Rating: Summary: Jealousy, not envy Review: Envy poses the question: what is one willing to give up to exact that one sweet moment of revenge.
Maris Matherly Reed is an editor in her dad's New York City publishing dynasty. When an anonymous author sends her a captivating manuscript, she leaves the comfort of her office to seek out the author in a remote island of Georgia. Unbeknownst to Maris, her arrival is the conclusion of a terrifying plot hatched in the deep recesses of a human mind.
Sandra Brown weaves an intricate plot around Maris, her husand Noah, and the reclusive Parker. Parker's novel serves as a linchpin to the entire plot. Ms. Brown's writing is leisurely, lively; the novel, like a vortex, sucks the reader down to the last page.
Todd and Roark, the fictional characters, are recognizable as everyday people, making the story realistic. But only just.
That is because men are neither angels nor devils; consequently men like Parker or Noah--selfless or self-selving--are only phantasms. Ms. Brown should have taken the advice of Maris to add a sprinkling of evil (and good) to her protagonists.
Given the riveting plot and conclusion, it is a nice read.
Rating: Summary: Another Good Helping Of Sandra Brown!! Review: ENVY! As an author, that's what I feel toward Sandra Brown's down-to-earth way of telling a story about places that I'll remember the rest of my life, and using characters so real that I feel as if I know them when I've finished one of her books.
And ENVY is just such a book. But ENVY is unique. Maris Matherly-Reed is a New York book editor who "stumbles" upon a manuscript in her slush pile that intrigues her. The manuscript isn't done in the appropriate format, it's signed by initials only, has no phone number, and the only address is an obscure island in GA. In Maris's quest to find this mysterious author, she unravels a real mystery.
The reader of this books is actually reading two novels in one. Sandra lets the mysterious author's manuscript help tell the story. This is an attention holding book that I recommend to anyone who enjoys a good romantic mystery.
Pat Ballard
Rating: Summary: Envy will blow you away! Review: First and foremost, I am an avid Sandra Brown reader. Honestly some of her books have been flops and some have been amazing. Despite some negative reviews on the author and the book, I believe you will enjoy it. In fact it will blow you away! It is a far cry from being a soppy, bland romance/mystery novel. The prologue itself will make you envy more. If you're still unsure, check it out your local public library. I recommend that you buy the book.
Rating: Summary: WOW, what a comeback! Review: I had stopped reading Brown's books because they were too shallow. BUT, for some reason I took this off the library shelf and once I started I didn't want to put it down. A book within a book kept it twice as hot.Sure, you begin to catch on, or think you do but there's a new twist in the plots of the two books and you're at it again from a new angle. One writer can't please everybody, hence the negative reviews. The book is a mystery, romance, and sexy almost thrller book. The characters are the love or hate types but you will find yourself switching them around as the story reaches the final climax. Sex scenes are not for puritans but you learn a wheelchair is not a turn-off! Other reviewers go into more detail so read them if you want more before you read it. I started reading it without any fore knowledge and I loved discovering it for myself. I do hope you read it and love it as I did, And then read it all over again! Congrats to Sandra Brown,
Rating: Summary: A Serious Page Turner Review: I have never read a book by Sandra Brown before and I happen to be in my favortie store and as I going to pay for my purchases I noticed the book on a rack above the newspapers and magazines and I decided to give it chance to expand my reading spectrum outside of the romance novels I usually read. I was a bit surprised and pleasantly amazed to discover that I was indeed reading a romance novel in (some parts) but with a different spin on old fashion romance. This book to say the least is a "Page Turner" I was intrigued with the main characters Maris, Parker,and Noah and their connections and intercations with one another Maris and Parker have sometimes humorous exchanges with each other were as Maris and Noah have some bitter and tense moments and I found myself hating him and his attiude toward his peers this attutide in my opinion lead him to his downfall and he was powerless to stop it from happening. This book made me feel like I was there when Parker described Key West I could almost feel the humdity and smell the salt in the air from the water. This was a great read and I recommanded it to everyone who is a Sandra Brown Fan I plan to read more of her books
Rating: Summary: One of the best Sandra Brown novels I've read Review: I have read over ten Sandra Brown novels and this book was one of my favorites. She sets you up with suspense right away and weaves and intricate tale that makes you want to keep turning the pages.
