Rating: 
Summary: Simmering sensuality
Review: Sophie Davis writes a column providing household advice. "The poor woman's Martha Stewart", Sophie doesn't get much of a chance to actually apply that advice - until she buys an old inn in Vermont, and moves her mother and sister along with her. The inn was the setting for a gruesome triple-murder twenty years ago, but Sophie doesn't care much about that aspect of her new home. She's intent on renovating and decorating the place, although she's not too eager to have strangers invade her sanctuary. However, she knows that this is the only way to maintain an income in such a small city.Sophie's life gets even more complicated when the enigmatic John Smith rents an old abandoned cottage near her inn. Why is he there? It's obvious to Sophie that his name is not really John Smith, and he seems to be asking way too many questions about the old murder, yet she can't figure out his true identity. Meanwhile, Sophie has other problems. Her mother, Grace, is slowly slipping away as she battles Alzheimer's disease, and her sister, Marty, is going through an extreme teenage rebellion stage. And why is Sophie so intrigued (and a little frightened) of John Smith? Anne Stuart has created a gorgeous story of finding love when you least expect it. Both characters have issues, and they're as different from one another as could be, yet when they're around each other, sparks fly. The tension and attraction between them is strong, and the reader immediately gets pulled into their relationship, rooting for Sophie and John to make it despite their differences and the obstacles thrown at them. The beautiful scenery and atmosphere works as a wonderful backdrop for the story. My only complaint is that I had the "bad guy" figured out about 1/4th through the story, so the ending didn't come as much as a shock as perhaps it should have. Still, the romance and the incredible sensuality in this story were enough to keep me eagerly turning pages until the end.
Rating: 
Summary: Fast-Moving Romantic Suspense
Review: Sophie Davis, according to her sister Marty, is known as the poor woman's Martha Stewart. Taking her skills as a homemaking columnist to a higher level, she's decided to convert an old farm house into a bread and breakfast. Stonegate Farm on Still Lake, in Colby, Vermont is Sophie's choice for her undertaking. Unfortunately, the area has a grisly history. Twenty years before, the murders of three teenaged girls occurred there. But, Sophie's determined, since her new farm will make a good home and project, for herself, her mother Grace, and teenaged sister, Marty. John Smith, alias of Thomas Ingram Griffin, was convicted of the murders of the three girls. On a technicality, he was released from prison just a few years after his incarceration. John decides it is time to find the real murderer of the three girls. Or, did he really do it? He can't remember what happened the night the third girl was killed. As fate would have it, he returns to Colby to rent a cabin neigboring Stonegate farm. And, as fate would have it, Sophie and John will meet. STILL LAKE is a fast-moving read. The descriptions of the beautiful countryside in Vermont, put me there. The relationship between Sophie and John is fascinating. While they appear as opposites at first, I understood their attraction, felt the sexual tension, and enjoyed their lustful, then loving, romance. Secondary characters in STILL LAKE entertain also. Grace seems befuddled, Marty an angst-filled teen, and yet each contributes to the fast-moving pages. While I think most readers would find the villian pretty obvious, I thought the real mystery was how and why the murders happened. Also, feeling the menace that comes from the villian throughout the book, adds to the suspense. STILL LAKE is the kind of book I look for. It's a great story with a sexy romance, and page-turning suspense.
Rating:
Summary: Good story
Review: The mystery is easy to figure out but that's okay because the story is mainly about the developing relationship between Sophie and "John Smith". The secondary characters, Sophie's sister, Marty and Grace, her mom who seems to be failing mentally add enough to keep the story interesting. A good fast summer read.
Rating:
Summary: Good story
Review: The mystery is easy to figure out but that's okay because the story is mainly about the developing relationship between Sophie and "John Smith". The secondary characters, Sophie's sister, Marty and Grace, her mom who seems to be failing mentally add enough to keep the story interesting. A good fast summer read.
Rating:
Summary: Anne craft's her magick again!!
