Average customer rating:
- Excellent !!! Thrilling !!! Intense !!!
- Very good read
- A review with Caveats
- Excellent!
- The Movie Was Better
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Hideaway
Dean Koontz
Manufacturer: Berkley
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0425203891 |
Book Description
He was clinically dead after the accident--but was miraculously revived. Now Hatch Harrison and his wife approach each day with a new appreciation for life.
But something has come back with Hatch from the other side. A terrible presence that links his mind to a psychotic's, so that a force of murderous rage courses through him.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent !!! Thrilling !!! Intense !!!.......2007-09-27
I really enjoyed this book. It's an easy read as are most of Koontz's novels are and is exciting throughout. Definately, one of his best!
Very good read.......2007-09-24
I enjoyed this book,and how the author presented the personality of the little girl. Mr Koontz was able to mix drama, with both conflict, and a smiggen of comedy.
A review with Caveats.......2007-05-21
I have to say that this was the third Dean Koontz book I ever read. I remember vividly the excitement with which I devoured Shadowfires and Dragon Tears. Two very incredible books. Having gotten to Hideaway, I was a bit disappointed with it at first. It began very frightfully but then slowed for quite sometime. I felt lost here and there. It didn't live up to the standard of suspense set in the previous two books I'd read by this man.
However, by the time I reached the end, I must say I was RICHLY rewarded. The story itself is believable, even at its most fanciful moment. You are drawn into this world and it is only later, when the dust settles in your own mind, that you start to question the absurdity of some of the things you read.... THAT's good fantasy!
I wouldn't recommend reading this book after such a powerful book as Dragontears or Watchers. It will slightly pale in comparison. But it's a great book and one I think should be read by any diehard Koontz fan!
Excellent!.......2007-02-09
I first picked up Hideaway back in 1995, but being busy with school didn't have a chance to finish it before I had to take it back to the library. Now, more than ten years later I finally had the chance to pick it back up and finish it. Needless to say it was well worth my time.
As Hatch and Lindsey Harrison are on their way back from a weekend up at the lake where they tried and failed to recapture the magic that drew them together in the first place and was seemingly lost following the death of their only child to cancer, their car is knocked off the road and into a rushing river. Left alone with her seemingly dead husband, Lindsey struggles to fight her way to solid ground, but is rescued by a team of paramedics and born by helicopter to a hospital, where a brilliant cardiovascular surgeon manages to bring Hatch back to life. This brush with death has the effect that a weekend up at the lake didn't manage to achieve. After returning home, Hatch and Lindsey decide to try again to start a family. Since Lindsey is incapable of bearing anymore children, they adopt a disabled girl named Regina, a delighful innocent who helps bring meaning and purpose back to their lives.
But things take a disturbing turn as Hatch begins to experience surges of anger and hatred unlike his usual placid, easygoing manner. The targets of his rage, disturbingly enough, include the very driver who forced the Harrisons off the road and is later found murdered. As these disturbing visions and subsequent deaths continue, Hatch begins to question his own inocence and even his sanity. Becoming convinced that he somehow brought the killer back with him from the other side, Hatch only becomes more determined to right his perceived wrong when Regina is snatched from under their very noses. But the true identity of the Harrisons' bizarre adversary is far more disturbing than a simple molevolent spirit brought back from the underworld, and its connection to the man who saved Hatch's life makes it even more so. A gripping tale of suspense, with a shocking twist worthy of Koontz.
The Movie Was Better.......2007-01-15
This is one of the few books where I can honestly say that the movie was better... much better. I was not impressed with Koontz's bad guy who was not very well developed at all. The world is not so black and white, which makes things far more interesting.
Book Description
It was a story to put Hideaway, Missouri, in the national headlines . . ."
A Missing Child: Clarissa Cooper, twelve, vanishes near her home -- abducted, evidence suggests, by someone close to her.
A Woman in Crisis: Noelle Cooper races back to her hometown to help in the search. In the effort to save her young cousin, she steps into a web a secrets that has haunted her family for generations.
A Man of Faith: Nathan Trask will do anything to protect Noelle from danger. Noelle's childhood friend, he might be much more . . . if she dares turn to him.
