I devoured this book in one setting. It's suspenseful and engaging, as you find out all kinds of tidbits from a Hollywood star's life. Picture being able to follow Joan Crawford or Bette Davis around, finding out all the secrets they hold about Hollywood actresses, writers and dirctors, their kinky habits and glamourous lives. That's what Nora Roberts does in this novel -- she creates that world for you.

My only gripe with the novel (and reason it gets 4 instead of 5 stars) is that I was able to predict the killer, and I'm not fond of how the book ended. Still, the romance was lovely (as expected from any Roberts book) and the Hollywood backround fabulous!

I Love Nora Roberts and this book did not dissapoint.

The Hollywood glamour came across in this book. The characters are fun and true to life. I liked Julia and her son. I also liked Paul.

I rated this a four instead of my normal 5 stars for Nora Roberts books for two reasons: I found the romance true to life, although a bit forced at times since Julia didn't quite trust Paul. I also found that there were many more characters than normal and I had a hard time following all of them.

But be careful...you'll get so engrossed you could get a nasty sunburn! I just finished this book and loved it from beginning to end. Nora Roberts had me guessing all the way through as to whodunnit. She also had me really caring about her characters too, which to me is a sign of a really satisfying story. I'm hoping there will be a sequel featuring a grown-up Brandon and Lincoln's grown-up children. Well done, Ms. Roberts!

The English Assassin has a lot of good things working for it -- a fast-paced plot, lots of action, decently developed characters, and an interesting historical perspective about the Swiss-Nazi relationship during WWII. I found that I could not put the book down throughout the first half. However, I felt that the second half dragged somewhat and the ending, while still filled with action, left me feeling a bit dissatisfied. This is due to its containing few surprises and being somewhat predictable. Further, Silva's conclusion left some 'threads too loosely tied' for my taste. Perhaps this is because he plans to continue his main character, Gabriel Allon, and his secondary characters, Ari Shamron and Julian Isherwood, all of whom were in Silva's The Kill Artist, in future books. While I continue to like these characters, I think that knowing that he plans to use them in other books detracted from the suspense of the ending. With this said, The English Assassin was an entertaining read and one that I, overall, think you would enjoy. It's just that if you have read Silva's other books, as I have, you might feel that his latest effort isn't among the strongest of his works.

Also recommended: All of Daniel Silva's previous books, Snow Wolf by Glenn Meade and Jackdaws by Ken Follett.

My only problem with Daniel Silva is that he doesn't write books fast enough. The wait for The English Assassin, though, was more than worth it. Silva's a first-rate writer who has taken the well-worn concept of the international thriller and turned it into something compellingly new. The English Assassin is a perfect example of his skill: he throws together the reluctant, tormented spy Gabriel Allon with a tempermental violin virtuoso grappling with her own dark secrets and sends them off to investigate the Swiss collaboration with the Nazis in the theft of priceless art. It is an utterly fascinating story, brought to life with the help of a cast of superbly crafted supporting characters, including a vicious English assassin who is a bit more complex than your usual villain. Along the way Silva masterfully draws us into the worlds of art and music and gives us a tempting tour of some out-of-the-way European locales. I started The English Assassin the other night and finished it in one sitting. My only disappointment? It'll be another year before the new Silva pops up on the shelves.

The English Assassin is another fine novel. Daniel Silva provides the reader with his usual blend of action, excitement, intrigue, and plot twists -- all set within the historical context of the secret world of the Swiss banking system from WWII to the present. In a reprise of Gabriel Allon, the art restorer and sometimes Israeli spy from the Kill Artist, Silva spins a tale of a secret Swiss society, long-ago collaboration with Nazi Germany, and a quest to recover art treasures plundered by the Nazi's in WWII. Gabriel is drawn into the plot when he is sent to restore a painting belonging to an elderly Swiss banker. Finding the banker dead, Gabriel is quickly forced to match wits with the mysterious English Assassin and members of the clandestine Swiss organization that seeks to keep the past of Switzerland buried. This book is thoroughly entertaining. A must read for fans of Silva's previous works.

I used to love Lisa Kleypas' romance novels. Many of them were perfect 5 star books such as "Dreaming Of You", "Then Came You" and "Because You're Mine". The heroes in these books were unbelievably wonderful and not necessarily titled lords. One hero was a gambling hall owner and another the lead actor of his day. I wouldn't part with these books for the world. However, her last three books, including this one, have been below the high marks she earned for these other works. This novel stars a hero who is an imitation of Derek, her gambling hall owner. This time he is an incredibly wealthy, ostentatious business entrepreneur. He is not nearly as well developed as Derek was in "Dreaming Of You," however. The heroine is almost too good to be true, a widow still in love with her dead husband who comes to give the hero and his family lessons in manners. The other problem is that her novel reminds me of others' novels as far as the basic idea. Judith Ivory's "The Proposition" (derived from "My Fair Lady"), for one, and, even more so, Megan McKinney's "Lions and Lace". If you haven't read Kleypas' earlier work, it is possible you may like this novel a lot better than I did. I think Kleypas needs to do something really radical to her writing though to turn this drift downwards around. Perhaps she should write in another period of time, and/or another country and/or another genre to regain her freshness and originality. They used to be her stock in trade. I believe these earlier books, referred to above, are still in print if you want to try one of them out first. I'd recommend it.

