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Soft Focus
Elizabeth Cabot is all business. She knows how to maximize her investments and cut her losses--in both her career and her personal life.
So when she discovers that Jack Fairfax has deceived her, she's determined to end their relationship. Putting a stop to their budding romance is easy. But breaking up their business deal will be more difficult. Despite all her efforts, she has no luck disentangling herself from Jack's client company, Excalibur. But the situation becomes even more strained when a new obstacle a lethal act of sabotage that could put both of them out of business for good.
Elizabeth is no fool. If she can help Jack save Excalibur, she'll recoup her substantial investment plus millions in profit. Putting her emotions aside, she insists on helping him search for the scientist who's disappeared with a valuable new crystal that could revolutionize the high-tech industry. She'll go in, solve the problem--and get out.
The trail leads Elizabeth and Jack to a fringe film festival, but their goal is as elusive as the shadowy black-and-white images from classic noir films. Life starts to imitate art, and double-dealing seems to be the name of the game. For these business adversaries turned reluctant partners, keeping an eye on each other--and the lid on a sizzling attraction--seems the only insurance against further treachery. But with millions at stake, trust can turn to betrayal in the blink of an eye.
So when she discovers that Jack Fairfax has deceived her, she's determined to end their relationship. Putting a stop to their budding romance is easy. But breaking up their business deal will be more difficult. Despite all her efforts, she has no luck disentangling herself from Jack's client company, Excalibur. But the situation becomes even more strained when a new obstacle a lethal act of sabotage that could put both of them out of business for good.
Elizabeth is no fool. If she can help Jack save Excalibur, she'll recoup her substantial investment plus millions in profit. Putting her emotions aside, she insists on helping him search for the scientist who's disappeared with a valuable new crystal that could revolutionize the high-tech industry. She'll go in, solve the problem--and get out.
The trail leads Elizabeth and Jack to a fringe film festival, but their goal is as elusive as the shadowy black-and-white images from classic noir films. Life starts to imitate art, and double-dealing seems to be the name of the game. For these business adversaries turned reluctant partners, keeping an eye on each other--and the lid on a sizzling attraction--seems the only insurance against further treachery. But with millions at stake, trust can turn to betrayal in the blink of an eye.
Paperback
First published December 1, 1999
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About the author
Jayne Ann Krentz
398 books7,189 followersThe author of over 50 consecutive New York Times bestsellers, JAYNE ANN KRENTZ writes romantic-suspense in three different worlds: Contemporary (as Jayne Ann Krentz), historical (as Amanda Quick) and futuristic (as Jayne Castle). There are over 30 million copies of her books in print.
She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries.
She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
January 10, 2014
Since this is the newest of my recently acquired Krentz stash, I saved it for last. Unfortunately, as it turns out to be my least favorite of the group. While good enough as a romance, the story had some real weaknesses that interfered with my ability to simply enjoy.
First, and most significant (to me), it jumped perspective all over the place. With romance, as a genre, you expect to jump pretty freely between the two main protagonists. But this novel jumped into random people (mostly bad guys) at the start of some chapters and I found that off-putting. Worse, it always delayed identifying whose head you were in for as long as possible--sometimes all the way to the end of that section. This was not so much manipulative as it was gamey and pushed me out of the narrative almost immediately.
Second, the relationship starts in the hole with Elizabeth and Jack having already had an unsatisfactory... uh... liaison. And then fighting about it. In public. This reflects poorly on both and lost a lot of my sympathy right up front.
Finally, neither lead really appealed to me at all. Jack was wishy-washy, at turns needy and cocky without any clear reason for shifting. Further, he sure flails around a lot for somebody who supposedly trained in martial arts since he was 8. Of the handful of physical confrontations present, he didn't come out on top in a single one. Embarrassing. And Elizabeth was awful easy for someone supposedly in charge of approving angel funding for small businesses--including being consistently conciliatory towards Jack.
An engaging story might have made up for these weaknesses, and this story was serviceable. But only just.
In all, I was never tempted to put the book down and it's on the low side for three stars, but it wasn't so bad that I want to drop it down to two. Call it a 2.5 with favorable rounding.
A note about Steamy: Possibly the only aspect of the novel that worked, and about the only thing the leads managed to get more or less right. On the average side (a couple explicit scenes of moderate to short length). Though it never was satisfactorily explained what went wrong their first time, I find I didn't really care...
First, and most significant (to me), it jumped perspective all over the place. With romance, as a genre, you expect to jump pretty freely between the two main protagonists. But this novel jumped into random people (mostly bad guys) at the start of some chapters and I found that off-putting. Worse, it always delayed identifying whose head you were in for as long as possible--sometimes all the way to the end of that section. This was not so much manipulative as it was gamey and pushed me out of the narrative almost immediately.
Second, the relationship starts in the hole with Elizabeth and Jack having already had an unsatisfactory... uh... liaison. And then fighting about it. In public. This reflects poorly on both and lost a lot of my sympathy right up front.
Finally, neither lead really appealed to me at all. Jack was wishy-washy, at turns needy and cocky without any clear reason for shifting. Further, he sure flails around a lot for somebody who supposedly trained in martial arts since he was 8. Of the handful of physical confrontations present, he didn't come out on top in a single one. Embarrassing. And Elizabeth was awful easy for someone supposedly in charge of approving angel funding for small businesses--including being consistently conciliatory towards Jack.
An engaging story might have made up for these weaknesses, and this story was serviceable. But only just.
In all, I was never tempted to put the book down and it's on the low side for three stars, but it wasn't so bad that I want to drop it down to two. Call it a 2.5 with favorable rounding.
A note about Steamy: Possibly the only aspect of the novel that worked, and about the only thing the leads managed to get more or less right. On the average side (a couple explicit scenes of moderate to short length). Though it never was satisfactorily explained what went wrong their first time, I find I didn't really care...
February 5, 2015
Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick ,acesta a fost primul detaliu care m-a atras atunci cand am cumparat cartea.
De obicei cartile historical-romance scrise de ea mi-au cam placut,si am fost tare curioasa sa citesc si altceva ,asa ca am zis de ce nu ?
Din descrierea cartii am inteles ca este o carte de actiune,si chiar am fost intrigata datorita relatiei de rivalitate dintre cele doua personaje principale,dar realitatea este alta atunci cand incepi citirea propriuzisa a cartii.
Chiar mi-a placut prima jumatate a acestei carti.Personajele sunt destul de interesante,relatia dintre Elizabeth Cabot si Jack Fairfax este una interesanta,iar faptul ca intriga este asigurata de furtul unei inventii de ultima generatie a facut ca aceasta carte sa fie si mai interesanta.
Spectaculozitatea se pierde undeva pe la jumatatea cartii,si spun cu regret ca este inlocuita cu plictiseala .
