Customer Reviews

Letters to Kelly (Silhouette Intimate Moments No. 1213)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was not sure if I would like this Brockmann book, especially after being disappointed with her last novel, although about 80% of what she has written I consider keepers. But this is a different style of book than her norm. To begin with, this is not a SEAL book. Plus you have the whole "romance writer talking to his character" aspect, along with running a story over an (abbreviated) eleven year period, so I started out a bit leery. Was I surprised at how good this book is!

The characters are well developed, the letters amazing, and the plot interesting. I didn't put this book down, but read the whole thing in two hours. It is very different from her other works. Usually someone is in danger or there is a conspiracy to uncover, or both, which is what usually moves Brockmann's plots along. This time it is a persistent hero fighting for the trust of the women he loves.

The only complaint I have is that the ending wrapped up way to fast when Kelly learned about why Jax left and didn't come back. The last few pages felt abrupt. But other than that, I put this up there with Prince Joe, Forever Blue and Frisco's Kid. In the end, I really liked the fact that the main characters had known each other for years. I get tired of the contrived aspect of two people falling in love when they have known each other for 72 hours. This seemed much more believable, which made the story all the more poignant and memorable.

Lets just be up front.

This is NOT her usual Navy Seal Alpha Male....

I was at first a little unsure what to expect, because I was used to her writing. Or so I thought so.

This book was excellent.
I loved the humor in it.

Ms. Brockmann gave us a more sensitive male who is the one wanting a commitment and knowing that he loved this woman no matter what. He was the one who was in touch with his feelings and she had issues with hers.

It isn't Ms. Brockmann's usual Navy Seal Guy, but it shows how talented she really is.

I liked this book and would say to buy it.

To a new reader of Ms. Brockmann I should say that you should read her other books, but not to expect this type of story, but good nevertheless!

I just read Letters to Kelly by Suzanne Brockmann. I finished it in one sitting. There was no way I could put it down. I think it might just be the most romantic story I've ever read, and I've read hundreds of romance novels. Jax, Kelly, and their histories - their shared history, and each of their separate paths - were woven into an incredibly beautiful tale. There were some funny moments to keep things from becoming overly intense, including a few priceless scenes where Jax was arguing with his own characters.

Letters to Kelly is not especially steamy, or action-oriented, or suspenseful, or a lot of other things that often make a book good. None of those elements would have added a thing to the story. It's all about the characters, their relationship, and their emotions. It's truly one of the best books I've ever read. If you are a fan of Suzanne Brockmann, romance in general, or even think you might like to give a romance novel a try, don't miss Letters to Kelly.

Suzanne Brockmann is probably my absolutely favorite author, so I was very excited to read one of her first, yet never published books. Unfortunately, this book reads like one written by a new author trying to find her way. It includes some sparks of Suz's talents, but was overall fairly disappointing!

This fairly disjointed story revolves around a near-affair by a 16-year-old girl (Kelly) and a 22-year-old man (Ty), and how they find each other later in life after he is held as a political prisoner in Columbia for 2 years, then becomes a ROMANCE WRITER (??!!) who has imaginary conversations with his characters. The whole "jail-bait" story line is fairly creepy, and the character of Ty comes off as fairly wimpy despite having survived prison. If you have never read a Suzanne Brockmann book, DONT start with this one. Please check out any of her Navy SEAL books... they'll knock your socks off (such as "Forever Blue"). Despite this disappointment, Suz is still my favorite!

Courtesy of Love Romances

For two years, Tyrone Jackson Winchester the second (Jax) has been imprisoned in a political cell in Central America and has gone through hell. The only things that keep him alive are his love for Kelly and the letters that he wrote her but never have a chance to send.

Kelly O¡¦Brien was twelve when she met Jax, the college roommate of her brother and they became very good friend. When Kelly turned sixteen, Jax escorted her to her prom dance and they confessed their love for each other. Moreover, Jax made a promise to marry Kelly on her eighteen birthday but he never showed up.

In LETTERS TO KELLY, Brockmann has a very different style in penning the tale. Unlike her past novels, this one is intense with emotion and filled with sadness. Readers will sympathize the main characters and sigh for them. Remember to grab a box of tissue before you start this book, you will probably cry and have tears in your eyes when the story unfolds page by page.

A wonderful book
This book covers all the emotions. You will laugh, cry and be filled with joy. Jax Winchester fell in love with Kelly O'Brien when she was a teenager. Circumstances kept them about for seven years. Jax returns as a best selling author and his plan is to make Kelly his own. Kelly has a lot of trust issues to work through before she can give her heart to Jax. The story within a story of Jared and Carrie really blends and adds to the main love story. Letters to Kelly is a treasure, definitely a keeper.

