Customer Reviews

Deadly Love (Francesca Cahill Romance Novels)

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

 

 

If I could give Brenda Joyce's novel "Deadly Love" a sixth star on the amazon scale I would. This is the best new beginning of a historical series romance that I have ever read. The book itself reads like old fashioned chapter novels and has left me on the edge of my seat waiting for the next installment in this fantastic, yet disturbing book. I say that it is disturbing because it has its characters be human, with the same kind of human foibles that we all have. In "Deadly Love" however, Joyce somehow allows her characters to be heroic and larger then life, despite their humanity, in the way that we want our romance novel characters to be.

Francesca is a woman ahead of her time who wants to both be her own woman (she is attending the first women's college in England) and she wants to keep her family happy so she keeps her endeavor from her mother. Even though it means attending balls to the wee hours of the morning, attending classes a scant few hours after falling asleep, and studying every spare moment.

Of course, it would not be a romance without the flawed hero, a.k.a. Rick Bragg, the head of the police, Francesca's love interest, and her almost nemesis. He is sexy, brooding and mad bad and `dangerous to know."

At the end of the book there are serious personal problems in the love lives of both her brother and her sister, a new mystery for the amateur sleuth, Francesca to solve and budding love for Rick and our heroine. This is both a great ending and a fantastic beginning of a new book and a new series for Brenda Joyce.

Brenda Joyce makes a bold choice with the story "Deadly Love". She sets it in 1902 among the New York elite. One young woman from a well-connected, prominent New York family, Francesca Cahill, doesn't want to be married off. She has secretly enrolled herself in Barnard College and works to reform the social ills of New York (somewhat reminiscent of Jude Devereux's Temptation). It makes for an interesting premise that doesn't work so well on paper. I didn't warm to Francesca Cahill-- she was forever crashing into the middle of tense scenes, bungling police operations (although she did ultimately help the investigation). That kind of headstrong naivete is not a pleasure to read, especially in a mystery. And, yes, I think that kind of characterization insults readers' intelligence. But, yes, Francesca might mature in the books to follow. I hope she does.
I also did not like how one woman, who was supposed to be sympathetic, had committed adultry with half the men in New York. Sometimes Brenda Joyce creates characters who are hard to like. Warning: This novel is not a romance, but was marketed as one to pick up Brenda Joyce's romance readership. There are hints of romantic feeling, but that's it. So, Five stars for the interesting setting.
Five stars for the historical detail.
Three stars for the characters.
Plot, eh, three stars. Recommended for a quick one-time, one-night read. For better romantic suspense try Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series, J.D. Robb's "in Death" series, and Dianne Day's "Fremont Jones" series. Anne Perry also sets her mysteries in the Victorian period in England.

I really enjoyed this first book in a series featuring Francesca Cahill, aspiring private investigator. Seldom have I read a book that is brimming with the same kind of raw energy as that of the main character, Francesca. I was so caught with the enthusiasm and energy that this novel possessed that time passed without me realising it until the book was finished. This novel definitely makes for engrossing reading!

Francesca Cahill believes in doing something worthwhile with her life. An ardent reformer, her current ambition is to be the first female newspaper reporter in New York. However, Francesca is also the member of a prominent New York family, where the daughters marry well, have children and partake in the social functions -- they do not attend college and get jobs!

At one of her mothers social dos, Francesca meets the new police commissiomer, Rick Bragg, and is immediately drawn to him. Unfortunately, she also finds herself, to her chagrin, behaving quite awkwardly. Later that same night, she discovers a cryptic unsigned missive, which she dismisses as some kind of prank while she tries to work out her uncharacteristic response to Bragg. The next morning however, the Cahills are shocked to discover that while the party was going on, someone had kidnapped one of their neighbour's sons. Francesca immediately realises the significance of the note and rushes off to inform Bragg. And even though Bragg warns her not to get involved and to leave the matter to the police, Francesca cannot help but become involved. The search for the truth and the little boy is too important to Francesca to give up. And soon she is knee deep in the race to find the missing boy who seems to be in the hands of a mad man bent on revenge rather than a ransome. Francesca's investigations will lead her to the seamier side of New York City, through the slums and into danger; her search will also lead her to discover some rather uncomfortable truths about her own family, truths she may have prefered not to know at all.

