Treasured Past

Rating:
Summary: Another Naiad Formula Book
Review: Attorney Katherine Brennan is enamoured of antiques and Annie Walsh, owner of the Cambridge, Massachusetts antiques store, The Treasured Past. When Kate's senior partner orders her to handle the divorce of his son, she is upset, but agrees to do so. When she meets with him, he tells her that he is adamant that he wants the couple's house. In the meantime, her relationship with Annie blossoms as the two begin decorating Kate's bare-as-bones house. This is another in a very long line of Naiad's formulaic publications - it hasn't varied in over two dozen years - so there were no surprises, the relationship is the same as any book published by Naiad in the last twenty-five years - different names, different occupations, and different locale, but it is the same book that Naiad always publishes. If you've been reading Naiad books for any length of time, and like the formula, by all means buy this book. But if you're looking for more, look elsewhere.

Rating:
Summary: Another Naiad Formula Book
Review: Attorney Katherine Brennan is enamoured of antiques and Annie Walsh, owner of the Cambridge, Massachusetts antiques store, The Treasured Past. When Kate's senior partner orders her to handle the divorce of his son, she is upset, but agrees to do so. When she meets with him, he tells her that he is adamant that he wants the couple's house. In the meantime, her relationship with Annie blossoms as the two begin decorating Kate's bare-as-bones house. This is another in a very long line of Naiad's formulaic publications - it hasn't varied in over two dozen years - so there were no surprises, the relationship is the same as any book published by Naiad in the last twenty-five years - different names, different occupations, and different locale, but it is the same book that Naiad always publishes. If you've been reading Naiad books for any length of time, and like the formula, by all means buy this book. But if you're looking for more, look elsewhere.

Rating:
Summary: Another Naiad -- that's a good thing!
Review: I don't expect a vampire chronicle to make me laugh, or a mystery to turn me on. Genre fiction is what it is, and if a book delivers exactly what it promises -- be it a passionate romance or a blood-sucking thriller -- then that's what I judge it by. Even Naiad's detractors can't seem to stop themselves from reading more, and I believe that's because we get what we expect, often what we need, and more rarely, something beyond our hopes.

Treasured Past is another of Linda Hill's quiet romances. At least I think of them as quiet, because they come off the page so gently that the characters have possessed my imagination before I realized I have been completely drawn in. Once I've been drawn in the flesh and heart of her characters begin to beat with real life. Before I now it I'm wishing I lived next door to these women. It happens that way in every Linda Hill I've read. I'm seduced before I even realize I'm being courted. That's probably what makes us wish real life was more like a romance novel, and why we keep reading.

I also highly recommend her Class Reunion, which is on the part of my shelves I reserve for books I intend to reread.

Rating:
Summary: Not extraordinary, but a really nice read
Review: I don't want to say a lot about the storyline in the book, because that would give too much away. It's fairly predictable as it is, so any surprises the book can give you should be left intact.

What I will say is that it's a romance about a lawyer and an antiques dealer. It's also about trust, choices and career vs. love.

I liked the feel you get for the main characters, although the supporting cast is somewhat sketchily drawn. It's a fairly short novel with few surprises, but it's romantic and sweet with the ubiquitous angst and heartache. This won't be your favourite book of all time, but it's sure to provide a few hours of reading pleasure without challenging the genre boundaries.

Rating:
Summary: An easy and fun read
Review: This book flows really nicely and is easy to just keep reading. The conversations seem real and are often funny. I like a book with humor, and this book doesn't disappoint. From reading the back of the book I at first wasn't very excited to start it. I mean, how exciting can antiquing possibly be if you're not into it? But it doesn't go in so such immense detail that you get bored (unlike some other books I've read). It tells you enough so you get a clue, then goes on what you really care about -- the story. It's probably why this book is a little on the thin side (as well as Peggy Herring's books), and Karin Kallmaker's books tend to be thick... Kallmaker pads hers with a lot of details that, if you are unfamiliar with the area or the trade, would be completely boring and tedious to read. But Treasured Past suffered very little of this. The characters are all entertaining, with easily likeable or hateable personalities. It my first Linda Hill book, and I'm definitely going to be looking into her other books...

Rating:
Summary: An easy and fun read
Review: This book flows really nicely and is easy to just keep reading. The conversations seem real and are often funny. I like a book with humor, and this book doesn't disappoint. From reading the back of the book I at first wasn't very excited to start it. I mean, how exciting can antiquing possibly be if you're not into it? But it doesn't go in so such immense detail that you get bored (unlike some other books I've read). It tells you enough so you get a clue, then goes on what you really care about -- the story. It's probably why this book is a little on the thin side (as well as Peggy Herring's books), and Karin Kallmaker's books tend to be thick... Kallmaker pads hers with a lot of details that, if you are unfamiliar with the area or the trade, would be completely boring and tedious to read. But Treasured Past suffered very little of this. The characters are all entertaining, with easily likeable or hateable personalities. It my first Linda Hill book, and I'm definitely going to be looking into her other books...

Rating:
Summary: Very comfortable, quick read......
Review: Very enjoyable book...needed something to read at 4am, finished it by 7am and was in a good mood when I got up. What more could one ask for?