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Donovan #1
Amber Beach
Deadly secrets are buried on Amber Beach ... Donovan International is a power to be reckoned with in the dazzling and cutthroat worldwide gem trade -- and is therefore a target for the murderous greed of unscrupulous competitors. Though a shrewd businesswoman, Honor Donovan has been effectively shut out of the dangerous family enterprise by the Donovan males -- until her favorite brother, Kyle, mysteriously vanishes along with a fortune in stolen amber. Now, linking up with "fishing guide" Jake Mallory -- whose previous association with the Donovans has bred mistrust and suspicion -- Honor sets out for the Pacific Northwest in search of answers. But old wars and new politics have lured ruthless, high-stakes players from around the globe into a deadly game. And suddenly, elusive trust can be the only salvation -- and death the penalty for deceit -- if Honor and Jake hope to survive the perilous intrigues surrounding a breathtaking lost Czarist treasure known as the Amber Room ...
384 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1997
514 people are currently reading
2495 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Lowell
209 books1,925 followersIndividually and with co-author/husband Evan, Ann Maxwell has written over 60 novels and one work of non-fiction. There are 30 million copies of these books in print, as well as reprints in 30 foreign languages. Her novels range from science fiction to historical fiction, from romance to mystery. After working in contemporary and historical romance, she became an innovator in the genre of romantic suspense.
In 1982, Ann began publishing as Elizabeth Lowell. Under that name she has received numerous professional awards in the romance field, including a Lifetime Achievement award from the Romance Writers of America (1994).
Since July of 1992, she has had over 30 novels on the New York Times bestseller list. In 1998 she began writing suspense with a passionate twist, capturing a new audience and generation of readers. Her new romance novel Perfect Touch will be available in July of 2015.
To get a full list of titles as well as read excerpts from her novels, visit www.elizabethlowell.com.
In 1982, Ann began publishing as Elizabeth Lowell. Under that name she has received numerous professional awards in the romance field, including a Lifetime Achievement award from the Romance Writers of America (1994).
Since July of 1992, she has had over 30 novels on the New York Times bestseller list. In 1998 she began writing suspense with a passionate twist, capturing a new audience and generation of readers. Her new romance novel Perfect Touch will be available in July of 2015.
To get a full list of titles as well as read excerpts from her novels, visit www.elizabethlowell.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 208 reviews
June 26, 2014
Do you want to know absolutely EVERYTHING about operating a 27-foot boat on the Puget Sound? If so, then this book is for you. You will be instructed on every excruciating detail as though your friend's asshole stepfather is reading to you from a manual and thinking you are an idiot for not already knowing what is being taught.
But, wait... just wanting to know about the tedious boat details won't be enough for you to get into this book.
Do you ALSO want to know absolutely EVERYTHING about amber? The different types, where it comes from, how to tell if it's one of a zillion kinds of fakes, how to make the fakes, what it can be made into, the day-to-day business operations involved with it? This information will also be passed onto you by a woman-hating dick who will chuckle to himself about what a dumb-dumb you are for not already knowing everything about amber. Does that sound like a good read?
It's not.
Oh, but there IS a romance. Zzzzzzzz. Oops, sorry. I must have dozed off. A slow moving romance between a woman who is written as an idiot by a man who believes she's an idiot and treats her like one just wasn't enough to keep me from drifting off.
Thank goodness there's all that action and suspense about a million dollars in stolen amber and the heroine's missing brother. Zzzzzzzz. Ouch. My head hit the table I snoozed off so fast. I better wipe the sleep drool off the pages. This is a library book and others won't want to mix their own sleep drool with mine.
I guess it's pretty clear that this bored the crud out of me. It is boring, but I also struggled with what a misogynistic creep the hero of this book is. I've read some of Elizabeth Lowell's historical books and have looked past the jerk qualities she gives her male characters as the general crap of past eras, but it does NOT fly for me in a contemporary novel for a man to treat a woman like she's stupid, worthless and beneath him. This is the first in a series, but I'm clearly out.
But, wait... just wanting to know about the tedious boat details won't be enough for you to get into this book.
Do you ALSO want to know absolutely EVERYTHING about amber? The different types, where it comes from, how to tell if it's one of a zillion kinds of fakes, how to make the fakes, what it can be made into, the day-to-day business operations involved with it? This information will also be passed onto you by a woman-hating dick who will chuckle to himself about what a dumb-dumb you are for not already knowing everything about amber. Does that sound like a good read?
It's not.
Oh, but there IS a romance. Zzzzzzzz. Oops, sorry. I must have dozed off. A slow moving romance between a woman who is written as an idiot by a man who believes she's an idiot and treats her like one just wasn't enough to keep me from drifting off.
Thank goodness there's all that action and suspense about a million dollars in stolen amber and the heroine's missing brother. Zzzzzzzz. Ouch. My head hit the table I snoozed off so fast. I better wipe the sleep drool off the pages. This is a library book and others won't want to mix their own sleep drool with mine.
