Now & Then

Donovan Creed #4

by John Locke

When we last encountered Donovan Creed, former CIA assassin and free lance killer, he had successfully stolen billions of dollars from the world's most lethal criminals. Now all he wants is a quiet, romantic vacation with the very sexy Rachel-no fire ants, bi-polar girlfriends, rabid squirrels, accident prone homicidal maniacs, hailstorms, hairless cats, gangs, faith healers, or pirates.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Ebooks, Crime, Humor, Mystery Thriller

322 pages, Paperback

First published April 22, 2010

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information. This is the novelist (2x spaces), not the philosopher (1x space).


New York Times best-selling author John Locke is the international best-selling author of sixteen books in four different genres. He is the 8th author in history to have sold one million eBooks on Kindle. Locke has had four books in the top ten at the same time, including #1 and #2. His Donovan Creed thriller series has sold more than 1,700,000 copies since January, 2011, and foreign rights have been acquired by six major publishers for Spanish, Catalan, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Hungarian, and Lithuanian translations. (Amazon's brief biography)

NY TIMES BEST-SELLING AUTHOR!

8th MEMBER of the KINDLE MILLION SALES CLUB!

First self-published author to hit #1 on Amazon/Kindle!

First self-published author to hit Kindle Million Sales Club!

John sold 1,100,000 eBooks in 5 months by word of mouth!

John wrote and published 6 best-selling books in 3 separate genres in 6 months, part-time!

John has had 4 of the top 10 eBooks on Amazon/Kindle at the same time, including #1 and #2! He’s also had 6 of the top 20, and 8 of the top 43 at the same time!

Every eBook John Locke has written and published has become a best-seller.

Reviews

[Julie Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have been reading through the Donovan Creed series, for the most part enjoying them tremendously. And I would add that the first half of this book was all the fun I anticipated, as Donovan and (crazy) Rachel 'vacation' in Florida.

Then the book makes this drastic narrative switch mid way thru (from 'now' to 'then')--and I hated it.

In other Donovan Creed books, this has been done very well. Or rather, I was willing to go along with it. A switch in narrator always takes some getting used to for me. It isn't something I usually like. I've just invested all this time & emotion with one character's view point for half the book...now I have to let that go and build a relationship with someone new half way thru the book?! No thanks!

But I managed to be persuaded in the other Donovan Creed books to go along with the switch.

Not this time, however. I didn't like this switch at all. I didn't care a bit about Jack & crew. Everything written in the second half could have been explained in a paragraph. I didn't need to 'live it' through their eyes. I couldn't connect to the characters. All I kept thinking was...when do we get back to Donovan? or 'how does this explain 'such and such' as it happened to Donovan in the first half?'

We don't ever get to go back to the first half. I actually had to double check the % left, thinking: am I missing part of it? The whole first half thus felt unfinished. Did Rachel kill that guy? I dunno. I guess so. Does Donovan marry that woman? I dunno. Maybe.

I didn't get the resolution I felt the first half of the book needed. The first half of the book still feels like it needed to be completed. I really enjoyed the first half, but the second half, no. And its only for the first half that I give it 2 stars. Otherwise it would get 1.

I'll still go on to read other Donovan Creed books (the 99 cent price point helps) because the others have been entertaining. Just not this one over much. Sorry.

[Gina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love them pirate story but not them modern story. There's no ending to this one.

[Andrew · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t even know where to begin with this book. First of all, the shift in storytelling has been incredibly drastic. It started with the last book (Saving Rachel) and just continues to deviate further and further from the action/thriller genres of the first two in the series. Now & Then starts out like a romance story that turns into a mystery. Interspersed with this is a character named D’Augie that ends up in situations so absurd that it’s ludicrous. It was such an obvious use of comic relief, but I have to admit, I did laugh. It doesn’t help that our protagonist spends the entire time doing boring, everyday things like cooking and fixing stuff while in the company of a totally unlikeable love interest. Despite all this, (yes, I’m attempting to make excuses for this book) at least all of this continues to follow the life of Donovan Creed, albeit while he’s on vacation. However, what ends up happening a little over the halfway point is what can only be described as a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT and IRRELEVANT tale about a PIRATE in the 1700s. If that sounds absolutely fucking ridiculous, it’s because it is. Enough said.

[Forexup · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this novel. It is easy read, with good characters, and simple plots!

[Byron Washington · Rating 2 out of 5]

Umm..WTH?!?!

This book was ok. If you like Donovan Creed you may enjoy it it. If you are new to the series you probably won't like it.