Customer Reviews:
Family Secrets Haunt Them.......2007-05-01
The Last Resort, is a medical thriller in the Hideaway series, that deals with an inherited psychological disorder. When twelve year old Carissa Cooper goes missing in Cedar Hollow. We learn that when she was a very small child, her mother abandoned the family, and Carissa subsequently had nightmares about monsters that her dad Cecil and stepmom Melva helped her deal with. At the time of her disappearance, Carissa was a fairly well adjusted child. However, when she innocently decides to do a school project on her family's history, she unwittingly stirs up an old secret that someone is willing to commit murder to keep hidden. Her older cousin Noelle has a gift of premonition, which she has fought for many years. Yet she senses something is wrong, and leaves her home in Springfield to race to Cedar Hollow. Soon she runs into Nathan Trask, her childhood friend, who has been praying for Noelle to return. He becomes her ally as they seek to unravel her family's past and to find Carissa. The suspense builds as they are racing against time. The evidence shows the abductor is a family member, and some of the family are in such denial they are giving cover to the abductor. What are they hiding? And why? And how does a psychological disorder come into play in this mystery? With Nathan's help, Noelle renews her childhood faith in her Lord as they explore what has been called "The Cooper Curse." As the book unfolds, redemption comes in many forms to many of the characters, as they learn to more fully trust in the love of God. The end of the book gives us a riveting rescue scene. It's a good read.
An engrossing story.......2006-02-05
Hannah Alexander's Last Resort, set in the beautiful Ozark town of Hideaway, has it all; romance, adventure and suspense.
Twelve year old Carissa Cooper is working on a school project of her family history when she disappears, an apparent kidnap victim.
Her cousin Noelle rushes to Cedar Hollow from her home in Springfield, determined to find her young niece. Nathan Trask, who has always loved Noelle promises to her help search for Carissa. Evidence points to the fact that the girl has accidently stirred up long hidden secrets the Cooper family has kept hidden for many years. . .secrets so dark someone would kill to keep them from being exposed. As Noelle and Nathan race against time to find Carissa, they strongly suspect the kidnapper may be a member of the Cooper family. But could a family member actually hurt Carissa? Noelle is afraid the answer may be yes.
A strong theme of love, forgiveness and redemption runs through the book as the Cooper family learns to face their fears and trust in God. Last Resort is a well-crafted, engrossing story, one I recommend.
Another exciting episode in the Hideaway series.......2005-10-01
Hannah Alexander (the husband and wife writing team of Dr. Mel and Cheryl Hodde) has written another exciting episode in the Hideaway series. Hideaway is a small town in the Ozarks peopled by families who have lived and worked there for generations. The Cooper family has been prominent in Hideaway history and has weathered more tragedies than one would expect in such a peaceful, bucolic setting.
When Carissa Cooper was six years old, her mother left and was replaced by monsters that hid under her bed and in her closet, terrorizing her every night. But her loving father Cecil, caring stepmother Melva and nearby extended family helped her, and now, at age twelve, she is a fairly well-adjusted young lady. However, when she decides to do a school project involving her family's history, she unwittingly stirs up long hidden secrets that have been haunting the Coopers for many years --- secrets so powerful that Carissa is abducted and nearly killed in an effort to keep them from being exposed.
Her cousin Noelle, who has the gift of premonition, senses something is wrong and races to Cedar Hollow from her home in Springfield. There she runs into her childhood friend Nathan Trask, who has been praying for her to return home so they could renew their once precious friendship. He becomes her ally as they seek to unravel not only the mystery of Carissa's abduction but also of the secrets that threaten the lives of the entire Cooper family.
However, evidence points to the fact that the very family that is in danger also harbors the one who is guilty of past crimes as well as the current abduction. None is above suspicion, including Carissa's brother Justin, her cousin Jill, and even her great-aunt Pearl. Has the family history of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) transformed somehow from a neurosis to a psychosis?
With Nathan's help, Noelle begins to renew the faith of her childhood and learn to accept the gift she has instead of fearing it. Through their efforts the family learns to deal with "Cooper's Curse" and to rely upon God instead of their own feeble attempts to keep the truth hidden out of fear. As LAST RESORT unfolds, redemption comes in many forms to those who learn to embrace the love and grace of God. This is a well-written story with some breath-holding rescue scenes, and a tender love story thrown in at no extra charge!
(...)
Very Good Christain Mystery.......2005-08-21
"The Last Resort" is a very good mystery, not real intense but it does drag in spots in the story.
VERY disappointed; Boring.......2005-07-15
Sorry but it's true. I've been a huge Hannah Alexander fan but this one just fell flat. Could not even finish it. I think it's time to retire the town of Hideaway and come up with something new and fresh.
Book Description
It was a tragedy for the entire town: beloved high school principal Edith Potts collapsed and quickly died.
