Throwback Thursday: Heart on a Stick by Carla Neggers

Author: Carla Neggers
First published in 1983 by Loveswept

Witty, unconventional JoAnna Radcliff fell off a ladder into brilliant heart surgeon Paul Houghton Welling's arms. But one look at him told her he belonged in the stuffy Philadelphia society world she'd escaped for a cottage in Pigeon Cove. She firmly believed she'd never fit into his life -- she, a puppeteer, spent her days in paint-spattered jeans and her evenings in antique dresses from her grandmother's attic. 

But she couldn't have been more wrong about Paul -- and he set out to show her, with infinite patience and fierce determination. She was the puppet master, but he knew how to keep her heart on a string.

I'm a huge fan of Carla Neggers.  After reading this, I am glad that her writing has improved over the years.  Don't get me wrong, Heart on a String isn't a bad book, but you can definitely tell it's an early work.  It has all the wonderful cheesy content that an early 80s romance needs. JoAnna is a puppet maker who falls fast for a heart surgeon.  She is convinced they won't work well together, but they can't deny their lust.  Paul will do anything to convince Jo that they are perfect for each toehr.

I thought this was a cute story.  I had a couple of issues, the first being the little amount of time they actually spent together. It kind of made it hard to see how they fell in love.  I also got a little tired of Jo constantly doubting Paul.  That just got old.  Their HEA was great and I loved Paul's "revenge" over the puppet show Jo put on at the holiday party.  That was really cute. I'd recommend going this early one a shot, especially if you are a fan of this author.  It's a very quick read.  Perfect for a rainy afternoon.

Christmas at Carriage Hill by Carla Neggers

Author: Carla Neggers
Publisher: Harlequin
Date of publication: December 2014

When fashion designer Alexandra Rankin Hunt is asked to create the dresses for Olivia Frost's Christmas wedding in tiny Knights Bridge, Massachusetts, she jumps at the chance. She's certain she'll never get to design one for herselfnot with her history of falling for the wrong men. Ian Mabry, the sexy fighter pilot whose bravery reminded her of her beloved great-grandfather, was the worst yet.

To Alexandra's surprise, Ian is also at Carriage Hill, Olivia's picturesque country inn. And if anyone can charm his way into a wedding, it's him. Ian wants more than an invitation he's determined to find a way back into Alexandra's life.

Christmas at Carriage Hill was a very sweet addition to the Swift River Valley series.  I have been a fan from the start.  After finishing the novella, I don't feel like this can't be a stand alone novella.  I suggest reading the other books first to have a slight clue as to who everyone is in Swift River Valley.  There are a lot of old characters that show up for Dylan and Olivia's wedding.

I enjoyed Ian and Alex's story.  I loved how Ian knew they weren't finished and did what he could to woo her back.  I found myself tearing up at the gift that Ian gave to Grace.  What an incredible memory to give to her. That being said, while I enjoyed the story, I felt a little cheated. As with a lot of novella's, I always want more.  I would have loved to see more of how Ian and Alex met. I feel like their story could have been a full novel. We got the aftermath of the angst without seeing what caused the angst.  I would have also loved to see more of Dylan and Olivia's wedding.  They have been a favorite couple of mine since the beginning.  I wanted to read their vows to each other!

The next Swift River Valley Novel, Echo Lake comes out in January.  I can't wait to read it!  

Cider Brook by Carla Neggers

Author: Carla Neggers
Publisher: Mira (Harlequin)
Date of publication: January 2014

Being rescued by a good-looking, bad-boy firefighter isn't how Samantha Bennett expected to start her stay in Knights Bridge, Massachusetts. Now she has everyone's attention—especially that of Justin Sloan, her rescuer, who wants to know why she was camped out in an abandoned old New England cider mill. 

Samantha is a treasure hunter who has returned to Knights Bridge to solve a 300-year-old mystery and salvage her good name. Justin remembers her well. He's the one who alerted her late mentor to her iffy past and got her fired. But just because he doesn't trust her doesn't mean he can resist her. Samantha is daring, determined, seized by wanderlust—everything that strong, stoic Justin never knew he wanted. Until now…

I have really been enjoying this series so far.  Cider Brook is the third in this series about Knights Bridge, Massachusetts.  A clue in a painting has led Samantha to investigate the possibility of pirate treasure in an old cider mill in the town.  The problem is that she was fired by Dylan McCaffery's father a few months before he died.  She has tremendous guilt about it and is hoping to slip in and out of the town unseen.  Who knew that lightning would cause a fire and trap her inside the old cider mill?

But, while I did enjoy Cider Brook, I have to say I was a little underwhelmed with the overall story. For me, the romance part was the best part of the story.  Samantha and Justin were great together.  I thought they had good chemistry. I'm a big fan of the Sloan men in general.  I hope more of them show up in later books.  It was also nice to catch up with characters from the earlier books.

I  thought the mystery part was kind of OK.  It wasn't as exciting as the mysteries in the first two books and felt like a bit of a let down.  I also felt like there was too much rehashing of what happened in the previous books with previous characters.  The reason for Samantha's firing by Duncan was kind of silly if you ask me and could have been cleared up by one simple conversation.  I honestly didn't understand why she felt so guilty.   Still, I do recommend the book.  It is a good addition to the series and worth checking out.

That NIght on Thistle Lane by Carla Neggers

Author: Carla Neggers
Publisher: Harlequin
Date of Publication: January 2013

Librarian Phoebe O'Dunn deals in stories, but her passion for history has taught her that happy endings are rare. Her life in Knights Bridge, Massachusetts, is safe and uneventful...until she discovers the hidden room. 

