway romantic vacation or to read anytime. It's fast reading and hard to put down.
Rating:
Summary: Extremely Disappointed
Review: I couldn't wait to purchase this book. Once I started to read it, I put everything else aside -- thinking it would rate with The Horse Whisperer and The Loop. Big disappointment! This book is a tired romance story that's been written and rewritten many times over. At first I gave it the benefit of the doubt and thought it would take a different twist. Same old twist and turns. The title and subject matter had great potential. Nicholas Evans is a very good storyteller, but not this time.
Rating:
Summary: The Smoke Jumper
Review: One of the best novels I've read in years. I could hardly put it down. Filled with all the things thatmake a great novel: friendship, loyalty, perserverance, passion, humor, suspense, and much more. I know I'll read this many more times in the future and pass it along to people that I care about. This is a definite keeper.
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