Jamie

Visitation, North Carolina #5

by Lori Foster

Carrying a naked woman up a mountain in a driving storm - now there's a way for a man to start the day. But for Jamie, the unconscious redhead in his arms is an intruder, one who could bring harm. He has his reasons for hiding out in this mountain cabin; for keeping his emotions hidden; for never, ever getting too close to anyone. And he's not about to stop now.

Before she passed out in his bed, she said her name was Faith - an appropriate name since he has to take her at her word. Who is she? Why is she here? Who sent her? And what is she doing to him? Jamie's used to feelings of wariness, isolation, of being on guard. What he's not used to is this dangerous, nearly uncontrollable new emotion raging through him.

Jamie wants Faith, as a man wants a woman...and it may already be too late to turn back...

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Paranormal, Adult, Fiction, Romantic Suspense

480 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2005

About the author

Since first publishing in January 1996, Lori Foster has become a USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and New York Times bestselling author. Lori has published through a variety of houses, including Kensington, St. Martin’s, Harlequin, Silhouette, Samhain, and Berkley/Jove. She is currently published with HQN.

Lori hosts a very special annual “Reader & Author” event in West Chester, Ohio. Proceeds from the event have benefited many worthy causes, including the Hamilton County YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter, the Animal Adoption Foundation, The Conductive Learning Center for children with spina bifida and cerebral palsy, and The One Way Farm, Children’s Home.

Each year Lori donates all proceeds from one book to charity. You can see the benefit romance books here: http://lorifoster.com/benefit-books/

Career Highlights
•In 2001, Lori received the prestigious Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award” for Series Romantic Fantasy.

•In 2002, Lori’s book Too Much Temptation was the top-selling romance title for Amazon books.

•In 2003, Say No To Joe was the second “Bestselling Original Contemporary” romance title for Waldenbooks.

•In 2004, Lori Foster was a clue in the New York Times crossword puzzle.

•In 2004, The Secret Life of Bryan was the “Bestselling Original Contemporary” romance title for the BGI group.

•In 2005, Lori received the prestigious Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award” for Contemporary Romance.

•In 2006, Jude’s Law was the “Bestselling Romantic Comedy” romance title for the BGI group.

•In 2007, Lori launched a new “urban fantasy” series under the name L.L. Foster. See more on her “dark side” at www.llfoster.com.

•In 2007, Causing Havoc was among Amazon’s Top Ten Editor’s picks in Romance.

•In 2008, Hard to Handle made #2 on The New York Times.

•In 2009, Servant: The Acceptance was Amazon’s #1 Editors’ Pick in Romance.

•In 2010, Lori was a clue in the USA Today Quick Cross puzzle.

Reviews

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all the book in the Visitation, NC series in order. I highly recommend that you do it that way. They are not very good as standalones because all the characters carry from one book to the next. Much more enjoyable when read in order. I loved all of them and Jamie just completes the story.

Jamie is a mysterious hermit living on the mountain in Visitation, NC who has been in all the books. He shows up issues a dire prediction and then disappears again. The group of friends from these books have come to accept him and care for him. From the previous books, you just know that Jamie is special and that something bad happened in his past. Clint is heading up Jamie's mountain to ask him to attend his and Julie's wedding. The storm is getting pretty bad, but when Clint spots Jamie carrying a nude woman he decides to head back and talk to the others.

Faith is looking for Jamie to help with her daughter, Cory. Faith is from Jamie's past and knows everything about the time he spent at the Institute and what happened to him there. Jamie was kept in isolation and didn't know Faith was there. Jamie is very paranoid about that time in his life and wants to never be found by those people, ever. He is real suspicious of Faith, especially because she can block him. But, Faith has always loved Jamie and her love wins him over. It also proves to Jamie that caring for people does not inhibit his gifts. There is someone out to use Jamie, Cory and Faith and Jamie needs to protect them.

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I read this before the others it wasn't as mixed up to me as one would think. Totally different than other LF novels I have read. I like paranormal romances so I enjoyed that part. I guess I'm used to more action than was in this book...I also figured how the "Big Secret" halfway through :)

[Jim son of Jim (formerly PhotoJim) · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I am glad we finally got Jamie's story, I'm more than a little frustrated with this story. I don't usually put spoilers in my reviews but I'd like to put a voice to some of my dissatisfaction and I can't quite do that without discussing specific points. First let me say that as usual Lori Foster has written a quick moving book that is enjoyable to read. I like most of the dialog and I like the overall story arc. But there are a few of things that just bug the hell out of me about this one.

