Customer Reviews

Late for the Wedding

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

The third in the Lavinia Lake/Tobias March series has the two investigators searching for a mysterious murderer. The murderer dispatches fiances who would make unsatisfactory husbands for young girls. Lavinia and Tobias are joined by her neice and his brother-in-law to solve an interesting and exciting mystery. The first two of the series were a disappointment but this story is almost back to Amanda Quick's earlier historical romances. Characterization is sharp and the twists of the plot keep the reader guessing to the end. An enjoyable read for the summer and the beach.

I adore Jayne Anne Krentz's writings - whatever the name - and have nearly everything she has written going back to the old Candlelights. Krentz/Quick is one writer I keep and generally buy in hardback, and will even reread them. But I am, once again, sadly disappointed in her #2 and #3 in her trilogies. I know the publishers of today are pushing for trilogies and series, trying to keep readers hooked for more sales. But frankly, they are causing people to grumble, and with good reason, maybe even driving the very fans away with this trend. Jayne Ann - I love you work, but you REALLY NEED to listen to your fans. Your Trilogies are NOT holding up. You give us a SUPER first books, the paler, weaker second and third in the series. You see the same complaint, so-so mysteries with the leads and their romance taking a backseat to too busy story lines. And I see a lot of fans saying NO more. I really hate to see this happening to such a talented writer.

I REALLY wanted to love this book. It's a nice read. But I recommend it for Quick/Krentz devoted fans only, and then, I would suggest waiting for paperback or picking it up at the library. Disappoint hurts less when you don't pay as much!

Lavinia and Tobias from "Slightly Shady" and "Don't Look Back" put in their third - and hopefully last - appearance in a so-so mystery, along with her niece, Emeline, and his brother-in-law, Anthony. Lavinia has finally given up on seeing her niece married "properly", though Tobias has not given up on marriage to Lavinia. Tobias accompanies Lavinia to the county to Beaumont Castle, home of Lord Beaumont. Seems they never have any time alone for lovemaking. (Hum, poor Lavinia and Tobias cannot have time alone? TRY getting MARRIED, then they could see each other every night!!). Sorry, it's just an example of really THIN plot line. Tobias' promise of romance, maybe leading to marriage proposal, nearly comes to cropper by the entrance of Aspasia Gray, back into Tobias' life. She hires him to investigate threats against her, but she wants more than just his investigative skills. Any chance of a romantic weekend is ruined when Lavinia catches him in the arms of Aspasia. Tobias chases after Lavinia to explain, but while they are arguing their host, Lord Beaumont, goes sailing past Lavinia's window. No one believes it is was murder, so it is up to Lavinia and Tobias to get to the bottom the mystery.

Anthony and Emeline's flirtatious romance is rattle by the arrival of Anthony's half-brother, Dominic Hood (hinting there may be more in the series). Sigh, I hope not. At least, not if it is more of the quality.

I am looking forward to "After Glow" under her Jayne Castle name. Her Offworld Romances have been dead on target, so I am hoping (REALLY HOPING) this one will be, too.

I'm beginning to feel ripped off - what would be one good book is stretched out by the publisher to three oh-so-indifferent books. Together, all three of this series might come close to one of Amanda Quick's earlier works.

I can see why the publishers do it:
** They'd have to charge $27 or more for one GOOD novel
** By splitting the book, they get $23 each for three NOT-SO-GOOD novels
** The split books still look the same because of wider margins and larger type styles

I can't see why the authors do it, though. Don't they see they are disappointing their readers, and ultimately might turn us off completely?

I won't complain about plots or characters. I know before I buy a hybrid romance/mystery that it's a combination of both genre's and, therefore, neither the romance nor the mystery will be GREAT. You get 6 of one and 1/2 dozen of the other. If you buy one of these hybrid novels, you get characters like Tobias and the crew with several light mysteries thrown in with the lighter version of a romance novel.

I just wish the authors and publishers would quit trying to rip me off. This three book series would have ACTUALLY made only one good book.

I used to REALLY enjoy the Amanda Quick books (Rendezvous, Surrender, Desire and Mystique come to mind), but the last 5 or so of her books have been almost non-romance books. The people in them seem to all just have personality issues or something, as opposed to having a romance - it seems like no one is willing to commit and that they aren't really too interested in each other anyway. I wish the author would get back to romance stories and leave the darkness behind. As it is, I'm forced to go back to the old Stephanie James/Jayne Castle books for reading fun.

