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With Her Last Breath
Maggie Chantel is running from memories too painful -- and frightening -- to acknowledge. And the small, peaceful town of Blanchefleur on the shores of Lake Michigan is where her running stops. Maggie just wants to be left alone to forget, but her new neighbor Nick Alessandro is paying her far too much attention. A survivor of soul-shattering tragedy, Nick is fascinated by this beautiful, secretive woman -- an interest that is slowly turning from attraction to love. But someone waiting in the shadows is determined that Maggie will love no one ever again. The nightmare she was escaping has found her hiding place, and people in the sleepy Michigan community are starting to die. Maggie knows what her hunter is capable of, and now she must leave behind the man who was bringing her back to life, for his own safety. Nick is determined never to lose the only person who can make his world whole again. And he knows he has to find the killer -- before the killer gets to Maggie.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 2003
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170 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 3, 2009
I've had this book for months, wanting to see an example of the romantic suspense genre. Unfortunately, this one was only okay - not super romantic or suspenseful.
The back cover was enticing - a troubled woman, a hot guy, a ruthless stalker - but there wasn't quite enough story to fill the pages. The pacing just wasn't there for me, and the characterization seemed kind of flat. There's a lot of potential...but it wasn't realized. My apologies to the author for what will probably be seen as a scathing review.
The story is about a woman, Maggie, with a past that includes the death of her sister, a near rape, and an ostracism from her society (including rejection by her husband). Yes, she has a lot of baggage. She moves to a little town on the shores of Lake Michigan to start over with her sister's lover's stolen dog, and meets Nick - a huge, handsome man who's equally huge Italian family makes up most of the population of the tiny town. Even though the two characters go at it tooth and nail, they succumb to the lust that accompanies the passionate arguing.
I think that Nick's 'you won't tell me about yourself' rants got too repetitive, as did his being 'nettled' so often, and though he, too, has baggage, it's kind of glossed over. Even though he's been in mourning for 12 years over the death of his pregnant wife and hasn't had sex since her, he jumps into the sack quite willingly with Maggie. His only reservations seem to be that he's moving too fast, not that he's desecrating his ex's memory.
There were many minor characters involved - sort of - but they didn't really get enough voice. I would have liked to see the main characters interact one-on-one with more of them, especially Nick's brother, Dante, who had issues of his own that seemed to be stuck in as an after thought.
The villain seemed pretty one-dimensional, going through the same motions every time the POV switched to him. I did like the way his OCD was developed over time, but his path to finding Maggie was pretty thin. I would have liked to have seen him do more real work to find her...and the 'I couldn't find her on the internet' just doesn't fly since she made no secret of her name and was actively publicizing her business. And the way he ranted about Maggie for so long, I would have liked to hear more of his thought process as he learned of Maggie's connections and how he decided to go after each one, rather than hearing it in hindsight.
By the end of the book I started to hum country western songs because the villain kept obsessing about his dog...'I'll kill the girl, but that dog is going to make so much money for me.'
Other characters were set up as red herrings - it would have been nice to see them, especially the woman who wanted Nick for herself, be a little more conniving toward Maggie. There would have been more suspense for me if I could believe one of them would get Maggie or Nick before the villain did.
So, yes, I've picked this apart...and now will go after my writing with the same eye. If you'd like to read this book, I recommend getting it from the library, rather than buying it. Hopefully I can find a better romantic suspense soon!
The back cover was enticing - a troubled woman, a hot guy, a ruthless stalker - but there wasn't quite enough story to fill the pages. The pacing just wasn't there for me, and the characterization seemed kind of flat. There's a lot of potential...but it wasn't realized. My apologies to the author for what will probably be seen as a scathing review.
The story is about a woman, Maggie, with a past that includes the death of her sister, a near rape, and an ostracism from her society (including rejection by her husband). Yes, she has a lot of baggage. She moves to a little town on the shores of Lake Michigan to start over with her sister's lover's stolen dog, and meets Nick - a huge, handsome man who's equally huge Italian family makes up most of the population of the tiny town. Even though the two characters go at it tooth and nail, they succumb to the lust that accompanies the passionate arguing.
I think that Nick's 'you won't tell me about yourself' rants got too repetitive, as did his being 'nettled' so often, and though he, too, has baggage, it's kind of glossed over. Even though he's been in mourning for 12 years over the death of his pregnant wife and hasn't had sex since her, he jumps into the sack quite willingly with Maggie. His only reservations seem to be that he's moving too fast, not that he's desecrating his ex's memory.
