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Summary: Witty, fun, with a nice touch of mystery
Review: Tobias March walks into Lavinia Lake's life and proceeds to ruin it, driving her from her occupation as antiques dealer in Italy back to London. He claims to have good reason, but Lavinia isn't sure whether Tobias is protecting her from the villain, or is the criminal himself.Once in London, Tobias and Lavinia are forced to work together as Lavinia undertakes a new career as private investigator--all of this in regency-era England. Amanda Quick writes a fast-paced and amusing story and SLIGHTLY SHADY is no exception. While she doesn't beat the reader over the head with the sexual tension between these two characters, it is obviously there. Tobias's inclination to protect Lavinia may disguise itself as indifference, but it is clearly something very different. Balancing mystery and romance in a single novel is a challenging feat. Too often in other novels, characters seem to drop everything and make love because they have reached the appropriate chapter, even as the terrible villain closes in on them. SLIGHTLY SHADY does a better job than most in maintaining this balance. Many of the reviewers have trashed this book, which I think is unfair. SLIGHTLY SHADY is an enjoyable read....
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Summary: Enjoyable start to a new series!
Review: I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was fast paced and very amusing! I think other reviewers either forgot (or don't know) that this is a beginning of a new series about this couple. That is why it seems so unfinished at the end (meaning: where does this couple stand? etc) It is clear that this couple will progress with their romance and solving mysteries in the future books. While this is not as good as Amanda Quick's earlier books, it is so MUCH better then the last few! :-) Enjoy!
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Summary: Where is the romance?
Review: Lavinia Lake had every reason to dislike and distrust Tobias March. Claiming it was for her own good, Tobias destroyed the antique shop she owned in Italy with her niece. Forced to return to London, Lavinia turned to private inquiries. She literally runs into Tobias while investigating the man blackmailing her. They form an uneasy alliance when they determine they are working toward a mutual goal. An interesting mystery is the heart of plot of this story. The investigation is full of twists and turns and unusual details. The outcome is unsure until the very end, with the suspense building until the resolution. Unfortunately, the budding romance at the heart of any romance, is sorely missing from this story. Lavinia and Tobias grow to care about each other as the adventure progresses, but it is unclear if they love each other.
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Summary: Where are the characters THOUGHTS???
Review: All of her newer books (this one especially) seem to be "abridged", or something. There is no (or very little) discussion of the thoughts of the characters, only what they say to each other. This robs us of the ability to get to know and like them. The book was pathetically short, almost as though someone had edited out the "non-essentials", which actually ARE essential. I tried very, very hard to like this book. I liked the story, and liked the characters, but there wasn't enough there to satisfy. After every new book, I go back and re-read my older favorites, to see why I liked them so much better. The answer is in the intimacy of the characters thoughts. Ms. Krentz, PLEASE bring this back!!!!
Rating:
Summary: disappointing
Review: I have read nearly all of Amanda Quick's novels and to be sure, "Slightly Shady" is a disappointment. Usually her characters, both hero & heroine, are endearing and memorable, but these lacked spunk! Tobias, the "hero" was rather dull and Lavinia, the heroine, was a complainer. Both were characters I wouldn't care to know. Also, Quick tried to write a deep mystery but forgot the romance! Where do the characters stand at the end of the book! I miss the characters of "Mistress" and "Reckless", my two favorite of Quick's novels. Where is your old style?
Rating: 
Summary: Just another formula, boring book...
Review: I've read all of Amanda Quick's books. I've also read all of her books as contemporary author Jayne Ann Krentz. This was the worst book I've read in a long time. I barely could force myself to finish it. There were no endearing qualities to the hero and heroine. And furthermore, I feel that the author is just writing the same story over and over again. In all her books as JAK, the heroine is some artsy, "into the metaphysical" quirky person and the hero is the "feet on the ground" detective. In all her Amanda Quick books, the characters are all he same too, with the exception of her earlier novels. Dangerous and "Rendevous" were great books. But lately, all she does is write the same boring story over and over and I think she's even reusing the names now too. I have ALWAYS been a HUGE fan of Amanda Quick books. There was a time I rushed out to get her books and just was thrilled to find a new one. But her last three Amanda Quick books have been real disappointments to me. I wish she'd find a fresh voice ...... Kat
Rating:
Summary: Disappointed
Review: I have read all of Amanda Quick's books and found this one lacking. The relationship between the main characters was frustrating. There was no passion between them. There was more passion between the secondary charactors which was predictable. I did finish the book and found the ending left me hanging.
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Summary: her worst ever
Review: I am one of her greatest fans and i have read everything she has ever written but this is the worst Amanda Quick book i have ever read. The characters lacked passion unlike the first set of Amanda Quick novels. She needs to go back to her intial style because that's how fans like me got hooked.
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Summary: Lake Oswego, Oregon reader
Review: I enjoyed reading the Shady Lady. All of Amanda Quick's books are all worth reading. This book was quite entertaining and it was hard to put down. The characters in the story were well developed and I cared what happened to them.
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Summary: I liked it!
Review: I must admit to enjoying every book I have read by Amanda Quick, and am glad that Slightly Shady continued the run. The characters had complete personalities, and the physical and emotional descriptions were rich without slipping into tedium, "It was probably never a sunny place, but on a day such as this it was drenched in stygian gloom." Lavina and Tobias were real and natural heroes, while slightly better than those around them. The supporting characters were more than one dimensional followers or villains. Love scenes were equally descriptive without falling into any heaving bosoms or flaring nostrils. Trying not to give away too much: one love scene had all the problems of finding time to be alone with teen-agers near by. This is a common problem for many women of my generation and this ability to relate parts of a historical romance to modern life is one reason I find the Quick books so entertaining. Without sounding like a sycophant, I did have one question in the plot, near the end. Why did Lavina go to this one house, at this specific time? Happily this was a one-time problem, and to be fair I can hold on to a question of why and how longer than necessary. The rest of the book had few, if any plot irregularities and was very cleaver and unpredictable. Just when you thought something would happen, it didn't, and something else caught you by surprise, while remaining logical and true to the story. Since it was announced prior to publication that Slightly Shady is part of a series, the lack of a happy ever after ending was appropriate and I am anxiously waiting the next book. Because the secondary characters were well developed, without interfering with the book's progression, there are more than enough possible sequels to be developed.
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