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72 of 74 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
What do you do when a book you anticipate doesn't live up to expectations?, September 2, 2010
This review is from: 1022 Evergreen Place (Cedar Cove) (Mass Market Paperback)
The main storyline in this most recent Cedar Cove installment revolves around the relationship between Mack MacAfee and Mary Jo Wyse. Their relationship began at Christmas time a couple of books back (as a side note --notice the cleverness of Mary Jo's name) and was touched on in 92 Pacific Boulevard. There is also more revealed about other more recently introduced characters such as Shirley Bliss and Corrie and Roy's daughter Gloria. Some of the original characters still make appearances, for example Olivia, but they are not front and center this go round.
I know I am going to probably take a beating from diehard Debbie Macomber fans (and I count myself one of them), but this book was disappointing. I love this series and have always felt like I am visiting old friends and catching up with them when I pick up the next Cedar Cove novel. This time out, I really struggled to get into the story and found it to largely be lacking. Here is what I found to be the problem: way too much time devoted to catching the reader up on who the various characters are and what has happened in the previous nine books. I had a hard time getting into the flow of the story when every time a character makes his or her first appearance, the story stops and we go back and review who they are and what has happened in their life so far. If they make two appearances at different points in the book, we are given the background twice. By page 300+, I am still getting refresher information about Olivia and her previous illness and how it affected her marriage, etc. The book is only 366 pages long so I was fully expecting to be in the flow of the new material at this point. It really jerked me back as reader to have someone get in the car as a passenger and then spend two pages reflecting on their relationship with the driver prior to the car moving. While some of this is necessary, it has reached the point that it is distracting and irritating. There just isn't much new content here if you strip out all the old stuff.
I always try to offer a solution when criticizing something, but I am largely at a loss here. It may just be that Ms. Macomber needs to assume that people are not starting at book ten in the series and not try to recap nine books of material. If I were a first time reader, I would find not enough background to care about the characters and as a devoted fan, it was way over the top this time. She really has a problem here and I don't know how she is going to solve it going forward.
I love Cedar Cove, I love Debbie Macomber and I hate saying this ---- this novel is not up to the standards of the rest of the series.
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26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Debbie Has Finally Gone For Quantity Over Quality, September 5, 2010
This review is from: 1022 Evergreen Place (Cedar Cove) (Mass Market Paperback)
Wow....have you ever eaten Chinese food and been hungry 1/2 hour after? In my opinion that is the effect of this book, I finished it an hour or so ago and am still wondering where was the story. If you took out the filler this would be lucky to be a 1/3 of a book.
I have Amazon prime so I didn't pay shipping and I pre-ordered so I only paid $4.47 but even at that price point it is still a empty book, 366 pages of a history lesson on June 6th, D-Day and hardly anything else with a few set-ups for the next book.
I have read lots of Debbie Macomber books but unfortunately they are all starting to run together. I really enjoyed the Blossom Street series and I feel Cedar Cove is being extended beyond it's prime.
Like the other reviewer Holly, I don't want to read about trips to Walmart and buying diapers, I wanted to read about the characters I've invested in over the last few years.
Without putting in spoilers you can't really say much more than "DISAPPOINTED." But...oh yeah wait for the next book in 2011!
Again it is my opinion that Ms. Macomber has sold out to the "How much $$ can I make off these books before the readers catch on?"
I really looked forward to this book and after this experience I won't be pre-ordering the next one, I'll wait till I see a copy at the next used book sale.
All I've read about Ms. Macomber lately...her vacations here and there, 2 homes, a trip to Turkey with her daughters to see the yarn factory that will produce her yarn line (why not the USA Debbie?) and I'm led to believe that it is all about $$$ for her pocket and to heck with the loyal readers.
Sorry if I've ruffled any feathers but even at less than $5.00 I still feel cheated out of all the "scoop" I wanted on my favorite CC "friends."
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A Mixed Review, September 6, 2010
This review is from: 1022 Evergreen Place (Cedar Cove) (Mass Market Paperback)
In Cedar Cove, Debbie Macomber has created a wonderful small town peopled with likable characters that involve the reader. I have enjoyed each one, and waited for the next to come out. However, this book didn't hold my interest as closely as the others and I did not enjoy it quite so much. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy it, but I agree, there were too many repetitive and lengthy recaps. An enhanced Cast of Characters with a recap for each character would be better than stopping the story for the recap. That way, if you want to know more, turn to the recap section, and if you already know, read on. The book was okay, but the recaps combined with the letters took away from the book's main story lines. For me, the letters prevented my getting as involved in the story of Mack and Mary Jo as I otherwise might have if their story line involved things that affected their lives more personally. More about the conflict with the dastardly David and less about the letters. Long series are likely hard to write and keep fresh for both the readers and the author. She has entertained many readers for decades with all her books. That she wrote a book some aren't totally satisfied with is only human. Macomber seemingly loves people and writes books many readers enjoy. And this one is certainly not without its enjoyable scenes. If you are a fan of the series, you will still most likely want to read this book as well. I hope that Macomber finds herself inspired to write more books about Cedar Cove and the engaging characters who populate it. I will certainly read further books in the series and won't hold this one not quite so satisfying book against her.
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