Rating:  Summary: Another Great Example Of Spine-tingling Suspense Review: This book was one of the best suspense novels taht I have read in the longest time. It starts out in 1977 when the main character, Jade, is four years old. Her mother, Margaret, is unhappy in her marriage and decides she wants to have an adventure. She notices this group of hippies and decides that she wants to know what their life style is like. She finds out that the name of the group is called People Of Joy. What she dosen't know is that they are a cult. Margaret takes her daughter, Jade with her when she goes to visit with the People. Their leader, Solomon, praises Margaret on how perfect the four year old Jade is. Margaret then makes up her mind that she wants to spend the rest of her life with the People Of Joy. She kidnaps her own daughter from her bed and then takes off for her new life with the People Of Joy. Bad idea. She dies of a drug overdose when Jade is six, and then Jades life turns into hell.I'm restating that the People Of Joy were actually a cult. Without her mother around to protect her, Solomon uses Jade to make money. While under the "care" of Solomon, Jade and all of the other kids whose parents brought them to the cult were molested. Most of this history of Jade's life is made known to the readers through flashbacks. When we first see Jade as a woman, she is about 24-25 years of age. She is a street artist and she has one painting of a woman named Ivy. Ivy happens to be the new name Margaret took after joining the People Of Joy. Anyway, unknown to Jade, her father is desperate to find her. Some of his friends are vacationing in San Francisco when they go out to this art fair and see the painting of Ivy. One woman claims she knows the woman in the portrait. Jade, thinking that the woman some how knows Solomon, freaks out. Jade sells the portrait for $500--cash only. Jade then turns to Raphael, he happens to be one of the former children who was molested while under the control of Solomon, and she asks him if they can leave. He agrees and they are soon on their way to New Orleans. Jades father, meanwhile, has seen the portrait of 'Ivy' and then he hires an ex-cop to find Jade. The ex-cop succeeds, and then the story goes on the news and one of the men who molested Jade when she was a child recognises her and he freaks out. He calls Solomon, Solomon tells him to lay low and it will all blow over, he dosen't listen to Solomon and hires somebody to kill Jade and Raphael. The hitman only succeeds in killing Raphael, who happens to be in the hospital with liver cancer and full blown AIDS. However, when he kills Raphael, he dosen't expect him to fight back. Raphael ripped out the IV line and blood starts to spurt everywhere. Raphael also manages to scratch up the hitmans hands and draw blood. The hitman finally wins the struggle by strangling Raphael. Raphael dies with a smile on his face and it bugs the hell out of the hitman he has a smile on. He's more than angry when he finds out that Raphael had AIDS. The hitman is caught, Jade is reunited with her father, she begins to trust the male race again, she falls in love with the ex-cop, no surprises there, and Jade achieves fame fortune with her artwork in a span of five years, whereas it took her father most of his life to amass the fortune he has.
Rating:  Summary: Absolutely Wow ! Review: This is the first of Sharon's books I've read, it won't be the last ! Going through the trauma with Jade and Rafie was well written, and the added characters of a loving Father and Luke made it all come together in a great way. I loved Lukes patience, and Rafie's absolute love for Jade. The bad guys were really bad, and in the end, got what they deserved and then some. I can't wait to dive into another of Sharon Sala's books !
Rating:  Summary: good writing but lacks suspense Review: This most recent offering by Sharon Sala is more akin to a morality play than a suspense novel. The culprits are evident from the start and the outcome is never in question. The protagonist, Jade, the long lost daughter of wealthy entrepreneur Sam Cochrane now reunited with her adoring father is almost too good and virtuous to be true. How could someone grow up on the streets without a single vice? Even her 'flaws' only seem to make her more attractive to the handsome and successful private eye, Luke Kelly, who finds and often rescues her. Her protective and beautiful long time friend, Raphael, who is dying of aids is likened to Jesus on several occasions and he along with other cast members often spouts spiritual advice. The story though sappy at times moves quickly to a satisfying conclusion but it is not Sala's most memorable work. If you are looking for pure romance then add a star because Sala's writing is always beautiful and the romance plentiful.
Rating:  Summary: I couldn't put it down Review: This was a great read. It was a satisfying romance that went beyond the mindless, bodice-ripping nonsense that often masquerades for fiction. It was simply a very well-written novel.
Rating:  Summary: Interesting twists you don't usually find Review: Unlike most romance novels the main girl didn't grow up in a loving family. Jade had a very hard upbringing, and Sharon talked about a lot of issues that aren't usually talked about. She also spoke about terminal illnesses and makes you feel the pain of the characters. I really recomend this book!
Rating:  Summary: Not her best...... Review: While I have long been a fan of Sharon Sala and her romantic suspense thrillers, I have equally admired her for putting the emphasis on the suspense not the romance. However, with this one, I have to begun to lose faith. The basic premis is the story of Jade Cochrane, kidnapped at 6 or 7 by her hippie convert mother from her wealthy father in Kansas City,MO. She is forced to join a cult, The People of Joy, led by the ruthless Solomon, who pimps out all the followers' children. She escapes but later has no memory of her father or her life before. Jump ahead 20 years and Jade is now nearing 30,living on the streets as an artist, with another People escapee, Raphael. She is reunited with her father through the help of hardened ex-cop, the cliched Luke Kelly. Jade has to learn to re-love her father amidst falling for the handsome Kelly. Add to this overly melodramatic mix the fact that someone now wants Jade dead, and you have a Lifetime Original Movie on your hands. The book had great promise and could have proven to be a truly suspenseful and touching novel. I don't know what happened to the old Sharon Sala...but I want her back!
Rating:  Summary: I agree with "Disappointed", but Review: wonder if I should be worried that more readers were not shocked at the author's errors in our culture's recent history. I was amazed at how culturally illiterate Sala has proven herself to be with this book. 1977 was the start of disco time, not Vietnam protests, sit-ins and Haight-Ashbury , good grief. I could not read much beyond Sala having her hero think it was normal to comfort another man by squeezing his knee and go on to be attracted to a emotionally unstable, immature, dependent female, no matter that she had reason to be so odd.
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