Customer Reviews

To Meet Again

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It always amazes me how we (reviewers) read the same book and come up with different insights. I thought the book's premise was great and,having read Barbieri books before, looked forward to a great read but was disappointed. The initial chapter was wonderful. You had to fall in love with Wade even as he said good bye in Thea's arms at the altar. Going away to her aunt's to recover also made sense. Yet the relationship between Thea and her aunt Veronica never jelled. And then there's Quinn...who looks and talks like Wade, seems to say the same things to Thea that Wade did, but instead of a lawman is a stage robber. Is this man Wade? Thea chews this over for most of the book, which gets a bit boring. Of course the reader finds out that Quinn is an undercover lawman...hence another similarity to Wade. Sheffield, a fiesty female federal agent, and Perry enter the chase...and then there's aunt veronica's friendship with Larry. Everything is in place for some wonderful things but at this point I thought the book kind of died. The relationships of the secondary couples were superficially written about and came to conclusions very quickly. Thea and Quinn did the is he or not thing til the end of the book. The ending is different but I'm not sure what to make of it. I guess its open to interpretation. I read constantly. I don't understand the 5* ratings on this as I barely finished the book and gave it away. Just didn't think EB did her storyline and characters justice this time.

When Thea's Husdband to be Wade Randolph Preston, was murder at the altar, When she was about to said I Do,He die in her arms her wedding dress was full of his blood, She was devasteted,Them her aunt Veronica, her only relative a Doctor ask her to come to Wyoming to live with her,on the way her stagecoach was held up she could not beliver her eyes, She thoug she was looking at Wade the stage robber was had Wade's face body eyes and even talk with Wade's voice,it was like looking at Wade allover again, but this thief was Federal agent under cover possing as a thief, his name is Quinn Robert Banning. Thea though she was going crazy. I love miss Barbieri's book I gave it 5 Stars because she deserve it.

When I read the book cover I thought this might be a change from the run-of-the-mill romance novel. The idea that someone's first love who was murdered on their wedding day might come back somehow to be with his beloved intrigued me. I was willing to suspend disbelief if it could be made somehow believeable. I'm sorry to say it was not. There are 3 different couples whose stories were being told any of which could and should have been a book by themselves.The main characters Thea and her "is it him or isn't it" outlaw Quinn,her aunt Victoria and her recently widowed "she sees him as a friend but he wants more" best friend Larry and the two Treasury agents-Is he the boss or is she?? None of these couples are given enough attention to fully tell their story and one is left with the feeling that this book is just an introduction to a series the author is planning to write. Now it is not uncommon for authors to springboard books from books but my beef is that the author is so busy setting up for the sequels that she forgot to write a good first novel.The main character Thea walks around in a daze most of the time and when she is with her outlaw Quinn(Wade?) all she does during their "romantic encounters" is think about her dead fiancee which for me at least was a real mood killer. The author purposely leaves out any information about Quinn's past until the very end to keep you guessing if he really is the "dead" fiancee. Thea never asks him questions about his childhood which could have answered her questions once and for all. There is no real "intimacy" between them only sex so whether they stayed together in the end became irrelevant. My advice: Wait for the sequel about the Treasury agents Sheffield(a strong female) and Perry(strong but gentle) they were the best part of this book and the only reason I gave the book 3 stars-I wish I had waited.

Established author, Elaine Barbieri, has written another romantic saga of two lovers destined to be together.

Thea Radcliffe leaves the Georgia clay behind as she travels to Wyoming in 1882 to live with her aunt, Victoria. Still devastated by the loss of her fiancé, Wade, as he was shot at the altar two years prior, Victoria plans to start anew. But, in a romantic twist of fate, the stagecoach on which Thea is traveling is robbed, and the robber's eyes are the same as Wade's. And when he shows up at Dr. Victoria's door, injured and needing assistance, the resemblance is uncanny.

Thea must reconcile her feelings for Wade with Quinn Banning, an outlaw and a dead ringer for her deceased fiancé. Though many historicals address the concepts of love and loss, few heroines face finding a new love that looks identical to the lost one. In a clever reawakening, Thea must find the strength to love Quinn Banning, the whole man, the outlaw, as he is the man who loves her in return.

Subplots of romance between supporting characters as well as mini-mystery searching for stolen gold add another dimension to this read. Additionally, there is the ever-present doubt as to Quinn's true identity. Fans of Ms. Barbieri won't be disappointed when looking for a pleasing fast-paced romance.

This magnificant author must have been born with a silver pin in her hand. Her stories are wonderful and well crafted and she writes about people you care about. If you pick up Victoria's story, you won't be able to put it down until the end. Thank you, thank you, Mrs. Barbieri for another winner. I can't wait until your next book!!!!

This is my first book by this author. She's very good! Thea and Quinn were meant for each other. I think they wanted to be together intimately every time they saw each other because they were in love.
Sheffield was a refreshing change. She was great, smart, beautiful, and very brave. Perry, her love, was the same. In fact, these two nearly stole the show!
This book lacks one star because of the bland relationship between Thea and her aunt, Victoria. They were virtual strangers and had only an I-love-you-because-you're-my-relative relationship, because they certainly didn't know each other, didn't know anything about each other. I thought their relationship rather cold and merely polite. Both women had ample oportunity to share their fears and dreams with each other, but each declined, most often telling a lie to avoid conversation. Where was this supposed affection?

I have read every book Elaine Barbieri has ever written, and she always finds a fresh twist, something new and exciting to surprise us. This book is no exception. To me, nothing could be more romantic than the notion that a woman's first, true love, killed on their wedding night, could return to her. Barbieri carries out this idea as only she could. Woven into the tale of Thea, our heroine, and Quinn, the outlaw (is he or isn't he her first love?), are the stories of two other couples that add further interest to this book and keep us turning the pages. I won't tell you how the book ends because I don't want to spoil it for you. Suffice it to say it sent wonderful shivers up my spine and gave me goose bumps. READ THIS WONDERFUL BOOK! You won't be sorry.

To Meet Again was one of the best books I've ever read. The premise was intriguing when I read the back cover--a heroine losing her bridegroom to a gunman's bullet, only to meet up with a man two years later who looks exactly like him, who talks like him, walks like him, but who isn't him. Or is it really him? As if that wasn't enough, the love stories of two other minor characters keep the intrigue and excitement going at such a pace that I couldn't put the book down. To Meet Again isn't an ordinary historical. It has everything a reader could possibly want in a book. I didn't want it to end.

Elaine Barbieri has done it again, with a true romance set in the Old West. Her characters are real, vibrant people, struggling with their feelings, and trying to get to the happy ending we all want. Along the way Ms. Barbieri manages to throw in some interesting twists and turns, especially the idea of the "perfect" double - I found this to be a fascinating concept. Also, the romance of the two federal agents added some wonderful verbal sparring, and another interesting element to a very satisfying story. I recommend it very highly.

There are many things you can always depend on in an Elaine Barbieri book--a plot well developed, lots of action and a love story that will tug at your heart. To Meet Again is a wonderful way to curl up and dive into a wonderful crafted love story. My only problem with Ms. Barbieri is that she doesn't write them fast enough.