A January Chill

Rating:
Summary: Well drawn characters make this a good read.
Review: Hannah Matlock had kept the secret of her daughter Joni's paternity for twenty-seven long years. Believing that Witt Matlock was her uncle, Joni went on with her life until the night of a fateful accident, when she finds out the truth. For all those years, Witt had harbored a grudge against Hardy Wingate, the man he held responsible for the death of his daughter many years earlier. Now that Hardy has won a bid for an important architectural project, Witt doesn't want him around, and especially doesn't want him to work on the building. Rachel Lee's departure from her norm is a very well drawn character study of one family's dynamics and how they relate to each other. The emotions are real and intense, and the story is very well crafted. It's one emotional roller coaster ride, but it's a very thrilling one.

Rating:
Summary: Well drawn characters make this a good read.
Review: Hannah Matlock had kept the secret of her daughter Joni's paternity for twenty-seven long years. Believing that Witt Matlock was her uncle, Joni went on with her life until the night of a fateful accident, when she finds out the truth. For all those years, Witt had harbored a grudge against Hardy Wingate, the man he held responsible for the death of his daughter many years earlier. Now that Hardy has won a bid for an important architectural project, Witt doesn't want him around, and especially doesn't want him to work on the building. Rachel Lee's departure from her norm is a very well drawn character study of one family's dynamics and how they relate to each other. The emotions are real and intense, and the story is very well crafted. It's one emotional roller coaster ride, but it's a very thrilling one.

Rating:
Summary: Colder than a January Chill
Review: On a gradual slope headed downward that has been the condition of her last 3 novels, Lee wants us to accept this improbable and depthless novel. The characters lack so much that their movements, thoughts, actions and feelings never involve the reader. Furthermore the reader has no stake in the plot or the suspense, probably because neither exists at any level. Lee used to construct tough, well conceived, and rather gritty novels. Her latest efforts, however, are too washed-out and weak.

Rating:
Summary: A teriffic storyteller
Review: Twelve years may have passed since Karen Matlock died at the hands of a drunken driver, but the hatred her father Witt feels for Hardy Wingate has grown with time. Witt believes his daughter Karen still would be alive if it were not for Hardy, her boyfriend at the time, though the lad was not the DUI driver.

Hardy, now an architect, has returned to Whisper Creek. He wants to design Witt's hotel, but knows Karen's father loathes him so his chances are slim to none. Hardy's prime purpose for returning home is to complete what he feels is unfinished business. However, his secret agenda has nothing to do with closure over Karen or reconciliation with Witt. Instead he comes home to see Witt's niece Joni, who when he left Whisper Creek he loved her and believes he still does. Now he must overcome obstacles placed in his path by Witt and a secret involving Joni's biological parents.

A JANUARY CHILL is an entertaining romantic suspense that stars two wonderful lead characters. However, Witt owns the story line as the plot is loaded with his actions and other cast members reactions. Though his acrimonious acerbic personality is fueled by his despising Hardy, readers will find Rachel Lee's well-written tale to taste a bit acidly.

Harriet Klausner