Rating: 
Summary: An OK Read - But Not Lowell's Best Effort!
Review: I love Elizabeth Lowell's novels, especially those featuring the Donovan family, with its Alpha-males and super talented women. I hoped that "Die In Plain Sight," with Donavan matriarch Susa as a major character, would be on par with "Jade Island," "Amber Beach," and "Midnight on Ruby Bayou." Unfortunately, it is not. I have been disappointed in Ms. Lowell's last few books and that's a real shame, as she has long been a favorite writer. I'm not about to give up on her though. She has given me much enjoyment over the years and I am sure she still has many terrific stories to tell and dynamic new characters to reveal.
Artist Lacy Quinn's grandfather bequeathed all his paintings to her upon his death. There are extraordinary landscapes and other, more disturbing canvasses depicting violence and death. Grandfather and granddaughter had an exceptionally close relationship, from the time she was a little girl and first began to show interest in art and painting until the man's death at a fairly young age. Lacy is different from her wealthy, society family - more at home painting in jeans than dancing in designer gowns. Her grandfather was a black sheep of sorts - so the two found comfort and inspiration in each others company. Lacy is determined to show famous artist Susa Donovan her grandfather's work and have it evaluated when she discovers Ms. Donovan will be in town to support a charity event. Lacy's parents, especially her father, warn her that bringing the old paintings to the public's attention might stir up some disagreeable truths, old rumors, that are best left alone. Lacy agrees to present the work under an assumed name so no one will identity it with the Quinn family - especially since the paintings are all unsigned. Standing in line, waiting for her turn with Susa, Lacy meets hunky Ian Lapstrake, an employee of Rarities Unlimited, Donovan friend and Susa's temporary bodyguard. Ian is smitten at first glance with the sexy, sassy young artist with the curly auburn hair. Also at first glance, Susa realizes the value and high quality of the paintings Lacy has brought. In fact, she believes she knows the artist. Ian is aware that Lacy is using an assumed name and offers his assistance to discover the long hidden secrets behind the artwork and a series of unexplained deaths that had been ruled accidental.
Now don't get me wrong. The novel is worth reading. The plot is engaging, although it plods at times, detracting from both the mystery and the romance. The characters, as always, are well developed and interesting, but not as outstanding as usual. I hope the author does better with her next effort.
JANA
Rating: 
Summary: Guess I'm in the minority again but
Review: I loved this story. Lacey, Ian and especially Susa were strong characters I cared about and would love to read about in future books. I am hoping for a book that develops Lawe and Justin and "the Donovan" and catches us up on the other Donovan's.
Rating:
Summary: Guess I'm in the minority again but
Review: I loved this story. Lacey, Ian and especially Susa were strong characters I cared about and would love to read about in future books. I am hoping for a book that develops Lawe and Justin and "the Donovan" and catches us up on the other Donovan's.
Rating: 
Summary: Listened to the Audio
Review: I picked up the audio book because the library had backorders for the hardcover. I enjoyed the book. There was enough mystery for me and I thought the romance was HOT!!! The paint table scene was right out of fantasy land! This is supposed to be enjoyable and entertaining and I found it to be both and can hardly wait to actually read it!
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed again
Review: I truly enjoyed Ian and Lacy, but something lacked in this story. I will say that the story line that has been appearing in your Rarities Series are starting to sound predictable which leaves the reader disappointed. I will try to stay an avid reader of yours, but lately it's been hard to shell out the extra bucks for hardcover that leave me rather unsatisfied.
Rating:
Summary: The best book ever
Review: I'm 15 years old and i never read "big" books so this book kinda scared me at first but after 2 weeks i was done with the 518 page book. at first the book was boring but after that it was so awsome!! i loved it and i can't wait to read another book by her!! so really with this book just stay with it, it gets to were you can read it and not hear a thing around you! this book was so wonderful!! thanks for writing it Elizabeth!!
Rating:
Summary: The best book ever
Review: I'm 15 years old and i never read "big" books so this book kinda scared me at first but after 2 weeks i was done with the 518 page book. at first the book was boring but after that it was so awsome!! i loved it and i can't wait to read another book by her!! so really with this book just stay with it, it gets to were you can read it and not hear a thing around you! this book was so wonderful!! thanks for writing it Elizabeth!!
Rating:
Summary: Started enticingly, then fizzled out
Review: I, too, enjoyed the 3 characters of Ian, Susa and the protagonist, whose name escapes just now. Wish the story had been more interesting. The ending was fairly predictable; anticlimactic. I was looking for thrill and fascination with the art world (ala the Da Vinci Code), and got more sex than art. I'm sorry I bought the book. Should have borrowed it from the library. It's not a keeper.
Rating:
Summary: A good romance
Review: In California, renowned artist Susa Donavon will paint a canvas in front of an audience. Her work will be auctioned as part of raising money for the Friends of Moreno County. Additionally Susa will appraise any works brought in by patrons of the arts with the money raised also donated to the Friends of Moreno County.Art buyer and artist Lacey Quinn brings in paintings done by her late grandfather in the 1920s for Susa to evaluate. Susa feels that the works owned by Lacey are from highly regarded plein air artist Lewis Marten. Though she doubts it, Lacey, already interested in the life of her relative, cannot resist researching the darker portrayals of murder, but soon finds evidence that the homicides occurred and that history repeats itself. Insight into the California art scene adds a taste of reality to a suspense-laden tale. The heroine is a delight as she seeks her place feeling like the outsider in her family especially when compared to her two siblings. The murder mystery is thirty plus years old with frozen tundra trails yet Lacey relatively easily solves them, which takes credibility away from a well written fun story that readers will still value. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: Disastrous Dialogue
Review: It is hard to imagine less convincing dialogue or less natural speech. Supposedly quick repartee is always met by the participants "snickering." Laughter at this stilted mess would show too much enthusiasm I suppose. The "mystery" is transparent. The one hot sex scene keeps this from being a 1/2 star outing on Lowell's part. I've enjoyed a lot of her earlier books but this one shows a need for a strong editorial hand.
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