Customer Reviews

The Reef

5 star:		(62)
4 star:		(39)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I've only read a handful of Nora Roberts' books so I'm no expert on this master of romance. My one complaint with most of these books is that they are very rote and mundane. It's the same old thing everytime but with a different setting. Fortunately, Roberts' style and research saves this book from becoming overly predictable.

The setting is the West Indies and the quest is the search for "Angelique's Curse", a jewel encrusted amulet that has a history of bringing bad luck to the owner. Beautiful, young Tate Beaumont is a marine archeologist, who is on her parent's boat when she meets Matthew Lassiter, on another boat with his family of salvage divers. Tate is immediately smitten with the handsome, athletic Matthew but there is no immediate "happily every after story" yet. They part ways and meet up again years later to search for the amulet. Behind all this is Silas Van Dyke, a ruthless businessman who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. He was also responsible for the death of Matthew's father years ago and Matthew will not rest until he evens the score.

The scenery is beautiful and the reader is exposed to all the nuances of deep sea diving. I bought this book because the jacket cover was so beautiful and I must admit that I was not disappointed with the written pages on the inside.

What a great book! After all the NR books I have read, I am still amazed by her descriptive abilities only this location is unlike any other. This story has many locations under water. Diving is a huge element, and I felt like I was there.

The characters were well written - Tate Beaumont and Matthew Lassiter had chemistry, friendship, and love. The families were important to the story also. Angelique's Curse was very intriguing. There was a lot of history, mystery, and the curse attached.

I loved the adventure in this book. Diving for treasure is exciting enough, but then Tate is paired up with Matthew and the tension begins to heat up. Roberts' characters are real and enjoyable, I loved Tate and Matthew, and adored Tate's parents. Matthew's uncle was a quite a character as well. This is a great read - one of my favorites by Nora Roberts.

I'm a big fan of Nora Roberts writing as J.D. Robb. But this was my first "regular" Roberts book. The Reef started out wonderfully with the underwater murder of Matthew Lassiter's father. Bringing Uncle Buck and Matthew together with amateur treasure hunters, Ray and Marla Beaumont, and their gorgeous daughter, Tate was terrific. I couldn't put the book down. I loved the intrigue, the heartbreak of Matt and Tate. But after their initial break-up, when they see each for the first time in years, the story (their relationship, the mystery of the evil Silas VanDyke) petered out. I really wanted to like this book more. Will definitely sample another Roberts' book, though.

There's just something eternally endearing about a hero who breaks your heart, and Matthew Lassiter did that for me. I absolutely *love* it when the guy has to sacrifice in some way for the heroine, and has to overcome all odds and his own past to be with her. It's because I liked Matthew so much in this book that I loved the book. Reading this book made me get teary-eyed at times, I cared a lot about each of the characters by the end. The only reason I'm holding out on the last star is because I agree with some of the other viewers that the villain was not that interesting - but the secondary characters more than make up for it.

I think that a lot of the people who didn't like this book just aren't Romance readers. The cover isn't an automatic tip-off to the genre, so I can understand that. But if you like contemporary romance books, expecially with hot heros who sacrifice for love (but are definitely *not* boring), then you'll like this one. Plus - it's awful hard to find good contemporary romance, and this fits the bill!

I have never before read a Roberts book but I totally became a fan after reading this book. The details of the treasure hunting, underwater explorations and the growing love between Matthew and Tate totally drew me in to the story. I stayed up all night to finish it and then was left wanting more! If you want a book that involves you completely then get this one, it is a wonderful ride full of love, danger and lots of fun treasure hunting!

This could easily be called "Aloma of the South Seas" or some other title befitting an Errol Flynn adventure movie, full of exotic locations, a headstrong, beautiful heroine...a marine scientist of course, a tall, handsome, rough-diamond hero and an evil baddie. Divers are searching for a fabulous ruby, diamond and gold necklace which, according to legend, brings bad luck to whoever owns it. Our hero's father was murdered for his knowledge of the whereabouts of the necklace, and his son is determined to kill his father's killer. The settings in this book are romantic and beautiful, the sex scenes sizzle, so perhaps this makes it an ideal holiday read without having to concentrate too hard.

I took this book to Hawaii with me and found out very quickly it was a perfect choice. I loved the relationship between the two main characters. I felt like the ending may have been a little rushed, maybe because I did not want it to end! Also, I felt a bit of a personality change in the leading male character towards the end of the story. Matthew Lassiter seemed to became a bit passive towards the end of the book. Other than that I loved the book and still felt it was worth five stars.

I can't say enough good things about THE REEF! It shows a strong female character in a field that used to be dominated by men, and a strong sensitive male that isn't afraid to dream.

This is a fantasy come true and involves marine archeologist Tate Beaumont and Matthew Lassiter and their families. The families run into each other while treasure-hunting for Angelique's Curse - a treasure that has eluded everyone, and many think it is only a myth. But this artifact is worth everything to some, even worth killing another.

As this joint expedition continues, it holds all of the elements needed for a great story: mystery, romance, secrets that can't be shared, deceptions and threats. There are so many angles that could have been pursued the reader isn't sure which avenue Nora Roberts will take until she delivers them to it. This always keeps you on the edge of your seat, and gives you a first hand "view" of the undersea world of beauty and intrigue.

I highly recommend THE REEF and only wish it would have continued - or at least had a sequel in the works! Great characters and fantastic plot will hook the reader from the beginning. One of Nora Roberts better works!

This has got to be my all time favorite book...I could not put it down....I read it several years ago...

The Scenery, mystery, romance all intertwined makes for a great novel.