1. Let's start with Faith. Faith has been madly in love with Jamie since she was observing him at the institute. And yet Jamie, who knows everything and can read anyone, never saw her or knew anything about her? I'm not buying it.

How about Faith being a virgin? Um... she sure doesn't act like a virgin. She basically offers herself on a platter again and again until Jamie can't resist any longer. All because her eight year old daughter told her Jamie would like her? "Mom, drive someplace, abandon your vehicle, hitchhike, climb a mountain in the rain, and when a hostile stranger strips you, tries to throw you out, and violates you - I want you to have sex with him." "Sure thing honey. I guess I'll be off then." Does Faith always do everything that her eight year old daughter tells her to do? Then when she does have sex, and quite a bit of it at that, she holds the strangest conversation in the whole book. 'You didn't use a rubber.' 'Nope.' 'It's OK. I can't get pregnant.' 'I know.' And then this is not explained or referenced ever again. She has no scars indicating any type of surgery. She has no sexual history to explain why her fertility would be checked. Do we get an explanation? No. We get, "Don't worry. I won't get pregnant. I can't." "I know." End of conversation.

How about Faith's history? How exactly did she end up with the baby? This bitch who was so cold hearted that she would whore herself to her lover by having unprotected sex with a prisoner for the sake of experimentation would allow for a pregnancy to go to term and then give the baby to an employee that quit? Not buying that either. And yet not only does she end up with the kid, but with the only copy of Jamie's research records? Is this making sense to anyone else?

2. Let's talk about the second most important female character in the book, Alyx Winston. This is 'little miss I'm going to trust Jamie about everything he tells me except when it comes to my own relationships' we are talking about. She is only in town to visit for a day or so when she sees a stranger in town and decides to follow her. She sees the stranger dress in costume and beat a man with a stick. She doesn't step in to help. She doesn't report it to her deputy lover. Instead she steals the abused man's dog. Alyx happens to show up the second time that this visiting woman beats the crap out of a local resident. Again Alyx doesn't help. She doesn't offer to call the police. She stays close enough to eavesdrop and leaves. Why Scott would possibly want to get with such a cold and deceitful woman is beyond me. Most frustrating character in the book hands down.

3. The many other plot holes and problems. There were just so many little things that drove me nuts. How does Jamie get electricity to his remote mountain cabin? As soon as Jamie saw Corey in person he knew she was his daughter. I suppose people look differently than when you see them through other people's eyes or when you have face to face psychic link visions. Everyone shows up along a stretch of remote mountain road and doesn't notice the Porsche parked off to the side so the bad guys can sneak up on them? I just don't buy any of it.


So overall I'm glad that the Visitation NC series is brought to a close. I liked the overall story arc. I liked most of the characters. I liked a lot of the dialog. But as for pot and consistency, this one was a real mess. I would have given two stars but I really did like it despite myself.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really like Lori Foster's writing but this story wasn't for me. I couldn't even finish it.

I think it's because it's about psychic stuff and I wasn't expecting that type of storyline.

I really enjoy all her men of honor books and undercover books and stuff like that...but this was more like it was meant to be romantic suspense but didn't hit the mark. The "romance" struck me as absurd. It reminded me of the Colter book from Maya Banks which is another one I found completely absurd from the start.
Although to be fair Maya Bank's book is really awful...this one is just not to my taste. I can imagine some people might like it.

Oh well can't love 'em all.

[Jacqueline J · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm downgrading my review on this one. It just didn't hold up well on a second reading. It was okay but the plot seemed pretty ludicrous to me and I wonder how I swallowed it so easily the first time around. I've read a lot of Lori Foster but this is my first reread. Maybe I shouldn't give any more of the ones which I enjoyed a second try. Maybe I should just leave them alone as happy memories.

[Sydney M Neblett · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you know you know

I absolutely loved this story! It’s a subtle PNR with a contemporary fee, and it just enhanced the experience. The characters were realistic and so well developed I was just waiting for them to step out of the pages with their sage wisdom. This author is a pro when it comes to emotional angst and the struggles it brings to relationships. I loved getting to watch both of these couples struggle through to their HEA. The storyline seemed straightforward at first, but then were these occasional side characters that muddled the water and misdirected the outcome of each event. It was fantastic getting to see more of my favorite couples, and now there are at least two more stories that I really hope the author takes the time to tell. This book was the perfect story to tell Jamie’s tale and I just know I will be reading it again sometime.

[Nuala Giblin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic finale to a great series

I have loved all the books in the Visitation series but this one focussed on Jamie brings it to a beautiful close.

