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Embers
WHAT KIND OF A WOMAN FALLS FOR THE MAN HER SISTER LOVES?
Having turned her family's Victorian home on Maine's scenic coast into a charming inn, Meg Hazard worries about temperamental furnaces, peeling paint... and her restless younger sister, Allie. At least this summer Allie seems content to stay put, having fallen madly in love with Chicago detective Tom Wyler. Haunted by a violent shooting that ended a child's life and almost cost him his own, Tom arrived in town looking for a place to heal his injured leg and his wounded spirit.
MAYBE THE KIND WHO SUDDENLY BELIEVES IN GHOSTS.
When the gift of an exquisite dollhouse reopens a mystery from long ago, Meg is overwhelmed by the compulsion to solve it, and turns to Tom for help. And as powerless as she is to resist the otherworldly voice that is whispering to her of long-buried secrets, so, too, is she unable to stop something much more frightening to her... feelings for Tom she simply can-not let happen....
Having turned her family's Victorian home on Maine's scenic coast into a charming inn, Meg Hazard worries about temperamental furnaces, peeling paint... and her restless younger sister, Allie. At least this summer Allie seems content to stay put, having fallen madly in love with Chicago detective Tom Wyler. Haunted by a violent shooting that ended a child's life and almost cost him his own, Tom arrived in town looking for a place to heal his injured leg and his wounded spirit.
MAYBE THE KIND WHO SUDDENLY BELIEVES IN GHOSTS.
When the gift of an exquisite dollhouse reopens a mystery from long ago, Meg is overwhelmed by the compulsion to solve it, and turns to Tom for help. And as powerless as she is to resist the otherworldly voice that is whispering to her of long-buried secrets, so, too, is she unable to stop something much more frightening to her... feelings for Tom she simply can-not let happen....
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
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234 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
June 27, 2013
I usually like this author's book, but this one seemed to drag on and on. Meg is 12 years older than her absolutely breathtakingly beautiful sister Allie and has raised her since their mother died when Allie was 4 and Meg 16. Now, 21 years later, Allie has come home to Bar Harbor after getting her degree in hospitality to help out at the family run B&B, The Inn Between, which is limping along. Enter Tom Wyler, a Chicago cop who's been wounded in a hostage situation where a 4-year-old girl was killed and has come to Bar Harbor to recover. Tom, 40, is instantly smitten with Allie and she with him. However, as the sumer goes on, Tom realizes that the mature, reliable, sensible Meg is more to his liking. Meg, despite her attraction to Tom, resists because she knows Allie is in love with him and is expecting marriage and feels acting on her attraction is disloyal to Allie.
I didn't like any of the characters in this book. Allie is self-absorbed and infantile. She's a recovering alcholic, which is why Meg guards her so closely. Meg is too good to be true and Tom is the stereotypical guy going through middle-age crisis and "treating" it with a dalliance with a pretty, young thing. The supporting characters are just as weak and the ending is wrapped up just too neatly.
I didn't like any of the characters in this book. Allie is self-absorbed and infantile. She's a recovering alcholic, which is why Meg guards her so closely. Meg is too good to be true and Tom is the stereotypical guy going through middle-age crisis and "treating" it with a dalliance with a pretty, young thing. The supporting characters are just as weak and the ending is wrapped up just too neatly.
October 29, 2012
There were times when this book wasn't sure of what it wanted to be. Ghost story, romance, detective? You wanted to shout - just make up your damned mind. However, that implies that I didn't like it and I did. True feisty was sometimes portrayed as slightly unhinged, (I'd be stepping away from the nutty lady, very slowly) but it was a good light read. Even that sounds odd - the subject matter certainly wasn't light, but there was no real depth or challenge there. Nothing to make you feel uncomfortable. It was a good break from the gritty, all too real 16 and 17th century murder stories I have been reading.
I have looked at others of hers but I think I hit on the best.
I have looked at others of hers but I think I hit on the best.
January 6, 2012
This was a 1994 copyright contemporary romance. There was only one occasion where the book seemed a tiny bit dated when referring to daytime television programs that were popular during the 90's. Other than that it was a light mystery/ghost story with family drama at the fore front. If you happen to find this one on amazon or at your local paperback swap store it is worth the time to read it. I'm not a huge fan of contemporary romance, preferring the historical or paranormal, but this one was pretty good.
