Rating:  Summary: It was okay, but not great Review: Once again Susan Andersen's inconsistancy shines. In this novel, which sounds tantalizing on the back cover, Andersen bogs down what could be an exciting novel in paragraph after paragraph of useless information. Where's the dialogue? Where's the snappy, sassy interplay between her characters? Try finding it in "Baby, I'm Yours." It's unfortunate that her publishers aren't interested in putting her best foot forward, "Shadow Dance" leaves much to be desired and only takes away from Andersen's reputation as an exciting story teller. Avoid at all costs.
Rating:  Summary: Dance of dullness Review: Once again Susan Andersen's inconsistancy shines. In this novel, which sounds tantalizing on the back cover, Andersen bogs down what could be an exciting novel in paragraph after paragraph of useless information. Where's the dialogue? Where's the snappy, sassy interplay between her characters? Try finding it in "Baby, I'm Yours." It's unfortunate that her publishers aren't interested in putting her best foot forward, "Shadow Dance" leaves much to be desired and only takes away from Andersen's reputation as an exciting story teller. Avoid at all costs.
Rating:  Summary: A slow dance overshadowed by overwrought melancholia Review: Since when can you find a Susan Andersen book without snappy dialogues and fast droll humour? The answer can be found in her maiden novel of romantic suspsense published in 1989 and now re-issued as an Avon classic romance in a stylish, slick repackage.If you expect a frenetically-paced thriller, you are in for a double disappointment because Ms. Andersen sluggishly tugs the predictible murder sans who-dun-it with rhetoric crime procedurals and listing of the usual suspects. The uninspired plot of Seattle detective Tristan McLaughlin transferred to Reno embarking on a serial-killer trail secrets little surprises. There is the routine scares and threats for virginal dancer Amanda Rose whom he is assigned to protect - and she becomes his love-interest as obligations and feelings interweaves. Perhaps the only savoury element is the romance with Ms. Andersen spending much time in character development. Orphaned solitary Tristan hides beneath his shield a reserve of emotions while Amanda haunted by the death of her sister, sets expectations she is unable to achieve and is self-deprecating in nature. Ms. Andersen shows much-needed maturity towards the end in her narration on Amanda's psychological traumas and self-imposed barriers. So is this supposed to be a thriller or archetypal romance? The problem is Ms. Andersen cannot decide. In-depth characterization becomes overly extraneous to the suspense and the melancholia of overwrought drama unfortunately overshadows the featured murder and erases its grit and panache to end with a slow dance.
Rating:  Summary: The Very First from Susan Andersen...Slow Paced... Review: The very first novel from one of my favorite authors and you can bet I was excited to read it and was surprised at the lagging pace it was set to and the more serious plot. Andersen newer work is known for its witty dialog and funny, quirky scenes between the hero and usually clumsy heroine. So I was a little shocked to find this one was lacking in those departemnts, severely. The characters are pretty forgettable and I didn't much like the heroine much. I would've liked her best friend and fellow dancer to have been the main character. Amanda Charles lives as a showgirl in one of Reno's most glamorous casinos. She is beautiful, smart and unwittingly the target of an obsessed serial killer. Detective Tristan MacLaughlin has been asked to come down from Seattle to help form a task force to catch the elusive Showgirl Slayer. What he doesn't expect is a gorgeous AND smart dancer to mix up his emotions from one look and make him stumble and remember he has to keep his mind on the murder not her. Tristan soon realizes balancing Amanda and the case is more than this stoic cop can handle. The biggest mistake he will make is getting too close to her...he has unwittingly put her directly in harm's way... If you're new to Susan Andersen, skip this one and try 'Baby I'm Yours', 'Be My Baby' for starters and leave this for last. Then you will see her talent at it's best and not be disapointed. Tracy Talley~@
Rating:  Summary: Early effort good but not one of her best Review: This book is enjoyable although it takes a while to get into it, however I expect so much more from Susan Andersen. I was actually glad to discover that this was a reissue, because Andersen has really improved over time. Her books can be amusing or serious but they're well written and keep your interest throughout. Try 'Obsessed', 'Present Danger', 'Exposure', or 'On Thin Ice' if you like great romantic suspense.
Rating:  Summary: Obviously an early effort..... Review: This book is no where near as good as her other books. There is so much rambling, that I skipped many pages and didn't miss a thing! I cannot recommend this book... The author spends so much time setting up the feelings of the characters, that she almost forgets to add a plot! The hero has a Scottish accent, which is never explained.... he is a US citizen, from an orphanage, and this makes no sense to me (although, to be honest, perhaps I missed this point when trying to find an interesting, well written passage!).... don't waste your time on this one... or if you must read it, check it out of the library, like I did... and save the money for something better...
Rating:  Summary: Obviously an early effort..... Review: This book is no where near as good as her other books. There is so much rambling, that I skipped many pages and didn't miss a thing! I cannot recommend this book... The author spends so much time setting up the feelings of the characters, that she almost forgets to add a plot! The hero has a Scottish accent, which is never explained.... he is a US citizen, from an orphanage, and this makes no sense to me (although, to be honest, perhaps I missed this point when trying to find an interesting, well written passage!).... don't waste your time on this one... or if you must read it, check it out of the library, like I did... and save the money for something better...
Rating:  Summary: Great read! Review: This was a great read from start to finish! I enjoy this authors work and this story developed great. The characters are strong, the plot moves swiftly and there is just the right amount of sizzle to make you wish for your very own "body guard".
Rating:  Summary: Slow starter, indeed Review: This was a slow starter indeed, by almost 200 pages. I was glad to read the other review that stated this was a first book by Susan Andersen. The story is about a Reno dancer and a Seattle cop. There is a serial killer targeting dancers and Tristan, a cop, is brought in from Seattle to run a task force to stop the killings. He meets Amanda, a virginal dancer, and after 200 pages their antagonism turns into something more. I love Susan Andersen and have read everything I can find by this great author. I hope that someday she writes a book about a finding [girl]true love, as most of her female characters, while not being virgins, are the closest thing to it. Shadow Dance is enjoyable, but mainly for the characters of Tristan and Rhonda, Amanda's best friend. Amanda had moments where she was likable, but Tristan is the character that really moves the reader to hope for the best between them. If it hadn't moved so slowly I would be inclined to give this book 4 stars or highers, but the truth is it could have been 100 pages shorter, easily. Don't give up on Andersen, though. She is a great writer! Read Head Over Heels, Present Danger, Baby, Don't Go or any of her other novels to see what I mean.
Rating:  Summary: Slow To Start But Still Worth Reading Review: This was Ms. Andersen's first story and although it was slow to start it is still a good story. More suspense then Romance but the story is still very good. This is a story about a serial killer that is killing dancers in Reno. Amanda is a friend of one of his victims and is forced to identify her body. Tristan is a Seattle cop that has been brought to Reno to head the task force. He does not know how to handle himself around beautiful women and is shy. These two people have a hard time coming together but they finally do despite the fact or because of the fact that the killer has decided to worship or idol Amanda. As stated earlier and by other reviewers this story was slow going and it took over 100 pages for the two main characters to even warm up to each other. This is really more of a suspense novel with a little romance on the side. Don't look for this book to be like Ms. Andersen's later books. Still this was a good story worth the time it took to read it.
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