Tribute
by Nora Roberts
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Book Reviews of Tribute
Book Review: Enjoyable for a die-hard fan
Summary: 4 Stars
I'd probably rate this book about 4 stars overall...a strong B rating. There's a lot about it that I liked: the characters, the smooth storytelling and readability of the book, the basic premise. But the identity of the bad guy left me scratching my head.
One of the things I have always admired about Nora's characters...her protagonists...is that they are psychologically sound individuals. That doesn't mean they don't have issues and neuroses and all that, but Nora always explains those traits, and they make sense. The behavior of the main characters makes sense. But in the case of the bad guy in this story, what left me scratching my head was that the behavior just didn't make sense. And then that bugged me a little because the other thing that Nora does fairly regularly is give us bad guys who are unhinged...as if insanity is the only explanation for their behavior. The bad guy's motivation in this book just didn't seem realistic to me, especially as Nora goes to such great lengths to draw this character in a specific way during the story. With some of her characters -- antagonists or secondary characters -- Nora sometimes creates CARICATURES rather than just characters, as if we readers need that exaggeration in order to form an opinion. In my opinion, this is truly the only weakness of her writing, but unfortunately it's one that appears in way too many of her books.
The romance in TRIBUTE is kind of pared down, but not unsatisfying. It's sweet. I definitely believe that Cilla and Ford love one another, and their relationship is founded on friendship and a mutual respect for each other's strengths and independence. But this isn't a particularly passionate love story. I wouldn't necessarily say that the romance takes a back-seat to the "suspense" part of the story, because they're there together, every step of the way. But they act more like a couple who has known each other and been secure in their love for one another for decades, rather than like a newly-fledged couple exploring the first flush of their love. Does that make sense? It's sweet and it's romantic, but it's not necessarily what I expect from a Nora Roberts romance novel.
(One character who really grabbed my attention in this book was the character of Cilla's ex-husband, Steve. Now THERE'S a guy I'd like to read more about!)
Overall, I very much enjoyed this story, but I think it's possible that a less-devout Nora Roberts fan might be less enthusiastic due to the identity of the villain and the tenor of the romance.
Book Review: Tribute
Summary: 3 Stars
Cilla McGowen is a former child star brought up in the glamour of Hollywood. Both her parents were actors up until their divorce, when her father Gavin McGowen dropped out of the limelight to live a normal life. Cilla now longs for that same normal life, and decides to renovate her grandmother's old farmhouse. She loves the area, and she will also be continuing in her chosen profession of flipping homes. There is lot of stigma behind this old house owned by Janet Hardy because she died at such a young age in this house under mysterious circumstances. Many believe she was murdered, while others believe it was simply suicide after the tragic death of her beloved son.
Ford Sawyer returned from vacation to find a presence at the Hardy home. Since no one had lived there since Janet's death, he was suspicious. Upon seeing Cilla, he knew immediately she was a relative due to the striking resemblance. He was taken immediately with the woman he met who was determined to bring the old neglected farm back to life. As construction got underway, he felt more and more drawn to Cilla, but she discouraged him. He knew just from talking to her that she was a mess, but he just couldn't stay away. She kept asking him what a washed up actress afraid of intimacy had in common with a graphic novel author. Ford was constantly throwing Cilla off balance in his pursuit of her.
As Cilla spent more time in this small community, the more she was positive she made the right decision in moving. She was getting to know her father and half sister, and was realizing what she had missed out on. Even her precarious relationship with her mother couldn't sway her from living in her new home. When threats and vandalism endangered the new life she was trying to build, it took all the strength Cilla possessed, not to give up. While Ford and the rest of her extended family rallied around, she was determined to fight for her future hoping the cost wouldn't be her life.
This was a pretty good read, but will not be one of my favorites. The characters were well written, and I enjoyed some of the secondary characters as much or even more than the primary characters. Cilla's down to earth loving father in direct contrast with her diva mother explained a lot about her. Ford's parents were a hoot, but his grandfather was priceless. Spock stole the spotlight! I felt cheated by the lack of development of the suspense plot. It seemed sloppily thrown together as if it were almost an afterthought. Not a keeper!!
Book Review: Getting Old and Stale
Summary: 3 Stars
Cilla McGowan is going back to her roots. As the grandchild of the famous Janet Hardy, Cilla had been exploited and used her entire life, and all she wants is to never see Hollywood again. Looking for a family connection, Cilla arrives at in the Blue Ridge Mountains at her grandmother, Janet's, farm. While Cilla is setting up housekeeping and renovating her grandmother's farm, she meets and falls in love with graphic artist, Ford Sawyer. Life is really looking good for Cilla if it isn't for the reoccuring incidents of vandalism and terror that become more and more frequent the longer Cilla lives in the valley. Apparently, not everyone is happy to see Janet's family come home, and as time goes by, the suspicion crosses Cilla's mind that maybe, just maybe, Janet didn't commit suicide as everyone believed. Maybe she was murdered...
