Rating: Summary: Down the line reading Review: Certainly not her best book to date, The Villa has all the ingredients for a good book, yet after mixing a likeable tale of the Italian and Californian vineyards and the family who cultivates them, it wraps up in a nose dive, slightly unbelievable twist that has the reader saying, "Huh?" A definite read to Roberts fans, though I reccommend buying it used or renting from the library. Simply not worth keeping around for a second read.
Rating: Summary: Not bad but not great either Review: This book was just OK, I didn't hate it, but I didn't enjoy it all that much either. Maybe because I have no interest in wine-making at all, but I've read all of Nora Roberts' books and figured she would make it interesting. I was wrong about that. But on the plus side, I liked the characters in this book. And, the story isn't so bad either, but a little on the long side. I think this would have been better if it had been shorter.
Rating: Summary: Ghost rider perhaps? Review: I am a huge Nora Roberts fan. This did not read like a Nora Roberts book. The details and descriptions were there but the typical chemistry and flow were missing.
Rating: Summary: Skip This One.... Review: As a long-time Roberts fan, I snagged this tantalizingly thick paperback right away....and was so disappointed. Cliche characters, flat dialogue, and a beautiful setting (CA's wine country) completely wasted. Gave me the feeling that maybe this is one of her very early works that hadn't been published before. I just finished her "Seaswept" and enjoyed it so much more!
Rating: Summary: Excellent Review: THis is a wonderful book about wine, wine making, wine selling and a family whose life is wine. There is more than one romance that blossoms in this novel and a mystery of sorts is thrown in. Truly one of Ms. Roberts' best novels yet. Sophia and Tyler have known each other for their whole lives and have always maintained a friendly distance. Sophia travels and sells the wine made from the grapes that Tyler grows. However, when her grandmother reorganizes the company and forces these two to work together, sparks fly. The romance is exciting and full of heat and very believable. Sophia's mother on the other hand is a very timid woman who only wanted to be a wife and a mother. When her philandering husband that she has been seperated from for many many years decides he wants a divorce, it seems life is over. However, the reorganization brings a new man into her life and a second chance at love and motherhood. Murder, tainted bottles, burning buildings only add to the excitement and mystique of this book. I couldn't put it down. Enjoy.
Rating: Summary: easy listening, easy story Review: Being a long-time Nora Roberts fan, I'm always on the look-out for her best to keep me company while I drive to and from work. With this audio, I found myself sitting in the grocery store parking lot, wanting to get through a scene before I turned off the motor. Her easy writing style includes an in-depth lesson about winemaking and a string of family crises that will have you wondering how this family endures. But that's just it. They are a strong family that works through their troubles only to come out stronger still. There is no wasted detail in the telling of this story and no room for guessing the outcome. You'll have to read it... or listen to this audio. The reader was excellent.
Rating: Summary: Enjoyable Reading Review: This book was so good, I read it in a short length of time. Three generations of women, merge with an American wine-making powerhouse. The leaders of each learn how to work together for the business, their families, and their love. They must fight corporate sabotage and murder to save the company and the family. Laural Merlington shows the romance in the story, giving each character a specific voice that meshes well with the text. Laura has a stern Italian accent.But the overall impression is one of relaxing entertainment.
Rating: Summary: LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE ITTTTTTTTT Review: Wow, this book just took my breath away...I liked it lots
Rating: Summary: Another enthralling Nora Roberts book! Review: One of the things I love about Nora Roberts' books, is that I become very absorbed with the characters in her novels. She usually makes them so gosh darn likable, with flaws and all! I thought this book was no exception, besides the bad guys, of course. I loved the female lead, Sophia. Her character was, at times, tough and hard, but only when she needed to be. She was also intelligent, successful, charming and kind. I admire strong female characters that aren't too harsh and cold, and I thought Sophia was a good representation of that. Oftentimes, I find romance novelists make their female leads unrealistic because they are either too "nice" or too "strong". I had no problem with the romance between the two leads. I thought it was developed very nicely. And what a switch that the male lead could stand back and let the female "do her thing" without feeling inferior--great blend of sensitivity and machoism! I especially liked the story of the secondary characters, Pilar and David--another incredibly likable duo. It was so nice to have more in a romance story than the two leads encountering each other everywhere they go. We get the perspective from several of the supporting characters instead of from the lead characters, as most romances are written. Another Roberts hallmark I enjoyed is the witty dialogue between the characters. If there was an option to rate this book 4 1/2 stars, I would have chosen that, because the book wasn't perfect (there were certainly many unrealistic moments). But since that wasn't an option, and because of my comments above, I rounded up! I still think I can't go wrong with a Nora Roberts book!
Rating: Summary: Amazing Review: Nora Roberts has an amazing gift for making her books feel like real life. The characters in The Villa are so life-like that it seems you are with them through every hardship they come upon through the book. Sophia and Ty have magic together, and their way of solving the family problems is spell-bounding. The Villa is a great afternoon book or weekend book to read. Once you begin it, you won't be able to stop.
|