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China Bayles #6
Love Lies Bleeding
As a Texas Ranger, Roy Adcock outwitted plenty of dangerous characters. But now the retired Ranger has been shot dead - with his wife's gun. The case hits close to home for China, since Dolores Adcock had been at the herb shop just that morning. But what hits even closer to home is when China's longtime boyfriend starts behaving strangely after hearing the news - and China overhears a secret phone conversation between him and another woman. Now, as clues mount and accusations fly, China must question both the Adcock marriage and her own relationship - and avoid getting caught in a deadly maze of suspicion and betrayal.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 1997
51 people are currently reading
760 people want to read
About the author
Susan Wittig Albert
120 books2,375 followersSusan is the author/co-author of biographical/historical fiction, mysteries, and nonfiction. Now in her 80s and continuing to write, she says that retirement is not (yet) an option. She publishes under her own imprint. Here are her latest books.
A PLAIN VANILLA MURDER, #27 in the long-running China Bayles/Pecan Springs series.
Two Pecan Springs novella trilogies: The Crystal Cave Trilogy (featuring Ruby Wilcox): noBODY, SomeBODY Else, and Out of BODY; and The Enterprise Trilogy (featuring Jessica Nelson): DEADLINES, FAULTLINES, and FIRELINES.
THE DARLING DAHLIAS AND THE POINSETTIA PUZZLE #8 in the Darling Dahlias series, set in the early 1930s in fictional Darling AL
THE GENERAL'S WOMEN. Kay, Mamie, and Ike--the wartime romance that won a war but could have derailed a presidency.
LOVING ELEANOR: A novel about the intimate 30-year friendship of Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok, based on their letters
A WILDER ROSE: the true story of Rose Wilder Lane, who transformed her mother from a farm wife and occasional writer to a literary icon
THE TALE OF CASTLE COTTAGE, #8 in the Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter
DEATH ON THE LIZARD, the 12th and last (2006) of the Robin Paige series, by Susan and Bill Albert
TOGETHER, ALONE: A MEMOIR OF MARRIAGE AND PLACE
AN EXTRAORDINARY YEAR OF ORDINARY DAYS
WORK OF HER OWN: A WOMAN'S GUIDE TO RIGHT LIVELIHOOD
WRITING FROM LIFE: TELLING YOUR SOUL'S STORY
A PLAIN VANILLA MURDER, #27 in the long-running China Bayles/Pecan Springs series.
Two Pecan Springs novella trilogies: The Crystal Cave Trilogy (featuring Ruby Wilcox): noBODY, SomeBODY Else, and Out of BODY; and The Enterprise Trilogy (featuring Jessica Nelson): DEADLINES, FAULTLINES, and FIRELINES.
THE DARLING DAHLIAS AND THE POINSETTIA PUZZLE #8 in the Darling Dahlias series, set in the early 1930s in fictional Darling AL
THE GENERAL'S WOMEN. Kay, Mamie, and Ike--the wartime romance that won a war but could have derailed a presidency.
LOVING ELEANOR: A novel about the intimate 30-year friendship of Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok, based on their letters
A WILDER ROSE: the true story of Rose Wilder Lane, who transformed her mother from a farm wife and occasional writer to a literary icon
THE TALE OF CASTLE COTTAGE, #8 in the Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter
DEATH ON THE LIZARD, the 12th and last (2006) of the Robin Paige series, by Susan and Bill Albert
TOGETHER, ALONE: A MEMOIR OF MARRIAGE AND PLACE
AN EXTRAORDINARY YEAR OF ORDINARY DAYS
WORK OF HER OWN: A WOMAN'S GUIDE TO RIGHT LIVELIHOOD
WRITING FROM LIFE: TELLING YOUR SOUL'S STORY
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
June 16, 2013
What the heck happened to China in this book? First she lets Justine come rushing in and order her around. Then she proceeds to let the two-timing McQuaid walk all over her by saddling her with the brat. Next she lets his girlfriend play a part in the whole hospital thing AND she makes "friends" with her right away. OMGWTFBBQ?! Oh hell no! Was she smoking some of the herbs she grows in her herb shop?!
-The old China would have told Justine & Ruby to pound sand when they start barking out orders.
-When she and McQuaid are finally having it out about the phone call and the phone rings in the middle they should've taken the damn thing off the hook and finished talking. You don't let a stupid phone call interrupt something that important and that intense.
-When McQuaid tells her to take the kid while he takes off (after the whole being a jerk episode) she should've said NO & if he left anyway she should've brought the brat to his grandparents.
-At the hospital when the nurse assumes she is McQuaid's wife she should have taken advantage of the situation and when THE BITCH girlfriend insists on coming to see McQuaid she should've used the leverage she had to tell the nurse she wanted to see McQuaid alone. Also, she should've told THE BITCH to go F herself.
-She should have worked the parent's angle too. McQuaid's parents know her and love her. Shut THE BITCH out. Make them hate her too.
-When THE BITCH make the remark that she is going to keep trying to GET McQuaid China seriously should've quit it with the whole martyr routine and she SHOULD have torn the cow a new one.
-Honestly, I've thought China could do better than McQuaid all along and this book is proof of it. She was better off living in her little cottage area behind the shop. If I were in her shoes I would have dumped the bastard and his brat after the crap he pulled.
