Customer Reviews

Bloodlines

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Olivia Sealy was kidnapped when she was 2, after a ransom of a million dollars was paid, she was found in a mall. Now 25 years later a 2 year old's skeleton is found in a wall in a suitcase. Olivia's family have a distinctive genetic defect, which Olivia and the dead child share, they were born with 2 thumbs on one hand. The extra thumb was removed at birth. So who is this child? The same age as Olivia and with the same distinctive mark on her hand it sets the stage for mystery and murder.

Trey Bonney is a detective with the Dallas PD. He was also Olivia's first love. Their love was broken up by her grandfather who is very rich. Trey was from the wrong side of the tracks. Althought 11 years have past, he and Olivia have never forgotten each other.

The man who picked up the ransom has just been released from prison. The money was never found. Now after 25 years in jail he finds the money he hid was burned up in a fire. Although he did not kidnap Olivia or murder her parents, he knows who was involved. With the police hunting him now for answers to the murder, what will he do? Will he run or finally tell them what he knows.

As if this is not enough, we have an abortion clinic bomber who is insane because when the bomb went off, a church bus had broken down in front of the clinic and several children were killed. Now he thinks God has given him a chance to redeem himself by killing Olivia.

The thing I love about Dinah McCall/Sharon Sala is that her books may be very dark but at the end you find compassion and understanding for all. The ending of this book made me sad and unfulfilled, because of the infidelity, greed, hatred, and manipulation which led to the crimes. I found the lead characters to be 2-dimensional, very easily swayed, and at the end I just didn't feel that the story came together in a smooth way to bring closure. It was a very deep dark mess. I really don't know why I felt that way I just did. This is only my review and I can only tell you what I think and felt. But in my opinion it is not as good as the rest of her books.

I was amazed when I read this book that anyone would have even considered publishing it. Yes, I did finish it, but rather than pass it on to friends, it went in the trash. The dialog, storyline, unbelievable coincidences ... all were like a grade B soap opera. The premise of the book sounded fascinating, but the follow-through was a huge disappointment.

Ms. McCall/Sala is a very talented suspense author that normally offers readers an edge of your seat read. Perhaps this is why this read fell a little flat. Although this read did offer a very good "suspense" storyline...it fell short on delivery.

Twenty-five years earlier Olivia Sealy had been kidnapped, and her parent murdered. Olivia was later returned to her family (left in a shopping mall) but has no recollection of the kidnapping. Fast forward several years later...the discovery of a suitcase holding the skeletal remains of a two year old girl, killed twenty-five years earlier is found. Questions start being asked and Olivia suddenly finds herself becoming a target for murder. As if this isn't enough for her to balance...she has to deal with the detective that's investigating the case...her childhood sweetheart that her grandfather made her give up.

Trey Bonney thought he got on with his life but when the old bones lead to the doorstep of the only woman he's ever loved he's about to realize that he's not as put together as he thought he was. Trey and Olivia need to put the past to rest but those feelings aren't going away and in fact are growing in intensity. They're not children playing at love anymore, their adults with deep feeling. Will Trey be able to solve the old murder and keep his Livvie alive or will the past finally get it's revenge?

There were equal parts right and wrong with this read. The twenty-five year old murder with the players all coming together once the body was found had a whole lot of pontential for becoming a great vehicle for this story. It fell flat though with the unbelievable guile of Olivia where her grandfather was concerned. She let her "grampy" have way to much control over her. This was probably suppose to read as a deep and caring relationship...but instead it seemed too manipulative. Olivia and Trey again had the foundation for having a real good romantic storyline, but again Ms. McCall seemed to fail on the delivery there. The ending was not a surprise and this reader really has to admit to begining not to care one way or another if there was going to indeed be a happy ending. Overall this is not a read to avoid, but one that the reader should be cautioned about as far as storyline and execution of plot.

Official Reviewer for Romance Designs

I was surprised how weak,passive and easily led the heroine was. I found it annoying this grown woman calling her grandfather "Grampy" throughout the book. The romance didn't ring true. I think this book could have been a really good romantic suspense novel in different hands. The characters are two dimensional as stated by another reviewer. I had a difficult time even finishing this book. I was ready to fling it across the room but hate to waste the money and kept hoping the ending would be a redeeming feature but it wasn't.

When past sins are uncovered, literally, a 25 year old secret and present truths threaten to shatter one family's fragile happiness. As an infant, Olivia Sealy was kidnapped. Though she was recovered safely, that event casts a lingering shadow on her life that comes to the light when a couple finds a suitcase with a baby buried inside it in their basement walls. Like Olivia before surgery to correct the problem, the child has an extra thumb and tests show that she is the same age as Olivia. Was the wrong baby returned? Is Olivia truly who she and all who love her think? All these questions become more than troubling rhetoric when a murderer seeks revenge. To keep Olvia safe, a man who once loved her must find out what really happened so long ago.

**** With twists and turns worthy of Agatha Christie or Sherlock Holmes, Ms. McCall has gifted her readers with a thrilling mystery. Even without the romantic element, it would be a strong story as she keeps one step ahead of her audience in revealing the truth. ****

At the age of 2, Olivia was kidnapped and her parents murdered. Ransom was demanded, paid, and she was found wandering a mall. Flash forward 25 years, a suitcase is found behind a wall with a tiny skeleton and a tell tale sign that this might be Olivia. Confused yet? Well, a Sealy family trait of an extra thumb was visible on both Olivia and the skeleton that was found. But if Olivia was returned, then who was this baby. Has Olivia's whole life been a lie?

