J.D. Robb discussion

I'll start this one off. One of the most humorous things I like about Eve is her dislike for large social gatherings. It's hard when you don't know the rules, and we all know Eve would rather be working. I love the scene when she is trying to coordinate the decorating for Christmas and the girl who is arranging the poinsettia tree only has 99 instead of 100. She did take command of that one, though.

I love how Lt. Eve Dallas isn't afraid to face anything. She will walk into a situation where it's terribly uncomfortable and she's fearless. Eve won't shrink from the uncomfortable when it has to do with the job. Here she believes she's earned the right to be there and makes no apologies. And, I like how she doesn't take any guff socially as well. How many scenes have we seen her described as striding through a restaurant, flicking off pretentious maitre' d's who don't think she's appropriate. I absolutely adore her style.

I love when she enjoys the confrontations with people who bar her way when she needs to get somewhere or interview people; when she tells them to leave her car just where she parked it.

More of her strong personality is shown by her lack of jealousy concerning Roarke's ex-lovers. Of course, the exception is Maggie, but she's different. He gives her Eve's "look". I know my husband has a special look and even a special tone for me, and so I get how that would have floored her.

Vanessa wrote: "I love when she enjoys the confrontations with people who bar her way when she needs to get somewhere or interview people; when she tells them to leave her car just where she parked it.

More of h..."

Oh, how I cringed at that scene. I hate being made to feel jealous and I was reluctant to keep reading, so afraid something was going to change their relationship. It was hard to keep reading.

haha well personally i think that one thread is not enough for someone as complex and awesome as eve! haha no way will we get it all!

but i love her "lanky stride" and her bland stares and her ferocity that scares the crap out of everyone. and hehehe how she can befriend people like Crack.

Jonetta, I really get what you mean by the cringing .. I came across what happened in the book somewhere else (alright I looked on wikipedia ) and it got me so nervous about reading that book that i literally glanced through it the first time around just to make sure everything was fine with Eve and Roarke.

I think I love that she gets a bit flustered with the romance between her and Roarke and her vulnerability in that aspect is at odds with the take charge person she is.

Ila wrote: "Jonetta, I really get what you mean by the cringing .. I came across what happened in the book somewhere else (alright I looked on wikipedia ) and it got me so nervous about reading that book that..."

I did the same thing! I had to make sure they'd be okay. Now, I reread it without issue but I still feel bad for her in those tough scenes.

What I love is that Dallas is such a paradox. She is a tough, hard as nails, homicide cop, ready to put herself in danger and defend those that can no longer defend themselves. Then there's her soft side with Roarke. And with Roarke's (well, and some others too but it starts with R) help, how she begins to soften to others, accepts friendships and people in her life.


POTENTIAL SPOILER.....

One of my favorite scenes is from Born In Death. Dallas has seen absolute horrors in what people can do to others in her job. But she could not handle going to the birthing classes with Mavis and watching videos of the miracle of birth. And then the birth, itself. Had me chuckling...

This was the first book I read in this series and I was hooked before I even finished the first chapter. Had to read them all from the beginning!

Elizabeth wrote: "haha well personally i think that one thread is not enough for someone as complex and awesome as eve! haha no way will we get it all!

but i love her "lanky stride" and her bland stares and her f..."

Elizabeth, Maybe we should make an entire folder for her and Roarke and list each attribute. Actually that may not be a bad idea if everyone is willing to add some new topics. But it might be overkill, so we'll wait and see if much happens with the topic.

Sherdnerd wrote: "What I love is that Dallas is such a paradox. She is a tough, hard as nails, homicide cop, ready to put herself in danger and defend those that can no longer defend themselves. Then there's her s..."

I actually just finished reading that one, again, LOL. That whole bit with the birthing classes is one of the funniest side stories in the series. I guess what makes it really funny is that both Eve and Roarke are horrified. It's nice to see them horrified together.

I'm listening to Imitation In Death and while discussing a BBQ that she & Roarke are invited to @ the Mira's, Eve complains that she doesn't want to go because she'd have to talk to a bunch of strangers. Roarke reminds her that she talks to strangers every single day....only they are "murder suspects" to her.

Karon wrote: "I'm listening to Imitation In Death and while discussing a BBQ that she & Roarke are invited to @ the Mira's, Eve complains that she doesn't want to go because she'd have to talk to a bunch of stra..."