There were many minor characters involved - sort of - but they didn't really get enough voice. I would have liked to see the main characters interact one-on-one with more of them, especially Nick's brother, Dante, who had issues of his own that seemed to be stuck in as an after thought.
The villain seemed pretty one-dimensional, going through the same motions every time the POV switched to him. I did like the way his OCD was developed over time, but his path to finding Maggie was pretty thin. I would have liked to have seen him do more real work to find her...and the 'I couldn't find her on the internet' just doesn't fly since she made no secret of her name and was actively publicizing her business. And the way he ranted about Maggie for so long, I would have liked to hear more of his thought process as he learned of Maggie's connections and how he decided to go after each one, rather than hearing it in hindsight.
By the end of the book I started to hum country western songs because the villain kept obsessing about his dog...'I'll kill the girl, but that dog is going to make so much money for me.'
Other characters were set up as red herrings - it would have been nice to see them, especially the woman who wanted Nick for herself, be a little more conniving toward Maggie. There would have been more suspense for me if I could believe one of them would get Maggie or Nick before the villain did.
So, yes, I've picked this apart...and now will go after my writing with the same eye. If you'd like to read this book, I recommend getting it from the library, rather than buying it. Hopefully I can find a better romantic suspense soon!
July 8, 2012
This book was very odd. It's the only one by this author that I've read, so maybe she always writes this way. For example the heroine is driving into town at the beginning and sees a man jogging and knows that he is "prowling over the darkness in him, seeking and frustrated, and fighting the realities he'd found" You know when I see a jogger I think "nice butt, okay I've got to turn left up here. What was I getting at the grocery store?" There's an awful lot of guessing what other peoples thoughts and motivations are, all using bunches of purple prose.
Then she keeps telling him. "Go away. I'm not interested. Leave now, I'm done talking to you." and he just doesn't go away. And she's not flirting with him either. What kind of a modern man doesn't go away? I'm thinking..."stalker." Then there's her stupid dog. Okay the dog isn't stupid but she wants to leave and the dog won't leave the hero and come to her so she has to stay and hang out with him. I have a dog. I wanted to tell her "You know the dog isn't the boss of you. Grab her collar and drag the damn dog away." So he's insensitive and she's wimpy. Not my favorite type of read.
Then she keeps telling him. "Go away. I'm not interested. Leave now, I'm done talking to you." and he just doesn't go away. And she's not flirting with him either. What kind of a modern man doesn't go away? I'm thinking..."stalker." Then there's her stupid dog. Okay the dog isn't stupid but she wants to leave and the dog won't leave the hero and come to her so she has to stay and hang out with him. I have a dog. I wanted to tell her "You know the dog isn't the boss of you. Grab her collar and drag the damn dog away." So he's insensitive and she's wimpy. Not my favorite type of read.
May 12, 2009
London's latest is very disappointing and boring. The whole story is full of cliches and is very slow moving, along with the fact that the chemistry between the hero and heroine is non-existent.
Maggie is on the run and hiding from a her former husband's business associate. This villian has beome obsessed with Maggie to the point of madness. (He wants to kil her, then love her, or maybe do both at the same time?!) Because he couldn't have Maggie, he dated and was sleeping with her married sister and then killed her. Maggie just knows this even though she has no proof because the guy is just so evil and he also tried to rape her at one point. She runs to a small laketown where everyone is so welcoming, even the morose and angst ridden Nick. Nick has a loving family who welcome maggie with open arms. Nick overall is a pretty good character (more so than Maggie even though his thoughts are always on his dead wife, whom he feels he killed many years ago due to an accident.
Maggie is tougher to digest. All she has in her life is her dog Scout who she kidnapped from her stalker in order to save her unlike her sister who she couldn't. Nick is attracted to Maggie mainly because she is hiding secrets and looks ao lonely and afraid. And he hasn't felt this way about a woman since his wife, who was his life, his soul.. etc. Maggie is so standoffish that it is unbelieveable that any man, including Nick would be interested in her.
The mystery and suspense is laughable, as the villian of the piece who keeps thinking the same exact thoughts over and over to the point it becomes too annoying.
Somer readers may skip some parts just to get to the final standoff between Maggie and her nemesis. Fans of London may appreciate this more than others but if you are looking for a taunt suspense with a good romance, look elsewhere.
