Customer Reviews

Two of a Kind: Impulse\The Best Mistake

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Comprised of two novellas, "Impulse" and "The Best Mistake," this book serves as a showcase of Nora Roberts' talent from the early years to later. "Impulse" stars a likeable young heroine, Rebecca Malone, who impulsively quits her job, sells everything she owns, and goes on vacation til the money runs out. We catch up with her on Corfu, where she meets wealthy magnate Stephen Nicodemus. Stephen romances her, charmed by her enthusiasm for new things, while she frets over giving him the wrong impression of herself, even though she told him no lies. Typical of 80's romances, the heroine quietly longs for a man she thinks is out of her league while he's spellbound by her freshness. It was the 80's when first released, so I guess I can't complain.

It is obvious Nora had really blossomed as a writer, and started making a few of her own rules, by the time she wrote "The Best Mistake." It's the story of beautiful Zoe Fleming, working two dead-end jobs to support her son Keenan. To help make ends meet, Zoe rents out her upstairs apartment to Cooper McKinnon, a sportswriter. Coop quickly gets sucked into Zoe and Keenan's lives and feels his bachelorhood slipping through his fingers, and freaks out. Things really get bad when Zoe shrugs him off for being a jerk, and he comes to his senses. This was a cute, well-written modern family romance with a heart, showcasing Nora's talents in a quick read.

The entire book has merit, simply for showing the progressing talent of a major writer, and it was also a nice, quick read for those times a person wants to enjoy a good story, but doesn't have a lot of time.

As usual the women are strong, competent, intelligent, and beautiful. The romance is the kind to bring a tear to your eye and a wish to you mind.

The first story "Impulse" while enganging and interesting is not very believable but nonetheless a good story. Filled with colorful descriptions and great characters.

"The Best Mistake" is more down to earth. A simple plan to earn more money by renting the houses extra apartment to help a single mother earn enough to cut back on her work hours to be with her son leads to more than she bargained for. I doubt if there is a single mother who doesn't wish a Coop could show up on her doorstep no matter how happy, confident, and competent she was.

If your in the mood for a romance you can't go wrong with these two.

When reading Nora's first books compared to her newest, there is a tremendous difference that some readers my not like. The old stories are shorter, purely romance-driven, often single-point-of-views by young, sheltered virgins--not much like the savvy, worldly, women of the newer books, whose plots are tense, full of twists and turns, unexpected villians and surprising developments.

But if you take Nora's early work in the proper context--that of the mid- to late-eighties romance genre, you see something else--the pure, focused talent of a woman who would become a driving force in the industry--not just in romance novels, but in woman's fiction, suspense, and futuristic novels.

Read the Nora books being reissued--and then read two or three other romance novels published in the same year as Nora's book. See the difference? Non-romance readers may not see it, as the differences are a bit subtle, but they are there. Nora and a handful of other female writers from the same period--many of whom, like Jayne Ann Krentz and contemporaries, still write and recieve almost the same fame as Nora--redefined the romance industry and novel, taking the guidelines established by publishers and male editors about romance and working around, under, or right over top of those rules.

Eventually, they were able to through those guidelines in the trash where they belonged, paving the way for the diverse romance industry we know today. Nora and those like her refused to be ashamed of writing romance, using their own names instead of pen names-virtually a requirement at the time. They made their heroines strong and clever and not to be manipulated by their older, worldlier male suitors. They gave those same males a voice, becoming the first writers to present fully-formed, human male protaganists whose point-of-view came across--hard to imagine your favorite romance written from only the ladies' point-of-view, isn't it? Men, even written ones, cannot be understood unless you can read minds, as we do now in stories told from multiple perspectives. These were the writers that began blending romance and suspense, adding fantasy and the supernatural to their stories. Some took their characters to other worlds (Jayne Ann Krentz as Jayne Castle); some to the future (Nora as JD Robb) and some into the past in a way only Austen and the Brontes every came close to managing (Stephanie Laurens, Mary Jo Putney).

Those of you who love romance, do not read these reissues books as relics, or scorn them as weak predecesors of the suspenseful romance we all love--read them with thanks and appreciation for their place in the development of the female-driven industry that we may not realize we should be grateful for. Enjoy them, look for Nora's phenomenal talent developing as she and her stories test their wings. Love these well-written early stories for what they are--the first lines in a lifelong achievement of storytelling and authorship.

Here is why Nora Roberts is so good at what she does. This lady can write a love story like no other. Impulse was written in 1988 and still steamed off the pages. A fantasy but what a fantasy.

The Best Mistake grabbed at your heart strings right off the bat. Wish every single Mom could find a guy like Coop. Nora's description and character fill-out is marvelous. Laugh a little; cry a little. This was a 1994 story and hit its mark.

You wont be able to put it down.

I picked this book up not realizing that it was two books put together. The first book, Impulse, was slow getting into it, but then picked up the pace and turned into a great love story. The second book, The Best Mistake, took me forty-five minutes to read because I could not put it down. This book was an interesting combination of the two stories and I enjoyed it as a fast summer read.

I must say I was dissapointed with those 2 stories. First story is so far from reality (I know, I know, sometimes we want to get away-but not That Far!!!) I couldn't read even half of the 2nd story...It was written very poorly. Sometimes I felt like something just wasn't enough, at times opposite - like it was way too much! Anyway, I wouldn't recomend bying this book...

I wasn't so crazy about IMPULSE, it was too silly and fictional. He sounded a bit pretentious and cold. She was way too docile for her own good.

The only reason I gave this book a 5 star was due to the other story (THE BEST MISTAKE)in this book. I LOVED it! It was such a beautiful story! I cried at the end! He was romantic and admitted his faults, and she was a tough gal who didn't let him rule her life. She put her child above anything else. It was hilarious how she pushed Keen on him to take him to the ball game. Highly recommended.....

While these 2 stories were from the late 1980's, they held my interest enough to finish in 2 nights. I think the second story was much better...the first one was a bit too far-fetched for my taste.

Nora Roberts' early work is just not that good...its an enjoyable afternoon read if you pick it up at the library (actually its great beach reading), but I wouldn't pay for it. The plots are typical romance...nothing new or exciting here and unlike her later work the plot isn't in depth or exciting.

Main characters are bigger than life. Enduring supporting characters, natural dialog, sensible storyline and satisfying conclusion. Creative and fast paced novel. This is another well written novel by a talented writer who never fails to please. A must read.

Janet Sue Terry - CEO
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