Still of the Night

Rating:
Summary: ho-hum formula writing
Review: "Still of the Night" is the first book by Meagan McKinney that I have read. In it I encountered a "woman's blend" of romance, mystery, and suspense that seemed initially engaging. There was also a big element of "action/violence" that seemed to have strayed from another genre.

McKinney's Louisiana "downhome" sayings are fresh and unjaded, and her language escapes cliches. The love/sex scenes are well portrayed with the right touches of physical allure and emotional involvement.

In spite of her deft phrases and skillful dialogue, I found "Still of the Night" too formulaic, as if conforming to a careful outline with a strange spin intended to appeal to women and men alike. From its promising opening pages, I expected another kind of book. I missed the integrity of a full-hearted, cleaner romantic novel it could have been.

Rating:
Summary: I liked it
Review: First, let me start by stating the obvious...I'm way behind everyone in picking up this book to read. I haven't read a romance in a very long time.

Second, I just had to write a review and to put some of my thoughts down.

It was a good book. Nothing like her historical novels (which I absolutely loved), so I don't want to compare them. When I started reading again, my choices ran towards Linda Howard, Nora Roberts, and Sandra Brown. So now you know the kind and type of books I like to read. McKinney, to me, runs well with the type of books I like. I'm not saying that she writes like the authors I noted, just that I like those types of books. This book left me wanting for more, but I find that her books usually leaves me wanting for more...I suppose I like a very solid ending with lots of good news and happiness.

To continue with my ramblings, let me say that I thought the characters were well developed (at least they weren't cheesy). I had a good sense of both the main character's personality, feelings, and actions. I liked them both. Generally, that means that I wasn't muttering throughout the book about how idiotic they were. It was romantic...I guess my romantic differs greatly from other people, but I thought there was enough sizzle between them to meet that criteria. There was action/suspense...that being my favorite. For some odd reason, I like it when the heroine gets a little bloody...although I thought the hero should have been more active in saving her. Anyway...I'll stop my thoughts and just finish with...I liked it.

Rating:
Summary: An exciting suspense thriller
Review: For two hundred years the St. Valliers family lived at Shadow Oaks in Cane Town, Louisiana. However, the once proud and elegant Bayou plantation is near the end of its' existence as financial problems beset the last two members of the St. Valliers clan. To save the estate and restore it to some of its past glory, Stella, a tenured college professor, has taken a leave of absence to come home and help her ninety-plus spinster Aunt Rose.

While exploring a remote part of the estate, Stella clandestinely observes a drug exchange on the next estate owned by Senator LeBlanc. She reports it to the Sheriff and the Feds, but both ignore her. Things change when undercover US Marshal Garrett Shaw is shot and recovers at her estate. As the Ph.D. and the lawman become acquainted they fall in love, but dangerous individuals with high connections plan to kill both of them.

STILL OF THE NIGHT is an exciting romantic suspense novel that will provide much entertainment to sub-genre fans. The story line contains action, but is clearly character driven. Stella is a brave individual who places her life on hold for tradition and the love of her aunt. Garrett risks his life for the job and to protect the two women whose world he crashed. Meagan McKinney has written a wonderful tale that will gain her new readers.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I have read all of her books and found this one disappointing. The two main characters were interesting and well drawn but the villains were extreme and not believable. The ending was rushed and not really satisfying after all the build up. There were several areas given a lot of attention but then did not get wrapped up (e.g., her interest in period photography, the sheriff's twisted homelife). I have generally enjoyed her previous books and hope her future offerings will be better than this one.

Rating:
Summary: No mystery No suspense
Review: I have read all of Meagan McKinney's books and while this book is an improvement over her last two novels, it just didn't keep me guessing. McKinney's period novels still remain her best work. Her latest venture into romantic suspense has been disappointing to say the least. I gave this book 3 stars because the character development was an improvement over her previous attempts. The ending of this book was my greatest disappointment. It was wraped up in less than two pages. It was almost if McKinney said to herself I don't want to work on this book anymore. I hope she will go back to what she knows best and forgets suspense because it just isn't there.

