Jade Island

Loved this book. Loved the jade and the Chinese cultural issues and the Donovan family! Maybe the romance got less play then in your average romance novel, but the crime caper was great and Kyle and Lianne were wonderful! Both smart, funny, sexy people. Much rounder characters than typical and great banter. The romance scenes were also quite hot.

Archer Donovan, head of the Donovan clan, asks brother Kyle to get close to Lianne Blakely, the illegitimate daughter of Johnny Tang and his American mistress, because he believes priceless Chinese jade artifacts have been stolen and he thinks the Tang family consortium, headed by Wen Zhi Tang, who has a lifelong obsession with jade, might have something to do with it.Lianne is as passionate about jade as Wen and is a respected Jade expert, but much to her chagrin she's not accepted by the Tangs as a full fledged family member. However, when they need an expert to value the jade they want to buy, it's her they call.In a nice twist her father, Johnny Tang, has asked her to get close to Kyle and while Kyle and Lianne are getting to know each other, they discover that priceless jade has been taken from the Tang vault and replaced with inferior pieces.Lianne is a prime suspect because she is one of the few people who go into the vault on a regular basis. Then she's outright accused of stealing the jade and now she and Kyle, who now have a thing for each other, have to find the real thief or she may go to prison.This is the second book in Ms. Lowell's series about the Donovan Clan and every bit as good as the first. There is lots of action, suspense, a double cross here and there and romance too. A very good book.

This is the second in the series of the Donovon brothers and I found it very good! This one is about Kyle and Archer this time and how they are trying to figure out why jade is mysteriously missing from the Tang Family Vault. The illegitimate daughter of one of the Tang brothers Lianne is caught in the middle by being blamed for stealing the Jade. Kyle is told he has to befriend Lianne to try and find out if she was the one or not who did steal it and in the meantime he ends up falling in love with her and lets his emotions sometimes put him off track of what he is really supposed to be doing. While in the meantime Lianne's father Johhny is also telling her she has to befriend Kyle immediatly but will not explain to her the reason why he wants this. The way they mix romance and suspense it great! I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to read pearl Cove next.

Though it lacks a bit of Amber Beach's quick repartee, Jade Island is definitely the better book. The characters are more developed, deeper and more complex.Anyone who has ever been trapped between two worlds, never really belonging in either, will understand and love Lianne Blakney. She is beautiful, funny, and intelligent, but also deeply hurt by her family's disregard. Lianne is also full of useful information about jade and chinese culture. If you leave this book without having learned something, then you should probably read it again. I found it fascinating.Kyle Donovan was burned pretty badly in the first book, and is wary of women. His self-depreciating humor is endearing, as is his wary concern for Lianne. The setting was also worth the cover price. I love Seattle, and the entire Pacific Northwest!All in all, this is a much better book than the first. I look forward to watching the other Donovans.

It is not often that I take the time to write an on-line review for a book that already has 36, but this one is worth it! Of all Elizabeth's books, of which I have read many, I feel this to be her best work. Kyle and Lianne are two characters which immediatly catch the reader's heart and imagination. I look forward to reading the next installment in the Donovan series. By the way, Amber Beach and Pearl Cove are both equally captivating books which allow you to visit a very lively and adventurous family.