Customer Reviews

To Die For: A Novel

5 star:		(76)
4 star:		(48)
3 star:		(20)
2 star:		(23)
1 star:		(39)

 

 

Jeez, you'd think Linda Howard had never written anything lighter than "Cry No More"! OK, before you buy "To Die For," let me clue you in:
(1) The title stinks and in no way reflects the content of the book.
(2) It is closer to "Mr. Perfect" than to the Mackenzie books (and it's light years away from "Cry No More").
(3) The first person point of view is hilarious because Blair is one of Howard's cutest and most amusing heroines.
(4) The readers who are lamenting the loss of the male POV are missing the point: this is not a typical romance: it is a comic-romance: think Tracy and Hepburn's classic comedies! Wyatt's POV wouldn't add anything to the comedy!
(5) It's a chick book! If you're looking for the alpha male, he's here, but the focus is on a flirty former cheerleader who is, in her own way, WOMAN! Hear her roar! So there.
(6) Buy the book, but put it aside until you're in a good mood and want some pure, frivolous FUN, and stop complaining because Linda--who can sometimes make you cry--this time makes you laugh out loud: She's a writer for all seasons. Appreciate her!

Blair Mallory witnesses a murder. The victim is one of the members of her club, Great Bods who had taken to dressing like Blair. In fact she was so good at it that she could easily been mistaken for Blair. Lt. Wyatt Bloodworth dumped Blair cold two years ago after only three dates without any explaination or phone call. When he hears that a blond woman was murdered at her club his first thought is that it was Blair so he rushes over to the club. Upon discovering that Blair is fine he decides that he wants a second chance with her and that he is going to protect her. No matter if Blair wants him to or not. Let me say that I love Linda Howard's books. To Die For is a certain improvement from her last two books. It's more lighthearted(think Mr. Perfect). However it's also not as sexy as any of her previous books, which I really missed. One of the reasons I buy LH books is for the sensuality. To Die For was also written in the first person which is something I never expected from LH.
Let me say this again, I love LH but her last few books just have not been as good as her older works. To me they are just missing something. But To Die For is certainly going back in the right direction after the big disapointments I found her last two books to be. There were some parts that were truly hilarious but I had issues with the way that Wyatt dumped Blair 2 years ago so I had a hard time warming up to him and that detracted from the story for me. But after I've said all this I still think everyone will enjoy it. I have to say that I think the only reason I was somewhat unsatisfied at all with To Die For is because Linda Howard had me soooo spoiled by her other stuff that I keep waiting for another Shades of Twilight or After The Night or a hero like Zane or Chance MacKenzie.

Blair Mallory may be blonde, but she is business savvy. The ex-cheerleader married politically aspiring Jason Carson. Four years later they divorced. Blair got everything she asked for in the settlement thanks to a single photograph of him kissing her seventeen-year-old sister. She uses the money to follow her dream of opening a coed fitness center, "Great Bods". It is a huge success. Blair not only loves her business, but she actually cares for her staff and customers. All except for Nicole "Nikki" Goodwin. Nikki joins Great Bods and began to mimic Blair. Nikki colors her hair the same color, grows it long, purchases a similar car, and even buys the same workout clothes (all the way down to the leg warmers). But everyone, even the members of the gym, could tell that Nikki pure hates Blair. Many members of the gym complains about Nikki's attitude too and files formal complaints. So when time came for Nikki to renew, Blair simply pulls out the complaints and gently refuses to let Nikki renew her membership. Nikki's exit is violent, though she never hits anyone. That very night, as Blair locks up and leaves the building, Nikki is shot dead in the parking lot. Blair did not get a good look at the killer, but just being a witness is enough.

The police lieutenant, Jefferson "Wyatt" Bloodsworth, a man Blair once dated and to whom she is still very much attracted to, enters the picture. The media, of course, promptly put Blair on the front page and told the public that she witnessed the murder. NOT GOOD! Needless-to-say, the next gunshot Blair hears is directed at her. Nikki had been a case of mistaken identity. Now Wyatt and Blair must figure out who wants to kill her before they actually succeed.