This is the only one of the China stories that I will NEVER READ AGAIN.
*BTW, if you liked how the whole girlfriend/China/McQuaid turned out YOU ARE A DOORMAT.
-The old China would have told Justine & Ruby to pound sand when they start barking out orders.
-When she and McQuaid are finally having it out about the phone call and the phone rings in the middle they should've taken the damn thing off the hook and finished talking. You don't let a stupid phone call interrupt something that important and that intense.
-When McQuaid tells her to take the kid while he takes off (after the whole being a jerk episode) she should've said NO & if he left anyway she should've brought the brat to his grandparents.
-At the hospital when the nurse assumes she is McQuaid's wife she should have taken advantage of the situation and when THE BITCH girlfriend insists on coming to see McQuaid she should've used the leverage she had to tell the nurse she wanted to see McQuaid alone. Also, she should've told THE BITCH to go F herself.
-She should have worked the parent's angle too. McQuaid's parents know her and love her. Shut THE BITCH out. Make them hate her too.
-When THE BITCH make the remark that she is going to keep trying to GET McQuaid China seriously should've quit it with the whole martyr routine and she SHOULD have torn the cow a new one.
-Honestly, I've thought China could do better than McQuaid all along and this book is proof of it. She was better off living in her little cottage area behind the shop. If I were in her shoes I would have dumped the bastard and his brat after the crap he pulled.
This is the only one of the China stories that I will NEVER READ AGAIN.
*BTW, if you liked how the whole girlfriend/China/McQuaid turned out YOU ARE A DOORMAT.
May 26, 2016
Were this rating based solely on the strength of the mystery, it would have been a four. The mystery was taut, engaging, and well-constructed, perhaps the best thusfar in the series to this point. Alas, this rating is not based solely on the mystery. It also takes into account the overwrought, melodramatic and patently unlikely developments in China Bayles' personal life.
Oh, Internet, the rage, the rage it inspires. I've never much given a rip for Bayles or McQuaid. The former is abrasive, judgmental, and holier-than-thou, while the latter is such an uber-macho, grunting stereotype that it makes my eyes throb with the urge to roll with the vigor of a laundrette rinse cycle, but the infidelity subplot and its subsequent resolution made me want to hurl this book across the room and trample it to pulp beneath my stamping feet. Out of respect for library property, I forebore, but it was a near thing.
Mike McQuaid cheats on China after she's gone for a whole two weeks, and I'm supposed to believe that China, with her history of massive trust issues, fierce independence, and occasionally-strident feminism, suddenly decides she loves him and can't live without him? Not only that, but she wants to marry him. And she makes sudden BFFs with his paramour, Margaret, and within hours of meeting each other, they're bantering about threesomes over his hospital bed. I'm supposed to buy this as a realistic response to what is clearly a devastating situation?
I'm further supposed to buy that Ruby, instead of comforting China when she reveals McQuaid's cheating, chastises her for being too self-absorbed and demanding, all but calling her a frigid harridan? Ruby, whose own husband left her for a younger secretary? And that China accepts this assessment as correct without a fight? Poor, poor Mike McQuaid, so hard done by because his partner expects him to keep it in his pants. The entire scenario is a travesty and an insult to previous characterization. Ms. Albert fell in love with the theme of appearances being deceiving and tortured her characters into the desired mold in order that her plot featured thematic parallels. Adcock isn't what he seems. Dolores isn't what she seems. Margaret isn't what she seems. Neither is Leatha, China's mother, who turns up at the hospital after the shooting in grubby sweats to console her. Or. J.W. Bishop, Texas Ranger and closet scuzzbucket. On and on the list goes, and in order for China to join the party of unexpected surprises, she has to become a spineless milksop who berates herself for giving her blameless man cause to stray with his feisty yet demure sexpot partner. It's writerly ego over service to the story.
Alas, Albert doesn't stop there. Nay, she compounds the heave-inducing awfulness by having Bayles almost immediately embrace the other woman as a friend and spend pages listing her virtues. Her strength, her determination, her beauty, her prowess as a Ranger. By book's end, less than a month after the revelation of the affair, Margaret has joined the inner circle and is sipping cocoa with China, Sheila, and Ruby and throwing parties for poor woobie McQuaid, who, let's recall, told China it couldn't be cheating if they weren't married. Apparently, if you want a lasting love, all you have to surrender is your self-respect and sacrifice your principles.
It's a nasty, nasty message, and I don't expect things to improve now that China will be nobly standing by her paralyzed man, who, no doubt, will receive a miracle cure once the angst fodder has been exhausted. A gross, disappointing book. While I've never liked China, I expected better than this.
Oh, Internet, the rage, the rage it inspires. I've never much given a rip for Bayles or McQuaid. The former is abrasive, judgmental, and holier-than-thou, while the latter is such an uber-macho, grunting stereotype that it makes my eyes throb with the urge to roll with the vigor of a laundrette rinse cycle, but the infidelity subplot and its subsequent resolution made me want to hurl this book across the room and trample it to pulp beneath my stamping feet. Out of respect for library property, I forebore, but it was a near thing.
