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Shades of Twilight
Roanna Davenport was raised a wealthy orphan on her grandmother's magnificent Alabama estate, Davencourt, where she had a passion for horses, a genius for trouble, and a deep love for her cousin, Webb. But everyone expected Webb to marry their ravishing cousin, Jessie. When he did, Roanna's desire became no more than the stuff of dreams -- until the night Jessie was found bludgeoned to death.
After the shocking murder of his wife, Webb left for Arizona, abandoning the legacy that he had once believed was all he wanted. But then an all-grown-up Roanna walked into a dingy bar in Nogales to bring him home; the mischievous sprite he had known ten years earlier was no more. Gone, too, was her fire. In its place was ice that melted at his touch. Webb is drawn back to Davencourt, to Roanna, and to the killer that once destroyed his life and waits only for the chance to finish the job....
After the shocking murder of his wife, Webb left for Arizona, abandoning the legacy that he had once believed was all he wanted. But then an all-grown-up Roanna walked into a dingy bar in Nogales to bring him home; the mischievous sprite he had known ten years earlier was no more. Gone, too, was her fire. In its place was ice that melted at his touch. Webb is drawn back to Davencourt, to Roanna, and to the killer that once destroyed his life and waits only for the chance to finish the job....
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 1996
831 people are currently reading
4343 people want to read
About the author
Linda Howard
223 books7,173 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Linda S. Howington is an American best-selling romance author writing under the pseudonym Linda Howard. After 21 years of penning stories for her own enjoyment, she submitted a novel for publication which was very successful. Her first work was published by Silhouette in 1982. She is a charter member of Romance Writers of America and in 2005 Howard was awarded their Career Achievement Award.
Linda Howard lives in Gadsden, Alabama with her husband, Gary F. Howington, and two golden retrievers. She has three grown stepchildren and three grandchildren.
Linda S. Howington is an American best-selling romance author writing under the pseudonym Linda Howard. After 21 years of penning stories for her own enjoyment, she submitted a novel for publication which was very successful. Her first work was published by Silhouette in 1982. She is a charter member of Romance Writers of America and in 2005 Howard was awarded their Career Achievement Award.
Linda Howard lives in Gadsden, Alabama with her husband, Gary F. Howington, and two golden retrievers. She has three grown stepchildren and three grandchildren.
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September 26, 2021
☎️IMPORTANT QUIZ QUESTION/+MAJOR SPOILERS☎️
Don't forget to follow the Instructions before answering the question below:
The 1st step. Take a look at the following meme:
The 2nd step. Play 🎶this song🎶 at full volume.
There. Now you're fully equipped to TAKE A WILD GUESS AT WHICH STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA HAS BEEN CHOSEN TO FEATURE GOOD OLD INCEST ROMANCE.
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
In the 1990s Linda Howard was already so much ahead of her time, basic meme makers of our time wouldn't know how to approach this woman. Instead of creating silly Alabama incest jokes and memes, she sat down and wrote a whole ass book that deals with the subject matter and made it DOUBLE. 👏🏻👏🏻 Double cousin dipping, that is.
📍- The hero marrying his cousin (OW)?
Why not?
📍-Him getting aroused by his other 17-year old cousin (h) while still being married to h's/his cousin?
Doesn't matter.
📍-OW having regular sex with her biological father?
I don't care.
📍- The heroine knowing absolutely nothing about sex at the age of 27?
We can have it altered.
📍- (H) finally having sex with his dead wife's cousin and in parallel HIS OWN COUSIN?
Well, nobody's perfect.
📍-Granny killing her own granddaughter (OW), so her other granddaughter (h) could smex up her grandnephew (H)?
I forgive you.
(my sincere gratitude goes to the last scene of Some Like It Hot for always providing me with pertinent and seasonable response 🥰)
And last but not least in my little queue of piled up questions:
- Sex with condoms??
NOT FOR ALL THE TEA IN CHINA!/Not for toffee! (love both idioms, don't judge)
The accurate representation of my relationship with this book (me - on the left, the book - on the right):
That being said, I fully expected to love this book with all the force/depth of my little heart/soul, but Something Happened, as Mr. Heller had put it so wonderfully, and
I. got. bored (but if by some unlucky coincidence you think I've managed to reel off every fucked up plot twist of this book, you're in for a big surprise 🤡) at approximately the time when the hero's wife was murdered. She definitely provided an infinite source of spice for the story, unlike her meek, shy cousin (I SWEAR I LOVE SWEET, SHY AND MEEK HEROINES, but when there's so little fight in them, I digress 🥲🥲). I guess, after all, daddy issues have the greatest potential for delivering character development.🤡🤡
P.S. You should have seen my face when I realized that the following scene:
"You're the greediest little bitch I've ever screwed," he said and shoved roughly into her.
.
.
.
Let's get married next week. I don't care about a big wedding, we can elope if-" He paused, his blue eyes flashing down at her.
"Married?" he asked and laughed.
"Where'd you get a stupid idea like that? I'm already married."
He resumed thrusting. She lay beneath him, numb with shock.
.
.
.
You liar!" she shrieked, trying to jerk her hands free.
"Cheat! Get off me! Go-go screw your wife!"
"She won't let me," he panted, hammering at her with cruel enjoyment of her struggles plain in his expression.
"She just had a kid."
did take place not between the hero and the heroine, but rather the side characters...
Way to reduce my overly excited self to the state of disappointment and dull indifference in a span of 5 minutes.
Side note: Please don't rush to inform me of the sad condition my mental health seems to be in currently. I already know I'm one sick, lost puppy. 🌚🌝
Now I shall take my leave and rewatch Some Like It Hot for the millionth time 😌
Don't forget to follow the Instructions before answering the question below:
The 1st step. Take a look at the following meme:
The 2nd step. Play 🎶this song🎶 at full volume.
There. Now you're fully equipped to TAKE A WILD GUESS AT WHICH STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA HAS BEEN CHOSEN TO FEATURE GOOD OLD INCEST ROMANCE.
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
In the 1990s Linda Howard was already so much ahead of her time, basic meme makers of our time wouldn't know how to approach this woman. Instead of creating silly Alabama incest jokes and memes, she sat down and wrote a whole ass book that deals with the subject matter and made it DOUBLE. 👏🏻👏🏻 Double cousin dipping, that is.
📍- The hero marrying his cousin (OW)?
Why not?
📍-Him getting aroused by his other 17-year old cousin (h) while still being married to h's/his cousin?
Doesn't matter.
📍-OW having regular sex with her biological father?
I don't care.
📍- The heroine knowing absolutely nothing about sex at the age of 27?
We can have it altered.
📍- (H) finally having sex with his dead wife's cousin and in parallel HIS OWN COUSIN?
Well, nobody's perfect.
📍-Granny killing her own granddaughter (OW), so her other granddaughter (h) could smex up her grandnephew (H)?
I forgive you.
(my sincere gratitude goes to the last scene of Some Like It Hot for always providing me with pertinent and seasonable response 🥰)
And last but not least in my little queue of piled up questions:
- Sex with condoms??
NOT FOR ALL THE TEA IN CHINA!/Not for toffee! (love both idioms, don't judge)
The accurate representation of my relationship with this book (me - on the left, the book - on the right):
That being said, I fully expected to love this book with all the force/depth of my little heart/soul, but Something Happened, as Mr. Heller had put it so wonderfully, and
I. got. bored (but if by some unlucky coincidence you think I've managed to reel off every fucked up plot twist of this book, you're in for a big surprise 🤡) at approximately the time when the hero's wife was murdered. She definitely provided an infinite source of spice for the story, unlike her meek, shy cousin (I SWEAR I LOVE SWEET, SHY AND MEEK HEROINES, but when there's so little fight in them, I digress 🥲🥲). I guess, after all, daddy issues have the greatest potential for delivering character development.🤡🤡
P.S. You should have seen my face when I realized that the following scene:
"You're the greediest little bitch I've ever screwed," he said and shoved roughly into her.
.
.
.