For nurse Jill Cooper, it was a crushing loss--and the first of many shocks. Two former sweethearts have suddenly returned to town, reawakening all her youthful traumas, secrets and dreams. Then another death occurs. It appears accidental, but is it? Is everything a coincidence? Or could it all possibly be connected to another murder, three decades ago?
Before it's over, Jill will have to look hard at her troubled history, question her sanity, her faith…and face the deepest secrets in her heart.
Book Description
Every adult can recall the serene kind of safety they felt in their childhood "special place"-a platform in a backyard tree, a secret corner of a garden, or a well-hidden fort in the woods. Hideaways demonstrates how adults recreate those hidden retreats in the form of fishing cabins, garden huts, weekend studios, and other intimately-designed spaces where the owners are often more "at home" than they are at home. Sometimes completely spontaneous, sometimes planned to a purpose, these personal architectures offer a fantastic range of building styles - but each is clearly driven by the urge to create a place where one can be utterly relaxed.
Sonya Faure presents over 200 fabulous, fanciful, and freeform models - as well as more practical, but never quite conventional designs, each meant to inspire: from a place where Huck Finn would hide out to highly designed small houses by Le Corbusier. There are vacation retreats in exotic locations on three continents, and backyard kingdoms to be visited-all in one book.
Illustrated with photographs of nearly 200 retreats, this book explains how the stress of daily life and the quest for privacy have rendered hideaways so popular with grownup city-dwellers, architects, and designers who just need a little space.
Book Description
As an E.R. doctor, Cheyenne Allison is used to handling emergencies on a daily basis -- until her own sister codes on the trauma bed. Devastated, Cheyenne retreats to an isolated farm in Hideaway, Missouri. But peace and solicitude are in short supply in this picturesque Ozarks town. A dangerous vandal has the community terrorized, and Cheyenne finds an unexpected demand for her medical skills.
Mayor Austin Barlow is convinced the culprit resides with Cheyenne's charismatic neighbor across the lake, Dane Gideon, whose ranch for foster boys has given rise to previous violence. Cheyenne distrusts Austin, while Dane inspires her respect, and perhaps something more -- although she can't share the faith that sustains him as the violence turns deadly. Then Cheyenne, already pursued by a past nemesis, becomes the vandals target, and she can only hope that Hideaway will prove her sanctuary . . . and perhaps a place to call home.
Customer Reviews:
Darn vandals!.......2006-03-25
Author: Hannah Alexander (pseudonym)
Genre: Christian/Inspirational (Romantic Suspense)
Plot Summary:
Dr. Cheyenne Allison's world is turned upside-down when her beloved little sister is wheeled into the ER, near death from injuries sustained in a car accident. Despite her best efforts, Cheyenne cannot save her sister and begins to suffer from the guilt. To make matters worse, her widowed brother-in-law, a person of dubious moral character, files a suit against her for malpractice. Cheyenne's grief begins to effect her job performance and she is forced to take a leave of absence. She decides to take a friend up on an offer to recuperate at a vacant summer home in the rural (fictional) town of Hideaway. Once there, Cheyenne quickly realizes that her stay will not be one of quiet solitude. The people of Hideaway immediately draw Cheyenne (a non-Christian) into the fabric of the community. She meets Dane Gideon, a handsome Christian man who helps troubled teenage boys by housing them at his ranch and giving them guidance. One of his new boys, a sweet and misunderstood African American kid named Blaze, is suspected by the mayor of committing various acts of vandalism.
Geographical Setting: Columbia and Hideaway, Missouri
Time Period: Modern Day (2003)
Series: Hideaway (This is the first of three)
Appeal Characteristics: "Hideaway" (the 2004 Christy Award winner for Christian Romance) is a character-driven story with elements of suspense. The pacing is slow. There is not a heavy plot, but the reader will remain interested in how the characters will overcome their problems. Readers who enjoy a rural setting and a tight-knit community atmosphere will like the town of Hideaway. The authors make heavy use of medical jargon, which might appeal to fans of medical thrillers. Also, readers who are interested in stories of people dealing with, and overcoming racial discrimination might enjoy Blaze's character.
