All the Queen's Men

Rating:
Summary: A Great Read, but...
Review: All the Queen's Men is a tightly woven, fast paced, exciting thriller that takes the reader seamlessly from one incredible scene to the next, and, oh yeah, tells the story of the romance between John Medina (uber-spy from Kill and Tell) and Niema Burdock. Howard is an incredible writer that keeps me riveted, but when I finished this book, I didn't really feel as if I knew John any better than when I started. Niema's hopes, fears and reactions were present, but John didn't seem to have any human emotions, other than his love for Niema. The guy's been a secretive, emotionless, manipulative spy just a tad bit too long, and seriously needs a vacation. The personal angle was definitely reduced in favor of the thriller angle. If you've been waiting for John Medina's story, as I have, then the book is worth the hardcover price. If you enjoy thrillers where the action comes first, and the romance second (like Now You See Her), then the book is worth the hardcover price. But if you're looking for a book like Kill and Tell (*hot* romance first, thriller second), the book is not worth the hardcover price.

Rating:
Summary: Save your money.
Review: No one can write romance better than Linda Howard. I eagerly await each of her books and buy them the minute they are published. But be warned, this is not much of a romance. It was a rather boring attempt at writing a thriller. I put the book down in the middle and had to force myself to finish it the next day. Niema and John Medina were almost cartoon characters who lacked all depth. This book was an enormous disappointment since I have really enjoyed Howard's work in the past and even liked her recent attempt at mystery in Now You See Her. Don't bother purchasing this book in hardback if you are looking for a Linda Howard romance. There was very little romance in it. If she is trying to break into the mainstream Johansen/Coulter market, she'll have to do better than this.

Rating:
Summary: I loved John Medina in Kill and Tell.
Review: I wanted to read more about John Medina at the time of Kill and Tell, I am glad that Linda Howard chose to write a story about him in All the Queen's Men.

Rating:
Summary: i find the book much interesting and others will also like
Review: good, fantastic please convey me about your next book. congrats...

Rating:
Summary: Definitely worth the price
Review: He is the spy who never came in from the cold. Instead, he constantly changes faces and identities seemingly as often as the moon changes phases. Niema Burdock first met him in Iran in 1994 when he was her and her spouse's team leader. He used the alias Tucker as a cover as he led his team on the successful mission of blowing up a biological weapons manufacturing plant. However, Niema's husband died during the endeavor.

Niema has not heard from the maverick in years and he would not recognize her personality. Iran turned her from a major risk taker who seems to feel only right when her adrenaline pumps to extraordinary levels to a very staid person. Tucker reenters her life, demanding her cooperation on his latest mission. Unable to say no to the danger or the man, she agrees to join him on the mission that places both of them in a perilous situation.

Linda Howard's romantic thrillers are constantly excellent novels that make it difficult for fans to wait the year between tales. ALL THE QUEEN'S MEN has more suspense and action than the usual Ms. Howard book, but that only amplifies the passion and tension that readers feel between the lead protagonists. Linda Howard has become so phenomenally good, she seems to have no sub-genre peers.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Is it worth the hardcover price???
Review: Anyone who reads this book, I would like to know if it is worth the hardcover price. I bought "Now You See Her" as hardcover. I was disappointed and do not feel I got my money's worth. Before I do the same thing again. I want to know is it worth it???If not I will hold out for the paperback. Thanks!

Rating:
Summary: Emotional and Thrilling Novel
Review: All The Queen's Men is an emotional novel which packs the same punch as another Linda Howard book I read recently, Cry No More. What these novels both have in common is HEARTACHE - the characters have tragic pasts, baggage from previous relationships and at the same time are dealing with serious and dangerous situations. All in all, this leads to a read which can seem bittersweet at times and is definitely not as carefree as other Howard romances such as Dream Man or Heart of Fire.

Niema and John are likeable, well-rounded characters. Niema is still grieving for her loving, tough late husband when John comes back into her life. She is a charming mix of toughness and vulnerability, and I really liked her. John is the typical 'hard man' who is smarting from how his first marriage ended and, to some extent, is unable to express his true feelings because of his dangerous job. The relationship between the two definitely seems meant to be and most of their interactions are a mix of passion, tenderness and love.

As other reviewers have mentioned the ending is quite abrupt, but it made me cry anyway because I was so happy for them both. Overall I was unable to leave this novel for a moment while I was reading it, but I don't reread it often simply because it makes me feel sad - despite the happy ending. I can't help but think that their lives will be hard because John will always have to look over his shoulder and be ready for an old enemy to attack him and Niema again.

JoAnne

Rating:
Summary: Does Linda Howard's talent ever cease to amaze me?
Review: The answer is no! Howard is possibly my favorite all time author, with characters you always care about and root for, hot romances, great suspense, what more could anyone want? In this story I never thought I'd go for this kind of international goverment spy type of setting and yet it sucked me in 100%. John and Niema were HOT! This is a great book and I highly recommend anything by this author.

Rating:
Summary: Emotional and Thrilling Novel
Review: All The Queen's Men is an emotional novel which packs the same punch as another Linda Howard book I read recently, Cry No More. What these novels both have in common is HEARTACHE - the characters have tragic pasts, baggage from previous relationships and at the same time are dealing with serious and dangerous situations. All in all, this leads to a read which can seem bittersweet at times and is definitely not as carefree as other Howard romances such as Dream Man or Heart of Fire.

Niema and John are likeable, well-rounded characters. Niema is still grieving for her loving, tough late husband when John comes back into her life. She is a charming mix of toughness and vulnerability, and I really liked her. John is the typical `hard man' who is smarting from how his first marriage ended and, to some extent, is unable to express his true feelings because of his dangerous job. The relationship between the two definitely seems meant to be and most of their interactions are a mix of passion, tenderness and love.

As other reviewers have mentioned the ending is quite abrupt, but it made me cry anyway because I was so happy for them both. Overall I was unable to leave this novel for a moment while I was reading it, but I don't reread it often simply because it makes me feel sad - despite the happy ending. I can't help but think that their lives will be hard because John will always have to look over his shoulder and be ready for an old enemy to attack him and Niema again.

JoAnne

Rating:
Summary: ALL THE QUEEN'S MEN
Review: I've recently become a big fan of Linda Howards and have been buying up most of her books. I had read "Kill and Tell" a few months ago and became very intrigued with one of it's characters, John Medina, a CIA operative. This book is actually Johns story.

The first part of the book starts off in Iran, 5 years earlier. John is on assignment with several other people, including Niema and her husband Dallas Burdock (a Navy SEAL). During the operation Dallas is killed and John helps Niema escape. Now to the present. John has always had a thing for Niema but had stayed away because he wanted her to find happiness. Now they are sent on a mission together and he decides he doesn't want to give her up. The rest of the story is about their mission which I won't spoil.

Now some reviewers had a problem with the first time John and Niema make love. Some even said it bordered on rape. I didn't see it like that. Niema's reluctance to make love to John had nothing to do with her being unwilling. She just didn't like the location of where it happened and I don't blame her.

Some reviewers felt that at times John was too cold. Again I didn't see that. He was controlled and in his line of work you would have to be. There were times, like when he was bandaging her feet, that I felt he was very sweet.

There were only two things I didn't like about the story. One was John is always portrayed as "wanting" Niema but I would have like to have heard him say he loved her. The second was the sightseeing trip toward the end of the book. I'm sorry but if your being chased by a bunch of goons your not going to go off sightseeing. Other than that it was a pretty good read.