Book Description
The Winning Hand
When Darcy Wallace spends her last three dollars at the hotel casino and wins a jackpot worth almost two million dollars, all casino manager Robert MacGregor Blade wants to do is look out for her. But something about the lovely young woman is getting under Mac's skin and playing havoc with his big brotherly intentions. And to win her over, he'll have to take the biggest gamble of his life.
The Perfect Neighbor
Brooding loner Preston McQuinn's new apartment, like his life, was just the way he wanted it—dark and empty. But when sunny Cybil Campbell came barging into his well-ordered gloom, he couldn't deny a grudging fascination with his bright, bubbly neighbor. Preston thought he'd closed the door on love for good, so why was he suddenly longing to open up his heart to his incredibly perfect neighbor?
Customer Reviews:
Another Nora Roberts success........2007-08-10
The Macgregor family story is always fun to read. I love to see what Daniel is plotting for his various family members. Robert didn't expect when Darcy Wallace won the jackpot at his casino , she also would win his heart. Cybil thought she knew how to avoid her grandfather's scheming to get her married. Alas,Macgregor won again when he put Preston McQuinn across the hall. I look forward to the next Macgregor story.
daniel
Two fantastic romances for the price of one!.......2007-06-01
Greetings again to all the fellow Nora Roberts fans out there from your friendly manly man! I may be a man, but I am also a die-hard romantic, and the works of Ms. Roberts give me a particular thrill as she weaves mystery, menace, and harrowing drama around her characters' slow-boiling passions. In most romance novels one is fairly certain that the male and female protagonists will eventually end up in each other's arms, but in Roberts's novels, how they arrive there and what obstacles they must overcome is what gives that anticipated climax--the revelation of sometimes unconscious but overwhelming desire and the emotional release of pent-up and barely contained feelings--the visceral force that sometimes leaves me breathless and shaking, unable to read any further. At such times I strip to my waist, baring my well-muscled chest, go to my garage, and rebuild a transmission.
"The MacGregors: Robert & Cybil: The Winning Hand\The Perfect Neighbor" reprints two previously published books in the MacGregor series, a collection of stories detailing the lives and loves of the MacGregor family and its extended network. Overseeing the happiness and good fortune of his clan is Daniel MacGregor, the patriarch with an almost magical ability to find the perfect mates for his grandchildren in sometimes unexpected places. He reminds me of an elf, a manly elf.
"The Winning Hand" is the story of Robert "Mac" MacGregor Blade, son of Justin and Serena MacGregor Blade, who runs the Comanche casino and finds himself drawn towards Darcy Wallace, a down-on-her-luck librarian running from her past who wanders into his casino and gambles her last remaining dollars to win almost $2 million. What then follows may be predictable in outline but not in execution, as Mac and Darcy learn to gain confidence and trust in themselves and in each other, which will come in handy when Darcy's past catches up with her and Mac must rise to the occasion, like a man. A manly man.
"The Perfect Neighbor" asks the question whether seeming opposites do in fact attract. Cybil Campbell, the youngest daughter of Grant and Gennie Campbell and who lives in her grandfather Daniel MacGregor's building, doesn't know what to make of her new neighbor, Preston McQuinn. Little does she know that he is a plant, not of the photosynthetic variety, but of the MacGregor-choreographed, let's-place-him-here-and-see-what-develops variety. Bubbly, outgoing Cybil mistakes her quiet, loner neighbor for an out-of-work musician, but the truth challenges her deepening feelings for him, and the prospects for these two look grim when Preston feels himself growing too close to Cybil.
You will grow close to these quirky, flawed, yet sympathetic characters as they fight, flirt, and have fun with each other, responding to their feelings and the twists of Fate with an honesty and insight that will leave readers and manly men laughing, crying and wishing for a family as colorful and loveable as, dare I say it, the MacGregors.
Customer Reviews:
Better than average.......2007-10-08
The heroine is young, beautiful, talented, successful and independent, just like most lead women in a Nora Roberts novel. The hero is young, handsome, talented, successful and independent--closely paralleling the heroine in most respects. Only in personality do they differ significantly. They live in a Manhattan Soho apartment house that is owned by "The MacGregor," patriarch of this series of novels.
