Rating: 
Summary: A relaxing read
Review: "Under the Boardwalk" by Carly Phillips is a lay-back, relaxing read. You WILL NOT lose your sleep over this and it won't put you on the edge of your seat, but none the less, it's a light, enjoyable, beach read that is witty and will make you see how "normal" your family is.
Rating:
Summary: A Fun, Light Romp and a Great Beach Read
Review: Carly Phillips's latest novel, UNDER THE BOARDWALK, takes the reader to New Jersey and inside the world of casinos, the Mafia, and a crazy Greek family not unlike that from the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding. A great beach read, this book has it all --- comedy, danger and, of course, romance --- the perfect book to take with you on vacation or read on a lazy summer afternoon.Ariana Costas left New Jersey years ago to escape her crazy Greek family. She grew up being embarrassed by this insane group of con artists, and she did her best to be everything they weren't: conservative, proper and stable. She left behind parents, grandparents, cousins and her twin sister, all of whom seemed destined to live out their lives tied to one another by family loyalty and, quite possibly, by a jail cell. Her family was quite proud that they were all very good at making money the unconventional way. For the Costas family, there was no shame in pickpocketing or conning someone out of their money. It was all in a day's work! When Ari returns home to try to find her missing twin sister, she accidentally runs into a very good-looking man who thinks she's her twin, Zoë. Ari finds it hard to believe that anyone can confuse her with Zoë, because Zoë is as unconventional as the rest of the family. Zoë is known as the exciting sexy sister, while Ari is the very conventional, boring one. It doesn't take too long for Quinn Donovan, undercover detective, to figure out who Ari really is. According to Quinn, Zoë is nowhere to be found, but Ari has a feeling that he knows how to help her find her sister. Quinn and Ari's first meeting happens to occur while someone is taking a shot at Ari out on the beach, and Quinn saves her life. Once Quinn figures out who she is, he tells Ari to go home. What he doesn't tell her is that she is endangering a secret undercover surveillance, and her actions could very well get her killed if the wrong people saw her, which they already have. But Ari still does not understand why her sister is missing. All she knows is that Quinn and Zoë worked together at the Casino, and now Zoë has disappeared. When Ari lies to Quinn and says she is returning home to Vermont and her teaching job at the University, she reappears vamped-up and hot-to-trot, and gets a job at the casino so she can do some detective work of her own to find her missing sister. In the meantime, Quinn and Ari find themselves attracted to each other, which makes matters worse. Ari thinks he is attracted to her because she is starting to dress and behave like her sister, and Quinn is worried that Ari's life is in danger. He knows that if Ari is not careful, her life could be on the line. While their adventures at the casino is a major plot line, the action surrounding the Costas family would make a great book on its own. They are constantly up to no good. Add a pet monkey named Spank into the mix, and one has a regular circus. The subplot involving a young teenage foster child named Sam, who Quinn has always looked out for, rounds out the book. UNDER THE BOARDWALK is the perfect book to be read during the lazy summer months. A typical beach read, the story is an escape from reality, with plenty of outlandish characters as well as a romance thrown in. The story line involving the casino and the missing sister is told in light comedy fashion, despite the heavy undertones. Anyone expecting literary fiction may want to skip this one, but for a fun and light romp, UNDER THE BOARDWALK is a sure thing. ---(...)
Rating: 
Summary: Not Much There
Review: Even as light romantic fiction goes this book just doesn't have a lot of juice. The characters are unrealistic and the story line just doesn't work. The author tried to tell too many stories at the same time and didn't satisfy the reader with any of them. I have read this author's previous novels and found them to be exactly what I expected. Light, by-the-pool reading. But this book just didn't gel with me. Unfortunately the story line was boring and extremely predictable, the characters completely unbelievable and the solutions to conflict too easy. I just couldn't buy this one. I like a little mind candy occasionally but this book didn't satisfy my sweet tooth at all.
Rating: 
Summary: Would rank it ZERO STARS if I could!
Review: I don't understand what the other reviewers saw in this book. It was simply awful. Carly Phillips makes Greek people seem completely nuts. This family as she portrays them, should be locked up. The story about Ari and her sister is boring and contrived. This is Ms. Phillips worst book yet!
Rating:
Summary: Awful
Review: This book could have been 100 pages. All Phillips did was reiterate the same psycho bullcrap over and over. I would give it a negative rating if I could.
