Customer Reviews

Death Is Forever

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Bought this novel by chance one and day didn't regret it. Erin Shane Windsor becomes heiress to a diamond fortune,especially green diamonds rarest of the Diamond. Cole Blackburn a ruthless but experienced in Diamond Mining. Both meet by special circumstances with a will and a sampling of beautiful gems. I will not go into a big synopsis but I greatly enjoyed this book. A revised version of of her earlier work called the Diamond Tiger but revised and greatly improved. After reading this book I'm searching for some of her other works. I highly recommend this book, very enjoyable. Looking forward to reading Pearl Cove.

In looking at Elizabeth Lowell's website, she notifies her readers that "Death is Forever" is "updated" version of her earlier book "The Diamond Tiger" (written under name of Ann Maxwell). Original book was excellent.

This book grabs you in the begining and pulls you along through the entire 452 pages. It's fast moving with great details, but the story doesn't get bogged down in detailed description of the countryside etc. There's just a touch of romance, but the hunt for the mine is the real story line.

I didn't realize that Elizabeth Lowell was Ann Maxwell so I never would have read this book w/ out it being republished under the Lowell name. Now I will be looking for Ann Maxwell as well.

If she'd just finish out the Donovan family stories.....

I liked this novel very much. Photographer Erin Shane inherits her great-uncles land in Bumble, Australia. Because of the possible presence of rare, undiscovered diamonds, the land is coveted by key international players, governments, and the diamond cartel. With so many interests at play, it is hard for Erin to know who is a friend and who is an enemy.

Cole Blackburn is a diamond expert, and is hired to help Erin discover her legacy. This is taut storytelling at its finest, with enough intrigue, suspense, and romantic tension to hold the reader's interest throughout. Lowell's knowledge of the global diamond trade, diamond mining, and Australia are impressively researched and expertly woven into the story. This is one of her best contemporaries.

My biggest complaints, enough to dock one star, are that Lowell is too crazy about equating the diamond trade with "riding the diamond tiger" (the original title of the short story this novel is based on). I get the analogy, and got it the first 25 times it was used. Its overuse throughout the story begins to wear on the reader. I also feel that the ending is rushed. After taking the time and building the suspense with Cole and Erin's journey in the harsh terrain of the Outback, I feel let down that a lot of action happened behind the scenes between their eventual emergence from Crazy Abe's land and the ending of the book. I would have appreciated more attention to their struggle to find one another, romantically speaking.

Overall, this one is definitely worth reading.

when I opened my parcel from Amazon and started to read the back cover blurb on "Death is Forever", I realized that it is an updated version of a book I already had on my bookshelf, namely "The Diamond Tiger". I'm very upset; if I had realized that this book was an updated reissue I would never have bought it. Up to now I bought all of Elizabeth Lowell's books purely on the strength of her name and therefore I'm very disappointed that as a faithful reader of her books I'm not made aware that this book is an glorified reissue. If you look at the official book description on the Amazon.com page you can find nothing there to indicate that this is a reworking of a novel originally published under another title more than ten years ago.
I give the book 2 stars, because I really liked the story the first time around, but I hate to be duped. I don't know if I ever will buy another book of hers. If you like her novels, than try to get your hands on the original, instead of supporting this sham package.

The description of Australia's Outback were very interesting. The love story was okay. Erin and Cole were good characters. Her upset with him seemed too extreme for what caused it. Her running away after they got back from their trek and finding the mine was not understandable after all they had gone through together. The meeting with the diamond committee was somewhat difficult to understand. When Erin and Cole got back together it was too abrupt and then the book just stopped. You felt their heartache, but their was no time to enjoy their reunion. Those things kept this book from being a "keeper."

Altho some of Ms. Lowell's books are confusing to read, this held my interest from beginning to end. I have read her books on Jade and Amber which I liked, but wasnt too crazy about "Always Time to Die."

Interaction and romance between Erin Shane and Cole Blackburn was intelligent and interesting. Both were strong and well fleshed out. The diamond trade was a fascinating study; not as endless as some of her theses on gems. Altho this book was updated, I accepted the story as it was. Held my interest from beginning to end. I thought the end came too quickly and would have liked a longer solution to the romantic upheaval and final reunion.

All in all, it was not a dull read. That's all I ask!!! :D:D:D

If you're a Elizabeth Lowell fan, you'll easily recognize her style of writing and hopefully agree that this one is a winner. And as an avid fan, I'm not sure how I missed the original book (maybe the different pen name).

Here's the really short (and simple) version of what happens. Erin is willed a mine that may or may not have this to-kill-for diamonds hidden somewhere in the huge expanse of land. Many people want it, including Cole's partner who convinces him to go find it by claiming that Cole owned half of it. Erin makes up her mind to find the mine and enlists Cole's help to find it by offering her 1/2 of her share. I feel like I'm talking in code, so I apologize if this makes no sense. Anyway, Cole wants to help because he wants to keep her alive. They're attracted and there's your romance. Now, the story. They have to find this mine to keep her alive because others want to kill them to keep them from finding it (there's your political angle). Okay, so, you have the two of them defying death and many attempts on their lives for this diamond mine while developing their personal relationship. Their relationship is rocky, too. I suppose I shouldn't give away the end, so I won't.

I liked the characters and there were enough background information about them that made their emotions and actions believable. Cole was especially well developed and I was just as shocked as Erin was when she learned what he had done for her at the end. I also liked that he was mature enough to realize what was happening to them and felt his inability to do anything about it (I'm talking about the way Erin pulled away from him).

Several things did get to me, though. One was the political angle. I was able to understand most of it, but she really left me behind at the last meeting where everything was resolved. I'm still scratching my head...what exactly happened and what did it mean? That brings me to another thing that could have been better. I thought the ending was too abrupt. I'm into confessions of love and sometimes, I don't get that cry-because-I'm-happy feeling. However, Cole's actions were motivated by his feelings, so I suppose I can be happy with that. Also, I thought Erin over-reacted to the scene between Cole and his ex-lover. It wasn't that drastic to warrant her reactions.

Those were minor points, so don't take them to mean that I'm putting the book down. I'm not. The story was fascinating and the setting was new and different. Lowell has never disappointed me with her books and I'm glad I stayed up all night to finish it.

I could not put this one down. I have read other Lowell books but don't remember enjoying them as much as I enjoyed this one. Erin, Cole and the hunt for the diamond mine kept me entertained. I anticipate that I'll read more of Lowell's books.

I received my Kindle as a birthday gift and the first book I bought was Death is Forever. This is one of my all time favorites by E Lowell and I have read the
paperback more times than can remember. For anyone who likes EL this is great read.