Death Is Forever

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable and exciting.................
Review: Bought this novel by chance one and day didn't regret it. Erin Shane Windsor becomes heiress to a diamond fortune,especially green diamonds rarest of the Diamond. Cole Blackburn a ruthless but experienced in Diamond Mining. Both meet by special circumstances with a will and a sampling of beautiful gems. I will not go into a big synopsis but I greatly enjoyed this book. A revised version of of her earlier work called the Diamond Tiger but revised and greatly improved. After reading this book I'm searching for some of her other works. I highly recommend this book, very enjoyable. Looking forward to reading Pearl Cove.

Rating:
Summary: Another great read by a top author
Review: If you're a Elizabeth Lowell fan, you'll easily recognize her style of writing and hopefully agree that this one is a winner. And as an avid fan, I'm not sure how I missed the original book (maybe the different pen name).

Here's the really short (and simple) version of what happens. Erin is willed a mine that may or may not have this to-kill-for diamonds hidden somewhere in the huge expanse of land. Many people want it, including Cole's partner who convinces him to go find it by claiming that Cole owned half of it. Erin makes up her mind to find the mine and enlists Cole's help to find it by offering her 1/2 of her share. I feel like I'm talking in code, so I apologize if this makes no sense. Anyway, Cole wants to help because he wants to keep her alive. They're attracted and there's your romance. Now, the story. They have to find this mine to keep her alive because others want to kill them to keep them from finding it (there's your political angle). Okay, so, you have the two of them defying death and many attempts on their lives for this diamond mine while developing their personal relationship. Their relationship is rocky, too. I suppose I shouldn't give away the end, so I won't.

I liked the characters and there were enough background information about them that made their emotions and actions believable. Cole was especially well developed and I was just as shocked as Erin was when she learned what he had done for her at the end. I also liked that he was mature enough to realize what was happening to them and felt his inability to do anything about it (I'm talking about the way Erin pulled away from him).

Several things did get to me, though. One was the political angle. I was able to understand most of it, but she really left me behind at the last meeting where everything was resolved. I'm still scratching my head...what exactly happened and what did it mean? That brings me to another thing that could have been better. I thought the ending was too abrupt. I'm into confessions of love and sometimes, I don't get that cry-because-I'm-happy feeling. However, Cole's actions were motivated by his feelings, so I suppose I can be happy with that. Also, I thought Erin over-reacted to the scene between Cole and his ex-lover. It wasn't that drastic to warrant her reactions.

Those were minor points, so don't take them to mean that I'm putting the book down. I'm not. The story was fascinating and the setting was new and different. Lowell has never disappointed me with her books and I'm glad I stayed up all night to finish it.

Rating:
Summary: "Updated" reissue of The Diamond Tiger
Review: In looking at Elizabeth Lowell's website, she notifies her readers that "Death is Forever" is "updated" version of her earlier book "The Diamond Tiger" (written under name of Ann Maxwell). Original book was excellent.