Sharp Edges

Rating:
Summary: Romantic and mysterious all wrapped in one.
Review: At first, the story seemed to drag, but once I got past the beginning, it went on smoothly. All of the characters in the book seemed to come alive because I was able to imagine all of the scenes in my head.

This was the first novel I read by Jayne Ann Krentz. I was surprised with all of the mysterious happenings since I was expecting a sappy love story. Even though it was a mystery novel, I still really enjoyed reading Sharp Edges.

I will defiantly tell all of my friends to read Sharp Edges, by Jayne Ann Krentz because I know for a fact that they will be surprised when they find out what happened in the end.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable but not Krentz's best
Review: Deep Waters and Absolutely, Positively converted me into a Jayne Ann Krentz fan and I went on to read her earlier work after those two books, including her Regency romances under the pseudonym Amanda Quick. Her trademarks are intelligent, independent heroines and brooding heroes with dark histories. They usually have names that you don't normally tag to romantic heroes and heroines, like Gideon, Molly and Harry.

In this story, it's Cyrus, a private detective, and Eugenia, a Museum Director. The death of a glass collector on Frog Cove Island bring the two together on official missions that hide their real motives: Eugenia to investigate the death of her artist friend (who was also one of the collector's many girlfriends) and Cyrus to hunt down an ancient artifact that was stolen under his security watch three years ago. Their initial suspicion of each other plays against strong physical attraction, but while there is heat and sexual tension, there's no sense of inevitability that these two characters deserve each other and should fall headlong into each other's arms. The main characters are disappointingly flat and the love scenes seem contrived. Krentz tries too hard to make the characters outwardly different that they end up as stereotypes - the sleek, sophisticated Museum Director and the strong, silent detective with the too-colorful shirts. The novel's redeeming features are the snappy dialogue and the quirky secondary characters.

If you want to start on a Krentz romance, I'd strongly recommend Absolutely, Positively, Grand Passion or Deep Waters. While Sharp Edges is still a good read, it won't warm you up on cold nights.

Rating:
Summary: Sharp Edges
Review: For the first quarter of the book, I thought Eugenia was (to be polite) a witch. She slowly became likeable. All of poor Cyrus's choices in clothing were so tacky. The story had a good blend of romance and mystery. After reading this book and all the talk of glass, I have a serious interest in collecting glass art.

Rating:
Summary: A bit too abridged in the audio version
Review: In this story by Jayne Ann Krentz I think that the Audio version (3 hr abridged) is a bit to abridged. I felt like I was missing part of the story at times! but, the overall story did still ragte a 4.

Eugenia Swift is caught up in a mystery when she goes to catalogue a glass collection for the museum that she works for. Along comes Adam - posing as her assistant but he is really investigating the loss of a valuable glass piece that disappeared from his protection years ago while he was transporting it. Then again Eugenia is not only cataloguing the glass but she is trying to figure out why a fiend of hers has been killed... and she is not even sure that she is really dead.... Both are lead along a merry chase with many different twists and turns and they end up helping each other in the end...

Rating:
Summary: Typically JAK - great fun!
Review: Okay, JAK is not long in originality. You know that going in, if you are looking for totally different characters, don't think you ever will find them in her body of work. One might call her a one trick pony, but it is a very well trained pony and you really don't mind watching again and again, despite the different finery and feathers she dresses the pony in. So if you buy a JAK, don't complain because you see the same pattern...you KNOW that is what you buying. That said....

It is a fun book, with JAK wonderful quirky writing. I mean, when her character takes one look at the Private Investigator Cyril Chandler Colfax and thinks "She wondered what the penalty was for strangling very large men who wore tacky aloha shirts, khaki chinos and moccasin-style loafers. Surely no judge or jury would convict her, she thought. Not when they saw the evidence." Well, you know the romance is off to a rocky start!!! Eugenia Swift is a sensible young woman, a connoisseur of beautiful art, a very elegant woman. She has been asked to go to Frog Cove Island, and artistic Haven outside of Seattle. She is to go there to catalogue the art collection of Adam Daventry. Only, she is forced to take Colfax as a body guard, much to her dismay. The dismay increases to horror, when Colfax insists they pose as lovers while on the island.

This does not sit well will Eugenia, because she is going there not only to catalogue the artworks, but to find out what happened to her friend, Nellie Grant, the late Adam's Daventry's lover. She thinks the green-eyed Colfax (green this time - you get green, grey or amber....lol) might crimp her investigation into Nellie's death. What she does not understand, Colfax is on a trek to avenge an old wrong.

Eugenia has always keep her emotions on the shelf, putting everything into her career, but it soon becomes evident, that their lives will depend on them playing convincing lovers.

JAK delivers her usual spunky heroine who tries to run circles around the deceptively deep male...and does it with style.

Rating:
Summary: Not one of my favorites
Review: This book could have been better, tighter, but it wasn't. The ending was especially disappointing.The main characters, Eugenia and Cyrus were too different and I never believed their relationship was more than sexual companionship and a limited business partnership. For a director, she seemed way too impulsive and irrational. For an owner of a multi-office investigation company Cyrus seemed too much on a one-man unit. I liked the idea of them living together in the end, giving themselves more time, but I did not need a marriage to tie up the story. I wanted the relationship to simmer a bit longer before they made a lifelong commitment.
I love art and antiquities which is one of the reasons I like Krentz as she often uses art and antiquities in her plots. I have seen ancient Roman glass. I was very upset that Krentz did not share Eugenia's reaction when she saw the actual Hades cup. Where was that moment of excitement when she saw the real thing and knew what Cyrus has said about its beauty was true? What about the sparks when Eugenia and Cyrus looked at the cup together? We do not even know how the cup got from the condo to the museum? And what was Tabitha's initial reaction when she learned of the cup? When she learned of their romance? And who was Damien really? Honestly, Krentz could have cut out Rhonda and Joshua (who cares about them anyway?) and spent more time developing Eugenia and Cyrus. This book seemed to be rushed at the end, I agree with another reviewer who suggested Ms. Krentz slow down and give us a complete and satisfying story.

Rating:
Summary: This novel converted me to a romance reader.
Review: This was my first Krentz novel. I never read romances, but I enjoyed Sharp Edges so much that I have read 10 more Krentz novels since. Krentz's writing style is crisp and easy to read. The stories are about mature, educated women and not starry-eyed, lithe heroines with heaving bosoms. I enjoy the mystery subplot that goes along with each romance.

Rating:
Summary: A White-Hot Passionate Romantic Adventure!!
Review: Why do I feel like the serpent in the Garden of Eden?... Sorry, I really liked "Deep Waters", but I probably won't buy another JAK unless I am stuck at an airport and I have read every other available Romance, Mystery or Thriller on the newsstand. I think I have made myself clear. It is time for me to find some new talented authors. Although I know I have some previously read titles of hers to review. Hopefully, they are better than this.