Let's get married next week. I don't care about a big wedding, we can elope if-" He paused, his blue eyes flashing down at her.
"Married?" he asked and laughed.
"Where'd you get a stupid idea like that? I'm already married."
He resumed thrusting. She lay beneath him, numb with shock.
.
.
.
You liar!" she shrieked, trying to jerk her hands free.
"Cheat! Get off me! Go-go screw your wife!"
"She won't let me," he panted, hammering at her with cruel enjoyment of her struggles plain in his expression.
"She just had a kid."
did take place not between the hero and the heroine, but rather the side characters...
Way to reduce my overly excited self to the state of disappointment and dull indifference in a span of 5 minutes.
Side note: Please don't rush to inform me of the sad condition my mental health seems to be in currently. I already know I'm one sick, lost puppy. 🌚🌝
Now I shall take my leave and rewatch Some Like It Hot for the millionth time 😌
April 16, 2021
*Spoiler*
My pearls are clutched, y’all!
Cousins marrying themselves,
Daughter and father sexing,
Grandmother killing grandniece?
Howard basically threw in all the taboo tropes and guess what?
It works.
My pearls are clutched, y’all!
Cousins marrying themselves,
Daughter and father sexing,
Grandmother killing grandniece?
Howard basically threw in all the taboo tropes and guess what?
It works.
May 12, 2021
One word for this book: (or expression depending on how you choose to see it) EWWW.
Reading about Jessie's affair with her dad was disturbing on so many levels. Jessie made my skin crawl with disgust! Wonder why Nana Davenport and others favored her ALL THE TIME.
Ro deserved better than being Nana's 'second choice' business manager and Webb's 'after thought' wife!
Even Ro's and Webb's relationship was seemingly incestuous, given how he often remembers having brotherly feelings for her as a kid.. that is, until she sits on his lap once. Are you fucking kidding me?
Reading about Jessie's affair with her dad was disturbing on so many levels. Jessie made my skin crawl with disgust! Wonder why Nana Davenport and others favored her ALL THE TIME.
Ro deserved better than being Nana's 'second choice' business manager and Webb's 'after thought' wife!
Even Ro's and Webb's relationship was seemingly incestuous, given how he often remembers having brotherly feelings for her as a kid.. that is, until she sits on his lap once. Are you fucking kidding me?
January 10, 2014
WARNING: Fragile Heroine Ahead
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
10 STARS FOR THIS MASTERPIECE BY LINDA HOWARD - I AM HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE WITH THIS I CAN'T EVEN...ROANNA WAS A 100% PERFECT HEROINE
I am finally out of my reading rut. Hurrah! All those historical romances and mellow contemporaries finally got to me and I was definitely in the mood to shake it up a bit so I decided to make another venture into romantic suspense and I just cannot believe how hard I fell for this book. What really skyrocketed this book up my favourites list was definitely the heroine Roanna. She was fabulous. It's been no secret that I prefer delicate heroines (who are strong in their own way) over wilful sharp-tongued ones. Linda Howard just created my ideal heroine.
As a child, Roanna was the adoring admirer of Webb, husband-to-be of her evil, disgusting, despicable (every nasty word in the dictionary) sister Jesse. Her death honestly didn't come soon enough! Roanna is the sweet innocent child, unloved and left on the sidelines as Jesse bullies her into losing all her self-esteem. As the years run by, Jesse marries Webb and leaves her longing for a love that could never have been. After Jesse's abrupt death, Roanna and Webb are torn apart as Webb disappears for ten years. The family initally accuse Roanna of killing Jesse before turning the finger of blame on Webb. A single act of rejection from Web starts Roanna's transformaiton into a softly-spoken, tightly controlled woman.
But then Webb comes back. Yayayay and the fun part of the book begins. Roanna, despite her carefully constructed protective shell is still painfully vulnerable when it comes to Webb. This, for me, really set this book up as one of my absolute faves. I cannot stand it when the heroines develops a 'fuck you' attitude towards the man they love after seeing them for the first time after ten years and turns into a prickly porcupine/shrew who then melts out of their panties at the mere thought of sex. Honestly. Im so over the whole playing hard to get crap which is exactly why this book hit the right notes with me. I loved how Roanna didn't even pretend she was over Webb. Instead he worked hard to rebuild her self-esteem after seeing her vulnerability and there is actually character development instead of just 'mindless fucking'! Whoo three cheers for old school love!!!
Even though this wasn't 'historical romance' in its purest sense it is set a few decades back and the Davenport family dynamics are startingly unique. I won't spoil it for you, but at the risk of sounding terrible naive and sheltered, I thought some of the things in this book were slightly confronting. Oh yes, and don't be put off by the fact Webb and Roanna are second cousins. In the grand scheme of things it didn't really bother me (I just pretended they weren't which worked for me).
This one is going into my favourites for sure... As for the rest of Linda Howard's books... WATCH OUT HERE I COME. I've officially fallen in love with romantic suspense too. Haha never thought I'd say that. It makes sense though - my all time favourite book is a romantic suspense. I can't believe I haven't read much of the genre though! Go and get this book guys - definitely worth your while!!!
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
10 STARS FOR THIS MASTERPIECE BY LINDA HOWARD - I AM HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE WITH THIS I CAN'T EVEN...ROANNA WAS A 100% PERFECT HEROINE
I am finally out of my reading rut. Hurrah! All those historical romances and mellow contemporaries finally got to me and I was definitely in the mood to shake it up a bit so I decided to make another venture into romantic suspense and I just cannot believe how hard I fell for this book. What really skyrocketed this book up my favourites list was definitely the heroine Roanna. She was fabulous. It's been no secret that I prefer delicate heroines (who are strong in their own way) over wilful sharp-tongued ones. Linda Howard just created my ideal heroine.
As a child, Roanna was the adoring admirer of Webb, husband-to-be of her evil, disgusting, despicable (every nasty word in the dictionary) sister Jesse. Her death honestly didn't come soon enough! Roanna is the sweet innocent child, unloved and left on the sidelines as Jesse bullies her into losing all her self-esteem. As the years run by, Jesse marries Webb and leaves her longing for a love that could never have been. After Jesse's abrupt death, Roanna and Webb are torn apart as Webb disappears for ten years. The family initally accuse Roanna of killing Jesse before turning the finger of blame on Webb. A single act of rejection from Web starts Roanna's transformaiton into a softly-spoken, tightly controlled woman.
But then Webb comes back. Yayayay and the fun part of the book begins. Roanna, despite her carefully constructed protective shell is still painfully vulnerable when it comes to Webb. This, for me, really set this book up as one of my absolute faves. I cannot stand it when the heroines develops a 'fuck you' attitude towards the man they love after seeing them for the first time after ten years and turns into a prickly porcupine/shrew who then melts out of their panties at the mere thought of sex. Honestly. Im so over the whole playing hard to get crap which is exactly why this book hit the right notes with me. I loved how Roanna didn't even pretend she was over Webb. Instead he worked hard to rebuild her self-esteem after seeing her vulnerability and there is actually character development instead of just 'mindless fucking'! Whoo three cheers for old school love!!!
Even though this wasn't 'historical romance' in its purest sense it is set a few decades back and the Davenport family dynamics are startingly unique. I won't spoil it for you, but at the risk of sounding terrible naive and sheltered, I thought some of the things in this book were slightly confronting. Oh yes, and don't be put off by the fact Webb and Roanna are second cousins. In the grand scheme of things it didn't really bother me (I just pretended they weren't which worked for me).
This one is going into my favourites for sure... As for the rest of Linda Howard's books... WATCH OUT HERE I COME. I've officially fallen in love with romantic suspense too. Haha never thought I'd say that. It makes sense though - my all time favourite book is a romantic suspense. I can't believe I haven't read much of the genre though! Go and get this book guys - definitely worth your while!!!
September 23, 2015
I’ll keep this one short and sweet.