Rating:
Summary: A fun beach read
Review: Under the Boardwalk by Carly Philips Courtesy of WWW.Loveromances.Com Here's a great beach read to pass the time away on a long lazy summer afternoon: Carly Phillip's UNDER THE BOARDWALK. It's the story of an identical twin that returns home after years of living apart from her family, to find her twin sister that has gone missing. The novel is funny with a little bit of intrigue and adventure and some romance as well, as Ariana Costas, the main character, does her best to find her sister. Ari has never felt that she belonged with her crazy family. Her parents, cousins, aunts and uncles are all a bunch of crazy Greeks who enjoy a good con job to make some instant cash. They don't see their actions as doing anything wrong. They are just trying to earn a living the only way they know how. In addition, as the reader gets involved with the hi-jinks of the Costas family, it is not difficult to fall in love with this zany family. However, Ari always felt she had to be straight-laced and clean, and could not stand living with them. She was embarrassed to be a part of this family. Years ago, she had made a decision to be different from the rest of them, and left home to become a professor at a college in Vermont. Her only reason to return home to New Jersey was because of her sister. Although the two were not as close as they once where, blood is thicker than water. Upon her arrival back in town, Ari runs into a good looking man that thinks Ari is her sister Zoe, and although there is some confusion at first, Quinn Donovan realizes it has to be the other twin. Their meeting occurs while Ari becomes a target as live bullets are firing upon her. Quinn saves her life and makes his introduction. Ari finds out that Zoe and Quinn worked together at the local Casino, and Ari feels that the casino holds the clues to her missing sister. While Quinn tells Ari to go home, because she is putting herself in danger by staying, Ari does the opposite and gets herself a job at the casino. She soon finds her life on the line, as she gets closer to the truth about Zoe. In the mean time, there are sparks flying between Ari and Quinn, but Ari thinks it's because she has dressed herself up to look more like Zoe, who was always been the more glamorous of the two. Quinn, who unknown to Ari is an undercover detective, finds himself drawn to Ari. There are a number of steamy scenes between the two, amidst the action at the casino. The book ends with a climactic scene at the casino, Ari learns the truth about her sister and as with all romances, there is a happy ending. This reviewer enjoyed UNDER THE BOARDWALK for what it was, a beach read. While it wasn't the perfect book, as a casual read it fit the bill. The mix between the mystery behind Zoe's disappearance, the adventures in the casino and the romance between Ari and Quinn did not work well for this reviewer. The book may have been better if there was more emphasis on comedy, especially the Costas family (including their silly little monkey) and less emphasis on the serious themes, such as the subplot of the young foster child that gets involved with the Costas. Although the story was touching, and it helped show off Quinn's personality, this reviewer felt it might have been better to make that story a separate book. Despite these negative points, there were plenty of positives in UNDER THE BOARDWALK, and as a beach read, it's a recommended read. This reviewer gives the book 3 and a half stars.
Rating:
Summary: A fun beach read
Review: Under the Boardwalk by Carly Philips Courtesy of WWW.Loveromances.Com Here's a great beach read to pass the time away on a long lazy summer afternoon: Carly Phillip's UNDER THE BOARDWALK. It's the story of an identical twin that returns home after years of living apart from her family, to find her twin sister that has gone missing. The novel is funny with a little bit of intrigue and adventure and some romance as well, as Ariana Costas, the main character, does her best to find her sister. Ari has never felt that she belonged with her crazy family. Her parents, cousins, aunts and uncles are all a bunch of crazy Greeks who enjoy a good con job to make some instant cash. They don't see their actions as doing anything wrong. They are just trying to earn a living the only way they know how. In addition, as the reader gets involved with the hi-jinks of the Costas family, it is not difficult to fall in love with this zany family. However, Ari always felt she had to be straight-laced and clean, and could not stand living with them. She was embarrassed to be a part of this family. Years ago, she had made a decision to be different from the rest of them, and left home to become a professor at a college in Vermont. Her only reason to return home to New Jersey was because of her sister. Although the two were not as close as they once where, blood is thicker than water. Upon her arrival back in town, Ari runs into a good looking man that thinks Ari is her sister Zoe, and although there is some confusion at first, Quinn Donovan realizes it has to be the other twin. Their meeting occurs while Ari becomes a target as live bullets are firing upon her. Quinn saves her life and makes his introduction. Ari finds out that Zoe and Quinn worked together at the local Casino, and Ari feels that the casino holds the clues to her missing sister. While Quinn tells Ari to go home, because she is putting herself in danger by staying, Ari does the opposite and gets herself a job at the casino. She soon finds her life on the line, as she gets closer to the truth about Zoe. In the mean time, there are sparks flying between Ari and Quinn, but Ari thinks it's because she has dressed herself up to look more like Zoe, who was always been the more glamorous of the two. Quinn, who unknown to Ari is an undercover detective, finds himself drawn to Ari. There are a number of steamy scenes between the two, amidst the action at the casino. The book ends with a climactic scene at the casino, Ari learns the truth about her sister and as with all romances, there is a happy ending. This reviewer enjoyed UNDER THE BOARDWALK for what it was, a beach read. While it wasn't the perfect book, as a casual read it fit the bill. The mix between the mystery behind Zoe's disappearance, the adventures in the casino and the romance between Ari and Quinn did not work well for this reviewer. The book may have been better if there was more emphasis on comedy, especially the Costas family (including their silly little monkey) and less emphasis on the serious themes, such as the subplot of the young foster child that gets involved with the Costas. Although the story was touching, and it helped show off Quinn's personality, this reviewer felt it might have been better to make that story a separate book. Despite these negative points, there were plenty of positives in UNDER THE BOARDWALK, and as a beach read, it's a recommended read. This reviewer gives the book 3 and a half stars.
Rating: 
Summary: Another fantastic Carly Phillips story!!!
Review: Under the Boardwalk continues to show off the talent of writer Carly Phillips. Ari Costas and Quinn Donovan, both assuming "undercover" roles, give the book many angles. I thought I was reading 2 books at once sometimes. These characters are extremely well rounded and flawed just like the rest of us. I read this book in a day and a half and enjoyed every word. Thank you, Ms. Phillips for another great story and amazing characters.
Rating:
Summary: Another fantastic Carly Phillips story!!!
Review: Under the Boardwalk continues to show off the talent of writer Carly Phillips. Ari Costas and Quinn Donovan, both assuming "undercover" roles, give the book many angles. I thought I was reading 2 books at once sometimes. These characters are extremely well rounded and flawed just like the rest of us. I read this book in a day and a half and enjoyed every word. Thank you, Ms. Phillips for another great story and amazing characters.
Rating: 
Summary: It was good, but....
Review: Was not as good as her other books. Ms. Phillips really showed her writing talents in "The Bachelor", "The Playboy", and "The Heartbreaker", but this book left something to be desired. There were times when I wanted to put it down and move on to reading something else, but I held out til the end. I like Ms. Phillips books and will continue to buy them, and I can't wait to read her next release.
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