April 14, 2019
I am being generous with a two rating. Considered not finishing. The sisters were both full of annoying issues which made it difficult to really like them. The love interest male needed to get a backbone or another appropriate male appendage. If I were him I would have run from these two. Add to that a haunted dollhouse. That one threw me.
October 31, 2018
Wonderful tale...
What a great story never a false note. Interesting characters, a natural swing to each of them. She’s such a terrific story teller, such a treat from beginning to end.
What a great story never a false note. Interesting characters, a natural swing to each of them. She’s such a terrific story teller, such a treat from beginning to end.
April 1, 2019
Two star
To me, the book.was.a. "Run on"....a book that just keeps running on and on, basically about the same thing, over and over. Can't recommend this one.
To me, the book.was.a. "Run on"....a book that just keeps running on and on, basically about the same thing, over and over. Can't recommend this one.
January 17, 2014
Embers - New England Shore Stories - (Tom and Meg) - WHAT KIND OF A WOMAN FALLS FOR THE MAN HER SISTER LOVES?
Having turned her family's Victorian home on Maine's scenic coast into a charming inn, Meg Hazard worries about temperamental furnaces, peeling paint... and her restless younger sister, Allie. At least this summer Allie seems content to stay put, having fallen madly in love with Chicago detective Tom Wyler. Haunted by a violent shooting that ended a child's life and almost cost him his own, Tom arrived in town looking for a place to heal his injured leg and his wounded spirit.
MAYBE THE KIND WHO SUDDENLY BELIEVES IN GHOSTS.
When the gift of an exquisite dollhouse reopens a mystery from long ago, Meg is overwhelmed by the compulsion to solve it, and turns to Tom for help. And as powerless as she is to resist the otherworldly voice that is whispering to her of long-buried secrets, so, too, is she unable to stop something much more frightening to her... feelings for Tom she simply can-not let happen....
Having turned her family's Victorian home on Maine's scenic coast into a charming inn, Meg Hazard worries about temperamental furnaces, peeling paint... and her restless younger sister, Allie. At least this summer Allie seems content to stay put, having fallen madly in love with Chicago detective Tom Wyler. Haunted by a violent shooting that ended a child's life and almost cost him his own, Tom arrived in town looking for a place to heal his injured leg and his wounded spirit.
MAYBE THE KIND WHO SUDDENLY BELIEVES IN GHOSTS.
When the gift of an exquisite dollhouse reopens a mystery from long ago, Meg is overwhelmed by the compulsion to solve it, and turns to Tom for help. And as powerless as she is to resist the otherworldly voice that is whispering to her of long-buried secrets, so, too, is she unable to stop something much more frightening to her... feelings for Tom she simply can-not let happen....
July 3, 2016
Great plot and characters, just a bit long
I confess I love Maine and the book was either free or 99 cents. I was hooked.
Great character development. Sometimes I lose track of who is who in a book. This one: not a chance. I stumbled over the lack of technology as I think it was written in the 1990s. (Cutlass and Escort cars the giveaway, as were lack of cells). Loved the spiritual aspect of it and didn't find it unbelievable or off putting.
I found it a little long and found myself skipping a page or two of descriptions. Love scenes handled in a classy way: no vernacular needed.
The relationship between the sisters, while weirdly dysfunctional, was completely understandable and believable. The mystery in the background was a great aspect of the plot and tied it all together nicely. Not a super fan of the end, but a decent wrap up.
I'll look for her other books.
I confess I love Maine and the book was either free or 99 cents. I was hooked.
Great character development. Sometimes I lose track of who is who in a book. This one: not a chance. I stumbled over the lack of technology as I think it was written in the 1990s. (Cutlass and Escort cars the giveaway, as were lack of cells). Loved the spiritual aspect of it and didn't find it unbelievable or off putting.
I found it a little long and found myself skipping a page or two of descriptions. Love scenes handled in a classy way: no vernacular needed.
The relationship between the sisters, while weirdly dysfunctional, was completely understandable and believable. The mystery in the background was a great aspect of the plot and tied it all together nicely. Not a super fan of the end, but a decent wrap up.
I'll look for her other books.
February 6, 2016
This book is definitely going on my "guilty pleasures" list. It is a total romance novel with a bit of a mystery and paranormal thrown in. The characters are well drawn and mostly engaging. The situations are kind of stilted and the plot line is fairly predictable. The mystery has a twist at the end that I certainly didn't see coming; but the conflicts within the book and between the characters just sucked me right in. So if you are looking for a fun "soft" read, you might enjoy this book.