Mike McQuaid cheats on China after she's gone for a whole two weeks, and I'm supposed to believe that China, with her history of massive trust issues, fierce independence, and occasionally-strident feminism, suddenly decides she loves him and can't live without him? Not only that, but she wants to marry him. And she makes sudden BFFs with his paramour, Margaret, and within hours of meeting each other, they're bantering about threesomes over his hospital bed. I'm supposed to buy this as a realistic response to what is clearly a devastating situation?
I'm further supposed to buy that Ruby, instead of comforting China when she reveals McQuaid's cheating, chastises her for being too self-absorbed and demanding, all but calling her a frigid harridan? Ruby, whose own husband left her for a younger secretary? And that China accepts this assessment as correct without a fight? Poor, poor Mike McQuaid, so hard done by because his partner expects him to keep it in his pants. The entire scenario is a travesty and an insult to previous characterization. Ms. Albert fell in love with the theme of appearances being deceiving and tortured her characters into the desired mold in order that her plot featured thematic parallels. Adcock isn't what he seems. Dolores isn't what she seems. Margaret isn't what she seems. Neither is Leatha, China's mother, who turns up at the hospital after the shooting in grubby sweats to console her. Or. J.W. Bishop, Texas Ranger and closet scuzzbucket. On and on the list goes, and in order for China to join the party of unexpected surprises, she has to become a spineless milksop who berates herself for giving her blameless man cause to stray with his feisty yet demure sexpot partner. It's writerly ego over service to the story.
Alas, Albert doesn't stop there. Nay, she compounds the heave-inducing awfulness by having Bayles almost immediately embrace the other woman as a friend and spend pages listing her virtues. Her strength, her determination, her beauty, her prowess as a Ranger. By book's end, less than a month after the revelation of the affair, Margaret has joined the inner circle and is sipping cocoa with China, Sheila, and Ruby and throwing parties for poor woobie McQuaid, who, let's recall, told China it couldn't be cheating if they weren't married. Apparently, if you want a lasting love, all you have to surrender is your self-respect and sacrifice your principles.
It's a nasty, nasty message, and I don't expect things to improve now that China will be nobly standing by her paralyzed man, who, no doubt, will receive a miracle cure once the angst fodder has been exhausted. A gross, disappointing book. While I've never liked China, I expected better than this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2025
3.5 stars. I really love this series and I hope to be reading it for many years, but this one was a bit different. If I ever reread these, I may skip this one, as it wasn’t as cozy as I was hoping.
Don’t get me wrong, despite the herb name in each title, this is not a sweetsy series. I hate those and I avoided this series for decades bc I assumed incorrectly this was one. But the drama in this one….was a little too close to the bone for me.
I don’t read most mystery series for the crime, I read more for the characters and the side information that comes into the picture. If you enjoy recurring characters in series too, and particularly if you enjoy them with a side of humor and quirkiness, then you might really enjoy this series. All of the audiobooks so far have been narrated by Julia Gibson, who does the voices for all the recurring characters really well.
The next two books don’t seem to have full length audio versions, only abridged. I hope that changes soon because I prefer to switch between print and audio versions. Also, what is the point of abridgment? Does anyone really look for that, for an audio book that’s 8-10 hours long, full-length? I don’t understand the point.
Anyway. This is a great series, and I really enjoy this author’s work. She is a “me” writer. Even if this wasn’t a “me” book haha.
Don’t get me wrong, despite the herb name in each title, this is not a sweetsy series. I hate those and I avoided this series for decades bc I assumed incorrectly this was one. But the drama in this one….was a little too close to the bone for me.
I don’t read most mystery series for the crime, I read more for the characters and the side information that comes into the picture. If you enjoy recurring characters in series too, and particularly if you enjoy them with a side of humor and quirkiness, then you might really enjoy this series. All of the audiobooks so far have been narrated by Julia Gibson, who does the voices for all the recurring characters really well.
The next two books don’t seem to have full length audio versions, only abridged. I hope that changes soon because I prefer to switch between print and audio versions. Also, what is the point of abridgment? Does anyone really look for that, for an audio book that’s 8-10 hours long, full-length? I don’t understand the point.
Anyway. This is a great series, and I really enjoy this author’s work. She is a “me” writer. Even if this wasn’t a “me” book haha.
July 26, 2012
Although I love this series, I have a very difficult time reading this book. **Spoiler alert.** China is a strong, independent, financially self-sufficient person, but she lets herself be used and abused by live in boyfriend McQuaid. When she discovers his infidelity and confronts him about it, he tells her he won't discuss it and she takes it! I would have expected her to move back to her little cottage behind the store or something much more in line with her character than to roll over and let McQuaid treat her like a door mat. Even now that he is injured at the end of the book, she hasn't gotten angry with him for his infidelity, or screamed her head off, or anything one would expect from China. Very disappointing and not at all in line with the character we all know and love. Otherwise, it was a good story line.
March 13, 2020
Manufactured drama doesn't make for a good book. Not much I hate more than people keeping secrets from each other "for their own good". And everyone is keeping secrets from China in this book, and treating her like crap. And for some reason, she just takes it. And do not get me started about how this book ends, because becoming friends with your boyfriend's mistress is completely logical.
This is last of the books I missed in this series, and if I had read them in order, it probably would have been the last I read.