Nora Robert's latest, Tribute, is just like every single other book Nora has put out lately. In fact, her writing - which use to thrill me - is just getting stale. Lately her plots have pretty much all been the same, but what really is driving me crazy are Nora's heroes. They are all just so damn perfect and understanding anymore. It used to be the Nora Robert's feature couple had a little spice in each of the characters, as well as conflicts to resolve. Now the heroine is full of angst and emotional disorder, and the hero is sweet, patient, understanding and just plain wonderful. Now don't get me wrong. I don't want to go back to the alpha males of the 80's in romance, where they were mean, cruel and creepy up to the last chapter, when all of a sudden they finally saw the heroine was wonderful and all lived happily ever after, but I don't want all my heroes to be such blandless wimps either. Instead of having all this suspense as a backdrop to the story, what happened with having suspense between the two characters as they work out their difference and unpeel the layers of each other. I truly don't believe Nora has wrote a really, really good book (except for her JDRobb series) for a long time. As for Tribute, it is just an average book. I would wait for the paperback.
Book Review: Fantastic Story of Romance, Celebrity, Mystery and Suspense!
Summary: 5 Stars
Cilla McGowan is the granddaughter of the famous actress/singer Janet Hardy. Cilla's mom Dilly is also a star and Cilla herself was a child star and had a successful TV series. Cilla's mom and dad divorced when she was little. Cilla has finally bribed/persuaded and in the end paid to have her mom sell her Janet Hardy's farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. The last few years has seen Cilla "flip" houses - that is, buy an old broken down house cheap, rehab and remodel and sell for a nice profit. Cilla got into this as her ex-husband had also been doing construction along with being a rock musician.
As Cilla takes her first real tour of the house and write notes on what she will do, her father comes by. He, his second wife and her half-sister live in the small town area that the farm is just outside of. Cilla never got to really know her father as her parents divorced when she was quite young and her mother kept her very busy with her movies, singing, TV series, etc. Cilla does not know what family really is as her mom flitted from husband and boyfriend and back again and is currently on her fifth husband. Cilla is sick of Hollywood and is studying for her contractor's license so she can have her own business flipping homes. Cilla's dad also gives her some names of local contractors she can use.
Across the road from Cilla in a lovely Victorian home lives Ford Sawyer, graphic novelist, and his very ugly dog. Ford gets inspired for his new graphic novel series when he sees and watches Cilla from across the road.
As the ensuing romances struggles, Cilla also is determined to learn more about Janet Hardy and find out who wrote a bunch of unsigned love letters that she has found in the attic. Unfortunately, some one is not happy with Cilla's possible snooping and more and more dangerous incidents and threats occur.
How this is resolved and Cilla learns that she does have a family and friends who care and she can rely on is very well done.
Highly recommended.
Valerie Matteson
Ann Arbor, MI
Book Review: A Wonderful Romantic Suspense
Summary: 5 Stars
Cilla McGowan spent her childhood pretending to be someone she was not. She was a child star in a long running family television show. When the show was cancelled, she picked up other acting jobs, did a few CD's and cameo appearances, but it didn't take Cilla long to realize her acting career was over. With more relief than regret, Cilla tried several alternative careers until she hit upon the one that made her whole. She purchased rundown and forgotten houses, renovated them, and then sold them. She turned the neglected house back into a home.
The one house that Cilla wanted to renovate and turn back into a home was her grandmother's hideaway in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. Janet Hardy was a Hollywood legend. She died by her own hand spending her final days at the farm.
When her mother, a failed wannabe actress, needed money for her latest production, Cilla talked her into selling the Shenandoah farm to her. Cilla needed to come to terms with the past before she could truly look to the future. Renovating her grandmother's home would do it.
While cleaning out the attic, Cilla came across a bundle of love letters kept by her grandmother. Janet had a lover the final year of her life, and the relationship did not end well. Did she really commit suicide or did the Grim Reaper have a little help?
Cilla was not the only one that knew the letters existed. The work site was repeatedly vandalized, workers and friends hurt, and hateful reminders of her years as an actress kept popping up. Cilla would not be intimidated. With her neighbor Ford at her side, they faced the demons of the past and the demons of the present. Cilla came to Shenandoah with plenty of baggage, but in dealing with her problems, she gains both strength and resiliency.
Tribute is both a romance and a suspense. Nora Roberts does a wonderful job of combining the two. It is a wonderful book full of unforgettable characters and a great story line. It's a lengthy novel, but an easy read. I loved it.