This is probably going to be the last book I read this year, and I'm glad that I closed out the year on a high note. Brenda Joyce has created a wonderful protagonist in Francesca Cahill, who is brave and passionate and simply brimming with energy. It is obvious that this charcater is young and a little naive -- in fact her naivety lands her in danger more than once! But we not only overlook this but root for Francesca to somehow come out on top and go on. The plot is clever one and the pacing of the sequence of events is flawless: the tension is palpable as page after page one wonders at what new horror will be uncovered and if the unfortuante little boy will be found alive.

A masterfully written novel. I look forward to the next Francesca Cahill novel eagerly.

This isn't really a romance book, but hints to be one. This book is more on mystery than romance. While we know that Francesca and Rick are the heroine and hero of this series, I do not feel that Rick feels anything for Francesca, from the beginning to the last page, even after Joel's last comment, which I was like "duh... how did it seem so?"

This book is weak by itself in storyline and definitely in the aspect of romance. However, let us not forget that it is the beginning of a series of romance mystery between Francesca and Rick, and the people around her.

Deadly Love is like a small piece that makes up a big puzzle. While it may not be an enjoyment to read and does not live up to its expectations, Deadly Love, as the first book to the series, introduces and builds a set of characters we need to know for the future stories.

Thus, I think I will appreciate this book more as the story develops when more books are released.

I throughly enjoyed this book, but beware it is NOT a typical Brenda Joyce. This is the first in what I hope will be a new historical Mystery series. The review I read in Romantic Times explained what Deadly Love was all about, so I was not expecting a hot, light romance. Book lovers hate to admit that marketing has so much impact on our favorite books, but a few of the low reviews proves it to be so. If you enjoy mysteries, with a little romance thrown in, take a chance on this and enjoy!

Deadly Love is the first Brenda Joyce I've picked up, and I enjoyed it tremendously. Although the main character, Francesca, acts a bit ditsy at times, her behavior only added to the humor Ms. Joyce included throughout the book.

The relationship between Fran and Rick has a lot of potential. I hope they make significant progress in the next volume of the series though -- I hate it when writers string us along for ever before allowing characters to move beyond flirtation (Of course Fran's mother Julia may have more to say about this than Ms. Joyce does!).

The secondary characters will also be a force in upcoming volumes. Young Joel Kennedy adds a humorous note, and I'm anxious to learn more about future sister-in-law Sarah. I must say however, that I hope Ms. Joyce dosen't plan on portraying brother-in-law Neil as a sympathetic character. His behavior in this book was awful. In fact, I wanted him to be the bad guy this time around so we could be done with him! This feeling goes beyond a negative reaction to his infidelity -- his whole attitude is obnoxious.

While some of the negative reviews seen here express valid concerns regarding genre and character shortcomings, when you consider that this is the first of what will hopefully be a long series of related novels, and that it needed to set the stage for future volumes, it is an outstanding read.

OK, I only gave this book 3 stars. Mainly because Francesca is so wet behind the ears and naive that she is a just a little tiresome. However! Francesca is a VERY quick leaner and the series becomes fascinating if you persevere. By book three there is so much happening with Francesca and a host of interesting secondary characters that you can't put them down! By book four the various romances are sizzling and Francesca has quite a track record as a sleuth.

I have found the Francesca Cahill series a joy to read. I must correct reviewer Shawna, the college is in Manhatten, not England. The story is set in "early' Manhatten. There are enough twists & turns in the plot to keep me reading & enjoying. Again, more please.

Brenda Joyce's "Deadly" series are wonderful. The stories are continuing from one book to the other. Thus far, I believe there have been three with a fouth due in May 2002. I love this series and love all the characters, especially Bragg and Francesca. Connie and Neil are great too and one wonders what will happen to Calder. Just keep reading.

This book is definitely one of the best I've ever read! I bought it in the airport as I was leaving on a four-hour trip home ... by the time I arrived home, I had finished it! It's a compelling mystery/romance that will keep you interested from the first page. All of the great elements of an historical romance/suspense/mystery are contained between the covers of this wonderful book!! I think Brenda Joyce has found a new fan!!