This is last of the books I missed in this series, and if I had read them in order, it probably would have been the last I read.
February 11, 2012
And McQuaid's back in the series and still being an ass, what a surprise. Only now, he's a cheating one, too! And for some reason that makes China want to marry him, because that's totally how relationships work.
The moment she's away for more than a day, and he falls into bed with the Ranger woman. Oh, right, Peggy ~*~seduced~*~ him, so it's not his fault at all.
I'm sorry, but that's complete BS. It takes two to tango, and he was a willing participant.
On top of this, if McQuaid had, oh, I don't know, COMMUNICATED with China, there would have been a lot less grief all around. In fact, he might not have been shot at the end. And I'm not saying he should have revealed confidential information to her, but if he had just been more clear about what he was doing in general terms-- and NOT CHEATING-- things would have been better. That takes thought and more than two brain cells to rub together, however, so I can see why McQuaid was lacking.
He treats China like crap throughout this novel, and we're seriously supposed to like this guy and want to China to marry him? Seriously?
I give up. There is a lot I like about this series, but the things I dislike are more than enough to ruin the enjoyment. I'm not finishing this series.
If you can put up with relationship idiocy, then I say this is a good series. If you can't, don't bother, because you'll just end up hating the characters and wanting to crack them upside the head.
The moment she's away for more than a day, and he falls into bed with the Ranger woman. Oh, right, Peggy ~*~seduced~*~ him, so it's not his fault at all.
I'm sorry, but that's complete BS. It takes two to tango, and he was a willing participant.
On top of this, if McQuaid had, oh, I don't know, COMMUNICATED with China, there would have been a lot less grief all around. In fact, he might not have been shot at the end. And I'm not saying he should have revealed confidential information to her, but if he had just been more clear about what he was doing in general terms-- and NOT CHEATING-- things would have been better. That takes thought and more than two brain cells to rub together, however, so I can see why McQuaid was lacking.
He treats China like crap throughout this novel, and we're seriously supposed to like this guy and want to China to marry him? Seriously?
I give up. There is a lot I like about this series, but the things I dislike are more than enough to ruin the enjoyment. I'm not finishing this series.
If you can put up with relationship idiocy, then I say this is a good series. If you can't, don't bother, because you'll just end up hating the characters and wanting to crack them upside the head.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2015
Holy hell. I finished this on April 1, so I just kept hoping this whole thing was some sort of cosmic April Fool's Joke.
First, the overall plot: This is not a small town cozy mystery. It has nothing at all to do with their small town at all. The Delores character was TOTALLY shady, but they just kept believing everything she said. Later, they'd question whether she was telling the truth and remark how unreliable she was, but then she'd say something else and they'd just believe her without any corroboration. Really? She was written as so sketchy, that I was half convinced that she set up her husband the whole time.
Now, to the elephant in the room. Gah, I hate McQuaid! Are we supposed to hate him or is the writing not doing a good enough job? Because WOW. First, how hard is it to say, "Hey, I'm working on an investigation and I really can't talk about it, but I wanted you to know because otherwise I'm going to sound sketchy." Then, he freaking cheats on her?? Okay, I can even see why he might since she's been SO ambivalent about the whole relationship. And I can even see them working through it eventually. Eventually. But EVERY SINGLE PERSON seems to think it's no big deal and China should just get over it and it's her fault anyway for not wanting to marry him. WTF? And he was SUCH an ass in this one! That whole discussion when the phone kept ringing? Gah! And then he takes off and orders her to take care of his kid?
This entire book made me want to throw it across the room. I've liked the rest of the series well enough, but this one? If I had to buy any more of these, I would stop right now. But fortunately, the library has the rest of the series, so I'll continue, but Gah!!!
First, the overall plot: This is not a small town cozy mystery. It has nothing at all to do with their small town at all. The Delores character was TOTALLY shady, but they just kept believing everything she said. Later, they'd question whether she was telling the truth and remark how unreliable she was, but then she'd say something else and they'd just believe her without any corroboration. Really? She was written as so sketchy, that I was half convinced that she set up her husband the whole time.
Now, to the elephant in the room. Gah, I hate McQuaid! Are we supposed to hate him or is the writing not doing a good enough job? Because WOW. First, how hard is it to say, "Hey, I'm working on an investigation and I really can't talk about it, but I wanted you to know because otherwise I'm going to sound sketchy." Then, he freaking cheats on her?? Okay, I can even see why he might since she's been SO ambivalent about the whole relationship. And I can even see them working through it eventually. Eventually. But EVERY SINGLE PERSON seems to think it's no big deal and China should just get over it and it's her fault anyway for not wanting to marry him. WTF? And he was SUCH an ass in this one! That whole discussion when the phone kept ringing? Gah! And then he takes off and orders her to take care of his kid?
This entire book made me want to throw it across the room. I've liked the rest of the series well enough, but this one? If I had to buy any more of these, I would stop right now. But fortunately, the library has the rest of the series, so I'll continue, but Gah!!!
June 24, 2022
The actual mystery took a backseat to the reprehensible "relationship" story-line. I don't even know where to start with the dysfunction masquerading as normalcy.
