- Paperback: 373 pages
- Publisher: Pocket Books; Reprint edition (1 Sep 1997)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0671019716
- ISBN-13: 978-0671019716
- Product Dimensions: 17.5 x 10.8 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 223,634 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
Roanna Davenport was raised a wealthy orphan on her grandmother's magnificent Alabama estate, Davencourt, where she had a passion for horses, a genius for trouble, and a deep love for her cousin, Webb. But everyone expected Webb to marry their ravishing cousin, Jessie. When he did, Roanna's desire became no more than the stuff of dreams -- until the night Jessie was found bludgeoned to death.
After the shocking murder of his wife, Webb left for Arizona, abandoning the legacy that he had once believed was all he wanted. But then an all-grown-up Roanna walked into a dingy bar in Nogales to bring him home; the mischievous sprite he had known ten years earlier was no more. Gone, too, was her fire. In its place was ice that melted at his touch. Webb is drawn back to Davencourt, to Roanna, and to the killer that once destroyed his life and waits only for the chance to finish the job....
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I absolutely loved this book! It's full of emotional turmoil, intense feelings, gritty atmosphere and a good dollop of suspense!
Roanna has been in love with Webb since she was a little girl, when he married her gorgeous cousin. She grows up and the puppy love turns into something deep and powerful. Ro is a lanky, clumsy and spirited girl. Webb is good-humored and he thinks of her as..., well, as his little sister or niece. Then something terrible happens and they part for years.
When next they meet Roanna is a contained and serious woman who rarely smiles while Webb is an embittered, hard man.
They are forced to work together while that horrible night from years ago lies between them. But not only nightmares have resurfaced. There is the tangible kind that stalks them.
While they try to work out the truth of what happened so long past they try to come to terms with what is between them, and it is a powerful thing! And a really steamy, hot one to boot! Phew! I had to fan my face a couple of times!
I clutched this book to my heart when I finished it and have re-read it many times since! We are endebted to Linda when she gives us books like these!
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Shades of Twilight is Howard with a wee dram of Faulkner, the seemingly gentle South, with it's hidden underbelly. Howard does a tour de force bringing together this dysfunctional family with such strongly drawn characters. With a seamless Mutli-POV (point of view) she brings them all into vivid life for the reader, making this a pleasure to read.
Roanna was a gawky ugly duckling when she came to live with her wealthy grandmother in the sprawling mansion in Alabama. Left orphan at the early age, she feels so alone. Her beautiful, older cousin Jessie does not welcome her. Her grandmother makes it clear she is doing her family duty, and little else. So while the mansion was straight out of Gone With The Wind, Roanna was so very alone in the big house. Except for her distant cousin Webb. He showed a gentleness that won Roanna's admiration and silent love.
Roanna was a gawky ugly duckling when she came to live with her wealthy grandmother in the sprawling mansion in Alabama. Left orphan at the early age, she feels so alone. Her beautiful, older cousin Jessie does not welcome her. Her grandmother makes it clear she is doing her family duty, and little else. So while the mansion was straight out of Gone With The Wind, Roanna was so very alone in the big house. Except for her distant cousin Webb. He showed a gentleness that won Roanna's admiration and silent love.
Roanna is constantly criticized by her grandmother, never doing anything to earn her approval, a startling contracts to the loving parents who adored her unconditionally. This mental abuse of her young spirit is only amplified by her grandmothers utter adoration of her perfect cousin Jessie. Even when Jessie was less than perfect her grandmother excused or covered for her. Roanna was forced to stand silently by as Webb and Jessie are paired into the "perfect couple", and there was little she could do, but watch as Webb married the wild, and greedy Jessie, always feeling at the back of her mind Webb deserved better. They seemed the faerytale couple, destined to rule the Davenport fortune, until the night Jessie was found dead, and everyone blamed Webb.
With everyone, but Roanna believes he killed Jessie, Webb leaves for Arizona. Now years later, a grown up Roanna has come to bring Webb home. Ten years has passed. Webb is no longer the caring gentle man Roanna loved. He is bitter, hardened. Despite his revulsion for his so-called families betrayal, Webb is convinced by Roanna it's time to come home, take up the reins of Davenport power and finally put Jessie's death to rest.
Webb comes back for two reasons - Roanna and to find out who really killed Jessie. Only a killer does not want his secret revealed and is willing to kill again to protect himself from exposure. It's a home with vividly drawn characters, all with their share of dark secrets. Howard, gives you that sultry, itchy Southern charm, a cover for a multitude of sins and passions simmering just under the surface. Roanna is a poignant character that strikes the cord in any woman who has felt less than perfect growing up. And by the same token, Webb is the knight in shining armour, dreams for a young girl to worship.
