The Crush

Rating:
Summary: Page Turning Suspense !
Review: Oh, I loved this story. I thought it was one of the better Sandra Brown Stories. A real page turner! I started the book and couldn't put it down until after I finished the whole book, it was that compelling.

Rating:
Summary: Romantic? Suspense
Review: Sandra Brown is one of a few authors whose romantic suspense I usually enjoy. Yes, her books have turned more towards suspense and away from romance. But, I think I enjoy my romantic suspense more suspense-minded anyway. The romance in her books can be a nice bonus.

Rennie is a surgeon who happened to foreman a jury. The jury released a probable killer, Lozada. During the trial, Lozada develops a "crush" on her. Whip is a burned-out cop who is after Lozada for the murder of his brother. Rennie and Whip come together, after the police focus on Rennie as a suspect of the murder of one of her colleagues. They never consider her the primary killer, more the motivator of the likely killer, Lozada. Whip realizes her innocence, quickly. As he begins to believe her, he protects her, learns to care for her.

I found the storyline not particularly original. Nor did the suspense grab me, nor did any sense of fear of the "bad" Lozada. However, I found the book very readable, well-written, and it did capture my interest. And Rennie's past makes for an interesting and unique heroine. Whip's characterization, however, seemed very familiar.

Also, the impetus that brings Rennie and Whip together, physically, for the first time, I found very shocking and unbelievable. I just didn't think Rennie's reaction to her tragedy was normal or likely. It certainly hurt the romance in THE CRUSH, for me.

With the lack of an unique storyline and a mediocre romance, I was disappointed in Sandra Brown's THE CRUSH.

Rating:
Summary: Good one but read better by Author
Review: I have been an avid fan of Sandra Browns since September. Meanwhile, I have read all I could get my hands on. This book is very good but I recommend Mirror Image, Exclusive and Breath of Scandal as my favorites by this author. Read it and enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Sandra Brown is AWESOME!
Review: All I have to say is if you liked Envy, you'll LOVE The Crush. I didn't think it would even come close. Expect surprises. :)

Rating:
Summary: Where is Sandra Brown?
Review: This couldn't be the same author who gave us such chilling books as Unspeakable, Charade not to mention the breathtaking ENVY and SLOW HEAT IN HEAVEN. In The Crush, both the prose and the characters are juvenile and boring. The hero is too busy with his wisecracks to do anything competent. He is also a major screw-up and extremely stupid. For example, after issuing a direct challenge to a ruthless serial killer, he calmly returns to his motel and proceeds to take a shower - unarmed. He also endangers a woman with his careless unprofessional questioning and gets her killed. The rest of the characters are not much better. The author painted Fort Worth's finest as a bunch of dirty minded bickering teenagers who couldn't outsmart a criminal who is not all that smart.
A major disappointment and quite depressing.

Rating:
Summary: Ms. Brown's Interpretation of a "Crush" Will Intrigue You
Review: When I think of a "crush" I envision a pimply-faced, shy, teenage boy who admires the blond prom queen-cheerleader, from afar. Maybe he'll venture an awkward hello or wave in the high school hallway. Maybe he'll go so far as to send her an anonymous note professing his interest, his desire. Maybe he might even brave sitting next to her on a class trip. But rarely would it go any farther than that. It's all innocent, non-threatening, and, for the one on the receiving end, it's flattering.

When Sandra Brown uses the word "crush" you can expect innocence to be replaced by menace and flattery to become cause for fear.

Sure THE CRUSH begins with a seemingly benign unsigned note --- "I have a crush on you." But when the note accompanies dozens of red roses that have magically appeared in the recipient's house with no signs of how they got there, one should be concerned.

Dr. Rennie Newton is. A regimented, highly talented surgeon, she lives an isolated life, with few friends and few contacts beyond those she works with. There's no one in her life who could have possibly sent her the roses. Forewoman for the jury of a newsworthy murder-for-hire case, Rennie's trademark composure and self-assurance in the courtroom compels her jury mates to deliver a not guilty verdict, and, at the same time, unbeknownst to her, has caught the eye of an unwanted admirer, contract killer (excuse me, alleged contract killer) Ricky Lozada. Lozada is repulsive --- kudos to Brown for creating a slimy, dislikable villain packaged like eye candy. And for throwing in his coveted pets, adding just a bit more of a chill to the story.

Five days after the close of the trial, Rennie's colleague is brutally murdered in the hospital parking lot where they worked together. The murder is hallmark Lozada. Could he have done it? And why would he?

Enter Wick Threadgill, temporarily retired detective, and Oren Wesley, his former partner, each with a bone to pick with Lozada. Suspecting Rennie is somehow culpable in the murder, the police stake out her house and keep track of her comings and goings.

The investigation uncovers the secret past of the good Dr. Newton, surprising everyone, including her persistent suitor and Wick, who is developing a crush of his own. Insinuating himself into every aspect of her life, Lozada, now obsessed, becomes all the more unpredictable and dangerous. Rennie and Wick, wary of each other, are forced to work together to bring him in, or bring him down.

Thrillers are often driven by the reader's desire "to know" who is responsible for the thread of action throughout the plot. THE CRUSH is character driven. In THE CRUSH, we know from the beginning who the murderer is, and yet we read on because Brown has developed compelling characters. We want to see her ice maiden Dr. Newton thaw. We want to see Detective Threadgill comfortable in his own skin again. And, most of all, we want to see Lozada, snake that he is, get what's coming to him ---finally!

--- Reviewed by Roberta O'Hara

Rating:
Summary: Big Dissapointment
Review: As a big fan of Sandra Brown, I was anxiously awaiting this book. It was a huge dissapointment. The heroine, Rennie Newton was not very likeable. She was cold and uninteresting. Her early childhood as a loose promiscuous, out of control teenager was supposed to justify her disposition. The ex-cop/cop hero was also boring and I didn't see why anyone would be interested in having a relationship with him....As far as the suspense went, the contract killer, Lozada was after Rennie. ...

Rating:
Summary: Wow,I couldn't put it down!!
Review: I don't think that i've ever been more intrigued about a book in my whole life. I read this book in 3 days and i wish that it would go on and on. No matter how hard i tried to put it down i just couldn't. Sandra Brown did a excellent job on this book. The story line was great! When you would turn the next page what you thought was going to happen would be just the opposite. That's what i loved so much about it. The romance parts were steamy & the mystery parts were suspenseful.I don't think that there will be a person out there who doesn't just fall in love with this book. I highly recomend this book to all. Enjoy!!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Suspense
Review: This was one of those reads that you cannot put down, and I didn't! For those used to the old style Sandra Brown, this is not a book for you. Her current writings have been leaning more and more towards the suspense genre and this is no exception.

Dr Rennie Newton and Wick Threadgill individually are a mess, neither is a poster child for perfection. But compared to Ricky Lozada they are uber-people. Lozada has to be one of the creepiest baddies I have come across in ages.

I enjoyed the flaws found in both main characters, interesting background for Rennie that is not usually seen. As for the suspense, it is the driving force to this story. All in all, I think Sandra Brown hit is quite well with this one.

Rating:
Summary: A fast-paced thriller.
Review: Dr. Rennie Newton is a dedicated surgeon, and it should come as no surprise that she is as organized and committed to her life outside of the hospital as she is inside it.

After attending a party given by a colleague, Rennie is shocked to find her colleague is murdered. This was no random killing, the murder was planned and precise, and there are no witnesses or clues. The police feel Rennie may be involved since word around the hospital is that Rennie and the fellow doctor fought often. Rennie knows the police are grasping at straws, but when something from her past surfaces she realizes she is in far more danger than she thought.

Wick Threadgill is on leave from the Fort Worth Police Department, but when word of the doctor's murder hits, Wick can't help but think he knows who the killer is.

Working outside of the department, Wick begins looking into the murder of the doctor and finds connections to Rennie. The further he looks he finds out that she served jury duty on the case for contract killer Ricky Lozada, a killer Wick will stop at nothing to send to death row, a killer who was acquitted because of a weak case.

While trying to continue her job at the hospital, Rennie will have to deal with the police's endless questions, and Ricky Lozada's menacing phone calls. As the phone calls turn aggressive, Rennie knows Lozada has become obsessed with her.

With nowhere to turn, Rennie looks to wick to help her stop a madman's obsession, but if the two are not careful they could end up dead because a killer is tracking their every move waiting to strike.

'The Crush' is another BLOCKBUSTER PAGE-TURNER that will keep readers riveted from the first page to the last. Well written, carefully plotted, shocking plot twists and razor sharp suspense sets this novel apart from others in the genre. Wick and Rennie are characters readers will enjoy, and while there is some romance thrown in, it never gets in the way of fleshing out the two as they try to stop a killer and battle their own personal demons.

Sandra Brown has VERY successfully crossed over from the romance genre to writing thrilling suspense novels, and as usual she does not disappoint. 'The Crush' may be her best yet, and will undoubtedly shoot up to the top of all the bestseller list's.

A MUST read!