Rating: Summary: My first and last Sandra Brown book... Review: I noticed this one on a bargain bookshelf and thought that for the price I'd give it a try. I usually shy away from most popular authors, I've learned from experience that most of them just aren't interesting to me, but I wanted to read something light and was looking forward to one or two good little plot twists. I have to admit that once or twice Ms. Brown did pull something I didn't expect, and just barely - barely - kept my interest long enough to finish the book. But sad to say I figured most of her surprises out long before they were revealed. Unfortunately I had to overlook the entire premise behind the book to read it, because I didn't believe, at all, that based on the 'Envy prologue' that a major New York publisher and editor would drop everything and whisk away to an obscure Georgia island to find this author. The middle of the book was dull and the characters were cardboard cutouts. One last thing - sex scenes in a book are fine, even good, if they're written well and you care about the characters. In this book, they were annoying and a turnoff.
Rating: Summary: could not put it down Review: I was hooked after the first chapter! great book good not put it down.
Rating: Summary: Very Good!! Review: Maris Matherly-Reed is a renowned New York editor and is employed at the family owned publishing company of Matherly Press. She is married to best-selling author Noah Reed. One day while working her way through her slush pile, she discovers the prologue from a manuscript entitled "Envy". Impressed by this unsolicited submission, she feels compelled to track down the author. No easy task since the author identifies himself only as P.M.E. and lists his address as an island off the coast of Georgia. On an old plantation, she finds the author and comes to understand why he wishes to remain anonymous. Since she is so excited about this prologue, Maris offers to work with Parker as his editor to complete his tale of two friends who charter a boat, along with a woman friend, for a night of celebration--from which only one person returns. Working closely with Parker, Maris discovers that she is wildly attracted to him and is convinced that his story is more than just fiction. When tragedy strikes close to home, Maris becomes suspicious and searches for the truth about a crime committed fourteen years earlier. Sandra Brown recently celebrated her twentieth year as a published author. Congratulations Sandra! During those twenty years I have been a devoted fan. Some of her novels are very good and some are simply ok, but whatever the case I will always purchase the hardcover edition as soon as it is released. "Envy" is one of the very good reads. Sandra has cleverly crafted a novel within a novel. This is not a murder mystery to be solved but rather the story of one author's acts of deceit and murder and another author's plan for revenge. Some reviewers have complained about Parker's cruelty, but as the story unfolds, you will understand the reason for his bitterness. Some have complained about the language but I have found the male dialogue to be realistic. All your questions will be answered in the end and you might also find some surprises. This is a very entertaining read and I recommend you get your hands on this novel as soon as you can.
Rating: Summary: A thrilling page-turner! Review: Sandra Brown has a winner on her hands with her latest suspense drama, Envy. Publishing-house "heiress" (and editor in her own right) Maris Matherly-Reed takes an interest (some might call it an obsession) in a manuscript (also named "Envy") that turns up on her desk unsolicited. Hooked by the prologue (the only part submitted), and even more intrigued by the nearly anonymous author, she sets about tracking him down and encouraging him to finish what he's started. In so doing, she sets in motion a drama of a whole different kind which may not only end her marriage, but ultimately destroy her. I really enjoyed this book and its "novel within a novel" format. The chapters of the "Envy" manuscript we are treated to are wonderful and move the story along in a very different manner than one is accustomed to. Maris is a strong character, albeit a bit naive, but very likeable. Parker, the author of the manuscript, is an enigma and the reader just can't wait to unravel his secrets.
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