Customer Reviews

Amber Beach (Nova Audiobooks)

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Amber Beach was the first book by Elizabeth Lowell that I have read. My friend read it and passed on the information to me. In a few words, I can say that Amber Beach knocked me off my feet. After reading this book, I became so entrapped into the story that after I had finished it, I just had to read the other books that she had written. Amber Beach is a thrilling story based upon the Czar's Amber Room that immediately disappeared after World War I. The main characters are Honor Donovan, a sister who is determined to go after her (disappeared but presumed dead) brother. Jake Mallory is a rugged man aborbed by the brillant heat of Amber. His business was kicked out of many countries when he becomes framed of stealing the Amber Room. Jake goes undercover to help Honor Donovan find her brother, Kyle. The sweet part of this book is the fact that a sweet romance developes nicely as the story progresses.This book is passionately intense and has intense passion too! The Donovan family will warm your hearts as you read more and more about them. The Donovan saga continues into Jade Island and Pearl Cove. So do what I did and take my advice. Read Amber Beach and you won't be disappointed.

Honor Donovan and Jake Mallory set the pages on fire with their fiery personalities and passion but both are afraid to trust and love. It was a great adventure with plenty of action, 'shady' characters and love scenes. Elizabeth Lowell really writes wonderful books, but I have one complaint. The endings to all her stories come so quickly that I feel I'd like to know just a little more, like a short epilogue about the wedding or honeymoon, etc., something so that I don't feel like I'm left hanging. I have read all the Donovan stories in this series that she has written so far and they are all GREAT! I'm looking forward to the last two brothers' (Lawe & Justin) stories. If you like a good romance with lots of action, suspense and steamy love scenes, you'll love this book and all the others in the series.

Kyle Donovan is missing, so his sister Honor goes to his home in Washington State's San Juan Islands to search for clues. She doesn't know how to work Kyle's boat so she hires Jake Mallory to teach her how and to act as a guide. However, unknown to her, Jake is a dealer in gemstones as is Honor's family. When Kyle disappeared a shipment of amber Jake had entrusted with him disappeared as well.

And in that shipment is a panel from the czar's fabled Amber Room that went missing during World War II. The Donovan family claims Kyle never received the shipment and they get Jake barred from doing business in Russia. Jake figures if he stays close to Honor, she'll lead him to Kyle and the stolen amber.

However, Jake isn't the only one who wants to find that amber. There are others hot on Jake and Honor's trail, others like the Russian mafiya, Lithuanian separatists and agents of the United States government.

Of course, Jake doesn't trust Honor or any of the Donovan clan and, of course, when she finds out who Jake really is, she doesn't trust him either, but there is that old devil attraction between them, but before they can do anything about it they have to get beyond that trust thing, get away from their pursuers and get to the bottom of what happened to Kyle and the missing amber.

Though many think of Lowell as a romance writer, she can write action and suspense too and she can do it well, as she proves with this first story about the Donovan clan that I just could not put down.

Amber Beach is my all time favorite from Elizabeth Lowell! Honor and Jake are they most engaging characters ever, and their passion sizzles! I couldn't put it down, I read it all in 1 day! The plot and characters are a stroke of pure genius! Elizabeth Lowell has outdone herself!

After reading the review (not from readers) I was very disappointed in the storyline. Much too much detail and repitition about the operation of boats, tying of knots, how much gasoline the tanks hold, etc., etc. Is this a mystery, love story, suspense story or a book about boats?? When I purchased this book, I also purchased Jade Island...I hope I did not waste my money.

Honor Donovan, jewelry designer and daughter of the founder of Donovan International, a company dealing in precious metals and gemstones, discovers that her brother Kyle is missing...along with a fortune in amber. Frantic with worry, Honor moves into Kyle's cottage on one of the San Juan Islands, and hires a local fishing guide, Jake Mallory, to help her search the island chain for her brother. Big, bad, hunky Jake is not, of course, a real fishing guide - although he loves to fish. Jake used to work for the Donovan company, brokering amber. He is also somewhat of a soldier of fortune. The Donovan brothers suspect that it is Jake, not Kyle, who has the stolen gems and a priceless Russian antiquity, as well. So it is in Mallory's best interest to find Kyle so that he can prove his innocence.

The two are pursued all over the Pacific islands by local cops, the Feds, international operatives and spooky intruders. The chemistry between Honor and Jake is explosive. They are a perfect match and their feelings for each other are as palpable as is their mutual attraction. There is romance and caring here as well as sex. And the dialogue between them is witty, with an edge. Honor is quite intelligent, creative and independent. We also get to meet other members of the Donovan clan - which is one of the most interesting and fun families ever.

The dangerous adventures and mishaps never seem to cease. The details about amber and the Russian antiquity, the "Amber Room," are fascinating. The San Juan Islands are so amazing that I am actually planning a vacation there. What more could one ask for in a good book? I highly recommend this as one of Ms. Lowell's best.

Amber Beach is definitely NOT one of Elizabeth Lowell's masterpieces. Sometimes I wonder if good authors realize that, if they have a gift for describing characters and their relationships (which Lowell does) they don't have to go to the ends of the earth for new plots and intrigue. This book is very strong on the technical aspects of driving a big motorboat and the history and selling of Baltic Amber. WHO CARES????? The good solid characters of Honor Donovan and Jake Mallory are left way behind as Lowell pushes for action and suspense. I really liked Jake and Honor. They were warm, funny, sexy, and believable. There was one great sex scene (Lowell is truly an expert at this!) and the betrayal scene was super too! But that's all there was!!!! The characters never developed their relationship and the ending was sloppy, confusing and weak. The focus on the convoluted plot and technical details really made me dislike this book. Next is Jade Island. I'll probably try it just to see if Lowell can redeem herself. But it will be hard to top my three all-time Lowell favourites: Untamed, Forbidden and Only You.

If you are a fan of romantic suspense novels and you haven't read Elizabeth Lowell's Donovan series, you're in for a treat. "Amber Beach" is the first in the series, and it's a fun, quick read. The plot is full of twists and turns, and it keeps you guessing right up until the very end. The lead characters are compelling, and the love scenes are sufficiently steamy to keep romance fans happy. The book is set in the San Juan Islands, and Lowell does an excellent job integrating the setting into the story. She is also an expert at weaving interesting background research into her books. Here, she not only educates you about all facets of amber and the amber trade, but she also makes the lesson very entertaining and a crucial part of the story. It's all a lot more interesting than you might have assumed. My only complaint is that I would have liked to see more interaction between Hope and Jake, the lead characters. Nevertheless, the chemistry between them is great and their witty banter makes for a fun read.

I love all of the Donovan series books. This is the first in the series and introduces you to Honor Donovan. Of course Archer is involved, what would a Donovan book be without Archer?

Honor is searching for her favorite brother Kyle. Kyle is missing and is accused of murder and stealing the Amber Room. Honor's only hope of finding him lies in finding a fishing guide and learning how to operate the "Tomorrow". Jake Mallory is the fishing guide who Honor hires to help her learn to run the Tomorrow and learn to fish.

The stories is full of romance and adventure. If you love the Donovan's like I do, you will love this book.

This book takes some characters and ties some history into it. It involved intrigue and some suspense. I believe it is well worth the time. I wasn't disappointed and I'm glad in this case I didn't listen to the other people who reviewed it.