Howard uses the Mutlio-POV(point of view) so let the reader really experience these vividly created people in a way enforced "Stepford Writing" (Single POV) just cannot flesh out. It's simply Howard and the genre at it's best.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Oh dear, I appear to be the voice of dissention here amongst reviews of praise. However, I really didn't think that this was Howard at her best. Roanna comes across, to me anyway, as such a self-sacrificing character with such lack of self esteem, that I found it very hard to get past her habit of putting everyone else's wishes first, blaming herself for everything and her idolatory of her distant cousin Webb because he treats her kindly. Okay her lack of self-esteem is due to her bitchy cousin Jessica and her Grandmother's lack of realisation that the orphaned seven year old needed just as much love and attention as the orphaned thirteen year old, probably more, even though she didn't throw tantrums and demand attention like Jessica.
Quite frankly, I thought that Webb had turned into a bit of a bully when Roanna is sent by her Grandmother to fetch him back to the family home and remember here it's Roanna's family home, not Webb's. Webb is related to Roanna's Grandmother's family the Tallants, yet for all intents and purposes Roanna is cut out of her inheritance in favour of Webb. Even after she takes a degree in business management, a subject she dislikes/has no interest in, in order to help her Grandmother run the estate and businesses, her Grandmother fully intends to change her will back into Webb's favour again if he will come home. Somewhat unfair what? And like a meek little lamb, Roanna agrees. In all fairness, it should at least have been split fifty fifty between them.
The Tallant family, the Grandmother's family, who she blithely invites to invade the Davenport family home om a permanent basis, are all dreadful spiteful bitches, with the exception of the two males, Greg and Brock. With the exception of the latter two, all dislike and despise Roanna and are vile to her. Her Grandmother does nothing to stop this.
The police investigation of Jessica's violent death was obviously poor, as no search appears to have been done of anybody else's room/clothing. Only Roanna, who finds the body and Webb are even suspects. A crime of such a nature would cover the murderer with blood I would have thought. What happened to the splattered clothing etc? Or do I watch too much CSI?
Yes I agree the deep South ambiance is there in the book, but Roanna is such a whimp it spoiled the book for me.
Quite frankly, I thought that Webb had turned into a bit of a bully when Roanna is sent by her Grandmother to fetch him back to the family home and remember here it's Roanna's family home, not Webb's. Webb is related to Roanna's Grandmother's family the Tallants, yet for all intents and purposes Roanna is cut out of her inheritance in favour of Webb. Even after she takes a degree in business management, a subject she dislikes/has no interest in, in order to help her Grandmother run the estate and businesses, her Grandmother fully intends to change her will back into Webb's favour again if he will come home. Somewhat unfair what? And like a meek little lamb, Roanna agrees. In all fairness, it should at least have been split fifty fifty between them.
The Tallant family, the Grandmother's family, who she blithely invites to invade the Davenport family home om a permanent basis, are all dreadful spiteful bitches, with the exception of the two males, Greg and Brock. With the exception of the latter two, all dislike and despise Roanna and are vile to her. Her Grandmother does nothing to stop this.
The police investigation of Jessica's violent death was obviously poor, as no search appears to have been done of anybody else's room/clothing. Only Roanna, who finds the body and Webb are even suspects. A crime of such a nature would cover the murderer with blood I would have thought. What happened to the splattered clothing etc? Or do I watch too much CSI?
Yes I agree the deep South ambiance is there in the book, but Roanna is such a whimp it spoiled the book for me.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
not very good
This is not one of Linda Howard's best Im afraid. Roanna's character is just not real. I mean who can allow her self to be treated like that through out her life time. Read more
Published 9 months ago by N. Nadeem
Another fun read!
I don't think it's one of Linda Howard's best, most involving stories, but entertainin & certainly worth reading. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Reading Addict
spellbinding story
I've just finished reading this book which I borrowed from the local library this morning. I couldn't put the book down until I finished it. Read more
Published 21 months ago by motsach323
Fantastic
The story was magnificent. The characters were interesting and the chemistry between them red hot. Very enjoyable and Ms Howard at her best once again. A must read.
Published on 2 Sep 2004
Spellbinding Linda Howard
Roanna Davenport had always loved her cousin, Webb, but it was understood he would marry her older and beautiful cousin, Jessie. Read more
Published on 7 Oct 2002 by Deborah MacGillivray
Great! Wonderful!
This book was Linda Howard at her best. Strong characters supported by an excellent story. If you have never read one of her books I would definitely recommend starting with this... Read more
Published on 19 Dec 2000 by lily18lr@aol.com
A must read!
Everything about the murder of Jessie, Roanna and Webb's cousin as well as his wife, is brought back up to surface when Webb returns home years after her death. Read more
Published on 27 Oct 2000
excellent read
Out of the books I have read by her (and i have only had a chance to read a few) i think this is one of her best ones Exellent read!
Published on 17 May 2000
Another great read!
Roanna Davenport is taken in by her grandmother Lucinda, the matriarch of the Davenport family, and lives at the family home of Davencourt with her cousins Jessie and Webb. Read more
Published on 7 Feb 2000
I'd read it again!!
I'm a big fan of Linda Howard's books, they are so realistice and ever so romantic.Sometimes she makes me laugh sometimes she makes me want to cry-but I really loved this story... Read more
Published on 15 Nov 1999
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