It's funny how at ease she is at being Dallas, Lieutenant Eve and utterly stymied at just being Eve. We won't even go there with Mrs. Roarke, though I love the moments when some poor sap makes that mistake.

Jonetta wrote: "We won't even go there with Mrs. Roarke..."

Who??? lololol

Zaanodes wrote: "Jonetta wrote: "We won't even go there with Mrs. Roarke..."

Who??? lololol"

My fingers trembled just typing that.

Jonetta wrote: "My fingers trembled just typing that."

Did you expect a gun in your face any second? I would have!

Zaanodes wrote: "Jonetta wrote: "My fingers trembled just typing that."

Did you expect a gun in your face any second? I would have!"

More like a fist!

Jonetta wrote: "More like a fist!"

Or...

The Glare!

Zaanodes wrote: "Jonetta wrote: "More like a fist!"

Or...

The Glare!"

Have you tried to determine what her glare looks like? Eve likes to get in your face and it's got to be intimidating.

Yes, I have. I don't think I have matched it, though.

You?

Zaanodes wrote: "Yes, I have. I don't think I have matched it, though.

You?"

Yeah, I think I do. It's like an unblinking fish eye that makes you just want to be somewhere else.

Jonetta wrote: "Yeah, I think I do. It's like an unblinking fish eye that makes you just want to be somewhere else."

A fish??? I could see a coyote or cougar or some other predator 'cause she will hunt you down, lay in wait with that stare...then BAM!

So many of the things that totally baffle Eve on a personal and social level are things I relate to on a personal level because they are the same things that have always baffled me.

I relate to her character because of that ... why do I have to shop for gifts? why do I have to get dressed up to go talk nice to people I don't like and am not interested in? why do we have to invite those people over for dinner because we went to their house for a BBQ?

Even her focus on her job is familiar. I can't remember which book the scene was in but I found myself laughing out loud at the description of the 'civilians' seated at adjoining tables at a restaurant when she was discussing the more graphic details of a murder scene with Peabody (?).

Not a murder scene ... a horse injury ... but I have been in exactly the same circumstances when lunching with an equine vet friend of mine.

Haha I liked rapture in death because even though it was atrocious what happened between them (sad face) I love that she was like Roarke, no, I love you!! This was nlot your fault. I reread that part last night and I was like "awwhh"

Elizabeth wrote: "Haha I liked rapture in death because even though it was atrocious what happened between them (sad face) I love that she was like Roarke, no, I live you!! This was nlot your fault. I reread that pa..."

***SPOILER****

You're talking about the closet scene?

Yea.

Zaanodes wrote: "Jonetta wrote: "Yeah, I think I do. It's like an unblinking fish eye that makes you just want to be somewhere else."

A fish??? I could see a coyote or cougar or some other predator 'cause she will..."

Yes, I'm sure there was at least one time when Roarke compared Eve with a strong feline, or maybe it was a bulldog, LOL. I can't remember when, though. I know Eve compared Roarke to a wolf. I believe that was at Louise's engagement party.

I often wonder if Eve ever gets enough to eat and any sleep. It's a good thing Roarke insists she eat and Peabody begs for food, or else she'd just drink coffee at the exclusion of anything else, unless it's Pizza, of course.

As for sleep, she's either staying up until the wee hours of the morning or she and Roarke are having sex. Then there's the nightmares. It's a wonder her brain actually works; she has to be sleep deprived!!

Vanessa wrote: "I often wonder if Eve ever gets enough to eat and any sleep. It's a good thing Roarke insists she eat and Peabody begs for food, or else she'd just drink coffee at the exclusion of anything else, u..."

As best as I can tell, she's surviving off of an average a four or five hours a night. Roarke is handling her diet.

Btw, I remember the scene at the girls party where Eve compared Roarke to a wolf. Her friends were trying to pump her for more info about Roarke. Fun party.

Yes, I loved that party; it's probably my favorite social event of the series. As I recall, there was some pretty risqué talk and Eve actually joined in. I loved that part.

:D I love the girls friend circle, especially after re-reading naked in death , they've all come so far when with their relationships.

When I read the party scene and they were discussing the animals, I was wondering what she was going to pick and then she said wolf .. it fits so perfectly!

Wolves mate for life:)

Some of the best scenes are when Dallas gets a chance to be in these all girl sessions. Each time she thinks it's going to be awful and she ends up having a good time.

Remember when it was all the girls in her office and Mavis solved the crime? That was a classic.

