Product Description
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Tami Hoag comes this romance classic about a man in love—and the woman who’s determined to prove it to him…

Maggie McSwain should have been thrilled when Rylan Quaid asked her to marry him. Instead, she was crushed. After all her romantic fantasies, Ry’s proposal was missing one crucial element: love. But Maggie would prove to Ry that he had a heart—and then she’d use every teasing, tempting ounce of seductive power she had to capture it. The next time he proposed to her—and there would be a next time—common sense would be the last thing on his mind.

As far as Ry was concerned, solid partnerships made for lasting marriages—and that’s what he could have with Maggie. Of course he wanted her, as any man with eyes would want her. But he couldn’t love her…because he’d vowed never to fall in love again. Now it seemed that the only way to make her his wife was to use reverse psychology. He’d just retract his proposal—and pretend to be immune to her charms. He had no idea what a challenge that would turn out to be. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Man of Her Dreams
Haven't finished reading this book.It is not like her other books so I have been disappointed.

repetative - rather tiring
I am 3/4 finished with the book and am making myself finish.It is the same thing over and over.I normally love Hoag's books, but this one is not for me.

ENTERTAINING! :)
When Rylan Quaid proposed to Maggie McSwain at his sister's wedding, joy and fierce disappointment warred in her heart. She'd loved him forever, wanted him desperately. But could he really be so insensitive that he would suggest it was time he settled down, and she might as well be the one he did it with? Maggie refused to be his practical choice for a bride; she insisted on being cherished and chosen, but how could she make her rough around the edges knight admit he adored her. She had to loosen the reins he held on his passion, teach Ry that he had love to give - and that she was his destiny. Ry figured he'd win the honey-voiced temptress by showing her he was immune to her sizzling charms, but once he had succumbed to her wanton embrace, how could he continue the charade? Terrified of becoming a fool for love just as his father had, Ry vowed he'd push Maggie away before she could hurt him. Could she make him see she was his match and that nothing could tear them apart?

I couldn't put this book down! If you're looking for an enjoyable read that puts a smile on your face and has you laughing with every turn of the page, then this is the book for you! I LOVED LOVED LOVED IT and would recommend it to anyone interested in a charming, witty, and romantic read. :) ... Read more

Product Description
California, 1985-Four children and young teacher Anne Navarre make a gruesome discovery: a partially buried female body, her eyes and mouth glued shut. A serial killer is at large, and the very bonds that hold their idyllic town together are about to be tested. Tasked with finding the killer, FBI investigator Vince Leone employs a new and controversial FBI technique called "profiling", which plunges him into the lives of the four children-and the young teacher whose need to uncover the truth is as intense as his own. But as new victims are found, Vince and Anne find themselves circling the same small group of local suspects, blissfully unaware that someone very near to them is a murderous psychopath... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (88)

Good read but not great
In the Caifornia town of Oak Knoll in 1985 four students of Anne Navarre make a discovery. A discovery that no child or adult should ever have to make. A woman who's eyes and mouth have been glue shut. The local police are not sure what to do, so Det. Tony Mendez decides that they need to call in help. FBI agent Vince Leone is pioneering agent in the area of profiling the killer and hoping that they are figure out his next move before makes it. But in the town of Oak Knoll, there are many secrets and not may live to see them exposed.
"Deeper thanthe Dead" is the lastest book by Tami Hoag. Overall, I enjoyed the book but I was a lttle let down by ending. To me, it felt a little rushed and I also felt let down. Also the relationship between Anne and Vince just didn't ring true to me, it also felt rushed. I liked "Deeper than the Dead" and I am sure that I will read the next book "Secrets to the Grave" but I am not sure if I would pay full price

Great!
This is a fabulous thriller that's very different from the normal, run of the mill, serial killer fare. Why? Because unlike most authors, Hoag doesn't feel the need to raise the suspense by subjecting her readers to what's often called "torture porn," the graphic scenes where a victim--usually female--goes through horrendous torture at the hands of the killer before being killed. These things occur "off stage" in Hoag's book.

There are a lot of grim situations in this book, and more varieties of dysfunctional family than you usually run across in a single novel. (As Tolstoy put it: "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.") If you're looking for a book that has sweet pictures of happy children, this isn't it. The children in this book aren't happy. But they're well-drawn and interesting, as are the adults.

There's a romantic element to this book that adds to its complexity, but it's not one that makes this a "romance" or even "romantic suspense." Nope, this is a straight thriller that just has a strong relationship in it. Enough to satisfy someone who likes a bit of happy with their grim, a bit of romance with their serial killer, but not enough to turn off someone who prefers to read straight thrillers.

A tiny quibble: As another reviewer mentioned, there are too many references to "one day, everyone will have computers" and "one day, DNA will solve these things." I don't think this is so much an issue of Hoag's ability to keep the story on track if it were to be set in the present (DNA is far from solving every crime, after all) as I think she wants to show Vince Leone, the profiler, as a man ahead of his time. Still, one or two reminders of when the story takes place would have been enough. And both Vince and Mendez, the two lead investigators, display ample skills and foresight without the reminders!

All in all, a gripping, fast-paced read.

A good idea but hard to read
I love Tami Hoag and will continue to read her books.I think she had an interesting idea but for me the implementation fell flat.Maybe I'm too spoiled by modern technology's impact on investigations.I think I would have loved the story without the frustration of no cell phones, DNA, etc. etc.

MY FIRST READ OF A BOOK BY THIS AUTHOR AND I LIKED IT.
One of the problems with this work is that Tami Hoag is a popular author, read by many, and she has a large following.I say this is a problem because everyone who has read previous works by a given author has certain expectations; each reader's expectation being a bit different.If the author does not meet all of these expectations, then she or he will be in trouble with a certain percentage of their readers.

I don't have that problem with this particular author since this is the first book by her I have read so I am sort of coming in with a clean slate; no expectations,nothing to compair it with, no opinion, no nothing.So that being said...I liked and enjoyed this one for various reasons.

The setting in a small California town in 1985, a year date that the reader must keep in mind as they read because in a way, it is the key to fully appreciating this story.Do remember, if you are old enough, that technology was far, far different then than it is now.Little things like communications, i.e. cell phones, have come a long, long way.We had not yet entered the age of instant information via the personal computer.Finger printing was then done manually...by eye only.DNA testing had not made its impact on crime investigation nor the judicial system yet and well, things were just more "primitive" then than they are today.Profiling was not much in use at that time and this story centers around this new science and art form.

This is the story of a serial killer who preys on young woman.It is seen primarily through the eyes of the four children who discover a body of a dead woman while on a walk with their teacher.The author takes us into the families and family life of these three children who come from similar backgrounds and share the fact that their families are what we could call dysfunctional by any sense of the word.These are affluent families, the children all react to their situations in many different ways.

The primary suspects in these serial murders are the fathers of these four children; some more than others, but they are all in the mix.Now I will be honest; it will not take a super sleuth to figure out "who done it" pretty quickly, but the reader must focus not on their own observations and knowledge, but rather from the viewpoint of the police investigating these grisly and horrendous murders.

Now I found this book to be absolutely creepy (as in the killer glues the women's eyes and mouth shut before he slowly tortures them to death...ugh!), and for me it was a page turner despite the fact that I pretty well knew who the bad guy was pretty quickly...of course this books is filled with bad guys, but the bad guy who did it was on a level of evil quite above the others.

There are aspects of this work that are quite grisly, and if this sort of thing upsets you, then this is one you might want to avoid.On the other hand, there is a bit of romance to off-set this aspect of the books somewhat.It was interesting to look into the lives of the children; sad much of the time, but interesting

I found the plot to be very workable and easy to follow and enjoyed the author's style of writing, fully realizing that it may not be everyone's cup of tea.Her short, choppy and Skippy sentence structure is sort of an acquired taste I suppose.

While, as with most works in this genre, I found not every aspect of the story to be credulous, I am not sure I want it to be.I read these books knowing full well that they are fictional and to a certain extent fantasy.If I want "real life" I will read the newspaper or a history book.No, I want to be entertained for a few hours and I must say this one entertained me well for three evenings.

Like a couple of other reviewers here, I was not all that happy with the ending...rather upset me to be honest with you, but then I did not write the book so I will give the author her due.