I guess you could say that I enjoyed Shades of Twilight. It is apparent by my updates. But in the end this one settled around the 3.5 – 4 stars rating. So instead of two thumbs up I’ll give it one thumb up! :)
Without doubt Linda Howard can write some wonderful storylines and strong main characters. I found Roanna to be innocent yet strong and resilient. I found Webb to be domineering yet honest and goodhearted. Their relationship was slow building (and I mean slow) but when their passion and desire is unleashed I found myself thinking…..it was worth the wait!!
The mystery and suspense was perfectly played out. For a little while I thought I had it figured out but LH threw in a tiny twist at the end which blindsided me and had me shaking my head. There was a sweet ending which wrapped everything up nicely.
As a footnote; I’m really not a picky reader but there was one thing I certainly could have done without And thank goodness LH was nice enough to put a family tree in the front of the book. Keeping up with who was related to who was challenging. LOL
I guess you could say that I enjoyed Shades of Twilight. It is apparent by my updates. But in the end this one settled around the 3.5 – 4 stars rating. So instead of two thumbs up I’ll give it one thumb up! :)
Without doubt Linda Howard can write some wonderful storylines and strong main characters. I found Roanna to be innocent yet strong and resilient. I found Webb to be domineering yet honest and goodhearted. Their relationship was slow building (and I mean slow) but when their passion and desire is unleashed I found myself thinking…..it was worth the wait!!
The mystery and suspense was perfectly played out. For a little while I thought I had it figured out but LH threw in a tiny twist at the end which blindsided me and had me shaking my head. There was a sweet ending which wrapped everything up nicely.
As a footnote; I’m really not a picky reader but there was one thing I certainly could have done without And thank goodness LH was nice enough to put a family tree in the front of the book. Keeping up with who was related to who was challenging. LOL
September 21, 2018
Reseña completa: http://masromance.blogspot.com/2018/0...
Ha empezado muy bien, pero al final se me han hecho muy cuesta arriba la sucesión de escenas de sexo seco. A ver, mejor leer una novela blanca que lo que he leído.
El suspense está bien, me ha costado mucho adivinar quien es el culpable, un puntazo a favor de la autora.
La primera mitad de la novela casi la he devorado. Ritmo ágil y una sucesión de personajes bien construidos, muy sureños y al puro estilo Dallas o Falcon Crest (qué tiempos aquellos)
Pero llega la muerte de Jessie y la novela da un giro, y cuando más me tenía que gustar, que es justo con la evolución de esa amistad a ese romance, no me ha convencido.
Una novela que entretiene pero que ha empezado mucho mejor de lo que termina
Me quedo con la duda de si leer algo más de ella. Hay buenas autoras de suspense, y si todas las novelas de esta autora a nivela escenas hot, serán iguales, creo que el no decantará la balanza
Ha empezado muy bien, pero al final se me han hecho muy cuesta arriba la sucesión de escenas de sexo seco. A ver, mejor leer una novela blanca que lo que he leído.
El suspense está bien, me ha costado mucho adivinar quien es el culpable, un puntazo a favor de la autora.
La primera mitad de la novela casi la he devorado. Ritmo ágil y una sucesión de personajes bien construidos, muy sureños y al puro estilo Dallas o Falcon Crest (qué tiempos aquellos)
Pero llega la muerte de Jessie y la novela da un giro, y cuando más me tenía que gustar, que es justo con la evolución de esa amistad a ese romance, no me ha convencido.
Una novela que entretiene pero que ha empezado mucho mejor de lo que termina
Me quedo con la duda de si leer algo más de ella. Hay buenas autoras de suspense, y si todas las novelas de esta autora a nivela escenas hot, serán iguales, creo que el no decantará la balanza
November 5, 2016
¡LA RESEÑA YA ESTÁ EN EL BLOG!
http://www.virivillarreal.com/2016/11...
Esta fue una historia como las de antes, de esas que son todas apasionadas pero pausadas con una narrativa que te invita a adentrarte en la historia. Con unos personajes tan bien tramados que ni siquiera sé cómo explicarlo.
Los personajes son sin duda el punto fuerte de esta novela. Roanna sufrió una evolución a lo largo de todo el libro TAN grande, TAN perfecta, tan bien llevada que no sé si me gustó más ella que Él.
Wedd fue... bueno, ¡Dios mío con este hombre! Su descripción la resumiré en una sola frase: ALBOROTA HORMONAS.
Pero es que qué manera de alborotarme las hormonas en cada aparición!!! Si me la vivía rogando por que saliera algún pensamiento suyo, una escena, un algo!!!
Vaya, ¡que quede totalmente encandilada por la actitud tosca, oscura y ruda que tenía! la parte en forma posesiva me volvía completamente loquita... les digo que a mí este tipo de protas me fascinan HAHAHA. Además no pude sacarme de la cabeza que le daba un aire al Heathcliff de la Bronte que me dejó sin palabras. Y eso que a mi cumbres borrascosas ni me gustó eh...
La narración es fluida, en tercera persona y desde los puntos de vista de la mayoría de los personajes, quizás pienses que puede ser confuso (yo misma lo hice) pero está TAN bien narrado que en ningún momento me sentí perdida.
Una historia increíble, con unos personajes fantásticos y una narrativa excelente. Esta novela no es la típica de Linda, al menos en las que he leído me parece totalmente diferente porque siento que "Sombras en el crepúsculo" tiene un toque más a lo SEP con todo ese amor desbordante y romanticismo apasionado.
Una novela totalmente romántica con toques de suspenso que te mantienen enganchada hasta descubrir el misterioso secreto. Debo decir que NUNCA ME ESPERÉ un desenlace como ese, vamos que cuando me iba haciendo una idea de quién era el culpable me salía otro prospecto y se derrumbaban todas mis hipótesis. Me ha encantado y solo puedo decir cosas buenas. Así que solo resta decir:
Si quieres una novela donde el amor, los cambios y el tiempo son protagonistas sin dejar de lado la trama de suspenso este es tu libro.
Lee la versión completa en mi blog :)
http://www.virivillarreal.com/2016/11...
Esta fue una historia como las de antes, de esas que son todas apasionadas pero pausadas con una narrativa que te invita a adentrarte en la historia. Con unos personajes tan bien tramados que ni siquiera sé cómo explicarlo.
Los personajes son sin duda el punto fuerte de esta novela. Roanna sufrió una evolución a lo largo de todo el libro TAN grande, TAN perfecta, tan bien llevada que no sé si me gustó más ella que Él.
Wedd fue... bueno, ¡Dios mío con este hombre! Su descripción la resumiré en una sola frase: ALBOROTA HORMONAS.
Pero es que qué manera de alborotarme las hormonas en cada aparición!!! Si me la vivía rogando por que saliera algún pensamiento suyo, una escena, un algo!!!
Vaya, ¡que quede totalmente encandilada por la actitud tosca, oscura y ruda que tenía! la parte en forma posesiva me volvía completamente loquita... les digo que a mí este tipo de protas me fascinan HAHAHA. Además no pude sacarme de la cabeza que le daba un aire al Heathcliff de la Bronte que me dejó sin palabras. Y eso que a mi cumbres borrascosas ni me gustó eh...
La narración es fluida, en tercera persona y desde los puntos de vista de la mayoría de los personajes, quizás pienses que puede ser confuso (yo misma lo hice) pero está TAN bien narrado que en ningún momento me sentí perdida.
Una historia increíble, con unos personajes fantásticos y una narrativa excelente. Esta novela no es la típica de Linda, al menos en las que he leído me parece totalmente diferente porque siento que "Sombras en el crepúsculo" tiene un toque más a lo SEP con todo ese amor desbordante y romanticismo apasionado.
Una novela totalmente romántica con toques de suspenso que te mantienen enganchada hasta descubrir el misterioso secreto. Debo decir que NUNCA ME ESPERÉ un desenlace como ese, vamos que cuando me iba haciendo una idea de quién era el culpable me salía otro prospecto y se derrumbaban todas mis hipótesis. Me ha encantado y solo puedo decir cosas buenas. Así que solo resta decir:
Si quieres una novela donde el amor, los cambios y el tiempo son protagonistas sin dejar de lado la trama de suspenso este es tu libro.
