Sizzle: A Novel [Audio CD]

Julie Garwood (Author)

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Random House; Abridged edition (2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0739357646
• ISBN-13: 978-0739357644
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (129 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Julie Garwood is the author of numerous New York Times bestsellers, including Fire and Ice, Shadow Music, Shadow Dance, Murder List, Killjoy, Mercy, Heartbreaker, Ransom, and Come the Spring. There are more than thirty-six million copies of her books in print.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

67 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars What Happened to Julie Garwood?, December 29, 2006

By 

RJRo20 (California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Shadow Dance: A Novel (Hardcover)

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.

40 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Noah finally gets his story....a great comeback for Garwood..., December 26, 2006

By 

E. Webb "webbef" (Olathe, Kansas United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shadow Dance: A Novel (Hardcover)

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.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It takes a Buchanan to tame Noah ..., January 29, 2007

By 

Tracy Vest (Northern California) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shadow Dance: A Novel (Hardcover)

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.