This definitely the best of the three titles featuring these two protagonists, Lavinia and Tobias. However, it still falls far below her previous standards, even for the recent JAK titles which all have the same characters and the same setting, just a variation in means and names. I would NOT recommend purchase of this one - go borrow it from the library and then hope that there are no more in this series!

They may have attended the country party seeking the opportunity for a little lovemaking, but when an aging Lord falls to his death, Lavinia Lake and Tobias March believe they have a murder on their hands. Unfortunately, they are the only ones who believe this and are promptly sent back to London. But the clues point to an old link in Tobias's life--a friend had once become a professional assassin. While the friend is dead, someone seems to have followed in his footsteps. With the friend's ex-fiancee as client, Tobias and Lavinia use their investigative talents to search for a killer who leaves behind a ring with a death-head mask.

Set in regency England, LATE FOR THE WEDDING details the social structure of the day, an emerging tendency toward prudery in the younger generation (leading to the Victorian era?), and the difficulties and risks facing a woman who is contracted to the wrong marriage. Because marriage is firmly in the mind of Tobias, Lavinia, Ermeline and Anthony (Lavinia having abandoned the idea of a 'suitable' marriage for her niece). The mystery is well done, with dangerous moments and heroic rescues.

LATE FOR THE WEDDING is the third in a series of novels about Tobias and Lavinia. Talented author Amanda Quick makes the stories interesting, but the banter between Tobias and Lavinia is starting to run a little thin--perhaps in creating the title, Quick realized that this should be the end of a fine series and that she might even have been a little late resolving the romantic issues. But then again, perhaps we will see this couple again.

Of the three Lavinia Lake-Tobias March Romance-Mystery novels out so far, I liked "Late for the Wedding" best. Not only was the story was a lot more intriguing and interesting this time around, but also this novel showcased the working relationship that Lavinia and March share a great deal better, presenting each individual's strengths and weaknesses thus allowing us to understand why they make such a good team.

Tobias and Lavinia hoped that by attending the Beaumont Castle house party, they would get the chance to spend some intimate and romantic time together without fear of being interrupted by anyone or anything. Unfortunately for them, this does not come to pass. First, an old acquittance from Tobias's past, the hauntingly beautiful Aspasia Gray, begs his help. She's being threatened because of her past relationship with the assassin, the Momento Mori Man. Fearing for her life, she begs Tobias (and Lavinia) to investigate and to discover who is threatening her and why. But the investigation takes a more ominous tone when just hours after Aspasia approaches him, a guest dies under suspicious circumstances. A quick look at the man's room reveals that the Momento Mori Man may have had something to do with the unfortunate man's death. Now, Tobias and Lavinia must pool their talents and resources in order to unmask this new Momento Mori Man and put an end to his murderous career, and time is of the essence. For who can tell exactly when the assassin will decide that this battle of wits and wills is too hazardous to his own safety and decide to put an end to Tobias and Lavinia?

What I esp liked about this book was that it really showcased Lavinia's strengths as a detective. I may be remembering wrong but I don't think that the other two books in the series did this. "Late for the Wedding" on the other hand focused on the value of feminine knowledge, and I for one, really enjoyed this. Fast paced, cleverly plotted and with some really splendid scene desciptions, "Late for the Wedding" proved to be an exciting read that I was glad I had not missed.

I read this book because I had read the previous two in the March/Lake series. I found this one a slow read with too many characters to keep track of. The romance seems to have taken a backseat and I didn't care much at all about the niece and brother-in-law. Its ok, but no more than that.

I admit that her first two books of Lavinia and Tobias are a little bit on the dull side, especially "Don't Look Back" I read them so painstakingly in a span of one week. But this one, I thought Quick has finally grasped Lavinia and Tobias's character. The comedy has improved a lot and I found myself laughing a lot of times. The mystery is a lot funner but the suspect is so EASY to guess. Gosh, it's a no-brainer! Quick has no talent in writing these kind of mysteries. I was hoping I was wrong with my hunches, but I was really disappointed that I figured out the case faster than Lavinia and Tobias had: Im not showing off or anything, ha ha, no Im not...I wish I was, but there's no glory on this one indeed.
There are a lot of side stories in this novel: Vale and Joan, Dominic and Priscilla, Emeline and Anthony. I dont know about others, but, truthfully, I enjoyed reading their little scenes. I wish this is not a trilogy coz even though I have a low opinion of these 3 books, I have to say that Quick has a potential in improving the story line.

I love a good trilogy, and would love if there would be a fourth and final book to see Lavinia and Tobias and Emeline and Anthony get married. I picked the first book up at the library and loved it and couldn't wait to get the other two.