Am ramas cu impresia ca autoarea s-a pierdut in detalii,si aparitia atator personaje inutile au facut cartea si mai neinteresanta.
Nici finalul nu este unul placut,si spun cu regret ca nu pot acorda mai mult de 3 stele acestei carti.
Pacat ,pentru ca inceputul cartii este unul promitataor.
De obicei cartile historical-romance scrise de ea mi-au cam placut,si am fost tare curioasa sa citesc si altceva ,asa ca am zis de ce nu ?
Din descrierea cartii am inteles ca este o carte de actiune,si chiar am fost intrigata datorita relatiei de rivalitate dintre cele doua personaje principale,dar realitatea este alta atunci cand incepi citirea propriuzisa a cartii.
Chiar mi-a placut prima jumatate a acestei carti.Personajele sunt destul de interesante,relatia dintre Elizabeth Cabot si Jack Fairfax este una interesanta,iar faptul ca intriga este asigurata de furtul unei inventii de ultima generatie a facut ca aceasta carte sa fie si mai interesanta.
Spectaculozitatea se pierde undeva pe la jumatatea cartii,si spun cu regret ca este inlocuita cu plictiseala .
Am ramas cu impresia ca autoarea s-a pierdut in detalii,si aparitia atator personaje inutile au facut cartea si mai neinteresanta.
Nici finalul nu este unul placut,si spun cu regret ca nu pot acorda mai mult de 3 stele acestei carti.
Pacat ,pentru ca inceputul cartii este unul promitataor.
January 6, 2021
*3+ Stars*
I liked the story in this book and the characters, but it never really grabbed my attention. It was too easy to put down and walk away. I generally have enjoyed JAK's books under all pseudonyms though, so more than willing to read more by her. I did get more invested as I neared the end of the book, so that was good.
I listened to the audio with Dick Hill and Susie Breck narrating and enjoyed it.
I liked the story in this book and the characters, but it never really grabbed my attention. It was too easy to put down and walk away. I generally have enjoyed JAK's books under all pseudonyms though, so more than willing to read more by her. I did get more invested as I neared the end of the book, so that was good.
I listened to the audio with Dick Hill and Susie Breck narrating and enjoyed it.
October 31, 2023
3.5 stars
Yeah! That's what a romantic thriller should be. Minimum of lust and sex. Lots of characters' interactions and punchy dialogs. Emotional depth and an intricate relationship dance. Complicated search for the villains. And the protagonists' motivations are personal. They are not trying to save the world, for Pete's sake. Instead, as it might happen in real life, they are trying to save one small company, with their respective careers on the line. Nothing more, but nothing less.
I enjoyed this story and I enjoyed the protagonists. The book was exquisitely written too and plotted by a master. What more could one wish from a romance novel?
It was a re-read, of course. I first read it years ago, and enjoyed it then as well.
Yeah! That's what a romantic thriller should be. Minimum of lust and sex. Lots of characters' interactions and punchy dialogs. Emotional depth and an intricate relationship dance. Complicated search for the villains. And the protagonists' motivations are personal. They are not trying to save the world, for Pete's sake. Instead, as it might happen in real life, they are trying to save one small company, with their respective careers on the line. Nothing more, but nothing less.
I enjoyed this story and I enjoyed the protagonists. The book was exquisitely written too and plotted by a master. What more could one wish from a romance novel?
It was a re-read, of course. I first read it years ago, and enjoyed it then as well.
November 28, 2022
Excellent audiobook, overly melodramatic novel
Elizabeth Cabot is the CEO of a charitable fund which she inherited from her wealthy aunt. Its main purpose is to invest in small, privately held, family firms. Jack Fairfax is a wealthy venture capitalist whose company specializes in salvaging troubled, small, privately held, family firms by providing leadership and training. Elizabeth and Jack have signed a contract to work together to bring the struggling family firm, Excalibur, out of the red and firmly into the black. Its biggest hope for success is through some breakthrough IT technology that utilizes a special type of crystal. The name of the prototype for that crystal is the titular Soft Focus.
Just prior to signing their joint Excalibur contract, Elizabeth and Jack had been dating for several weeks and falling hard for each other. In the opening scene of the book, we learn from Jack’s thoughts that the two of them had just had their first night of (offstage) sex, and he is disappointed that it was clearly a non-orgasmic event for Elizabeth. Worse, she did not even act like she was disappointed at that oversight, as if she expected nothing more than mild pleasure from sex with any man, including Jack. He is not satisfied with that outcome, and is determined to give it a try again with Elizabeth ASAP and do his darnedest to bring her to completion this time. But before he gets the chance to fulfill that laudable ambition, Elizabeth stages a very public scene with him in a restaurant where all the movers and shakers of Seattle congregate. She has just been informed by Jack’s half-brother—who loathes Jack, and is on a vendetta against him for 75% of this book—that Jack destroyed a small family firm owned by a personal friend of Elizabeth a few years ago. Though Elizabeth has no idea what Jack’s motivation was for his professionally out-of-character actions, she loudly informs him that he is the scum of the earth for his behavior. Jack responds that it was just business and adds the totally unnecessary putdown that she is an Ice Princess—obnoxiously blaming his inability to get her off in bed on her being frigid, even though he doesn’t really believe that. Naturally enough, that sexist insult enrages Elizabeth even more, and she yells that she is going to break their contract. Jack states that this is legally impossible, and she is stuck with him for the foreseeable future. Elizabeth responds by dumping a pitcher of ice water over his head and stomping out of the restaurant.
After that catastrophic implosion of their budding romance, both of them spend the next six months entirely celibate, not even dating anyone else, and Elizabeth shocks Jack’s expectations in her treatment of him when they see each other in person. Rather than vindictively obstructing him by every means possible at the monthly board meetings for Excalibur, she has been consistently backing him up when other members of the board attack him. However, other than those business encounters, they have had nothing to do with each other, until the day that the lab at Excalibur is trashed, and the chief scientist, who has been almost entirely responsible for developing Soft Focus, disappears with the only copy of its prototype. It is immediately clear to both Elizabeth and Jack that, if Soft Focus is not recovered within a matter of days, before a big meeting with some major investors in the company, disaster will ensue. The company will go bankrupt, Elizabeth will lose her fund’s investment in Excalibur, and Jack’s professional reputation as a corporate fixer will be tanked. Since it is vital that no one find out about this calamity beyond the two of them and the young CEO of Excalibur, Elizabeth and Jack decide it is up to them to work together to track down the scientist. Their first clue is the discovery that the absconding scientist has ploughed money into one of the indie films competing at an independent film festival dedicated to film noir, and he is listed on the film’s credits as its sole producer. It seems highly likely he will show up at the festival.