LETTERS TO KELLY was such an incredible reading experience.
The story is about a journalist (Ty) who went into a Central American country just to get an exclusive interview and instead ended up becoming a political prisoner after being set up on trumped up false drug charges. He was imprisoned, beaten, starved for almost 2 years before Amenesity International managed to help him get released. During all this time he was held in this hell hole, he managed to keep his sanity by writing imaginary love letters to his sweetheart (Kelly) at home, whom he promised to marry when she turned 18. Not a day went by that he didn't tell Kelly how much he loved her, missed her and promised to marry her. Unfortunately her 18th birthday came & went and he was still imprisioned. It broke his heart that he couldn't be with her and it broke Kelly's heart that she thought Ty had abandoned her. Kelly never knew about his Central America assignment, all she knew was that he just dropped out of sight after a prom date and the empty promises of loving her. When he was finally released, Kelly had already married another guy and he was devastated. However, when that marriage fell apart, Ty couldn't believe his luck given a second chance and pursued Kelly relentlessly.

The story was so well written. Usually I get really fustrated when a couple is apart for a number of years and even more fustrated when the truth that keeps them apart is not revealed for really stupid reasons (like pride). However such was not the case in this story, everything made sense, however I did want to shake the heroine at a few points when she refuses to love the hero back when it was so apparent how much he loved her.
This was such a tortured hero, I fell in love with Ty from the beginning to the end. This book will warm your heart and bring tears to your eyes, so read it with a full box of tissues next to you.

In some ways I felt this book deserved five stars. The characters are very appealing, and the hero is unabashedly in love with the heroine from the start. Being a writer, I really enjoyed the parts about his struggles to write his book.

On the minus side, how many scenes can you have in one book where the heroine is thinking "I really want him, but he'll only hurt me again"? There must have been a dozen like that; it got to be a real drag. Zero stars for that aspect of it.

So I averaged and gave it three, but will probably keep it around rather than get rid of it, which means at least 3-1/2 stars on the emotional star-o-meter. Ya pays yer money and ya takes yer choice.

This was an awesome little read that took me all of about 3 hours to finish and gave me everything I could possibly want in a romance. Charming, super fun, and sexy this story also contains a reunited lovers theme which is one of my personal favourites and comes complete with a sensitive, somewhat tortured (and very cute) beta hero as well as the hilarious historical romance character he's writing and bantering with throughout. (The character talks back)

Letters To Kelly was also my very first foray into the world of Suzanne Brockmann. Why I've waited so long I have absolutely no idea?? Because if this little book, without a Troubleshooter, conspiracy or Navy Seal in sight is any indication of her talents then I've got a ton of fantastic reading ahead of me.

After agreeing to take his best friends little sister to prom T Jackson Winchester II (thankfully also known as Jax) suddenly see's the 16 year old Kelly in a whole new light. Realizing that he'd actually been in love with her for years (this was a bit of an ick factor considering he's known her since she was 12) He admits his feeling to her that very night and promises that the second she turns 18 he'll propose. Kelly's brother later catches them in a compromising situation and threatens to have Jax arrested unless he leaves town. Kelly never hears from Jax again and when her 18th birthday comes and goes she's heartbroken.

Little does she know that for the past 2 years Jax has actually been a prisoner in a South American Jail. He hasn't forgotten Kelly or his promise but without any way to reach her he starts composing letters to Kelly in his mind. The letters also serve to keep him sane and were another great aspect to this book. By the time Amnesty international steps in and frees Jax, Kelly has moved on and married someone else. The meat of this story takes place 3 years later with our persistent hero fighting to win back the woman he loves while maintaining a successful career as a romance writer.

My absolute favourite parts of this book (other than the scene with the suntan lotion) would have to be the scenes where Jax is writing his historical romance and arguing with its hero Jared. And anyone even slightly interested in the craft of writing will appreciate these clever and often hilarious scenes.

"Don't use words like b!tch and dude" Jax reminded him tiredly. "You live in the 1860's or have you forgotten?"
"Look at you." Jared ignored Jax's question. "You look like total crap--"
"Crap. Another fine word for a historical romance hero."
"--You haven't showered in days and your drinking beer at 9 o'clock in the morning--" "Morning, night what's the difference anyway?" muttered Jax

So I've now joined the league of Brockmann fans and I think anybody who enjoys a great romance and has a couple of hours to spare will also appreciate this book. Cheers.

Delightfully surprised at how emotionally poignant this Suzanne Brockmann book is. Brockmann is known for her action-suspense-Navy SEAL themes & sizzling sex books. I was pulled in by the emotions of her main characters that tears were actually involved! One thing I didn't like was the heroine's stubborness.

Highly recommended.