Customer Reviews

Shadow Dance

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(28)
3 star:		(24)
2 star:		(19)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

I was a huge Julie Garwood fan. I fell in love with her after reading MERCY. It was my first Garwood book and first romance novel ever! I loved it so much that I immediately read HEARTBREAKER and enjoyed it, too! Not at all satisfied I purchased all the historical titles she wrote. (I loved most of them--with exception to the Clayborne series). However, I have not continued the Buchanan series, as they have received really bad, negative reviews. Yet I decided to give SHADOW DANCE a try, just for the sake of Noah. I absolutely adored him in both MERCY and HEARTBREAKER.

Unfortunately, I didn't feel the same way about him in this story!

Although he is a strong and compelling character in MERCY and HEARTBREAKER, he falls so flat here. Unlike before, I didn't feel an emotional connection with him. He just isn't the same guy! He used to be the vibrant and carefree jokester--a natural charmer and ultimate ladies' man. Yet all these qualities, though written on paper, didn't ring true. Instead, he's a much more serious and impersonal guy. Jordan, on the other hand is an ok character, but not truly memorable!

As a romantic thriller, this one didn't live up to my expectations. Noah and Jordan's story tells more like a suspense/mystery novel, with the romance kind of as an afterthought. I didn't find the murder mystery very intriguing, however. Situations are quite predictable and I'm never on the edge of my seat. The romance definitely lacks intensity. When Noah and Jordan finally make love, it culminates without any real urgency or passion.

Another peeve is Noah's transformation from a playboy to a one woman man. Like reviewer, E. Webb, I also didn't get how that happened. Garwood should have focused more on Noah and Jordan's relationship instead of that silly feud between the Buchanans and the McKennas and the lackluster people of Serenity, TX. Even the TSTL villain, a useless character, is hardly mentioned but in a few chapters. For a serial killer, he didn't put much fear in me.

Thus said, I don't know if Garwood needs a break from writing, or perhaps writing about the Buchanans. I hate to be harsh, or say anything negative about her. She is, after all, one of my favorite romance novelists, and also the one who introduced me to the pleasures of reading romance novels AND reading in general! However, I have to be honest here: SHADOW DANCE lacks compelling characters (especially the protagonists), passionate romance, witty dialogue, and a riveting plot. If this is any example of what her current novels have been (and will be), then I am not going to read any of them.

Aside from all the glowing reviews here, I truly believe that Noah and Jordan deserved a better story. All in all, SHADOW DANCE was an average read, which could have been great, but wasn't. Sorry to say, but it won't belong on the keeper shelf along with my other favorite Garwood contemporaries, HEARTBREAKER and MERCY.

Shadowdance is probably the best of the Buchannan series. It's not perfect, but it's light years better than her previous book Slow Burn (which was full of lackluster characters, and predictable plot development). This book focuses on Jordan Buchannan, the organized, predictable Buchannan child. While, at her brother and best friend's wedding she's accused by Noah of being too predictable and not willing to step out of her comfort zone. In an attempt to prove to him that she can be spontaneous she takes a trip to Texas to meet with a Professor who crashed the wedding talking about a centuries old feud between the Buchannan's and the MacKenna's. Jordan goes to Serenity, Texas, and after several mishaps (broken down car, lack of usable photocopier in town), she discovers a body in the trunk of her car. In a panic she calls her older brother Nick and Nick and his partner Noah come down to Serenity to clear things up for her.

One of the reason's I liked this book so much more than many of Garwood's other books is that both Jordan and Noah were introduced in previous books, but Jordan, in particular, is pretty well-fleshed out in this book. In addition, Nick (who appeared in Heartbreaker) plays a supporting role, and Nick and Noah's boss Pete Morgansten makes several appearances. I think this is a good read for those for anyone, but for people who have read the other Buchannan books and have been patiently waiting for book focusing on Noah, it's a great read. And for anyone who has read For the Roses, there is a nice little mention of Cole Clayborne.

My only (and it's relatively minor) issues are that we didn't get to see the Buchannan's family reaction to seeing Noah and Jordan, and I never quite got how Noah moved from the NCG Club (Noah Clayborne Groupie Club) to being a one woman man. But, in the end I didn't care.

