Throwback Thursday - Taken by Storm by Tami Hoag

Author: Tami Hoag

First published in 1992 by Loveswept

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Tami Hoag comes this bittersweet romance classic about a woman who’s rebuilt her life—and her heart—after the disappointments of the past, only to find her carefully laid plans shattered by a knock on the door.…

I'll admit, I wasn't sure I was going to like Taken by Storm.  After reading the synopsis, I thought it was going to be an infidelity story, since Julia is supposed to be engaged when Storm comes back into her life.  I'm not a fan of those. But in the end, I enjoyed the book.  Julia isn't really engaged. She and the guy she is seeing have talked about it, but something has been holding her back from looking for a ring and setting a date. She hasn't even committed herself to a physical relationship with him. 

Yes, S.T. ( a.k.a.Storm) has walked away from her three times, but he is just too cute and so eager to get her back.  The lengths he goes to in order to profess his love for her are amusing. Anyone reading the book can see that they are really meant for each other. Sometimes, it just takes the other person time to grow up and be ready to commit. Along with all of his fans, I was rooting for S.T.   Having said that, I was happy that it took Julia a while to admit she still loved S.T. and was ready to start trusting him again. It made the story more realistic. I have read negative reviews for this one, but I thought it was entertaining.  Try it out and let us know your thoughts.

Down the Darkest Road by Tami Hoag

Author: Tami Hoag

Publisher: Dutton Adult

Date of Publication: December 2011

Four years after the unsolved disappearance of her sixteen-year-old daughter, Lauren Lawton is the only one still chasing the ghosts of her perfect Santa Barbara life. The world has given her daughter up for dead. Her husband ended his own life in the aftermath. Even Lauren's younger daughter is desperate to find what's left of the childhood she hasn't been allowed to have.

Lauren knows exactly who took her oldest child, but there is not a shred of evidence against the man. Even as he stalks her family, Lauren is powerless to stop him. The Santa Barbara police are handcuffed by the very laws they are sworn to uphold. Looking for a fresh start in a town with no memories, Lauren and her younger daughter Leah move to idyllic Oak Knoll. But when Lauren's suspect turns up in the same city, it feels to all the world that history is about to repeat itself. Leah Lawton will soon turn sixteen, and Oak Knoll has a cunning predator on the hunt.

Sheriff's detective Tony Mendez and his team begin to close in on the suspected killer, desperate to keep the young women of their picturesque town safe. But as the investigators sift through the murky circumstances of an increasingly disturbing case, a stunning question changes everything they thought they knew.

Down the Darkest Road is the third book in the Oak Knoll series. I have enjoyed the series so far and this one was no exception.  While you basically know who the "killer" is from the start, the journey to catching him is very exciting.  Ms. Hoag throws in a few twists that had me surprised.  The reader also gets glimpses of past characters, which is always nice to see.  The book is set in the early 90s when technology isn't up to today's level.  It was refreshing to see them solve the mystery without the use of high tech equipment and super fast computers.

While I enjoyed this one, I really felt the loss of the romantic element in the book.  There is really no love interest for Tony, just the smallest hint of one.  I would have liked to see him find someone in this book. Maybe in the next one?  I listened to the audio version and it was very good.  While it is the 3rd in a series, I do feel that it could be a stand alone novel.  There is enough background presented that the reader doesn't feel lost.

Throwback Thursday- The Trouble with JJ by Tami Hoag

Author: Tami Hoag
First published in 1988 by Bantam Books


Just what Genna Hastings needed, a conceited creep of a new neighbor with rippling muscles, mile-wide shoulders, and a wicked Jack Nicholson smile that could melt stone! It wasn't often that women resisted star quarterback J.J. Hennessy, but he was ready to trade all the cover girls he'd dated for the adorable lady next door. With his summer sky eyes and kisses that stole her sanity and her willpower, J.J. was impossibly charismatic, magnificently male -- and a bachelor father who was in danger of losing custody of his little girl... unless he could persuade Genna to help change his fast-lane image in time! She was tempted by his offer, and by him -- but she couldn't be head over heels in love with a wildman football player... could she? J.J. insisted that opposites attracted, just like magnets, but Genna wanted security, a man who'd always be there. Could he make her believe he was her man for all seasons?


From what I can tell, this was Tami Hoag's first book.  Like a lot of romantic suspense and mystery writers, she got her start writing contemporary romance.  She has come a long way from this first book!  While I did enjoy The Trouble with J.J., I didn't love it.  The one thing that I didn't really care for was Genna.  She was too wimpy for me.  JJ was such a great character and so obviously head over heels for Genna, but she just can't see it.  Instead of confronting JJ about his feelings, she becomes withdrawn and sulky.  That drove me nuts.  I was also frustrated with the end.  It was dragged out WAAAAAAY too long with no epilogue.  What a let down.

The one redeeming quality of this book was JJ.  He is just too cute. I loved the scenes between him and his daughter. I also loved the peripheral characters.  They are really what kept me engaged.  The aunt was hysterical!  I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a wonderful job.  It's a quick read and worth it for any fan of Ms. Hoag!

Deeper Than the Dead

by Tami Hoag


Lately I started listening to audiobooks in the car as I run all my errands. This is the most recent audio book I listened to and I'm very glad I did (as opposed to reading the actual book). Kirsten Potter did an excellent job bringing the characters to life and her overall tone of voice was quite suited for audiobooks. The story itself was quite good, but a little predictable. I suspect that may have been the author's intent though, to make the reader feel smarter. I found myself drawn to the characters particularly Tommy, although at a few spots I wish there would have been a little more information. I wondered why this one did that? Or where did this one go? There were several references to Janet's childhood, but there was never any explanation as to what went on. And what happened to Dennis?? These, however, are minor little details that aren't really important in the end. The story was well written and well read and so engaging that at times I hated getting to my destination. I would end up sitting in my car listening to the story to see what would happen next! I think a present day sequel would be fun...find out where everyone ended up and everyone's seemingly perfect lives are turned upside down by the return of the creepy Dennis Farman (sp? I never saw it spelled out!!) or is it just a coincidence?? There's you an idea Tami Hoag! :)