Among its secrets is a cache of vintage clothing, including a spectacular gown-perfect for a gala masquerade in Boston. In the guise of a princess, Phoebe is captivated by a handsome swashbuckler who's also adopted a more daring persona. Noah Kendrick's wealth has made him wary, especially of women: everybody wants something. 

That Night on Thistle Lane is the second book in the Knights Bridge series. I really loved the first book, Secrets of the Lost Summer and was looking forward to this one. I wasn't disappointed! We met Phoebe and Noah in the first book.  Although, they didn't meet in the first book, their chance meeting in this one sets off immediate sparks.  Their story is very sweet and so fun to read.  I loved them together.  I really like Noah from the first book and thought he really deserved his own shot at happiness. Phoebe has lived most of her life taking care of everyone.  She  has contented herself to never falling in love.  Noah really throws her for a loop.  I loved their HEA.

Along with Noah and Phoebe's story, there is more resolution to the problems in Maggie and Brandon's marriage.  I love his attempts at wooing Maggie back to him.  There was clearly a lack of communication between the two and they so obviously still love each other   The mystery of the dresses was interesting.  I liked how it tied in with the O'Dunn family. 

I have always enjoyed Ms. Neggers contemporary romances.  I hope that she will continue with Knights Bridge and treat us to more of residents of this sweet small town.

Secrets of the Lost Summer by Carla Neggers

Author: Carla Neggers

Publisher: Mira

Date of Publication: January 2012

Audiobook: AudioGo 

Narrator:Susan Boyce

Beneath the surface lie the greatest treasures.

Against this breathtaking landscape, Dylan and Olivia pursue long-buried secrets and discover a mystery wrapped in a love story…past and present.

Carla Neggers goes back to her roots with Secrets of the Lost Summer.  I have always been a fan of her earlier romance novels, so I was excited to read this new one when I first heard about it.  I wasn't disappointed.  I loved this book.  Dylan and Olivia are the main characters and their love story is very sweet. I liked that it was a slow fall into love and they took time to get to know and trust each other. Olivia has come home to regroup and figure out her future.  Dylan is looking for his next step in life and hopes to resolve issues with his father. 

There is a mystery in this one, but it is more a treasure hunt and the search for deep dark secrets. I thought that the mystery of why Dylan's father bought the house in Olivia's home town was well done.  The answers in the end are both heart-wrenching and bittersweet at the same time. But it was the peripheral characters that really gave the book depth. Olivia's sister Jess and her boyfriend Mark as well as her parents were wonderful additions. Like Olivia and Dylan, they all seem to be at a crossroads in their lives. I also loved Noah and hope he gets his own story!


I listened to the audiobook and thoroughly enjoyed Susan Boyce's reading.  I have heard her on other books and she is always entertaining.    Definitely pick this one up!

Throwback Thursday - Trying Patience

Author: Carla Neggers
First Published in 1992 by Harlequin

Nature writer Patience Madrid didn't want to be in New York city. The stuffed moose head in her mountain cabin was a better conversationalist than most New York cabdrivers! Besides, she liked being a hermit. But her sister insisted she apartment-sit. Now Patience knew why—she'd been set up with a sexy roommate.

Jake Farr needed a place to crash. He hadn't bargained on having a female Davy Crockett as company. Chic women in lacy lingerie were his preference. Patience wore long underwear! Jake soon discovered that making love to this natural woman was like a breath of fresh air—and it made this city slicker dizzy. But would giving up his Jacuzzi for an outhouse in the woods try his patience?


Trying Patience is a classic story of "opposites attract". I really enjoyed the characters in this tale. Patience is a strong woman who knows what she wants. Jake doesn't quite know how to handle her. Will either of them have to give up the world they feel comfortable in for love? I won't give away the end, but the HEA is satisfying. I think this is one of Ms. Neggers better early works. Quite different from the romantic suspense that she writes now. It's a quick and easy read. I got my copy from the library, as I think it might be out of print. If you can find it, give it a shot. You might like it!

--Kari

The Whisper

by Carla Neggers

From Goodreads:
It was meant to be an adventure-a night alone on a remote Irish island. Archaeologist Sophie Malone never expected to find Celtic treasure or to end up in a fight for her life in a dark, desolate cave. Now, a year later, she's convinced answers to the mysteries of that night lie in Boston. Is the recent violence there connected to her night of terror? Who has the priceless gold artifacts that disappeared from the cave...and who is responsible for the whispers she heard in the dark?

Nearly killed in an explosion a month ago, Boston detective Cyrus "Scoop" Wisdom has recovered from his injuries. He's after the bomber-and he thinks it's another cop. But when Sophie unknowingly leads him to a retired officer's body amid symbols of ritual sacrifice, it's clear nobody's safe, and everyone's a suspect.

Tough and stubborn, Scoop is the best on the force at detecting lies...except maybe those of Sophie Malone. Together Sophie and Scoop face the greatest challenge of their lives: someone is using ancient rituals to commit modern-day murder-and the killing has only just begun.

I should warn you that The Whisper is really not a stand alone book. Despite claims on Carla Neggers website that it can be taken as such, I highly suggest that you at least read the second and third books in the series: The Angel and The Mist, respectively. If you don’t, then you probably feel like you stepped into the middle of a movie and not get what’s going on. While she does cover some of the background in this book, I felt there wasn’t enough for a new reader understand what was going on.

OK, on to my review: I absolutely loved The Whisper, latest in Ms. Neggers BPD/FBI series. Scoop Wisdom has always been a favorite of mine and I was excited that he got his own story. The mystery was pretty good and flowed very easily. I didn’t figure it out until close to the reveal. I loved the relationship between Scoop and Sophie. It was refreshing that there was no angst or questions of feelings. I was happy to see a few loose ends tied up in this book as well. I really hope she continues this series as Bob really needs a romance! 5 stars on Goodreads