Read-alikes: Fans of the setting of Hideaway should enjoy the rest of the series: "Safe Haven" (2004), "Last Resort" (2005), "Note of Peril" (2005) and "Fair Warning" (2006). These books continue with medical themes, though they do not feature the same cast of characters. The three books of the Rock Harbor Series: "Without a Trace" (2003), "Beyond a Doubt" (2004), and "Into the Deep" (2004), by Colleen Coble will also be of interest. These books are romantic suspense stories taking place in the rural upper peninsula of Michigan. Bree Nicholls, a search and rescue worker, deals with the loss of her husband and the guilt of not being able to save his life. Still Waters by Shirlee McCoy is also a Christian romantic suspense story that takes place in a small tight-knit community. The plot involves a group of teenage vandals that disrupt the peaceful hamlet of Lakeview, Virginia.
Red Flags: Arson; Blood in the Emergency Room; A murdered cat (off stage)
I want to visit Hideaway!.......2006-02-25
I just found a new author, or should I say authors--since Dr Mel & Cheryl Hodde write together as Hannah Alexander--to add to my favorite's list. Hideaway is the first book of theirs that I have read and it will certainly not be the last.
Hideaway is a small town in the Missouri Ozarks where Dr. Cheyenne Allison retreats after Susan, her sister, dies on the trauma table in the ER where Cheyenne works. She is hoping Hideaway will be a place of peace and quiet where she can literally "hide away", but that idea is quickly dispelled as she meets the many unique & caring people who populate this picturesque lakeside town. One of those people is Dane Gideon who runs a ranch for foster boys directly across the lake from Cheyenne's farm. The mayor of Hideaway, Austin Barlow, is convinced that one of Dane's boys is the vandal who continues to destroy property and cause concern among the residents of the town. But while Cheyenne's first meeting with one of Dane's boys, Blaze, doesn't start out on the best footing, she soon comes to care for and respect Dane and his boys.
While her sister Susan had become a Christian during college, Cheyenne has never seen much need for God in her life. Kirk, Susan's husband, only reinforces her negative view of most Christians as Cheyenne sees him continually treat her sister with contempt. When Kirk sues Cheyenne for malpractice in her sister's death, the pain she already feels becomes almost more than she can bear. It is through the special people that befriend her in Hideaway--Dane, Blaze, her elderly neighbors Bertie & Red--that she comes to see that God might just be able to use the pain in her life to bring about healing, just as she has to do at times with her own patients.
Hideaway is a place I would love to visit and the characters were so vibrant and real that I finished the story feeling like I had made some new friends. I am glad that Hideaway is the first book in a series because I look forward to visiting there again very soon.
Can You Ever Really Hide Away?.......2006-01-21
Hannah Alexander is the pen name for a Christian husband and wife medical thriller/suspense writing team: Dr. Mel and Cheryl Hodde. They make their home in the astonishingly beautiful Ozark Mountains, which is the setting for their novels.
Hideaway, the first novel in this series, begins when emergency room doctor, Cheyenne Allsion's own sister dies in the emergency room, and Cheyenne herself was the doctor of record. The authors skillfully get into the turmoil and grief of Cheyenne's inner being. Then Cheyenne is shocked to discover her brother-in-law is suing her for malpractice and wrongful death, and the hospital is distancing itself from her, saying she was overtired when her sister died. So, Cheyenne retreats to a house in need of repair in Hideway, MO to grieve and find some rest. She soon discovers this seemingly peaceful town is being terrorized by a dangerous vandal. Mayor Autsin Barlow insists the culprit resides at the ranch for foster boys run by the charismatic Dane Gideon. Dane soon gets Cheyenne's respect, and she finds herself attracted to him, though she is bothered that she can't share his deep faith. The authors show the reader the churning turmoil in Cheyenne's soul. The violence turns deadly, and Cheyenne finds herself the vandal's target. This book pulls the reader in to the lives of its characters.
It's a Keeper.......2004-07-18
FANTASTIC....couldn't put it down...didn't want it to end.
The writing is supherb with believable characters and situations...I love how the two were entroduced to each other....I found myself chuckling... I keep all of Hannah Alexander books for my personal library and for friends to read...these books do NOT go into the 2nd hand book store bin.
Please, Hannah Alexander, never ever quit producing!
A Well Paced, Suspenseful Read.......2004-01-25
True confession: this is the first Christian suspense novel I've read, and I wasn't expecting much. Given the secular suspense novels all over bookstores chockfull of gore, sex and expletives, I couldn't imagine how Hannah Alexander would put together a story without them. What would the main conflict be --- that the church coffee hour ran out of sugar?