Jonetta wrote: "Wolves mate for life:)

Some of the best scenes are when Dallas gets a chance to be in these all girl sessions. Each time she thinks it's going to be awful and she ends up having a good time.

..." "Spoilers!!"

Wasn't that the one where Mavis discovers the woman is the guilty one? I believe it's Promises in Death with Amyrillas and Morris.

Vanessa wrote: "Jonetta wrote: "Wolves mate for life:)

Some of the best scenes are when Dallas gets a chance to be in these all girl sessions. Each time she thinks it's going to be awful and she ends up having..."

That's it! I was struggling to remember the case. I love that scene.

oh yea!!!! that one was a really good one

The 'girl sessions' with the facials, hair, etc. that I enjoy most are the ones she manages to get out of when a work call comes in and she gets to leave.

The girl party I liked the most was the pre-bridal party (can't remember whose it was) where her reporter friend ends up stripping with the male stripper they'd hired ... and Eve mentions it every chance she gets ... the purple 'undies' ...

Sharon wrote: "The 'girl sessions' with the facials, hair, etc. that I enjoy most are the ones she manages to get out of when a work call comes in and she gets to leave.

The girl party I liked the most was the p..."

That was Eve's bridal party in Immortal in Death. They were at the Down and Dirty and Nadine stripped to her purple undies.

Haha oh, Nadine. is that the one where Eve caught the guy in the back room? he took her there to kill her and she ended up arresting him and she was so happy because it was the perfect ending to her bridal party.

Elizabeth wrote: "Haha oh, Nadine. is that the one where Eve caught the guy in the back room? he took her there to kill her and she ended up arresting him and she was so happy because it was the perfect ending to he..."

****SPOILER ALERT***

Yep but she was happy because she was drugged. Remember, he whaled on her and she got married with a black eye.

Oh, I forgot about the black eye. Immortal is one of those books you have to read before the next one, Rapture. Rapture in Death mentions the name of the killer in Immortal. That's a real spoiler for you. Yet another reason to read them in order. I didn't though, when I first started. Of course, I never really noticed the spoilers anyway, but just FYI.

I was remembering a scene from Fantasy in Death, one of my least favorite in the series btw. (view spoiler)[Roarke was working with McNab and the rest of the team in EDD. He's sitting at a cubicle with everyone bouncing and dancing all around him and here's this billionaire helping out in the midst of this chaos. Eve walks up and sees him and just stands there gazing at him. He senses her there, sees the expression on her face and comes out to her. They embrace and kiss, Feeney comes out and tells them to get a room. It is so unusual for Eve to have public displays of affection, which made this such a special moment. (hide spoiler)]

i read them in order thankfully! how did u guys find the series? i was strolling through borders when i noticed a rainbow on the shelves!

My sisters-in-law have been reading the series for years. Last year, we started playing cards online and using Skype for audio and they were nattering about somebody named Roarke. When I questioned them, they couldn't believe they hadn't shared the series (I'm very close to them). I had just gotten a Sony Reader so I ordered Naked in Death. The next week, I told them it was fantastic and then they unleashed the beast. I'm grateful that I had someone to help me read them in order. They directed me to the list on the J. D. Robb website and I read the series in about three months.

I was looking for a good audio book and found the series. I love Nora Roberts and mysteries and so I thought I might find it interesting. I can't remember which one it was, but I ended up not reading them in order. It didn't seem to matter, though. I soon found the start of the series and worked from there. I finally began reading them in order last year.

I think the first one was a recommendation from someone on one of my reading lists and got a couple at the library. Liked them so well I immediately started with the first book and the whole series is now on my bookshelf. I've probably re-read the entire series at least 3 times, though I'm finding there are individual books in the series I skip sometimes now. It's also one of only three series that I preorder and buy before reading.

It may take a while for her to let you into her life but once there you are in for life!! As much as she may gripe about "how crowded" her life has become I don't think she would kick anybody out!!

I like the really wide range of different people she is connected to ... not just the people she works with but some of the ones she's 'met' during cases ... not just Mavis, but Jamie, for instance, the "boy geek wonder" Roarke is now subsidizing in school ... and Crack, the bouncer at the really raunchy club/bar ...

oh crack...

And of course Charles & Louise and Trina ;-)

of course! (well maybe not trina..) and dont forget feeney and peabody and mcnabb. as people not cops. and mavis!

and Dr. & Mr. Mira...