With caveats, buy it, read it and you might enjoy.👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥

[Harry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing with my pursuit of the lone Hero (see reviews for Joe Pike novels, John Rain novels, and Jack Reacher novels) Donovan Creed is probably the most unique character I came across.

I'd never heard of John Locke until I received my Kindle DX in the mail. Locke made his fame and fortune self-publishing his books in the Kindle world. For the Kindle, his books are ridiculously inexpensive (around $0.99 to $1.99). I was surprised at what I read and hooked from the start. Unlike my other series books, however, there is a difference in the books in terms of ratings...so I have not given them the standard 4 or 5 star ratings across the entire series.

First of all, the books are short but packing a powerful punch, a mixture of excellent humor (left me laughing at the insanity of what I was reading) and the grim reality of a hero who kills people. Lethal people introduces us to Creed, the business he is in, his side-kicks and his insane relationship within his own world and certainly the world most of us live in (let's just say Creed is not fit to live a normal life and does not understand it). Get ready for a roller coaster ride and, above all...enjoy! You will find that towards the end of each book you will be filled with disappointment that the ride is over...and almost certainly you will hunt down the next Donovan Creed thriller.

[Joe Barlow · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Locke continues his pattern of writing each new Creed novel in a radically different style. The book's first half details how Donovan and Rachel become enamored with a beachfront bed and breakfast, and end up working there for reasons they don't fully understand. The second half flashes back 300 years to tell a rollicking pirate adventure, detailing the town's history, as well as the backstory of a certain witch-like character from Locke's EMMETT LOVE series. The book is all over the place in terms of narrative, with some very amusing "literary slapstick" episodes involving a character named D'Augie. But it doesn't feel complete. No doubt the loose ends are tied up in the next book, which I'll be reading shortly.

[Craig Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A frustrating book in the end, especially as a follow up to the much better Saving Rachel. The first two-thirds of the novel belong to Creed and set up a scenario nicely. The novel unfolds nicely, but then the last third is a flashback that spins off into a pirate story. While it's related to the main plot, Locke left a lot of unanswered questions dangling before moving into the pirate story, and he never comes back within this novel to resolve them. To make matters worse, it doesn't appear he comes back to these questions in the next novel in the series as well. While a decent read, everything felt unresolved and left me unsatisfied.

[Ken Rossignol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating book which carries forward the Donovan Creed character and is march through life as an assasin, but we now learn he is a "foody" as well who goes to the beach. The saga then steps back in time and blends in John Locke's whacky genius with history, pirates and prudes. Don't start this series unless you intend on getting wrapped up in it. Go read the boring and silly bad reviews on Amazon and then dare to pick up these great escapes. Don't read the books if you are safe and secure within the parameters of your dull mind. These are adventures. Now & Then works here and now.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the Donovan Creed character in the first two books. The third book was a little odd, and now, in the fourth, he isn't the Donovan Creed we first met. I don't see any similarities between book one and book four. That being said, I really enjoyed this book; the Now and the Then. It seems several readers weren't feeling a warm and fuzzy feeling after reading this, especially the Then part, but it was a fun divergence for me. I recommend this book if you are open to seeing a whole new side of the beloved Donovan Creed.

[Beth (Beth~a~holic) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I surprisingly liked this book, after reading the mixed review I was a little sceptical.

The split "Now" & "Then" was enjoyable. I liked the Jack Hawley/crew sceenes. I still scratch my head a bit on how it all ties together. I hope it will be better explained in the continueing series.

Though it doesn't seem to fit into the other Donovan Creed books due to Creed usually being all business and bada$$, but in this book he seems to be the lovy-dovy and helpful citizen type. It must be the 300 year curse?

[Joshua · Rating 2 out of 5]

This started so good, but by the time I finished, I literally said, out loud, "What just happened?" I feel like this book hit the ground running, and then just disappeared. What. I still don't even know.

I LOVE DONOVAN CREED BOOKS! But.. this one was just odd.

I just started the next one in hopes it makes up for this one...

I am so confused.

[Miguel Covas · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fast-paced entertainment you find in the Donovan Creed series plus some (hi)story inside the story (Cervantes invented this some time ago).
Mr Locke did some research although I doubt very much that someone said 'OK' in 1711...

[Erin Grigson Baylis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was actually enjoying this book until the quite abrupt ending... I do think this was an excuse for him to write a pirate story but have his Donovan Creed fans read it. Not bad writing, just not as seamless as his previous books.

[Sheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plot Twist

This was a surprising but great plot twist. I’m not happy about the cliff hanger, to say the least. I’m so hoping we’ll find out how this story ends in book 5. But wowww loved every second of this book!

[Lynn K Mooney · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pirate

This book was OK but not enthusiastic to keep your attention riveted. the storyline was very slow developing. I prefer detective.police novels.

[Niamh · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of the book was interesting and entertaining, but the second half felt long winded and drawn out. Feels like it didn't have a proper conclusion.

[David Berkley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent plot and twists

A different story from the author but still plenty of Creed. Will definitely read the next book in the series.

[Bryan457 · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 stars for the first part about Donovan and the assassin. Hilarious!
2 stars when it switches to the historical pirate narrative. Just ok.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the first half, not the second half.

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 4 of this series. Was different than the first 3 books but I enjoyed it just as much. Recommend this series.

[IslandRiverScribe · Rating 5 out of 5]

NOW – Donovan Creed and his girlfriend, Rachel, are vacationing in the North Florida area near Amelia Island, St. Alban’s Beach, to be exact. Leaving their B&B for an early evening walk, Donovan experiences an unusual feeling of peace and happiness as they pass an area of dunes. Then, it passes. Later, he experiences this same feeling in other parts of town, near a church and then the hospital. And, again, the feeling passes. When Donovan revisits these places, no such feeling surfaces, but he picks it up in yet another part of town.

NOW – Donovan suspects the phenomenon is somehow related to a missing Pennsylvania woman, Libby Vail, who supposedly has ancestral ties to the St. Alban’s area by way of Gentleman Jack Hawley, a pirate who frequented the area in the early 1700’s. Donovan takes a job as cook for the B&B, giving him an excuse to get to know the locals and investigate. And in the course of his investigation, he is compelled by the locals to hear the whole story of the paranormal feeling, from 1710 to the present. Which leads to …

THEN – The second half of the book takes place in 1710 and introduces us to Gentleman Jack Hawley, a handsome and intelligent pirate, who possesses that same paranormal ability to calm and heal that Donovan has experienced in the town NOW. And then we learn how Hawley is related to the town of St. Alban’s and how he relates to the missing girl NOW. We are exposed, in detail, to the town culture of the times as well as the culture aboard ship. We read our way through hangings, wife auctions, gun and knife fights and a full-fledge cannon fight between two ships. We meet Abby Winter and learn how her love for Hawley saves the town THEN yet curses it for 300 years at the same time, ending NOW. And we meet Rose, a seriously dark witch, who bears an eerie resemblance THEN to the specter Donovan witnesses during a severe storm NOW.

John Locke is a writer whose style you either love or hate. He is telling the story of a contract killer from that man’s POV, and our reading experience leads us to expect a psychotic who spews hate and revenge, torture and cruelty. You just don’t expect a hired assassin whose monetary worth is in the billions, who is a gourmet chef, who wants to be loved in spite of his occupation, and who will help the less fortunate in a heartbeat as long as he hasn’t been hired to off them. You expect a sadist, not a man who subjects his own body to intense pain in order to build a tolerance that might help him survive later. You expect a person of his wealth and accomplishments to stride about a mansion or a yacht. Instead, you find a man who prefers to secretly inhabit people’s attics so that he can find peace – and practice his investigative and stealth skills.

So what you get from John Locke in the Donovan Creed series is tension, terror and murder told in a straight up, droll, off the cuff manner that can horrify you one minute and have tears of laughter rolling down your cheeks the next. Creed is developed as a main protagonist whose moral compass is calibrated more than a few degrees off true north. But he adheres to his principles, hopes for the best, plans for the worst and usually has to adapt and improvise either way. And he does not apologize for who he is or what he does. I respect that approach on the part of an author.

To that end, Creed, in this novel, never kills a soul. He thinks about it a lot, plans for it quite often, but just doesn’t need to do it. In fact, he actually saves lives this time. And somehow, just as John Locke makes Creed feel good throughout the novel, his story made me feel good, too. The more the characters dealt with the paranormal healing spirit, the better I felt. Maybe it was just the power of suggestion, but I swear I had a smile on my face as I read each page.

[Ang · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books are fun to listen to. Like Bourne but funny.

[Jessica Subject · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the back cover of Now & Then:

When we last encountered Donovan Creed, former CIA assassin and free lance killer, he had successfully stolen billions of dollars from the world’s most lethal criminals. Now all he wants is a quiet, romantic vacation with the very sexy Rachel—no fire ants, bi-polar girlfriends, rabid squirrels, accident prone homicidal maniacs, hailstorms, hairless cats, gangs, faith healers, or pirates.