I guess it's pretty clear that this bored the crud out of me. It is boring, but I also struggled with what a misogynistic creep the hero of this book is. I've read some of Elizabeth Lowell's historical books and have looked past the jerk qualities she gives her male characters as the general crap of past eras, but it does NOT fly for me in a contemporary novel for a man to treat a woman like she's stupid, worthless and beneath him. This is the first in a series, but I'm clearly out.
June 19, 2017
2014 update: It's funny how much my perception of old favorites changes as my reading history changes. With this re-read, I realized how incredibly insta-love this book was. There was absolutely no depth of relationship between the hero and heroine, and they fell in love in a matter of days (possibly hours). But I didn't care, I still found the book yummy. These older Elizabeth Lowell books really appealed to me, with their dark and dangerous heroes who want to protect their heroines. Tell Me No Lies still remains one of my favorite books because of that.
Also, it's really too bad Elizabeth Lowell never wrote more in this series (though that's a familiar refrain from us readers for several of her series!)
12/7/2011 update: Re-read. Used to reread this series often but haven't in years.
An old favorite. I felt Honor might have been a little too insistent on staying, in the face of danger, but I still love the chemistry between her and Jake.
Also, it's really too bad Elizabeth Lowell never wrote more in this series (though that's a familiar refrain from us readers for several of her series!)
12/7/2011 update: Re-read. Used to reread this series often but haven't in years.
An old favorite. I felt Honor might have been a little too insistent on staying, in the face of danger, but I still love the chemistry between her and Jake.
August 11, 2012
I fell in love with the Donovan series many years ago and have just replaced my original almost falling-apart paperbacks with hardcover versions from some Amazon resources. It's a worthwhile endeavor, IMHO, because this series is outstanding!! There are four books (Amber Beach, Jade Island, Pearl Cove and Midnight on Ruby Bayou) and each is a sparkling gem! (No pun intended) Elizabeth Lowell has created a family anyone would adore to belong to, and heroes that are studly, gorgeous, talented, human and - occasionally - very funny!! A touch that appeals to me, since I like to know my romances have a sense of humor.
Here, Honor Donovan is on a quest for her missing brother Kyle. She's helped by the hunky Jake Mallory, but whether he's actually helping or serving his own agenda isn't always clear. What is clear is the heat building between the two of them, and Honor gives as good as she gets. In more ways than one. The story, as are all the stories in this series, gets super detailed about a valuable gem - here, obviously, it's amber. For me, this is an additional treat, since Ms. Lowell really gets into the history, the physiology and the life of amber. It's a biological gem, one of the few, and the facts/educational passages are woven into the story with great skill, avoiding the "lecture" mode, but becoming an integral part of the plot. I wanted to go out and find my own piece of amber when I'd finished this book.
These four novels are the reason I began to adore Elizabeth Lowell's work. Their appeal has never diminished and this summer I retired to sit in front of my A/C with all of them stacked beside me. It's a mini vacation with old friends who are as fun to be with now as they were when we first met so many years ago. I heartily recommend the series; start with Amber Beach. It's a hot romance, an intricate tale of international goings-on and a superb kick-off to the other three books. I don't have a favorite - I love them all. And that's saying something! LOLLOL
Here, Honor Donovan is on a quest for her missing brother Kyle. She's helped by the hunky Jake Mallory, but whether he's actually helping or serving his own agenda isn't always clear. What is clear is the heat building between the two of them, and Honor gives as good as she gets. In more ways than one. The story, as are all the stories in this series, gets super detailed about a valuable gem - here, obviously, it's amber. For me, this is an additional treat, since Ms. Lowell really gets into the history, the physiology and the life of amber. It's a biological gem, one of the few, and the facts/educational passages are woven into the story with great skill, avoiding the "lecture" mode, but becoming an integral part of the plot. I wanted to go out and find my own piece of amber when I'd finished this book.
These four novels are the reason I began to adore Elizabeth Lowell's work. Their appeal has never diminished and this summer I retired to sit in front of my A/C with all of them stacked beside me. It's a mini vacation with old friends who are as fun to be with now as they were when we first met so many years ago. I heartily recommend the series; start with Amber Beach. It's a hot romance, an intricate tale of international goings-on and a superb kick-off to the other three books. I don't have a favorite - I love them all. And that's saying something! LOLLOL
April 1, 2012
I really wanted to like this book, what with the great ratings - but I have to admit. It's so terribly DRY! A hundred pages in and I was groaning with the need for SOMETHING to start happening. The interactions between the main couple were pretty great, witty and fun to read, but there was just far too much extraneous information about sailing, fishing, etc.
It was just so unnecessary.
Not to mention the whole book feeling kind of like a made-for-tv movie you watch because it's raining outside.
Since it's the first novel I've read by Lowell, I'm going to give another of her books a shot, but I'm really hoping it'll flow faster than this book did.
It was just so unnecessary.
Not to mention the whole book feeling kind of like a made-for-tv movie you watch because it's raining outside.
Since it's the first novel I've read by Lowell, I'm going to give another of her books a shot, but I'm really hoping it'll flow faster than this book did.
