Rating: 
Summary: Skip this one!
Review: I don't know why I keep giving Ms. Joyce another chance. This one goes in the discard pile. I agree with the reviewer who described the book as "disjointed." I would describe all of her books that I have read this way. I may read any future of the "Deadly" series just to see where that story could possibly go, but I don't think I will be reading any others.
Rating:
Summary: Skip this one!
Review: I don't know why I keep giving Ms. Joyce another chance. This one goes in the discard pile. I agree with the reviewer who described the book as "disjointed." I would describe all of her books that I have read this way. I may read any future of the "Deadly" series just to see where that story could possibly go, but I don't think I will be reading any others.
Rating:
Summary: did not like it.
Review: I had never read a Brenda Joyce book before picking up her "Deadly..." series written as BD Joyce. I Am finding them wonderful, engrossing and fun reads. I can't wait until the next one. So in the meantime, I decided to try out some of her other books. Unfortunately, this is the fist one I picked up.I am glad that this book isn't the first book that I read by this author because I am sure I would not have picked up the "Deadly..." series and would have missed out on a good thing. I didn't like this book in the least. First of all, it made no sense. Isabel, the ghost, had such power that she was able to manipulate events for over 400 years so that she managed to keep these two families entwined so that she could use them against each other to wreak her vengeance. But if she had that much power what was taking her so long to destroy these people? And then there was Cass, Antonio, Gregory and Catherine Why the heck were they so stupid? These people all knew a ghost was manipulating them, and yet they continued to hang out in the house. And whenever anybody went missing they always split up to go searching and they'd leave the kids behind. I'm sorry but if I am stuck in the middle of nowhere and I know that a malevolent ghost is running around, I am not gonna go exploring a house alone and I am not gonna leave my 8 year old niece and 10 year old son by themselves either. At least poor Tracey had no idea what was going on, so that part at least made sense. I think the book would have been much more suspenseful if everyone else had been like Tracey, truly at a loss as to what was happening and why. And then there was the writing. It was repetitive and I felt as if the story were going in circles. Rather than creating a claustrophobic atmosphere of menace, all it did for me was create an air of tedium. And finally, the ending stunk. After all that ghostly menace, everything ended with a wimper. I also feel that Isabel was, wrongly, made out to be some innocent little victim. She wasn't. She was as culpable in her own downfall as the people who "betrayed" her. I am disappointed that this book was so enjoyable because I think there was a really good book somewhere in there begging to get out.
Rating:
Summary: did not like it.
Review: I had never read a Brenda Joyce book before picking up her "Deadly..." series written as BD Joyce. I Am finding them wonderful, engrossing and fun reads. I can't wait until the next one. So in the meantime, I decided to try out some of her other books. Unfortunately, this is the fist one I picked up. I am glad that this book isn't the first book that I read by this author because I am sure I would not have picked up the "Deadly..." series and would have missed out on a good thing. I didn't like this book in the least. First of all, it made no sense. Isabel, the ghost, had such power that she was able to manipulate events for over 400 years so that she managed to keep these two families entwined so that she could use them against each other to wreak her vengeance. But if she had that much power what was taking her so long to destroy these people? And then there was Cass, Antonio, Gregory and Catherine Why the heck were they so stupid? These people all knew a ghost was manipulating them, and yet they continued to hang out in the house. And whenever anybody went missing they always split up to go searching and they'd leave the kids behind. I'm sorry but if I am stuck in the middle of nowhere and I know that a malevolent ghost is running around, I am not gonna go exploring a house alone and I am not gonna leave my 8 year old niece and 10 year old son by themselves either. At least poor Tracey had no idea what was going on, so that part at least made sense. I think the book would have been much more suspenseful if everyone else had been like Tracey, truly at a loss as to what was happening and why. And then there was the writing. It was repetitive and I felt as if the story were going in circles. Rather than creating a claustrophobic atmosphere of menace, all it did for me was create an air of tedium. And finally, the ending stunk. After all that ghostly menace, everything ended with a wimper. I also feel that Isabel was, wrongly, made out to be some innocent little victim. She wasn't. She was as culpable in her own downfall as the people who "betrayed" her. I am disappointed that this book was so enjoyable because I think there was a really good book somewhere in there begging to get out.