JAK never mentions the ages of Elizabeth and Jack in this novel, but given the fact that her heroines are always between 28-31, and most often 30, I would guess Elizabeth is supposed to be 30. JAK’s heroes are almost always between 37-39 years old, and I would guess that Jack is around 39. The opening scene presents both of them in a bad light, which is a poor introduction to two people that romance fans expect to like and respect. In addition, as a whole, this novel seems like some kind of artistic experiment for JAK. I’ve read all her books, and I’ve never seen any other novel like this one. The way the story is written heavily echoes the film noir theme of the femme fatale at the same time that a film noir festival is a central setting for the story. Unfortunately, the film noir themes frequently become so intrusively heavy-handed and melodramatic, if I had been reading this novel or listening to a typical audiobook recording with a single narrator, I would probably have stopped in the middle of the story and given up. What kept me plowing through to the end is the fact that I had the opportunity to listen to the 1999 audiobook recording of this novel narrated by the talented voice actors, Dick Hill and Susie Breck. Hill performs all the male characters, Breck performs all the female characters, and they both do a fabulous job. This recording was available for purchase through Audible only until around 2014 and, sadly, it is no longer currently for sale there. It can only be accessed if you have a friend or family member who purchased it back then, or if your local library purchased it back then, and you can check it out through them (which was the case for me).
If only every romance novel with dual narrators could be performed the way this one is—or forget using dual narrators at all! It is obnoxious when the voices of the two main protagonists change from chapter to chapter when the narrators switch off from one to the other. I have only encountered one other romance novel audiobook with dual narrators which is recorded the way this one is. That novel is All Night Long by JAK from 2006. The audiobook recording for ANL was also released in 2006 and was performed by voice talents, David Colacci and Kathy Garver. It was available from Audible until around 2015, when it was inexplicably dumped and ANL was rerecorded by Amanda Cobb.
In order to record a book this ideal way, the two actors have to be sitting in the recording studio together, but nothing like that ever seems to happen unless a script of a particular novel has been written, and a full-cast performs it as an audioplay, which GraphicAudio specializes in, and Audible Studios has begun doing with increasing frequency. If Audible can record audioplays, it makes perfect sense that they could also record romance novels with interactive dual narrators.
I rate this novel as follows:
Heroine: 3 stars
Hero: 3 stars
Romance Plot: 3.5 stars
Suspense Plot: 3.5 stars
Film Noir Theme: 3 stars
Audiobook Recording: 5 stars
Overall Rating Audiobook: 3.5 rounded to 4 stars
Elizabeth Cabot is the CEO of a charitable fund which she inherited from her wealthy aunt. Its main purpose is to invest in small, privately held, family firms. Jack Fairfax is a wealthy venture capitalist whose company specializes in salvaging troubled, small, privately held, family firms by providing leadership and training. Elizabeth and Jack have signed a contract to work together to bring the struggling family firm, Excalibur, out of the red and firmly into the black. Its biggest hope for success is through some breakthrough IT technology that utilizes a special type of crystal. The name of the prototype for that crystal is the titular Soft Focus.
Just prior to signing their joint Excalibur contract, Elizabeth and Jack had been dating for several weeks and falling hard for each other. In the opening scene of the book, we learn from Jack’s thoughts that the two of them had just had their first night of (offstage) sex, and he is disappointed that it was clearly a non-orgasmic event for Elizabeth. Worse, she did not even act like she was disappointed at that oversight, as if she expected nothing more than mild pleasure from sex with any man, including Jack. He is not satisfied with that outcome, and is determined to give it a try again with Elizabeth ASAP and do his darnedest to bring her to completion this time. But before he gets the chance to fulfill that laudable ambition, Elizabeth stages a very public scene with him in a restaurant where all the movers and shakers of Seattle congregate. She has just been informed by Jack’s half-brother—who loathes Jack, and is on a vendetta against him for 75% of this book—that Jack destroyed a small family firm owned by a personal friend of Elizabeth a few years ago. Though Elizabeth has no idea what Jack’s motivation was for his professionally out-of-character actions, she loudly informs him that he is the scum of the earth for his behavior. Jack responds that it was just business and adds the totally unnecessary putdown that she is an Ice Princess—obnoxiously blaming his inability to get her off in bed on her being frigid, even though he doesn’t really believe that. Naturally enough, that sexist insult enrages Elizabeth even more, and she yells that she is going to break their contract. Jack states that this is legally impossible, and she is stuck with him for the foreseeable future. Elizabeth responds by dumping a pitcher of ice water over his head and stomping out of the restaurant.
After that catastrophic implosion of their budding romance, both of them spend the next six months entirely celibate, not even dating anyone else, and Elizabeth shocks Jack’s expectations in her treatment of him when they see each other in person. Rather than vindictively obstructing him by every means possible at the monthly board meetings for Excalibur, she has been consistently backing him up when other members of the board attack him. However, other than those business encounters, they have had nothing to do with each other, until the day that the lab at Excalibur is trashed, and the chief scientist, who has been almost entirely responsible for developing Soft Focus, disappears with the only copy of its prototype. It is immediately clear to both Elizabeth and Jack that, if Soft Focus is not recovered within a matter of days, before a big meeting with some major investors in the company, disaster will ensue. The company will go bankrupt, Elizabeth will lose her fund’s investment in Excalibur, and Jack’s professional reputation as a corporate fixer will be tanked. Since it is vital that no one find out about this calamity beyond the two of them and the young CEO of Excalibur, Elizabeth and Jack decide it is up to them to work together to track down the scientist. Their first clue is the discovery that the absconding scientist has ploughed money into one of the indie films competing at an independent film festival dedicated to film noir, and he is listed on the film’s credits as its sole producer. It seems highly likely he will show up at the festival.
JAK never mentions the ages of Elizabeth and Jack in this novel, but given the fact that her heroines are always between 28-31, and most often 30, I would guess Elizabeth is supposed to be 30. JAK’s heroes are almost always between 37-39 years old, and I would guess that Jack is around 39. The opening scene presents both of them in a bad light, which is a poor introduction to two people that romance fans expect to like and respect. In addition, as a whole, this novel seems like some kind of artistic experiment for JAK. I’ve read all her books, and I’ve never seen any other novel like this one. The way the story is written heavily echoes the film noir theme of the femme fatale at the same time that a film noir festival is a central setting for the story. Unfortunately, the film noir themes frequently become so intrusively heavy-handed and melodramatic, if I had been reading this novel or listening to a typical audiobook recording with a single narrator, I would probably have stopped in the middle of the story and given up. What kept me plowing through to the end is the fact that I had the opportunity to listen to the 1999 audiobook recording of this novel narrated by the talented voice actors, Dick Hill and Susie Breck. Hill performs all the male characters, Breck performs all the female characters, and they both do a fabulous job. This recording was available for purchase through Audible only until around 2014 and, sadly, it is no longer currently for sale there. It can only be accessed if you have a friend or family member who purchased it back then, or if your local library purchased it back then, and you can check it out through them (which was the case for me).