Lee la versión completa en mi blog :)
January 19, 2014
~~~~~~ 4.5 STARS! ~~~~~~
Wow. Linda Howard is quickly becoming one of my fave authors.
This book was so consuming, so thorough in its ability to make me cry, hate, despair and feel joy. It had a very epic feel to it although the events transcend 20 years in total. I loved the characters, even the bad ones. Roanna was a girl that lost her parents as a child only to live with her grandmother at Davencourt, the estate her father's family established.
She's also loved her second cousin, Webb---this didn't disturb me at all---for as long as she remembers. But Webb is slated to take up the reigns of Davencourt, and will also marry his second cousin, Jessie, first cousin and nemesis to Roanna. But eventually tragedy strikes Davencourt, forcing Webb to abandon his hold on it and everyone in it, including Roanna. The book is divided into 3 parts: The three as children, then as young adults and finally as adults.
I really liked Roanna and empathized with her as a child then as a woman very different from who she used to be. She's grown cold and remote, hiding her feelings under layers of ice. Her only weakness is and will always be Webb. When she seeks him out requesting he return home, Webb can't believe the fine woman she's become. But she also ignites his long buried feelings of abandonment and he says some pretty vicious things. But Roanna loves him beyond reason and brings him home, the prodigal son, if you may.
The romance was a nice slow build that explodes between two people holding their feelings in restraint. Webb and Roanna are so similar and feel so strongly for each other that it became frustrating for me waiting for them to finally act on their desires. The suspense was fantastic and I was honestly stumped till the bitter end. The person I thought responsible was soon eradicated from my list and I found myself mystified by who actually committed the crime.
That raw sensuality I've come to correlate with LH's writing was here once more. She writes love scenes on such an intimate level. There's no over the top smexy time that seems orchestrated, there's no derogatory expletives used to induce orgasm....it's just a sensuality I don't see often enough, making me wish authors were more attuned to the importance of that.
OBVIOUSLY I will continue reading LH's other works! Sometimes you think an older book or an author being around for years won't deliver. You might think there'll be too much fade to black scenes or old fashioned ideas...Well, I'm never abiding by that ridiculous notion again. These books may have been around for years but they have the advantage of longevity because they're written so well the stories become timeless. Loved this.
Thanks for the rec Sophie! xx
Wow. Linda Howard is quickly becoming one of my fave authors.
This book was so consuming, so thorough in its ability to make me cry, hate, despair and feel joy. It had a very epic feel to it although the events transcend 20 years in total. I loved the characters, even the bad ones. Roanna was a girl that lost her parents as a child only to live with her grandmother at Davencourt, the estate her father's family established.
She's also loved her second cousin, Webb---this didn't disturb me at all---for as long as she remembers. But Webb is slated to take up the reigns of Davencourt, and will also marry his second cousin, Jessie, first cousin and nemesis to Roanna. But eventually tragedy strikes Davencourt, forcing Webb to abandon his hold on it and everyone in it, including Roanna. The book is divided into 3 parts: The three as children, then as young adults and finally as adults.
I really liked Roanna and empathized with her as a child then as a woman very different from who she used to be. She's grown cold and remote, hiding her feelings under layers of ice. Her only weakness is and will always be Webb. When she seeks him out requesting he return home, Webb can't believe the fine woman she's become. But she also ignites his long buried feelings of abandonment and he says some pretty vicious things. But Roanna loves him beyond reason and brings him home, the prodigal son, if you may.
The romance was a nice slow build that explodes between two people holding their feelings in restraint. Webb and Roanna are so similar and feel so strongly for each other that it became frustrating for me waiting for them to finally act on their desires. The suspense was fantastic and I was honestly stumped till the bitter end. The person I thought responsible was soon eradicated from my list and I found myself mystified by who actually committed the crime.
That raw sensuality I've come to correlate with LH's writing was here once more. She writes love scenes on such an intimate level. There's no over the top smexy time that seems orchestrated, there's no derogatory expletives used to induce orgasm....it's just a sensuality I don't see often enough, making me wish authors were more attuned to the importance of that.
OBVIOUSLY I will continue reading LH's other works! Sometimes you think an older book or an author being around for years won't deliver. You might think there'll be too much fade to black scenes or old fashioned ideas...Well, I'm never abiding by that ridiculous notion again. These books may have been around for years but they have the advantage of longevity because they're written so well the stories become timeless. Loved this.
Thanks for the rec Sophie! xx
September 8, 2015
3.5 rounded up.
This definitely kept me interested, although I could have done without graphic sex scenes between secondary characters. **Trigger warning for incest.
This book starts when the h is 7 and ends when she's 27, two decades are glossed over, but it's primarily the story of how Roanna survived and grew/changed over the years.
The hero is 5-6 years older and Roanna's 2nd cousin. She lives under the same roof with him from 7 to 17, during which time she goes from big brother/hero worship to more romantic feelings. I didn't get an incesty vibe from that, but some may be bothered - especially since he marries another cousin first (this is not the trigger warning I spoke of).
There are some interesting secondary characters, like the h's grandmother and family matriarch who you will likely hate at first and only appreciate later. The family dynamics are also interesting and a bit twisted at times.
A suspense and a murder mystery is the big event which ties the book together. However, as I said before, I think this is primarily about the h growing (very painfully at times) into someone who saw herself as worthy.
This definitely kept me interested, although I could have done without graphic sex scenes between secondary characters. **Trigger warning for incest.
This book starts when the h is 7 and ends when she's 27, two decades are glossed over, but it's primarily the story of how Roanna survived and grew/changed over the years.
The hero is 5-6 years older and Roanna's 2nd cousin. She lives under the same roof with him from 7 to 17, during which time she goes from big brother/hero worship to more romantic feelings. I didn't get an incesty vibe from that, but some may be bothered - especially since he marries another cousin first (this is not the trigger warning I spoke of).
There are some interesting secondary characters, like the h's grandmother and family matriarch who you will likely hate at first and only appreciate later. The family dynamics are also interesting and a bit twisted at times.
A suspense and a murder mystery is the big event which ties the book together. However, as I said before, I think this is primarily about the h growing (very painfully at times) into someone who saw herself as worthy.
May 16, 2021
Finally, after 3 DNFs, I finished a book and I like it.
This book follows Roanna, which after a tragic incident, left to stay in Davencourt with her grandmother, cousins and aunt and uncle. During which she harboured feelings for her second cousin, Webb.
As always, I love Linda Howard's way of storytelling. She could transport me anywhere and I would feel as if I was there in flesh and blood. This time, we were in Alabama and entwined in the drama of a powerful family called the Davenports.
I love Roanna's character. She was initially a high spirited, wild child of the prestigious family but after a dark incident, she retreated into herself and barricaded everyone else, including the man who owns her soul. I always love meeting a heroine like her because I love to see the hero trying to pull her out of her mind.
As for the hero, if you're okay with the fact that he married the heroine's cousin for the first 30% of the book, he was a one pretty darn good hero. Sure, he did something jerkish that one time, but in hindsight he was a perfect gentleman after that.
So yeah, LH did it again for me.
This book follows Roanna, which after a tragic incident, left to stay in Davencourt with her grandmother, cousins and aunt and uncle. During which she harboured feelings for her second cousin, Webb.
As always, I love Linda Howard's way of storytelling. She could transport me anywhere and I would feel as if I was there in flesh and blood. This time, we were in Alabama and entwined in the drama of a powerful family called the Davenports.
I love Roanna's character. She was initially a high spirited, wild child of the prestigious family but after a dark incident, she retreated into herself and barricaded everyone else, including the man who owns her soul. I always love meeting a heroine like her because I love to see the hero trying to pull her out of her mind.
As for the hero, if you're okay with the fact that he married the heroine's cousin for the first 30% of the book, he was a one pretty darn good hero. Sure, he did something jerkish that one time, but in hindsight he was a perfect gentleman after that.
So yeah, LH did it again for me.
