Die in Plain Sight

Elizabeth Lowell writes random, kind of related series books. By kind of related, I mean they all work for the same company or they are all related or something.

This one is Rarities, Inc.

Ian Lapstrake is guarding Susa Donovan, a famous artist, who is doing a showing in Moreno Valley, California (California!!). When Lacey (our heroine) brings some painting for Susa to look at...well, she finds out not all is well in Moreno Valley.

Between the Savoy Curse that kills the rich of the County to the weird painting and awesome fires, Lapstrake and Lacey just can't help falling in love.

Yeah, it's one of those. But the mystery is really good! I mean, really good!

Death Is Forever

Death is Forever is an old Elizabeth Lowell novel. Updated some, written first under the title The Diamond Tiger under the author name of Ann Maxwell, it's just like every other Elizabeth Lowell novel I've read.

Girl suddenly inherits something that throws her into a world of danger. Boy comes along to help her keep it safe. They reluctantly fall in love in the midst of unrelenting danger, harrowing schemes, and near-certain death.

Everybody lives, boy and girl go separate ways. Boy and girl decide they're miserable, then find each other and swear to love, honor and cherish.

The only things that change are where and what the girl inherits.

This time, it's Erin, and she inherits a patch of land in Australia that holds a fortune in diamonds.

After almost dying in the desert, not to mention numerous fights, flights, and backstabbing, both Erin and Cole (our illustrious hero who knows the diamond trade in and out, but would trade all the diamonds in the world just for Erin) win. Of course, so does America, by keeping a gem cartel alive (someone explain that to me, because I'm confused).

Fast-paced writing, an intriguing story line, and the absolute attention to what the reader feels is what keeps these books good.

I know I've said (something to) this (affect) before, but even though I know what's going to happen and how close they're going to get to death, and even the fact that there's going to be a character twist and betrayal at the end, I really like Elizabeth Lowell's books.

(P.S.- Death is Forever, "A diamond is forever..." who said Elizabeth Lowell wasn't clever?

Whirlpool

Okay, I have to come out of the closet about something. Ever since I randomly picked up and read Midnight in Ruby Bayou, I have loved Elizabeth Lowell. She writes these amazing murder/mystery/suspense/romance novels.

That said, I just finished Whirlpool, a rewrite of The Ruby (a title that almost makes more sense).

It's one of those books where I was going to go to bed at midnight, but then I got involved, and when I looked up, it was almost 1. And I only had another 30 or so pages (probably less...), so I figured I might as well finish it.

She's an innocent jewelry maker. He's a field worker for a private security company. When Laurel's father gives her a priceless egg, then snatches it away again, Cruz (which is a terrible first name) is the only one who cares enough to keep her safe in the big, bad world of international jewel thievery.

And, yeah, if it sounds a lot like other Elizabeth Lowell plot lines, it's because it is. But they work so well!

Anyway, this novel takes them from LA to the desert (not unexpected), creating a world of mystery and mayhem that includes double-crossings, triple-crossings, and really, really untrustworthy women.

Except, of course, our innocent female protagonist who's just trying to keep her head above water, and her male counterpart who knows the dirty secrets of the world and is a little tired of looking at them. She bring revitalization to his life, the he thinks she can't love him because of the choices he made.

Madness, chaos, and near-certain death occurs, only to have the calvary charge in last minute and save them all. Damsel in distress proves she's a lot tougher than he thinks, white knight proves he actually has a heart, then love and flowers ensue.

Yeah, they're all really like that. But they're all so different that they work, and work well.

A side note on this one, though--Elizabeth Lowell writes more graphic love scenes on a regular basis, but these have a bit of S&M, and gets a little...intense. Not suitable for people under the age of 17. Well, maybe. Teens these days, let me tell you.

Pearl Cove

Nothing like accidentally stumbling across a great author, then having to run out and read every book you can find by them.

Okay, so this wasn't my first Elizabeth Lowell book, but it's one I like.

This is Archer Donovan's story. Archer is the oldest (and meanest) of the Donovan clan, and therefore his story is the oddest.

When Archer's half-brother dies, Archer has to fly to Australia (from Seattle) to keep the widow, and the secret of the beautiful pearls, safe. He (of course) remembers all the reasons he fell in love with the widow ten years ago, and when his half-brother sent him away.

It becomes an all out fight to stay alive (including getting most of the Donovan clan involved).

Never mind that they're fighting their growing attraction to each other, not wanting to fall in love, but not being able to help it.

Blue Smoke and Murder

Elizabeth Lowell has done it again. Reading Blue Smoke and Murder is a lot like reading her other books. Many take place in the desert (which is really no fun, but okay), with a female character who gets herself in trouble, though has no idea of it. The trouble usually comes when she discovers a past family secret that suddenly just can't get out.

Not only that, but she just happens to get help from a security consultant who just happens to specialize in whatever her problem is.

It's like magic.

Anyway, in Blue Smoke (I was going to use the initials, then realized it was...awkward), Jill gets in trouble with some paintings she's found, and Zach just happens to be nearby on vacation when he get assigned her case.

The usual mayhem and madness ensue, including creepy phone calls, people getting shot, Zach and Jill falling in love ( a. who didn't see that coming? and b. Zach is awfully close to Jack, I just decided), the ultimate showdown where Jill has to go out on her own, only to have Zach ride to her rescue.

While the premise is always interesting, and I always feel like I'm actually learning something, some of it is overused and underplayed. A lot of things I've read in her other novels, a couple new things, and the same basic premise. While I enjoy them, they rarely stick with me.

Though there was one great line. "If you're looking for reassurance, it's in the dictionary between real and stupid." Zach tells Jill. I liked that one.

Average.