Tribute

This is another great story by Nora Roberts. Her last stand alone book was a little light on romance, but this book steps it up quite a bit. I liked the chemistry between the two main characters, and the mystery was interesting. I can't see how anyone who enjoys this type of novel would ever give this a one star rating. The characters are engaging and the hero is well-rounded and different enough from the typical hero to make him one of the better heroes created by Roberts.

This is an example of why Nora Roberts is the best Romance Writer in the world! I absolutely loved this book - The heroine was sassy and gutsy - the hero to swoon for! I'm not going to say one word about the plot since others do that way better than I can. But, if you want a read that will suck you in and have a surprise ending, don't miss this book. Oh, and to the reviewer that said she would have loved an epilogue at the end of the book - I agree - I had wished for more too.

Cilla, child actress turned house flipper, and Ford, a graphic artist, at first glance make an odd pairing for a romantic couple. However, Nora Roberts has scored a success with this hardcover in making this unlikely pairing work on several levels. The mystery/romance also works as Cilla tries to untangle the mystery of her famous actress/grandmother's death as well as threats to her own life. If you are a fan of Roberts you will also enjoy some glimpses into her hobby of gardening and the research she did on home restoration! The book is crisp and tightly written, although with judicious editing, twenty to forty pages probably could have been trimmed. I did not care for Angel Falls (too far fetched), Birthright (felt the coincidences were too over the top) or my least favorite of all her books--Northern Lights. I waivered on whether to buy Tribute, but the 40 percent off combined with a sticker that said "Signed Copy" swayed me to purchase it. Glad I did. The book is solid Roberts at her best.

Cilla McGowen was raised in the spotlight. Her Grandmother was the famous Janet Hardy; a child star turned Hollywood actress and famous singer. Her mother, Dilly, wasn't quite as famous as Janet but managed to stay in the Hollywood spotlight all her life. From a very young age Cilla was thrust in front of the cameras by her mom. She was part of a successful TV show, made a few records, but by the time she was an adult she was pretty much a has-been. Happy to be out of the public life, Cilla now makes her money flipping houses; it is a labor of love. Finally getting her hands on her famous Grandmothers long neglected farm, Cilla is rehabbing to make herself a home. Questions surround her Grandmothers too early death and as Cilla repairs the house, she seeks answers. But someone doesn't want Cilla around and is making things very difficult for her, her friends and workers. Finding a friend and an unexpected love in her graphic novelist neighbor, Ford Sawyer, Cilla gets some much needed TLC. This is a lengthy new novel by Nora Roberts, but amazingly enough I flew through 451 pages, easily, I absolutely loved it. What Nora does better than anyone is create unforgettable and magnificent characters. This book is filled with people who are written so well, you can see them so clearly and you feel like you know them. Every character in this book added something to this story; love, sex, fear, annoyance, growth, laughter, and sadness. You get as invested with the side characters as you do with the main characters. I love that about her work Cilla is a heroine not without flaws; she's both hard and soft and has been emotionally drained. She's personable and knows her strengths and weaknesses. I found her extremely relatable. Ford was funny, charming and sexy as hell. It took me all about a page to fall for him and his crazy dog. The story is strong and takes the reader through past and present day at the farm with clever little visits from the Grandmother. Uncovering the secrets of the past and dealing with the danger of the present lead you through a suspenseful and gripping read. I admit I knew whodunit pretty much from the start, but Nora added a little something extra that threw me off and added plenty of surprise at the end. This book has everything; a solid mystery, a love story, humor and healing. I really enjoyed it. I am also one of those HGTV junkies that enjoy house flipping and rehabbing and I got a total kick out of the demo and rehab of this house. It was fun to watch it change and I had no trouble picturing the results. This book showcases ever reason why I love Nora Roberts writing so much, enjoy! Cherise Everhard, July 2008