For me, this was a good read and I will now read other books by this author

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

Speaking In "Voices" - a superb example!
Some of you will probably ask me where the hell I've been when you realize I've never read a book by Tami Hoag. And rightly so. But last week while I was stranded at the Tokyo Narita airport for seven hours, I'd already been on two nine hour flights in 24 hours and actually had read all the books I'd brought with me.

So, I wandered over to the bookstore which actually had a few English books on a carousel.

I'd seen Tami Hoag's books on the rack before, but had never really picked one up. I've always been drawn to John D. MacDonald, Dean Koontz, James Patterson, Laurie R. King, and many more. I could barely keep up with my favorite authors' books, never mind add another to the list.

I didn't know what I was missing.

I'm used to strong characterization (who can ever forget Odd Thomas?) and high suspense (Kiss the Girls). I love the philosophical wanderings of MacDonald through his series beach bum character, Travis McGee, and the beautiful painting of words by artists like Koontz.("light buttered the walls...")

But I have to say, I've never, ever read a book with such amazing unique voices for multiple characters. Deeper Than Dead taught me more about that aspect of writing than any book I've read in a long time. In third person omniscient POV,Hoag writes in frequently rotated segments, each from a different character's POV. From fifth grader Tommy Crane who stumbles upon a dead woman buried with her head above the ground, to his sweet and smart friend Wendy Morgan, to lovely and dynamic elementary teacher Anne Navarre, to the extremely disturbed schoolyard bully Dennis Farman, to Vince Leone, the FBI agent walking around with a bullet in his brain, each and every segment throws the reader smack dab in the middle of the characters' heads. It's the inner thoughts that do it for me, and their wonderfully authentic voices.

The kids talk like real kids. And sure, there's quite a bit of nasty language and some over the top gore (I'm not too impressed with that part), but the voices are natural and sound so real and distinct, I kept stopping to notice how well this author accomplished the character switches.

Ten of my books have been written in first person POV. I feel safe there, and there's no muddling of my thoughts. I'm in Gus's head, and there I stay. And in my Moore Mysteries, I write in third person limited POV. So, I'm always in Sam Moore's head. And wouldn't you know it, in my newest series, Tall Pines Mysteries, I'm back to first person, but from a woman's POV? It's hard and fun all at the same time.

But this jumping from one character to the next like the prolific Ms. Hoag does, has always intimidated me. I admire anyone who does it well, and highly recommend Deeper Than Dead as a great teaching tool as well as an enjoyable roller coaster ride through 1985. ;o) ... Read more

Product Description
#1 New York Times bestselling author Tami Hoag returns with her second thriller in the Deeper than the Dead microseries, exploring the early days of forensic investigation, the characteristics of innocence-and the nature of evil.

Marissa Fordham had a past full of secrets, a present full of lies. Everyone knew of her, but no one knew her.

When Marissa is found brutally murdered, with her young daughter, Haley, resting her head on her mother's bloody breast, she sends the idyllic California town of Oak Knoll into a tailspin. Already on edge with the upcoming trial of the See- No-Evil killer, residents are shocked by reports of the crime scene, which might not have been discovered for days had it not been for a chilling 911 call: a small child's voice saying, "My daddy hurt my mommy."

Sheriff's detective Tony Mendez faces a puzzle with nothing but pieces that won't fit. To assist with his witness, Haley, he calls teacher-turned-child advocate Anne Leone. Anne's life is hectic enough-she's a newlywed and a part- time student in child psychology, and she's the star witness in the See-No-Evil trial. But one look at Haley, alone and terrified, and Anne's heart is stolen.

As Tony and Anne begin to peel back the layers of Marissa Fordham's life, they find a clue fragment here, another there. And just when it seems Marissa has taken her secrets to the grave, they uncover a fact that puts Anne and Haley directly in the sights of a killer: Marissa Fordham never existed. ... Read more

Product Description
 
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Tami Hoag comes a classic novel of mismatched lovers who give a whole new meaning to the phrase “Fake it till you make it.”
 
Sensible corporate lawyer Alaina Montgomery has been frustrating her matchmaking friends for years. But this time they’ve really tried to set her up with the wrong guy: Dylan Harrison, a free-spirited single dad who runs a ramshackle bar and bait shop. Appropriately enough, she meets him on the way to a science-fiction-themed masquerade party.

When cops mistake the costumed pair for a lady of the evening and her client, Alaina and Dylan end up in jail together. And soon they hatch a plan to foil the matchmakers once and for all by pretending to be a couple. What begins as a good-natured ruse quickly blossoms into a real romance, as these two polar opposites discover that desire can’t be so easily disguised. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Disapointing
This is not a typical book by Tami Hoag.I expected a who done it, not who is doing it and how.There was no mystery in this book at all.It was totally predictable.I have enjoyed her books in the past, did not know I was buying a romance story. ... Read more

Product Description
Readers who devoured Tami Hoag's "Guilty As Sin" and "Night Sins" will rush to her incredible new blockbuster. In a thriller as sultry and twisty as the Louisiana bayou where it unfolds, a policewoman learns that the boundary between law and justice, and love and murder, is only a thin dark line.Amazon.com Review
Vigilantism can be swift and lethal, but it does not alwayscarry the banner of justice. For Deputy Sheriff Annie Broussard, anattempt to honor the law traps her between the prime suspect in avicious crime and her own colleagues on the force. And she's unsurewhich side, if either, is to be trusted. Set in the bayou country ofLouisiana, A Thin Dark Line explores dark psychologicalterritory while weaving through a complex plot rife with sordidcharacters and unlikely heroes. As the author of Night Sins and Guilty asSin, Tami Hoag lives up to her reputation as a master ofsuspense. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (134)

WHAT????
OK, OK...The Book insists that you read all the way to the end ...BUT IT WAS AGONIZING!! Torture for me!! lol SO much going on in her head..made me dizzy! I actually ended up going straight to the end to see who the heck did it! I was left assuming it was one person, only to find out that, after reading the rest anyway, it was someone else! Even the last chapter deceived me. I LOVED "Cry Wolf" couldn't WAIT to read this because it was at least supposed to be SOMETHING like it :(Loved Annie, loved Nick...hated everyone else!! This story was just not for me! Too confused and over the top! Long drawn out who done it.. dull and tedious!! Left me hating that I wasted so much time! But I did find myself needing to know who did it.. only because that's how I rolllol

Where's their iphone, cell phone or even a two way radio
Book was a good plot. Two main characters needed a little more chemistry build up for me. Loose ends around some of the details could have been wrapped up a little tighter.Like her books but she can get wordy.

Not what I have come to expect from Tami Hoag
Tami Hoag is one of my favorite writers and I almost always buy her books.The depth of disappointment in A Thin Dark Line is virtually impossible to express.Contrived plot, unbelievable characters, and unrealistic dialogue are just a few of the things that make this effort of Tami's so unworthwhile.I normally read one of Tami's books in a single sitting - at most, two.I have been plowing away at this one for three or four weeks now.Just stubborn I guess - hate to give up.If this is the first book of Tami's you've read, please give her another chance.Her other books are really good - not like this one - at least all the ones I've read.

Didn't like
This was my first book by Tami Hoag and maybe my last.The first few pages were good, but it quickly got too descriptive and boring.I skipped many pages.I guessed who dunnit before it was revealed.

awsome
first off, i picked this book up when my library was giving away boxes of books, about 4 and a half months ago. since then, i've read it so many times, the cover is falling off. it is an amazing book and it will always leave me wanting more, event tough i have practically memorized it! ... Read more

Product Description
New York Times bestselling author Tami Hoag returns with a thriller that begins with a shocking crime scene you’ll never forget and follows two relentless detectives on a manhunt that ends in a chilling confrontation with the essence of human evil.

It was a crime so brutal, it changed the lives of even the most hardened homicide cops. The Haas family murders left a scar on the community nothing can erase, but everyone agrees that convicting the killer, Karl Dahl, is a start. Only Judge Carey Moore seems to be standing in the way. Her ruling that Dahl’s prior criminal record is inadmissible raises a public outcry—and puts the judge in grave danger.

When an unknown assailant attacks Judge Moore in a parking garage, two of Minneapolis’s top cops are called upon to solve the crime and keep the judge from further harm. Detective Sam Kovac is as hard-boiled as they come, and his wisecracking partner, Nikki Liska, isn’t far behind. Neither one wants to be on this case, but when Karl Dahl escapes from custody, everything changes, and a seemingly straightforward case cartwheels out of control.