December 17, 2011
This book is your typical Romance/Suspence/Thriller. Its major selling point is that this series revolves around a gem hunting family and thus gems play a big part (as if you didn't know that from the title). I thought the inclusion of the fabled Amber Room was great. Not many people know about it. Other than that (and the repartee between the two main characters), the book is kind of bland. The main female character, Honor, is learning how to drive her brother's boat so she can find him. While the amount of information that Jake (the male main character) teaches her adds to the realism of the book, it's so boring and makes the book go so slow. I guess it's to distract the reader from the fact that nothing actually happens for the majority of the book. The end is somewhat disappointing. The villain doesn't seem to be punished even though he committed assault with a deadly weapon and . There was one other thing I hated. The men in Honor's family seem so chauvinistic. The author tries her best to make them seem like a loving family and they are, but "Honor Donovan was never welcomed into her father's international gen-trading empire like her four brothers were." Her brothers often make comments like "go design pretty knick-knacks." For a family that has apparently has a very strong mother, they sure don't treat the girls as equals.
May 24, 2024
Awful!!!
Goes on and on about how to sail a freakin' boat! If I wanted to know that I'd buy a bloody manual!
It's slow and boring, all talk and no action.
The thrid chapter is a whole dialogue between the hero and this woman called Ellen about a whole bunch of things i couldn't care less about!
After reading 50 pages I still didn't give a shit about abything in the story. I skimmed through it and couldn't spot one dialogue that held my interest so I tossed it right there and decided not to waste any more of my time with this lame book!
Everything I had read so far seemed pointless and could've been summed up in no more than 15-20 pages!
I've already bought the second book in the series so I'll give it a go but if it doesn't hold my interest from the start I'm tossing it too.
Goes on and on about how to sail a freakin' boat! If I wanted to know that I'd buy a bloody manual!
It's slow and boring, all talk and no action.
The thrid chapter is a whole dialogue between the hero and this woman called Ellen about a whole bunch of things i couldn't care less about!
After reading 50 pages I still didn't give a shit about abything in the story. I skimmed through it and couldn't spot one dialogue that held my interest so I tossed it right there and decided not to waste any more of my time with this lame book!
Everything I had read so far seemed pointless and could've been summed up in no more than 15-20 pages!
I've already bought the second book in the series so I'll give it a go but if it doesn't hold my interest from the start I'm tossing it too.
February 27, 2016
Premise of "Amber Beach": (Excellent!) One man is found murdered and a fortune in amber is missing in a deal gone wrong in the Baltic. There are two suspects -- Kyle Donovan, who has seemingly disappeared off the face of the earth, and Jake Mallory, who brokered the deal. Kyle's sister, Honor, unknowingly hires the handsome Jake (who's known to the Donovan family as "Jay") to find Kyle and prove his innocence. Of course, Jake is only helping Honor in order to clear his own name.
Execution of said excellent premise: Tedious...with enough WTF moments to make me scream in frustration! Page after page of boating details and jargon made me seasick. And test after detailed test of which kind of amber from what part of the world just bogged this story down. As for the WTF moments...three immediately come to mind. 1) After just a few days together, Honor and Jake end up in bed. In the throes of ecstasy, Honor declares her love (which, by the way, we never actually get to read). The next morning, Honor is pissed because Jake did not return her sentiments. Really?! Good gawd, give the man time to actually fall in love, will ya?! She then spends the rest of the book bitching and making snide remarks about how awful he is for not declaring his undying love for her. Sheez! 2) After being tailed by the Russian mafiya and dogged by American agents both seemingly willing to do anything -- including tossing Kyle's home while Honor is sleeping and physically threatening her -- to get their hands on the missing amber, Jake leaves Honor alone with a woman who claims to be Kyle's fiancee...who is also considered to be a Lithuanian terrorist!!! Seriously!!! WTF?! 3) (And don't even get me started on how Honor, who had never cast a reel before a few days ago, could bean someone in the head with an eight ounce fishing lead and treble hook.) Oh, and the ending sucked, too...Too many unanswered questions and government double-talk.
I should only give this one star, but I'm giving it a generous two for an excellent premise. Wish I wouldn't have wasted my time reading this. Sheez!!!
Execution of said excellent premise: Tedious...with enough WTF moments to make me scream in frustration! Page after page of boating details and jargon made me seasick. And test after detailed test of which kind of amber from what part of the world just bogged this story down. As for the WTF moments...three immediately come to mind. 1) After just a few days together, Honor and Jake end up in bed. In the throes of ecstasy, Honor declares her love (which, by the way, we never actually get to read). The next morning, Honor is pissed because Jake did not return her sentiments. Really?! Good gawd, give the man time to actually fall in love, will ya?! She then spends the rest of the book bitching and making snide remarks about how awful he is for not declaring his undying love for her. Sheez! 2) After being tailed by the Russian mafiya and dogged by American agents both seemingly willing to do anything -- including tossing Kyle's home while Honor is sleeping and physically threatening her -- to get their hands on the missing amber, Jake leaves Honor alone with a woman who claims to be Kyle's fiancee...who is also considered to be a Lithuanian terrorist!!! Seriously!!! WTF?! 3) (And don't even get me started on how Honor, who had never cast a reel before a few days ago, could bean someone in the head with an eight ounce fishing lead and treble hook.) Oh, and the ending sucked, too...Too many unanswered questions and government double-talk.
