Eclipse Bay

Rating:
Summary: Rich Girl, Bad Boy-- Great Chemistry
Review: Jayne Ann Krentz tops herself with this first book, Eclipse Bay, in her new trilogy. The Hartes are logical, the Madisons passionate, and the two families have hated each other for generations. Hannah Harte unwittingly becomes an alibi for Rafe Madison when she encounters him on the beach late one night. The next day she learns that a girl Rafe had dated was found murdered and he is suspect in the crime. She comes forward with the story of their time spent together at the time the crime was committed and puts a dent in her reputation in the town.

Eight years later Hannah's aunt dies leaving her mansion to Hannah and Rafe. The two come together back in Eclipse Bay to sort out the problem of who will get the mansion, solve and eight year old murder and fall in love.

The story is engaging and Hannah and Rafe are perfect together. He has loved her since that night on the beach and she has always been more then a little attracted to him.

A great entertaining read. Now we just have to wait for the next one.

Rating:
Summary: Ms. Krentz does it Again!
Review: In "Eclipse Bay", Ms. Krentz again shows her expertise with words and character descriptions. There are familiar things in this book: the resisting heroine - Hannah Harte, the irrestible hero - Rafe Sullivan, the beautiful Northwest itself, quirky characters, and an irrascible grandfather. Hannah and Rafe meet again their small coastal hometown when Hannah's aunt leaves her beautiful, large home to them jointly. Eight years before, Hannah had supplied Rafe with a true alibi when his lover was found dead. Hannah (as a town "goody two shoes") gives Rafe (as a town 'bad boy') the advice to "Do Somthing With Your Life!" Hannah leaves town to open a wedding consulting business and Rafe, under a cloud of suspicion, leaves to ? When they meet again, their sexual interest in each other is obvious. But each wants to buy the other out to pursue their own dream. Neither knows that each dream is the same - to open an inn/restaurant. The townpeople still believe that Rafe was responsible for his lover's death even though it was ruled an accident and Hannah had given him an ironclad alibi. To thoroughly clear Rafe's name, they decide to do further investigation of the eight year old mystery. Rafe and Hannah are immersed in their ever increasingly sexual relationship and the investigation. Rafe's grandfather character adds a love affair of his own, which is an interesting sub-story. The problems are all resolved and once again, the story ends delightfully I am looking forward to the next book in this trilogy.

Rating:
Summary: The DOG makes the book
Review: When you have to say that the dog makes the book--you know that something's not right. If this book had been by an author I had never read before I would have tossed it aside without finishing, and put the author on my "do not read books by this author" list, but it was Krentz and so I kept thinking that the chemistry would come between the characters, they would do something, something would happen that would make the story click. That something never happened.
Both Hannah and Rafe just got on my nerves--the only thing that saved the book from a well deserved one star rating was Winston, Hannah's adorbale pooch!

Rating:
Summary: Book 1 of 3 "Eclipse Bay" novels - a fast, enjoyable read
Review: Never having read Ms. Krantz before I can't compare this with any previous novels, but for me this was fast reading and entertaining, just what I needed after finishing a dark novel about child sexual abuse. I liked it well enough to buy the sequel to it, Dawn at Eclipse Bay, which I am now reading. This was written in 2000, and is the first of a trilogy. I found the author to be witty with her dialogue and enjoyed the bantering between the characters. The names of the local places in Eclipse Bay, Oregon, such as the Total Eclipse Bar and Grill "where the sun don't shine" were refreshing and original. I did find myself wanting to know more about the characters than she gives us, however. It seems like we get just enough of a look into their personalities to interest us, but she doesn't let us readers feel as if we really know them, as other authors I have read. This novel is not deep in mystery either, although there is a question about consipiracy, murder and blackmail that gets delved into. It is not on the level of novels by serious mystery or crime writers, but enjoyable. It's a good book to take on a trip, as it goes fast, but not one of those you stay up all night reading.

