Gemstar Books

I was very interested in this story after reading the description and some of the reviews. However, I found the overall experience to be disappointing.

The description of the heroine's frustration with her deafness was interesting and very realistic, but the storyline was very patchy--with huge holes in it.

The actual "treasure" hunts were very episodic, with no details beyond..."the murky water", etc.....the villains were never fully developed, and after reading the final solution to the suspense, I could only say, "Duh, What happened?"

I have read other of Rachel Lee/Sue Civil-Brown's books and enjoyed them. But I cannot recommend this book.

In Tampa, archeologist Orin Coleridge is not afraid to die except he worries about his beloved daughter Veronica wasting away to nothing. He is lost for ideas about how to help his child regain her spirit that she lost after the accident that cost Veronica her hearing, followed by her spouse Larry Hauser deserting her. Desperate Orin hears the voice of his deceased spouse for the first time in a quarter of a century. She advises him to tell Veronica about "The Mask of the Storm Mother," the artifact that led to the death of Orin's wife.

An outraged Veronica becomes obsessed with completing her mother's dream. She and her father hire a reluctant former stockbroker, Dugan Gallagher, a diver who hates the water. As Veronica and Dugan spend several months together in close proximity, they fall in love. However, neither one trusts relationships as both have been burned in the past. There also remains the danger from money- consumed Emilio Zaragura who will do anything to attain the mask for himself.

WHEN I WAKE is an exciting romantic suspense novel that stars two wonderful, lead characters and a strong support cast. The story line is loaded with action as several players turn the search for the mask into a personal quest that makes them risk everything including love to appease their personal demons. This makes the characters seem genuine and turns Rachel Lee's novel into a strong statement on what drives an individual.

Harriet Klausner

Veronica Coleridge is deaf. Recently deaf. She has lost her husband, her child, her hearing. Veronica hates being deaf, she is still in deep depression over her loss and there is no hope -- her deafness is not going to go away -- her loss of a child she does not talk about.

Her father is dying. He has cancer. To pull Veronica out of her debilitating depression he offers her new information about her mother, about how she died, what she was looking for, information which sparks Veronica into organizing a sea-going archeological dig in the waters off Key West, in Florida, searching for a three hundred year old storm mask, an icon of her ancestors, an passion, an obsession that killed her mother, that threatens to similarly absorb Veronica.

As part of her salvage team she hires Dugan Gallagher, a one time big city businessman, gone troppo. This man kids himself he lives to have a good time. He hates to get wet, loves to sail, has no intention of doing it tough. Or so he says. Trouble is everything he touches turns out okay. Better than okay.

There are bad guys out there. The suspects include folk Dugan has hired. Someone has to protect Veronica from whoever is after the treasure, and from herself.

The idea for this Rachel Lee's WHEN I WAKE romantic suspense is solid. However, the heroine stays self indulgent for too long, the hero comes to care too late. After his initial important appearance Veronica's father disappears stage left and returns too briefly. Villains, who promise much in the beginning, do little but fizzle in the end. Particularly disappointing is the second villain who appears only in evil whispers and whose motivations, intentions, outcomes, even at the end, are never made known.

Being a hearing impaired individual I could readily empathize with Veronica and her deafness. Many people tend to treat H.I.I (hearing impaired individuals) as though they are mentally retarded. As strongly described in the book hearing devices are not perfect and amplify the loudest sound. High ceilings, air conditioners, loud background noises are just a few sounds that complicate the hearing process for the almost deaf. We still function and most of us are highly intelligent. Give us a chance. In Veronica's case; however, she possibly would have benefited by having a cochlear implant which is much more progressive than hearing aids.

Congratulations to Dugan for being so considerate and understanding and loving Veronica.

Lovely story, fine plot. My first Rachel Lee book but certainly not my last.

This was the very first book I read by Karen Robards, after that I was hooked! From the first page the suspence never lets up, there is also lots of romance and humour which is just what I like, the hero is very macho but the heroine gives as good as she gets and one of the scenes left me laughing out loud whilst the other ones left me breathless! This book made me go and buy all her others it was that good.

Fast paced, loved the heroines inept qaulities, the hero was tender even though he did kidnap her.

This is a hot one! You will love the story, the romance and the ending!! This is one of Karen Robards best romance books. Highly recommend!

This hero had a lot of baggage, and I guess we're supposed to excuse his mean attitude (which doesn't improve much over the course of the story), out of sympathy for him. It doesn't work. The writer does keep you on the edge with the story line itself. I just prefer a hero, with or without past ghosts, to still be portrayed in a better light. He could have been abrupt and still have had a conscience. After the second time he calls the heroine a b---h, I knew what I was in for. It was as if we're never supposed to like him. And there were many "emotion" repetitions. Like "I wish I had a penny for every time he said..." This was an interesting story, but I did contemplate putting it down for something that makes you feel good. It's definitely not a keeper.

I really had a difficult time with the first half of this book. The "hero" was so hateful and treated her so bad that even though I knew the romance was coming I had a really hard time accepting him. The things he said and did to her were too over the line for me to backtrack to sweet nothings later. Actually there weren't any sweet nothings. He was a jerk to the very end.

