Customer Reviews

Roan (Louisiana Gentlemen)

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

 

 

Jennifer Blake has always written wonderful romance stories, and her Benedict series is some of her best contemporary romance. The entire Benedict family is delightful to read about, especially the ever sexy, but mannerly men, Kane, Luke and now Roan. The stories and plot lines never let you down. Even when the reader feels the match will never make, Blake pulls the hero and heroine together with steamy romance and love. Please keep going on this wonderful family....can't get enough of the Benedicts!

WOW, this is a wonderful book. It kept me turning pages well into the night. I couldn't wait to see how it ended, yet hated when it did. These two characters will have you coming back for more from this author. (I read this one first then realized that there were two before this one. I AM DEFINETELY GETTING KANE AND LUKE TO READ NEXT.)

While he is chasing down a van carrying three robbery suspects, Roan Benedict fires on a woman who rolls out of the open door back door of the van, wounding her seriously. Half out of guilt and half out of interest for her safety, Roan ends up removing the woman, whom he has dubbed Donna Doe, from the Turn-Coupe hospital and taking her to his southern mansion, Dog Trot, where he places her under house arrest. Meanwhile, his captive, socialite beauty Victoria, is constantly planning escape from the sprawling house. The two quickly find that they share more than just a casual interest- until Victoria is forced to answer for the lies she has spun and the words she has failed to say.

Victoria was a well written character, but nothing spectacular: she has a number of insecurities which mesh nicely with her strengths, but she tends to be obsessive and put too much emphasis on remaining aloof. I also felt that the way she held herself out of the initial stages of their courtship was annoying, to say the least. She seemed slightly- well, calculating, I guess.

Roan was also portrayed with sympathy, but I felt more like I was reading about a hasty sketch of a man than about a flesh and blood person. This seems to be a frequent problem with Blake's characters: they tend to lack thought processeses that run below what is conveyed in the book, and thus lack that elusive third dimension of realism. Still, Blake captured the beauties of Deep South life, as well as a few of it's trials. And if her descriptions of bayous (hardly suitable for romance at any time of year- especially during the summer) and the creatures therein lacks the careful, detailed power of confidence- confidence gained from experience or research, per-se- well, no one is perfect.

On the whole, Roan is a wonderful bit of mind candy, above most Amanda Quick novels, almost on par with Julie Garwood, and lacking the subtle character shadings of Lowell. She does, however, have a distinctive style.

And I love the recipes.

This book can be divided into 3 sections. The first and last sections of the book moved well and had a good story. The middle really slowed down. I have read the other two books in this series and will look forward to the next one. However, there were times that I was tempted to lay it down. I got frustrated with the heroine Tory. How many different ways did she need proof that Roan was really a stand-up dependable guy. The evidence was right there in her face. I kept wanting to get on with the plot. The character of Roan was well written and I really liked him. The twist of him shooting the heroine was a nice shift in an otherwise sometimes predictable plot. I still enjoyed the book and will look forward to returning to this quaint southern town.

Blake created a cajoling atmosphere of warm balmy weather, trees dripping with curtains of moss, and a place as old and timeless as it is culturally rich. Louisiana a place of fascination, a meeting of old and new, a setting for some of the most beloved series. Do I even have to mention the very enticing creole accent. Roan is the apotheosis of a modern day Southern gentlemen, with an alluring twist that will have you and the heroine inherently enamored. Fortified with grace, action, and a beguiling air of mystery you will remember Blake's characters long after the binding is foxed with age. If you find yourself correctly guessing the ending of your romance reads, you are not psychic its a poorly woven read. Roan will have you guessing but in the end you will undoubtedly be a trifle surprised.

If it has Jennifer Blake on it you know you're in for a good read. The Louisiana Gentlemen Series about the Benedict clan is exciting from first to last. You won't want to miss a single one, but read them in order because each one refers back to the previous one. It's one of "keeper" series that you'll want to go back and read again.

This a great story about women who kidnapped and sheriff who takes who shoots her because he feels she is armed robber. The mystery of why she was kidnapped unfolds while she has been moved back to his home to recover from the shooting and stay under police investigation. This was a fast book to read and a fun romantic story. I read `Luke' first off to find more in this series.

The book was slow and ponderous. I was intrigued by the plot, because really, I don't think I've read a romance where the hero shoots the heroine. I wanted to see how Blake intended to write herself out of that corner.

Slowly. Very Slowly.

I tried to see the sparkage between Roan and Donna/Tory, but it didn't work for me. There was so little danger after the opening gambit, and Donna/Tory spent so much of the story bored out of her skull, that I was bored as a result. There was also the implausibility that a woman of logic and above average intelligence didn't know how to hire her own attorney and establish herself as both mentally competent and in charge of her personal affairs.

Alas, I couldn't get past such obvious things, and with Blake creating a story that's slow, languorous and syrupy, I kept reaching for the cattle prod--just to move things along.

Turn-Coupe, Louisiana Sheriff Roan Benedict fires at the suspect jumping from the rear of the getaway car holding a gun pointed at him. He hits the person, who turns out to be a woman claiming she is a kidnap victim. Her wrists show rope burns, but she participated with two other thugs in holding up the local convenience store, owned by a relative of the sheriff.

Victoria Molina-Vandergraff claims she does not remember her name, but that she is innocent, a kidnap victim. Tory is trying to buy herself time before figuring out how to deal with the two "companions" she dubbed Zits and Big Ears. Tory knows that her fiancé, Harrell Melanka, wants her dead because she has learned the truth about his shady dealings. She has no one to turn to for help, especially her stepfather who would probably lock her away like he did her mother. Tory is attracted to Roan and decides to stay near him for the moment. As Roan places Tory under his personal protective custody, they fall in love, but Harrell has other plans.

New York Times best-selling author, Jennifer Blake, shows why she is so popular with a fast-paced romantic suspense that will keep reader's interest from start to finish. ROAN never eases up on the throttle yet finds time to develop the lead characters so that the audience fully understands their actions. Anyone reading Ms. Blake for the first time will clearly seek out her pervious two novels in the "Louisiana Gentlemen" series, KANE and LUKE because the writer is that good.

Harriet Klausner

Heiress Victoria Molina-Vandergraff escaped from her kidnappers only to be shot by the local sheriff hot on their trail for robbery. Sheriff Roan Benedict is suspicious of his prisoner's story, but Tory's claim of amnesia keeps him guessing. Tory is afraid her former fiance is behind the kidnapping and doesn't think her stepfather will believe her. Continued danger from her kidnappers combines with a growing attraction to Roan and life in Turn-Coupe.

A good story, but not up to Blake's prior Turn-Coupe books. Tory caused most of her own problems, but her reasons are understandable -- at first. Then it becomes ridiculous. Blake should make her next Turn-Coupe heroine honest and forthright.