I should only give this one star, but I'm giving it a generous two for an excellent premise. Wish I wouldn't have wasted my time reading this. Sheez!!!
December 29, 2009
I love this family! I'm not big on Ms. Lowell's new suspense/romance novels, but her early works are unbelievably wonderful. The Donovans are such a great family that I hate there are only four. Amber Beach is probably my favorite as the others tend to get bogged down in the jewelry trade details. Jake and Honor are great together, and their struggles can sometimes bring a smile to your face. I love seeing the interaction between the family especially with the sisters! Definitely a keeper!
June 9, 2011
Slow start and pacing dragged during info dump dialogue scenes, but since it was Book One in a series, I read it through to the end. I'll give Book Two a shot, but if it's slow too, I won't be finishing it.
July 28, 2021
Not for me. I couldn't connect with the characters and the plot was difficult to follow and implausible.
December 5, 2020
I'll be honest, I only chose to read this book because I'd just read a similar series that introduced future leads in an earlier book and I wanted to remind myself how Lowell does it. Answer, pretty much the same way!
What Lowell does 'better' though is build a plot that has a variety of 'speeds', you have moments of quiet which helps to make the more hectic moments stand out more.
The more I reread this entry in the series the more I enjoy it, Jake is a nice lead - overbearing yes but protectively so rather than Archer who comes off as overbearing because he is male and his sister is female and he therefore knows better. I do wonder if I'd like Pearl Cove as much had I read the books in order... Honour does irritate me slightly though, she has such a know it all attitude which seems at odds given how out of her depth she is.
So yeah. Enjoyable read, good first entry in the series.
What Lowell does 'better' though is build a plot that has a variety of 'speeds', you have moments of quiet which helps to make the more hectic moments stand out more.
The more I reread this entry in the series the more I enjoy it, Jake is a nice lead - overbearing yes but protectively so rather than Archer who comes off as overbearing because he is male and his sister is female and he therefore knows better. I do wonder if I'd like Pearl Cove as much had I read the books in order... Honour does irritate me slightly though, she has such a know it all attitude which seems at odds given how out of her depth she is.
So yeah. Enjoyable read, good first entry in the series.
December 31, 2021
I liked the mystery and suspense of this book. The romance was unbelievable. In just a few days, Honor falls in love with Jack. The whole story took place in maybe a week and in the end, which felt rushed, she agrees to marry him. I’m more of a slow burn romance kind of gal. Other than that, I liked the story and am intrigued by the rest of the Donovan clan.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2017
A mystery, a love story, easy to get into, hard to put down
Read
July 22, 2018Kyle Donovan was missing and his brother, Archer, called Honor Donovan to see if she can find him. Honor went to Seattle and hired J. Jacob Mallory (Jake) to teach her how to drive his boat. Like her twin sister, Faith, she was afraid of boats because of having to ride through a storm with her brothers when she was younger. She had to overcome her fear in order to find Kyle.
Honor didn't know that Jake's company, Emerging Resources, had been left to take the fall for the theft of some raw Amber. Kyle was thought to have stolen amber from a government mine. Emerging Resources brokered the deal. The amber was being transferred from Emerging Resources to the purchaser, Donovan International. The US and Russia believed that a piece of art was part of the shipment and Russia wanted it back. Jake signed the shipment over to Kyle. Kyle and the amber hadn't been seen since. Donovan International was saying that the transfer was never made.
Kyle was attracted to Honor but fought the attraction because he was determined not to get close to a Donovan. She was attracted to him but she had a job to do. Kyle came first. He was just there to teach her to drive his SeaSport so she could find him. She was going to search the San Juan Islands of the Pacific Northwest to find him.
Jake and Honor spent the next couple of days together with her learning how to fish and run the boat. Jake was trying to keep his hands off her. The only time they were apart was when the slept. Honor had been receiving phone calls where no one spoke on the other end and one where a man told her to get rid of Mallory or Kyle would be hurt. She was becoming scared of the phone. She and Jake were out fishing and he finally convinced her to confide in him that she was looking for Kyle. They caught some salmon and had it for dinner. She woke up to see someone in Kyle's cabin where she was staying. She escaped out a back window and yelled for Jake. He was sleeping on Kyle's boat and not too far away. He came running with a gun but the culprit had already tossed her cabin and left. Jake stayed to calm Honor down and they kissed. They ended up sleeping together and then Archer called. He didn't know they were still in bed together but he told Honor who Jake, Jay, was and that he was afraid that Jake might have killed Kyle. Honor didn't believe Archer because she didn't believe Kyle was dead but she had lost her desire for Jake for the moment. She knew she still needed his help finding Kyle but she was now miles away from him emotionally. Jake wasn't happy at all about the situation and was unsure how to handle it. He still wanted Honor and for her to trust him.
