Customer Reviews

A 5th Avenue Christmas (Zebra Historical Romance)

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I received this book through a book club and thought it would be an interesting way to while away an hour of my time. Boy was I wrong! I hated the "hero" Joseph and thought Meryl was a very underdeveloped character. He came off as an insufferable know-it-all and she came off as a self centered brat. I also did not care for Richard Carington, Meryl's father and all of the secondary characters just didn't signify. The plot seemed obvious from the beginning and so did the books ending.

I was willing to overlook those things but on page 56 I was ready to blow. The author used the term "Negro" to describe a porter. Now this character did not have any thing to say or any significance in the story but for some reason his race did? I don't care if that was the term used in 1897. This book was published in 2003 and civilized, educated people used the term "African American" then. Even calling him black would have been okay, but to call him a Negro did not sit well with this reader.

Despite my outrage I continued to read the book and could not have been happier when it ended. I even began to only read the portions in parenthesis to finish it sooner. Needless to say this is the first and last book written by Tracey Cozzens I will ever read.

I enjoyed this book!! There are other books that go with it about her sister's and I read all of them also. I think it was 5 total. They are a real enjoyable read.

Courtesy of The Best Reviews

Meryl Carrington is the baby of her family, and the only one of five sisters who is yet unwed. All she cares about is proving to her father she is capable of running his railroad company. Her sisters have all gone off and gotten married, but that was not the life for Meryl. She wanted to fill the role at her father's side normally reserved for a son of the family. She finally gets a chance to prove to her father she deserves his respect as a businesswoman when a crucial sale is close to reality, which would cement her father's business. But her father has other plans...

Joseph Hammond was the son of Meryl's father's old friend and business partner, and had always looked up to Meryl's father. He had also been a special friend of Meryl all through their childhood. He has been working for her father for a few years and his heart was set on becoming president of the company. Just when it looked like his new position was in the bag, he gets a surprise. Meryl is all grown up, his childhood friend a child no more, and she has plans for that position as well.

What follows is something neither had anticipated. They make a wager... whoever can seal the deal in California for her father on the pending sale, would become the new president of the Carrington railroad empire. But as they are racing across the country, yet another surprise... they find that their formally friendly feelings for each other have grown into something more, something both were hesitant about but eager to see where it would lead. Will they sit competition aside for the sake of their newly discovered love? Or will the contest drive a wedge between them for good?

This was a good tale, but not quite as captivating as other books in the American Heiress series. This reviewer was not at all fond of Joseph in the beginning of the story. He came across as a selfish man who cared for nothing but his own success. Granted, the real motivation for his behavior was explained in detail later on in the story, redeeming him. But this reviewer could not get past her initial opinion of him. Meryl was a delight, however, her whole world being her family, her father, and his business. All she wanted was to make him happy and prove to him she was capable of running his empire.

The story in itself was appealing though. The bulk of the story was following Meryl and Joseph from New York to San Francisco. Their journey was full of excitement and adventure. The tricks Meryl and Joseph kept playing on each other were often amusing, always keeping the reader waiting to see what they would do next.

The desire between Joseph and Meryl was always smoldering under the surface, though they kept trying to deny their mutual attraction. When they finally give in to their passion, it consumes them both. Readers will enjoy this tale, holding their breath as they wait to see who will win the challenge. Also, one will love the fact that Meryl is a strong woman, full of fire, and extremely intelligent. This reviewer always loves to see a strong female lead who will do whatever it takes to prove herself, all the while never losing her femininity.

This story is well worth the time to read, in spite of the less then impressive Joseph in the beginning of the story.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, November 2003. All rights reserved.

I picked this book up because of the cover, what a mistake. I find I haven't very often given bad reviews, but I found it hard to finish this book. I have other books of hers and hope I am able to enjoy them more than this book.