January Chill [Mass Market Paperback]

Rachel Lee (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2001

Witt Matlock has long carried a bitter hatred for Hardy Wingate, the man he holds responsible for the death of his daughter. Now, twelve years later, the man to blame for the tragedy is back in his life -- and that of his niece, Joni. But only widow Hannah Matlock knows that Witt is actually Joni's father and not her uncle. Anger, resentment and deceit threaten to destroy a family that teeters on the verge of collapse, until four damaged souls can learn to forgive...and allow themselves to love.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Set in a small, mountain mining town, Lee's second installment of her Whisper Creek series (following Snow in September) explores the pain and destructiveness of excessive grief. Though 17-year-old Karen Matlock died in a car crash caused by a drunk driver, her father, Witt ,blames Hardy Wingate, Karen's boyfriend. Twelve years have passed, but Witt's hatred for Hardy has dimmed little. Unbeknownst to Witt, his niece, Joni, is in love with Hardy, and she hopes to bring him and her uncle together by encouraging Hardy, who has since become an architect, to design the hotel Witt wants to build with his recently won lottery prize money. Predictably, this well-meaning plan backfires, and Joni and her mother, Hannah, bear the brunt of Witt's fierce anger and resentment. A subplot involving Joni's true parentage further disrupts this rocky romance, and Hannah's intimate relationship with Witt, though a touching side story, seems contrived. Lee's primary mistake here, however, is allowing Witt, a thoroughly unlovable and unpleasant character, to dominate the story. (Apr.)
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"A magnificant presence in romantic fiction. Rachel Lee is an author to treasure forever".

-- Romantic Times

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Mira (April 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1551668025
• ISBN-13: 978-1551668024
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,611,638 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A teriffic storyteller, March 23, 2001

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: January Chill (Mass Market Paperback)

Twelve years may have passed since Karen Matlock died at the hands of a drunken driver, but the hatred her father Witt feels for Hardy Wingate has grown with time. Witt believes his daughter Karen still would be alive if it were not for Hardy, her boyfriend at the time, though the lad was not the DUI driver.

Hardy, now an architect, has returned to Whisper Creek. He wants to design Witt's hotel, but knows Karen's father loathes him so his chances are slim to none. Hardy's prime purpose for returning home is to complete what he feels is unfinished business. However, his secret agenda has nothing to do with closure over Karen or reconciliation with Witt. Instead he comes home to see Witt's niece Joni, who when he left Whisper Creek he loved her and believes he still does. Now he must overcome obstacles placed in his path by Witt and a secret involving Joni's biological parents.

A JANUARY CHILL is an entertaining romantic suspense that stars two wonderful lead characters. However, Witt owns the story line as the plot is loaded with his actions and other cast members reactions. Though his acrimonious acerbic personality is fueled by his despising Hardy, readers will find Rachel Lee's well-written tale to taste a bit acidly.

Harriet Klausner

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Colder than a January Chill, May 26, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: January Chill (Mass Market Paperback)

On a gradual slope headed downward that has been the condition of her last 3 novels, Lee wants us to accept this improbable and depthless novel. The characters lack so much that their movements, thoughts, actions and feelings never involve the reader. Furthermore the reader has no stake in the plot or the suspense, probably because neither exists at any level. Lee used to construct tough, well conceived, and rather gritty novels. Her latest efforts, however, are too washed-out and weak.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well drawn characters make this a good read., July 7, 2001

By 

Affaire de Coeur - See all my reviews

This review is from: January Chill (Mass Market Paperback)

Hannah Matlock had kept the secret of her daughter Joni's paternity for twenty-seven long years. Believing that Witt Matlock was her uncle, Joni went on with her life until the night of a fateful accident, when she finds out the truth. For all those years, Witt had harbored a grudge against Hardy Wingate, the man he held responsible for the death of his daughter many years earlier. Now that Hardy has won a bid for an important architectural project, Witt doesn't want him around, and especially doesn't want him to work on the building. Rachel Lee's departure from her norm is a very well drawn character study of one family's dynamics and how they relate to each other. The emotions are real and intense, and the story is very well crafted. It's one emotional roller coaster ride, but it's a very thrilling one.