They went out on the boat again the next morning but the weather was too rough so they came in early. They were paid a visit by the Russian mafia and then by the Mariju (pronounced Marry you) who claimed to be Kyle's fiancee. She told them that she had given Kyle a piece of artwork from the famed Amber Room that the Russian's wanted. She said that Kyle had killed the driver of the vehicle transporting the work and had driven off with it. She didn't know where he was or what he had done with it. She was Lithuanian and wanted the money it would bring to support a band of rebels who were fighting for their countries freedom. The next visitors she received were from the US government. She met an ex-lover of Jake's, Ellen. They came to visit after Kyle left to his place to gather a change of clothes. Ellen told her that Jake was supposedly working with Kyle and the Russians and trying to steal the amber. The US government also wanted the amber to use for purposes of power over the various factions at war. They wanted it for leverage.
Jake came back and overheard some of the things that Ellen was telling Honor about him. Kyle had found a member of the Russian mafia planting amber in his cabin to get him into more trouble. He had returned the man and the amber to the Russian mafia man that he and Honor had met with earlier. It was obvious that Ellen knew about what they were trying to do to Kyle because some calls were quickly made to discover the results of giving the man who had broken into Kyle's cabin back to the mafia along with the amber they were trying to plant. Kyle also learned that the Navy SEALS were in the harbor.
They all left and Kyle went out diving to find and remove the tracking device they had planted on the boat. He attached it to the harbor and told Honor that he was taking the boat out after dark. She tried to stop him by having sex with him. That didn't work. He told her that she would have to come with him or call Ellen for protection. He was going in search of Kyle and he wasn't leaving her alone.
They went out in Kyle's boat, the Tomorrow, again and Jake had diving equipment with him. He went to a location where he thought Kyle might have hidden any amber he had and while he was overboard Honor used Kyle's password and went to work on his chart plotter. She found a hidden location that Kyle had plotted. Jake was upset that Honor had the passwords to Kyle's computer and hadn't shared them but he put his feelings aside and went to find Kyle. After carefully searching and going onto an island where they found Kyle's diving gear, they found Kyle. He wasn't in very good shape physically. He was dehydrated and had an infected wound on his shoulder where he had been shot. Jake was preparing to take him onto the boat when Kyle refused to leave without the amber panel everyone was looking for. Honor wanted to leave it but Kyle and Jake both knew that the people who were searching for it wouldn't believe that he had lost it. Their lives would all be in danger.
Jake dove where Kyle told him too and brought up the amber panel from the bottom of the ocean. Then they heard a voice telling Jake to open the crate or Honor would be shot. The Russian mafia representative was holding a sniper rifle on Honor. Jake opened the crate holding the amber when Mariju showed up with another gun and held it on the guys as Petyr came down from where he was standing to get a closer look at the amber. He slipped and fell. Honor wasn't being watched and she had learned to cast and was good at it. She put an 8 oz lure on one of the fishing rods and cast it. It hit Mariju on the back of her head. Jake jumped on her and took her gun while Kyle hit Petyr and knocked him unconscious. They tied the both of them up and called Ellen.
Kyle was taken to a clinic for treatment because he didn't want to go to the hospital. The rest of the family was on their way to check on Kyle. Ellen came by to see Kyle and get some answers. Petyr was there with her. It seemed that the organization that Mariju was involved with was perpetuating the rumors of an amber room existing and they were creating amber and selling it at a great profit for their group. The Russians didn't know that this particular piece was not an original and wanted to see for themselves. They wanted proof that the amber room was really and the money for themselves. Mariju was who had hidden the amber panel in the shipment and had arranged for Kyle to be killed. That didn't happen. Kyle discovered her plan before that happened and he killed the men who were sent to kill him.
Jake told Amber that she needed to continue her fishing lessons on his boat while they were on their honeymoon. She asked him why she should marry him and he told her that she loved him. She told him that was the wrong answer so he told her that he loved her. She agreed to go with him.
Honor didn't know that Jake's company, Emerging Resources, had been left to take the fall for the theft of some raw Amber. Kyle was thought to have stolen amber from a government mine. Emerging Resources brokered the deal. The amber was being transferred from Emerging Resources to the purchaser, Donovan International. The US and Russia believed that a piece of art was part of the shipment and Russia wanted it back. Jake signed the shipment over to Kyle. Kyle and the amber hadn't been seen since. Donovan International was saying that the transfer was never made.
Kyle was attracted to Honor but fought the attraction because he was determined not to get close to a Donovan. She was attracted to him but she had a job to do. Kyle came first. He was just there to teach her to drive his SeaSport so she could find him. She was going to search the San Juan Islands of the Pacific Northwest to find him.
Jake and Honor spent the next couple of days together with her learning how to fish and run the boat. Jake was trying to keep his hands off her. The only time they were apart was when the slept. Honor had been receiving phone calls where no one spoke on the other end and one where a man told her to get rid of Mallory or Kyle would be hurt. She was becoming scared of the phone. She and Jake were out fishing and he finally convinced her to confide in him that she was looking for Kyle. They caught some salmon and had it for dinner. She woke up to see someone in Kyle's cabin where she was staying. She escaped out a back window and yelled for Jake. He was sleeping on Kyle's boat and not too far away. He came running with a gun but the culprit had already tossed her cabin and left. Jake stayed to calm Honor down and they kissed. They ended up sleeping together and then Archer called. He didn't know they were still in bed together but he told Honor who Jake, Jay, was and that he was afraid that Jake might have killed Kyle. Honor didn't believe Archer because she didn't believe Kyle was dead but she had lost her desire for Jake for the moment. She knew she still needed his help finding Kyle but she was now miles away from him emotionally. Jake wasn't happy at all about the situation and was unsure how to handle it. He still wanted Honor and for her to trust him.