[Maura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jamie, the psychic hermit in Visitation, NC finally gets his book. At the end of the last book he's spotted toting a naked woman up to his mountain cabin in a hellacious storm and everyone down on level ground is rearing and ready to find out to but into his business and find out what that was all about. But they have to wait out the storm, and in the meantime, Jamie has to deal with Faith, the woman who claims to know him from his past and wants his help, but refuses to tell him how or why or give him any other details. And even more frustrating, she can block her thoughts if she focuses. Faith has one mission - to make Jamie care, then and only then can she tell him why she's there. She has no problem getting Jamie's lust, but to make him care, she has to earn her trust, and her determination to shut him out of her mind to hide her secrets sets them at cross purposes. But Jamie can feel a threat surmounting and the longer he spends with Faith the more important it is to him to protect her.

So, for all the build up to finally get to Jamie's story, it was a bit of a let down. I still find Jamie an absolutely delightful character with the perfect amount of mystery and tortured hero syndrome, but his story left a lot to be desired. Okay, his backstory is okay, but I'd expected a bit more I guess. And his ability to read Faith's mind seemed extremely inconsistent. I'd think that the moment she got drunk he'd just be able to delve in and find out everything he needed to know, but evidently he has unnecessary restraint. No need to be noble at that point when he'd already stuck his fingers in her to find out if she was bugged. So basically it's the two of them in his cabin with some people coming in and out to throw in some interaction, but it's the same old deal - he wants to know what she wants and she wants to get in his pants before she'll tell him. And even their sex together seems like he's being cruel to her. It felt really off. And then there's the whole Cory thing...no doubt who she is. And the threat feels all vague and undetermined. Even at the end while they're wrapping it all up, I still wasn't sure exactly what the villain really wanted...other than fame and notoriety, but does that require killing people? It seemed so convoluted.

And for such a big draw as Jamie and with as much build up as his story was getting in the series, I'm honestly surprised that we had a secondary romance with Scott and Alyx. It was almost an equal side-romance, which just goes to show you that Jamie and Faith's story wasn't strong enough to carry the book on its own. I almost actually enjoyed Scott and Alyx more - I find them quite annoying, but there was some angsty feels going on in there story that Jamie and Faith were missing. So definitely a disappointment given all the build up, but still a decent enough story in its own right. Jamie is still my favorite character of the series, but I wish his romance had been a bit more (and without him having to clean up and become a townie to get his HEA).

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story between a future-seeing mountain man and a well intentioned, determined woman caught my interest and exceeded my expectations. Jamie, a ruggedly sexy eccentric hero, at first seems to be a lonely hermit with serious trust issues. As the story progresses, he continues to keep his guard up when he meets and cohabits with Faith, the heroine who is set on winning his heart. Despite his best efforts to keep his guard up, Faith causes him to slowly lower it as she gradually wins his trust. Faith was on a mission to keep Jamie safe and win his heart. Unlike so many others, she can block Jamie from reading her thoughts, and it's a good thing too, because she cannot share the truth with him until the time is right. Faith is relentless on her mission, and Jamie cannot resist the tempting curves of her body anymore. They give to each other as well as take from each other, and in their earth-shattering passion, the truth sets them both free. Jamie realizes he can trust and have relationships and Faith realizes she must finally share her deepest secrets with him. This story was a unique story of love and trust, and is one of my favorite books.

[TheFlair4thedramatic . · Rating 1 out of 5]

The heroine, Faith was just very, very unlikable.
1. You don't try to find a man living in isolation by yourself and come onto him just because an 8- year old psychic told you to.

2. You also don't do this in a raging storm with a fever and when it's getting dark.

3. You also don't refuse to tell the man -who's got a good reason to be wary of strangers - why you tracked him to his isolated hideaway -"for his own good". You don't keep doing this in a way that makes a reader want to jump into your life and strangle you to put everyone out of their misery.

4. You also don't witness someone being held captive and do nothing day in and day - other than develop a crush on them as you witness their miser through a camera. (If you were concerned with your family's safety to directly get involved, an anonymous tip is the least you could've done!)

My number one reason for giving it one star was: NO CHEMISTRY!
I could maybe bear with a TSTL heroine if there was anything resembling some chemistry between H and h. It's the least I expect in a romance novel and definitely found this one lacking.

[Siela · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Visitation, NC series (or any Lori Foster novels that I’ve read, for that matter) are filled with beautiful, sexy, and independent women. While the men are smart, macho, tough guys – yet gentle and caring.

And I think what really makes her books so popular and well-loved is that she comes up with all these likeably perfect characters. And that's pretty hard to do.