The stakes go even higher when the judge is kidnapped—snatched out of her own bed even as the police sit outside, watching her house.Now Kovac and Liska must navigate through a maze of suspects that includes the stepson of a murder victim, a husband with a secret life, and a rogue cop looking for revenge where the justice system failed.

With no time to spare, the detectives are pulled down a strange dark trail of smoke and mirrors, where no one is who they seem and everyone is guilty of Prior Bad Acts.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (82)

Easy & entertaining
This is the third book in the Kovac/Liska series and, in my opinion, so far the best. The plot isn't particularly original, but the story moves faster than in the two previous installments because the writing is less repetitive - although we have previously encountered the "you're my angel" motif/motive in "A Thin Dark Line" and I hope Hoag won't use it again. I think she is setting Kovac up for another disappointment with his new love interest, but at least she didn't kill this one off.

Entertaining
The mystery / thriller parts were entertaining. There was not much romance, whatever was there -- wasn't really justified. The judge and the cop were interesting characters in their own, didn't really see what they saw in each other over a period of what -- a week ? (Personally I am tired of married women being attracted to someone else while being married because of bad husband story -- this is like the 6th story in a row with the same premise. I can never justify it in my head ). Some things were little too violent for my taste but that was expected from Tami Hoag. I loved Kill the Messanger by her, this one wasn't as good. Too many little story lines just to throw you off. Some things were left open -- the bad husband was described as a good father, that was for nothing ? Why throw the line about Sam being a father once ? Also, too much unnecessary killings.

Interaction between all the cops was well done and it was the only part where much needed humor came from. The cops weren't flawless, perfect creatures and that was refreshing. The judge character was brave,fair and human at the same time. All in all, entertaining with not much fluff. Not exactly summer beach reading, but close.

excellent
quick shipping, great condition and the book was as good as I had hoped, too.

Not Too Bad
I wasn't quite as into PRIOR BAD ACTS as I have been some other Tami Hoag's.I had trouble with the main female character being a judge.It was just hard to think of her as sort of a romantic interest for Sam Kovac.She seemed too tough and too soft at the same time.But I really liked the story, so I'm still a HUGE fan. I look forward to each new novel.

Average; She could do a lot better
The judge has really gotten herself in a bind in this book, however it's the classic "damsel in distress" here and also the "only one man can save her"...same old same old.I think Ms. Hoag ran out of ideas with this one.Some authors crank out books when they're running out of money...this appears to be the case with this book.

The storyline is okay, but predictable.To be fair, there is a lot of suspense and violence, but I was sick to death of the constant sexual descriptions and the "perfect" body descriptions, especially at the age of the two main characters.If MY body was as perfect as theirs are at that age, then why are they cop and judge and not Mr. America and Ms. USA?

Ms. Hoag needs to take a vacation to drum up new topics to write about. ... Read more

Product Description
She was a vision. She was a siren. She was a nightmare. She was dead. Now he needed her to disappear. And he knew just how to make it happen. The Palm Beach elite go to great lengths to protect their own—and their own no longer includes Elena Estes. Once upon a time a child of wealth and privilege, Elena turned her back on that life. Betrayed and disillusioned by those closest to her, she chose the life of an undercover cop, the hunt for justice her own personal passion. Then a tragic, haunting mistake ended her career. Now Elena exists on the fringes of her old life, training horses for a living. But a shocking event is about to draw her back into the painful vortex she’s fought so hard to leave behind.

First she finds the body—a young woman used, murdered, and dumped in a canal. Not just a victim, but a friend. As Elena delves into her dead friend’s secret life, she discovers ties not only to the Russian mob but also to a group of powerful and wealthy Palm Beach bad boys known for giving each other alibis to cover a multitude of sins. A group that includes a man Elena once knew very well—her former fiancé, Bennett Walker, a man she knows has already escaped justice at least once in his life.

Finding her friend’s killer will put Elena at odds with her old life, with her new lover, and with herself. But she is determined to reveal the truth—a truth that will shock Palm Beach society to its core, and could very well get her killed.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (52)

alibi man by Tami Hoag
This is the second time I've submitted a review on this book.Please don't ask for a third one.
If you like mysterys you will enjoy this book.I admit that some of the discriptions of the dead and dieing were pretty scary and disgusting, but they fit the story line.Tami Hoag is a greater writter and when I see her name on a book I always buy it. Enjoy.

Enjoyable read
This is the first Tami Hoag book that I have read.I did enjoy it even though I don't have an interest in the horse/polo world.The characters were interesting and she held my interest right through the end, which is something James Patterson has never been able to do.On the whole this is a great beach read!

Alibi Man
I loved THE ALIBI MAN.It was great!With this book I just rediscovered how much I like Tami Hoag.Her dialogue is always great and right on for the story.It's the second book with Elena Estes as the main character.I liked DARK HORSE, the first one, too, but this one was even better.The romance with Landry is barely there but it sizzles anyway.You never feel like you're waiting for a scene to end and the plot just moves faster and faster.I'm not normally into horses, but it really worked as the background for the crime.Keep 'em coming, Tami!

Compelling Character
Although I have been a fan of Tami Hoag for her former novels, The Alibi Man has put her at the top of my favorite writer list.This fast-moving story, centered on the corruption of wealthy Palm Beach society, is one of long-overdue justice finally coming home.The protagonist, the former detective Elena Estes, is one of the most compelling characters I have come across in reading.She is flawed, fearless and entirely engaging. Though there are several points of view in the story, she is the primary voice, and whenever she's "on" there's literary electricity that made me not to want her to stop.A marvelous characterization, and although other persons in the story are well drawn out (especially James Landry, whose unrequited love for her is a wonderfully understated theme)-- none come close to Elena.Her reflections, attitude, and honest internal conflicts make the entire novel a powerful experience.Elena was introduced in Dark Horse, which I also thoroughly enjoyed, but she blossoms into a fully deep and real person in The Alibi Man.I only hope the author will choose to create another story with her as protagonist.She's an unqualified winner.

Great Crime Novel
Estes and her love of horses return in this first-person novel as she tries to track down the killer of her fellow worker at the stables. Estes is a former cop who made a fatal mistake in the line of duty and struggles to cope with that and a past relationship with a person who tried to get her to be his alibi in covering up a crime.

Finding the body of her fellow stable hand draws her into a world of her past, where rich and influential people hide dark secrets, and in particular one group of people cover for each other - the Alibi Club. Estes has to confront her past and deal with anger and the thirst for revenge in order to solve the crime.

Having several elements such as the Russian mafia boss, the Alibi Club and Estes' former men in her life, Hoag manages to craft a suspenseful murder mystery that saves its best twists for near the end. While Estes remains thoroughly tormented and irreversibly cynical with life, she is an engaging character whose journey takes her to the heart of her issues.

I really enjoyed this novel and the characterisation, and the suspects and victims all have flaws that keep the book a gritty read to the end. ... Read more

Product Description
“ONE OF THE MOST INTENSE SUSPENSE WRITERS AROUND.”—CHICAGO TRIBUNE

#1 New York Times bestselling author Tami Hoag delivers a double shot of suspense in these two adrenaline-charged classic thrillers offered together in one powerful volume.

NIGHT SINS

A peaceful Minnesota town is about to face its worst nightmare. A young boy disappears and the only clue is a note—taunting and casually cruel. Has a cold-blooded kidnapper struck? Or is this the reawakening of a long-quiet serial killer? For a tough-minded investigator, it’s her first make-or-break case. For a local cop, it’s the fear that big-city evil has come to stalk his small-town home. Together they’ll hunt a madman who knows no bounds and for whom no sin is forbidden.

“Nerve-shattering, explosive entertainment, and should not be missed by anyone who reads for the thrill of it.” —Michael Palmer

GUILTY AS SIN

A psychopath has been playing a twisted game with a terrified Minnesota town. Now a respected member of the community stands accused of a chilling act of evil. But when a second boy vanishes, a frightened public demands to know if the police have caught the wrong man. Is the nightmare continuing…or just beginning? Prosecutor Ellen North believes she has the right man—but that he has an accomplice in the shadows. Ellen suddenly finds herself swept into a cruel contest of wits, a dark game of life and death… with an evil mind as guilty as sin.