If only every romance novel with dual narrators could be performed the way this one is—or forget using dual narrators at all! It is obnoxious when the voices of the two main protagonists change from chapter to chapter when the narrators switch off from one to the other. I have only encountered one other romance novel audiobook with dual narrators which is recorded the way this one is. That novel is All Night Long by JAK from 2006. The audiobook recording for ANL was also released in 2006 and was performed by voice talents, David Colacci and Kathy Garver. It was available from Audible until around 2015, when it was inexplicably dumped and ANL was rerecorded by Amanda Cobb.
In order to record a book this ideal way, the two actors have to be sitting in the recording studio together, but nothing like that ever seems to happen unless a script of a particular novel has been written, and a full-cast performs it as an audioplay, which GraphicAudio specializes in, and Audible Studios has begun doing with increasing frequency. If Audible can record audioplays, it makes perfect sense that they could also record romance novels with interactive dual narrators.
I rate this novel as follows:
Heroine: 3 stars
Hero: 3 stars
Romance Plot: 3.5 stars
Suspense Plot: 3.5 stars
Film Noir Theme: 3 stars
Audiobook Recording: 5 stars
Overall Rating Audiobook: 3.5 rounded to 4 stars
August 19, 2023
It was ok. But barely held my attention. Wasnt rooting for the main couple. Only the mystery kept me reading
April 24, 2011
i always look forward in reading jayne ann krentz books. I like the idea of the lead characters being into each other no matter how they deny and contradict each other. I always like the mystery suspense and I always want to find out who is the culprit. It is always explained how this is so... but in this story i feel it didnt elaborate much on the reason , the rationale behind why the theft at Escalibur, the reason why such theft is done, how tyler Page got to know Gillian and she being the femme fatale and all when she is interested in is revenge to whom hayden? for what? and they take in tyler page as if he did nothing wrong...i feel the escapade in mirror springs is wasted, just a venue for jack and elizabeth to have an affair..it didnt talk much of what happened to vicky ballamy whom i presumed to have staged a disappearance... at the end of the story i feel so tired trying to catch with what happened..such a wasted effort to look for tyler and nothing...wasted 3 days of finishing the book..
October 12, 2020
I did not like the prologue and almost didn't read because of it. It felt like I got dumped into the middle of the story instead of the beginning and the characters seemed unlikeable and the scene they caused seemed unlikely. However, I trust Krentz for a happy ending so I eventually picked the book back up again.
Film noir is not my favorite subject but not my least favorite subject either so it didn't do anything for me one way or the other. What I did like was the story as it moved along at a pleasant pace. I let myself be in the dark as much as the characters without looking for too many clues as to who was behind the stealing of the crystal. But even if I had been looking, I'm not sure I would have guessed it.
I recommend this book for Krentz fans who need a mostly pleasant read before bed. Just get past the prologue and then you will be happy.
Film noir is not my favorite subject but not my least favorite subject either so it didn't do anything for me one way or the other. What I did like was the story as it moved along at a pleasant pace. I let myself be in the dark as much as the characters without looking for too many clues as to who was behind the stealing of the crystal. But even if I had been looking, I'm not sure I would have guessed it.
I recommend this book for Krentz fans who need a mostly pleasant read before bed. Just get past the prologue and then you will be happy.
August 16, 2015
Author: Jayne Ann Krentz
First published: 1999
Length: 403 pages (Large Print)
Setting: Contemporary Seattle.
Sex: Some Reasonably explicit but most fade to black. Frequent.
Hero: CEO. Helps save family businesses.
Heroine: Runs a fund that provides startup money.
Enjoyable with a heavy dose of noir film trivia, many could-be femme fatales and a surprising number of deaths. Not overly predictable, in part because important information / clues were withheld. A rapid and confusing romance woven through.
2.5 stars rounded up.
References:
Authoron w'pedia: http://jayneannkrentz.com/soft-focus/
(ISBN 9781568958231)
-CR-
First published: 1999
Length: 403 pages (Large Print)
Setting: Contemporary Seattle.
Sex: Some Reasonably explicit but most fade to black. Frequent.
Hero: CEO. Helps save family businesses.
Heroine: Runs a fund that provides startup money.
Enjoyable with a heavy dose of noir film trivia, many could-be femme fatales and a surprising number of deaths. Not overly predictable, in part because important information / clues were withheld. A rapid and confusing romance woven through.
2.5 stars rounded up.
References:
Authoron w'pedia: http://jayneannkrentz.com/soft-focus/
(ISBN 9781568958231)
-CR-
May 31, 2010
This is one of the better Jayne Ann Krentz books that I have read. Elizabeth Cabot has been focused on running her late aunt’s business since her death. Jack Fairfax has had his own agenda in his business dealings since the death of his father many years before. The book opens with them in an argument that drives them apart. For six months they are weary around each other, but when some corporate espionage happens they must work together. When their relationship turns in a different direction the intrigue explodes between them. There are many twists and turns that I usually find in later books, that makes this author interesting. This is a very intriguing book and worth reading.
January 28, 2011
Most of the books I've read by Jayne Krentz are about the Arcane Society and the characters' different talents. This was just a romance/mystery with normal people. Not bad. I didn't figure out the bad guy until the end, which always makes for an interesting read. Now, I always got upset with Patricia Cornwall introducing the villian in the last part of the book, which give you no incentive to try to solve the mystery instead of just going along for the ride. This villian was sort of like that, in that there was not reason to think that this character was anything other than scenery until the end.
April 14, 2011
I actively disliked this book until the last disc (of 9). Even the last disc didn't save it from one star, though. I understand that the fact that I do not "appreciate" film noir--at all (even though Casablanca is one of my favorite movies)probably influenced me strongly...negatively. So if you do appreciate film noir, you might well like this quite a bit.
Back to say--Krentz did an excellent job of evoking the feel of film noir. (Which no doubt reinforces why I didn't like it.)
Back to say--Krentz did an excellent job of evoking the feel of film noir. (Which no doubt reinforces why I didn't like it.)
September 9, 2011
I read the reviews of this one before I started reading the book, so I went in believing it would be pretty good. I wasn't disappointed. This is definitely one of the best books Krentz has written! I loved Elizabeth and was actually really glad she wasn't the ice princess I thought she'd be after having read the reviews.
May 10, 2017
Excalibur has been stolen by one of the scientist who works for the company. Jack, the Company’s CEO and Elizabeth, investor, combine efforts to find Excalibur before the news got out that Excalibur was no longer in the hands of the company causing other investors to pull out of the deal. Dick Hill and Susie Breck did an okay job in storytelling.