Like all sinners who confess, I must now admit my wrongdoing: HIDEAWAY, while gentle, is a well paced, suspenseful read. That bag of missing sugar hasn't been poured into Alexander's prose, either; the novel isn't treacly. Even the requisite adorable elderly country couple, Bertie and Red, are rendered clearly. Bertie, given to concoctions of roots and herbs, isn't made to seem like a fount of wisdom or like a Wiccan-on-the-edge; instead, her homemade remedies are place in counterpoint to Cheyenne Allison's medical training.
Cheyenne Allison, a thirtysomething ER doctor, has retreated to colleague Ardis Dunaway's home in the Ozark town of Hideaway, Missouri, after her sister is in a car accident and dies on her watch. Without giving away too much of the plot, it's important to know that Allison has inner demons pursuing her, and outer ones too, in the form of a lawsuit. She thinks the quiet of country life and the challenge of helping to spruce up her friend's ramshackle house will be all that she needs to fill up her life while she recovers.
But soon she is meeting the neighbors: Dane Gideon, who runs a ranch for troubled teen boys, his ward Gavin, or "Blaze," the aforementioned Bertie and Red, Mayor Austin Barlow and his son Ramsay, and other people curious about the lone woman from the big city of Columbia. Before she can say "How quaint!" Allison finds herself aiding Gideon, tutoring Blaze, treating Red, and fending off Barlow. Her quiet period of recovery soon turns into an eventful sabbatical that leaves her wondering if she really wants to go back to what she once had.
Some of the events seem flat. For example, as the book gains speed, accidents and incidents tumble so quickly over each other that when Blaze is badly electrocuted by a ground wire, the injury almost fails to register. This may be a weakness of the collaboration; "Hannah Alexander" is the pen name for Dr. Mel and Cheryl Hodde (Hod-dee), who have written several books together and plan more novels in this "Hideaway" series.
However, weaknesses are more than offset by the strengths in this book. Some of the events are tragic, including those affecting Allison, as her brother-in-law's suit against her turns ugly and Red's deep-vein thrombosis even uglier. And as things turn ugly in town, too, with repeated acts of vandalism being blamed on Blaze, the doctor slowly, slowly, slowly begins to wonder if there might be more to the quiet, strong Christian faith of her new friends than she could have ever imagined.
Allison's road to spiritual recovery is rendered without dramatics, as befits her training and beliefs. Other characters are also attractive --- Dane Gideon, quirks and flaws included, is a fitting foil for the doctor, a female protagonist who does not conform to any particular doctrine's idea of womanhood but is nevertheless deeply attractive. However, when I finished, the character of Blaze was the one who stayed with me. An author (or authors!) who can create an African-American boy with emotional issues, whose skill with animals can bring tears to the eye, is (are) talented indeed. And so my confession ends with a penance and redemption that are one and the same: I look forward to the next Hannah Alexander suspense title!
--- Reviewed by Bethanne Kelly Patrick
Book Description
Opening up their ancestral homes, the owners of these preserved and fully-functional estates now offer you a key to the hidden splendors of the Italian countryside. A detailed appendix provides all the practical information you'll need for planning your visits. Taking you off the beaten track of tourist Italy, Italian Country Hideaways invites you to the most unforgettable private villas, castles, fortresses, and farmhouses which you can actually stay. Tuscany and Umbria are divided into a number of sub-regions based on cuisine and culture as well as geography. An introduction to each region's local food and wine, sites, festivals, and other points of interest is followed by a selection of unique estates memorable for their meals, decor, architecture, grounds, and history. Opening up their ancestral homes, the owners of these preserved and fully-functional estates now offer you a key to the hidden splendors of the Italian countryside. A detailed appendix provides all the practical information you'll need for planning your visits, including a complete contact information, prices, amenities included, and dates of availability, plus helpful facts and advice on transportation, seasonal considerations, and making reservations.
Customer Reviews:
Beautiful book! .......2006-03-27
This was such a fun book to read and the photography is absolutely beautiful! Italy is much more fun off the beaten path anyway...and I'm so glad to see more and more books that take the traveler to the unknown places!
--Vicki Landes, author of "Europe for the Senses - A Photographic Journal"
Behind Italy's Curtain.......2005-05-02
A beautiful book that takes travelers to places in Italy that are not generally publicized. An excellent travel guide.
