Customer Reviews

Cross Roads (Sisterhood Series)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The latest book in the Sisterhood series is wonderful. I was pleased to know that the "girls" were back and ready to take on the next challenge. It was like coming home to a long lost friend.

I couldn't wait for the next book in this series and I wasn't disappointed. The book goes very quickly, almost too quickly, I was disappointed when it ended. But, the ending was wonderful. I did miss the input of Barbara, though. I will be first in line when the next installment arrives. Thank you, Fern Michaels.

I have thoroughly enjoyed and eagerly awaited each book. Previously, I was getting annoyed with the immaturity of Jack and the guys, however this book shows a side of the "sisters" and their attitude toward Charles and his people that is unpleasant. I am not sure where this is leading, but I think Charles deserves a lot more than the animosity he is getting. Yes the Sisterhood has done wonders, but a lot of their success has been due to Charles (and his people).

I must begin by saying that I have enjoyed the Sisterhood series and have looked forward to each installment. However, I am amazed that the quality of the writing has not improved over time and that the publisher continues to put out this juvenile dribble. Reading these books gives me the impression that they are written by an old lady who is trying too hard to be "cool". I read some of the dialogue between Jack and Harry to my husband and we both laughed because no man would ever say some of the things that she has them saying. I just can't bring myself to read another word she has written and must say goodbye to the Sisters.

When I first read the Sisterhood series, I was immediately hooked. Who wouldn't be? The writing was humorous, quick, and witty. The characters were ones the readers could easily relate to, brought down by circumstances and injustice; yet prevailing in the most deliciously perfect ways. As a woman, I absolutely loved the fact the main characters were clever, smart, strong and[...]women. It made me wish these women really did exist somewhere out there helping to right the wrongs.

However, after the original seven books, the plots began to become disappointedly lackluster; the characters, tiresome; and the action, uninspiring, to the point of being contrite. Ms. Michaels does a disservice to the sisters in the later books by making their adversaries dim-witted, the missions humdrum, and their men (with the exception of Charles) superficial and incompetent of intellectual contributions to the team, except to be the muscle for the missions; thereby, unworthy of these strong and clever women. Combined with this, with each new book, the sisters seemed a little too full of their own brilliance and the ambiguous feats they could accomplish; yet all they do is bicker and whine about trivial things.

That said, the sadomasochism in me continues to read each new book of the series in the hopes Ms. Michaels will redeem herself and return the characters and their adventures to what made the series successful in the first place...or at the very least, to retire the "girls". To do anything less would just be painful (for the fans of this series) and a greedy attempt at selling books based on a prior success. Cross Roads does show signs of redemption. However, it is nowhere near it's predecessors in the original seven books.

I am very suspicious of the glowing reviews of this book. I think maybe they did not read the same book as me. This book was a disappointment.

I have read all the Sisterhood books and enjoyed the earlier ones a lot. Being female how could I not like " girl power" but this book particularly, is not so much about girl power as it is about Ball busting women and weak willed men that have to be told what to do and how to do it.

I could generate no love for the female characters in this book, they are too pushy, demanding and disrespectful. The author seems to be trying too hard to show the women as strong independent and intelligent but they come across as Bitchy, Angry and Bossy and not that smart. I don't like the men because they seem weak, greedy and lost without the women telling them what to do.

The story line did not work for me it just seemed to darn impossible to believe, even if it is fiction I need continuity and flow, this was more fantasy that regular romance fiction. when the Author came to parts that needed a more detailed explanation she just skipped it and kept going. I don't need Ludlum type explanations but at least make your plots a little more realistic and less fantastical.

I have been reading this one and can not put it down. I have read all the other sisterhood books and this is one of the better ones. Can't wait till the next book in the series comes out. Fern Michaels is my favorite author. Wish she could write faster. She is the best.

This was my first e-book, and I found it hard to follow, and it didn't really hold my interest to the point where I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened next. Maybe her other books are better, but I wouldn't recommend this one. You decide...

Eighteenth in the Sisterhood vengeance-suspense series revolving around a core team of seven women seeking justice for those denied it.

My Take
Never discount the bond of friendship amongst women. And that's just what Jellicoe has done. Global Securities is preventing any of the ladies or their men from contacting each other. For eighteen months. If this group is so smart, how come it took them so long to figure this out?

Myra is complaining to Charles that nobody needs her because they aren't calling her. So? Get out there and find something of your own. Why does Myra need someone to present an objective to her on a platter?? Why hasn't Charles figured out something is wrong? As for Annie, for a woman with her wealth, how can she be so stupid? What?? She doesn't believe that the cocktail waitresses at the Babylon might have some clue as to why they get great tips? She just ups and fires people for spurious reasons?

In Game Over (The Sisterhood, 17), they all seemed to think Jellicoe's offer was good. Good money. And a good idea to get out of town for awhile with all the glare of publicity on the pardoned vigilantes. So WTF are the women doing going off on the guys for making that decision? It all seemed on the up and up at the time. I didn't hear the ladies complaining then. In 18 months no one took a vacation to see one another? Then they start to get their act together and what do they do? They slam their men and keep them out of the planning. The men are good enough to use for the dirty work but not enough for planning? These women will turn on you on a dime. Sure, they can be nice and they're certainly charitable. As long as you're not in love with them. Michaels must really hate men. Between how she has her female characters treat their own men and the viciousness of their attacks on the bad guys...whoa. Dang it, I gotta be fair, Michaels has the girls ripping on the bad girls as well...

