Sweet Talk

Child prodigy turned world renowned pianist Claire Keyes receives a distressing call from her estranged sister Jesse advising that her twin Nicole needs her assistance after surgery. Claire hasn't talked with either sister for years, but a bout with panic attacks and a chance at reconciliation has her packing her bags and heading to Seattle. As a young child, she was plucked from the comfort of her family to perform in concerts all over the world. When she was 12, her mother joined her on the road, and Nicole has never forgiven Claire for taking their mother from them - especially when their mother dies in a car accident when they are 16. Despite attempts at reconciliation, Nicole has rebuffed her for years. No one is more surprised than Nicole when Claire arrives to take care of her and won't take no for an answer. Nicole is also nursing a broken heart after catching her soon-to-be-ex-husband in bed with youngest sister Jesse. Nicole's best friend Wyatt instantly takes a dislike to Claire due to all the nasty stories he has heard about her. But soon his attitude changes as he gets to know Claire and starts to desire her. Thinking that they will just have a quick physical relationship, he is not prepared for the depth of his feelings, particularly her relationship with his deaf daughter, Amy. Will Nicole and Claire be able to bury the hatchet and forgive each other? Will Wyatt be able to give his heart to another after being trampled by his ex-wife? Mallery's first foray in the Keyes sister trilogy is a sweet tale. While so many authors opt to have a virginal heroine, none have handled a heroine's introduction into womanhood (I can't think of any other way to put it) as sensitively and realistically as Mallery does with Claire. Her enthusiasm and cluelessness as to what she is experiencing (and Wyatt's bewilderment) are at times funny and bittersweet. I also like how Claire was forced out of her comfort zone - where even a simple load of laundry or cooking a meatloaf is foreign to her. The only real problem I had with the novel is the character of Nicole. She's completely nasty throughout 90% of the book (to both Claire and Jesse). While Claire grew as a person, Nicole remained pretty much the same (in fact, I couldn't even recall when the two reconciled - it left that little an impression on me). It makes me wonder how Mallery will redeem her character enough for me to care about her own story. I also hate the unexpected pregnancy plotline as it has been done so many times that it has become pretty trite. © Tracy Vest, September 2008

I should premise this review by saying that as a child, I trained toward the goal of concert pianist. Certainly not a child prodigy like our heroine, Claire, but I delved into that life enough that I understand the world she was thrown into at such a young age. I found Claire's sweetness, the naivete and willingness to be knocked down over and over again in order to regain some semblance of relationship to her sisters VERY believable. Claire has existed in such a small world, the tentative connections she has with her sisters become so much more important to re-establish. Claire is determined to build herself a normal life, to be a normal person... and when she comes home, she's thrown into what I would say is prime sibling warfare. :) Claire, Nicole and Jessie were sisters in every sense of the word. Bratty at times, unlikable at times, lovable at others, but eventually Claire and Nicole find a way to recognize their own pain in each other and learn that they weren't the only ones hurting. There is no bond quite like that of a sibling, and Susan Mallery is the master at showing the funny and not-so-funny sides of sibling rivalry. As for the romance... Claire came home with a To Do list of things she wanted to do and experience, and fall in love was one of them. Nicole's close friend, Wyatt is everything she's never had...and Claire is an instant, somewhat unwanted attraction on his part. As Claire slowly builds a normal life for herself, Wyatt becomes a deeper part of that. Their love story is sweet, romantic and enjoyable. I'm very much looking forward to the other two books in this series.

Susan Mallery has done it again. I love her new Sweet trilogy! Sweet Talk introduces us to the 3 sisters and some of the secondary characters. Claire Keyes is our heroine and she is so sweet! Claire is a world famous concert pianist and has been all over the world playing her music. She was a child prodigy, at 3 she picked out a tune after seeing and hearing her first piano, at 6 she and her grandmother were sent to New York City so she could study under the greats. Now at 28 she has come home to Seattle to take care of her fraternal twin after extensive gall bladder surgery. She was called by her younger sister, Jesse, who said she was unable to take care of Nicole and she needed to be taken care of. Claire hasn't been home since her father died some years earlier. At the time Nicole and Jesse said they didn't need or want her around! So the call from Jesse was a surprise but a good one. Her twin, Nicole, is under the impression that Claire is a spoiled and needy woman and is so surprised to see her there ready to take care of her and the bakery that has been in the family since their grandparents opened it years before. Nicole is a real witch with a B, most of the time but Claire has decided that now is the time to be a family and she wants to show Nicole that she cares and wants a relationship with her and Jesse. Claire has a to-do list included in it is "fall in love" as she's never had a boyfriend--no time for one! She didn't mean to fall in love with Wyatt, Nicole's good friend, but she did. What a relationship they have!! Wyatt has an 8 y.o. daughter that Claire falls in love with too! Good book as we watch the characters, the sisters, grow and learn to love each other again.

Claire Keyes has spent her life in a stark, cold spotlight. Sent away as a small child to perform, at twenty-eight Claire is a piano prodigy that has become estranged from her family and has no friends. Forget having a boyfriend! When Claire's twin sister, Nicole, becomes ill, she returns home to care for Nicole and renew her relationship with her family. Claire also hopes to find love. The gorgeous Wyatt is exactly what Claire is looking for in a romance. Claire makes Wyatt's blood sizzle and want things that he never thought he could have. I adore Susan Mallery's heroines and heroes. They feel like old friends. Amusing, heartfelt and wildly romantic, Sweet Talk is the perfect romance. Susan Mallery always delivers exceptional romance and does so again with Sweet Talk! Annmarie reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

This book is not just another fluffy romantic comedy. I liked the characters in this novel they were very real people with real problems and the book made me want to cry and laugh at the same time. The romance was sweet without being toothache sweet. I felt the book had a realistic feel that made me care about the characters and I wanted to root for each of the sisters as they fought their individual demons. Susan Mallery is a winner. I have read all of her books and enjoyed everyone of them. This author is a must read if you like Kasey Michaels, Rachel Gibson, Christie Ridgeway, or Nora Roberts you will love Suan Mallery.