It is a testament to Ms. Robards writing style that I kept reading this book even though I found the hero not living up to that title at any point. I guess some women love that kind of rough and angry man but he didn't give me shivers at all.

And I really had a difficult time with him calling her a b*tch every time she dared to try to escape from the very probable rape and murder he threatened her with constantly. The very nerve of the heroine for trying to protect herself. I like this book even less the more I think about it.

I'm still giving it two stars because I did manage to finish it and I really did like the secondary character "Tunafish."

I can't say enough how much I enjoy every book Dorothy Garlock writes.
She has a way of telling each story and really makes the reader feel like she is back in time. I have already read this book but wanted to read it again as I do many of her books. I am looking forward to her next book, On Tall Pine Lake, can't wait.
If you like books with a little of everything, you will enjoy this book.

This is a sweet and action-packed story, with the love story of Berry and Simon and Rachel and Fain. Dorothy Garlock is a master of creating memorable characters.... and this is one of her best.

Berry and Rachel are two strong female characters, that overcome numerous hardships, but always help each other through them. Their troubles seem to grow and grow, and even the strong characters of Simon and Fain get drawn into their bad luck.

This book is full of romance, intense action, and lots of suspense. I couldn't put this one down!

Enjoy, I'm off to read Annie Lash now! Watch for my upcoming review.

Dorothy Garlock's book is a great read. The characters are believable. I have read the book numerous times. It was read so often, I bought a second copy.

There is a fine line between a heroine who is 'spunky' and a heroine who is TSTL (too stupid to live). Dorothy Garlock's heroine in WILD, SWEET WILDERNESS is definitely TS.

Reluctantly, Berry Warfield and her pregnant stepmother are traveling to Missouri. Missouri is a long way from an Ohio homestead, but the cruel actions of a vicious man forced the journey. Suddenly, fate intrudes and they are finally free. Berry Warfield's wretched father is dead and now the two women must face the savage wilderness alone.

Simon Witcher is a rough, tough, frontier man. He is a man who loves the challenge of unbroken land. He is a trader and an adventurer and although Berry Warfield's beauty and carefree spirit fascinate him, there simply is no room in his vigorous life for her.

Dorothy Garlock is an author who CAN write a historical setting. This author never ceases to amaze with her unique specified gift. However, a pleasant feeling of excitement and wonder should always fill a romance story. The romance should be idealistic, sentimental, and mystifying. In WILD, SWEET WILDERNESS the heroine's actions are not pleasingly romantic. Regrettably, Berry Warfield's vicious tongue and foolish ideas are not enjoyable to read. Even so, Garlock's strong writing style, setting control, and secondary characters do manage to pull WILD, SWEET WILDERNESS into 'page turner' territory.
Grade: B-

MaryGrace Meloche.

Once again I've gotten to read about an interesting time in our country's history and enjoyed a wonderful story as well. I have almost all of Ms. Garlock's books and consider each of them a treasure. I have a book shelf specifically dedicated to her work. She's one of a kind!

I always enjoy it when the man is the one being forced to marry -- but I didn't particularly care for Cameron's propensity to include explicit scenes between characters who are NOT the hero and heroine. In spite of that, I'd buy it again - which is my personal standard for romance novels.

I finished this book simply because I will finish most any book that I start reading, no matter how horrible. This was one of the WORST books I have ever read. The characters were stiff and undeveloped and unappealing. I wanted to smack them all upside the head and tell them exactly what was going on that they were too dumb to see. The plot is convoluted and full of holes - for example, there is a plot to find a book belonging to a 'Gentlemen's club' that detailed their sexual adventures. Now, the book is in Max's possession, even though he doesn't know what it is about. The book is later seen in the possession of a bulter, who is actually using it. But in the end, the book doesn't exist! Surprise! I guess everyone imagined it. And somethings, like the mysterious rider, are never explained.

Don't bother. I reccommend Forbidden Magic by Jo Beverly if you want an historical romance with a mystery-filled plot and engaging characters.

I love reading Stella Cameron present day novels, but frankly am disappointed in her historicals. The dialogue is obscure, the characters slightly stilted. Stick with her books such as "Pure Delights" and "Sheer Bliss".

This book was a good twist on the much done star-crossed lovers thing. The couple are two tortured souls, with Max being the more so with Kirsty willing to do anything, even become his mistress, just to be with him.

So the story goes: poor boy turned rich loves poor girl but his feelings of obligation to the family that took him in won't allow them to be together and her family's adamant that she "know her place" - a peasant - and stay there.

The twist here, the missing journal, leads the story's villains, Horace Hubble, Lady Hermoine and Countess Grabham to Max Rossmara, believing that he is in possession of it. Max loves his childhood friend Kirsty Mercer, a crofter's daughter, but cannot marry her due to pressure from his family (mostly his father, Struan the hero from Cameron's "Bride").

The story is good, although there are a few disturbing sex scenes between the villains, regardless of their blood ties - ICK!

Don't let that stop you from reading the book.

Cameron's novels tend to be hit and miss for me. This particular one was a miss. I simply couldn't get interested in either the plot or the characters. To be honest, I found the villains a bit more interesting! I'd advise skipping this one and heading for another Cameron instead.

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