In comes Det. Trey Bonney of the Dallas Police Department. He also happened to be Olivia's high school love. The story gets very twisty with side stories that don't really make sense or have a point and are never fully explained. Abortion clinic bombing, neighbors house broken into, wayward cousins, etc.

In the end, this compilation of characters each reveals a small part of the story which leads to a very unlikely conclusion. This is my first McCall book and I can't say that I didn't like it, just wish she would have left parts out and tightened up other storylines. She has talent, just lacked direction on this one.

The basic plot idea itself was good but it fizzled fast.

Olivia had to be one of the wimpiest characters ever. She did whatever "Grampy" wanted her to do. Supposedly she was madly in love with Trey 11 years ago but her "Grampy" made her dump Trey because he wasn't from a good enough family. "Grampy" was an arrogant, controlling snob. The romance was completely unbelievable because why would Trey love her when she was nothing but cardboard and extremely boring at that?

We never found out anything about her parents except that the father was a jerk. Nor did we hear much about Olivia's life when she was growing up or after her break up with Trey.

And what did Olivia do??
No husband, no kids, no family other than "Grampy".
Didn't have her own place, didn't decorate the mausoleum she lived in.
Didn't cook, bake, plan the meals, or maintain the household.
Didn't garden, didn't have any hobbies. Didn't do needlework or crafts.
I don't even know where their money came from, doubt she did either, but Olivia had nothing to do with working.
Wasn't into sports, watching, supporting or contributing.
Didn't jog, ride horses or have a pet.
No friends, no boyfriend, didn't date.
Didn't do charity works or even belong to any board that did.
Didn't read, watch TV, or use a computer or even shop.
Didn't plan dinner parties or social events or attend any
Didn't volunteer at the library or the hospital.

Oh wait she took vacation pictures when she and "Grampy" were on their latest trip to Europe. Apparently she and "Grampy" took their vacations together, just the two of them and he planned them. Basically her life revolved around what "Grampy" wanted and she never once stood up for herself. In one incident she cut what she was doing short so she could be there for lunch because "Grampy" was going to be there. Turned out he didn't show up so she sat there and ate food she didn't care for because the housekeeper wanted her to.

I love Dinah McCall's/Sharon Sala's books but I recommend passing on this one. Tallchief, Jackson Rule, The Return and Missing are very good; pick those up instead.

Kidnapped when she was two, Olivia Sealy has no memory of her captivity or the murder of her parents. Raised by her grandfather, her entire life has been devoted to catering to him, occasionally at the risk of her own happiness. When the skeletal remains of a 2 year old girl is found in a wall and has a third thumb like other members of the Sealy family, Olivia is forced to question whether or not the right child was returned to the Sealy family. Heading the investigation is Dallas Detective Trey Bonney, Olivia's first love whom she dumped to appease her grandfather since Trey was from the wrong side of the tracks.

But who is the child in the wall, and what is her relationship to Olivia? Only a DNA test will shed light on the convoluted situation. When attempts are made on Olivia's life, it is Trey who steps in to protect her, providing the opportunity both need to reconnect.

While the plot was intriguing, McCall's execution was below average. The dialogue was pretty hokey - Olivia is nearly 30, yet talks like woman twice her age (with the exception of calling her grandfather "grampy"). The big mystery of the kidnapper's identity is pretty easy to guess, and ultimately plot points introduced were never fully developed or concluded. However, the romance is written well, the main protagonists have obvious chemistry. McCall has written better (check out "Perfect Lie").

Twenty-five years ago someone kidnapped two year old Olivia Sealy after murdering the child's parents. Her grieving wealthy grandfather Marcus hears nothing after dropping off the ransom money. However, two months later, Olivia is found at a mall; the police arrest Foster Lawrence, who picked up the ransom money. He spent the next twenty-fives years behind bars, but has just been freed.

In Lake Texoma, Texas retiree Marshall Baldwin works on renovating a cottage he just bought when he drops a sledge hammer on the floorboard, which leads him to a hidden suitcase. Inside is the remains of a two year child buried for twenty-five years and having the second thumb that is a genetic trademark of all Sealys. Dallas homicide detective Trey Bonney investigates the toddler murder although Olivia was his high school girlfriend who dumped him. Olivia, who had the two thumbs, turns to him to help her learn the truth as to whether she is the real granddaughter and if not who is she.

Readers will ponder until the end whether Olivia or the corpse in the suitcase is Marcus' granddaughter and who the one is that is not as both have the genetic trademark though Olivia's residual thumb was surgically removed once the dominant digit was affirmed. Though the climax seems too pat, this story line combines a strong police procedural, a fine second chance romance, and an identity mystery into a powerful thriller that will garner Dinah McCall new readers.

Harriet Klausner

I bought this book to read thinking, it can not be as bad as they say, after all Harriet Klassner says it was such a good read, I want her job, with all the free books for saying good things.
I can not believe how horrible and boring and soap opera this is,,, stay clear! DO NOT BELEIVE WHAT HARRIETT SAYS , SHE GETS FREE BOOKS FOR SAYING GOOD THING ABOUT HORRIBLE BOOKS, BEWARE.