September 4, 2010
I love this author, but I don't recommend this book. Roanna lost her parents at age 7.
She then lived with an evil cousin Jessie who bullied and tormented her constantly for 10 years. Jessie was killed and the relatives at first believed Roanna did it, then later believed Webb did it so he left town for 10 years. He made erroneous assumptions about Roanna and acted like he hated her as he left. He was the only one who cared for her and raised her from age 7, and she felt abandoned. Other relatives came to live in the house with Roanna and treated her badly for the next 10 years. I have four problems with this book. First, Roanna was too much of a victim and everyone else contributed to it. The grandmother should have done more to protect and help Roanna, especially when Roanna was initially accused of the murder by the relatives. I did not enjoy having the majority of the story dealing with the sadness, grief and helplessness of this victim. My second complaint is that Roanna and Webb both lusted for and loved each other but they stayed away from each other due to making wrong assumptions. He felt like he forced sex on her, and said it wouldn't happen again. She thought he didn't like sex with her and didn't want her anymore so she said she understood and that she would leave him alone. He said you don't understand anything, but he didn't clarify. She thought he didn't want her. I don't know why he continued to stay away from her. This went on for most of the book. She was honest in her communication, but he was not. Finally when they did get together he said "I've tried to stay away from you." She said "Why." He said "God knows." Later he said "I thought I was being noble by not taking advantage of you." I never did understand his reasons. He should not have stayed away from her like that and should have been more direct in his communication with her. Third, the author spent too much time inside Roanna's head, thinking and worrying about things. Many of these worries were based on erroneous assumptions or could have been solved. Some of this bored me. Fourth, I was confused about cousins who shared the same grandmother being able to marry and produce offspring with genetic safety. This sounded like they were too closedly related to me, but I'm not familiar enough with genetics to know. Sexual language: moderate. Number of sex scenes: nine. Setting: 1990s Alabama. Copyright: 1996. Genre: contemporary romantic suspense.
She then lived with an evil cousin Jessie who bullied and tormented her constantly for 10 years. Jessie was killed and the relatives at first believed Roanna did it, then later believed Webb did it so he left town for 10 years. He made erroneous assumptions about Roanna and acted like he hated her as he left. He was the only one who cared for her and raised her from age 7, and she felt abandoned. Other relatives came to live in the house with Roanna and treated her badly for the next 10 years. I have four problems with this book. First, Roanna was too much of a victim and everyone else contributed to it. The grandmother should have done more to protect and help Roanna, especially when Roanna was initially accused of the murder by the relatives. I did not enjoy having the majority of the story dealing with the sadness, grief and helplessness of this victim. My second complaint is that Roanna and Webb both lusted for and loved each other but they stayed away from each other due to making wrong assumptions. He felt like he forced sex on her, and said it wouldn't happen again. She thought he didn't like sex with her and didn't want her anymore so she said she understood and that she would leave him alone. He said you don't understand anything, but he didn't clarify. She thought he didn't want her. I don't know why he continued to stay away from her. This went on for most of the book. She was honest in her communication, but he was not. Finally when they did get together he said "I've tried to stay away from you." She said "Why." He said "God knows." Later he said "I thought I was being noble by not taking advantage of you." I never did understand his reasons. He should not have stayed away from her like that and should have been more direct in his communication with her. Third, the author spent too much time inside Roanna's head, thinking and worrying about things. Many of these worries were based on erroneous assumptions or could have been solved. Some of this bored me. Fourth, I was confused about cousins who shared the same grandmother being able to marry and produce offspring with genetic safety. This sounded like they were too closedly related to me, but I'm not familiar enough with genetics to know. Sexual language: moderate. Number of sex scenes: nine. Setting: 1990s Alabama. Copyright: 1996. Genre: contemporary romantic suspense.
June 16, 2025
Reread on 6/24/2024
Revisiting another old Linda Howard favorite, I’ve been in a book funk so revisiting some of my favorites has been a nice distraction.
4.5 Southern Suspense Stars!!
I first read this book many years ago. It is just as good today as then, and it is one of the major reasons I remain a devoted fan of Linda Howards back list. Her suspense, southern families, wealth, greed, and a good mystery....along with a strong Alpha Male and a sensual love that we come to expect from a LH book.
Cousins Jessie and Roanna Davenport both lose their parents in an auto accident as a young children and are now living with their Grandmother, Patriarch of the Davenport family Lucinda Davenport. There young Roanna meets and falls in love with her cousin (my marriage), Webb Tallant. First she hero-worships him as a child, then as an adolescent, and finally as a teenage crush. However, Webb was always destined to marry another cousin (by marriage only!) the beautiful, spoiled, and tempestuous Jessie. The wedding goes as planned but when Jessie is found murdered one evening in her bedroom all fingers point towards Webb. Webb decides to leave the family because of the lack of support when he needed it most. Webb decides to leave Alabama and heads to Arizona.
Ten years pass and Roanna is now grown up and Lucinda is dying. Lucinda's dying wish is for her beloved Webb to return to the family home and to take his rightful place and take over as heir apparent over the Davenport empire. Roanna heads to Arizona to persuade Webb to return home. Webb finally decides to return with her but tongues start wagging and old gossip and suspicions are renewed. With Webb's return, Roanna starts receiving new threats. Is Jessie's killer still a danger to the Davenport/Tallant family? Will Webb ever return Roanna's unrequited love?
I highly recommend this book...if you haven't read a Linda Howard book, then you are in for a delicious treat.
Original read May 2011
Reread on: 9.25.2020 & 6.24.2024
Revisiting another old Linda Howard favorite, I’ve been in a book funk so revisiting some of my favorites has been a nice distraction.
4.5 Southern Suspense Stars!!
I first read this book many years ago. It is just as good today as then, and it is one of the major reasons I remain a devoted fan of Linda Howards back list. Her suspense, southern families, wealth, greed, and a good mystery....along with a strong Alpha Male and a sensual love that we come to expect from a LH book.
Cousins Jessie and Roanna Davenport both lose their parents in an auto accident as a young children and are now living with their Grandmother, Patriarch of the Davenport family Lucinda Davenport. There young Roanna meets and falls in love with her cousin (my marriage), Webb Tallant. First she hero-worships him as a child, then as an adolescent, and finally as a teenage crush. However, Webb was always destined to marry another cousin (by marriage only!) the beautiful, spoiled, and tempestuous Jessie. The wedding goes as planned but when Jessie is found murdered one evening in her bedroom all fingers point towards Webb. Webb decides to leave the family because of the lack of support when he needed it most. Webb decides to leave Alabama and heads to Arizona.
Ten years pass and Roanna is now grown up and Lucinda is dying. Lucinda's dying wish is for her beloved Webb to return to the family home and to take his rightful place and take over as heir apparent over the Davenport empire. Roanna heads to Arizona to persuade Webb to return home. Webb finally decides to return with her but tongues start wagging and old gossip and suspicions are renewed. With Webb's return, Roanna starts receiving new threats. Is Jessie's killer still a danger to the Davenport/Tallant family? Will Webb ever return Roanna's unrequited love?
I highly recommend this book...if you haven't read a Linda Howard book, then you are in for a delicious treat.
Original read May 2011
Reread on: 9.25.2020 & 6.24.2024
December 23, 2016
"I loved you when you were a snot-nosed kid, into so much mischief it's a wonder my hair didn't turn prematurely gray. I loved you when you were a teenager with long, skinny legs and eyes that broke my heart every time I looked at you. I love you now that you're a woman who makes my brain go soft, my legs go weak, and my dick get hard. When you walk into a room, my heart damn near jumps out of my chest. When you smile, I feel as if I've won a Nobel Prize. And your eyes still break my heart."
Oh my god..WOW!
So finally after putting off this book for two years, I decided to read it in occasion of completing my GR 2016 challenge.
And it was amazing.
The suspense filled love story of Roanne and Webb captures you from page one and then proceeds to take you on a roller coaster ride.
Roanne has always loved her second cousin Webb, even when he chose the prettier cousin Jessie and later marries her.