The first third of the book is quite good. After that it tends to drift off into sex scenes and pointless arguments. But that first third has considerable charm, humor, intrigue. The heroine mistakes the hero for an unemployed jazz musician, whereas he is actually a very successful playwright, and she actually pays him $100 to go to dinner with her and $50 to kiss her. Read the book for the reasons.
"The MacGregor," once again, has arranged their being in apartments just across the hall from each other. His meddling gets a bit tiresome after a few books in the series, and apparently no one has the ability to tell him to buzz off and mean it.
The atmosphere is quite good, mostly South of Houston. The dialogue is fine. And, as mentioned, the first part of the novel is excellent, but then it becomes just another R-rated romance with glitzy people who tend to take their success in life for granted. It would be interesting to have some characters who struggle just a wee bit to make the rent and buy groceries. It would certainly be more human, more realistic.
A GREAT BOOK.......2007-02-21
Another great book about the MacGregor family. Daniel just keeps pairing up each of his grandchildren. This time Cybril Campbell who's writes a comic strip and is curious about her new neighber McQuinn not knowing that he's there at Daniel's suggestion. I really liked the story.
A light and sunny romance........2005-05-23
Cybil Campbell lives in apartment 3A, where she works magic by drawing the famous comic-strip "Friends and Neighbors". Nothing quiet about Cybil's life. She is bubbly, upbeat, loves to bake (and give it away so she will not eat it all), and thrives on background noise. Good thing too, since all her neighbors in the building are LOUD. Except, that is for the new resident in 3B, across the hall.
Everyone wonders who the new guy is. He is silent and seldom seen. Cybil finally gets the man to speak, thanks to her excellent and addictive cookies. She learns his last name is McQuinn, but that is about it. When a nosy, but good hearted, neighbor tries to set her up with one of her relatives (Frank) Cybil pays McQuinn to take her out. Cybil even buys him dinner. All just so the neighbor will see them and not be hurt. Cybil has come to the conclusion that McQuinn is a poor, out-of-work musician. He lets her think it too. But when Cybil finds out who he really is, her mind changes and she decides he is a narrow-minded, arrogant creep. Too bad she cannot seem to forget his kiss.
McQuinn's life is dark and barren, the way he likes it. He is rude to everyone so they will stay away and leave him alone. The last thing he wants is to be around his happy and sunny neighbor, Cybil. But while kissing her good night, strictly for their nosy neighbor of course, the block of ice around his heart begins to melt.
**** A light and sunny romance guaranteed to help sooth your nerves after a stressful day. No serious danger here. Just romance brewing between opposites. Very well done! ****
Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.
Daniel MacGregor - The Reincarnation of Venus?.......2005-04-07
The MacGregors were one of Nora Roberts' creations that surpassed excellence. These family members are fun, witty, strong natured, hardheaded, and a joy. I can't think of another fictional family that I've enjoyed more than the MacGregors and their extended family. These characters have made every book written about them fun to read!
In THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR, Cybil Campbell is extended family, after all the Campbells and MacGregors have a long history together. Her being extended family does not mean she's immune to Daniel MacGregor's matchmaking prowess. Daniel, the patriarch of the MacGregor clan is the best at what he does, be it business or making sure his family is all married, happy, and continuing the family line of MacGregors. He's an expert at harmonizing his family members with the perfect match, even if they don't think so in the beginning. Their blissful happiness usually changes their frustration at his interference.
Daniel places Preston McQuinn, a quiet loner, right in the path of Cybil, whose bubbly and outgoing personality could either overshadow or compliment McQuinn. That's the difference between Daniel and other do-gooders - Daniel just places the people in each other's paths and lets magic happen. And since Daniel owns an apartment complex, he can't be held responsible if two tenants would be perfect for each other and he just happens to place them in close proximity.
The magic begins when Cybil mistakes Preston as being unemployed and tries to hire him as her escort. For some reason, Preston agrees and Nora Roberts then takes the reader on a journey of fun and laughter, ok there is romance too!
Daniel MacGregor has a perfect matchmaking record and no one, Cybil and Preston included, can deny that he's the best in the world at pairing people. I'm wondering if this is a talent that's gotten better with time, or if Daniel MacGregor is the male reincarnation of Venus, the Goddess of Love?
