Rating: 
Summary: UNLIKELY, BUT WELL-MATCHED DUO
Review: Englishwoman, Lavinia Lake, is left widowed, poor, and the guardian of an intelligent, marriage-aged niece. Having no money, but a lot of determination, Lavinia goes from one job to the next, each ending under somewhat disasterous circumstances. First, she's a companion to a countess who runs away one night and leaves Lavinia and her niece stranded in Rome. Then she opens a shop in Rome and sells antique reproductions. The shop is unexpectedly destroyed by a seemingly madman.Finally, she returns to England and sets herself up as a private detective, making discreet and SLIGHTLY SHADY inquiries for those who can afford her services. Once settled in this business, she encounters none other than the madman who destroyed her shop in Rome. He is Tobias March, also a detective. They find they are working on the same case, and after a series of misadventures, reluctantly agree to work together. What comes out of their partnership is a deep mystery and an unforeseen love affair. Amanda Quick promises that SLIGHTLY SHADY is Book One in a series starring Lavinia Lake and Tobias March. I look forward to Book Two.
Rating: 
Summary: average
Review: This is my first Amanda Quick book, I've heard so much about her, and read her reviews on my favorite books that I tried one of her books. For me, Slightly Shady is the kind of book that u can read when there's nothing more available. It's not boring nor it is hooking. This is one of those books that u can put down after reading a paragraph or so. It is not laugh out loud funny but u can see the author's attempt on comedy. The mystery is a little predictable. The twist on the ending is not original. All in all, I'm not totally disappointed. From reading her other reviews in her other novels, I know this is not her best, so I'm giving her another chance.
Rating:
Summary: A interesting book
Review: This book was good although I got sort of tired of the book after a while you have to finish it. It is a classic Amanda Quick book. And I am planning to read the other books that go along with it. It very much indeed is light reading. Yet each character has there own spark, the main girl just kinda got annyoing though.
Rating: 
Summary: No emotional depth; uninspiring
Review: My book club accidentally shipped me "Don't Look Back." As it looked mildly interesting and I hadn't read Amanda Quick before, I kept it. Then I realized I needed to read "Slightly Shady" first. So I bought it and was truly disappointed. The characters, what I could make of them (with little written about their physical characteristics), were uninspiring. There was little emotional depth to the story. You hardly ever saw what the characters are thinking or feeling. I just could not get to know or even like Lavinia or Tobias. I did read both books, and by the end of "Don't Look Back" I was mildly amused by the dialogue. So I give 2 stars for good dialogue and great plotting. That's all these two books have going for them.
Rating:
Summary: Slightly Shady
Review: It started so well. It was funny. The characters were likeable. Tobias and Lavinia are displaying some attraction for one another. Then . . . there's the painfully predictable "carriage" scene. The murder plot became so convoluted in its solution, I feared I'd be confessing next. By the time the second short, choppy, terribly unromantic love scene rolled around, I'd literally forgotten I was reading a romance. Tobias, likeable fellow, came off as a rather inept detective. I'm glad I checked this out of the library instead of buying it.
Rating: 
Summary: A fun frolick
Review: As an avid reader of romance novels, I'm constantly searching for for something a little different, something that doesn't rely entirely on the old, tired cliches (he's gorgeous and consumed with lust, she's perfect and hiding something) and simplistic resolutions (they have a misunderstanding and narrowly miss getting back together before the novel's closing pages). Of course, it always helps when there's an interesting story surrounding the romance, just to keep intelligent readers interested. I've already become enamoured with JD Robb's "In Death" series, and wondered if there were any other on-going tales like those, where the hero and heroine not only love each other, but work together and prove through action and not simple rhetoric that they love, trust and respect one another. It seems that Slightly Shady may be what I was looking for. Though not as darkly dramatic as Robb's novels, Quick's new series seems to promise some light-hearted tales full of mystery, murder, passion and witty reparte. I'm looking forward to the next installment, hoping for some further character development and the growth of their relationship. It should be an interesting ride...
Rating:
Summary: A great romance and a great mystery !
Review: While this style is not unknown to Ms. Quick's readers, I found this bok to be a delightful read. I enjoyed all the twists and turns, and couldn't wait to get to the end...I knew there was another book in the series ! All in all, this is an enjoyable book. It's light reading at it's best...so pack a picnic and take this paperback to the beach. I am sure you won't be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Not bad at all, but she's done better
Review: Mr. Tobias March was a professional when it came to discreetly collecting information. His current client, Lord Neville, had him locating a diary. It had belonged to the valet of a cutthroat named Carlisle. Carlisle was a former member of the Blue Chamber, a notorious crime group that once had connections throughout England and Europe. Now only one person lived from the former group. The diary held that name. Widow Lavinia Lake had not known Carlisle was using her small shop in Italy for a drop-off point. Mr. March broke everything in the shop, shipped her and her niece, Emeline, to England, and then expected her to be grateful he had ruined her business! Lavinia quickly began a business of collecting information as well. After all, she had to have some way of getting money for rent and to help Emeline find a suitable husband! It was not long before Lavinia and March met again. Both wanted the diary for different reasons. Neither trusted the other. Each were strongly attracted to the other. Someone was out to stop them from their investigations no matter the cost. Yes, they were both in deep trouble! **** Well written mystery, but too easy to figure out. Even so, the book is so full of adventure and danger that it will definitely hold onto the attention of all its readers until the very end. Recommended! ****
Rating:
Summary: Not bad
Review: I've listened to a lot of audio tapes this past year. This was an interesting read. It wasn't great, it wasn't bad. There was an acceptible plot, an unlikely heroine, silly love side stories, and a good ending. It was very well read. Hard core readers (and listeners) will be disappointed by the formulaic nature, but if you need to have a book on tape, this one will leave you with a few well-remembered moments. Other books are more fulfilling, though.
Rating:
Summary: Slightly lacking
Review: The first 2 Amanda Quick books I read were the exact same story with different names (I forget which ones they were). I kept reading her books anyway because I like her writing style and most of the books have enough of a change that you don't get bored. This book is the first one of hers that I was disappointed in. It felt like she had a deadline to meet and didn't have time to do more than an outline. The characters of Lavinia and Tobias were very sketchy, I never got a good sense of them. Lavinia's niece and her boyfriend were much more interesting, but they were only secondary characters so we didn't really get their story. If you are a fan of Jayne Krentz's Amanda Quick books, don't worry if you miss this one. You've read it much better before. If you have to check it out, do so at the library.
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