When Jessie is murdered, and misunderstandings make Webb leave- ten years later it's on Ro to bring him back for sake of their sick grandmother Lucinda. And she does. And mysteries unravel.
I LOVED ROANNE. I MEAN LOVED LOVED LOVED. Her quiet intensity, her unending devotion and love, and her ability to bear everything with a stride just stole my heart. I cried every time she had her heart trampled, ridiculed and pushed in- but she never gave up and kept going on. She loved Webb, and stood with it. She will totally go into one of my all time favorite heroines.
Webb on the other hand was initially an ambitious hero, to later a righteous and recovering man.
Going from an angsty widower, to a hero who falls in love- it was lovely to see his character evolving and falling hard.
This book had a heavy dose of angst- which I again LOVED and of murder and betrayal.
What happens that fateful night changes the course of the story, however Roanne and Webb continue to be the center of story.
Side characters like Lucinda, Loyal, etc play their parts well, and you hate and adore in equal parts.
The love making scenes are scorchingly HOT, and worth rereading.
However, this book might annoy some people who might not like
Webb was both Ro's downfall, and rise from ashes. Adore how he pulls her out, and brings her spirit to front again.
Also heavily adore the breeding undertones of the book! I mean..overuse of word penetration but hell yeah!
Wonderful.
5/5
Oh my god..WOW!
So finally after putting off this book for two years, I decided to read it in occasion of completing my GR 2016 challenge.
And it was amazing.
The suspense filled love story of Roanne and Webb captures you from page one and then proceeds to take you on a roller coaster ride.
Roanne has always loved her second cousin Webb, even when he chose the prettier cousin Jessie and later marries her.
When Jessie is murdered, and misunderstandings make Webb leave- ten years later it's on Ro to bring him back for sake of their sick grandmother Lucinda. And she does. And mysteries unravel.
I LOVED ROANNE. I MEAN LOVED LOVED LOVED. Her quiet intensity, her unending devotion and love, and her ability to bear everything with a stride just stole my heart. I cried every time she had her heart trampled, ridiculed and pushed in- but she never gave up and kept going on. She loved Webb, and stood with it. She will totally go into one of my all time favorite heroines.
Webb on the other hand was initially an ambitious hero, to later a righteous and recovering man.
Going from an angsty widower, to a hero who falls in love- it was lovely to see his character evolving and falling hard.
This book had a heavy dose of angst- which I again LOVED and of murder and betrayal.
What happens that fateful night changes the course of the story, however Roanne and Webb continue to be the center of story.
Side characters like Lucinda, Loyal, etc play their parts well, and you hate and adore in equal parts.
The love making scenes are scorchingly HOT, and worth rereading.
However, this book might annoy some people who might not like
Webb was both Ro's downfall, and rise from ashes. Adore how he pulls her out, and brings her spirit to front again.
Also heavily adore the breeding undertones of the book! I mean..overuse of word penetration but hell yeah!
Wonderful.
5/5
October 8, 2013
There is a reason why this book is getting such a low rating.
It scarred me for life and here I thought I was going to get brain candy.
I cannot even write a rant because I am so distressed.
But because I don't want people to be scarred for life like I was, I will tell you why this book got a horrible rating(this is not a spoiler).
One of the 'couples' in this book are a pair of Father and Daughter but the daughter does die (and I cannot tell you if the father does) so there is that.
When I say couple, yes, I DO mean that the two are banging each other, and not just banging but doing all kinky things you can imagine.
Let me also say she does this because she is turned on by how forbidden their relationship is and yes I do believe she led him on (she talks about how she rubbed her boobs against him and said 'daddy'). She does this to spite her husband who doesn't know she is cheating on him, That he unknowingly sleeps with such a fucked up piece of shit (that's what I am going to call her) makes her incredibly happy.
I just cannot. I really cannot wrap my head around that.
Of course these two fucktards aren't the main couple but I don't care. I really don't. How can anyone expect me to enjoy the story with that going on?
Oh did I mention after the fucked up piece of shit dies, the dad mourns her (not in a fatherly way) and talks about how they killed his beautiful little... (I don't remember, my mind blocked it out, it's preventing me from the Trauma, good mind.).
Yeah that's all I have to say.
It scarred me for life and here I thought I was going to get brain candy.
I cannot even write a rant because I am so distressed.
But because I don't want people to be scarred for life like I was, I will tell you why this book got a horrible rating(this is not a spoiler).
One of the 'couples' in this book are a pair of Father and Daughter but the daughter does die (and I cannot tell you if the father does) so there is that.
When I say couple, yes, I DO mean that the two are banging each other, and not just banging but doing all kinky things you can imagine.
Let me also say she does this because she is turned on by how forbidden their relationship is and yes I do believe she led him on (she talks about how she rubbed her boobs against him and said 'daddy'). She does this to spite her husband who doesn't know she is cheating on him, That he unknowingly sleeps with such a fucked up piece of shit (that's what I am going to call her) makes her incredibly happy.
I just cannot. I really cannot wrap my head around that.
Of course these two fucktards aren't the main couple but I don't care. I really don't. How can anyone expect me to enjoy the story with that going on?
Oh did I mention after the fucked up piece of shit dies, the dad mourns her (not in a fatherly way) and talks about how they killed his beautiful little... (I don't remember, my mind blocked it out, it's preventing me from the Trauma, good mind.).
Yeah that's all I have to say.
March 23, 2020
This was a great book. Roanna Davenport is a great heroine, fierce but innocent and Webb was alpha and sexy. And the sex was hot! I didn't care for the suspense and the murder mystery but the love story between Roanna and Webb was so romantic! Wish there was an epilogue with their baby.
January 2, 2023
CW: SA, incest, ED
10/10 believe this sort of hanky-panky happens in the Deep South upper echelon of society. They totally just fuck each other and drink champagne, methinks. Shades of Twilight was a mindless and plotless erotic fantasy set in the home of a rich Alabama family, the Davenports (obvi.) LOL the home was actually called Davencourt and that is so freaking tacky it's fabulous.
This book was problematic in a number of ways but what really made me uncomfortable was the daddy/daughter incest that happened right smack at the beginning. Wtaf was that lol........... it did tie in to the ending of the book but MY GOD was that crude. Then there was the cousin/cousin sex that happened throughout the rest of the book :/ But also was super hot so I don't know how to feel.
Also, I found that this book glorified anorexia and disordered eating in regards to Ro. It talked about her not eating sooooooooo many times it was like a theme of the book. I understand the 90s were a different time but it wasn't really fun to read about.
Altogether, I enjoyed this book and am glad to have won it in an auction! I would for sure try reading another of her books if I come across one.
3.5 stars rounded down. If you are interested in any of the above, I would recommend. But be mindful of the content!
10/10 believe this sort of hanky-panky happens in the Deep South upper echelon of society. They totally just fuck each other and drink champagne, methinks. Shades of Twilight was a mindless and plotless erotic fantasy set in the home of a rich Alabama family, the Davenports (obvi.) LOL the home was actually called Davencourt and that is so freaking tacky it's fabulous.
This book was problematic in a number of ways but what really made me uncomfortable was the daddy/daughter incest that happened right smack at the beginning. Wtaf was that lol........... it did tie in to the ending of the book but MY GOD was that crude. Then there was the cousin/cousin sex that happened throughout the rest of the book :/ But also was super hot so I don't know how to feel.
Also, I found that this book glorified anorexia and disordered eating in regards to Ro. It talked about her not eating sooooooooo many times it was like a theme of the book. I understand the 90s were a different time but it wasn't really fun to read about.
Altogether, I enjoyed this book and am glad to have won it in an auction! I would for sure try reading another of her books if I come across one.
3.5 stars rounded down. If you are interested in any of the above, I would recommend. But be mindful of the content!
July 26, 2022
I LOVE this book!! I think I imprinted with it as a teen, because no matter how many times I re-read it…it’s always awesome. I stumbled upon this on KU; I don’t recall ever seeing L.H. on KU, but there’s a couple of her classics out there…so enjoy while they’re free.