I'm a big fan of Lisa Kleypas's non-noble heroes. Zachary Bronson, like Grant Morgan and Derek Craven before him, fought his way out of poverty. Using his intellect and ambition, he has made himself wealthy and powerful. All he lacks is respect and manners. To this end, he hires Lady Holland Taylor, a beautiful widow who literally stumbles into his arms at a ball. Neither Zach nor Holly can forget their magical embrace. Zach, used to getting what he wants, invites Holly to his home and convinces her to bring her adorable daughter and live with him and his family -- for 30,000 pounds she will teach them how to behave among the haute ton. Unlike so many widows in romance novels, Holly genuinely loved her husband, George, so much so that she is shocked and frightened by her growing feelings for Zach. For Zach, an unapologetic rake, finding himself falling in love with Holly is heartbreaking. Sure that he will never be worthy of her, he fights his attraction while wondering how he will survive without her. Many things stand in the way of a future for them, including a deathbed promise Holly made to George. It's a hard road for Zach and Holly. But hard won happy endings make for deeply satisfying romance reads. Bravo, Lisa Kleypas.

This is the first book by Lisa Kleypas that I have read and I was not disapointed. Zachary and Holly were very likable characters and you find yourself rooting for them from the beginning.

I thought it was very different and refreshing that Holly was still grieving for her first husband. Usually stories with a widowed heroine portray the first husband as a wife beater or someone who was cold and was unfaithful. Where Dreams Begin portrays Holly's first husband as a nice person who cared for and cherished his wife. It made it believable that she had reservations about finding someone else. I also liked how Holly is strong, stubborn and has a mind of her own without being childish, contrary and petulant.

Zachary is exactly the sort of hero that I love reading about. He is a well developed character. Very ambitious, driven, ruthless, strong and opinionated but kind, loving and gentle at the same time. A perfect match for the heroine.

The romance is well paced and does revolve around sex. They fall in love after getting to know each other and liking each other as human beings instead of the cliched romances that seem to jump into love after nothing but physical desire and sex.

All in all, a very engaging, touching story.

I first got this novel from the library & was skeptical as to if I would like it.I read it in one day when I was home sick.It is beautifully written & it will touch your heart.Candles on Bay Street is the story of a wonderful friendship that through distance still lasted & of the sacrifices we must make for those we truly love.This novel is one of the few books I can say I really love & has been worth reading many times.Candles on Bay Street is a moving story that shows that even today when the world seems so lost there still is love & beauty.Throughout this book you will laugh & cry & become close to all the characters & seem to feel with & for them.You must read this novel--it will be totally worth it.

I read "Candles on Bay Street" overnight, I couldn't put it down. I found myself laughing and crying at the same time. This book makes you feel like you are part of the small town and friends with the main characters. Trooper is the same age as my grandson, and I felt so deeply for him. First loves are never forgotten. My husband read and enjoy this book also.

What a sweet story told from the point of view of an extraordinary man with 2 great loves in his life, his beautifully understanding wife and his sparkplug childhood friend! When his friend returns home to her roots after 15 years as a single parent to a 10-year old son, many delightful relationships begin. The story brought tears to my eyes several times, and by the last chapter I was sobbing. I think if I had finished the book at home, I would have been bawling; but since I was on a sped bus with children, I tried to contain my tears for fear of embarrassment. Charming dialogue among the characters brought a smile to my face often. This book has "movie" written all over it. I wonder who will buy the options.

I absolutely loved this book. I'm going to tell all my friends about it.

I really enjoyed the wit of Macgregor Brides. It was one of the sweetest, yet well written romances that I have read in recent years and was looking forward to continuing with the series. The Macgregor Grooms was nowhere near as entertaining!

It seemed that Nora Roberts was following a formula and simply plugged in names in a set of events that varies only mildly from vignette to vignette. She borrows too much from the previous book as well. Somehow the grandfather seemed more pushy and less doting here as well!

Not really worth your time.