They went out on the boat again the next morning but the weather was too rough so they came in early. They were paid a visit by the Russian mafia and then by the Mariju (pronounced Marry you) who claimed to be Kyle's fiancee. She told them that she had given Kyle a piece of artwork from the famed Amber Room that the Russian's wanted. She said that Kyle had killed the driver of the vehicle transporting the work and had driven off with it. She didn't know where he was or what he had done with it. She was Lithuanian and wanted the money it would bring to support a band of rebels who were fighting for their countries freedom. The next visitors she received were from the US government. She met an ex-lover of Jake's, Ellen. They came to visit after Kyle left to his place to gather a change of clothes. Ellen told her that Jake was supposedly working with Kyle and the Russians and trying to steal the amber. The US government also wanted the amber to use for purposes of power over the various factions at war. They wanted it for leverage.
Jake came back and overheard some of the things that Ellen was telling Honor about him. Kyle had found a member of the Russian mafia planting amber in his cabin to get him into more trouble. He had returned the man and the amber to the Russian mafia man that he and Honor had met with earlier. It was obvious that Ellen knew about what they were trying to do to Kyle because some calls were quickly made to discover the results of giving the man who had broken into Kyle's cabin back to the mafia along with the amber they were trying to plant. Kyle also learned that the Navy SEALS were in the harbor.
They all left and Kyle went out diving to find and remove the tracking device they had planted on the boat. He attached it to the harbor and told Honor that he was taking the boat out after dark. She tried to stop him by having sex with him. That didn't work. He told her that she would have to come with him or call Ellen for protection. He was going in search of Kyle and he wasn't leaving her alone.
They went out in Kyle's boat, the Tomorrow, again and Jake had diving equipment with him. He went to a location where he thought Kyle might have hidden any amber he had and while he was overboard Honor used Kyle's password and went to work on his chart plotter. She found a hidden location that Kyle had plotted. Jake was upset that Honor had the passwords to Kyle's computer and hadn't shared them but he put his feelings aside and went to find Kyle. After carefully searching and going onto an island where they found Kyle's diving gear, they found Kyle. He wasn't in very good shape physically. He was dehydrated and had an infected wound on his shoulder where he had been shot. Jake was preparing to take him onto the boat when Kyle refused to leave without the amber panel everyone was looking for. Honor wanted to leave it but Kyle and Jake both knew that the people who were searching for it wouldn't believe that he had lost it. Their lives would all be in danger.
Jake dove where Kyle told him too and brought up the amber panel from the bottom of the ocean. Then they heard a voice telling Jake to open the crate or Honor would be shot. The Russian mafia representative was holding a sniper rifle on Honor. Jake opened the crate holding the amber when Mariju showed up with another gun and held it on the guys as Petyr came down from where he was standing to get a closer look at the amber. He slipped and fell. Honor wasn't being watched and she had learned to cast and was good at it. She put an 8 oz lure on one of the fishing rods and cast it. It hit Mariju on the back of her head. Jake jumped on her and took her gun while Kyle hit Petyr and knocked him unconscious. They tied the both of them up and called Ellen.
Kyle was taken to a clinic for treatment because he didn't want to go to the hospital. The rest of the family was on their way to check on Kyle. Ellen came by to see Kyle and get some answers. Petyr was there with her. It seemed that the organization that Mariju was involved with was perpetuating the rumors of an amber room existing and they were creating amber and selling it at a great profit for their group. The Russians didn't know that this particular piece was not an original and wanted to see for themselves. They wanted proof that the amber room was really and the money for themselves. Mariju was who had hidden the amber panel in the shipment and had arranged for Kyle to be killed. That didn't happen. Kyle discovered her plan before that happened and he killed the men who were sent to kill him.
Jake told Amber that she needed to continue her fishing lessons on his boat while they were on their honeymoon. She asked him why she should marry him and he told her that she loved him. She told him that was the wrong answer so he told her that he loved her. She agreed to go with him.
February 8, 2016
Author: Elizabeth Lowell
First published: 1998
Length: 365 pages, 6239 kindle locations
Setting: Contemporary, Puget Sound.
Sex: Infrequent, hand wavy.
Hero: International gem dealer with particular interest in amber..
Heroine: Gem artist.
Lots and lots of information dump on boats, fishing, amber, gem trade, Russian politics, history, the Amber Room …. Somewhere in here is a reasonable but light romantic-suspense. Interesting enough for the, sometimes dry, exposition but lacking in romance and suspense.
2.5 stars, rounded up. Because I like a bit of history.
The Donovans:
Book 1 Amber Beach - Honor Donovan and Jake Mallory
Book 2 Jade Island - Kyle Donovan and Lianne Blakely
Book 3 Pearl Cove - Hannah McGarry and Archer Donovan
Book 4 Midnight in Ruby Bayou - Faith Donovan and Owen Walker
References:
Author’s website: http://www.elizabethlowell.com/amber-...