Shades of Twilight is a gripping tale surrounding the Davenport/Tallant family, it has a little bit of everything: love, hate, infidelity, incest, anorexia, murder, second chance romance, to name a few. There are many secondary characters, but the main focus it on our H and h, Webb and Roanna.
Roanna is fragile yet strong. She’s been terribly mistreated, and neglected by her family, but eventually perseveres into a strong woman.
It took a special kind of strength to endure, to accept what couldn’t be changed and simply hunker down and wait it out.
Webb was probably my first serious book boyfriend. I have many friends that favor Gray from After the Night, but I’ll always be Team Webb. He’s not perfect; he’s a bit of a broody alpha for the first half, but he’s always kind to R. For me, he’s the perfect combo of bossy, sexy, kind, alpha goodness.
"I loved you when you were a snot-nosed kid, into so much mischief it's a wonder my hair didn't turn prematurely gray. I loved you when you were a teenager with long, skinny legs and eyes that broke my heart every time I looked at you. I love you now that you're a woman who makes my brain go soft, my legs go weak, and my dick get hard. When you walk into a room, my heart damn near jumps out of my chest. When you smile, I feel as if I've won a Nobel Prize. And your eyes still break my heart."
The plot takes place over 20ish years, and there’s many highs and lows for the characters. There’s also a murder mystery throughout the last half. Ro and Webb have a beautiful journey to their HEA. I just wish there was an epilogue. This book is from the 90’s and a bit dated, so it has a different feel than modern romances.
Shades of Twilight is a gripping tale surrounding the Davenport/Tallant family, it has a little bit of everything: love, hate, infidelity, incest, anorexia, murder, second chance romance, to name a few. There are many secondary characters, but the main focus it on our H and h, Webb and Roanna.
Roanna is fragile yet strong. She’s been terribly mistreated, and neglected by her family, but eventually perseveres into a strong woman.
It took a special kind of strength to endure, to accept what couldn’t be changed and simply hunker down and wait it out.
Webb was probably my first serious book boyfriend. I have many friends that favor Gray from After the Night, but I’ll always be Team Webb. He’s not perfect; he’s a bit of a broody alpha for the first half, but he’s always kind to R. For me, he’s the perfect combo of bossy, sexy, kind, alpha goodness.
"I loved you when you were a snot-nosed kid, into so much mischief it's a wonder my hair didn't turn prematurely gray. I loved you when you were a teenager with long, skinny legs and eyes that broke my heart every time I looked at you. I love you now that you're a woman who makes my brain go soft, my legs go weak, and my dick get hard. When you walk into a room, my heart damn near jumps out of my chest. When you smile, I feel as if I've won a Nobel Prize. And your eyes still break my heart."
The plot takes place over 20ish years, and there’s many highs and lows for the characters. There’s also a murder mystery throughout the last half. Ro and Webb have a beautiful journey to their HEA. I just wish there was an epilogue. This book is from the 90’s and a bit dated, so it has a different feel than modern romances.
May 6, 2015
Vintage Linda Howard. 'Nuff said.
June 12, 2016
4 stars. I struggled with the first part of the book, but the second half took off.
I would say LH pushed a lot of envelopes with this one. Especially, the ending. I never saw it coming.
I would say LH pushed a lot of envelopes with this one. Especially, the ending. I never saw it coming.
April 23, 2020
Roanna was too doormat for my taste but it was well written, thus 3,5 stars.
February 3, 2022
After a very long time, I picked something from Linda Howard. And, sorry, I didn't find it quite entertaining.
Even if I kept all the taboos aside, I still felt some of the magic was missing.
Even if I kept all the taboos aside, I still felt some of the magic was missing.
April 4, 2016
I am a huge Linda Howard fan but this book confounded me on so many levels.
The first LH where I dint care much for the h, a highly Mary-sued doormat with a my-emotions-are-in-a-deep-freeze excuse.
The first LH where I dint like the H at all as for all the author’s pushing and prodding, his feelings for the h seemed contrived.
The first LH where the H/h dint work as a couple, at least not till the very end.
The first LH where I couldn’t pinpoint the killer too btw!!
Not the first LH thriller with icky characters generally spreading their ickiness. But this one took things too bluidy icky far! Seriously ewwww!!
The revelation of the actual killer was quite a killer. Only the very end was sweet and gladdening. But still 4 stars for the whole family saga and suspense thing.
July 10, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️ three stars -
As per usual with Howard, you get a nicely outlined plot, pretty good suspense drama, and good characterization. This story has a fairly well-thought-out romance with the childhood connection trope, which I’m a sucker for 💗
It did take me more time than usual to get through this one, since I was frustrated with the heroine here. Howard has her drawn like a person that has an emotional delay, and I kept thinking that she was an undiagnosed Aspergerger personality. The heroine’s personality was uncomfortable for me to read, and I was mostly frustrated with her actions, and couldn’t understand how our Hero, Webb, falls in love with her beyond their childhood ties. The words ‘insipid’ and ‘dull’ would be good character descriptors for Roanna.
Besides being socially inept, Roanna is described as someone whose anxiety is so high that she suffers from a sleep disorder; specifically sleepwalking. I deal with people with social anxiety in my personal life, and I have no tolerance to read about mc’s with debilitating anxiety. I’m reading for stress-relief and to escape into a fantasy, not to be annoyed further by fictional characters who have social delays. Roanna triggered me, and it was not fun for this reader to have to be immersed into her crazy.
Other more common triggers abound here, too. You might have seen other reviews here on Goodreads that mention two secondary characters engaging in incestuous sexual relations. Yes, it’s true and the sexual action is described on page between these two characters; and they are a daughter and her biological father.🤮
You also might want to note that this book was originally published in 1996. It’s enjoyed several reprints (hence the updated cover) and you will notice a lot of dated sentiment between the pages here. I was personally confused as to why generations of family were all living together and sponging off the family matriarch with zero contribution toward the family business. Was this a normal living style in the southern US back in the twentieth century? 🤷♀️ I kept picturing the old television show “Dallas”, and there is enough soap opera drama here for the story to earn that comparison.
All in all, it’s a fairly competent story. Howard’s definite skill is showcased here, and she pulls off a signature romantic suspense. It definitely earns its three stars.
Can’t say I would encourage anyone to run out and source a copy, but it was engaging enough for me to finish it.
Three solid stars.
As per usual with Howard, you get a nicely outlined plot, pretty good suspense drama, and good characterization. This story has a fairly well-thought-out romance with the childhood connection trope, which I’m a sucker for 💗
It did take me more time than usual to get through this one, since I was frustrated with the heroine here. Howard has her drawn like a person that has an emotional delay, and I kept thinking that she was an undiagnosed Aspergerger personality. The heroine’s personality was uncomfortable for me to read, and I was mostly frustrated with her actions, and couldn’t understand how our Hero, Webb, falls in love with her beyond their childhood ties. The words ‘insipid’ and ‘dull’ would be good character descriptors for Roanna.
Besides being socially inept, Roanna is described as someone whose anxiety is so high that she suffers from a sleep disorder; specifically sleepwalking. I deal with people with social anxiety in my personal life, and I have no tolerance to read about mc’s with debilitating anxiety. I’m reading for stress-relief and to escape into a fantasy, not to be annoyed further by fictional characters who have social delays. Roanna triggered me, and it was not fun for this reader to have to be immersed into her crazy.
Other more common triggers abound here, too. You might have seen other reviews here on Goodreads that mention two secondary characters engaging in incestuous sexual relations. Yes, it’s true and the sexual action is described on page between these two characters; and they are a daughter and her biological father.🤮
You also might want to note that this book was originally published in 1996. It’s enjoyed several reprints (hence the updated cover) and you will notice a lot of dated sentiment between the pages here. I was personally confused as to why generations of family were all living together and sponging off the family matriarch with zero contribution toward the family business. Was this a normal living style in the southern US back in the twentieth century? 🤷♀️ I kept picturing the old television show “Dallas”, and there is enough soap opera drama here for the story to earn that comparison.
