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High Tide
written by Jude Deveraux
Studio : Simon & Schuster Audio
by Simon & Schuster Audio
Publisher : Simon & Schuster Audio
Released : 1999-11-01
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Number of Items : 4
EAN : 9780671046231
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 90 reviews)
List Price : $24.00
Our Price : $1.93
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Product Description |
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A rising star at a Manhattan corporation, Fiona is a New Yorker through and through, with a New Yorker's disdain for anywhere but the city's bustling streets. When her boss inexplicably sends her to handle a new account in the Florida Everglades, it may as well be another planet to city-slicker Fiona. But this is no ordinary business meeting: Fiona is to join her client on a rustic fishing expedition, accompanied by a guide with the larger-than-life name of Ace Montgomery. More than a little steamed at this detour from the executive fast-track, Fiona never imagined that the rough-hewn, undeniably handsome Ace Montgomery from the Southern backwoods would become her closest ally. But hair-raising circumstances pull her deep into trouble from the moment she steps off the plane. Only in the heart of the swamplands could she get lost in a maze of intrigue and become the prime suspect for a shocking murder -- with Ace as her presumed accomplice. Suddenly, they discover that they have inherited the murder victim's vast fortune -- and they are now Florida's most wanted couple! As they wade into the murky waters of past secrets, an irresistible chemistry flares -- and Fiona surrenders to the legendary Montgomery charm. Now, with their lives and hearts on the line, they turn up the heat in their desperate search for a killer. Take off on a wild ride with High Tide, and discover once more why Jude Deveraux -- and her marvelous Montgomerys -- have won the hearts of millions. |
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Her historicals are definitely better... |
I have read quite a few Jude Deveraux novels in quick succession. I am hooked on this author and I shall continue to read her stuff until I've run out of her books. I've read most of her historicals and now wanted to give one of her contemporaries a whirl. It appears that High Tide was the author's first foray into the romantic suspense genre. And while it is not bad per se, it is not the best I've read of the genre either. Fiona Burkenhalter is a successful creator of a doll for a major New York toy company. When her boss sends her to a fishing excursion with a potential client in the Florida everglades, her life isn't the same. There she meets Paul "Ace" Montgomery under bizarre circumstances. They seem to dislike each other immensely, but when she wakes up in the wee hours of the night with a dead body on top of her and a knife in her hand, Ace is the only one there who can help her hide and try to figure out who has committed the crime and why she was chosen to take the blame. There are many twists throughout the novel...
...And there are so many twists in this novel that it made the story cumbersome and confusing at times. It is difficult to describe everything the protagonists discover during the course of this story, but it involves a childhood fable and hidden treasure. And there is also the fact that the plot twists seem contrived and some situations are not very believable. It is all very strange. As for the protagonists, they are likeable. Ace is quite a gorgeous, sensual hero, but he is very different from the Montgomery men in other Deveraux novels. He sounds more like a Taggert than a Montgomery to me. Interesting enough, hunkster Michael Taggert from Sweet Liar is featured in this novel. I guess what made Ace convincing as a Montgomery toward the end is that he's, of course, filthy rich. His fascination with birds made him a bit of an eccentric, which is more than fine with me. Fiona is six-feet tall, an amazonian whose emotions and reactions throughout the story are palpable and realistic, and that makes her a very likeable and sympathetic heroine. The novel entertained me and it is full of the author's signature humor and wit, but... I don't know. Deveraux is better at writing historicals, that much is certain. I liked Sweet Liar, which is contemporary, but this one isn't quite as good as SL. Also, Deveraux has to work on writing better whodunits than this. This one had so many subplots and new characters kept coming out of the woodwork that it was difficult to follow the mystery aspect of the novel at times. Anyway, I enjoyed this novel to some degree, but it wasn't memorable like the other works by this author. It's a good thing I still have plenty of her historicals left to read (I still haven't read the James River Trilogy or the Chandler Twins duet), because if her recent works, which are all contemporary, are similar to this one, then I'd like to have some of her older books left to enjoy and discover. |
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Good, Not Great |
If you're into mystery and suspense (which I'm usually not) this Deveraux novel might appeal to you.
While it was an interesting read (for the most part) there's too much intrigue and puzzle-solving going on for a real romance to take place until the last two or three chapters.
On top of that, the mystery that leads the hero and heroine to take flight together, isn't even really worth the time and effort it takes to "discover" it.
I also absolutely hate it when characters give the post-plot-climax play-by-play (i.e., "I did what I did because..." or "I had feelings for you, so I pretended to hate you and/or kept something from you...") NO ONE does that in real life, so when questions are answered near the end, I honestly had to keep myself from ripping my hair out in frustration.
Usually, I credit Deveraux for giving her readers a credible, life-like story that's still an amazing read (yes, even her time-travel novels!) but this one--I mean, a treasure map being turned into a TV show, a heroine smashing a mechanical crocodile (or was it an alligator), a retirement village where a 30 yr. old passed for a retiree with a lot of "work done."
Bah!
It's worth picking up if there's nothing better around, but don't buy it simply for the Deveraux name because she doesn't really deliver--if you DO buy it, be prepared to groan your way through it. |
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Predictable and corny |
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Well, my title sums it up. As I was reading it, I could predict who was going to say what next. It reminded me of a Doris Day/Rock Hudson comedy which lacked the endearing kitsch factor. It's the only book I read by the author and it turned me off for good. |
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Not the best Deveraux book, but still good |
Fiona Burkenhalter is required to go to Florida on a fishing expedition to land a huge contract for the toy company where she works. While on the expedition with guide Ace Montgomery, her client is murdered and she and Ace are blamed. Now Fiona and Ace must try and track down the real killer, and find the answers to the mystery, in their dash through FL and the Everglades.
Perhaps it is because I could only get the abridged version of this book on audio, but High Tide didn't grab me like Deveraux's books usually do. I loved Ace, after all those Montgomery men are to die for. Fiona on the other hand I was unimpressed with. Her entire life is Kimberly, who readers are supposed to be kept guessing as to who exactly she was, though it was pretty obvious to this reader.
The mystery plot line is quite intriguing however and will keep one guessing as to why Ace and Fiona were chosen for this trip and why they were targeted set up for the murder.
Sparks fly between Ace and Fiona, though at first they seem to despise each other. Extreme circumstances can affect anyone though and these two find out just how attracted they are to each other, and discover they may very well be perfect together.
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Not a Keeper |
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I read this book a few years ago. Now I am clearing off my shelves preparing for a move. The reviews are extreme, but I know I did not enjoy this book. So, to the donation pile it goes!! I do like other books by JD, though. |
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