A very good read, but it could have been an excellent one..
594736
Teased was actually a very good read, but it could have been an excellent one

The story was complex and full of mystery, suspense, intrigue and drama. Plus, it felt so very real that you could have been watching the storys movie instead of reading its bookThe characters were shaped beautifully and had a very interesting journey throughout the book..So, I loved the story in general

However, I didn't like the gaps in the timeline and I even noticed a couple of emotional gaps. For instance, we read how attracted to Vida Colton was, even when he were acting indifferent towards her. But suddenly he stopped hesitating and questioning his feelings and simply started to pursue her incessantly. That moment, when a character changes course of action when he realizes his true feelings is such an important moment in the book and it really saddened me not to have it. Up until that moment, I really loved the book. However, the lack of processing Coltons feelings and decisions really let me down, because for me that is a huge moment in the story. Indeed, there were a few gaps in the timeline that took me a while to adjust. They were mainly focused on Sawyer and her story, but they bugged me a bit. Especially in the ending right before the epiloguePerhaps that gap is in the next book of the series..But the movement towards the epilogue was not smooth and I felt very startled by it and annoyed that I didn't really get any significant answers. Again, all of this may be in the next book, but I merely state my breaking points

But those remarks do not change the fact that the story and our characters are pretty amazing!! Lets Go Meet Them!

>>Vida is such a strong, loyal, stubborn, decent and sweet person..You cannot not love her! She has fierce determination and so many dreams for her life that make her awe-inspiring..Because she wasn't dealt with a good childhood..She didn't have many resources and she certainly did not have the best environment every child deserves to have when growing up..She is an admirable young woman who will also keep you very entertained

>>Colton is such a strong, confident and devoted manHe also didn't have the best environment to grow up in and he certainly was not the best judge of character..Tessa was the worst decision he ever made and he paid it dearly..But we cant stop wondering that his awful decision did land him with Vida, so yeah I will leave it to that..

I will give you a fair warning that he might make you want to slap him..A lotIn the first half of the book, anyway..So you could enjoy a glass of wine, while reading that first half

In conclusion, Teased is a really great story..It has some negative points ( in my opinion, at least)But the story and the characters more than make up for them!!
639461
Enjoyed the characters & the plot, also the ancillary characters.  Versatility would have been a +
1452329
I should confess straight up that I am a big fan of Edward Rutherfurd and consider him a worthy successor to my favourite author James A Michener.  For me, a hefty novel with generations of interesting characters is my idea of heaven, and his masterpiece "Sarum" is a wonderful example of a great, great novel.

Now  the latest offering "New York" - is a very well written and researched novel, and this in itself makes it a worthwhile read.  However, I have to admit that I found it vaguely disappointing.

The city of New York has a fascinating history and has been at the forefront of much of the world's history, both good and bad.  What I have found disappointing is that the storyline seems to only touch lightly on some of the more high profile events in its history, placing them in the context of the families that have been developed to populate the story.

Now this is a tried and true narrative technique, and it would be far more effective if the families were more interesting.  But alas, somehow the story moves either too slowly, making the reader think surely something big will happen soon, or in such great leaps that we miss a lot of what makes the characters truly engaging, and limiting the sense of dynasty that makes these types of novels so engaging.

Having said that, it is still a very good read.  The research undertaken is excellent and the characters are for the most part interesting and engaging (though I still believe that the characters that we don't get to know as well had the potential to be far more interesting!).  Plus its about New York - one of the greatest cities on earth!

I can recommend it, it is entertaining and well written.  It is NOT the great novel I hoped it would be, but perhaps I am just a victim of my own high expectations!
4538000
Overall, I thought this was a very good book. Well written. Sophisticated. Good character development. Witty dialog and good story line.

The author asks a very simple question. If you could go back in time and correct past (perceived) errors, would you? Now, I'm not so sure.

Interestingly, I did find the lead character, Matt, a bit judgmental and crude, I suspect this was the author's intent. This appears to provides a foundation the choices he subsequently makes, and the unintended consequences that follow. I still haven't  decided whether he deserves his ultimate fate, I will let you read the book and decide.

Typographical errors, noted by reviewers of earlier editions, have been corrected.