All in all, it’s a fairly competent story. Howard’s definite skill is showcased here, and she pulls off a signature romantic suspense. It definitely earns its three stars.
Can’t say I would encourage anyone to run out and source a copy, but it was engaging enough for me to finish it.
Three solid stars.
March 22, 2009
4.5 stars for this one. I usually am not into the 'family drama' type scenario in books esp. if they have 1/2 a book in the past and 1/2 in the now - BUT this one grabbed me right from the prologue and I had difficulty putting it down (therefore I did so very rarely ;)
I loved Roanna and Webb. The only reason this didn't get a full 5 stars though, was that I think Roanna's love for Webb was at times a bit wimpy. Having said that, I thoroughly enjoyed their interaction. Unlike other reviewers I didn't find Roanna too vulnerable...I think LH portrayed Roanna and her shut-off feelings extremely well. I also like the fact that when Webb came back on the scene, there was no magic wand and Roanna was all better. I LIKED the fragility of Roanna and I thought Webb's growing realisation of his real feelings for her were fantastic. And of course the sex was hot, hot, hot!
Yes there were some seriously uncomfortable moments in the book with some of the subject matter, however, this in fact added to the book not subtracted from it.
This was a stand out for me. HIghly recommended to everyone. (But if you like your heroines kick-ass this might not be for you even though Roanna was a kick-ass in her own way)
I loved Roanna and Webb. The only reason this didn't get a full 5 stars though, was that I think Roanna's love for Webb was at times a bit wimpy. Having said that, I thoroughly enjoyed their interaction. Unlike other reviewers I didn't find Roanna too vulnerable...I think LH portrayed Roanna and her shut-off feelings extremely well. I also like the fact that when Webb came back on the scene, there was no magic wand and Roanna was all better. I LIKED the fragility of Roanna and I thought Webb's growing realisation of his real feelings for her were fantastic. And of course the sex was hot, hot, hot!
Yes there were some seriously uncomfortable moments in the book with some of the subject matter, however, this in fact added to the book not subtracted from it.
This was a stand out for me. HIghly recommended to everyone. (But if you like your heroines kick-ass this might not be for you even though Roanna was a kick-ass in her own way)
December 14, 2025
Alabama Alabama'd a bit too hard...
I feel like I'm being stereotypical, but I didn't write this, an American author did... and her characters were Alabaming as if laws (of man and nature) didn't apply to them.
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
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I feel like I'm being stereotypical, but I didn't write this, an American author did... and her characters were Alabaming as if laws (of man and nature) didn't apply to them.
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
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January 6, 2016
Me ha mantenido intrigada hasta el final que, por supuesto, no me esperaba.
March 8, 2024
Reading this feels like Linda Howards personal book version of "Peyton Place".....sordid and scandalous it definitely is and I absolutely loved it! A great read.
There are some extremely taboo secrets in here for sure and it is also a progressive storyline where the main characters have known each other since childhood but it is mainly set in the present with the opening chapters set 10 years previously. It is a romantic suspense, no surprise there...with a little unexpected twist at the end. The evolving relationship between Webb and Roanna was the highlight of the story in my opinion
I was so happy to pick this up in a kindle sale....this author never disappoints for me... no matter whether it is a newer or older release from Ms. Howard ...and this book fits in the vintage category.
There are some extremely taboo secrets in here for sure and it is also a progressive storyline where the main characters have known each other since childhood but it is mainly set in the present with the opening chapters set 10 years previously. It is a romantic suspense, no surprise there...with a little unexpected twist at the end. The evolving relationship between Webb and Roanna was the highlight of the story in my opinion
I was so happy to pick this up in a kindle sale....this author never disappoints for me... no matter whether it is a newer or older release from Ms. Howard ...and this book fits in the vintage category.
March 4, 2014
This was an amazing book! More than a romance novel, it's a literary work that celebrates the American south and shows its darker side with all the sizzling intensity of Tennessee Williams.
Roanna Davenport is the most original heroine I've ever seen in a contemporary romance novel. So often in reviews we say someone (usually the hero) is "wild." And people just use "wild" to mean vibrant, sexy, passionate, whatever. But what makes Roanna so heartbreaking and original is that she really is . . . wild. As in a helpless wild creature that's abandoned by its parents, more like an animal than a person in many ways. Roanna has no real feelings of trust towards any of the wealthy people who take her in and give her a home. She's almost like a different species from them.
The only person who can reach her is Webb. And Webb is like a young prince, a southern equivalent of the favored heir to a dukedom. How he makes time for this wild, tormented young girl is so touching, and when a vicious, scheming, unforgettably evil vixen comes between them it doesn't seem fake at all. It seems incredibly real and heartbreaking.
Webb is such an amazing hero. Not because he's strong and handsome and rich. And not because he turns his back on his Alabama wealth and makes even more money as a rancher. And certainly not because he "hunts down rustlers single-handed." (Puh-leeze!) What makes him special is that when he returns home and sees the shy, cultivated, isolated young woman Roanna has become, he's determined to bring her out of her shell. To make her smile. To bring laughter back into her life. How many romance novels have you read where the hero literally counts the times he can make the heroine smile? I found that so inspiring and so romantic.
Sophie on Goodreads recommended this book to me, and all I have to say is thank you, thank you, thank you!
Roanna Davenport is the most original heroine I've ever seen in a contemporary romance novel. So often in reviews we say someone (usually the hero) is "wild." And people just use "wild" to mean vibrant, sexy, passionate, whatever. But what makes Roanna so heartbreaking and original is that she really is . . . wild. As in a helpless wild creature that's abandoned by its parents, more like an animal than a person in many ways. Roanna has no real feelings of trust towards any of the wealthy people who take her in and give her a home. She's almost like a different species from them.
The only person who can reach her is Webb. And Webb is like a young prince, a southern equivalent of the favored heir to a dukedom. How he makes time for this wild, tormented young girl is so touching, and when a vicious, scheming, unforgettably evil vixen comes between them it doesn't seem fake at all. It seems incredibly real and heartbreaking.
Webb is such an amazing hero. Not because he's strong and handsome and rich. And not because he turns his back on his Alabama wealth and makes even more money as a rancher. And certainly not because he "hunts down rustlers single-handed." (Puh-leeze!) What makes him special is that when he returns home and sees the shy, cultivated, isolated young woman Roanna has become, he's determined to bring her out of her shell. To make her smile. To bring laughter back into her life. How many romance novels have you read where the hero literally counts the times he can make the heroine smile? I found that so inspiring and so romantic.
Sophie on Goodreads recommended this book to me, and all I have to say is thank you, thank you, thank you!
January 28, 2014
*** 4Woof Stars***
Roanna and Jessie are cousins. After losing their parents they both moved into Davencourt, their grandmother's mansion. Roanna is the black sheep of the family - she’s clumsy, outspoken and troublesome. Jessie is beautiful, snobby and bratty.
Webb has lived in the mansion with his mother since the death of his father and is set to inherit the Davenport and part of that deal is marrying Jessie. Roanne has been in love with Webb all of her life.
Shades Of Twilight is good suspenseful romance with loads of sexual tension. There were some disturbing scenes and details that had an icky factor – but if you can overlook them, it’s a great read.
I’m a massive fan of Linda Howard’s work!
Writing: 4/5
Character development: Moderate
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Suspense
Sensuality: Medium- Hot
Ending: No Cliffhanger
Recommend? : Yes
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Book Rating: * 4 Stars*
October 17, 2013
I originally read this about 9 years ago when I first found Linda Howard but by now didn't really remember how I felt about it - turns out it's a pretty good story that kept me entertained and even made me cry. There are a few aspects I could have done without - the cousins are a little closer in the family tree than I would like for the leads to be and the graphic descriptions of the taboo relationship with the one character and another person.
Overall, a good story with the old Linda Howard mastery of bringing her interesting characters and world to life.
Overall, a good story with the old Linda Howard mastery of bringing her interesting characters and world to life.
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