Rating: 
Summary: Barely okay.
Review: 2.5 stars.I gave the first book in this trilogy (BLUE BAYOU) 2 stars because it is shallow. Well, so is RIVER ROAD; but at least it was sort of fun to see how long it would take Julia to get to Finn. There's just something about a stoic FBI agent. This is a very familiar plot, and the author failed to go anywhere with it. Why do I get the feeling that the third installment will not be enough to save this trilogy from the discard pile?
Rating: 
Summary: Once again, another winner!
Review: Following Blue Bayou, JoAnn Ross pens another winner. This time the story revolves around Finn Callahan, (got to love that name for a romantic male lead!), and his hot/cold relationship with actress Julia Summers. The plot involves a potential life threatening stalker whose making Julia's life and Finn's part-time job, (while on a four week leave from the FBI), of protecting her a challenge. Throw into the pot Julia's eccentric hippie parents, (really humorous), Finn's handsome brothers, (very macho), and a cast of minor characters sure to please and you have yourself a most entertaining novel. It's a definite one night read and I'm looking forward to reading the third in the series about the youngest Callahan brother. Go out and buy this book, you won't be disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: engaging romantic suspense
Review: For the past five years, Julia Summers has starred as an Erica Kane-type vamp on the number one nighttime soap opera, RIVER ROAD. However, when her contract ends in less than a month, Julia will leave the TV show to become a "Bond Girl". Currently, Julia is on location in Blue Bayou, Louisiana filming her last story line for RIVER ROAD. After three years trying to capture a serial killer, FBI Special Agent Finn Callahan succeeds. However, when his prisoner tries to escape Finn gleefully uses more force then is necessary. Though his peers quietly applaud Finn for doing what they want to do, he receives a one-month suspension. Finn returns to his hometown of Blue Bayou where his brother Nate serves as the mayor. When an unknown assailant stalks Julia, his sibling asks Finn to protect the actress. Neither Finn nor Julia wants that, but reluctantly both agree. As their passion for James Bond surfaces, the duo falls in love, but before either can decide what to do about their feelings, Julia's stalker must be stop before he kills her. RIVER ROAD is an engaging romantic suspense that brings back favorites from BLUE BAYOU and provides the added bonus of James Bond trivia. The lead characters are a delightful duet and the support cast provides a touch of the Deep South. Though the suspense is the impetus to bringing the couple together, it feels insignificant until the climax when played out against their love for 007 and for each other. JoAnn Ross furbishes a winner that leaves her audience impatiently awaiting the third and final Callahan tale. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: I love it! My first Joann Ross book, sure to buy another!
Review: I picked this book up at the train station and read it in 2 days! Couldnt wait for the train ride home to continue reading! Great southern fiction with hot and steamy romance! I loved it! Just bought Blue Bayou and although its out of order am hoping to enjoy it as much!!!
Rating:
Summary: My first JoAnn Ross....and sent me shopping for more!
Review: Julia Summers has dreamed her whole life of being the next `Bond' girl. She's worked on achieving her goal by acting on the super popular soap opera, River Road, for years. And finally she's landed her a part as the next `Bond' girl, as Carma Sutra. All she has to do is finish out her last two weeks of filming for River Road, and then it's on to greener pastures. When it's sprung on her that the last two weeks will be filmed on location, in Blue Bayou Louisiana, she groans, but is determined to be good and true to her character and the show that has made her success possible. She never dreams that before she can even get started filming, let alone to Blue Bayou, that she'll pick up an overzealous fan-who the brass are afraid could wind up to be none other than a stalker. FBI Agent Finn Callahan has had a rough few weeks. He's been suspended after roughing up a murderer he'd spent years tracking down, while said murderer was trying to escape a mental institution. He thinks he's getting the raw end of the deal, but accepts his suspension and takes off to his home town of Blue Bayou, to hang out, visit with his brother-the town mayor-and curse about how boring fishing is. He feels cornered but obligated when his brother informs him that he needs him to act as personal bodyguard to visiting TV royalty, Julia Summers. Finn, having done bodyguard duty before, is prepared for a spoiled starlet who is imagining the danger against her. It doesn't take him long to realize, though, that not only is Julia truly in danger, but that this true to life `Bond' girl is what his every dream is made of. Finn and Julia quickly light sparks off one another. It takes Julia all of about a minute to realize that Finn is a Special Agent-after all, with parents who are still free agers from way back, how could she not spot a Fed?-and start drawing lines in the sand. Full of sassy wit and bantering, and sultry love scenes, Miss Ross has penned an absolute winner here. She's filled the story not only with the wonderful love story between Finn and Julia, but with enough interesting and quirky secondary characters to guarantee a chuckle or two, that you definitely don't want to miss this one. I have to admit I haven't read Blue Bayou yet, which was the prequel to this one, about Finn's brother Jack-but you better believe I ran out and got it as soon as I finished up with this one. Ms. Ross has an incredible talent that's too good to be missed!
Rating: 
Summary: Not my bag...
Review: This book starts out sweet, but for me it turned out to be an eye-roller. The love / attraction aspect was too much for my taste.
Rating:
Summary: Barely okay.
