Customer Reviews

Carolina Isle

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(28)

 

 

I usually love Jude Deveraux's books. A few of her books are amoung my all time favorite. Now, that said, I don't know what happened here. The story was implausible by any standards, there was little to no chemistry between both couples. I didn't know why any of them liked each other.

Did Jude have writer's block? Someone kidnap her name? It seemed like someone else ghost wrote it or she was up against a deadline with only a vague idea and no time to think the story out. The only character in the book I found interesting was a 15 year old boy that she wrote as though he was 23. Skip this one and read any of her older works

Wow. What can I say about this one?? How about rushed to print, undeveloped characters, strange and screwy plotline, abrupt ending, . . .

I have been a Jude Deveraux fan for a long time, and I have most, if not all of her books. This one was a disappointment, to say the VERY least!!!

I am giving it two stars solely for the author. Written by anyone else, it would get no stars at all. She desperately needs to rewrite this one, this time increasing the depth of the characters and the plot, and changing the ending so that it ends with more than a ''Huh, what??''!!!!

I kid you not, I looked at the cover of this book, front and back, more than once, to make sure it was REALLY written by my favorite romance author, Jude Deveraux. This book was SOOOOOOO disappointing. It had no character development, no witty banter and dialogue, and a thrown together undeveloped plot. I felt like it was written by a schoolgirl! Maybe it's a book she wrote when she was a teen and they decided they just HAD TO publish it? I can't believe it was so bad. I'm so crushed. I just reread "Rememberance" again the other day and enjoyed it so much...but then to read this and be so disillusioned! I hope "First Impressions" is better...I just bought it and if it's as bad as Caroline Isle...well, I won't be paying for hardbacks any more, I can certainly tell you that!!

By far the worst book I have ever read. I agree- no character developement, no plot, no feeling- who are these people and why would we want to read about them? What a waste of money. I wish I had gone online to check reviews before I purchased. Next time I will think twice about just picking up a book because the author has written well in the past. What a disappointment from an otherwise good author. If I could have given it 0 stars I would have.

for the hours of my life wasted reading this book! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Jude Devereuax. But I refuse to believe this was written by her. It bears no semblance to her earlier, greater works. As many reviewers have already noted, the storyline of why the cousins switched places is just ridiculous and insulting in this day and age. Perhaps if she had set this book fifty years earlier, the storyline MIGHT have worked.

But then she would have to get over the fact that the female characters are just awful, and the fact that you are (Spoilers here) missing the key ingredients for a romance novel: ROMANCE!!! I literally thought I was missing a chapter or two where the main heroine and hero (Sara and RJ) finally get together - where they profess their love for each other and kiss. Or at least the part where the heroine realizes she is in love with the hero. BUT WE NEVER GET THAT!!! I still think the edtors must have accidentally deleted that chapter, and Jude was so horrified by her own book that she never even bothered to read the finished product again. Even our supporting characters (Ariel and David) got some romance and the (I always thought) requisite sex scene. How Sara ever became pregnant, we'll never know.

In addition, this book violated my 30 page rule - you have 30 pages to get me interested, or I stop reading. My time is way too precious, and there are too many books out there to read. I borke this for this book as I was on vacation and out of books. But frankly, I wish I would have just picked up that Bible in the hotel room instead.

I am a fan of Deveraux, McNauaght and Lindsey and usually know any title I buy from them will be enjoyed. Not this one.. Its 397 pages of RAMBLING. There is NO STORY here. It is labeled as a romance .. there is not a love story here..none. I attmepts to be a mystery or a thriller.. but there are no thrills and no real mystery.. She must have been on a deadline or angry with the publishers. Skip this one- trust me.. Deveruax has som excellent novels.. and some okay ones.. This one is an absolute stinker. Don't waste your time.

I might be book deprived because I just read this on a recent vacation but it wasn't as bad a some of the reviews I read! If you are die hard fan of Jude's give it a try. I didn't like the character "cousins." However the plot actually gave me something to think about. What if you were on vacation and a dead body showed up in your bathroom?
OK...I admit not her best but not that bad..

I usually enjoy Jude Deveraux books, but this one I could not bring myself to finish. What I read was a ridiculous poorly written story . Don't waste your money or your time.

I am a Jude Deveraux fan and while this book is entertaining, it didn't pass muster with my expectations since I know that she is a much better writer than this book proves. This book has a rushed ending (with a fake storyline that "explains" everything) and was very disappointing. Everything happened so wonderfully at the end ~~ which is normally true, but this time, it just didn't leave me satisfied that this was a good book. I am disappointed that she didn't do a better job with this book like she has in the past with others.

This book has look-alike cousins (which is too far out especially since I am a mom of twins ...) who decided to switch because Ariel, the pampered beauty of N.C., lusted after Sara's boss, RJ. Sara agreed to it because she wanted to know what it is like to be a pampered princess of a small town, since she has always had to work hard for anything she ever wanted. Sounds like a great story line ~~ and it gets even more intriguing when they all (RJ, Ariel, Sara and Dave, Ariel's "bethrothed") ventured over to the Kings Island, a haunted island that RJ thinks about buying. The very first day, they get arrested for killing a dead dog. It downward spiraled after that ~~ a murdered man (the dog's owner) was found in their bathroom and it started out promising to have all these secrets and intrigues. Problem is, it fizzled out very early on and I find myself skimming to the end of the book to see if I should keep on reading. Not a good thing.

If you're not a die-hard Deveraux fan, don't pick this book up because it will just ruin your expectations of this author. Even if you are a die-hard fan, don't hold this one against Jude. We know that she's a better writer ~~ this book just isn't one of them. Take this book and read it as an entertaining ghost story and wait for better ones to come along.

9-5-06

I have been a fan of Jude Deveraux books from her very first book. Her first twenty or so books are wonderful and I own them all, but lately I have no idea what has happened to her. I have to agree with another reviewer who wrote this is written on a high school level. I would have to agree it is like a Nancy Drew novel. The characters never develop and the story is down right childish. If Ms. Deveraux wants to write mysteries, she should read a McNaught or Garwood novel, they are all wonderful. If you want to read Deveraux try: The Summerhouse, The Duchess or The Princess, some of my favorites.