Vendetta

Rating:
Summary: Good story, needs more development
Review: I suspect that this is a first novel for this writer. She has a good story, but everything develops too quickly and on the surface. Nicole Stone is a detective and her partner is shot under mysterious circumstances. She goes to the airport to meet his sister who is coming in that day and the two begin to fall for each other practically at first sight. Talaran has a good story and parts of it are properly detailed. When Nic is investigating the case, there is good detail about the work, although, if a police officer really lost her temper that much and got physical with suspects, she probably wouldn't keep her badge very long. There's not enough interplay between Nic and Carly though and the relationship definitely needs more development. The book is a good read, but a follow up would help to tie up the loose ends.

Rating:
Summary: Intriguing Plot!
Review: I was really caught up in the fast-paced opening of this uber novel and I enjoyed the ride for the duration of the book. It's an very good first novel and I look forward to more from Talaran.

I enjoyed it enough to want to point out a few technique flaws that I think can be easily fixed with practice and good editing. For example, in the excerpt available on this page, the scene is from Nic's point of view -- it's not omniscent. We start with Nic, we have only Nic's inner monologue, presented with care and detail. Suddenly, we get a snippet from Carly's point of view, then back to Nic. Oops, back to Carly for a paragraph about how beautiful Nic is, then Nic again. The point of view flip-flops are surprising and jerky. It feels like a third-person limited point of view then we slip momentarily into another mind. If it's third-person shared point of view then Carly needs as much presence as Nic. The writer needs to choose one point of view for the scene. It would be just as flawed if, for example, a one-paragraph snip from a lurking villian's mind was also included.

The sample here also has something that is just driving me crazy in uber books. We're in Nic's point of view. Nic does not think of herself as "the dark haired woman." Therefore every occurrence of the phrase is a point of view violation and it gets very old, very fast. It's adds nothing to character or plot.

If Carly has just met her, and we're legitimately in Carly's point of view and she thinks of Nic that way that's fine. But there's no way Nic's point of view would present a detail like, "the dark haired woman smiled" when referring to herself! Given the point of view, it made me wonder what dark-haired woman Nic was talking about. Instead of this already tired phrase, what about telling us exactly what kind of smile Nic gave Carly and what's she's feeling as they walk?

If I hadn't liked the book I wouldn't take the time to give what I hope are helpful critiques. I am looking forward to Talaran's next effort -- and I hope that her editors give her a little more of their expertise next time around.

Rating:
Summary: Good Story From First Time Author
Review: Nic Stone is a police detective whose partner, Jimmy, is shot in the dark of night. His sister, Carly, is scheduled for a visit the next day. Nic searches for Jimmy's attacker, while tentatively falling for Carly. Carly worryies about Nic and explores her new feelings as well.

The idea of this story is good. However, the book has several trite moments. For instance, three days after meeting Nic, Carly confesses her love. Jimmy is shot, but recovers in the hospital only to be attacked there. Nic, not hospital staff who have access to monitors and machines, finds him in cardiac arrest. He comes through this one as well. The criminals seemed dumb, making it too easy for Nic to get answers to her questions.

This book has some well-placed four-letter words. And, except for the sketchy remnants of several dreams, there are no sex scenes.

I agree with Lori Lake in that I'm looking forward to the sequel and hope this promising author will show overall improvement in the next book. Recommended for reading in bed with a flashlight, accompanied with a pot of your favorite decaf.

Rating:
Summary: A New Voice in Lesbian Action Novels
Review: Nicole Stone is a big city, veteran cop on the East coast. She's cynical and hard-nosed, not to mention closed-off from most people. She lives her life like so many cops do: with a great big wall up around her. All that changes when two things happen: her male work partner is shot and nearly killed, and his sister, Carly Jamison, flies into town.

The investigative aspects and the driven quality of Nic's search for the culprits who attempted to kill her partner is the center of the book. I was a ways into this novel when I realized that a lot of the fiction written by, for, and about lesbians doesn't usually have much action in it--not action/adventure, I mean. Talaran has done an especially good job on the scenes where Nic Stone has to deal with the bad guys. The growing relationship between Nic and Carly is important, too, but unlike many romance novels, it doesn't hog center stage. In the end, Talaran has done a good job juggling the two interwoven plots--one of action/police work and the other of the growing attraction between the two women.

Talaran has written a solid first novel which is set-up nicely for a sequel. VENDETTA has a complete and satisfying ending, but one is left wondering what will happen to the relationship Nic and Carly began to explore in this first book. I look forward to the next novel so that I can find out.