November 12, 2012
I discovered Antoinette Stockenberg only recently and have been working my way through her back catalog. I really enjoyed Embers. It was a great melodrama (I mean that in the best sense) with characters you can relate to, especially Meg. I loved the way Maine became a character in this book, not just the geography but also the language and the obvious love for their home state that the main characters had. Now I am a little depressed that I don't have any more Stockenberg books to read.
December 5, 2012
I think this is pure entertainment. I really would have given this book a high three, low four. These books are escape books and quick reads. I really enjoyed this one because I loved the part about the dollhouse and the history it has for this family. There was a lot going on in this book, but Antoinette Stockenberg write so you can easily follow along. It takes place in Bar Harbor, Maine and it was fun to learn something about that part of the country.
May 14, 2013
I had difficulty getting into this book. It was about a woman who is gifted a doll house which allows her to see into her grandmother's murder decades ago. While trying to solve the mystery of her grandmother's death, she is also struggling with falling in love with a man from out of town who is also being pursued by her sister. I did like the ending. It was somewhat of a twist although I had it figured out before it even took place. Good ending.
October 12, 2016
I am on the fence about my feelings towards this book. It did not pass the "I just couldn't put it down" test, in fact I had to push myself to keep reading it. There was a twist at the end which I was kind of expecting since the possible murderer seemed to obvious. It was well written but there was too much angst between the leading characters which left me wanting to smack heads together to teach them to smarten up.
June 15, 2011
Handsome, slightly broken Chicago cop, gorgeous sister, lovely sister, crazy, close family and a haunted doll house in rural Maine. I enjoyed the story and the interaction of the characters. Not "War and Peace" or maybe, a little bit. Aren't all families? This is a fun book to set back and relax with. I'm glad I found it.
November 17, 2012
The book started slowly for me, but I was invested in the story by the end. If I knew the author better I probably would have expected the turn toward the supernatural. The dialogue and attempts at phonically spelling a Maine accent were off-putting. I liked the setting and the look back at historical events.
July 21, 2011
A good mystery/romance set in a B&B in Maine. A shoot out in Chicago, a notorious fire, a dollhouse, a family business and the ups and downs of life as we know it all combine to bring the perfect cast of characters into this tale.
June 12, 2013
Despite the slow start and often confusing storyline, this book reveals the honesty of family relationships that is often lost in similar novels. There is something for everyone in this mystery laden romance!
July 12, 2013
This was a light, easy read. I thought the characters were a bit annoying at times (especially Meg and Allie) and one dimensional, but enjoyed the mystery of the story. The dollhouse evoking a ghost / spirit thing was a little strange, but overall I enjoyed this book. Mid-3 vote.
June 13, 2014
I think the author tried to have too much going on in this book and, consequently, did a poor job with it all. I kept reading because I thought it was going to get good, but the climax of the book was over and done with in about 2 pages. I would not recommend it to anyone else.
October 28, 2016
Three stars
I liked the mystery but did not care for the cursing though there was not a ton of it. I also did not care for the way the main character was portrayed as able to commune with her dead grandmother.
I liked the mystery but did not care for the cursing though there was not a ton of it. I also did not care for the way the main character was portrayed as able to commune with her dead grandmother.
August 22, 2011
Good love story.
Deducted one point for Meg being so annoying.
Hero was great though.
Deducted one point for Meg being so annoying.
Hero was great though.
June 25, 2012
This was great! I want the sequel!
July 29, 2012
I gave it three stars just because I thought the ending was uneventful and could have been better. I really liked the history aspect of this book as well.
July 11, 2012
Nice quick read. Love story and a mystery. Good beach read.
August 30, 2012
GOOD BOOK.
September 11, 2012
Enjoyed this book. I'd like asequel with Allie
November 16, 2012
It was OK. A little too predicable but not too bad a read. The sister character I did not like. She was a spoiled brat and the hunk in the story too stupid.
September 28, 2012
I would consider this book light reading. Plot was good, mystery with a bit of romance. I have read other books by this author that I liked better.
October 9, 2012
Loved it!
October 24, 2012
So so romantic novel with less than interesting plot. I'm very disappointed in this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews