The Waterfall

by Carla Neggers

Three years after the sudden death of her husband, Lucy Blacker Swift has finally got things under control. Leaving behind the cutthroat world of Washington, Lucy and her two children move to a Vermont farmhouse and start to rebuild their lives. But a string of unexplained events—late-night hang-ups, a bullet through a window—threatens her new life.

Unwilling to turn to her powerful father-in-law, Senator Jack Swift, Lucy tracks down Sebastian Redwing, an international security expert her late husband asked her to contact if she ever needed help. Sebastian, though, wants nothing to do with her problems…or with a woman he's been half in love with since her wedding day.

But Sebastian knows he has no choice, and reluctantly he becomes drawn with Lucy into a dangerous tangle of blackmail, vengeance and betrayal, with Lucy's powerful family—and Sebastian's troubled past—smack in the middle.

Genres: Romantic Suspense, Romance, Suspense, Mystery, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Mystery Thriller

302 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Carla Neggers is the New York Times bestselling author of the Sharpe & Donovan series featuring Boston-based FBI agents Emma Sharpe and Colin Donovan, and the popular Swift River Valley series set in the small, fictional New England town of Knights Bridge. With many bestsellers to her credit, Carla loves to write now as much as she did when she climbed a tree at age eleven with a pad and pen and spun stories perched on her favorite branch.

A native New Englander, Carla and her husband divide their time between their hilltop home in Vermont, a sofa bed at their kids' places in Boston and various inns, hotels and hideaways on their travels, frequently to Ireland.

Find out more and sign up for Carla's newsletter at CarlaNeggers.com.

Reviews

[Christi · Rating 1 out of 5]

this book was so lame
was it supposed to be a romance? a thriller?
it was neither
the characters were one dimensional
the plot was thin and tired
I couldn't wait to finish this and be done

this is the second Carla Neggers book I've read and both have been disappointing.

[Skaistė Girtienė · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pusiau su bėda. Įtempto siužeto linija visai nieko, nors ir ne šedevras. O štai romantinė dalis labai silpna. Labai labai. Beveik nieko. Deja, nieko ypatingo. Šiek tiek gaila laiko, juk galėjau perskaityti ką nors įdomesnio. Matyt, jau būsiu atsikandus šio žanro.

[Caro · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book that definitely kept me interested. Great characters, suspense, some action, some exasperation, emotions, a twist or two, and a sweet and good HEA. I definitely liked this book and wouldn't mind reading this again. I really liked the strength, courage and growth of the characters and how well this was written. Enjoy!

[Lily · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh.

[Christa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first experience with a Carla Neggers book, and I will definitely try more by her. In this book, Lucy Blacker Swift, a widow with two children, operates an adventure travel business out of her Vermont farmhouse. When a few unsettling incidences occur, Lucy decides to contact her late husband's friend, Sebastian Redwing, a security consultant. Lucy's husband, the son of a U.S. sentator, had made her promise that she would contact Sebastian if she ever needed help. When Lucy and her chidren show up at Sebastian's refuge in Wyoming, he turns them away, but soon follows them home. As more incidences occur, Sebastian and Lucy try to discover who is behind them. Sebastian, Lucy, her children, and her father-in-law all become caught up in a villain's deadly game of revenge.

I thought that this was a great fast paced story. It is romantic suspense, but the reader knows who the antagonists are almost from the outset. One of the villains came across to me as so unbalanced and delusional that it was almost disturbing. If you are looking for a book filled with steamy, passionate encounters between the hero and heroine, this is not it. However, it does have a sweet romance with a hero who has been in love with the heroine for years. I loved both the hero and the heroine, although I had doubts about the hero when he was first introduced to the story. I liked the way that the hero interacted with the heroine and her children, and I enjoyed the light humor that occurred in some of their encounters.

[Momof3 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3-1/2 Stars
The Waterfall was an okay read. It had the potential to be much better. There was good dialogue throughout the book and the story flowed nicely. The characters were not as well developed as I would have preferred. Sebastian's love for Lucy was not believable. The villains' motives were very far fetched.

[Carolyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, you have the main folks, Lucy Blacker Swift-The, Widow- Her Father-In-Law- Jack Swift-Senator. Colin Swift Lucy's & Husband- deceased, Barbara - The Senator's right hand Asst.,Darren Mowery- A Distgruntle employee, The Swift Kids Madison @ 15yrs.old a Too trusting nitwit. Her brother J.T. @ 9 yrs. old lazy kid.-Rob & Patti, Georgie also is 9 yrs.old. Kiley Lucy's partners in her own adventure company & Sidney Greenburg (Jack's newest mistress), The Ex-Agent who renounced violence and doesn't carry a gun. Sabastian Redwing-The Ex-Agent who renounced violence and doesn't carry a gun. Plato R. (Big Man of the operations). The Redwing Assoc.- high tech security and run by Plato R.-Sabastian, Colin Swift & Darren Mowery. Until Darren turned greedy scheming with Barbara to get even towards Senator Jack Swift. Back in the days, I think, Colin had cheated on Barbara Jack's asst. Then Jack also had a small affair with Barbara too, before Sidney enters the picture. Darren decided he needs more money and tries to blackmail The Senator since he's got dirt on Jack. Barbara hates Lucy's and decides to mess with Lucy thinking she would run back to D.C. and bring her family. But Barbara really doesn't know Lucy at all. Because Lucy is fed up with Jack being too nosey about how to raise her own kids, to prove them wrong moved to Vermont and this is how Redwing enters the picture.----- If this was a cliff hanger I'm still hanging on because the ending made no sense at all. I'm in the background yelling something is missing or did I really miss all of that? This is why I gave it 2 stars, It wasn't a strong thriller that it could get. Also, I have read some great stories but this one missed the mark.

[Nicole · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was meh on this book until the last fiftyish pages, and then it made me want to throw it across the room in frustration. It was paint y numbers, and then it pissed me off.

Why do things happen in this book? Because Plot. The plot says they have to go that way, so they do, regardless if it was set up well or not. Why are the characters suddenly together? Because Plot. Why do they suddenly figure out the bad guy's thing after about one minute, despite how it jumps to insane inclusions ? Because Plot. Why does she believe it instantly instead of resisting the idea that someone she has known forever is basically crazy? Because Plot. Not on this happens because it makes sense, but because the plot outline said it was supposed to go this way.

I also roll my eyes at how stereotypical and God awful the villain ways. Her motivations made no sense and she was poorly written. I have no idea why Neggers revealed the answer to the revenge plot so soon. It took all of the tension out,

[ROSA MICKENS · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was so tiring! I struggled to completely read it to the end.
What is the category? A thriller,a love story or some type of espionage drama.
In my assessment,it was neither.
It was just words on pages that had no depth!
The plot was totally ridiculous and the characters were non-existent because they weren't fully developed to draw the reader in to get to know them.
So glad I finally finished it.
When the book is good in my opinion, I can hardly put it down, because , it holds my attention and I can't stop reading it. I usually will read it in 1-2 days!
Not this book, I hated to pick it up,but I had to finish it,so I can add it to my book reading challenge for this year.
Although I have these negative comments about this book, I am willing to read another by this author.
Wish me luck!!

[Loretta · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining, quick read. With the lovely setting in Vermont, Lucy Blacker Swift is making a success of her fun adventures business and raising two children since Colin, her husband, had died unexpectedly three years ago. His father, a US senator, was upset that she'd left Washington. Then strange incidents started occurring. Scared, she goes to Wyoming to see Sebastian Redwing, her husband's best friend. Colin had told her that if she ever needed help to let Sebastian know. Then the incidents increase and lots of other events start happening.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young widow with two children finds a new life in Vermont with friends and a new company she runs. One day there are the beginning of strange and disturbing occurrences around the house and she ends up contacting a friend of her late husband who told her if she needed help to do so. Things escalate when her father-in -law a senator gets threatened and his o0ffice manager of many years joins the blackmailer in his plan. A good story, keeps you reading with plenty of action and suspense to be had.

[Anna Budziak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book hung together well--plot consistent. Only thing I would have liked was seeing more interaction between the main characters, Lucy Blacker and Sebastian Redwing. They had a history but, though you see changes in them individually, there is not a lot of the little details you like to see about how they grow together. Best aspect of their developing relationship is the way Sebastian interacts with Lucy's children. Would highly recommend.

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy Blacker Swift, widowed daughter-in-law of powerful Senator Jack Swift, is living in Vermont trying to create a new life for her children and herself. When she starts getting threats, she goes to her husband's friend in CO, Sebastian Redwing, for help. Sebastian has "retired" from security, but reluctantly goes to VT to help Lucy and to uncover the threat. Blackmail and attempted murder are uncovered as well as their love.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book for its simplicity compared to what I have been reading recently. The story is told in a straight line, no back and forth in different time periods. As a matter of fact you know who the bad guys are right from the start. It is just a matter of what they are going to do and how they will be caught. The reader can enjoy the story for itself instead of getting bits and pieces little by little as the current method of writing seems to be. It was a nice break!

[Denise Spicer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A suspenseful thriller with interesting Vermont and D. C. settings. Lucy Swift, the widow of a politician’s sin, moves to Vermont with her kids and becomes the target of a vindictive former associate of Sebastian Redwing. Sebastian, owner of an international security firm and friend of Luc’s dead husband, s called in to help. Reluctantly, as he has been in love with Lucy since he met her on her wedding day.

[Marsha Whitfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book but it was not one of Carla Neggers best books. Lucy Blacker Swift lost her husband years ago. Now she is being stalked by someone and is not sure who or why. She calls in her husbands best friend Sebastian Redwing to help her. To add to the mystery, her father-on-law Jack Swift is being blackmailed by an old enemy of Redwing's. Is the stalking tied to her dead husband or Redwing. Follow along as we find out.

[Virginia Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Has It All

I gave The Waterfall a five star rating because it has it all, family, romance and intrigue. The twists and turns found here with have you laughing one minute and crying the next. Waterfalls are beautiful any time of the year, right? Are they also dangerous? To find out more about the drama unfolding in The Nightfall by Carla Neggers, read The Waterfall

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I became impatient with Lucy and never warmed to her as a mother or a heroine. Also it always bothers me when kids like Madison mess things up because they don't have all the information. In this situation it was a lazy plot device.

[Carmen Rodriguez · Rating 3 out of 5]

No esta mal, tarde en tomarle gusto, pero entretiene... Es mi primer acercamiento a la autora, quizás tenga mejores títulos, pero se lee rápido, tiene buenos personajes, me gusto el lugar de desarrollo...

[Linda Rawlins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book about a woman who moves to Vermont with her two kids after The death of her husband, Senator Swift‘s son. Steadily trying to rebuild her life, until past enemies catch up with her, which necessitates bringing in past friends and temptation.

[colleen dellapenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Its really not very good

Character development was missing. No one WAS really likeable and the plot was weak. Maybe it would have been better as a short story. I would not recommend.

[Alisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.85

[Selina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

Enjoy Carla Neggers writing style. Just enough murder mystery and mayhem. Her characters are usually very believable. Set in nice locations.

[Christina Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book. I fell in love with Sebastian and I thought the teen daughter was brilliant!

[Ada Iaboni · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars is low, but 3 would have been way too much.
This book was predictable, almost silly in places, and most of the character had little character.

[Annette Meier · Rating 4 out of 5]

This had bits of everything needed for a good weekend read . . . romance, adventure, sleuthing, devious plotting, family - all wrapped up into a great story.

[jennifer shank · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely a fun suspenseful romance. I am normally a fan of Carla Neggers when I need a mindless read. But maybe I just wasn’t in the mood or am tired of this type of story.

[Laurie D'ghent · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay, but read more like a Harlequin romance than her other books. A few sex scenes, moderate swearing.

[Sandy Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Suspense, mystery and romance, everything I like in a book. I highly recommend it.

[Caroline Abbott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it.