I began reading the Donovan Creed series by John Locke with Saving Rachel and continued with Now & Then, the fourth book in the series. For this review, I’m going to divide the book into sections, as I feel differently about the two different section of the book.

NOW

In an attempt to show a softer side of his main character, John Locke fails to sustain the credibility of Donovan Creed as a paid assassin. So while Creed takes a vacation clearing the attic of the bed & breakfast he is staying at of the invading squirrels and roasting a pig in the sand for multiple guests, the characters Rachel and D’Augie move the story along instead. I was left confused at the end of this part of the book, but many questions were answered in the second half of Now & Then.

THEN

I only had one problem with the second half of the novel. It was not long enough. The new characters intrigued me and I wanted to know the circumstances by which many of them initially met and other aspects of their background.

The dialect separated the two sections and suited the time period and characters from three hundred years ago. Gentleman Jack Hawley remained true to his name and became my favorite pirate. John Locke finishes the book with an epilogue summarizing the lives of many characters and left a smile on my face as I read the last page.

Watch the video trailer here.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Donovan Creed book is very different than the others. This one has a mystery surrounding the plot and it puts a different spin on things. Creed heads down to St. Albans, FL with his gorgeous girlfriend, Rachel, who is also a little bit off her rocker. Makes for an ...Read MoreThis Donovan Creed book is very different than the others. This one has a mystery surrounding the plot and it puts a different spin on things. Creed heads down to St. Albans, FL with his gorgeous girlfriend, Rachel, who is also a little bit off her rocker. Makes for an interesting vacation for everyone! They end up in a bed and breakfast and in the middle of the town's mystery of a missing woman from the area. Laught-out-loud moments involving the poor schlup who tries to kill Creed (again and again and again) and blunders every attempt in a crazy, slap-stick kind of way. The book is divided into 2 parts, Now and, of course, Then (get it?) The then part involves a great story line about St. Albans and pirates and is the only pirate story I have ever enjoyed. Not the usual Creed storyline, but still the usual originl book that is hard to put down!

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

this one feels like a pirate's tale, well probably because it is sort of :)

I'd like to add on Jan 31, 2012, after having just finished the 3 Emmett Love books, if you read this and haven't read those yet, pay attention to that little 10yr odd girl. Pretty sure her name is Rose, if not, she's 10, and does some very strange things indeed. You'll want to remember that thar girl when you get around to readin' the Emmett Love book, which you will, once you realize Emmett seems to be Donovan's Grand, Great-Grand, or Great-Great-Grand pappy.

and I'll be re-reading this one this week, as I'ma thinkin' at this point the pirate in this hear tale may perhaps be an even earlier Creed ancestor! Mr Locke has some 'splainin' to do I say! Where's the next book!!! (after Maybe)

[amber · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm not going to lie...the Donovan Creed series has very little literary value... I felt like I was potentially getting dumber as I read them:)

That being said...they are short, entertaining (in that perfectly mindless sort of way...I enjoy a good mindless read occasionally), and best of all, they're only .99 each on the Kindle! Most entertaining $7 I've spent in awhile...and the 7 books lasted me a full week:)

BUT I really did NOT enjoy the second half of this book. I wish I hadve skipped this entire book. I'm not certain this particular one was worth .99.

[Rebecca Saxton · Rating 3 out of 5]

It many respects, I really loved this book. It takes awhile for me to warm up to characters, and I really like reading about Donovan Creed. While this book was different then the first two , I enjoyed reading the Now part of the book even though a bit different then the other books. I also enjoyed reading the Then part of the book, very entertaining and explained why things were happening. The only problem I truly had is that I wanted to see how it resolved by going back to Donovan and Rachel. The abrupt ending didnt' sit well with me. Overall, a very entertaining read.

[Angel Kerner]

This is one of the books in the Donovan Creed series and I have enjoyed several other Creed books however i didn't really care for this one as much. I loved the original charcters, Creed and his crazy girlfriend, but I didn't care for how long the pirate part of the book lasted and I didn't really care for the ending.
All in all I did get the book for .99 and I did think it was worth that but I don't know if I would pay much more for it.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr. Creed has great characters and has me laughing out loud at the assassin in this book. However, once again I am left hanging with the ending. He does a poor job of tying up all the loose end at the end of the book. Sorry Mr. Creed but I won't be reading any more of your books even though I love your characters and your style of writing. I am just too tired of checking to see if the entire book was downloaded correctly and being disappointed at the endings.