“A chilling study of evil that holds the reader until the shocking surprise ending.” —Phillip Margolin ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Spell binding
I have come to believe anything written by Tami Hoag has got to be good.Night Sins/Guilty as Sin, were two stories intertwined.You never really knew which way it was going to go.The main charactors interacted well together and you were glad to see them "get involved", but at the same time, it did not take away from the plot. Just about the time you think you know who the killer is, something else happens to make you doubt your suspcions.I would highly recommend this book to any mystery lover, it will keep you turning page after page.

Night Sins
Very good book... intense and gripping.. didn't want to put the book down! Night Sins

Dual Reprints Helpful
I was glad to see these two books come out in a dual reprint.These were among the first Tami Hoag books I read and enjoyed thoroughly.Loved the way she continued the storyline into the second book with the prosecuting attorney.No one does dark mystery better than Hoag. ... Read more

Product Description
He performs his profane ceremony in a wooded Minneapolis park, anointing his victims, then setting the bodies ablaze. He has already claimed three lives, and he won't stop there. Only this time there is a witness. But she isn't talking.

Enter Kate Conlan, former FBI agent turned victim/witness advocate. Not even she can tell if the reluctant witness is a potential victim or something more troubling still. Her superiors are interested only because the latest victim may be the daughter of Peter Bondurant, an enigmatic billionaire. When he pulls strings, Special Agent John Quinn gets assigned to the case. But the FBI's ace profiler of serial killers is the last person Kate wants to work with, not with their troubled history. Now she faces the most difficult role of her career--and her life. For she's the only woman who has what it takes to stop the killer...and the one woman he wants next.

In the darkness a match is struck. Not for heat, not for light...but to ignite the fire of a killer.He leaves nothing behind but ashes...and the ice-cold certainty that he will strike again.Amazon.com Review
Some doctoral candidate is doubtless hard at work as you read this, tryingto explain why and how the serial killer suddenly became every thrillerwriter's favorite subject. Meanwhile, the irrepressible Tami Hoag shows usin her latest sure-to-be-a-bestseller how the theme should be handled--withsensitivity, wit, and enough energy to heat a small city.

A monster known as the Cremator is killing prostitutes in Minneapolis parksand setting their bodies on fire. When one of his victims turns out to bethe daughter of a local billionaire, and a homeless teenager claims to havewitnessed the burning, it brings together former FBI agent Kate Conlan (nowworking as a victim-witness advocate) and the Bureau's top serial-killerprofiler, John Quinn. Conlan and Quinn share a painful personal history;now they have to work together against a very smart lunatic who seems to beable to read their minds.

Although none of this is actually groundbreaking material, Hoag leaps intoher story as if she were the very first writer to have thought of it. Guesswhat? Her innocence and verve are contagious. We throw skepticism to thewinds and gladly go along for the thrilling and romantic ride, just as wedid in other Hoag hits such as Cry Wolf, Dark Paradise, Guilty As Sin, Lucky's Lady, Magic, Night Sins, Still Waters, and A Thin Dark Line--allavailable in paperback. --Dick Adler ... Read more

Customer Reviews (194)

A thrill a minute
It had me terrified and on the edge of my seat.
The characters were believable and edgy and the action carried through to the end. Definatley a nightime read when you're alone in the house.

a good read
Tami Hoag is a good mystery writer.She just keeps them coming and they are solid mystery books which we love to read.

This particular good is the normal good, solid read for mystery fans and they will enjoy it.

The characters are believable and the plot moves you along with it.

Read it.

J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"

Ashes To Ashes
This book kept me intrigued all the way through the book i was not bored at all i really didnt want to put the book down when my lunch break was over it was hard to put it down and go back to work!!!

ashes to ashes
god, this book will take you for a ride there were times that i had to take a break because the suspense was almost too much to handle, the conflicts of just about all of the characters were real, we all know or have worked with some of these personalities, what a great who done it in the end the real villians was an utter surprise I think i would have loved a little more romance between kate and quinn and wished that their characters past could have revealed more depth to what really happen with kate and quinn,such as how did her daugther died, what happen to that piece of crap husband steve all in all the book was a definitely a page turner

It was okay...
Former FBI member Kate Conlan teams up with old flame John Quinn in a grisly case involving a serial killer called the cremator.While I enjoyed the overall premise of the story I thought at times the author tended to restate the same things over and over regarding the personal lives, etc. of the characters, thus causing the novel to lose steam at certain points. I was however, surprised by the identity of the killer. Overall an okay read for a rainy day! ... Read more

Product Description
In this romantic, funny, and heartwarming classic novel, #1 New York Times bestselling author Tami Hoag poignantly captures one eventful summer in the life of a woman facing the ultimate relationship dilemma.

It took only one look for Genna Hastings to make up her mind about her new next-door neighbor, J. J. Hennessy. She knew his type all too well: Jared Jay Hennessy was tall and handsome, a man who thought he was God’s gift to women. From the pink flamingos dotting his front yard to the all-night boozy barbecues, he threatened to disrupt Genna’s peaceful summer off from teaching. But beneath his carefree smile and teasing nature, J.J. was a man as serious about the future as he was about Genna. He’d come to this quiet Connecticut town to change his life, and he challenged Genna to help him become Mr. Right. It was a challenge she knew she’d be smart to refuse . . . and one J.J. knew she couldn’t resist. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Argh...My first and last "romance novel"
I've read some of Tami Hoag's mysteries and enjoyed them as good summer fun reading. I thought this would be interesting since it was a bit different than the other books she'd written. I believe this was the first. Oh lordy--it was just a romance novel and so different than her other books. She writes a fairly meaty mystery and mixes them with a bit of romance, but this book was pure, predictable...um, not so great stuff.

If you're looking for a good study on how a writer can grow, read this and then one of her mysteries. If you are looking for another decent Tami Hoag book, try another mystery instead.

the trouble with jj
it was a different type of book for her to write but i enjoyed it.

My favorite book to date.
I love this book!Sometimes I am in the mood for a cheap taudry romance novel but I am always in the mood for a fun love affair!Sure there is some sex in it but overall it is a lighthearted comedy love story.I had the book but misplaced it years ago and finally tracked down the name of the book.I just now placed an order to buy a used one from here.I don't care what condition it's in as long as the pages are there and I can read it...over and over again. Before it got lost (most likely in all the moves I have had over the years), I couldn't put it down! ... Read more

Product Description
Sorry. The single word was written on a mirror. In front of it hung the Minneapolis Internal Affairs cop. Was it suicide? Or a kinky act turned tragic?

Either way, it wasn’t murder. At least not according to the powers that be. But veteran homicide detective Sam Kovac and his wisecracking, ambitious partner Nikki Liska think differently. Together they begin to dig at the too-neat edges of the young cop’s death, uncovering one motive and one suspect after another. The shadows of suspicion fall not only on the city’s elite, but into the very heart of the police department.

Someone wants the case closed–quickly and forever. But neither Kovac nor Liska will give up. Now both their careers and their lives are on the line. From a murder case two months old to another case closed for twenty years, Kovac and Liska must unearth a connection the killer wants dead and buried. A killer who will stop at absolutely nothing to keep a dark and shattering secret . . .Amazon.com Review
Minneapolis has more than its share of interesting cops (Lucas Davenport of the John Sandford thrillers, for one), and Tami Hoag's homicide dicks, Sam Kovac and Nikki Liska, join the club in this thoughtful and surprisingly moving novel of dirty cops and cover-ups. Internal Affairs investigator Andy Fallon is a suicide--or is he? The word around the department is that Andy, son of Iron Mike Fallon, an old hero of Sam's, killed himself because Mike turned his back on him when Andy told him he was gay. Or maybe it was because a lover dumped him, or even (snicker, snicker) a perverted sexual practice gone wrong. That's the gossip, but Sam feels he owes it to Mike to investigate.