I'll agree that Charles may be a bit blind about Hank, but they have been friends for a long time and his track record would support Charles' position so why Myra and the girls are being such bitches to him...egads.

Just how has Jellicoe "screwed up Myra's life so that she was virtually a prisoner here at the farm"? From what I've read, Myra has done this to herself waiting for someone knock on her door and give her a job or an interest.

Slowly, slowly, the wheels turn and the background checks go deeper and further back revealing a wealth of information on Jellicoe and the truth behind the plot to kill the President.

These women will drive me nuts with their "we're women so we're the best" bitching. If they're so good, why do they always have to turn to Avery Snowden and his people to ensure they keep their butts out of the sling?

Oh, please. The guy is a former Assistant District Attorney with a black belt and he tells another guy that he's being "a big silly"??? Oh. My. God. Where does Michaels come up with this lousy dialog??? Although, I did enjoy how she had Bert, Jack, and Harry destroying the CIA team's egos. It was pretty funny. The big sillies...

Speaking of dialog...I mentioned in an earlier review on this series that Michaels seems to have her characters on speed talking 80 miles a minute in choppy sentences. This initial exchange between Maggie and Emma Doty is an example of this. It's also an information dump and almost sounds like a spiel to extort money

`Well, I read your paper online every day. I lived for many years in the Chesapeake area. When my husband passed away...We were childhood sweethearts. I'm disabled and housebound these days, so my life is pretty much my computer. Don't you go feeling sorry for me, now; my children take real good care of me.'

Why do Snowden and the boys have such an adversarial relationship? Is it supposed to be a guys' thing? `Cause it sure seems hostile to me.

I do like Kathryn's relationships with the other truckers and then there's Espinosa's glee as he snaps shots of the captives...oh man...

The Story
The girls are either angry or bored. The guys are itchy and getting really suspicious. Nothing is turning out as they expected. It's makework of the worst kind and it's Ted and Joe who start putting the pieces together and start the avalanche by resigning from Global Securities. Their heads-up to Maggie sends her sprinting to Myra and Annie to relay their concerns. In the meantime, Harry and Yoko have returned to D.C. Seems the training Global Securities set up with the Israelis was totally unwanted and discounted by them and with Yoko's miscarriages, Harry has resigned from Global as well.

Luckily for Jack, his secretary is late to the office and he finds the faxes for Joe, Ted, and Harry's resignations and he contacts Bert resulting in their resigning. Which sets off the summit meeting at 30,000 feet with the heads of MI5, the Sūreté, Mossad, Interpol, and Scotland Yard. And Hank Jellicoe. Seems theirs was a plot to keep the vigilantes out of the way while Jellicoe finds out who is behind the plot to kill the president.

The Characters
Myra and Charles Martin are back at the farmhouse in Virginia and Myra is bored out of her tiny mind. Annie is kicking slot machines in Vegas and glad to see the back of Little Fish. Maggie Spritzer and Ted Robinson are still engaged and Alexis Thorne and Joe Espinosa are very happy but Joe and Ted are off running around the world doing busy-work newsletters for Global Securities. Harry and Yoko Wong are married and working in Israel; Yoko has had two miscarriages and they both have come to the conclusion that the job in Israel is a makework situation. Bert Navarro and Kathryn Lucas and Jack and Nikki Emery are working abroad and both couples are arguing and about to split up the girls are so angry over Global's machinations. Isabelle Flanders is practically held prisoner by Stu Franklin in Paraguay and has been plotting her escape for months. Cosmo Cricket and Lizzie Fox have a baby boy, Little Jack. Nellie and Elias Cummings have settled into a boring retirement mostly due to Nellie's two hip replacements.

President Martine Connor hasn't heard from Hank Jellicoe since the night he proposed to her. In fact, Jellicoe has disappeared from sight completely. (Hank hired Bert, Joe, Ted, Harry, and Jack to work for Global Securities for disgustingly [I am so envious] huge gobs of money right before the pardons showed up for the girls.)

Abner Tookus is a computer whiz and a very good friend of Maggie's who can always find the goods. Avery Snowden is one of Charles' contacts. Emma Doty is a piece of Jellicoe's past with some very interesting information.

The Cover
This cover might actually have some relevance to the story! Who knew!! Again, it has a garden theme, up close and personal of pink geraniums blooming from fat white concrete planters with a peek at blue-and-white striped patio chairs in the lower right corner.

The title is also relevant as the vigilantes are bored and angry with their current lives. They have their pardons but life is meaningless right now, what they need is some action, something with meat. The ex-vigilantes are at a Cross Roads in their lives.

I loved the original Sisterhood books. Then they started sliding downhill fast. The last couple have just been torture to get through. The dialogue is embarrassing to read, the "mission" only happens in the last 10 pages, and the whole book seems to revolve around what they ate. What happened to Myra's money that started the Sisterhood in the first place? All we hear about now is Annie and how everything is up to her. This is called the Sisterhood, not the Brotherhood so the men should not be the main characters as they have been the last 5 or so books. There is no camaraderie amongst the women anymore. Charles is being treated just awfully and with such disrespect.

The whole fun of these books was seeing their mission come together and how they interacted. Now it is just what Jack and Harry have for lunch and that Harry is "deadly". No men actually talk like they do in the book.

My biggest complaint is there is no plot. It is no longer about strong women taking justice into their own hands. I am starting to think she is not even writing these herself anymore. It is starting to smack of Neiderman writing under the name VC Andrews or James Patterson's "outlines". Caricatures and rote writing are all we can expect from this series anymore.