Seeing the romantic heart of this beautiful country........2001-07-25
An excellent guide that takes you off the beaten tourist trap path. This warm and wonderful book invites you to the most unforgettable private villas, castles, fortresses, and farmhouses-places most of which you can actually stay. This book also is a good introduction to each region's local food and wine, sites, festivals, and other points of interest. The book continues to a selection of unique estates memorable that are known for their meals, architecture, grounds, and history. Opening this book is like the owners of these preserved and fully functional estates opening up their ancestral homes many of whom actually do and this book shows you how. The book further lays a full featured and detailed appendix providing all the practical information you'll need for planning your visits, including complete contact information, prices, amenities, and dates of availability, plus helpful facts and advice on transportation, seasonal considerations, and making reservations. Ever think of traveling to Italy and seeing the romantic heart of this beautiful country. This is the book you will need. ...
Plan your trip around this book.......2000-12-22
This is not only a beautiful book, with gorgeous pictures of Tuscany's castles and countryside, but also provides an excellent service by relaying contact information for all of the castles profiled in the book. My husband and I stayed at Castello di Ripa D'orcia this past fall and it was the highlight of our Italy vacation. We chose the castle as our base since the pictures were so magnificent--and we were not disappointed. It was well off the beaten path and it was the only time during our vacation that we were exposed to a real slice of Italy without the onslaught of tour buses that seemed to invade many of the other small villages in the area. If you are planning a trip to Italy, I highly recommend that you comb through this book and choose one of the country estates to stay in. It will make your trip much more memorable and enjoyable.
Rich resource to discover hidden Italian inn splendors.......2000-06-19
This is a wonderful Italian guide book that provides the reader a selection of off-the-beaten- track inns in the very scenic and culturally rich regions of Tuscany and Umbria. We used Ms Hurst's "Italian Country Hideaways" to book a glorious stay at a 19th century, castle-estate in Umbria. Her description of the Titignano estate accurately captured its atmosphere, our stay there was the highlight of our Italian vacation.
The audience for this book is anyone who has an appreciation for Italy and is looking for information to go beyond the typical tourist staples of Italy, i.e. Rome, Venice and Florence. Ms Hurst impeccable research provides the reader a rich resource to discover the hidden splendors that a non-native Italian tourist would not find. The books starts with a short introduction in which Ms Hurst describes her criteria for featuring the 30 unique inns. The text is well written by someone who knows her subject and obviously enjoyed doing her research. "Italian Country Hideaways" is filled with splendid photos that aptly portrays the scenic and immensely civilized Tuscany and Umbria regions and its featured inns. In essence its a tourist guide and coffee table book in one. Included is all the prerequisite information on how to contact (phone, fax and email addresses) the inns. The only quip I have is the lack of an updated map, it would have been helpful to provide an idea where these inns are relative to the say Florence and Rome. Otherwise, this is a great travel resource for anyone contemplating a trip to the Tuscany region and who wants to interact with the local culture.
Book Description
Heaven Sent
With her half brother in prison serving time for a crime he didn't commit, Serena Morris-Vega returns to her native Costa Rica to help her influential stepfather gain his son's freedom. But when a mysterious man shows up on the Vega estate—almost near death—the secret of his identity not only strikes close to home, but proves to be a dangerously seductive challenge. As David Cole struggles to remember what has happened to him over the past few days, he cannot deny his gratitude for Serena, and the all-consuming passion it has ignited. But can David and Serena learn to trust each other and embrace a love that promises to last forever?
Harvest Moon
Actress Regina Cole achieved overnight success in Hollywood, but stunned the world when she gave up her career to marry a much older man. After his death, Regina encounters his estranged son, Dr. Aaron Spencer, a Brazil-based microbiologist, and is unable to deny the instant attraction. Driven to seduce his father's widow, Aaron finds that the revenge he sought pales in comparison to his desire for Regina, and the passion he feels is far more than he imagined.
Customer Reviews:
Avid Reader.......2007-05-14
I have read all of the books in the Hideaway Legacy Series and I've yet to be disappointed. Rochelle Alers is one of the authors whose books I just buy - I know it's gonna be good!!
Intrigue.......2007-04-05
I was captivated from the very beginning. David Cole and Regina Cole's story was intrigue and romance at altogether.
Download Description
When local entertainer Grace Brennan starts receiving threatening gifts and notes, it isn't long before her career, health and relationships all start to crumble. As the situation worsens, Grace realizes that musician Michael Gold is the only person she can trust...with her life!