I loved the Naomi-Ian story. The reason why I liked this story in particular was because the characters are basically nice, likable (likeable?) people. Sure, Nora Roberts makes the MacGregor's lives too good to be true, and it is a fairy tale in that respect. But, really, the good thing about these characters is that they want the same thing everybody else in life wants, or most people in life want. They just want to share their life with somebody and have children, and enjoy nice things. It's really as simple as that. I liked this story because it just promoted the simple, basic things people like in life. The characters weren't flashy or overly philosophical. They were just fundamentally good people. A lot of times you don't feel like rooting for certain characters in stories because they are mean, or the book makes it look cool to be mean, but in this story, I felt that I could really vote for the main characters. A nice read.

Of all the Nora Roberts series, "The MacGregors" is a hands-down favorite for a majority of her fans, including this reviewer. It features one of the best and most loveable of Nora's characters: the irrascible, meddling, proud and stubborn patriarch of the MacGregor Clan: Daniel MacGregor.

As this book opens, The MacGregor is meddling in his family's affairs once again. He is chafing at the bit to see his three single grandsons married and producing babies for the Clan (because his "dear Anna" is "fretting for more great grandchildren") and no notion of privacy or personal boundaries are going to get in his way!

His first task is to arrange a blind date between D.C., described as having "warrior looks," once the First Son in the White House, and now a temperamental artist, with quiet, composed and very lovely (although she doesn't believe it) Layna Drake, the heir to Drake's Department Store, an upscale institution renowned for its elegance and good taste. Trapped into the date, D.C. and Layne meet--and dislike each other on the spot. What happens next? Read the book and see...

Second grandson Duncan Blade is a dangerous blend of Comanche and Scots, and is nobody to mess with. He runs a gambling riverboat, part of the highly successful chain of hotels and casinos run by his parents. But the riverboat is his idea and his business. And when his beloved but meddling grandfather Daniel wheedles Duncan into accepting a singer for the boat's lounge, Duncan is highly displeased. Enter Cat Ferrell, a foxy, purring powerhouse of a singer with a flirtatious manner that hides a sensitive and hurt soul. No way is Cat getting involved with her gorgeous new boss. No way is Duncan getting involved with this pert and petite singer. So Daniel has to take the "lovely Anna" on a little riverboat holiday...

Stalwart, handsome, and brilliant attorney Ian MacGregor is the son of the former Attorney General, and nephew of the former President, D.C.'s father. But Ian rejects the media's supposition that he, too, is being groomed for politics. Quiet and polite, Ian is nevertheless very much his own man, and law is the life he has chosen. As this story opens, Ian is off to Brightstone's bookstore to pick up a large order from his grandfather, who has inexplicably called and asked him to perform this favor. Oh...and the order must be picked up from Naomi Brightstone herself, the shy, self-deprecating but talented businesswoman who very successfully continues in her family's footsteps as head of the flagship store. Ian and Naomi have no idea there's a schemer loose in their lives...and no intention of getting involved in any way. Tell that to D.C. and Duncan. The MacGregor is not used to being thwarted.

This book is an absolute delight, a true treasure, even for those who don't choose to read romances as a rule. If you want a fun, easy, and thoroughly enjoyable treat, this is your book.

When I read the jacket for Fearless Jones I immediately wanted to compare Paris and Fearless to Easy Rawlings and Mouse. The characters seemed to be the same: straight and arrow and the wild guy with L.A. as a backdrop.
I have seen the errors of my ways and have gladly welcomed Fearless Jones into my library. Paris Minton is literally minding his own business when trouble in the form of Elana Love comes walking through the door. As Paris and Fearless search for Elana they get caught up in a web of lies and thieves searching for a lost treasure.
Set in the 1950's Mosley delivers a great period piece. The characters are developed and they feel "real". Each page left me wanting more. If you are looking for a good mystery and are tired of the same cookie cutter factory drivel that seems to be the norm, here is the book for you.

Paris Minton has it made--he owns a used bookstore so he can read all day and he's one of the few black entrepeneurs in the 1950s Watts (Los Angeles). When a beautiful woman walks into his shop, though, he knows he is in trouble--and boy is he right.

Fortunately, Paris has a friend who can deal with trouble. Once he bails Fearless Jones out of jail, he has a fighting chance and the two of them spend the rest of this fine novel battling for their lives, and trying to uncover the secret to a suspected multimillion dollar fortune.

Author Walter Mosley does a wonderful job describing black life in the 1950s--where police brutality against blacks was expected and where driving with a white woman could get a black man lynched. Even better, Mosley develops two characters in Paris and Fearless who, although completely different, both pursue their goals of justice despite terrible obstacles.

I found FEARLESS JONES to be a riveting mystery. The novel is not perfect--the mystery had a few loose ends I would have liked to see wrapped up, but these are minor quibbles that shouldn't interfere with the reader's enjoyment.

Excellent and highly recommended.