The plot is relatively predictable, but I didn't guess who set Jordan up for murder or why until close to the end. But, it's a fun read, and provides some nice payoff for those us who have been waiting for the character of Noah to be featured.

Jordan Buchanan is attending the wedding of her brother Dylan and her best friend Kate McKenna, when an uninvited guest crashes the party with a tall tale about a family feud between the Buchanans and the McKenna's that dates back several centuries. Claiming to be on a sabbatical, Professor McKenna invites her to review his research in Serenity, Texas. Also in attendance at the nuptials is family friend and babe magnet Noah Clayborne, who goads Jordan into leaving her comfort zone (she is a bit anal retentive), which sends her on a trip to Serenity.

Soon she is being wooed by the very small town, and after a negative run in with the professor, she just wants to copy the notes and get the heck out. But when the professor's dead body is found in her car, she calls on her FBI agent brother Nick and his partner Noah for help. Soon they are drawn into a dark plot of secrets involving corruption, sex, blackmail, and murder. And along the way, Jordan manages to become the unthinkable - a member of the NCG - Noah Clayborne groupies - as she falls for the ultimate ladies man.

Garwood's latest in the Buchanan family saga finally has a story for Noah. Garwood's grasp on believable dialogue and actions by her characters make this an enjoyable novel. Though Noah and Jordan make an intriguing pairing, there just seems to be something missing - like the family's reaction to their sister falling for Noah. He seems to be a different character altogether - what happened to the jokester lothario that made such an impact on the other Buchanan novels? With the exception of the reference to his entertaining the wedding party the night before, this Noah seemed... neutered. In addition, there is no real closure on the so-called McKenna-Buchanan feud (and it just wasn't interesting enough to warrant another installment). But overall, I love the Buchanan series and this one while it may be missing something, is still well written and engaging.

For me this was the story I have most anticipated from this series. I have been dying for Noah's story since book one, and for Jordan's since book two or three. I was very happy to see that Julie Garwood decided to write about Noah and Jordan in the same book.

Jordan Buchanan is the computer whiz of the family. With her genius she built a computer business, made her family rich and then sold that business, making her family richer. She is a detailed oriented, color inside the lines kind of girl.
Noah Clayborne is a FBI agent and Nick Buchanan's partner and best friend. Noah is charming, charismatic and loved by women.

At the wedding of Kate MacKenna (Jordan's best friend) and Dylan Buchanan, Jordan meets an eccentric professor from Texas. He claims to have come across documents from Scotland that prove bad blood between MacKenna's and Buchanan's that date back hundred's of years. There is also a tale of a treasure that was taken from the MacKenna's from the Buchanan's.

After Noah makes a comment about Jordan's `safe' and `in the box' lifestyle, she hastily agrees to go to Texas to make copies of the documents. Soon dead bodies are piling up and shady police force is looking at Jordan as public enemy number one.

Nick and Noah fly to Texas to come to Jordan's aid. Soon Nick is called back home on another assignment. Leaving Noah to take care of Jordan and solve the mystery of the dead bodies.

Noah and Jordan are opposites that definitely attract. Their relationship is believable and exciting. I am very happy Julie made them a couple and I wasn't disappointed in the least. They have a lot of energy between them.
I have to admit that all through the book I thought I knew `who done it'. I was thinking I was so smart. I was wrong. I so didn't know who did it. The mystery portion of this story was excellent.

Everything about it was good. The mystery has twists, turns and suspense. The romance has heat, sex and love. What more could you ask for?

I really love Julie Garwood's novels and especially those in this series with the Buchanans. However, I have to say that I was just a little disappointed with this particular novel. Noah has been one of my very favorite characters and I was looking forward to his story more than any other. I felt this book lacked a little of the usual detail that her previous books had (in terms of the emotional connection or physical attraction between the two main characters). It seemed as if one minute they were working together and the next, they were in love. I felt like I had missed something important that led up to that point. Otherwise, it was a good book and I recommend it to others!