Customer Reviews:
Predictable and stiff, both in the mystery and in the romance........2007-09-17
Hannah Alexander, Note of Peril (Steeple Hill, 2005)
Sometimes you just have to read a book where you know who the killer is in the first five pages, who's going to end up together, where all the messy breakups are, all that sort of thing. Back in the day, when people wanted to do this, they were stuck with naught but Dame Barbara Cartland to shelter them from the storm of unpredictable literature. Then came the rise of the Harlequin Romance, and the world noticed there was a billion-dollar industry simmering just under the surface for predictable, formulaic novels. (I rush to add the romance is in no way the sole bearer of predictability. Have you ever tried to read L. Ron Hubbard? Even his nonfiction?) Thus, these days, the three hundred plus novels of Miz Cartland are joined on the shelves by thousands upon thousands of others. One of the newest names to rise up in the industry is Steeple Hill, which focuses on the niche market of Christian genre escapism. When I found out they were doing a mystery (excuse me, "romantic suspense") line, I knew I was going to have to read one eventually. The one I ended up reading-- by casting lots as much as anything else (actually, it was advertised in the back of the last Steeple Hill novel I read)-- was Hannah Alexander's Note of Peril.
Like Nicci French, Hannah Alexander is a pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. That, however, is where the similarities end. The Alexandrines are much more focused on the romance than the suspense. This is not necessarily a bad thing. When, as I intimated above, you can tell from the first twenty pages what the mechanism of the next two hundred are going to be, you pretty much toss suspense right out the window.
In this case, the lovebirds are Grace Brennan and Michael Gold, two of the cast of Star Notes, a Branson theatrical spectacular best described as Star Search meets Tony and Tina's Wedding. After the show one night, Grace receives what she thinks is a present from an anonymous audience member, but it contains a darker mystery only she knows. When the producer of the show turns up dead, Grace has to turn to someone for help. Of course, you know...
The problem here is that the romance is about as predictable as the suspense. There's the "if I tell [him/her] this, s/he'll never forgive me" reflective moment. There's the overbearing nosy friend. The miscommunication. All the usual fluff. There's a lot of steam rising from this pot, but once you've fanned it away, any water that may have started there unfortunately boiled off.
Of course, if what you're looking for is a book where nothing is going to go as you don't expect it to, there's a lot here. The Alexandrine team are very good at what they do; the pages turn, and they turn quickly. Just don't expect to be shocked by anything you read here. ** ½
Note of Peril, A great read .......2005-11-12
The writing team of Cheryl and Mel Hodde, writing as Hannah Alexander has produced another winner. Country singer, Grace Brennan, received an unexpected gift carrying an implied threat. Someone knew her past indiscretion and intended to use it against her. The show directors mysterious death and the resulting investigation leaves Grace feeling she can't trust anyone, not even Michael Gold, her co-star who is fast becoming more than just a friend. As danger stalks Grace, will Michael's love and her Christian principles be enough to save her? Put NOTE OF PERIL on your need to read list. You won't be disappointed.
A Book of Stars!.......2005-08-02
Grace Brennan and Michael Gold were part of the "Star Notes" cast. A cast of interactive comedic singers who could add harmony and showmanship to any would be lead singer's act. It was the weekend after Thanksgiving and the "Star Search" like country show had a full house present to watch the contestants compete. The audience was aware that Grace and Michael had added a little romantic flirtation between them to their act. So it wasn't at all surprising that Grace would receive a bouquet of flowers and a beautifully wrapped music box from Michael at the end of the show. The surprise this time was on Grace, because the gifts were not from Michael even though the card said that they were. As the song from the music box filled the auditorium Grace got a chill from all the bad memories she was beginning to have. Then she read the note "Cheaters never prosper. Remember the contest? Soon everyone will know. There are some things time won't erase. And this is just the beginning." Was the note from a disgruntled contestant who didn't make the cut or from a "Secret Enemy" from the past?
I really enjoyed reading this book! The author's clear yet descriptive writing style set the stage for the "Star Notes" cast and for the potential readers of this suspenseful and seizing book! A highly recommended read!
Book Description
"Dean Koontz is not just a master of our darkest dreams, but a literary juggler." --The Times (London). In this compilation of chilling tales, he continues to captivate with complex characters and riveting suspense. A psychic and a reporter do battle with an unseen enemy in Cold Fire, while Hideaway explores the meaning of death and the transcendent power of love. In The Key to Midnight, published in hardcover for the first time, a woman awakes to find that her identity and memories have been manufactured for her.
Customer Reviews:
a great buy for more than one reason!.......2007-05-19
i am deployed to iraq and have a great love for reading. the biggest problem with this is how fast i read. i might read a book every 2 days or so and i dont always have enough foresight to bring more than one book along. with the three novels in one, if i finish a book while im out, i have two more right there with me. i recomend you buy this for the convenience, quality of writing and the decorative hardcover makes a nice addition to any library.