Review: This is the second book in the Callahan Brother's trilogy and book two is just as good as book one. This is Finn's story. Finn is a Special Agent for the FBI and for the last 18 months he has been consumed with the hunt for a sadistic serial killer that preys on young women. Finally they have captured this killer and Finn manages to get a hold of him and beats the tar out of him. As a result of this Finn is forced to take a leave of absence and he goes home to Blue Bayou. Julia Summer is a famous actress on a well known soap opera. Her character is less then upstanding in fact she gives a new meaning to soap vixen. Of course this leads to one of her fans having trouble seperating her from her character. Julia/Amanda is being stalked and the soap is planing on a on location shoot for the season final episode. They are filming the story at Jack's plantation house in Blue Bayou and Julia needs a bodyguard. Who better then an FBI agent on "vacation" as a favor to the mayor and Finn's younger brother Nate! Both of these people find themselves drawn to each other but Finn has no plans on building a relationship. He is to caught up in his nightmare of a career, and Julia is the product of free loving hippies who look down on the establishment. It could never work. Or could it? This was a great story and I was glad to see that Ms. Ross built on the relationship and that Finn and Julia did not just fall into bed and into love. It was a work in progress for most of the story and this in my opinion made it believable. Still the chemistry between the two main characters was great and I read on looking forward to when they finally did get together. This was a great second book that stood on it's own so if you have not read the first in the series you will not be left standing out in left field going Huh??? Ms. Ross ties things together nicely and this story was totally independant of the first. Yes, Jack and Dani make a cameo and Nate of course plays a part in the story but for the most part the story is about Finn and Julia. The only thing that I would have to say was not as exciting as it could have been was the stalking. This was more of a vehicle to introduce the characters to each other and less as a vehicle to move the story along. So don't expect a huge "who is the baddie" type story.
Rating:
Summary: Finn Callahan's Story! Just As Great As The First!
Review: This is the second book in the Callahan Brother's trilogy and book two is just as good as book one. This is Finn's story. Finn is a Special Agent for the FBI and for the last 18 months he has been consumed with the hunt for a sadistic serial killer that preys on young women. Finally they have captured this killer and Finn manages to get a hold of him and beats the tar out of him. As a result of this Finn is forced to take a leave of absence and he goes home to Blue Bayou. Julia Summer is a famous actress on a well known soap opera. Her character is less then upstanding in fact she gives a new meaning to soap vixen. Of course this leads to one of her fans having trouble seperating her from her character. Julia/Amanda is being stalked and the soap is planing on a on location shoot for the season final episode. They are filming the story at Jack's plantation house in Blue Bayou and Julia needs a bodyguard. Who better then an FBI agent on "vacation" as a favor to the mayor and Finn's younger brother Nate! Both of these people find themselves drawn to each other but Finn has no plans on building a relationship. He is to caught up in his nightmare of a career, and Julia is the product of free loving hippies who look down on the establishment. It could never work. Or could it? This was a great story and I was glad to see that Ms. Ross built on the relationship and that Finn and Julia did not just fall into bed and into love. It was a work in progress for most of the story and this in my opinion made it believable. Still the chemistry between the two main characters was great and I read on looking forward to when they finally did get together. This was a great second book that stood on it's own so if you have not read the first in the series you will not be left standing out in left field going Huh??? Ms. Ross ties things together nicely and this story was totally independant of the first. Yes, Jack and Dani make a cameo and Nate of course plays a part in the story but for the most part the story is about Finn and Julia. The only thing that I would have to say was not as exciting as it could have been was the stalking. This was more of a vehicle to introduce the characters to each other and less as a vehicle to move the story along. So don't expect a huge "who is the baddie" type story.
Rating:
Summary: My first JoAnn Ross, but NOT my last.
Review: This was a very good book. I have read the other reviews and they described in much detail the plot, so I will leave that to the other reviewers. I will share my impressions and thoughts about the book overall. The characters were very real. Julia Summers know show she is and what she wants. She knows herself. She is willing to work hard to get to where she wants and she is able to set her priorities. Finn Callahan on the otherhand has been running from himself and his feelings for many years. He is tough, handsome, smart and strong in all ways. He doesn't take responsibility lightly, he takes it very seriously which leads him to have the weight of the world on his shoulders. When these two strong people meet, sparks fly. The book is high on sexual tension and sexual chemestry. It is a great book. There is some humor thrown in the mix with the writer of the soap opera in which Julia stars. The mystery doesn't overtake the romance but rather lends itself to the developing relationship between Julia and Finn. However, the mystery is enough to keep the suspense tight and the book moving along in a smooth reading. I sat down and read this book until it was finished. I didnt want to put it down. I'm anxious to run out and buy the other ones by this author. I think I have found a new favorite author to go along with my other favorite authors. Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Lots of tension!
Review: Yes, the plot is cliched. Yes, the characters are stereotypical to an extent. I'm not denying that. HOWEVER, all of that is forgiven when I found myself reading this in two days because the sexual tension between the two main characters kept me riveted. I'm a big fan of romance novels, and it's difficult to find novels that can slip by my picky reading preferences. This is the first book I've read by JoAnn Ross. I was disappointed to find that my local library doesn't carry many of her books, so I'm on the hunt to find others. At this point, I don't know if I can say that JoAnn Ross is one of my favorite authors, but I did like this book. I know I have a winner when I want to scream to the two main characters, "GET TOGETHER, ALREADY!"
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