7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Passionate about Passion to Die For, October 25, 2009
This review is from: Passion to Die For (Silhouette Romantic Suspense) (Mass Market Paperback)
If you haven't read Marilyn Pappano's book, Passion to Die For, buy it now before it's gone!
And I'm not just telling you that because she's a Twisted Sister. ([...])
It's because she's a fantastic author and I want everyone to know. In fact, I want to be Marilyn when I grow up!
Here's a sad fact: I took Marilyn's book with me to the hospital. Her books are always good, and I just knew it would help me take my mind off the pain. But heavy duty pain killers not only took away the pain, they melted my brain. I had her book out to read once, then I didn't see it again.
I figured I'd lost it (or someone, seeing this wonderful book, had checked it out without telling me). Just as I was about to buy another one, my wonderful, fantastic, caring DH unpacked my hospital bag for me and, guess what! He found it inside a part of the bag I hadn't realized was there.
So I started the book last night.
As a reader, I'm one who likes to savor her books. I carry them with me so I can take a nibble here and a bite there. I enjoy and reread my babies, wallowing in the prose until I'm as satisfied as if I've just had a delicious Thanksgiving dinner I didn't have to cook.
But I can't do that with PASSION TO DIE FOR. Why? you ask. (You are asking, right?)
It's because each page drags me to the next. At the end of one chapter, I want to know what's going to happen in the next one. Every character comes to life until I can smell them, see them, almost touch them.
And get this! Marilyn has written a LESS THAN PERFECT heroine. Not just a little less, I mean a lot less. Her past is downright scary, and while she's pulled herself from the dregs to a beautiful life in Copper Lake (the only place that might be as nice to live in as my hometown) her past walks in the door.
Isn't it funny how less than perfect characters can make a perfect book?
If you'll check out many of the romances on your shelf, you'll find it's the hero who's less than perfect. Bad boys,ugly habits, flaws to die for.
But Marilyn is an equal opportunity author, giving her heroines as rough a background as her heros.
In her previous Copper Lake book, Scandle in Copper Lake, her heroine, Anamaria, was a psychic with a mixed heritage. Her mother had passed, and her father unknown. This less than perfect woman falls in love with the a son of the town's leading family. Another book I couldn't put down.
Just reading Copper Lake books makes me want to pack a bag and move right in. I love Marilyn's books!
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3.0 out of 5 stars
Great Mystery, Lacking Romance, January 22, 2012
For the most part this was an enjoyable and intriguing book. I was surprised I continued with it though because there was some serious formatting issues with my copy. It made it difficult at times to read the book. And if that's the quality of ebook I should expect from Harlequins website, then I won't be getting any from them again. Anyway, the pacing was excellent in this story and I was hooked from the start, a real page-turner. I was also surprised with that, because I did not care for the main characters Tommy and Ellie. And what was up with all the 'ee' sounding names?! Tommy, Ellie, Robbie, Annie, Kiki, Marnie, Jeffrey, and I'm sure I'm forgetting some. It was super annoying.
I had trouble though connecting with the H/h. I felt Ellie was a whiner/complainer and Tommy was gullible and a masochist. I didn't believe in their love for each other at all because it wasn't really shown. Implied, yes but not shown. Honestly, I hated Ellie and I couldn't respect Tommy because he loved her for whatever reason. The romance just didn't work for me.
The mystery was excellent though. The culprit was totally out of left field, and not even mentioned as a suspect, and the climax of the situation was very quick and abrupt. But for 90% of the book I was thoroughly intrigued trying to figure out the whodunnit. That part of the plot was the saving grace for my completing the book and ultimately giving it 3 stars. If not for that this would have been a 1 star or DNF. I was disappointed by that fact as I'm a huge fan of Marilyn Pappano. I love her writing voice a lot. This is definitely the lowest I've ever rated one of her books and I'm sure it won't happen again. Unfortunately, I just can't recommend this one, not when she has so many other truly great books out there.
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