(ISBN 9780061797521)
-CR-
First published: 1998
Length: 365 pages, 6239 kindle locations
Setting: Contemporary, Puget Sound.
Sex: Infrequent, hand wavy.
Hero: International gem dealer with particular interest in amber..
Heroine: Gem artist.
Lots and lots of information dump on boats, fishing, amber, gem trade, Russian politics, history, the Amber Room …. Somewhere in here is a reasonable but light romantic-suspense. Interesting enough for the, sometimes dry, exposition but lacking in romance and suspense.
2.5 stars, rounded up. Because I like a bit of history.
The Donovans:
Book 1 Amber Beach - Honor Donovan and Jake Mallory
Book 2 Jade Island - Kyle Donovan and Lianne Blakely
Book 3 Pearl Cove - Hannah McGarry and Archer Donovan
Book 4 Midnight in Ruby Bayou - Faith Donovan and Owen Walker
References:
Author’s website: http://www.elizabethlowell.com/amber-...
(ISBN 9780061797521)
-CR-
November 3, 2020
If you do not like detailed descriptions you will not like this book. I learned a lot about amber and more than I wanted about fishing, boating and political shenanigans.
Honor is looking for her missing brother who is suspected of murder and theft. Jake is also looking for Kyle since he is taking the blame for the theft. He pretends to be a fishing guide to get close to Honor who he suspects (wrongly) knows Kyle’s whereabouts.
There is instant chemistry, witty banter, great sex but you don’t really get to know much about the two of them, which I felt was a flaw in the book. The exception was Honor’s past sex experience. For some reason the author felt the need to have Honor’s past sexual experiences “boring” with her never having experienced climax. This colours a lot of the first one or two sex scenes. I have no idea why the author felt like she needed this detail unless it was to explain how Honor immediately falls in love with Jake. It just seemed very stupid to me.
I really liked Jake. Honour’s brothers and father came off as chauvinistic jerks.
I found the plot very convoluted, with too many players in the game.
And the ending was ridiculously rushed, unclear and unfulfilling. No justice for the bad guys. No good explanation IMO for the theft. Just WHAT?
Honor is looking for her missing brother who is suspected of murder and theft. Jake is also looking for Kyle since he is taking the blame for the theft. He pretends to be a fishing guide to get close to Honor who he suspects (wrongly) knows Kyle’s whereabouts.
There is instant chemistry, witty banter, great sex but you don’t really get to know much about the two of them, which I felt was a flaw in the book. The exception was Honor’s past sex experience. For some reason the author felt the need to have Honor’s past sexual experiences “boring” with her never having experienced climax. This colours a lot of the first one or two sex scenes. I have no idea why the author felt like she needed this detail unless it was to explain how Honor immediately falls in love with Jake. It just seemed very stupid to me.
I really liked Jake. Honour’s brothers and father came off as chauvinistic jerks.
I found the plot very convoluted, with too many players in the game.
And the ending was ridiculously rushed, unclear and unfulfilling. No justice for the bad guys. No good explanation IMO for the theft. Just WHAT?
February 6, 2020
UPDATE -- reread in 2020 in midst of much needed brain break. Today I would probably give this one only 2 stars. It is much too simplistic, and heavier on romance than mystery, which doesn't work well for me. However, I still like the discussion of amber.
Is there anything you would change about this book?
I would not classify this as a mystery. It is more romance than mystery. Yes, there is plot line that involves some mystery, but the story doesn't twist and build suspense. There is never a question as to how it will end. The loved one will be found, and will be innocent. The couple will marry and live happily ever after. It is trite and predictable. A mystery should keep me guessing and this novel deosnt do that at all.
Has Amber Beach turned you off from other books in this genre?
No. Though I may not buy and more books from Elizabeth Lowell. I got this book on a sale of first books in a series and picked it up.
Which scene was your favorite?
I cannot name a favorite scene. However, I did enjoy learning a bit about amber. That part of the story was a success.
Is there anything you would change about this book?
I would not classify this as a mystery. It is more romance than mystery. Yes, there is plot line that involves some mystery, but the story doesn't twist and build suspense. There is never a question as to how it will end. The loved one will be found, and will be innocent. The couple will marry and live happily ever after. It is trite and predictable. A mystery should keep me guessing and this novel deosnt do that at all.
Has Amber Beach turned you off from other books in this genre?
No. Though I may not buy and more books from Elizabeth Lowell. I got this book on a sale of first books in a series and picked it up.
Which scene was your favorite?
I cannot name a favorite scene. However, I did enjoy learning a bit about amber. That part of the story was a success.
November 14, 2016
So... I did learn some stuff about amber, and operating 27-foot boats, and a bit about the San Juan Islands. Otherwise, I would have to say this book would have a better use as a paperweight than something to read. Ridiculously shallow characters, stultifyingly boring plot, completely unbelievable dialog (although there were some clever lines here and there), long and boring passages about the operation of boats and the "fascinating" (not) history of amber. Frankly, throughout the book, I found myself rooting for the Russians... or Lithuanians... ah... who cares. Certainly not me. I'm certainly surprised at the good reviews this book got, considering it is frankly, barely a cut above a Harlequin Romance novel. Everyone has an opinion I suppose, but the suckitude of this book is pure fact!