Rating:
Summary: House of Dreams
Review: I had read one other Brenda Joyce book a few years ago and can't recall what it was about. However, "House of Dreams" was one of the sorriest books that I have read for a long time. I sincerely wish that I had just stopped after I had read the first few pages and it didn't "catch" me. I decided to continue on until the bitter (and I do mean bitter) end. Maybe her other books are better and I just picked up the wrong one. I work at a library and this is one book that will be hard for me to personally recommend to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Please - do not read this book
Review: I have read almost all of Brenda Joyce's novels, and I have to say this one is easily the worst. This book deals with the supernatural - a topic that I normally enjoy, but I definitely didn't come close to enjoying this book. I kept reading hoping that my attention would be captured, but instead I grew to dislike the characters and their idiotic behavior more and more. The plot never truly comes together and the characters don't evoke any feelings in the reader, except for contempt. If you want to read a good Brenda Joyce book, try "The Game"
Rating: 
Summary: a book that felt like a movie
Review: I have to disagree with many of the reviewers who did not find this book absolutely thrilling. The characters were wonderfully developed. I actually felt what they were feeling, especially the Isabel of the past. This was a page turner from page one. Cass and Antonio had so much in common it was only right for them to be together. Tracey was just hiding behind a mask waiting to find herself and be herself. I truly believe she loved her daughter, she just did'nt know how to show it. This was my first Brenda Joyce novel and from the effect this book had on me I'm sure I'll be reading a lot more of her work. It was so real, so vivid it felt like I was watching a movie. This is a great book buy the book, new or used if your not sure and judge for yourself.
Rating: 
Summary: intrigue, dangerous emotions, confusion - GOOD
Review: I have to disagree with these reviewers that found this book "bad, and characters undeveloped". I found the characters very real in the sense that they were confused in their emotions. Cass, the lead, was one minute fiercely loyal and the next was ready to forget everyone and do exactly what she wanted to do. Don't we all feel that way sometimes? I got that she was sick of sacrificing herself for her selfish sister and finally did what she wanted with Antonio. Antonio, I admit, could have been more deeply developed. I didn't feel like I ever really got to know him at all. But I thought Joyce did a good job with the ghost aspect. I did feel sorry for Isabel - she was completely in love and loyal to that love and he was not! No wonder she was ticked off at everyone! I did find it a stretch that they stayed at the house as long as they did with all that was happening, but hey, it is a ghost story! People always stay in the haunted house when it's way past time to get out... I still have faith in Joyce. She remains one of my favs and I will continue to buy anything with her name on it.
Rating:
Summary: Sorry Brenda, but this one is awful...
Review: I love Brenda Joyce's books and have purchased every one of them. She and Diana Gabaldon are the only romance authors that I read--I'm not a huge fan of the genre itself, but love Gabaldon's & Joyce's books. But I really wish I hadn't spent my money on this one. Please be warned and don't waste your time or money! The story was too unbelievable. The characters were awful and annoying (not to mention stupid). Plus, the book could have been written in half the pages since everything was repeated over and over. The way they kept questioning themselves and each other after all these weird occurrences was just overkill. I won't go into any more than this, as many reviewers expounded on the rest of the problems with the book. However, the ONE THING THAT ANNOYED ME THE MOST was the OVERUSE of the word "gaze" (e.g., Cass met Antonio's gaze, Antonio gazed at Cass, their gazes met and locked, she met his gaze, he met her gaze, etc., etc.). Ugh!!! I was ready to just throw the book away without finishing it! I don't normally like to bash books or authors and usually don't. I was just very disappointed with this one and hope to save someone else's money and time.
Rating:
Summary: Not The Third Heiress but...........
Review: I loved this book! This is the second book by Ms. Joyce I have read, the first being The Third Heiress. Heiress was my favorite book of all time so naturally I wasn't expecting this to top it. However, it came pretty close! I had no idea this was scarry when I picked this up at the book store but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. I don't usually read scary books because I'm constantly looking over my shoulder. This one was no different. I actually felt like I was in the book with the characters. That, to me, is a sign of true talent. I plan on buying more books by Ms. Joyce in the future! So far, she hasn't disappointed me yet!
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