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It's a good mystery story, and a good romance, with an interesting plot, and it's amazing that a producer should have so missed the heart of the book--the character of the heroine--as to caste a wimpy airheaded blonde in the leading role. In the book, she's smart, tall, athletic and energetic, and a skilled house-repair manual laborer (as well as a designer), but the movie equivalent is small and when she picks up an axe, it's obvious that she has no idea how to swing one. She commands no respect and this makes the love affair implausible, and indeed the whole story line. Ah, well; seeing that made me realize that it's a really good book.
I enjoyed the story of this book but it was not the easiest to read. The transition from past to present was not smooth. It got confusing and at times I wasn't sure if it was the main character's childhood, her mother's childhood, her grandmother's childhood or the current time. But I enjoyed the main character and the story about remodeling the house.
This book is very slow. I've read some of her other books and really enjoyed them but this one is too slow. It's a first timer for some of my book club members and they are disappointed.
They become friends. They meet. They become friends. They meet. Unfortunately, it kept me from getting to know any of them.I wasn't sure whether to put this book as straight romance or romantic suspense, since the suspense elements don't dominate the book. They actually develop a friendship, and at no point are the words "I can't live without you" spoken.Second is the writing itself. I wouldn't want to give away.more Sometimes you just need a good, not too challenging read. There are parts that many people would envy-- she is still a celebrity, as is her mother.
She is reasonably well off from her childhood work and her ongoing small projects.She also has things working against her-- a distant relationship with her father, a highly dysfunctional one with her mother. I always find them interesting, even if requiring of some suspension of disbelief. One is to show an entire town accepting Cilla as one of them. They deal with them together.
Across the street is Ford Sawyer, famous graphic novelist. They fall in love. Across the street is Ford Sawyer, famous graphic novelist. And beyond that, someone is trying to scare her, maybe even kill her.I think there are two things that make Nora Roberts books work for me, both of which came through in this novel.First are the lead characters. I find that Nora Roberts is very consistent in delivering these.Tribute is the story of Cilla (a former child star, descended from a line of celebrities), who has retired from show business to rebuild her grandmother's house. She knows she wants out of Hollywood, but isn't sure what she does want to do, or where she belongs. I find that Nora Roberts is very consistent in delivering these.Tribute is the story of Cilla (a former child star, descended from a line of celebrities), who has retired from show business to rebuild her grandmother's house.
They deal with them together. Most of the time I don't notice it, which I find an advantage. Sometimes you just need a good, not too challenging read. I enjoyed being part of Cilla's mental journey, coming to terms with her past, her relationships with her parents, and deciding on what direction she wants to go. Ford is of course a little too perfect, but he's fun that way. Occasionally there is a description that I really enjoy.
They fall in love. The other is to camouflage the bad guy. Bad things happen to Cilla. I realize there are two reasons for having so many. Bad things happen to Cilla. I wouldn't want to give away the ending.More seriously, it is the story of a woman coming to terms with her past.
I like the small moments-- the cartoons that Ford draws for Cilla, the dog that chases invisible cats.The aspect of this book that I'd nitpick is the plethora of supporting characters. The four stars were fairly easy to decide on-- I enjoyed the read, and it worked well within my expectations of a romance novel.
The suspense was pretty weak, but I absolutely loved the characters of Ford and Spock. If the suspense had been a little more, well, suspenseful it'd be a definite 5-stars for sure. As it was, Ford and Spock are just hilarious and adorable and highly entertaining; it's worth a read just for them.
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