***** This novel has plenty of romance, but is overflowing with suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The author, Linda Howard, writes the story as if Blair is actually talking to the reader. With Blair's witty mind and "don't mess with me, I'm no push over" attitude, I found myself actually laughing aloud often. I highly recommend this one for anyone going on vacation and wanting something wonderful to read. I specify to those on vacation because you may find yourself staying up late at night to read and will want to sleep late the next morning. Excellent! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Linda Howard's Latest is a must read. I have been a great fan of her romantic suspense and her supernatural-tinged books, although the last two were a little light on the male-female relationship for me. Still, any Linda Howard is a great read, and her latest is tons of fun.

The book is told in first-person and the reader immediately cues into the motivations of the heroine, Blair. She is a terrific heroine, smart, funny, high-maintenance and totally aware of how to manipulate the male of the species until she comes across the ultimate alpha-male character, Wyatt, who is just as flummoxed by her as she is bothered and bewildered by him! The two are perfectly matched, and while the focus remains on the developing relationship between the protagonists, it is made spicy by an underlying murder-mystery and continuing threats made to Blair's life.

What a fantastic read! Linda Howard never fails to disappoint, but this time she has surprised me, by taking away some of the intensity of the suspense, but really focusing on the development of the relationship between the two main characters, with a group of supporting characters that I would love to hear more about!

I've been anxiously awaiting To Die For for quite a long time and I have to say, I wasn't let down. This book was a hoot and the heroine, Blair Mallory was a pleasure to get to know.

After witnessing a murder at the gym she owns, Great Bods, Blair is drawn back into the life of police Lieutenant J.W. Bloodsworth, a man who dumped her two years ago after only three dates. She's still mad and isn't about to let him get the best of her.

But Wyatt knows that Blair is the woman for him. Though he once backed away from her, knowing she would be too high maintenance, when he hears about the murder at Great Bods, he's stunned and fearful that it could be the sassy Blair who was the victim. He's very relieved to find out that Blair is safe and sound, but now he knows he has to ensure that she stays that way. She was the only witness to the murder, thus it's more than likely that she might be the next victim.

Wyatt hustles her into his house where he can protect her, while she proceeds to drive him up the wall. Though they grow closer the more time they spend together, the case is going no where fast. There are no clues, no witnesses and it looks like that Blair might have been the intended victim in the first place. How will they solve this and keep Blair safe? Will Wyatt be able to prove that this time around he's going to stick?

To Die For is very reminiscent of Howard's story Mr. Perfect. There is lots of humor, lots of romance, and a good mystery. This book is written in the first person point of view however, so the only thoughts the reader gets are those of Blair. Despite this, Blair is a great character with lots of witty asides and plenty of sass to keep the novel rolling through its almost 400 pages.

This is not a typical romance for Howard however. There are no hot and heavy love scenes, which have become trademarks of Linda Howard's books in the past. Blair doesn't go into the details, but there is still plenty of romance between these characters, it's just not what the reader has come to expect from Howard.

The secondary characters of Wyatt's mother and Blair's family are also wonderful additions to this story, adding to the humor and to the zaniness that is so much a part of Blair's world.

The one criticism I have is the fact that Blair's perkiness can get a bit annoying part way through the novel. I just wanted to tell her to tone it down a bit at certain points.

Despite this though, I was thrilled with this novel, especially after how disappointed I was with Kiss Me While I Sleep. Though it's not serious drama that many readers have come to expect from Howard, it is a great story that will hold your attention from the first page to the last. I am hoping that Howard might write more about these characters as I think Blair and Wyatt have more stories to tell.

After KISS ME WHILE I SLEEP, I wasn't sure if I would be buying many more Linda Howard books. But I'm glad I bought this one. I usually do not like books written in the first person. This one grows on you.

Blair Mallory is a little bit of every woman we would like to be. A former cheerleader, Prom queen, politician's wife, now divorced she has her own business, Great Bods, a fitness salon. She is also sassy, witty, vicious, sexy, mouthy, independent, and secure and insecure is so many ways. At first it's hard to like her, but the more you read, the more you smile and understand her. Anyway, she witnesses a murder in her parking lot. Then it seems the killer is trying to kill her, either because she is a witness, or she was the one he was trying to kill to begin with.

Jefferson Wyatt Bloodworth is the Lt. assigned to her case. He is also the man who after 3 dates dropped her without an explanation. No way is she letting him drop back into her life after 2 years without paying for the hurt he caused her. Wyatt is determined to get their relationship back on track. Getting her to stay with him at his house while they hunt the killer is a break for him, but he finds nothing is easy with Blair.

