Vertigo

Let me say right off that I am not much for romance novels. It's not that I think they're bad, it's just that they don't grab me like other fiction does. That said, VERTIGO is a thrilling erotic tale that is sure to keep various types of readers interested. The writing style is very good, keeping pretty close to what seemed to be the standard speech during the time-period. And the story itself is riveting; I found myself trying to figure out the twists and turns long before they happened and did figure out one or two things before they were revealed, but the clues were there, placed as tantalizing bits of information to keep the suspense going. When Emma, a Victorian wife, sets out to fulfill her New Year's resolution of "becoming a better person," she has no idea how to proceed and seeks her husband's advice. John suggests that she start writing to a prisoner, and he can give her the contact because he is working on a book about the subject and has access to the facilities. In a classic example of the phrase "be careful what you wish for," Emma is thrown into a Victorian-style forbidden romance with a prisoner fittingly named Chance Wood. What follows is a sinister unraveling of her very well-kept world; where she is keenly observant of the folly and hidden feelings within others, she is wholly in the dark about her own situation. Love, lust, betrayal, and murder follow. Family and, especially, friends prove untrustworthy. Secrets are formed and revealed, lives changed forever. It is not so much a romance as it is a dark erotic tale of suspense and mind games--games that become more dangerous as the stakes become higher. Vertigo is a great summer read, perfect for conversation afterwards. I ended up discussing the characters as if they were real people. At times I was reminded of Dante's INFERNO and the Victorian lovers spending an eternity regretting their actions--there are allusions to that theme within the pages of the book as well. And the ending of VERTIGO, while somewhat familiar to this kind of work, will likely shock and leave you shaking your head in disbelief.

Vertigo is not a typical historical romance by any stretch of the imagination. Rather, it cannot be labeled at all because the basic plot transcends many genres. It is a psychological thriller, erotic, and quite frankly, very good literary fiction. Ms. Baratz-Logsted has created rich, fascinating characters in Emma, John, and Chance, as well as a cast of off-beat supporting foils such as Timmins the not so typical butler and Constance, the not so typical shrinking violet of that era. This book is rich in detail...the words are so visual you are right in the middle of the scene; all of your senses are involved...it is almost like staring at a painting at times. And I defy anyone to guess the ending, which is the best part. The suspense that builds slowly throughout is masterful, beginning at page one...the prologue itself is chilling and will set the reader on the edge of his/her chair as we wonder what fate has befallen the narrator. I could sense impending disaster...and yet...I wasn't sure. I entertained many scenarios as I read on, which was wonderful because while the author gives us some hints, the many twists and turns...done brilliantly...had me repeatedly shaking my head saying "No, that's not it...that can't be what happens"...all I know is I could not put this book down until I found out what was in store for these characters. The book is written in first person, which I personally adore having read Catcher in the Rye as a child -- it's the book which made me want to be a writer myself -- and said first person narrator was the perfect choice for this book. Trust me, from the opening chapter you are in the mind of Emma...you are with her in every room; you are reading her lover's letters with her...you experience her every emotion. The erotic nature of the book was handled in an extremely sexy, graphic way and yet the most graphic details are not thrown in the reader's face, as with most of the book, we are left to our imaginations which is way sexier. What is especially interesting to me is how this book illustrates the intimate nature of the written word. While it takes place in Victorian times, it very well could have been written as a modern novel with characters who meet and correspond on the internet and fall in love via email exchange without ever having met in the "real world"...something which seems to be a usual occurrence these days and will have many readers both smiling and shuddering as perhaps they see themselves in Emma and Chance. All of the above is what makes this book such a winner. The reader must think and analyze throughout, in between admiring this author for her writing style and skills...yet taken at face value without analyzing, it still makes for a quick, fascinating read which will grab both lovers of light fiction and those who want a more challenging, literary read. I know first hand how difficult it is to create a work that manages to do both, and I applaud Lauren Baratz-Logsted for her abi

I enjoyed this book so much I couldn't put it down! If you enjoy reading about women's lives, and especially in the Victorian era, then this is the book for you! What I took from the story is it is fine to love others but ultimately you have to take care of you! I hope to see more novels that are related to this topic. Can't wait!!

She has done it again! I'm not usually into Victorian-style pieces, but Lauren is one of my favorite authors! Once I got deep into this book, I couldn't put it down! I am waiting for a sequel--she can call it "Dizzy"!!!!

What a ride! Poe may have been the master of the unreliable narrator, but Baratz-Logsted could almost put him to shame. In Emma's colorful Victorian world, just on the cusp of the Edwardian era and the Suffragette movement, she is black and white, and this is done brilliantly through motif. This use of color and lack thereof makes us trust her, even as the story gets more and more bizarre...something Poe couldn't do in "The Black Cat." (Let's face it, you knew there was SOMETHING wrong with the guy). Baratz-Logsted has done a beautiful job of keeping the reader on edge and slightly uncomfortable throughout the entire book, right up until the shocking ending, and yet manages to keep us in Emma's corner the entire time--not an easy thing to do. Vertigo is every bit as suspenseful and erotic as the press has heralded, yet at the same time it forces us (some of us, obviously, uncomfortably) to examine the social constructs in which we get stuck if we're not strong enough to know ourselves and be our own people. It also puts the spotlight on what kinds of frightening deeds that being trapped, even when it's due to our own weaknesses, may make us commit. Need something a little twisted? Read this. I guarantee you won't be sorry.