Review: When one has written such masterpieces as Moonrise (my favourite Stuart) To Love a Dark Lord and Nightfall...it is hard to keep that level of superpower quality book after book. And this one sadly just misses. It seems rather rushed, almost like she did not have time to fully form the lead characters in her mind. She still delivers a powerful read!! Anne Stuart's 2nd best are still away ahead of the pack!! When Sophia buys a rundown inn, she moves her overly rebellious 19 year old half-sister and her mother, starting to lose control of her memory, into what she hopes it to be the answer to her problems and an island of peace. But that peaceful dream is shattered by echoes of murders commited 20 years ago. A man has rented the cabin across the lake, John Smith, and from the start, Sophia resents his presence, resents his virile attraction and would like him to leave. The tension builds as we are told he was convicted of the death of the three girls who were murdered two decades ago, though released from prison after only 5 years. We learn John has few memories of that night and recalls nothing until he awoke covered in blood in the cabin. John feels it is time to stir the embers of the past, find out who really commited those murders - even if it was himself, and finally put the past to rest once and for all. Stuart never convinces us he could have been guilty, so she throws away that bad to the bone Alpha male she conjures so deftly in Moonrise and others. Stuart's tension between Sophia and John is excellent, but I don't think she had full grasp of just who John was because there are numerous conflicting errors in descriptions (shame on the editor, too!!) - which leads the reader to not fully know John either. The rebellious teen grated on my nerves - I read to escape the pains-in-the-rumps of the world, so this character really wears thin. But in a way, I guess that helps you empathise with Sophia - through it is with slightly gritted teeth! I applaud Stuart for giving us a down to earth 'real' woman in Sophia who is more than willing to eat that second or third muffin, to give a sweet, tragic quality in her mother facing growing less and less able to live by herself. However, some readers just might think all of this is a little too real....lol It is still a fine book, I just wish it could have been tightened up and not have that rush feel about it. There is no one better at giving us the bad-boy we cannot resist. Just think this one would have benefited from finetuning before being sent to the publisher (or an editor that took his job seriously and caught these mistakes before they got into print). Even with the flaws, I truly enjoyed it and remain a loyal and devoted Stuart fan!!
Rating:
Summary: Anne craft's her magick again!!
Review: When one has written such masterpieces as Moonrise (my favourite Stuart) To Love a Dark Lord and Nightfall...it is hard to keep that level of superpower quality book after book. And this one sadly just misses. It seems rather rushed, almost like she did not have time to fully form the lead characters in her mind. She still delivers a powerful read!! Anne Stuart's 2nd best are still away ahead of the pack!! When Sophia buys a rundown inn, she moves her overly rebellious 19 year old half-sister and her mother, starting to lose control of her memory, into what she hopes it to be the answer to her problems and an island of peace. But that peaceful dream is shattered by echoes of murders commited 20 years ago. A man has rented the cabin across the lake, John Smith, and from the start, Sophia resents his presence, resents his virile attraction and would like him to leave. The tension builds as we are told he was convicted of the death of the three girls who were murdered two decades ago, though released from prison after only 5 years. We learn John has few memories of that night and recalls nothing until he awoke covered in blood in the cabin. John feels it is time to stir the embers of the past, find out who really commited those murders - even if it was himself, and finally put the past to rest once and for all. Stuart never convinces us he could have been guilty, so she throws away that bad to the bone Alpha male she conjures so deftly in Moonrise and others. Stuart's tension between Sophia and John is excellent, but I don't think she had full grasp of just who John was because there are numerous conflicting errors in descriptions (shame on the editor, too!!) - which leads the reader to not fully know John either. The rebellious teen grated on my nerves - I read to escape the pains-in-the-rumps of the world, so this character really wears thin. But in a way, I guess that helps you empathise with Sophia - through it is with slightly gritted teeth! I applaud Stuart for giving us a down to earth 'real' woman in Sophia who is more than willing to eat that second or third muffin, to give a sweet, tragic quality in her mother facing growing less and less able to live by herself. However, some readers just might think all of this is a little too real....lol It is still a fine book, I just wish it could have been tightened up and not have that rush feel about it. There is no one better at giving us the bad-boy we cannot resist. Just think this one would have benefited from finetuning before being sent to the publisher (or an editor that took his job seriously and caught these mistakes before they got into print). Even with the flaws, I truly enjoyed it and remain a loyal and devoted Stuart fan!!
| 