McQuaid's affair is excused because China was gone for a few weeks on her quasi-religious retreat, and obviously he shouldn't be expected to keep it in his pants for that long. Not to mention that on this retreat China was faced with the temptation of a former lover and chose *not* to be unfaithful.
Ruby (and others) gaslight and victim-blame China that the affair was *her* fault for saying "no" to McQuaid's repeated marriage proposals. China buys this drek and is convinced that McQuaid's cheating, abuse of her trust, unwillingness to communicate, and failure to respect her boundaries are *perfect* reasons to abandon her autonomy and sense of self-worth and finally marry him.
The end. Gak
(I'm not even going to touch the "becoming best friends with the Other Woman" thing.)
McQuaid's affair is excused because China was gone for a few weeks on her quasi-religious retreat, and obviously he shouldn't be expected to keep it in his pants for that long. Not to mention that on this retreat China was faced with the temptation of a former lover and chose *not* to be unfaithful.
Ruby (and others) gaslight and victim-blame China that the affair was *her* fault for saying "no" to McQuaid's repeated marriage proposals. China buys this drek and is convinced that McQuaid's cheating, abuse of her trust, unwillingness to communicate, and failure to respect her boundaries are *perfect* reasons to abandon her autonomy and sense of self-worth and finally marry him.
The end. Gak
(I'm not even going to touch the "becoming best friends with the Other Woman" thing.)
March 27, 2008
If I was in a committed relationship (as in living together)I would definitely NOT sleep in the same bed as the guy who I found out was sleeping around on me.... And to be expected to take care of his child while he goes off who knows where (we find out later that it was and undercover op but still....)!! Did not like this one.... I would not be as forgiving or even take half the blame!!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2018
I’m rereading this series; just started a month or so ago. I know I read this book way back when – probably closer to when it was originally published, then as it stands now. I have no clue what my reaction was then; however, it must be pretty similar to today, as I’m still going on to the next book. I also know that “then” I read several more in the series as well.
When I suspected an affair, I was put off a bit. Read some reviews, which I don’t normally do; but since I knew I read this book before, thought I’d check a few out. I agreed with the few reviews I read that were really upset that China seemed to be a dish towel and caving into Mike’s affair. She’s an independent woman and should be much stronger and not put up with this crap.
Well, it turns out I’m not really all that put off by the affair, as I thought I’d be. I think I understand where China is coming from and why that makes her look like a wimp and not the empowered, independent woman she is.
She finally has realized she really loves Mike. More important, she realizes she wants to commit to marriage with him and spend the rest of her life with him. She also realizes she’s been pretty much self-absorbed and putting herself above everything else – Mike was a poor third or fourth after her feelings and ambitions, her business and her friends. It was all about her and what she wanted. What Mike wanted really was low on the totem pole to her.
So, it’s really no wonder he succumbed to temptation. He didn’t look for an affair, but he really didn’t fight hard when the available and lovely woman pursued him. I’m not condoning his actions. I do find it against the moral code when you are in a relationship. However, it’s reasonable, given the parameters China left him to work with.
So, I’m fairly satisfied with this book. I don’t find her response totally unbelievable. She has realized Mike means more to her than life itself. There is no other choice when you feel this way. You do what you have to do, to get the love of your life – even make “friends” with the other woman.
I’m not saying this is what I would have done, if I was in China’s position. I’m just saying I think I understand her motivation and her love.
When I suspected an affair, I was put off a bit. Read some reviews, which I don’t normally do; but since I knew I read this book before, thought I’d check a few out. I agreed with the few reviews I read that were really upset that China seemed to be a dish towel and caving into Mike’s affair. She’s an independent woman and should be much stronger and not put up with this crap.
Well, it turns out I’m not really all that put off by the affair, as I thought I’d be. I think I understand where China is coming from and why that makes her look like a wimp and not the empowered, independent woman she is.
She finally has realized she really loves Mike. More important, she realizes she wants to commit to marriage with him and spend the rest of her life with him. She also realizes she’s been pretty much self-absorbed and putting herself above everything else – Mike was a poor third or fourth after her feelings and ambitions, her business and her friends. It was all about her and what she wanted. What Mike wanted really was low on the totem pole to her.
So, it’s really no wonder he succumbed to temptation. He didn’t look for an affair, but he really didn’t fight hard when the available and lovely woman pursued him. I’m not condoning his actions. I do find it against the moral code when you are in a relationship. However, it’s reasonable, given the parameters China left him to work with.
So, I’m fairly satisfied with this book. I don’t find her response totally unbelievable. She has realized Mike means more to her than life itself. There is no other choice when you feel this way. You do what you have to do, to get the love of your life – even make “friends” with the other woman.
I’m not saying this is what I would have done, if I was in China’s position. I’m just saying I think I understand her motivation and her love.
May 5, 2015
I love the China Bayles series ... normally. This one just did not grab me. The affair between McQuaid and Margaret was disappointing. A real let down on behalf of McQuaid. The dirty Ranger was just way too obvious. I like how the characters - for the most part - stay true to themselves, the obvious exception being McQuaid, through the series. Dorothy's past life was a bit of a surprise for a brief moment but even that really was not a grabber. I do like the way the town and surrounding areas are given life, as if a character in and of themselves.
