Rating: 
Summary: Great suspense, but romantically wanting...
Review: Elizabeth Lowell (aka, Ann Maxwell) contributes another intelligently written, enthralling novel. The dialogue is snappy and clever, the plot is well thought out and holds some intriguing surprises, while returning to the Donovan family is like welcoming an old friend back into your home. The topical information on rubies is fascinating and instructive. However, the issue which changed my rating from "5" to "4" was that the relationship didn't sizzle for me. The romance was tepid. Although this book was an enjoyable read and one I will certainly read again, I don't believe this installment in the Donovan saga is up to Ann's usual standard for romance. She normally produces sizzling romantic tension/resolution that is completly engaging -- the reader becomes emotionally engaged in the relationship as it evolves. Ruby Bayou, however, didn't evoke the same emotional connection for me...the Faith and Walker relationship took a long time to develop and then quickly transformed from passion to love to permanence in an implausible way -- Walker does a romantic 180 and the transformation seems forced. It seems clear that as romance writers are elevated to "mainstream fiction" by their publishers they lose some of the romantic heat which is so appealing to romance readers. For diehard romance readers: before you pay hardback cover prices for this, just know that while its a great suspence read and offers a welcome return to the Donovan family, Ruby Bayou may leave you romantically wanting.
Rating: 
Summary: Colorless, except for the rubies.
Review: Once again, Lowell saves a tired plot with clever banter and one likeable character. Owen is, for me, the best male character of the series. He is warm without being mushy, savvy without being hard like Archer. Even with his recent injury, he manages to be extremely tough to kill. Too bad he wasn't paired with a more memorable female lead, but Faith lacks spine. Recovering from a very weak chioce on her last boyfriend, I began to wonder halfway through if she didn't deserve him. There was just something missing in her character. The plot itself is pretty mundane, missing gems, bad guys, eccentric southern family with a history of abuse and other weird stuff. The resolution of the conflict also lacks sizzle. Faith, proving once again what a flat character she is, caves competely, without even an attempt at assertiveness. There wasn't as much information on rubies as I have come to expect, either. I missed the soundbites of lore and legend, coupled with the gemacological tidbits The improvement I would suggest is for Owen to leave Faith, meet a woman with a bit more oomph, and have a rough and tumble courtship that doesn't involve steroetypical bad guys (The Mob, come on!). Now that would be a book worth keeping. This one, I fear, is defintitely one to recycle.
Rating: 
Summary: I Read Like a Madwoman, Anxious to Get to the End
Review: Thieves break into a museum in St. Petersburg to steal gems. They have orders to take only the lesser known stuff, gems that won't be missed, but one of them gets greedy and steals a priceless set of rubies, including the egg sized ruby known as "The Heart of Midnight." The thief sends the rubies to a fence in America, who sells them minus the "Heart of Midnight," to Davis Montegeau who sends them to Faith Donovan to make into a necklace for his fiancée. Russian Mafiya boss Marat Borisovitch Tarasov is furious when he finds out what his minions have done. The museum is going to open an exhibit soon featuring the "The Heart of Midnight" and if it's not there, he's going to be in big trouble, plus he'll lose a good source of free gems, so he sends tough and deadly Ivan Ivanovitch to America to get the precious rubies back. Archer Donovan has decided to insure the gems as Faith wants to take them to a gem show in Atlanta where designers show off their work before she delivers the completed necklace. Archer has his trusted employee Owen Walker guard the rubies as well as Faith. Ivanovitch slashes and kills his way through people in his quest to get the "Heart of Midnight" back, but by the time he gets to Faith, Walker is there. But even if he could have had his way with her, she couldn't have given up the monster ruby, because she doesn't have it. However Ivanovitch doesn't know this, so he's going to have another try at her. Will Walker be able to stop him, or will he be so infatuated with Faith and she for him, that he won't see Ivan coming? Ms. Lowell has written a story that kept me sitting on the edge of my seat as I read like a madwoman, anxious to get to the end. Lots of action, just the right amount of romance and characters that I both loved and hated. This is a book you can't go wrong with, it's Elizabeth Lowell at her best.
Rating:
Summary: Another Lowell gem.