These two strong willed people fight the battle of the sexes. I have to say the interaction is humerous, entertaining and wonderful. The mystery is also pretty good. My only complaint is I wish I had known what Wyatt was thinking in some of these situations. Sometimes you just have to take a chance.

I have to admit that the last few Linda Howard books have not been up to her standard. They were good for everyone else, but they lacked something for Linda Howard. To Die For made up for everything in spades! The fact that you can tell everything that goes on through Blair's head was hilarious since she does fall into the blond stereotype at times. I loved Ms. Howard's return to the alpha male hero where actions are suppose to speak louder than words and the fact that he tried so hard to stay on top of things made everything more endearing to read. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a good story with solid characters and is enjoyable till the very last page!

There are two things that I expect from a Linda Howard book - suspense and steamy romance. I had a hard time with this one - and it all boils down to the use of first person - a first for Howard. I could not decide if this was a romantic mystery or a variation on humorous chick lit. And lets face it, the steamy romance was pretty non-existent. The strengths of the story is the relationships - particularly the dynamics of Blair's family.

Blair is a divorced gym owner. She cleaned out in her divorce because her unfaithful husband made a pass at her teenage sister, and she managed to get the goods on film. A murder outside her gym brings police lieutenant, Wyatt Bloodsworth on the scene. Wyatt and Blair dated briefly years earlier, but he just stopped calling with no explanation (and it takes until the end to find out why).

She immediately cops attitude with him, as he investigates the crime, and starts to fall for her. In turn she becomes his biggest nightmare when she finds out that he has told people they are dating. And so the "list of transgressions" starts, as we are taken on a hilarious journey as the two protagonists fight each other as well as their mutual attraction.

When another attempt is made on her life, Wyatt moves her into his apartment and has his mom baby-sit her. She still manages to get into trouble, and a whole other list of transgressions is drafted. I found myself laughing so much at her antagonistic behavior with regard to Wyatt, and like all his co-workers, felt sorry for him.

To Die For
Linda Howard
Ballantine; Jan 2005, $7.99, 378 pp.
ISBN: 0345476255

When Blair Mallory refuses to renew Nicole Goodwin's membership in her fitness center Great Bods, the latter throws a temper tantrum. After closing for the evening, Blair heads to her car only to see Nikki there. A shot rings out; Blair believes Nikki is shooting at her. She calls the police who find Nikki dead with a bullet in her.

Lieutenant Wyatt Bloodsworth heads the investigation though he dated Blaire a few times before dropping her like a hot potato. During his inquiries he makes it very clear that he wants a serious relationship with Blaire and even gets her to move into his home when someone tries to shoot her. When Nikki's killer is caught, everyone breaths a sigh of relief until someone cuts the brake lines of Blaire's car. Nikki's killer has an airtight alibi while someone else apparently wants the fitness guru dead.

After numerous well written romantic suspense thrillers, Linda Howard employs the first person narrative for the first time and makes it work as readers know everything the beleaguered heroine thinks and feels. This means the audience knows that Blair finds her protective champion hot, which makes their time out of bed quite an amusing battle of the sexes. There is no apparent suspect except the jailed killer so Blair and readers ponder who and why. TO DIE FOR is an excellent romantic suspense as expected from Ms. Howard, who always provides a fabulous read.

Harriet Klausner

if this classified as romantic suspense or romantic thriller, well i give 1 star out of 5 for the suspense/thriller/mystery part. that part is flat out bad. there isn't much mystery there and it's not giving any suspense, even if it stars with a murder. the ending for that part is a bit silly.

however, i like this book because it's FUN! some of the scenes are really funny, i can't stop giggling. i love the banters between blair and wyatt. the dialogs are really enjoyable. there are some sweet stuffs too (he makes bread pudding for her!) the supporting characters are fun to read also, like blair's family -- which reminds me a bit of stephanie plum's family (from janet evanovich's novels), although stephanie's family is more dysfunctional. and the ending, where blair's mom "killed" her monitor in such a fashion, is totally cracked me up.

don't try to look for the mystery or suspense in this book, enjoy it for the sheer light funny moments it has.