Rating:
Summary: Good Girl and Bad Boy meet again....
Review: A fun and easy to follow story. Though I admit I didn't figure out who done it until near the end.

This story start out with Hannah and Rafe meeting on a deserted beach after both had dates that went bad. That wouldn't be an issue if their families hadn't been fighting like the "Hatfields and MacCoy's" for years. In the end Hannah admits they had been together when "bad boy" Rafe is acutally questioned in a murder....

The story then picks up 8 years later when they both inherit a house together and have the same basic desires for the future of the house. But, both are headstrong and want "to win" but what is it that Rafe wants to win? Throw in some mystery and a few conspericies and you have a wonderful book.

I look forward to the other 3.

Rating:
Summary: J.A.K. at her best...
Review: Love this writer's style in romantic suspense...hard to top! Don't believe me...run to the closest bookstore for your copy of Eclipse Bay, buy the book, read it, and you too, will quickly become a fan as well!

Rating:
Summary: Sit back and enjoy.
Review: Another JAK winner. Loved Hannah and Rafe but my favorite character is Winston!

Rating:
Summary: Jayne Ann Krentz does it again!
Review: Ms. Krentz can weave a story as no one else can. You can almost picture yourself in - "Eclipse Bay."

Rating:
Summary: Not the best book she has written...
Review: The first two books I read by Jayne Ann Krentz - Midnight Jewels and A Coral Kiss - were wonderful! They are the best novels I have read in a long time! The plots were great, I loved the characters, and I just couldn't put these books down! This fantastic and talented author I had stumbled upon was outstanding. But then, the next book I had picked to read by Ms. Krentz was ECLIPSE BAY. What happened?! Her other books were thrilling and they had you drawn into the story with the characters amazing chemistry! The hero and heroine in this book were weak and poorly put together. Her main female character, Hannah Harte, was quite disappointing. She grated on my nerves! I actually had to force myself to read the last few chapters of this book hoping that she would change and become, well, less annoying! Rafe Madison, being the bad boy that he once was, didn't possess that 'take charge' attitude that you think he would have. His past, when she decided to take a glimpse into it, was dull and he comes off as a wimp. The whole book was to caught up in the past, and mentioning the Harte-Madison feud the two families were involved in was very much over-used. I give her thumbs up for the murder mystery plot line, but I just couldn't picture Hannah and Rafe getting together. These two characters didn't have chemistry and that ruined this book for me. I didn't enjoy this story at all. Every author I guess is inclined to make a few mistakes, right? So she won't lose me as a reader, but I won't read the rest of this series. I can't picture anything good coming out of ECLIPSE BAY!

Rating:
Summary: Not the best book she has written...
Review: The first two books I have read by Jayne Ann Krentz - Midnight Jewels and A Coral Kiss - were wonderful! The plots were great, I loved the characters, and I couldn't put these books down! This fantastic and talented author I had stumbled upon was outstanding! But then, the next book I had picked to read by Ms. Krantz was ECLIPSE BAY. What happened!? Her other books were thrilling and they had you drawn into the story with the characters amazing chemistry. The hero and heroine in this book were weak and poorly put together. Her main female character, Hannah Harte, was disappointing. She grated on my nerves! I actually had to force myself to read the last few chapters of this book hoping that she would change and become, well, less annoying! Rafe Madison, being the bad boy that he once was, didn't possess that 'take charge' attitude that you think he would have. His past, when she decided to take a glimpse into it, was dull and Rafe comes off looking like a wimp compared to the image you think you are going to have of him. The whole book was to caught up in the past, and mentioning the Harte-Madison feud that the two families were involved in was very much over-used. I give her thumbs up for the murder mystery plot line, but I just couldn't picture Hannah and Rafe getting together. These two characters definitely didn't have chemistry and all in all, that ruined the book. I didn't enjoy this story at all. Every author is inclined to make a few mistakes, right? So she won't lose me as a reader, but I won't even consider reading the rest of this series. I can't picture anything good coming out of ECLIPSE BAY.