Rating: 
Summary: A lot of potential, but didn't make the grade
Review: I thought the premise of the book was very interesting, and I liked the characters a lot. However, the plot had a little trouble moving forward, since we had to learn so much about the ruby business (not that it wasn't interesting, but it could have been a little neater). And, I got a little confused as to where all these bad guys were coming from. But, it was a light easy read, so it would be good beach reading. I would have liked a little more suspense, though.
Rating: 
Summary: Not One of Her Best
Review: The fourth in the Donovan tales ... it is a real shame that Lowell didn't stop at 3.Faith Donovan finds herself in a jam when the bad guys think she has the big ruby. And get this --- for most of the book Faith is too stupid to realize that she is in danger and her brothers don't want to upset the fragile girl by telling her. Give me a break. Our southern hero Owen does little to excite. I guess that it is a good thing that Faith hasn't enjoyed sex for her first 29 years ... because Owen certainly doesn't heat it up. Perhaps that is why Lowell stuck in Hannah and Archer having sex every time Owen calls home ... but how hot can sex be when you are talking to someone else on the phone? The mystery aspects are non-existent ... you will know the thief from the second that she's introduced. Unfortunately you will be left spending the next 200 pages wondering when everyone else in the book will get it. Not only will your heart not speed up ... you won't be able to stay awake. Lets hope that the real Elizabeth Lowell returns with her next book.
Rating: 
Summary: Good but kind of tacky
Review: I really liked this book. The Elizabeth Lowell books in this series are really good. I like the warm family relationships between the Donavans. I also like the information about the gem (in this case, ruby). However, I felt this book was a little tacky. I grew tired of details of incest and domestic violence, I know it's a fact of life, but my work is with abuse survivors, and it was just hard to read in my free-reading "escape" book. Also, I grew weary of the oral sex analogies and comments, come on, we get it, they have a raw oyster eatting contest of sorts and it's just tacky. Overall, a good book and well worth the time to read it.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable Romantic Suspense
Review: Faith Donovan is a talented jewelry designer who is in the process of creating a ruby necklace for her college roomate, Mel. Davis Montegeau, Mel's future father-in-law has sent the rubies to Faith to fashion a necklace as a wedding gift for Mel. After Faith's shop is burglarized, her older brother Archer, head of the Donovan empire, assigns Owen Walker to be her bodyguard as she travels from Seattle to Savannah for a jewelry show. Trouble seems to follow Faith and Walker everywhere as burglaries and muggings become an everyday occurrence. When Faith and Walker make the journey to the Montegeau's family home for Mel's wedding, truth becomes stranger than fiction as strange secrets of this old southern family come to light. Elizabeth Lowell has written a atisfying romantic suspense novel, complete with a fascinating description of the qualities present in exquisite rubies. Though Faith is a little weak as a heroine, Walker more than makes up for her inadequacies, as he is the perfect combination of strength and sensitivity without having an enormous male ego. Lowell cleverly combines the attraction between Faith and Walker with an emerging trust that finally allows them to overcome their fear of loving someone again. For a mystery with some romantic spice added, this is an enjoyable read.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Read
Review: I have read all of the books in E.L's Donovan series, and although I loved the early ones the best, I found RUBY a great read. It was quick paced for the most part and I really enjoyed Faith and Owen. My only complaint is that E.L. is not finishing out the Donovan family. What about Justin and Lawe. The were mentioned in all four of the books , but we never got the chance to see them. I would think E.L. should finish what she started. There are still other gems to be discovered.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Read ,A Lousy Reader
Review: I'd never read any of Elizabeth Lowells' work before I bought this audio cassette. I thought her plot moved along well and had a few nice twists. Unfortunately Laurel Merlington has no talent for the various moods and accents required. I first found myself grinding my teeth in discomfort as she mangled the main characters in this book and then wishing I had time to read this as a paperback instead of listening to a deplorable attempt in audio.
Rating:
Summary: Best of the sappy Donovan series.
Review: This was a typical lowell/donovan book in a lot of ways. Same super, alpha-male and "sassy" outspoken, yet vulnerable female. Same roses and puppies ultra-happy family gatherings. But I liked "Midnight in Ruby Bayou" a little better than the rest becuase a few times it actually showed a slightly tarnished side to the Donovan family. subtle jealousies and insecurities that real people might actually have, reared their heads in the donovan clan in this book.
Rating: 
Summary: What an end to a saga!
Review: I loved this book! After reading about Archer & Kyle and Faith, I was waiting for it for a long time. I was very excited when I finally got my hands on a copy. I hope she comes up with a romance for the male twin Donovans. EL books are some of the most satisfying in contemporary romance. If you like your books hot, thrilling & on the move, you'll love this book. Don't miss her other fantastic books under the name Ann Maxwell.
Rating:
Summary: A good beach book
Review: This is my third of her gem novels, and as in the other two, I came away with a new appreciation and understanding of the jewels that are the book's subject. The story wasn't bad either. Exciting at times, it carries the reader along effortlessly from the basement of a Russian museum to a jewelry artist in Seattle, to an ancient low country family in South Carolina. The love story, a staple of these novels, is at times somewhat tiresome rather than sensual. The fact that it's interesting, that it doesn't tax one's mental faculties, makes this a good book for the beach.
Rating:
Summary: So-so
Review: I love Elizabeth Lowell but I've been kind of disappointed with her latest series, this book included. I found myself skimming the pages, which is something I never did with her older, better novels. I'm not saying that she's not a good writer, which she is, but I enjoyed reading her pure romances better than these new ones which focus too much on the factual side of the gems than on the development of the characters and their relationship.
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