April 10, 2012
3.5*
Grade B-
A pretty typical JAK romantic suspense. A good suspense plot and a decent but somewhat underdeveloped romance. I liked both main characters, and the suspense was well-developed and with enough twists to keep it interesting.
Grade B-
A pretty typical JAK romantic suspense. A good suspense plot and a decent but somewhat underdeveloped romance. I liked both main characters, and the suspense was well-developed and with enough twists to keep it interesting.
December 9, 2016
Good mystery!
Read
July 28, 2016Elizabeth Cabot had a one-night stand with Jack Fairfax because she found out that he had destroyed the business of one of her clients, her ex-fiancée's family business. She also discovered that he was the CEO of one of her new clients so she dumped him. She never got him out of her mind though, even 6 months later when the company he was CEO of, Excalibur, was broken into and their product called 'soft focus' was stolen.
Elizabeth Cabot and Jack now needed to work together to find the stolen crystal. The lab was trashed but Jack had come by the office and knew that it was trashed after discovering that the crystal was missing.
A female had hired the lab to be trashed then killed the person who did the work for her, Ryan.
The scientist behind the theft needed to be found before a presentation to some investors. It appeared that he had stolen the crystal for someone who he thought he was in love with. He had an obsession with old feminine fatale movies and his love was playing the part in his life. (She got a man to do her dirty work for her and when it was done, denied having had a part therefore leaving the man to take the blame. He accepts the blame because he loves her and bears the responsibility of the event. leaving the woman free to live her life while the man may end up in prison for the rest of his!)
Jack had destroyed the Galloway company because he felt they had taken advantage of his half brother by taking credit for a software program he wrote and passing it off as their own. He offered them a chance to make it right and give his brother the royalties he deserved but they refused so he took advantage of the financial trouble they were in. Rather than help the company, he sold it off. The company was a former client of Elizabeth's firm and Elizabeth was engaged to the son of the owner of Galloway. She broke it off when the company went under and she found out that he was cheating on her. He told her that he was only marrying her because his mother felt it would be a good match due to her having money.
Jack and Elizabeth went to Aspen to a film festival to find the scientist and the crystal. They were invited to an auction. Another half brother of Jack's was invited also, Hayden Shaw. Hayden blamed Jack for his mother's deterioration and death. Jack's father had affairs with two other women who didn't know about his real family. Jack's father died and left what he owned to Jack. Hayden was jealous and tried to take what Jack had. Hayden had married Gillian, a former fiancée of Jack's. He was now trying to get Elizabeth from Jack. Elizabeth like Hayden as a friend and didn't know he was Jack's brother at first. Jack told Elizabeth that Hayden was still married and interested in more than friendship. Elizabeth soon found out Jack was correct.
They arrived in Aspen and set out to find the scientist, Tyler Page. They went to all the award presentation and the screenings of his movie but he never showed. They met the star of the movie, Victoria Bellamy, and discovered that her husband had been married twice before and both the previous ex-wives had died in accidents and their money had been left to Dawson Holland. They warned Vicky and told her that he had taken out a life insurance policy on her recently. Vicky decided it was time to disappear and asked Elizabeth for money to make that happen from her company the Aurora Fund. The fund was set up to help fund companies that were set up and run by females. Vicky told Elizabeth she felt sure that Dawson was also in Aspen to bid on 'soft focus' but she would see to it that he didn't show up for the auction. Elizabeth agreed to help her.
The next night there was an accident. Vicky's car was in an accident off a cliff and her body was thought to have been thrown into the river. There was some anonymous phone calls made where the local police were told that Holland's two previous ex-wives also died in car accidents so the were looking for Holland but the couldn't find him either. It looked like he packed up and left town.
Elizabeth's brother-in-law had come to town looking for Elizabeth to ask her for money. He had also lost his employment when Jack had shut down Galloway. Hayden told Merrick that Elizabeth was seeing Jack and Merrick set off to find them. Merrick punched Jack but Jack didn't fight back and he saw his brother watching the fight. Later, Hayden was nearly driven off the road and blamed Jack. Jack and Elizabeth were also attacked. Jack went to Hayden and talked to him. Jack told Hayden that it wasn't him who had tried to run him off the road and he told Hayden that he had also been attacked. Someone was trying to keep them at odds with each other and they agreed to work together.
Now that Vicky was gone too, Jack and Elizabeth's theory of a woman pulling the strings with Page involved was getting a little thin...
Hayden received a call about the auction time and place. Rather that show up, he called Jack and told him that he wasn't going to bid on the crystal. Jack decided it was time to involve the police and made a few calls. Then they all went to the location where the auction was supposed to be held.
The police chief found Gillian's body. She had been shot. It appeared that someone had called Hayden and he was supposed to show up and Gillian would kill him. Then Jack would be called to show up later and be standing over Hayden's body when the police arrived. Jack would be charged with Hayden's death. The only surprise was that Gillian was dead. They assumed that Page had killed her and they still needed to find him.
Elizabeth felt that the situation was over and that the crystal would not be found in time. She offered Jack a job with her company to help locate companies to fund. Jack told her that he would help her if she agreed to marry him. Elizabeth said 'yes'.
Jack's father went after small, family owned companies with his job working for a large corporation. Jack disagreed with what his father had done with his life and did the exact opposite. He looked for small, family owned companies to help and he was good at his job.
Jack called Hayden and found out that Gillian had a cousin with a home in the area. Jack and Elizabeth went to that house. Elizabeth told Jack that the police chief might be upset when he found out that they had gone there without notifying him. Jack said that he had his hands full trying to find the murderer of two people and wouldn't be terribly interest in helping him recover Soft Focus. Elizabeth agreed.
They went around to the back of the house to find a way in. There were no cars and the lights were all out. They found Page in the hot tub. He had been shot in the head. Elizabeth turned around and saw Holland going after Jack. He had a gun. He told Elizabeth that she was leaving with him. He had searched the house and not found Soft Focus. Page had told him that it was in plain sight. He told Elizabeth to come closer to him and didn't notice that she had picked up a barbeque fork in the dark. When they started to move, Holland kept his eyes on Jack and she stabbed him. Jack noticed what she had and was watching and attacked when she made her move. They fought and Page reached for the gun that had fallen on the patio and shot Holland. Jack checked and they were both still alive. Elizabeth called for help and Jack tried to figure out what had happened to Soft Focus.
Soft Focus had properties where it could be broken up into small pieces and a catalyst used to draw the molecules together to form a crystal. Jack found a substance in a metal container that Page had with him and threw it in the hot tub. It caused the crystals to gather and form one crystal, Soft Focus.
Page was in the hospital recovering when he apologized to Jack. Jack told him that he still had a job with the company because they needed him. Page was so happy and said that he never had felt that important before. Jack told him that the story would go out that he only took a prototype. The original crystal was never taken. It had been locked up in another location for safekeeping. The presentation to the Veltran Group was still on. The Veltran Group accepted the proposal to provide
funds to continue the development of Soft Focus.