It is safe to say, I suppose, that Jamie is my favorite book in all the series. Only because it has Scott Royal and Alyx Winston's storyline in it. Though I was hoping there would be an actual book involving them, Lori Foster certainly didn't disappoint with the few chapters she'd written about the two.

An easy read and great 'ol fluff book. 4 stars.

[Erinw · Rating 1 out of 5]

Usually I enjoy Lori Foster's stories, but I didn't enjoy this one. Jamie is a man who can read people's minds and see the future. Faith comes to find him because he is the only person who can help her with a secret. Both Jamie and Faith were unlikeable and unbelievable characters. It was annoying that a lot of backstory from earlier books came up. I figured out the secret early in the book but Jamie was not smart enough to figure it out until the last second. Too much in this book made me frown in annoyance.

Everything I have read by Lori Foster has been better than this. I suggest you try her other books.

[Daelith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm beginning to feel like a book grouch since I'm not overly impressed with much I've been reading lately. Not sure what the problem is. But, dang 147 pages of cabin scene nearly did me in.

"Why are you here, Faith?"
"I can't tell you, Jamie. Not yet. Please just trust me."

We went through this more times than I can count. There is only so much of that type conversations I can take.

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really a stand alone at all; this is very much part of a series. A series I've not read any other books in. And that made this less enjoyable. I liked the MCs and their story, but I didn't care for any of the other stuff. It was annoying when there'd be pages & pages of these story lines from other books. Not the books fault, my fault. But still.

[Rachel Cron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Lori's writing is smooth and easy to absorb. The story is very sweet, sexy, intriging and will keep you turning the pages. I found myself really rooting for the couple in the book.

[Bonnie Stinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

YES!!!!!!! Finally he has his own book and we understand!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Besides that, he's a great character and this book will stand on it's own as his life story unfurls. (With the requisite happily ever after.

[Kissa]

I've been wanting to try out this author for a while now. I found this book at the thrift store so this is my chance.

[Betsy · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF...just couldn't get in to it or like it

[Kimberly Garner · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all time favorite stories by Lori Foster.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was nice to see Jamie as more of an alpha man instead of a mystery man. I liked how Faith could block his thoughts. I think it was easy to figure out how Cory was related especially after Jamie was skeptical about Faith being her mother. It seemed at times the author was just trying to make the story longer instead of acknowledging the information about Jamie’s past. It was fun to see all the other characters and speculation of the future. I really enjoyed this series and glad I listened to it.

[Renee Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book and this series. In Visitation North Carolina, everyone looks out for everyone, and although Jamie doesn’t like others looking out for him, he definitely looks out them. You see, Jamie has a special gift, and it aids in keeping people safe. But Jamie is a loner, and needs to be a recluse. When he finds a woman on his mountain, he already knows she is trouble. But she carries a secret that Jamie needs to know about or else people will suffer. I love Jamie and Faith’s story. The past becomes the present and brings surprises along with it

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was skeptical when I realized just how much focus this book would have on parapsychological abilities but I was pleasantly surprised. I don't tend to like magic in my contemporary romance, but this was played as "Jamie's abilities got him trapped in a crappy situation and now he's out and doesn't ever want to go back". So, it was more about the fallout from the abilities than the abilities themselves - except when they were required to move a plot along, and the scene of him pointing out a particularly stupid move of Scott's was especially entertaining.

[Christine Jalili · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic series.

I loved this book and have re read this series several times. So happy to finally get Jamie’s story. Loved how quickly he falls for Faith and that she’s able to block some of her thoughts. Loved getting updates on characters and that there’s more than one romance in this story. They do get a happy ever after and loved the idea of two more romances we need from this epilogue. I highly recommend this book.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have been reading the Visitation series you know who Jamie is and what he is capable of. But even he did not see all that happens to him in the book coming. Who knew under all that facial hair and absent stare their was a different Jamie.

When trouble comes to Visitation all the men (and women) that Jamie has let in are front and center. Heart warming and a nice read.

[Gaye Truesdell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love and mystery

Another great story that draws you in from page one. Also loved the b paranormal aspect and that ms Foster didn’t allow that aspect to overshadow her wonderful characters

[Callie Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the entire Visitation, North Carolina series. From the mountain & lake setting to the fun, likable, and sexy characters.

[Susan Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very steamy book. I strongly suggest reading the others in the series first. I felt like I was missing something through the whole book, not knowing it was a series.

[Tia Lappe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly captivating. I liked getting two romances in one book.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

3+ stars

[Nibrock · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting romance between Jamie & Faith. Good to see Alyx and Scott work things out. A bit of magic involved. Lots of loose ends (from the series) tied up.