Rating:
Summary: Not up to par with her previous books
Review: I'm a huge fan of Megan McKinney's earlier books (When Angels Fall, My Wicked Enchantress). However, her last 3 or 4 books have been diappointing.

If there is one glaring difference between her ealier novels and more recent ones, it's character development. In Still of the Night, it is lacking. Sure, we read a lot about heroine Stella's academic background and family history. But that's just what it is: academic. Nothing that makes me feel for the character or want to root for her. And while growing sugar cane is an interesting field, the author details it ad nausem to the point that I was bored to death. As for the hero, he's got a little more of an edge than bland Stella, but even his standard "Something happened in my past that I feel guilty about" hangup wasn't interesting b/c it wasn't really explored. It just seemed like something thrown in to give him an "edge."

The villains were simpletons. Throw in a nostalgic, wise old aunt and her companion, a wise cracking best friend (annoying), Stella analyzing everything (she even starts to analyze and think about family history while she and the hero are in the middle of sex), and looooong passages on sugar cane and its by products, and I was skimming just to be done with the book.

Rating:
Summary: Love and Crime in The Bayou
Review: Stella St. Valliers has returned to the elegant Shadow Oaks' sugar cane plantation in the Louisiana bayou, a legacy that has been in her family for hundreds of years, and is attempting to save it from bankruptcy and extinction by exploring alternative ways to turn a profit by selling the byproducts. She witnesses an apparent drug deal on her property and attempts to report it to the local police and to the senator who lives next door, but everyone seems to be trying to sweep it under the rug and deny what she witnessed.

Stella is a 30ish "spinster", as unlucky in love as her 90 year old aunt who also occupies the plantation. Stella meets undercover U.S. Marshall Garrett Shaw at the local tavern, and is instantly drawn to him, even though she believes him to be as untrustworthy as the other low-lifes who hang out at the strip joint. The plot gets even more exciting when Garrett is revealed, shot by his pursuers, and runs away to turn up, you guessed it, in Stella's plantation, looking for shelter. She takes him in and nurses him back to health, and in the process falls head over heels for him, even though she isn't totally convinced that he really is an undercover cop.

While some of the dialogue was silly and trite, the plot was nevertheless fun and interesting, and of course, had a happy ending...a romance novel with a theme and moral.

Rating:
Summary: BORING!
Review: This book was boring. What is meagan Mckinney doing, her older books, My Wicked Enchantress were good but these new ones are tiresome. I basically skimmed the entire book and the only reason why I didn't stop reading was to give her a chance.

PLEASE try to write how you used to HISTORICAL romances with some degree of fun!

After this book I may no longer buy.

Rating:
Summary: BORING!
Review: This is the first book I have read by Meagan McKinney, and I have to tell you that it won't be the last! Suspenseful and just the right amount of romance for my taste. Stella de St. Vallier is the main character who lives at an old manor in Louisiana. She is entangled in many webs of intrigue, darkness, and disbelief. She is also searching for the 200 plus year old treasure that is supposedly hidden in her manor, Shadow Oaks. She lives with her great-aunt Rose and friend Leora, a.k.a. Maman. Just wait till you get to the end, you won't believe it!!! Don't miss this fantastic read!

Rating:
Summary: Marvelous!
Review: This is the first book I have read by Meagan McKinney, and I have to tell you that it won't be the last! Suspenseful and just the right amount of romance for my taste. Stella de St. Vallier is the main character who lives at an old manor in Louisiana. She is entangled in many webs of intrigue, darkness, and disbelief. She is also searching for the 200 plus year old treasure that is supposedly hidden in her manor, Shadow Oaks. She lives with her great-aunt Rose and friend Leora, a.k.a. Maman. Just wait till you get to the end, you won't believe it!!! Don't miss this fantastic read!