Jack and Elizabeth met a short time later at the restaurant that they had chosen for their wedding reception. Jack told Elizabeth that he would agree to maintain control of Fairfax Consulting and she would maintain control of Aurora Fund and they would work together as a team with clients to help them start up new businesses.
Elizabeth received a phone call from Merrick and she agreed to fund his business idea. Jack took the phone and then told Merrick that she would arrange the funding but he had to agree to consult with Jack. Merrick would be their first client since the merger.
Elizabeth Cabot and Jack now needed to work together to find the stolen crystal. The lab was trashed but Jack had come by the office and knew that it was trashed after discovering that the crystal was missing.
A female had hired the lab to be trashed then killed the person who did the work for her, Ryan.
The scientist behind the theft needed to be found before a presentation to some investors. It appeared that he had stolen the crystal for someone who he thought he was in love with. He had an obsession with old feminine fatale movies and his love was playing the part in his life. (She got a man to do her dirty work for her and when it was done, denied having had a part therefore leaving the man to take the blame. He accepts the blame because he loves her and bears the responsibility of the event. leaving the woman free to live her life while the man may end up in prison for the rest of his!)
Jack had destroyed the Galloway company because he felt they had taken advantage of his half brother by taking credit for a software program he wrote and passing it off as their own. He offered them a chance to make it right and give his brother the royalties he deserved but they refused so he took advantage of the financial trouble they were in. Rather than help the company, he sold it off. The company was a former client of Elizabeth's firm and Elizabeth was engaged to the son of the owner of Galloway. She broke it off when the company went under and she found out that he was cheating on her. He told her that he was only marrying her because his mother felt it would be a good match due to her having money.
Jack and Elizabeth went to Aspen to a film festival to find the scientist and the crystal. They were invited to an auction. Another half brother of Jack's was invited also, Hayden Shaw. Hayden blamed Jack for his mother's deterioration and death. Jack's father had affairs with two other women who didn't know about his real family. Jack's father died and left what he owned to Jack. Hayden was jealous and tried to take what Jack had. Hayden had married Gillian, a former fiancée of Jack's. He was now trying to get Elizabeth from Jack. Elizabeth like Hayden as a friend and didn't know he was Jack's brother at first. Jack told Elizabeth that Hayden was still married and interested in more than friendship. Elizabeth soon found out Jack was correct.
They arrived in Aspen and set out to find the scientist, Tyler Page. They went to all the award presentation and the screenings of his movie but he never showed. They met the star of the movie, Victoria Bellamy, and discovered that her husband had been married twice before and both the previous ex-wives had died in accidents and their money had been left to Dawson Holland. They warned Vicky and told her that he had taken out a life insurance policy on her recently. Vicky decided it was time to disappear and asked Elizabeth for money to make that happen from her company the Aurora Fund. The fund was set up to help fund companies that were set up and run by females. Vicky told Elizabeth she felt sure that Dawson was also in Aspen to bid on 'soft focus' but she would see to it that he didn't show up for the auction. Elizabeth agreed to help her.
The next night there was an accident. Vicky's car was in an accident off a cliff and her body was thought to have been thrown into the river. There was some anonymous phone calls made where the local police were told that Holland's two previous ex-wives also died in car accidents so the were looking for Holland but the couldn't find him either. It looked like he packed up and left town.
Elizabeth's brother-in-law had come to town looking for Elizabeth to ask her for money. He had also lost his employment when Jack had shut down Galloway. Hayden told Merrick that Elizabeth was seeing Jack and Merrick set off to find them. Merrick punched Jack but Jack didn't fight back and he saw his brother watching the fight. Later, Hayden was nearly driven off the road and blamed Jack. Jack and Elizabeth were also attacked. Jack went to Hayden and talked to him. Jack told Hayden that it wasn't him who had tried to run him off the road and he told Hayden that he had also been attacked. Someone was trying to keep them at odds with each other and they agreed to work together.
Now that Vicky was gone too, Jack and Elizabeth's theory of a woman pulling the strings with Page involved was getting a little thin...
Hayden received a call about the auction time and place. Rather that show up, he called Jack and told him that he wasn't going to bid on the crystal. Jack decided it was time to involve the police and made a few calls. Then they all went to the location where the auction was supposed to be held.
The police chief found Gillian's body. She had been shot. It appeared that someone had called Hayden and he was supposed to show up and Gillian would kill him. Then Jack would be called to show up later and be standing over Hayden's body when the police arrived. Jack would be charged with Hayden's death. The only surprise was that Gillian was dead. They assumed that Page had killed her and they still needed to find him.
Elizabeth felt that the situation was over and that the crystal would not be found in time. She offered Jack a job with her company to help locate companies to fund. Jack told her that he would help her if she agreed to marry him. Elizabeth said 'yes'.
Jack's father went after small, family owned companies with his job working for a large corporation. Jack disagreed with what his father had done with his life and did the exact opposite. He looked for small, family owned companies to help and he was good at his job.
Jack called Hayden and found out that Gillian had a cousin with a home in the area. Jack and Elizabeth went to that house. Elizabeth told Jack that the police chief might be upset when he found out that they had gone there without notifying him. Jack said that he had his hands full trying to find the murderer of two people and wouldn't be terribly interest in helping him recover Soft Focus. Elizabeth agreed.
They went around to the back of the house to find a way in. There were no cars and the lights were all out. They found Page in the hot tub. He had been shot in the head. Elizabeth turned around and saw Holland going after Jack. He had a gun. He told Elizabeth that she was leaving with him. He had searched the house and not found Soft Focus. Page had told him that it was in plain sight. He told Elizabeth to come closer to him and didn't notice that she had picked up a barbeque fork in the dark. When they started to move, Holland kept his eyes on Jack and she stabbed him. Jack noticed what she had and was watching and attacked when she made her move. They fought and Page reached for the gun that had fallen on the patio and shot Holland. Jack checked and they were both still alive. Elizabeth called for help and Jack tried to figure out what had happened to Soft Focus.
Soft Focus had properties where it could be broken up into small pieces and a catalyst used to draw the molecules together to form a crystal. Jack found a substance in a metal container that Page had with him and threw it in the hot tub. It caused the crystals to gather and form one crystal, Soft Focus.
Page was in the hospital recovering when he apologized to Jack. Jack told him that he still had a job with the company because they needed him. Page was so happy and said that he never had felt that important before. Jack told him that the story would go out that he only took a prototype. The original crystal was never taken. It had been locked up in another location for safekeeping. The presentation to the Veltran Group was still on. The Veltran Group accepted the proposal to provide
funds to continue the development of Soft Focus.