Review: Elizabeth Lowell's latest installment in the Donavan series is like the rubies she describes so lovingly: interesting, sexy, and full of fire, but not flawless. The story focuses on Faith Donovan, the talented jewelry designing twin of Honor from _Amber Beach_. Faith has recently dumped her abusive boyfriend and is understandably wary of men. The hero is Owen Walker, a valued employee and trusted friend of Archer Donovan, Faith's overprotective older brother. Walker has commitment issues of his own, but has always been attracted to Faith. These characters both carry emotional scars from events in their pasts that inform their actions and reactions. The plot that surrounds these two as they fall in love (it *is* an Elizabeth Lowell book, after all!) is somewhat convoluted, involving the Russian mob, aging Jersey wise-guys, and the local Southern gentry from Walker's youth. Despite the implausibility of the plot, I enjoyed reading about rubies and revisiting the Donovan clan. I also really liked Walker. Often Lowell's heros are hard and bitter and the heroine has to prove herself time and time again. In this case, Walker is kind and open to Faith from the very beginning, and it is her reserve toward men that has to be overcome. Overall, the book kept me interested in both the relationship between the characters and the outcome of the plot. I'm looking forward to the next two books about the mysterious Justin and Lawe, the other Donovan brothers.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting and charming
Review: One of the better romances I have read. Not quite on par with some of the other Donovan series books, but still head and shoulders above most romance novels. I love learning something with my romance so all of the info about rubies and the south is great, but the book might annoy those less interested in real-world background. I agree Faith is not the most fascinating Donovan heroine, but I loved the mob/old family entanglements and she's still pretty funny.
Rating: 
Summary: Well, at least the hero is a keeper
Review: I must be in a minority of one, if E. Lowell's books are so very popular. What does she or her readers have against a female protagonist with strength, depth or any kind of character? Granted, these books are fantasy and can't be taken as anything other that fantasy, but do women really fantasize about being morons with no spine? Is there a heroine in any one of Lowell's books who doesn't have a phobia due to one incident in which they were in danger in their past? Honestly, do most women really dream about being weak kneed, lily livered cowards? I guess they must, since books like Lowell's seem to be all the publishers will toss off the assembly line. However, I'm writing this review (and giving the book 2 stars) because there was one bright spot in it. For once, Lowell has written a hero with charm, humor and appeal, unlike the cardboard cutouts in the other books in this series. Man, was that guy sexy and cute. Of course, it wouldn't be a Lowell book if the hero didn't protect the heroine without her knowledge (because, every one knows women are not to be trusted to protect themselves, they don't have the brain power and are too emotional to deal with a stressful situation with any kind of toughness). In spite of that, I like Walker and wish Lowell would try to flesh out other characters as well. And please, if you're reading this, Elizabeth, please try to get beyond the damsel in distress syndrome. It's so very tired, and surely you and your publishers realize there are women like me in this world. Women who actually fantasize about a man who can fall in love with a strong, skilled and confident woman.
Rating:
Summary: I LOVED THIS BOOK
Review: Once again, the Donovans win your heart. I can't say enough about Midnight in Ruby Bayou. I have read it 4 times and loved it more each time. Faith is strong, intelligent and very talented. Walker is strong, gentle and the kind of man every woman would want. Together they take on "Uncle" and the maffia (with the help of the other Donovan's of course). I love the entire Donovan series and hope that Ms. Lowell will continue the series with Justin and Lawe's stories.
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down!
Review: I read the first three in this series and absolutely loved them. This 4th book was just as good as the first three. Loved the mystery combined with the love story. Men never know what's good for them, do they?
Rating:
Summary: I love Owen Walker!
Review: This was the perfect ending to the Donovan series. Faith and Walker both had to overcome past hurts to find love within each other. I loved the way that the entire Donovan family from all 3 previous books were woven into the plot. I loved hearing about Honor & Jake's daughter, Lianne and Kyle's twins, and Archer and Hannah's pregnancy. Having read all of the other books prior to this one I could appreciate every aspect of the plot.
I am enthralled by the way that Lowell uses characters from different backgrounds, like Seattle and South Carolina and makes them fall in love and they each cherish their culture and learn to respect the others.
I have already read each book in the series at least a dozen times each and I will keep reading them for a long time to come. I do wish that Lowell would write about Justin and Lawe though. I feel like part of their family is missing not knowing about them.
All in All... a MUST HAVE for your romance collection.
Rating:
Summary: Midnight on Ruby Bayou
Review: GREAT!! A great ending to the series. Although Owen is attacted to Faith,when her brother and Owen's boss ask him to guard Faith he does. The last in the Donavan Series, Faith is pursued by a Russian after a ruby he is told she has. This one takes you to the bayou of Owen's childhood. While he struggles with the past and his feelings for Faith the mysteries keep mounting. A lot of mystery,passion and laughter.Owen's southern gentlemen charm and cool control, won my heart.
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