Sam is a familiar type in this genre, and his self-awareness is almost painful at times. "You're a stereotype. The tragic hero," he's told by Amanda Savard, the strong-but-vulnerable Internal Affairs lieutenant whose determination to keep the Fallon case closed foreshadows her personal history. "The twice-divorced, smoking, drinking workaholic," Sam agrees. "I don't know what's heroic about that. It reeks of failure to me, but maybe I have unrealistic standards."But Sam's droll sense of humor is matched by his deeply ingrained crap detector.When Iron Mike apparently kills himself too, you can almost feel its needle vibrate. Then Sam and Nikki open another closed case, this one almost two decades old, and find the connections that threaten to unravel past crimes and future promises. Hoag is a writer very much in command of her craft: the pacing excels, the characters are complex and interesting, and the details well worked out. Readers will look forward to another Kovac and Liska adventure. --Jane Adams ... Read more

Customer Reviews (104)

On the Hunt for a Cop Killer
When Minneapolis cops Sam Kovak and his partner Nikki Liska get called to a crime scene where the victim is found hanging naked in his bedroom, the nightmare begins. The victim is Internal affairs cop Andy Fallon, son of a hero cop who used to be Sam's mentor. There are those that say suicide, but Sam isn't buying it

Lines are quickly drawn in the department. Some wonder if Andy was working a case against cops that got him killed, others think he was a kinky homosexual who was out for an autoerotic kick and accidentally killed himself. But accident, murder or suicide, Kovak and Liska want to know. However it appears they are alone in their quest for that knowledge. And curiously enough, I.A. doesn't seem to want to know either. Everyone wants the case to just go away, but our heroes persevere and the closer they get to the truth, the closer they get to a killer who is willing to kill again to stop them.

Tami Hoag has never disappointed me and DUST TO DUST is one of her best. She's always spot on with her characters, making you feel what they feel, care what they care about and she's a master at suspense, but then everybody knows that, don't they?

An excellent read
I like mysteries and I like Tami Hoag.This is one of her better books and it is really an enjoyable read.

With Hoag you get characters that you almost know, and a plot that keeps you reading and enjoying the story.What more can you want from a mystery?

This is an excellent read.

J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"

Neither really bad nor really good - SPOILERS (sort of)
I'm probably the only one around here who enjoys Tami Hoag's characters BECAUSE they are clichéd, and I hope to read about Kovac and Liska and Conlan and Quinn again in the future. However, I wasn't impressed with the slow-paced and convoluted story. The killer's motive seemed too farfetched; it struck me as out of character for one of the female leads, who was described as a recluse, to keep condoms in her nightstand; and the suicide within the last fourth of the book was overdone and unnecessary - plus I hated for a character to lose his love interest. I had been looking forward to a nice, clichéd (= optimistic) ending and hated to be disappointed.

Tattered
The book was a little tattered & dog eared in places. I would have paid a quarter at a yard sale for it. Pages were yellow. I was disappointed.

good story but DARK
Enjoyed Kill the Messenger so I read this.Good, twisty story, but dark.For those who read mysteries/thrillers for fun, as I do, too dark.For others, interesting plot lines.Kovak was very "poor me" but that was consistent with his realization of the emptiness of his non-work life and his wise-cracking nature. ... Read more

Product Description
A cold-blooded kidnapper has been playing a twisted game with a terrified Minnesota town. Now a respected member of the community sits in jail, accused of a chilling act of evil. But then another boy disappears, triggering panic in tiny Deer Lake. Have the police caught the wrong man? Or is there an even more sinister mind calculating each perverse move?

Prosecutor Ellen North believes she's building a case against the right man—and that he has an accomplice in the shadows. Suddenly she's swept into their dark game, her role changed from hunter to prey. And soon she wonders if she's a match for her opponent...an evil mind as guilty as sin.Amazon.com Review
If her knuckle-whitening thriller Night Sinsmade you lock your doors, bolt your windows and turn on all the lights - keep them that way.Tami Hoag's latest bestseller will make you gladyou did. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (97)

This book missed being great by a few degrees.
First of all, this sequel really should have been announced somehow--like at the end of NIGHT SINS.

Ellen North, the heroine, never really impressed me, yet I still wanted her to succeed.

Jay Brooks is sexy.Running from his pain is somewhat overdone.Ms. Hoag's heroes tend to be cut from the same cloth--guilt ridden, raw-boned, smoky voiced.They're all sexy, though, because they are mostly the same.

Megan O'Malley, the heroine in NIGHT SINS, receives nice closure.Mitch Holt, the hero in the same book, is still a nice guy.

Paul Kirkwood still never gets his comeuppance--not really.Considering what an ass he is, he should have been run out of town.

Hannah Kirkwood is a solid character, and I like the idea that she can start over and not only give her children a fresh start, but maybe find happiness with the sexy priest, Tom McCoy.

I never felt more than sexual attraction between Ellen and Jay and had to take their word that they'd fallen in love with each other.

However, these two books tell a very thorough and compelling story.GUILTY AS SIN is still open-ended, like NIGHT SINS, but it works out okay.

Ms. Hoag is a talented writer. If you enjoy romantic/suspense tales I believe you will enjoy this book. It is certainly worth reading.

Shelley Dawn, author of Sweet, Sweet Jessie and Dark Nights[..]

great book
This book is so good.. lots of suspense and it is just a good mind escaping book.

Great book
Have read all of Tami Hoag's books and they are all great--this one is no exception.

Great, as expected!
I've enjoyed every single one of Tami Hoag's books, and "Guilty as Sin" is no exception!!

Wonderful Mystery Writer
While most reviews that you read, give you the opinion of the reader on that particular book, I tend to read as many books as possible by that author and then rate the book(s).I've always preferred history, biography and romance novels until my eldest daughter introduced me to a new mystery writer at the time...Tami Hoag.I started reading as a skeptic as mystery never really did anything for me; with an over populous of mystery writers, it was always the same storyline, thus I was always disappointed in the end.I have to say Tami's writing gave me a new respect for mystery.I have yet to read any other mystery books that I enjoy as much as Tami Hoag's.I recommend, Cry Wolf, Still Waters, A Thin Dark Line, Dark Paradise, Night Sins and my favorite, Guilty as Sin.I think what I love the most about her books is even when you've figured it out, your wrong, yes you are wrong fellow readers.Even when you finally know who "don-it" you still can't put her books down.As Tami's storylines unfold, I found them to be wickedly deceitful.The ending in Guilty as Sin shocked me and left me wanting to read more of her works.Full of suspenseful twists that only the written word can truly master, much like the old black and white Alfred Hitchcock tales did for the screen. ... Read more

Product Description
A classic novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Tami Hoag, Reilly’s Return is the wonderful story of a woman who seeks sanctuary and stability as she reconnects with a man who lives life on the edge.
 
In a small town on California’s northern coast, Jayne Jordan thinks that she has found the perfect place to live. Recovering from her husband’s death, searching for spiritual harmony, Jayne still manages to crank out bluntly honest—often scathing—movie reviews read by millions. Then into her life strides international movie star and sex symbol Pat Reilly, a friend of Jayne’s late husband. Reilly has waited a year to contact Jayne. Now, certain that he and Jayne fell in love the first time they met, Reilly has arrived to give destiny a nudge.

For any other woman this would be a no-brainer, but Jayne is picking up confusing vibes. And Reilly’s latest action-adventure blockbuster is about to draw the wrath of her next review. Can Jayne really give in to this big, reckless matinee idol and stay true to herself? In a little town where anything can happen, there will be only one way to find out. ... Read more

Product Description
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Tami Hoag comes this powerful novel of passion, heartbreak, and redemption—a story that celebrates our capacity to love one time, for all time, even in the face of adversity and change.

They say that each of us becomes an entirely new person every seven years. But Rebecca Bradshaw doesn’t feel any different when an old lover shows up severely injured at the hospital where she runs the physical therapy department. Seven years ago baseball player Jace Cooper left her without a second thought or the chance to share the life-changing secret she swore she’d keep from him forever. Now he was back, wanting both her help and a second chance. Becca hadn’t changed, and she didn’t believe Jace had either, but as she helped him repair his broken body and his fractured past, she would find she was wrong on both counts. The only thing that had stayed the same was the most important thing of all—and now suddenly time was running out. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Yawn...
This was the first Tami Hoag book I've read. I'm used to more intense romance books. Not only was this book a little boring, but I couldn't really like Rebbecca. She was just too mean and cold. I know the background and I know he left her for baseball, but he came back and apologized and genuinely really wanted to fix things. She just blew him off. I can understand her hurt, but not her anger.

straight from the heart
great reading this is another of tami hoags great reads it has romance, comedy and a happy ending.

Straight from the Heart
What can I say, I love Tami Hoag, and loved this CD. Can't wait to listen to more.

Tami Hoag
The book was not quite I expected, but still well written and a good read

Staci Snell is perfect
I have listened to several audio books narrated by Staci Snell. I have to say she is the only narrator I have heard in some time that makes her characters absolutely believeable. Some narrators make their female characters too breathy or too pitchy or too dramatic. Even the male character Snell attempts seem real.