Jack and Elizabeth met a short time later at the restaurant that they had chosen for their wedding reception. Jack told Elizabeth that he would agree to maintain control of Fairfax Consulting and she would maintain control of Aurora Fund and they would work together as a team with clients to help them start up new businesses.
Elizabeth received a phone call from Merrick and she agreed to fund his business idea. Jack took the phone and then told Merrick that she would arrange the funding but he had to agree to consult with Jack. Merrick would be their first client since the merger.
March 17, 2024
**MINOR SPOILERS**
This book is a standalone.
The book begins right after Elizabeth finds out that Jack is responsible for a deliberate dismantling of a company, Galloway, which he does using his business expertise. He does so out of revenge. Spoiler…she eventually understands why he does so, but I thought his ruthlessness in doing so was wrong. I would have liked to have seen some sign of remorse for what he did. He did this to take revenge against the person who ran the company, but there were many people who were hurt who had nothing to do with what happened. In addition, it is arguable that the reason that resulted in the revenge was “just business”. Jack came across as vindictive. Interestingly, he generally tries to rescue small, family owned companies so this action was unusual for him.
Six months later, Jack and Elizabeth begin working together to try to find something that was stolen from the lab that Jack runs and Elizabeth funds. As they do so, Jack tries to cut Elizabeth out of several situations in chauvinistic powerplays, though not always. I was glad when Elizabeth pushes back on that behavior.
Elizabeth had a fiancé that cheated on her then gets involved with Jack who she assumes doesn’t care as much as she does. This felt a little sad.
I thought Jack was a jerk. I read this book about 25 years after it was published. The author’s early books were hard to read with macho bullies as male main characters. This book was not as awful as some of those very first books and perhaps it was part of her transition into the books that she has written where the women are more equal partners. However, it was a bit of a throwback to the books where the male main character has to be the boss and does not really show a softer side towards female main character. Jack says several cutting remarks that felt disrespectful.
The first time they have s*x, Elizabeth does not have an orgasm as Jack rushes to the finish line, so to speak. She apologizes for it.
Elizabeth lends money from the fund for her brother in law’s dreamer schemes. This did not feel like wise leadership or management of the fund’s money. The brother in law, Merrill, should have had an oversight manager rather than be allowed to just blow the money. Elizabeth simply allows him to have the money. She reveals that the money comes from a sub-fund for family members.
The book is mostly from Elizabeth or Jack’s point of view. Most of the characters seemed extreme: very angry, very greedy, very sad, etc.
I do not recommend the book.
This book is a standalone.
The book begins right after Elizabeth finds out that Jack is responsible for a deliberate dismantling of a company, Galloway, which he does using his business expertise. He does so out of revenge. Spoiler…she eventually understands why he does so, but I thought his ruthlessness in doing so was wrong. I would have liked to have seen some sign of remorse for what he did. He did this to take revenge against the person who ran the company, but there were many people who were hurt who had nothing to do with what happened. In addition, it is arguable that the reason that resulted in the revenge was “just business”. Jack came across as vindictive. Interestingly, he generally tries to rescue small, family owned companies so this action was unusual for him.
Six months later, Jack and Elizabeth begin working together to try to find something that was stolen from the lab that Jack runs and Elizabeth funds. As they do so, Jack tries to cut Elizabeth out of several situations in chauvinistic powerplays, though not always. I was glad when Elizabeth pushes back on that behavior.
Elizabeth had a fiancé that cheated on her then gets involved with Jack who she assumes doesn’t care as much as she does. This felt a little sad.
I thought Jack was a jerk. I read this book about 25 years after it was published. The author’s early books were hard to read with macho bullies as male main characters. This book was not as awful as some of those very first books and perhaps it was part of her transition into the books that she has written where the women are more equal partners. However, it was a bit of a throwback to the books where the male main character has to be the boss and does not really show a softer side towards female main character. Jack says several cutting remarks that felt disrespectful.
The first time they have s*x, Elizabeth does not have an orgasm as Jack rushes to the finish line, so to speak. She apologizes for it.
Elizabeth lends money from the fund for her brother in law’s dreamer schemes. This did not feel like wise leadership or management of the fund’s money. The brother in law, Merrill, should have had an oversight manager rather than be allowed to just blow the money. Elizabeth simply allows him to have the money. She reveals that the money comes from a sub-fund for family members.
The book is mostly from Elizabeth or Jack’s point of view. Most of the characters seemed extreme: very angry, very greedy, very sad, etc.
I do not recommend the book.
September 15, 2024
I read a lot of JAK back in the day, so it's highly possible I'd read this one before, but since my memory on it is a little fuzzy (which is no reflection on the book itself, but more about how many books I read) it felt new to me. Which works on every level. (For the record, even if I HAD remembered reading it, I likely wouldn't have remembered who did it because that's totally a thing with me.)
Anywho. Elizabeth and Jack. They had what turned out to be a one-night stand (for reasons) and then ended up working together on a project. Which wasn't nearly as terrible as it could have been, actually. The biggest hurdle they have in relationshipping is that Elizabeth was holding Jack's involvement in another takeover against him without knowing the reason why he was involved in it in the first place. On the plus side, neither of them could stop thinking of the other in the months since their infamous night together. As we all know, that's an EXCELLENT sign.
When circumstances have them sharing space as they try to track down their wayward crystal (and the scientist behind its theft) THINGS HAPPEN. Because when two people who are unattached and can't stop thinking about one another spend time together, well, sometimes things really do just happen.
Throw in some fancy films, a whole lot of film noir, complicated family dynamics, an auction, and a little danger, and Jack and Elizabeth have plenty to deal with on top of their budding romance. Which works for me because that's EXACTLY what I was here for.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
Anywho. Elizabeth and Jack. They had what turned out to be a one-night stand (for reasons) and then ended up working together on a project. Which wasn't nearly as terrible as it could have been, actually. The biggest hurdle they have in relationshipping is that Elizabeth was holding Jack's involvement in another takeover against him without knowing the reason why he was involved in it in the first place. On the plus side, neither of them could stop thinking of the other in the months since their infamous night together. As we all know, that's an EXCELLENT sign.
When circumstances have them sharing space as they try to track down their wayward crystal (and the scientist behind its theft) THINGS HAPPEN. Because when two people who are unattached and can't stop thinking about one another spend time together, well, sometimes things really do just happen.
Throw in some fancy films, a whole lot of film noir, complicated family dynamics, an auction, and a little danger, and Jack and Elizabeth have plenty to deal with on top of their budding romance. Which works for me because that's EXACTLY what I was here for.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
June 24, 2021
Plot surprinzator de bun pentru un chick flick, personaje usor cliche si romanta stil enemies to lovers.
Ideea de femme fatale merge super bine cu misterul furtului cristalului Soft Focus si faptul ca cititorul este dus pe o pista gresita si de autoare, si de personaje mi s-a parut un detaliu savuros.
