Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I love Julie Garwood. Really, I do. She is a literary goddess, and I worship at her feet. However, as divine as she may be, "Fire and Ice" is anything but ambrosia. Honestly, it kills me to say this. You must understand that I cut my teeth on Garwood's brilliant romantic historicals. I have spent a good portion of my life collecting each and every one---not to mention reading them again and again to the point of memorization. (Sad, I know, but the woman is, after all, a goddess.) There was a time that I would count down the days until a new Garwood was published like a crack addict awaiting her next fix. Unfortunately, those days are now gone. I have known it for a while, but, with each new book since the debut of "Heartbreaker," I have watched this author turn her back on every talent in her arsenal (witty, hilarious dialogue, fast-paced plots, fabulously interwoven and highly-entertaining sub-plots, sigh-worthy love stories, interesting historical facts, and side-splitting chaos) to reach out for the murder-mystery world where she simply doesn't shine. Ever since "Heartbreaker," (I am not even going to bring up "Shadow Music"--Don't get me started on that trainwreck) I have had to read the same basic plot over and over again, each time growing more and more disenchanted and disheartened. The smart-yet naive, sexy heroine is in danger from a psycho killer---but refuses to actually believe that---and it's only the big, bad loner lawman who is going to be able to save the day. P.S. They fall in love somehow along the way. Did I mention that? Now, I will tell you that I am not a huge fan of the murder-mystery romance genre. This is why it has taken me this long to speak out (or type, as the case may be). I kept thinking it was me. Well, guess what? I just read this latest book, "Fire and Ice," and I can tell you one thing for certain: The problem isn't me. Not only are we dealing with the same plot as all the others, but we also have the incredibly quick development of Jack and Sophie's relationship. It's like someone injected them with steroids or something. One minute, they barely know each other, the next he's announcing that they'll be heading off to bed "by 10pm." Huh? I am all for quick romances and I have seen plenty of authors pull it off dozens of times. This one just isn't believable to me. These two just get to head off to Alaska, jump into bed, dodge a few bullets---as well as a crowbar (ouch)---and, BOOM, live happily ever after. Sophie herself even tries to figure out why she's so involved with someone she barely knows. Honey, if the characters are asking these questions, don't you think the readers will, too? Then, there is the mystery plot. It was far-fetched for me to believe that someone like Sophie would really pursue this Harrington fellow as much as she did after he disappeared. He was irritating, boring, and colossal waste of brain power every time she was in his presence. He disappears before a race. So what? I was a journalist for many years. Believe me; reporters (especially those who work for smaller papers) have too much to do and too little time to do it in to worry about people like that---especially when the guy is a self-centered, egotistical creep. Even if you honestly want an apology, you wouldn't try to track him down because you would be too worried that he would suck you into his narcissitic vortex again. No, you'd put him in the "weirdoes to be avoided in the future" file and move on to the next story. But, let's say Sophie is jonesing for an apology so bad she tracks him down. Why on earth would the bad guy actually call her? And, if he did only call her to find out what she knew, it was obvious she knew next to nothing about the whole thing---or at least not enough to piece anything realistic together. (We'll leave out the fact for a minute that Sophie is automatically suspicious of all lawmen and, nevertheless, answers every question fired at her by two strangers on the phone calling from Alaska). Harrington's death was ruled an accident. The bad guy is in the clear. Why would he keep calling her, trying to get her to come to Alaska? Does he want someone to connect him to the Harrington death? The bad guy is supposed to be this smart, educated scientist. I know rednecks who aren't that stupid. I could go on and on about all the issues I have, but I won't. I could tell you the few things I liked in this book (and there were actually a few), but they're irrelevant. It comes down to this: If you love Julie, as I do, you would buy a copy of the phonebook if she put her name on it. But, in return for this devotion, it would be nice if she'd forget about all this foolishness of trying to be this "thrilling, Queen of Suspense" and write to her strengths. Julie: Just tell a good love story that has heart and rings true. If you still feel the need to toss in a body or two along the way, I'll survive. Maybe she'll listen. Maybe she won't. Until then, I guess I'll just be doomed to disappointment.