It does not get better than this..........2006-11-03
Koontz X 3...all in one book. And, at this low price. He is one of the most prolific writers of our time. His characters constant battles between the forces of good and evil hijacks you into staying up into the wee hours of the morning. It is hard to put any of his creations down. I just can't wait for the third installment of Frankenstein! Keep up the great stories Mr. Koontz.
But, as I said prior, three novels...one book...low price...Dean Koontz...it does not get better than this!
master of mystery keeps the hits coming again and again.......2001-04-06
I have read many of Dean Koontz's books, my favorites being "Fear Nothing," "Sole Survivor," and "Strangers".I really enjoy how his hits are being published in sets of three now, and I recomend that more readers will start exploring these new sets.(except for those people who start reading and can't finish till its done, because they wouldn't be able to sleep for a while reading all three stories in a row) My favorite story out of this set would have to be "HideAway," for I, like many people, have a interest in death and the power of love. The other titles, "Cold Fire" and "Key to Midnight", are intense and extremely "well discriptive", as are all of his books. I would recomend this "set" to any reader who has read at least a book or two by Koontz, for the newly-reads will need to have some experiance in intense/mystery. Well, i hope that this advice served you all well, and i wish the best for all of you Koontz readers, new and experianced!
Book Description
Who wanted her to suffer . . .and why?
Cop's wife, mother-to-be, respected ICU nurse -- Willow Traynor had a rich life. Then her husband was shot, supposedly in the line of duty, and she was hit by a speeding car. Doubting it was an accident, she quit her job and fled.
At her brother's cabin in the Ozarks, Willow hoped to find peace. But arson destroyed everything she had and almost killed her brother. Now she was certain: someone was targeting her. But she couldn't guess either the identity or the motivation of her enemy. And where could she turn for help?
The support of new friends, especially Dr. Graham Vaughn and his sister, rekindled her hope for a fresh start. But meanwhile her stalker was getting closer, bolder, more determined . . .
Customer Reviews:
Relentless Stalking.......2006-09-27
Fair Warning, begins after ICU nurse Willow Traynor's nearly perfect life in Kansas City has been blown apart. He police officer husband has been killed in a drug raid, but it is not clear who actually fired the shot that killed him. Then she maintains she was deliberately run down by a hit and run driver and miscarried her dead husband's child. Going into a state of hiding, Willow quits her job and moves in with her brother in Branson. The reader comes see that her inability to get close to people and has trust issues, may not be helping her, in fact may be making her the perfect target. Trouble follows when an arsonist sets a fire that destroys her brother Preston's home and nearly kills him. Graham Vaughn, a local surgeon, owns the lodge where Preston was the manager. Willow believes the killer has followed her. Preston, has worries that Willow may not be entirely rational, because their mother had a mental illness and he fears it might be manifesting in Willow. Graham and his sister Ginger get Willow to stay at their home in Hideaway until Preston is able to leave the hospital. As it turns out this is the same house where Dr. Cheyenne Allison found refuge in the first book of this series. Soon it becomes evident the stalker has followed her to Hideaway. The book is both chilling and exciting as the stalker is obviously relentless.
Hannah Alexander is Great!.......2006-07-13
I can't get enough of Hannah Alexander's books. This one is especially good. The characters are real, and the author keeps you turning pages to see what happens next. I can't recommend this team highly enough. I always read Hannanah Alexander books start to finish in less than two days. Having worked in an allied health field for decades I love the medical orientation, and the medical knowledge shows. Kudos to a wonderful writing team.
Good suspense.......2006-05-11
Willow Traynor has it all, loving husband, a baby on the way and a job she loved as an ICU nurse. Then her husband is killed in a drug raid, a deliberate hit and run incident causes a miscarriage, and Willow, unable to cope, quits her job and moves to Branson, Missouri, to live with her brother, Preston. A fire destroys Preston's home, and the police think it was arson.
Graham Vaughn, local doctor, owns the lodge where they lived, and is Preston's boss. Willow is sure someone followed her from Kansas City and is trying to kill her, but her brother believes she is having illusions. Graham and his sister, Ginger, insist Willow stay with them in Hideaway, until Preston is able to leave the hospital, but even there the stalker can find her. Graham is attracted to Willow, but will his love be enough to keep her safe?
FAIR WARNING, set in the beautiful Ozarks, is another great addition to the Hideaway series.
Books:
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Books Index
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