July 8, 2021
What the heck. China seems different in this book and McQuaid is a jerk. And then add Peggy. Just ridiculous.
December 15, 2022
Sto leggendo questa serie andando avanti e indietro, senza seguire l'ordine di uscita dei libri, così so già come si risolverà la questione lasciata in sospeso alla fine di questo volume. Però non posso fare a meno di sentirmi un po' scombussolata da quanto accade. In più la protagonista mi sembra che qui non faccia proprio una bella figura, tende a farsi mettere i piedi in testa da parecchie persone e si mostra un tantino troppo centrata su sé stessa. Vabbè, so che la cosa migliora nei libri successivi...
August 30, 2020
I have always liked this cozy mystery series, but this entry was more of a page-turner than most of them.
June 21, 2019
This series is so very good and I love the herb information.
October 18, 2018
** A round up to three from 2.5 stars **
This was a very uneven read. The book began with Albert not having control of what story she wanted to tell, how she wanted to tell it or even where she wanted the story to end up. Major events happened in this book in the series and those events were mangled in the final outcome. Albert is a competent writer. However, I don't think this book ever congealed in her mind. Too many problems are evident in Love Lies Bleeding to believe the author was in total control throughout this book.
When I started reading Love Lies Bleeding, I was puzzled over how China was presented. My impression of her from the four previous books I read was of a woman who strove for clarity in her decision making. She could admit to herself she might not know precisely what she needed to do but she never questioned that she needed to act. In the beginning of this story, she allows herself to be led into a situation that goes against her focus for her future. I refer to her getting involved in what turns out to be a criminal investigation. This did not ring true to me as behavior China would indulge in. I base this belief upon how the character of China Bayles was written in the five previous books.
Moving along in the story, there comes a moment when China suspects McQuaid of being involved with another woman. Rather than confront him over her suspicions, she observes the situation and even seems to blame herself for his looking afield for fulfillment. Again, this does not ring true to the character portrayal of China that has been created in the first five books in the series. What follows next is a plot line that veers recklessly away from the premise of the series, a cozy mystery series in a small town with an anchor in an herb shop.
Spoiler alert here. Continue on if that doe not bother you.
When China does verify McQuaid's infidelity and she confronts the other woman, she does not act as I would have expected. I can understand her expressing self doubt as concerns her past behaviors with McQuaid. What I could not understand was the highly unlikely acceptance of the other woman as a friend. Even as the two of them work in conjunction with each other to find those who shot McQuaid, the "hail friend, good fellow" attitude was too much for me to swallow. Pride, if nothing else would have prevented the immediate reconciliation that happens between these two ladies.
As the plot continues on, there is a point where McQuaid's son is left in the care of Ruby, a close friend. McQuaid is in the hospital in a life or death battle. China chooses to stay there rather than go home to Brian, the son. The boy's father is in the hospital in a life and death situation. No one approaches the son to tell him what has happened to his father. What's more, there is a woman who has known dealings with a member of the bad guy clan that has come to the home where Brian is in order to get safety from those people she fears will kill her. Again, China leaves the son to Ruby. She does, though, arrange for police protection. Then, the clincher of unbelievable actions happens. China decides to go with the other woman to the home of who they believe is the person who had McQuaid shot. She would not leave him to go to his son to explain what had happened with his father. Now, she leaves McQuaid to go into a very dangerous situation in order to confront the person who, most likely, sent the hit man to take out McQuaid accompanied by the woman who slept with him who is now a friend. Ms. Albert, what were you thinking?
As I wrote in this review, the actions and attitudes of the characters in this book go against the grain of characterizations Albert created prior to this book. She even left behind the whole concept of a cozy mystery centered around an herb shop. The final result was, for me, awkward, puzzling and unrewarding. Jeepers, I hope this is not where this series is now headed. If it is, I will giving up reading further books most likely.
This was a very uneven read. The book began with Albert not having control of what story she wanted to tell, how she wanted to tell it or even where she wanted the story to end up. Major events happened in this book in the series and those events were mangled in the final outcome. Albert is a competent writer. However, I don't think this book ever congealed in her mind. Too many problems are evident in Love Lies Bleeding to believe the author was in total control throughout this book.
When I started reading Love Lies Bleeding, I was puzzled over how China was presented. My impression of her from the four previous books I read was of a woman who strove for clarity in her decision making. She could admit to herself she might not know precisely what she needed to do but she never questioned that she needed to act. In the beginning of this story, she allows herself to be led into a situation that goes against her focus for her future. I refer to her getting involved in what turns out to be a criminal investigation. This did not ring true to me as behavior China would indulge in. I base this belief upon how the character of China Bayles was written in the five previous books.
Moving along in the story, there comes a moment when China suspects McQuaid of being involved with another woman. Rather than confront him over her suspicions, she observes the situation and even seems to blame herself for his looking afield for fulfillment. Again, this does not ring true to the character portrayal of China that has been created in the first five books in the series. What follows next is a plot line that veers recklessly away from the premise of the series, a cozy mystery series in a small town with an anchor in an herb shop.
Spoiler alert here. Continue on if that doe not bother you.
