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Envy

Envy

List Price: $7.99
Your Price: $7.19
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Fabulous
Review: Envy" proves once and for all, as if anyone still needed proof, that Sandra Brown is much more than the purveyor of potboiler (but wonderful) romances. Her crossover into the mystery/thriller genre has been seemingly effortless, and "Envy," really two books in one, proves it beyond a doubt. It grips the reader on page one, and doesn't let go until the very last word of the very last sentence. And in my case, even though I had figured out quite a bit, it still had a few hot-punching surprises.

Maris Matherly-Reed, the brilliant, sweet, and pampered daughter of the scion of Matherly Press, one of New York's most prestigious publishing houses, becomes obsessed with an anonymous manuscript sent to her offices. From the first word of "Envy" (which we get to read along with her), she is so hooked, she sets out to find the author. Her quest leads her to a tiny island off the Georgia coast, where she meets the impossibly cantankerous and outright rude Parker Evans. His rudeness is matched only by his incredible talent, and Maris vows to ignore his personality and help him through what she sees as the next great American novel.

Meanwhile, back in New York, Maris's smooth, urbane husband, Noah Reed, is revealing himself to be the worst kind of snake as he plots to sell the publishing house out from under his wife and his father-in-law.

It soon becomes apparent that there is some sort of mysterious connection between the so-called fictional characters of "Envy" and Maris herself. But what is it? And who IS this Parker Evans? Is he friend or foe? Why has he lured Maris to his island in what turns out to be an almost diabolical plot?

The answers are slowly revealed as the two books, Sandra Brown's "Envy" and Parker Evans' "Envy," intertwine. What a terrific plot device, and how cleverly Brown makes it happen! In the unabridged tape version, Victor Slezak does a masterful job of capturing the essence of Evans--and his rendering of the slick and slimy Noah is simply perfect. All in all, this is a book not to be missed. I loved it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: You won't be able to put it down....
Review: As an avid Sandra Brown reader, I eagerly awaited her newest novel, and I was not disappointed. "Envy" was an original book within a book.

Maris Matherly-Reed is an editor at Matherly Press, a publishing company owned by her father. Her husband, Noah Reed, is also employed there, as well as being a best selling author. One afternoon, Maris is going through a pile of manuscripts, sure she will be sending rejection letters to all, when one catches her attention.

It is only a prologue, entitled "Envy." There is no cover letter, or even a return address. Just three initials and a mention of a remote island off the coast of Georgia. But the story is so intriguing that Maris decides to seek out the author.

She finds Parker Evans, a crude but extremely talented man who captivates her interest--in more ways than one. As Maris reads more of his novel, she begins to learn that perhaps it isn't quite fiction. She delves deep into finding out Parker's secrets only to discover she's at the center of it all.

Sandra Brown's newest thriller does not disappoint. It is as intense and romantic as it is funny and crude. The characters are well-developed, and the writing is eloquent and sassy. If you've never read anything by this author, let this be the first.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Couldn't put this down...
Review: This was my first Sandra Brown book and definately will not be my last. I could not stop reading this unbelievably fabulous story. At the end of each chapter I had to continue reading to see what would come next. The story line is so clever and well put together and the love triangle between Parker - Maris and Noah is completely amazing. The way Parker treated Maris made me want to scream sometimes but that's what made the parts when they were together even more amazing. I suggest this book to EVERYONE, no matter what type of book you usually read... pick this one up and I guarentee you will not be able to put it down.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: This is a real switch...
Review: Okay, I admit to buying this book. But then I set it aside for a long time and finally decided to read it over the past weekend. I know Sandra Brown's name is on the cover of this book...but, I guess I'm still scratching my head about this. Envy was actually a good read. I had a problem with a big NY editor taking a prologue submitted with only the initials P.M.E. for identification and getting all excited enough to attempt to find the author. Let's get real here, NY editors would pitch something like this so fast it would make your head swim. BUT, we must remember this was a fiction story, so I allowed my imagination to run a little wild. Regardless, the plot was good, the characters played out very well, and I didn't want to stop reading. Not just a little different from some of Brown's other books I've read, it's a WHOLE LOT different. And that's about all I think I want to say here. Great read. Go for it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Fascinating "book within a book"! Masterfully suspenseful!
Review: In High School English class, I remember learning how William Shakespeare often utilized the "play within the play" technique in his writing. Hamlet even said that "The play's the thing wherein I'll get the conscience of the King". Well, Ms. Brown puts her own spin on this technique by creating a "book within a book", thus "catching the conscience" of the villain.

Metafiction is defined as "a mode of writing that comments on its own activities, thus being self-reflective". ENVY is a perfect example of that! I found it fascinating how both the psyches of a writer (Parker Evans) and an editor/publisher (Maris Matherly-Reed) were explored so thoroughly. Ms. Brown's ability to incorporate social commentary about her own industry (the world of the published novelist) into the plot was also intriguing.

The characters were wonderfully larger-than life and the suspense was masterful. After reading some disappointing suspense thrillers recently, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this page-turner, filled with all the twists and turns necessary for a great story! I just can't believe that I've never read any other Sandra Brown books - I guess I have a lot of exciting reading ahead of me!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Steamy and Intriguing
Review: This is my first Sandra Brown and certainly not my last. I loved the story within the story, the development of the characters and the plot twists. I couldn't put this down at the end of the Chapter. The fast pace of the story and great writing style make this book a complete and satisfying tale. This is a great summer read.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: MY Favorite Sandra Brown!
Review: I have read many of her books, but for Envy I listened to the unabridged version and read the book, many times! The plot turns and twists are too many to count!

A must read!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: wonderful
Review: What a great read! I real page turner for me. A book with in a book will keep you at suspense and falling in love all at once. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy murder, mystery, and romance!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Pleasantly Surprised
Review: A most excellent suspense/mystery novel indeed! Great description, characterization, a meaty plot, perfectly paced and just plain interesting. I would rate this as a must-read for anyone who enjoys writing fiction (especially those who are staring out). Sandra Brown has created here a book within a book within a book.
The story line you can get from the editorial and/or other reviewers, I just wanted to throw in my two cents and rant a bit on how much I enjoyed this work. Check it out.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: My first -- and not last -- Sandra Brown book
Review: This is the first Sandra Brown I've read, and it was absolutely perfect. Maris Matherly-Reed is a book editor employed at her daddy's firm. She receives the prologue to a book and seeks out its author, finding a broken down man hell-bent on revenge. Can Maris stop him in time to save him from himself? This is a story within a story, and was hard to put down. This is one of Brown's better works, as I've eagerly been reading her stories since I discovered Envy.


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