August 1, 2020
I just struggled with this one book and in the end I got almost halfway and had to put it in the DNF pile. I don’t do that offer - it’s only the 9th book to get meet that date.
I didn’t like Honour as the heroine, she was a bit too wishy washy for my liking. Jay seemed like a great character though and he is the sole reason I persevered as long as I did.
I didn’t like the way the family name Donovan was thrown around as though they were something special - it’s not real world relatable at all. I don’t know any families in the real world famous for doing what these Donovan’s seem to do - and certainly not to the point of arrogance that Honour has.
I didn’t like Honour as the heroine, she was a bit too wishy washy for my liking. Jay seemed like a great character though and he is the sole reason I persevered as long as I did.
I didn’t like the way the family name Donovan was thrown around as though they were something special - it’s not real world relatable at all. I don’t know any families in the real world famous for doing what these Donovan’s seem to do - and certainly not to the point of arrogance that Honour has.
January 21, 2016
Book #12 read in 2016
There might have actually been a great story hidden underneath the pages and pages of boring descriptions of things that were of no interest to me. Do I really need a manual on how to drive a boat? I don't think I'll read more by this author.
There might have actually been a great story hidden underneath the pages and pages of boring descriptions of things that were of no interest to me. Do I really need a manual on how to drive a boat? I don't think I'll read more by this author.
April 2, 2020
Although I enjoyed the book there were a lot of players and crosses and double crosses and triple crosses - it was overly complex in that regard. I didn't like it enough to try the rest of the series.
August 12, 2012
Wow, what a ride. Makes you want your own Donovan brother.
March 20, 2014
Couldn't finish it. Tried too hard in the witty/smartass comments, lost the story.
May 23, 2017
Couldn't finish this book,so very slow and boring! Focused to much on boats and Amber. I got 41% in and just couldn't go any further.
September 21, 2017
Very slow book and male protagonist is incredibly whiny and arrogant. I gave it up
July 18, 2019
Boring, average mystery and no chemistry between the main characters. Just a blah read. If you want to know how to operate a boat or fish this is for you. Otherwise, forgedaboutit.
August 9, 2021
Like the tone, snappy dialogues, and detailed descriptions
November 3, 2020
Could have been 100 pages less at least. Way way way too much info on boats and amber.
May 17, 2023
bought for the plot and stayed for the smut.
August 4, 2019
I had some time to kill over the weekend and fancied reading an old favourite series. It's odd to describe this as such but the series as a whole is just well written and interesting.
These books aren't some I'd read regularly, not like Pay it Forward and the other favourites I have deliberately made an effort not to pick up and read, but there's something about them that makes me return to them. This is the third time I have read Amber Beach I believe and although I knew the gist of the story-line I didn't really recall the ins and outs so it's still an enjoyable read.
I will admit that some of the discussion around amber and sailing can become a tad tedious but it's still really interesting overall. Personally I find the information divulged in Pearl Cove (the first book in the series I read) more engrossing but what is shown here makes me appreciate amber more than I did previously (and jade and ruby's as the books go on).
Normally in books where a relationship is built on lust I am rather skeptical but it works here for me. Although the mentions are brief there are moments when Honor and Jake show a greater depth of feeling than pure lust. From the moment they meet you can see that their personalities gel - they have similar sense of humours and seem to click well. Honor mentions that Jake allows her to make her own decisions without argument (except when her safety is in question) and thus he stands out from her brothers. Jake on the other hand admires her artistic talent - compared to a lot of other novels this gives them both more of an emotional base than lust at first sight.
I'm planning on reading on but from memory this and Peal Cove are the strongest books in the series so we will see how they hold up with my memory.
These books aren't some I'd read regularly, not like Pay it Forward and the other favourites I have deliberately made an effort not to pick up and read, but there's something about them that makes me return to them. This is the third time I have read Amber Beach I believe and although I knew the gist of the story-line I didn't really recall the ins and outs so it's still an enjoyable read.
I will admit that some of the discussion around amber and sailing can become a tad tedious but it's still really interesting overall. Personally I find the information divulged in Pearl Cove (the first book in the series I read) more engrossing but what is shown here makes me appreciate amber more than I did previously (and jade and ruby's as the books go on).
Normally in books where a relationship is built on lust I am rather skeptical but it works here for me. Although the mentions are brief there are moments when Honor and Jake show a greater depth of feeling than pure lust. From the moment they meet you can see that their personalities gel - they have similar sense of humours and seem to click well. Honor mentions that Jake allows her to make her own decisions without argument (except when her safety is in question) and thus he stands out from her brothers. Jake on the other hand admires her artistic talent - compared to a lot of other novels this gives them both more of an emotional base than lust at first sight.
I'm planning on reading on but from memory this and Peal Cove are the strongest books in the series so we will see how they hold up with my memory.
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