Come on people. To everyone that has written to say that this is a disappointing read, I would like to say one thing, this is a romance novel, not "War and Peace" or "The Grapes of Wrath". I have also read and re-read everything that Ms. Garwood has written, and I can honestly say she is my favorite writer. I love the fact that she does not linger on the sex portion of the story like some writers. I am interested in how they get there, the rest is all gravy.

I read this book on my way to Fargo, and I can honestly say that I had everyone's review going on in my mind. I was not sure what to expect. I, like most of Ms. Garwood's readers, know these two characters so well already, so why would she go deeper into them? We knew that Noah was a womanizer, and the Jordan was a computer genius. Most people are missing the fact that these two characters already knew each other, had in fact been friends for many years. Why are some people finding it hard to believe that love could not come so easily to two people that were already so comfortable with each other?

We read to be entertained, let's not forget that one point. Ms. Garwood has come through with a captivating look at this family, and I look forward to reading her next novel.

Like the past reviewers, I have been looking forward to this latest book from Julie Garwood for a year now. I have been a fan from the begining and have read every book she has written, but this was such a disappointment.

I was so excited to read this it took me less that 2 days, but I went back to reread it thinking I missed some crucial storyline, but to my surprise....it was the same boring story.

Yes it was supposed to be Noah's story, but where was it? He was great in Heartbreaker, Killjoy, and Mercy even in the smallest of roles. I was so excited when I first started reading hoping she would tie in all the past characters, but only Nick was somewhat involved. In the previous books, all the men/women turned to Noah for advice in some way, but in this story...he is all of a sudden in love with the other main character Jordan after a few days. It would have been great if the other characters reacted to the two of them together. Jordan was rather dull along with the weird small town serial-killer mixed in with that bizarre family fued. I also believe that it was ended too soon. Why was Isabel the contact for the professor who started the whole story, but in the end was never mentioned? Also, it was like the whole family new of his love for Jordan, yet it was never indicated that he discussed anything with any of the Buchanans. I feel she created this great character and teased us all with him in the previous books, and we were hoping his story would be this amazing love story with a woman who totally turned his life upside down.

Unfortunatly it didn't happen in this book. Hopefully her next book will be better, and not take so long!!!!

I've been a fan of Julie Garwood for nearly 15 years. That's why I continue to buy her books to this day, regardless of what it's about. However, I miss her historical romances now more than ever. To me, her earlier books have always been about the central characters. We got to KNOW who they were, read how their lives evolved, and see how their stories unfolded.

I haven't had the same feeling about her newer books, with the exception of Mercy. So much is spent on setting up the next book in the "series" that there's no longer enough room to get down to the meaty parts of the current story. Reading her books used to draw you into the story. Now, it just feels like you're reading the book over someone else's shoulder. But that's just the romance novel reader in me talking.

I'll always be a big fan of Ms. Garwood and will continue buying her books because I'm still hoping for that next "Lyon's Lady" or "The Prize" or "The Secret" and so on and so on...

I was so looking forward to this book. This was NOAH'S book. The larger than life Noah who had been in so many other books. And I was disappointed. The romance was weak and I didn't really feel any connection to Jordan or Noah. Much more emphasis was placed on development of the murder mystery than the romance of Jordan and Noah.

It was like I was supposed to believe that Noah had all along wanted Jordan and after two days or so he realized he loved her. I can suspend belief for my romance novels as much as the next person but this was a little much. There was no buildup and Noah's point of view was rarely a consideration.

I was very disappointed. I know Ms. Garwood can write romance. "The Wedding" and "The Bride" and "Ransom" are perfect examples, but I am afraid that the romance in her contemp books suffers to make the suspense part the forefront.

I like to "fall in love" with my characters as they do, I didn't fall in love with them in this book.

We met Jordan Buchanan as Kate MacKenna's successful computer entreprenuer in Slow Burn. In Shadow Dance, she sells her company and takes center stage with Noah Clayborne as her romantic lead. Throw in an ancient Scottish feud, a crazy professor, and small town secrets that people are willing to kill to keep and you have a twisting plot that will keep you turning the page. A very enjoyable read.