When China does verify McQuaid's infidelity and she confronts the other woman, she does not act as I would have expected. I can understand her expressing self doubt as concerns her past behaviors with McQuaid. What I could not understand was the highly unlikely acceptance of the other woman as a friend. Even as the two of them work in conjunction with each other to find those who shot McQuaid, the "hail friend, good fellow" attitude was too much for me to swallow. Pride, if nothing else would have prevented the immediate reconciliation that happens between these two ladies.
As the plot continues on, there is a point where McQuaid's son is left in the care of Ruby, a close friend. McQuaid is in the hospital in a life or death battle. China chooses to stay there rather than go home to Brian, the son. The boy's father is in the hospital in a life and death situation. No one approaches the son to tell him what has happened to his father. What's more, there is a woman who has known dealings with a member of the bad guy clan that has come to the home where Brian is in order to get safety from those people she fears will kill her. Again, China leaves the son to Ruby. She does, though, arrange for police protection. Then, the clincher of unbelievable actions happens. China decides to go with the other woman to the home of who they believe is the person who had McQuaid shot. She would not leave him to go to his son to explain what had happened with his father. Now, she leaves McQuaid to go into a very dangerous situation in order to confront the person who, most likely, sent the hit man to take out McQuaid accompanied by the woman who slept with him who is now a friend. Ms. Albert, what were you thinking?
As I wrote in this review, the actions and attitudes of the characters in this book go against the grain of characterizations Albert created prior to this book. She even left behind the whole concept of a cozy mystery centered around an herb shop. The final result was, for me, awkward, puzzling and unrewarding. Jeepers, I hope this is not where this series is now headed. If it is, I will giving up reading further books most likely.
April 24, 2012
As Valentine's Day draws near, herb shop owner China Bayles is torn between her fierce need for independence and her love for her partner, Mike McQuaid. She finds her resistance to his marriage proposals slipping, becoming less and less significant as she realizes how much she loves him. Her hopes for a Valentine's Day engagement are shattered, however, by the apparent suicide of a retired Texas Ranger. McQuaid is suddenly withdrawn and secretive, cold to China's attempts to make the day romantic. During the following days, his reticence grows and the gap between them is widened by suspicion and China's discovery of his infidelity. To ease her broken heart, China throws herself into the investigation of the dead man's activities and possible corruption and uncovers a disheartening web of crime, blackmail and dirty cops...everything she though she left behind in Houston, along with her profitable law practice. Will China's heart survive the evil she uncovers and the possible loss of the man she's just discovered she loves?
China is such a dynamic character, one whom I've enjoyed watching grow through this series. This installment was certainly one of the better ones. The tension between McQuaid and China, the dark plot and the stellar cast of characters all combine to make a great book. Though I don't necessarily agree with China's take on a lot of things, I still admire her as a heroine and look forward to seeing how the changes in her relationship with McQuaid progress in the next book.
China is such a dynamic character, one whom I've enjoyed watching grow through this series. This installment was certainly one of the better ones. The tension between McQuaid and China, the dark plot and the stellar cast of characters all combine to make a great book. Though I don't necessarily agree with China's take on a lot of things, I still admire her as a heroine and look forward to seeing how the changes in her relationship with McQuaid progress in the next book.
October 14, 2018
2.5 stars rounded up. China Bayles runs a herbal shop in Pecan Springs, Texas. China is drawn into the death of a former Texas Ranger because his wife worked for China for one day and somehow they are now close friends. Meanwhile McQuaid, China's live in boyfriend of 5 years, is being secretive about the research he's doing while on sabbatical from his teaching job. I've enjoyed this series but in this book China and McQuaid act so out of character I don't know if I can continue the series. When China finds out what McQuaid's been up to she blames herself which goes totally against the strong independent woman she's been depicted to be in the previous books. McQuaid never gets the total dressing down he deserves which leaves me disappointed. Also the women all call each other nicknames which seems odd for forty something year old women. I don't know any women who call each other names like Hot Shot and Tough Cookie. After the events of this book I don't know if I'll bother continuing with the series.
September 19, 2008
I have not been reading these books in the order in which they where written.
So maybe this is why I was so effected by this novel.
I had my regular high expectations for this novel and half way through it I found myself not enjoying it as much as her others.
I found the mystery plot a little too ridiculous then the others.
But most important for me was the side story of China and the affair.
I HATED the way this was written and didn't understand or couldn't relate to either China or Ruby or any other other characters and how they where handling this problem/situation.
I certainly expected more emotion and depth in the Ruby character.
I will still continue to read the series....it's just made me not love the character of China as much I suppose.
So maybe this is why I was so effected by this novel.
I had my regular high expectations for this novel and half way through it I found myself not enjoying it as much as her others.
I found the mystery plot a little too ridiculous then the others.
But most important for me was the side story of China and the affair.
I HATED the way this was written and didn't understand or couldn't relate to either China or Ruby or any other other characters and how they where handling this problem/situation.
I certainly expected more emotion and depth in the Ruby character.
I will still continue to read the series....it's just made me not love the character of China as much I suppose.
July 31, 2018
That's it. I give up. The first five books were ok. Bayles was intriguing. However, I've wanted Rudy to be killed by one of the murderers for a while. Then there's McQuaid, he's a schmuck. Bayles is supposedly a strong, independent woman yet she keeps putting up with him and the way he treats her? That's not something that interests me.