Maggie is on the run and hiding from a her former husband's business associate. This villian has beome obsessed with Maggie to the point of madness. (He wants to kil her, then love her, or maybe do both at the same time?!) Because he couldn't have Maggie, he dated and was sleeping with her married sister and then killed her. Maggie just knows this even though she has no proof because the guy is just so evil and he also tried to rape her at one point. She runs to a small laketown where everyone is so welcoming, even the morose and angst ridden Nick. Nick has a loving family who welcome maggie with open arms. Nick overall is a pretty good character (more so than Maggie even though his thoughts are always on his dead wife, whom he feels he killed many years ago due to an accident.
Maggie is tougher to digest. All she has in her life is her dog Scout who she kidnapped from her stalker in order to save her unlike her sister who she couldn't. Nick is attracted to Maggie mainly because she is hiding secrets and looks ao lonely and afraid. And he hasn't felt this way about a woman since his wife, who was his life, his soul.. etc. Maggie is so standoffish that it is unbelieveable that any man, including Nick would be interested in her.
The mystery and suspense is laughable, as the villian of the piece who keeps thinking the same exact thoughts over and over to the point it becomes too annoying.
Somer readers may skip some parts just to get to the final standoff between Maggie and her nemesis. Fans of London may appreciate this more than others but if you are looking for a taunt suspense with a good romance, look elsewhere.
June 7, 2008
I really enjoyed the characters in this book. Maggie, Scout, Celeste, and Nick and his family were characters that you want to get to know more.
November 13, 2010
thought this was good took me longer than usual tho!!!!!!!!
March 1, 2013
Interesting story-line.
Maggie was attacked, her sister killed and the culprit ended up being her own husband. Nick takes over as her hero and helps her fight her past. Typical romantic suspense.
Maggie was attacked, her sister killed and the culprit ended up being her own husband. Nick takes over as her hero and helps her fight her past. Typical romantic suspense.
January 24, 2014
enjoyed reading it to the laaaaast chapter ... suspence , romance and action .. u will find all that in this novel ... lovely way in writing also
April 11, 2019
ich finde es schrecklich das maggie die hauptperson sich einfach nicht nick öffnen kann obwohl sich dieser seiner gefühle sicher ist un ihr seine liebe gesteht....außerdem kann ich einfach nicht verstehen das sie aus allem was ihr zu nahe kommt ein drama macht....es ist einfach schrecklich....ich hab schon mitleid mit dem armen nick...und diese morde die passieren sollen sind total unspektakulär (hoffe ist richtig geschrieben^^) da bin ich besseres gewohnt...zum einmaligen lesen reicht es vollkommen aus...
April 11, 2024
Ich fand das Buch sehr spannend und konnte es kaum aus der Hand legen. Mit gefällt die Entwicklung von Maggie und ich kann vollkommen verstehen warum sie nach ihren Erfahrungen allen Leute gegenüber so misstrauisch war.
Toll auch das es ein Happy End gibt.
Toll auch das es ein Happy End gibt.
July 24, 2020
I enjoyed this book immensely. I had a few problems with Maggie's attitude towards Nick and others but overall I found this adventure to be fun.
January 2, 2016
Maggie was stupid and annoying; I seriously wanted to punch her in the face half the time. If you're looking for suspense, this isn't the book for you; the suspense doesn't come til the last 100 pages or so, and then it's wrapped up quickly and too neatly for my taste. It was refreshing that they didn't jump into bed with each other right away, and that Nick was actually the one who wanted to wait to get to know her better, but that fell through when he ends up having sex and 'falling in love' with her before she ever tells him anything about her past. I just don't buy that; you have to have honesty and openness and trust in a healthy relationship, and they certainly don't have that here. Also, it was really drawn out and much longer than it needed to be, with about 200 pages or so in the middle with Nick and Maggie just fighting and having sex, which really got old, boring and annoying after awhile. Not an enjoyable read, either for suspense or romance.
June 4, 2018
Not the worst book I have read. That is about it for good things to say. She is not very good at dialogue, and I had to go back and re-read sentences here and there to try to make sense of them. Some of them I never did understand. Under another author, the actual story could have been quite good.
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July 30, 2011great book- couldn't put it down!! finished it the day i bought it.
July 19, 2014
boring, boring and boring...
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews