Customer Reviews

The McCaffertys: Matt

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In the first book of this miniseries, THE MCCAFFERTYS: THORNE, the eldest McCafferty fall in love with a doctor, breaking the brother's mutual commitment to bachelorhood. In the second book of this miniseries, middle brother Matt watches with amazement has his elder brother enjoys his wife and her twins. Perhaps it is time for Matt to rethink his single status.

As sister Randi lies in a comma at the hospital, questions surround her accident. Her brothers believe that she was run off the road while steering around an icy bend in the road, and the accident induced labor. Now her brothers care for her small son, nicknamed J.R., until she recovers. Thorne also encountered a risk to his safety when his plane had engine trouble during a storm, and that easily could have taken his life. Without evidence, however, Detective Kelly Dillinger can only continue to investigate. Then someone injects a dangerous drug into Randi's IV, and it becomes obvious that someone wants to eliminate the McCafferty siblings.

Even Kelly's family has an ax to grind against the McCafferty, as does, it seems, the whole town. Millionaires can have that effect on people. Indeed, the town believes that one or all of the brothers intend harm to Randi. Since no one knows who is the father of her baby, even Randi falls victim to the rumor mill. As Kelly continues her investigation, she finds herself increasingly thrown into the company of Matt McCafferty, which makes her none to happy. As far as she's concerned, he's bad news. But the more Kelly resists Matt's attentions, the more determined he becomes to break through her defenses.

The underlying tension from the threats to the McCaffertys makes for a real page turner. Indeed, the tension neatly mirrors the tension between hero and heroine as Matt begins his pursuit of his intended bride. With these richly realized characters and careful plotting, Lisa Jackson pens yet another winner in this fascinating miniseries. Readers will look forward to the next installment in the miniseries, due out in December 2001, THE MCCAFFERTYS: SLADE. Highly recommended.

Usually in romantic suspense one element of the story -- either the romance or the suspense -- generally suffers. Not so in THE MCCAFFERTYS: MATT, here author Lisa Jackson combines the two elements beautifully. More important, Ms. Jackson had me from the get-go!

The McCaffertys of Grand Hope, Montana were having a string of bad luck and Matt McCafferty wanted answers! Who was terrorizing his family by trying to kill Randi, his half-sister? The gossips were having a field day. Around town, the whispered rumors had the McCafferty brothers listed as prime suspects. The wealthy McCaffertys were roguishly handsome, sexy, and arrogant and they certainly had motive. If the high-and-mighty brothers got rid of their little half-sister, well their inheritance would grow substantially!

During the investigation of his sister's hit-and-run accident, Matt McCafferty had to notice Ms. Kelly Dillinger. Detective Dillinger was a no-nonsense spitfire with a "don't mess with me" attitude. She was intriguing, delightful, and sassy and Matt McCafferty was falling hard for this redheaded detective. Suddenly, Matt's carefree "love 'em and leave 'em" days were threatened. He knew someday he would marry; he just hadn't planned on a career-minded cop!

Most of the time, Kelly Dillinger held a tight rein on her emotions. Now suddenly she was feeling restless and alone. Her police work had always been enough, but now she wanted more. Could the roguish Matt McCafferty be the more? Kelly Dillinger didn't trust easily and she refused to be bullied or intimidated by any man. So what was it about Matt McCafferty? Was he the man she'd been waiting for all of her life? If she gave in to the calling, from her seldom-used feminine parts, would she suffer?

THE MCCAFFERTYS: MATT is a nicely handled romantic suspense. Matt McCafferty is the classic sexy, alpha-male cowboy; yet, Kelly Dillinger is not the standard romance heroine. By using a remarkably controlled pen, Lisa Jackson gives her heroine solid feminineness and yet, supplies her with sturdy toughness. And certainly, Ms. Jackson did not throw in Kelly's job as a window dressing.

Of course, THE MCCAFFERTYS: MATT is part of a family saga and the characters from each book, previous or sequel, drift effortlessly in and out. This drifting is a pleasant continual touch. However, the prologue, with old John Randall McCafferty in action, has little bearing on this story. My question - why have it? Moreover, the idea of feuding families with Kelly and Matt as the star-crossed lovers proved disappointing.

And finally, finally . . .
The mystery that surrounds the McCafferty brothers' half-sister, Randi. That mystery IS the element that ties the entire series together. Therefore, in THE MCCAFFERTYS MATT, there is no resolution. To learn the answer, the reader is forced to continue with the sequels; certainly, not an enormous trial, if THE MCCAFFERTYS: MATT is any indication.
Grade: B+

MaryGrace Meloche.
Reviewed for Romance Designs.
This review is based on the May, 2006 edition.

The McCaffertys: Matt (McCaffertys)
I am a huge fan of Lisa Jackson, and love the fact that I can purchase used books for as little as 1 cent. Shipping is always reasonable and always the same amount.

Matt had never met a woman who didn't succumb to the McCafferty charm. But beautiful Kelly Dillinger proved indifferent to his attractions. Although they didn't get along, her all-business attitude pricked his ego...and fired his blood. The more she resisted, the more determined he became to break down her defenses. For the lucious lady detective touched his soul, and there was no way he was going to let her get away without claiming her as his own blushing, breathless bride...

Second in The McCaffertys series.

This book is a disappointment to say the least. While it does give the reader a very predictable romance, it never resolves the "mystery" that is supposed to be part of the plot. As the lovers decide to marry - "against all odds" that they would be attracted to one another - they end the book committed to trying to find out "who did it." It's a non-plot...sorry I spent money on it.