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Ah, well; seeing that made me realize that it's a really good book. She commands no respect and this makes the love affair implausible, and indeed the whole story line. 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.
But I enjoyed the main character and the story about remodeling the house. 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. 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's a first timer for some of my book club members and they are disappointed. This book is very slow. I've read some of her other books and really enjoyed them but this one is too slow.
Across the street is Ford Sawyer, famous graphic novelist. 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. 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 meet.
Bad things happen to Cilla. I always find them interesting, even if requiring of some suspension of disbelief. Ford is of course a little too perfect, but he's fun that way. Occasionally there is a description that I really enjoy. Across the street is Ford Sawyer, famous graphic novelist.
I wouldn't want to give away.more Sometimes you just need a good, not too challenging read. 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. They deal with them together. Sometimes you just need a good, not too challenging read.
I wouldn't want to give away the ending.More seriously, it is the story of a woman coming to terms with her past. She knows she wants out of Hollywood, but isn't sure what she does want to do, or where she belongs. Most of the time I don't notice it, which I find an advantage. There are parts that many people would envy-- she is still a celebrity, as is her mother. The four stars were fairly easy to decide on-- I enjoyed the read, and it worked well within my expectations of a romance novel.
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 meet. They actually develop a friendship, and at no point are the words "I can't live without you" spoken.Second is the writing itself. One is to show an entire town accepting Cilla as one of them. 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.
They deal with them together. The other is to camouflage the bad guy. I realize there are two reasons for having so many. Bad things happen to Cilla.
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. They become friends. 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. They fall in love.
They fall in love. They become friends.
As it was, Ford and Spock are just hilarious and adorable and highly entertaining; it's worth a read just for them. 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.
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