Not to mention if China and Ruby spend that much time away from their stores playing detective, how the heck are they still in business.
This book took all those problems and exaggerated them. I only got about halfway through before my frustration said that's enough.
Not to mention if China and Ruby spend that much time away from their stores playing detective, how the heck are they still in business.
This book took all those problems and exaggerated them. I only got about halfway through before my frustration said that's enough.
July 6, 2015
So disappointing!
September 10, 2019
Sure was better than #5 “Rueful Death” and quite suspenseful. No longer cozy and giving enough twists that it was down to the end pages for the reveal.
I like having so many leading ladies in such strong characters. Bravo!
Nitpicking here, but what was the prognosis on China’s nose?
I like having so many leading ladies in such strong characters. Bravo!
Nitpicking here, but what was the prognosis on China’s nose?
March 14, 2025
It was something of a struggle to finish this one, as McQuaid was such an A**hole. The underlying story was more procedural than cozy, and got rather tortuous in places, but at least it resolved in the end.
January 22, 2021
This is a very solid entry in the China Bayles series. China is ready to say yes to McQuaid's marriage proposal and if he doesn't make, she'll do the proposing, only to discover he has been having an affair with a woman he has been working with. China's world fall's apart further when McQuaid is shot during the case. Suddenly, all the little things that had become so big, seem little again. But China has to get to the bottom of the case if she is going to determine who shot McQuaid. Roy Adcock was a retired Texas Ranger who apparently committed suicide using his wife's gun but it didn't make any sense. When the wife asks China to look into it she finds evidence that Adcock had been a very dirty cop but though the facts bore that out, it didn't necessarily make sense so China and others dug deeper and what they found was deeply troubling. It was obvious in many ways but still well plotted and enjoyable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2023
Will absolutely not be finishing this book, or this series.
I've always been annoyed by how Chyna just seems to let the men in her life talk to her whatever way they want to, yet won't even talk to her mother who is at least trying to make ammends for the way she had to grow up. But it's like the author took these small annoyances and blew them up for this book. She finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her on valentines day and she just...let's it continue without saying anything?
She let's him talk to her however her wants and treats her like an absolute child, while using her for what he needs. When I got to the part where she agreed to continue investigating for him, stayed up all night waiting for him, and then didn't flip her lid when he came home smelling like booze and sex, I had to look at other people's opinions. After seeing that the plot line somehow continues to get worse, I refuse to move forward.
Let me reiterate how ridiculous this sounds. You finally confront your boyfriend about cheating on you, he tells you that it's not important and he'll talk to you about it once you're no longer acting like a child, and then you continue to do his dirty work while he continues to see his mistress. And then you STILL want to marry him??
I've always been annoyed by how Chyna just seems to let the men in her life talk to her whatever way they want to, yet won't even talk to her mother who is at least trying to make ammends for the way she had to grow up. But it's like the author took these small annoyances and blew them up for this book. She finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her on valentines day and she just...let's it continue without saying anything?
She let's him talk to her however her wants and treats her like an absolute child, while using her for what he needs. When I got to the part where she agreed to continue investigating for him, stayed up all night waiting for him, and then didn't flip her lid when he came home smelling like booze and sex, I had to look at other people's opinions. After seeing that the plot line somehow continues to get worse, I refuse to move forward.
Let me reiterate how ridiculous this sounds. You finally confront your boyfriend about cheating on you, he tells you that it's not important and he'll talk to you about it once you're no longer acting like a child, and then you continue to do his dirty work while he continues to see his mistress. And then you STILL want to marry him??
Read
January 15, 2017Sometimes I enjoy China Bayles, and this stood as a time I enjoyed the antics of China and her friends. Males play secondary roles to the friendship among the women in this stories. Of course, one must not discount the mouth-watering recipes and constant mention of foods and herbs. China has decided to accept McQuaid's next proposal of marriage, unfortunately crime jumps into the path and McQuaid has not thrown out another proposal. As China ponders building a tearoom, some desperados invade the quiet town of Pecan Springs, and China and Ruby must investigate a suicide, possible murder. Susan Wittig Albert keeps the mood light and jumping around just like those Hot Lip cookies that Ruby dispenses.
February 11, 2021
I really don't know what to say without spoilers. There was a murder. There's huge stuff going wrong between McQuaid and China. The two things are linked together. Definitely diving into the next one because I want to know how this works out.
October 1, 2015
I found this book interesting although rather different from others I have read in this series. China finally decides she is ready to accept McQuaid's marriage proposal when he asks her again; but before that occurs, she learns something that could impact her decision. China and Ruby are drafted by Justine to investigate a possible suicide or homicide. McQuaid is involved in some research project that China knows nothing about, and the couple is experiencing problems. There are some quirky new characters who add confusion to the plot.
March 8, 2013
This particular china bayles mystery made me think china wasn't the woman I thought she was. Her live in boyfriend sleeps with another woman, and to an normal woman his explaination would of been "just excuses" .Because of that aspect of the book it kind of overshadowed everything else. Put a real damper on the book-for me anyway.
September 11, 2011
In which China's personal life becomes something of a soap opera. As a reader, I had been hoping to get a better focus on her relationship with McQuaid; I wish it had been handled here with a bit more finesse.
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