The story itself is formula romance and that's exactly why I chose it. It works perfectly in it's genre. Definitely worth the time. ... Read more

Product Description
From award-winning author Tami Hoag comes a warm, moving story of two cultures in conflict and two hearts in love.

Matt Thorne had come to his sister's rural inn to recover from an injury far from the city and his fast-paced life as an emergency room physician.Drifting between sleep and waking, Matt didn't trust his eyes when he saw the young woman who sat at his bedside in her plain cotton dress and apron, her chestnut hair tucked demurely beneath a white bonnet, like a beautiful vision from the past century.

Sarah Troyer had been warned about the womanizing Dr. Throne,but nothing prepared her for the shiver of desire that shook her to her core when she gazed at him.Though her life was bound by the simple Amish way, Sarah had always longed for the world outside.Her job at the inn already branded her as a rebel in her community, and falling in love with a stranger would mean the loss of her family and the only life she knew.Yet something sparked within her with every touch of his hand, each glance from his dark eyes.

Sarah was willing to allow herself a brief, secret adventure in the arms of a forbidden man.But she hadn't counted on Matt's passionate love--a love that would not let go, a love that could cost them both everything they knew....
... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

A Tender Story
Tami Hoag is my hero among writers. I have read most of her books and have never been disappointed with any of them. They give me hours of reading pleasure. However, "Sara's Sin" diverged from her usual thrilling and suspenseful writes. Although I did enjoy reading it, it can not measure up to her thick, action-packed novels, but it was an interesting story that held my interest.

Reviewed by: Jeanette Cooper
[...]

An oldie but a goodie,
I have read this book over and over and over so many times you wouldn't believe it, it is that good!I enjoy stories in this fun genre and Ms. Hoag is one of the reasons why.I just love her!

reader review
this is a story of Sarah who was a worker at an inn, out in the country, and she was amish.she was taking care of Matt, a doctor from the city and he had been beat up pretty badly.Sarah was told to take care of him while the keepers of the inn were out of bussiness. while Matt's sister-in-law was away, Sarah and Matt were instantly attracted to each other and were totaly in love. they shared some long nights together....When Matt's sister-in-law came back from her business trip she saw that Matt and Sarah were in love and took it apon herself to tell him of the Amish bond that said that she could not love or marrie a non-amish person. torn at heart, Matt returned home to the city and to the hospitl, the rest u will have to read and find out this was a really good book and i think that anyone up for a good romance should read it

It's a love story !
I have enjoyed all of Tami Hoag's murder/suspense novels.Sarah's Sin from 1992 was figured to be a romance novel from the title, and sure enough it was.While it didn't seem like Tami Hoag, or at least the one I had grown to look forward to, it was a sweet story about a cocky ER doctor from Minneapolis who had been wounded in a gun fight and ends up recuperating in a small town in Minnesota nearl an Armish settlement.A young Amish widow is working at the bread and breakfast run by the doctor's sister and is assigned the job of taking care of him as he recovers his strength.Of course the two of them are attracted to each other.Having grown up with the Armish of Central Illinois, I found Sarah's character believable and true to the Armish culture.The story is about Sarah's longing to leave her "plain" life and accept her love and move on to the world at large with all its opportunities and challenges.It's a fast read and a sweet story. The sex is a little idealistic, but it's good fuel for a night of fantasy.Stick it in your beach bag and enjoy.

A Light and Sweet Romance !
"Sarah's Sin" is a wonderful love story between two people from two different worlds.

Sarah Troyer is Amish, but she's considered a rebel to her people because her thinking and ways contradict the Amish standards. Sarah's thinking and ways are too liberal and free because she yearns to learn and know more. Sarah agreed to look over her friend's brother who was hurt in this accident. But it may be a mistake because she's deeply attracted to Matt and that's not suppose to happen.

Matt Thorne was hurt in an accident and now he's in the country, resting. He's surprised when he wakes up and finds Sarah at his bedside. Matt is a known player and he likes Sarah because she's pretty, sweet and innocent. But as he spends more time with her, Matt discovers a sort of peace he has never known before, even if Sarah does make him aroused.

It all boils down to their differences. Matt is from the city and is liberal, while Sarah is from the country and is imprisoned by her Amish standards. But if Sarah was to follow Matt, she would have to give up her family. Would Sarah love Matt enough to trust Matt with her future and would Matt show her the world outside of her Amish world?

I like this book because it's sweet and romantic. The time Matt and Sarah spent with each other seems so magical. I liked the part when there were a few things that tested their love for each other and when they depended on each other to accomplish some obstacles. A good and light romance to read but it makes people wonder about the Amish ways. ... Read more

Product Description
In her latest thriller, New York Times bestselling author Tami Hoag takes readers on a suspense-filled ride of shocks and twists leading to an explosive finish. It is the story of an ex-cop, a missing girl, and a killer locked in a race where there can be only one winner—and the losers die trying.

In a trailer in a Florida swamp, time is running out for eighteen year-old Erin Seabright. A pawn in a kidnapper's terrifying game for a ransom no one can pay, her last hope is a washed-up ex-cop who has already lost it all-not once, but twice.

The wealthy world of the Palm Beach horse set seems a long way from a cop's world in the narcotics division. A lifetime ago, undercover sheriff's detective Elena Estes worked the mean streets and BackTop alleys, living by her wits and playing the long odds until she took one risk too many. Now Estes lives on the ragged edge of lost hope and self-hatred, hiding from the past and believing she doesn't deserve to have a future. But the past is about to come back with a vengeance, and the future is about to become a race between life and death.

A young woman is missing and her twelve year-old stepsister comes to Estes for help. No one but serious, studious Molly Seabright seems concerned about what's happened to her troubled older sister. But Molly is convinced Erin is in danger. Estes has no P.I. license, no interest in a new career, and no desire to break her self-imposed exile. But the more she learns about the people Erin Seabright was involved with, the more her long-dormant cop instincts come back to life.

One trip to the show grounds where Erin worked as a groom, and Estes is quickly pulled to the dark side of a glamorous sport. Behind the glittering, ultra-rich facade is an ultra-ruthless world of drugs, payoffs, and dirty deals. A world of dissolute playboys and crooked horse-dealers, of royalty and rabble, of rivals and enemies. An obscenely wealthy world where anything can be had for a price—including a life.

And in that world stalks a killer who will lead Estes down a dark, twisted trail of decadence and deceit, mayhem and murder—from the gilded life of Palm Beach to the darkest corners of the Florida swamps, to a final show-down that could cost her everything. A race against time and evil. A race in which Estes is the dark horse—and no one is betting on her to win. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (78)

a good read
I like mysteries and Tami Hoag writes good mysteries. The story flows, the characters seem to be real people not gross exaggerations and you enjoy the flow.

This is a good book, one that mystery readers will enjoy.

J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"

A complex and intriguing thriller centered in the equestrian world.
This was the first Tami Hoag novel I ever read, and I recently made it a reread because I liked it so much. As an equestrian myself, I appreciated her attention to realistic detail when it came to knowledge of riding and the horse world, and as a general reader I appreciated that she kept it to the point. If you're a rider you'll get that much more out of this book, but if you're not I don't think there's anything too confusing when it comes to the horse show setting.

Elena Estes is the heroine, a cop with a habit of making brash decisions and who finally had one catch up with her. While recuperating at her friend's Florida-based riding stable, she is thrust back into the detecting world by a series of odd circumstances: a 12 year old claiming her sister is missing, a horse buyer who doesn't take no for an answer, and the detective who finally helps her to care again.

This novel goes above and beyond the average thriller because there is no clear-cut hero and villain. Even Elena, our eyes and ears, has done bad things, and those whom she doesn't find guilty of the kidnapping are certainly guilty of something. It's easy to tell from the beginning that the case isn't what it seems, but there are plenty of twists and action sequences for any thriller fan, and enough serious and endearing character development to make you want to read it again.

I want to add, too, that while a lot of what Hoag writes about the equestrian world is accurate, she is pulling a lot of examples and legends from the extreme, high-stakes world of show jumping, which would be like saying that the life of Cameron Diaz was the life of the average actor. Just so it's out there... the horse show world is not usually as cut-throat (literally and figuratively) as this novel depicts!

Enjoyable page turner
This was quite an enjoyable mystery set in Palm Beach, Florida with the horse set as the background.