MRB
4204838
The book was very readable with a very good story and some interesting characters. I guess my problems with the book were two fold. One, there seemed to be times when the author was simply filling up space, could have gotten to the point much quicker in some chapters. Secondly, after reading awhile you knew the outcome was going to be positive. It was almost like the old melodramas where the hero shows up at the last minute to save the heroine in distress.
3633512
Ok, so FTR I do like this author's style; this was an enjoyable read, for the most part. Good concept, intriguing and believable characters -- a good story well told, right up til just before the end. I got lost a bit in the last 15% of the story, though, in which twists and turns seem to be inserted for their own sake... there was a perfect ending point, in which (won't do spoilers) justice would be served and there would have been the disharmonic but real-feeling symmetry of the main character getting what he agreed to, but not what he thought it would be -- and always the outsider. I'm a bit frustrated that the author shot past this point, but it won't keep me from reading more of his work. I enjoyed reading it, overall; just wish the ending didn't veer so much towards the busy.
2800708
This was a great read, with complex characters and one doozy of a storyline... But the story isn't resolved at the end.
1117858
I thought this was an excellent book, well written and the character  developed  and the reader got a keen appreciation of her character and drive, the heroine was 'almost complex', but in the effort to get to complexity, it was somewhat over-written. However - SPOILER ALERT - There need not have been that much trauma within the foster care system, as some parts of it came across as unrealistic. Then there was a major plot discrepancy, as the author portrays an investigation with Federal and Law enforcement, but yet with all this law enforcement, no one knew that the heroine had been raised in foster care. That again is very unrealistic as given the gravity of the situation and charges, background checking would have been done by the state agencies.

The book could have been amazing if not for those details. Perhaps the author can be more careful in the futire.

However it was a good read and enjoyable.
2251361
a novel concept, would have liked it more if the series continued
3214360
A very good read, but not great. It sometimes felt as if Mr. Archer was trying to condense one and a half books into one, and at other times that he was trying to make a full book out of three quarters worth of material. At any rate, "There Was a Man" is well worth your time. Archer is one of the best authors of his time,  and I'm looking forward to where his talent takes us next!
3351811
This could have been an outstanding novel. There were great characters that could have been developed more. An awesome plot that could have been even more complex and prominent. with the character developing relationships with each other, it eventful have made a great series with each book focusing on one couple. as the ending felt rushed and left me feeling underwhelmed. With so many unanswered questions throughout the book, it felt as though I missed a prequel which would help me understand the motives and relationship dynamics.  That being said, I knew the length when I decided to read it and, as a very quick read, it did a fair job. if this author published a full length MC novel I would definitely buy it.
623600
Some of the writing in this book was amazing.  Sadly, other parts were lacking.  As a crime novel, this would have been a nice, short read, but as a romance, the chemistry, infatuation, and palpable desire was all too often told instead of shown.

With that said, the plot and storyline was well thought out.  I kept thinking I knew what was going to happen until the end - and was wrong.  I would have liked a few details to be cleared up better at the end (such as the voice on the phone) but I can see the technical issues with that and proper POV, so give it a pass.

The language, editing, and actual writing of this book was wonderful, though.  Except for the habitual telling how the characters felt instead of showing their growing romance (which, in all fairness, some areas showed wonderfully) I would have given this book a higher rating.  It was very good, definitely worth the price (of free) and a good read that makes me interested to check out this author's other works.
247029
Premise slightly convoluted, but overall a very good read
3655935
this was a good one, but I would of loved at least one more chapter to tie off loose ends !
4285171
I would say this book is "good".... Well written, but there is just something about it that does not allow me to give it five stars... Maybe it was just too "real".... But again, still a good read... Judge for yourself...
110222
Uprooted is a delightful read, with distinct and engaging characters and a setting rich with both charm and dread.  The premise is engaging and the story interesting.  That said, there is one issue which holds it back.

While the book overall is fantastic, the quality is distinctly but not entirely front-loaded.  It feels as if it needed to be about half again longer, or perhaps split into two books entirely, in order to give each part of the story time to breath.  There are three separate points where the work reaches what feels like the dramatic climax of a novel.  And while the first is given a mostly sufficient development, the second is more rushed, and the third runs itself over a cliff.  There is clearly a very interesting story and history presented in the last half off the book, explaining the ancient menace which has formed the core of the conflict prior.  But because it is all squeezed into less than a fifth of the text it feels too rushed to take in, and the weight of the revelations is lessened.

However, that aside, the book is easily worth the price and more.
1178431
An excellent piece of writing, startlingly original and well done - but I did find the ending a little weak. In my opinion, the place to have ended the story would have been on the presentation of the award - the terrible moment of the scientist realising she had spoiled her own lifetime triumph would have been the most climactic ending, and running on after it, I felt, robbed the story of much of its impact.