Totusi, trope-urile in care se incadreaza personajele mi se par asa tipice si scoase dintr-un film de duzina difuzat pe Pro TV intr-o duminica pe la 3 dupa-amiaza(I've been there). Elisabeth, intepata obsedata de business care se dovedeste a fi o sufletista si Jack, baiatul bun si muncitor dorit de toata lumea. Te rog, poate au ei putina chimie in unele scene, dar ca si indivizi nu prea se potrivesc(parerea mea).
Nu stiu daca s-a meritat sa citesc, dar mi-a luat gandul de la cotidian si m-a tinut putin in suspans. Merita 3 stele cu siguranta :)
Ideea de femme fatale merge super bine cu misterul furtului cristalului Soft Focus si faptul ca cititorul este dus pe o pista gresita si de autoare, si de personaje mi s-a parut un detaliu savuros.
Totusi, trope-urile in care se incadreaza personajele mi se par asa tipice si scoase dintr-un film de duzina difuzat pe Pro TV intr-o duminica pe la 3 dupa-amiaza(I've been there). Elisabeth, intepata obsedata de business care se dovedeste a fi o sufletista si Jack, baiatul bun si muncitor dorit de toata lumea. Te rog, poate au ei putina chimie in unele scene, dar ca si indivizi nu prea se potrivesc(parerea mea).
Nu stiu daca s-a meritat sa citesc, dar mi-a luat gandul de la cotidian si m-a tinut putin in suspans. Merita 3 stele cu siguranta :)
February 8, 2023
This isn’t one of Jayne Ann Krentz’s best books. The themes: of company takeovers; family tensions; and strong family expectations have been done better (“Flash” and “Trust Me” spring to mind). It is an okay read, but not a great read. I did find the relationship between Elizabeth Cabot (our heroine) and Jack Fairfax (our hero) to be entertaining. Both were stubborn, wanting to do everything their way, which was often funny and entertaining. I did find the “film noir” subplot annoying, convoluted and unwieldy, with too many extra characters. The ending felt just a bit contrived and unbelievable.
An okay read, but not a great read.
An okay read, but not a great read.
Read
February 23, 2020I am now hooked on Jayne Ann Krentz. Her books have intelligent interesting characters. This one has two very strong people facing off over a company while trying to decide if they were attracted to each other or if the past would keep them apart. Jack is in love with Elizabeth, but she isn't so sure about him. As they try to recover a stolen high tech item his company was trying to license, which her company had invested in, they have to face sullen half brothers, angry in laws, as well as deadly noir producers to come to an understanding about each other. It is a good read. Loved it.
July 7, 2020
A Good Read
I enjoyed this one. In her contemporary Romances, Krenz specializes in a certain kind of heroine; the tough business exec paired up with an equally tough hero. She’s very good at creating realistic conflicts between the two. In so many contemporary romances the conflicts and the resolutions come off as artificial. Not the case with Krenz. Her stuff rings as authentic. And in this case she paired it with a tightly woven mystery. Plenty of twists and turns to this one.
I enjoyed this one. In her contemporary Romances, Krenz specializes in a certain kind of heroine; the tough business exec paired up with an equally tough hero. She’s very good at creating realistic conflicts between the two. In so many contemporary romances the conflicts and the resolutions come off as artificial. Not the case with Krenz. Her stuff rings as authentic. And in this case she paired it with a tightly woven mystery. Plenty of twists and turns to this one.
December 11, 2021
I might be biased because I read it at an impressionable age (about 12 years old) but this is the book that made me love the romance suspense genre. It has remained one of my favorite books ro read from time to time and that says something considering I have more than 30 novels that the author has written.
Although I consider the Arcane Society books my favorite of hers, I think this book had something special. I particularly loved the heroine, her attitude and the chemistry between the characters is great and evocative.
Although I consider the Arcane Society books my favorite of hers, I think this book had something special. I particularly loved the heroine, her attitude and the chemistry between the characters is great and evocative.
June 23, 2017
This was Krentz doing something a bit different. She still has the business genius hero and the heroine with an uncanny knack for seeing the potential good in people who are acting like asses, but the deliberate film noir influence created a more complicated story than she usually did. I thought it worked although honestly I would maybe have rather followed the trophy wife with an increasingly tense relationship with her rich husband.
February 10, 2018
Unique
This story centered around a "film noir" festival and it read like an old-style Bogart movie. Femme Fatals, dangerous men...it had them all. I found it interesting, but a little slow in spots. Characters and settings were very well developed. I was even surprised who the final villains were. I guessed one but the other surprised me. I had a different person on my prime suspect list. Good job!
This story centered around a "film noir" festival and it read like an old-style Bogart movie. Femme Fatals, dangerous men...it had them all. I found it interesting, but a little slow in spots. Characters and settings were very well developed. I was even surprised who the final villains were. I guessed one but the other surprised me. I had a different person on my prime suspect list. Good job!
November 15, 2025
Personal Rating: 4/5
Suspected that this was written by a woman since the first page, and glad that I was right
Interesting plot, but felt the FMC wasn't done solid
Felt a little too sensual - but that played into the vibe, oh well
Criteria based rating
1. Emotional depth/description: 4/5
2. Characters' weight/nuances: 4/5
3. Realism/Believability: 4/5
4. Re-readability: 4/5
5. Plot/Structure/Storytelling: 4/5
Calculated average: 4/5
Suspected that this was written by a woman since the first page, and glad that I was right
Interesting plot, but felt the FMC wasn't done solid
Felt a little too sensual - but that played into the vibe, oh well
Criteria based rating
1. Emotional depth/description: 4/5
2. Characters' weight/nuances: 4/5
3. Realism/Believability: 4/5
4. Re-readability: 4/5
5. Plot/Structure/Storytelling: 4/5
Calculated average: 4/5
January 10, 2017
O aventură riscantă este construită după rețeta binecunoscută de succes a Amandei Quick: o treime mister, o treime thriller și o treime romance, umorul fiind bineînţeles şi el nelipsit, oferindu-ne astfel o lectură plăcută și relaxantă.
Recenzia mea:
http://www.delicateseliterare.ro/o-av...
Recenzia mea:
http://www.delicateseliterare.ro/o-av...
July 27, 2021
Elizabeth was a very independent and self acclaimed woman. She knew what she wanted yet had the feminine traits she needed. Jack was also independent and knew when to back off or keep pushing. They make a very good pair. The needing felt a bit rushed and I wanted more of a romantic view of the proposal and marriage. But overall the book kept me VERY hooked. Elizabeth and Jack😛💙
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2023
Overall, not a bad read. I felt like there was a lot of speculation as to what happened. The book definitely painted a picture as to whats going on and whether everything was related. There were some witty humor throughout the book which I enjoyed. My favorite was the ice water bath, that had me cracking up.
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