Elena Estes is a former Palm Beach cop, who left the force in disgrace after the death of a fellow officer during an undercover sting operation. Nursing both her physical as well as emotional wounds she is approached by a young girl, 12 year old Molly Seabright, who wants to hire Elena to find her missing sister. Intrigued despite herself Elena begins an investigation that exposes the under belly of the wealthy equestrian set.

This was a good mystery with lots of seedy characters, multiple plot lines and a romance. I enjoyed reading this book, although I did unravel part of the mystery early on.

A murder mystery with horses...'Yea' or 'Neigh'?(2 1/2 stars)
From my experience, whenever an author writes about a favorite hobby/passion,or just tries to cram too much 'inside info' into a story to show that a lot of research went into writing, the story doesn't always measure up.
I felt that way about 'Dark Horse'. While Hoag promised us quite a bit from this visit to her 'other world', she didn't really deliver. The story became bogged down by cardboard characters with 'soap opera' names('Bruce, Krystal, and Chad Seabright'?), and way too many extraneous plot twists. Not every character in a murder mystery needs to be a suspect!(Every character over age 12, anyway!)
Although the story actually picked up near the end, Hoag's sluggish pacing, and shallow characterization made it a bit of a chore to finish.
This one wasn't in the same class as 'Kill the Messenger'...and since none of the other Hoag books I've heard about caught my interest, I don't think I'll be looking for her work in the future.

lukewarm book
If this is typical of her writing, I won't be bothering with more. Maybe her earlier books were better? ... Read more

Product Description
As wild and mysterious as the Louisiana swamp he called home, Lucky Doucet was a dangerously attractive Cajun no woman could handle.  His solitary life left no room for the likes of elegant Serena Sheridan, but Lucky couldn't deny her desperate need to find her missing grandfather.  He would help her, but nothing
more--yet once he felt the lure of the flaxen-haired beauty, an adventurer like Lucky couldn't help playing with fire.

Serena felt unnerved, aroused, and excited by the ruggedly sensual renegade whose gaze burned her with its heat, but she did not dare tangle with a rebel whose intensity was overwhelming, who claimed his heart was off limits?  Deeper and deeper they traveled into the steamy bayou, until with one electrifying kiss her resistance melted into liquid desire.  And the devilish rogue found he'd do anything to make Serena Lucky's Lady. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (62)

Lucky Lady!
I enjoyed this book, but I read it right after finishing CRY WOLF.There are a lot of similarities between the two tales.Still, the settings are beautiful and the story is decent.

As with CRY WOLF, the characters are the biggest part of the story, with the bad guys coming in second.The heroine, Serena Sheridan, is a strong, decent character with a thoroughly unlikable sister, just like in CRY WOLF.The hero, Lucky Doucet, is a total hottie, very masculine, carries around guilt and believes himself to be unworthy of anything good, just like in CRY WOLF.

Between the two, I liked CRY WOLF a lot more, but as I already stated, I enjoyed LUCKY'S LADY.

Author of, Sweet, Sweet Jessie and Dark Nights.[...].

Cajun Fantasy
In my own personal opinion (and I get the feeling I am not among the minority of readers), Lucky Doucet has now become somewhat of a prototype to many a fantasy along the "knight in shining armor" adage. Tami Hoag is exceptionally talented with her twists and turns shrouded in mystery as well as character development. The latter is so concrete, that it actually perplexes my mind that these people really do not exist.

This more slightly milder version of mystery is more inundated with romance. The progression of the story is fulfilled with intrigue at every turn that upon the conclusion, I actually returned to the beginning just to recapture the introduction of the main characters all over again.

Aside from Jack and Laurel in Hoag's other Cajun suspensful romance Cry Wolf, Lucky and Serena are probably my favorite romantic couple in literature. The only downfall I detect here is that everything else I read now is going to have to live up to these two and the enchanting journey Tami Hoag enraptures her readers on from beginning to end.

And yes, as with Cry Wolf, I have rescheduled to re-read this yet again a year from now.

here's my issue with this book
I know the area that she writes about in her book, and the description of it is completely made up.She writes about the african american people like they are aliens from outer space. No one talks like that or looks like that.It was offensive.I wasn't crazy about the story but after reading it I decided to become a writer because if this lady can make it as a writer, I know I can.But it's basically crap.

Too much sex, not enough mystery

This is one of Tami's earlier books and she really hadn't got the mystery genre yet.The whole story was too wishy washy.

Book was received in good condition.

Lucky's Lady
The condition of the book was "good" as stated and I really enjoyed reading the book as with all of the Tami Hoag books I have read. ... Read more

Product Description
In this unforgettable classic novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author Tami Hoag, the promise of a new love is imperiled by the secrets of the past.
 
In the charming seaside town of Anastasia, California, Faith Kincaid is looking to start over after her bruising divorce from powerful, corrupt senator William Gerard. But the past still haunts her. As she prepares to testify against her ex at his high-profile bribery trial, the federal government is watching her every move. They’ve even sent a special agent, Shane Callan, to protect her. Faith doesn’t think she needs a bodyguard—especially one as physically formidable as Shane. But he refuses to take no for an answer. Soon the two are sharing secrets and the simmering attraction between them shows signs of sizzling out of control. But as Faith learns, Shane’s not a forever kind of guy—unless she can convince him to undergo a major change of heart. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Don't Waste Your Time On This One...
I ordered this book from amazon and my big mistake was not taking the book reviews seriously. As many other Tami Hoag fans I started reading her most recent books first. These books were well developed and showed growth from the writer. I think that since this was probably one of her first books written that it lacked depth and detail. So reading this book felt like a step back and I knew this was one of her old books.

In the book Shane is your typical male hunk that portrays Faith as an ex politicians greedy wife who was invoved in the schemes her husband was into. Then, Shane falls in love with Faith. (suprise-suprise)

Throughout the book Faith is described as delicate, soft and feminine. Quite frankly I found Faith without personality and strength. Sure the writer described Faith through Shane's thoughts as "small and strong"....but she acted weak and the book felt rushed...

I felt as if I was watching a movie and the door bell rang, I answer quickly and I get back to see someone has already died and the main characters that hated each other now are in love. I turn around for a second and a threatening letter was sent to Faith and I am wondering where did that come from??? Like I said it lacked detail and flavor. The whole story like others said, is the same but with different character names.
It was truely hard to read and I did not even get a good laugh...

Books like Cry Wolf, Still Waters and Dark Paradise by Tami Hoag are better reads!!!
(It's the same romance thing but if you're into that than these are better because there is more action and a better mystery)

Predictable from the very start....boring.
I am an avid Tami Hoag fan but her recent 'love stories' are all the same...just different names for the characters.The love/hate relationship from the start is boring.The 'I'm not good enough for her/him'...is old.Her mystery books are exceptional, they keep you on the edge of your seat! Her books are starting to read like a Harliqun Romance novel and that's not what I expect from her.

Not one of her best
A total romance novel, disappointing.I love her mystery novels and was bored by this mostly
romance, little mystery, novel.

Finished it in no time!
This was the first book I'd read by Tami Hoag and I am very impressed.I fell in love with each of the characters, even the non-main characters.And the description of the setting made me wish I was on that very beach.Great chemistry, great read!

Heart of Gold
Shane Callan, is a jaded cop/undercover agent, sent to protect the heroine after an injury that put him off his active line of duty. And the heroine Faith Kincaid is the ex-wife of a senator William Gerard who is accused of corruption and bribery. And she will be testifying against him in the trial.

And so the story starts as Faith is settling into an old inn she bought in the town of Anastasia, and she is going to renovate it and then open it for business again. And then Shane arrives uninvited, Faith doesn't want him there because his presence rattles her and she finds that she is very attracted to him, but of course he is stubborn and he has been sent to do a job and he will do it. Only he in turn finds himself very attracted to her as well, and his view of her as a shallow/vapid woman is quickly changed as he sees that Faith is indeed a sweet and courageous woman who has been through a lot.

And while it is true that the hero in true cliche fashion can not fall in love, or more precisely has prohibited himself from falling in love or gettig emotionally tangled with any woman, I have to say that it was handled very well here. So for me, while I don't like this premise, the author gave Shane a very good reason to be the way he is (he lost a woman he loved and should have protected several years before, and he is terrified that if he allows himself to fall for Faith the same will happen to her). So it was a good and convincing reason, and I liked that he realized and admitted that he was in love with Faith before the last ten pages of the book. I also liked Faith's resilience, I really liked her vulnerability and quiet strength.

My only complaint is that the ending was kind of abrupt, nice HEA and all, but the author left some pivotal points unclear. Will Shane now leave his work and settle down and find a more stable and less dangerous job because he is becoming a family man? Or will Faith move with him from Anastasia? That was left unclear, even if it was implied that he would stay, it should have been made clearer. And Faith did get a little annoying when she argued with Shane about wanting to use herself as bait for the killer. And the subplot about her testifying against her husband was sort of left open. Basically I felt that the ending of this book, needed more closure, as both Shane and Faith reached their HEA.

In the end, I liked this book, it is a good read. I really liked the feel of the relationship between Faith and Shane. "Heart of Gold" does have heart, the reader can feel the love between Faith and Shane, and that is very important to me while reading a book. If I can't feel the emotionality of the story/relationship, then both the h/h fall flat for me alongside the storyline. Both Shane and Faith were well drawnout characters. And Lindy, Faith's 4 year old daughter, was really adorable!

A romantic and entertaining read, complete with a dash of suspence... ... Read more

Product Description
New Eden, Montana, is a piece of heaven on earth where one woman died in her own private hell.Now it's up to ex-court reporter Marilee Jennings to decipher the puzzle of her best friend's death.But someone has a stake in silencing her suspicion.Someone with secrets worth killing for--and the power to turn this beautiful haven into a...Dark Paradise.

And as Mari digs deeper beneath New Eden's picture-perfect exterior, finding the truth is suddenly no longer a matter of justice.

It's her only hope of staying alive.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (89)

More romance than mystery
Let me start by saying I paid close to nothing for this book. I bought it as part of a grab bag of mystery novels at a used book store. I'm not sure I would have bought it for full price... anyway. It kept my interest, though some of the complaints I've read here grated on my nerves too (chunks of hair? really?). Also, it can't REALLY be classified as a mystery, or suspense, or thriller. It was a romance. Yes, there was a murder puzzle woven through the book, but its conclusion only took up about a chapter. What annoyed me most about the story was that the conclusion only happened by chance to the main character. It was as if the author remembered at the last minute that the main character should be the MAIN CHARACTER. Add to that the fact that one of the murders in the story (not directly related to the "main" murder) was never solved by the police (although the reader does know what happened from the killer's point of view) and I probably would have given the book a lower rating. It was saved from 3 stars because it was so cheap and an easy, mindlessly entertaining read.

A Story About New Beginnings
This is probably the first time that I looked over the reviews while I was reading a book that I would review.

And I looked over these reviews because up to the first 80 pages, the author wasn't clear enough about the difference between two important characters in this book (JD and Will).

Also, I didn't want this book to be a "love story," as many of these reviews say it is.I wanted more of a mystery, or a legal thriller than romance.

And, in the end, I came to appreciate the book, more than I did along the way, because the scenery and the characters permeated my mind, as I carried on my day.

This is a nice book that explores tradition, gender differences, social expectations, love, and the power of self-acceptance, no matter what.

very satisfied
item as exactly described, actually it was in better condition that i thought it would be.

I can finally get rid of this book
I don't know how I ended up with this book, but it was in my bookcase.I grabbed it and started reading it a couple of months ago.It seemed familiar.Then I saw a bookmark a couple of chapters in.One of my bookmarks.Hmmmm.....I must have started reading it, gotten bored, put it away, and now I have it out again.

Always wanting to be a casting director, I had a tough time coming up with actors and actresses for this novel.I couldn't tell if the descriptions of the characters changed or if the author's descriptions didn't fit how I felt the characters should look.

The most irritating part of this book?How the author kept talking about the heroine's HAIR!!!!She was constantly pushing "chunks" of hair behind her ear.When I read "chunks" in the same sentence as "hair," I imagine some poor soul going through chemo.I kept envisioning the heroine holding a shock of hair with her scalp exposed.If I had taken a shot of Irish Whiskey each time the heroine, or someone else, fussed with her hair, I would be well into my second bottle by now!

I read the teaser first chapter of another book that was at the back of this book and it was all the same type of descriptions.No thank you.

Page turner, surprises around every corner
Really enjoyable, couldn't wait to get to the end and find out who dunnit.

A different world, aptly described, told from the perspective of a court reporter who wants to get "away from it all"

As those things usually go, she doesn't get away, but gets the surprise of her life.

A story about never assuming anything.

Terrific!!

Now I have to go and read all of Ms. Hoags other books!! ... Read more

Product Description
A sensational New York Times bestseller that was made into a CBS-TV miniseries, Night Sins has confirmed Tami Hoag's reputation as the new modern master of suspense.

This gripping tale unfolds in a peaceful Minnesota town, where crime is something that just doesn't happen. But when a young boy disappears, it marks the beginning of a unspeakable nightmare. There are no witnesses, no clues--only a note, cleverly taunting, casually cruel. Has a cold-blooded kidnapper struck? Or is this the reawakening of a long-quiet serial killer?

Now, a tough-minded investigator on her first make-or-break case, and a local cop who fears that big city evils have invaded his small town, are hunting for a madman. Together, they must outsmart a killer who knows no bounds...and protect a town that may never feel safe again. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (120)

Fast read
Tami Hoag does a good job of keeping the reader guessing.Couldn't put the book down.

Icy cold and spicy hot!
I think this is a great mystery with high-wire suspense and a cast of superb characters.The Minnesota winter setting is such that even if you read this book poolside in August you'll feel the chill.

I like this book, but it needs a follow up.Too many lives are left in turmoil, their fate unknown.Too many questions are left unanswered.I hate that, but this story is exceptional.

Sexual tension is abundant between the hero and his counterpart--both who are weighed down with emotional baggage.I love the hero who is willing to sing and dance in long underwear to make people laugh, and does his best to raise his young daughter while dealing with the disapproving mother of his deceased wife.

BCA Agent Megaon O'Malley's focus on her career, her drive to succeed, wears a little thin, but her need, want, to be loved is very touching.She is a heroine you can get behind and cheer for.

Chief of Police, Mitch Holt, has already been loved, and has loved.He has suffered unspeakably because of love.He is as afraid of loving someone again as Megan is as believing someone might actually love her.

Secondary characters are compelling--a priest who falls in love and a husband who is a complete ass, who's sins are not revealed to the other players in this tale.I want the priest to find happiness.I want the husband to have to face and deal with the consequences of his actions.

The question of 'we', of who 'we' are is never answered.A person can make a guess, but I don't like having another unanswered question.

If the questions I feel are unanswered have been addressed in a later novel, I'm unaware of the sequel.

Ms. Hoag is an awesome writer.If you enjoy romantic/suspense tales I believe you will enjoy this book.It is certainly worth reading.

Shelley Dawn, author of Sweet, Sweet Jessie and Dark Nights.[...]

After I posted this, I discovered NIGHT SINS does have a follow up book, GUILTY AS SIN.Bless Tami Hoag.I can't wait to read it and will review it soon.

A quick read but disappointing ending
I was able to read the book in an afternoon but i was confused and disappointed with the ending.

Pace is the mind killer
As changes are happening all over the place, a child disappears. At first everyone thinks it is a hoax, but then they find a note has been left. While it doesn't say much, it says plenty to a town that is not accustomed to anything horrible possibly happening, and especialy not like this. And the culprits - they are even more surprising still.

While I really wanted to like this boo, I found that I could not get into it. The reason behind this is because there is a lot of repeating that takes place and there is a lot of explaining that unfolds, but there is little to nothing else happening in the story. Sure, the investigation starts to warm up as the story progresses and, sure, there are some creepy parts. Sometimes a chapter will have a journal entry from our "bad guys" in it, telling us about the way they view the world. The only problem is the spacing that comes between all of this, basically putting my mind to sleep.

As I read the book, I counted pages between things that had to do with the case and things that had to do with people in town, people starting new jobs, and a little unwanted sexual tension. There was a 40:1 ratio on this in the good places when it all started, and a 60:1 ratio when it was bad. This meant that I had to want a lot, but that I rarely was rewarded for this wanting. As I said before, the case gets better BUT the case also has problems (namely it only being a piece of a whole). Even for fans of Hoag, this seems like a lot to endure.
Not favored.

didnt receive
I never received my order. 3 weeks later, it was cancelled because the 9 books I ordered couldnt be delivered by the persons I ordered from.So,I have no idea how the book is, or the other 8! ... Read more