From Back Cover.......2005-03-06
Brooding loner Preston McQuinn's new apartment, like his life, was just the way he wanted it - dark and empty. But when Cybil Campbell came barging into his well-ordered gloom, he couldn't deny a grudging fascination with his bright, bubbly neighbor. And then she tried to hire him... as her date! Preston thought he'd closed the door on love for good, so why was he sudden;y longing to open up his heart to his incredible neighbor.
10th in The MacGregors series
Product Description
Paperbacks
Book Description
Everyone's awed by Inspector Witherspoon's Scotland Yard successes, but they don't know about his secret weapon. Her name is Mrs. Jeffries, and she keeps house for the Inspector - and keeps him on his toes. No matter how messy the murder or how dirty the deed, her polished detection skills are up to the task. Because as she knows all too well, a crimesolver's work is never done.
Customer Reviews:
Another Great Mrs Jeffries.......2007-09-17
If you enjoy Mrs Jeffried, you will enjoy this one too. Funny, interesting and keeps you on your toes.
Wonderful stories!.......2005-07-08
This collection of three Mrs. Jeffries mysteries is a sheer delight! Watch Mrs. Jeffries and her quirky staff grow in confidence and expertise as they track down the guilty parties. (Is Smythe sweet on Betsy?) Settle down in your comfy chair and enjoy!
rip-off.......2005-05-27
I feel that I have been royally ripped off and wasted $12.00 on a book I have already read. Believe me, it won't happen again as I will review Ms. Brightwell's books very carefully before I buy another. A "0" star rating would be more accurate.
Not a new book!!.......2005-03-27
I was so very disappointed to receive this, only to find that it is only a collection of the first 3 books in the series!
I love this series, and I was so happy to see a new title that I ordered this as soon as it came out. I should have waited for a review to see what was really happening. I'll do that with the Brightwell books from now on.
Other authors publish collections, but you always know from the titles that they are collections. I was tricked into thinking this was a new story because of the title.
Don't order this book unless you really want the collection of her first 3 books! I'd give 0 stars if I could - because of the misleading title.
Not A New Book.......2005-03-20
Please note: This is not a new book in the series but a collection of previously published books. So if you already have (1) The Inspector and Mrs. Jeffries (2) Mrs. Jeffries Dusts for Clues and (3) The Ghost and Mrs. Jeffries don't buy Mrs. Jeffries Learns the Trade.
Product Description
The First Three Mrs. Jeffries Mysteries: The Inspector and Mrs. Jeffries, Mrs. Jeffries Dusts for Clues, and The Ghost and Mrs. Jeffries.
Average customer rating:
- Wurts doing what she does best...
- An excellent retelling
- Brilliant ,absolutely Brilliant!!!!
- Brilliant ,absolutely Brilliant!!!!
- Deserves More than 5 Stars
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Master of Whitestorm
Janny Wurts
Manufacturer: Collins
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Binding: Mass Market Paperback
 Wurts, Janny
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ASIN: 0586210687 |
Book Description
After escaping from the slave-galleys of the bloodthirsty Murghai, Korendir, a man whose past is shrouded in mystery, sets off on a series of extraordinary quests: to battle the sorceress Anthei; to challenge the elemental Cyondide and win the lost hoard of the dragon Sharkash; to free the people of Northengard from the wereleopards that are decimating their population ... Always Korendir's goal is treasure: but never for its own sake. A driven man, Korendir determines to build a fortress at Whitestorm, impregnable against all comers, be they human or supernatural, to protect himself - its Master - from the dark secret of his ancestry.
Customer Reviews:
Wurts doing what she does best..........2006-02-02
I love the characters that Wurts builds because they are always flawed. The obsession and drive that the main character feels are tangible and as you come to know his past it makes more and more sense. The story if exciting and has enough adventure to keep you interested. She deftly walks the line between spending too much time in trivial details and giving you a clear understanding of what Magic is. Great read and if you are a Wurts fan it's a must!
An excellent retelling.......2003-02-21
As mentioned by the other reviewers, Wurts has done an excellent job at telling a rich, character-driven, complex story in one book. Some other modern fantasy authors should take note of this!
The one thing that none of the other reviewers commented on was Wurts' phenomenal use of Beowulf as his source for this book. He has taken the heroic epic and woven it into a superb study of what drives a man like Beowulf to be the best.
Brilliant ,absolutely Brilliant!!!!.......2001-06-10
A Master of a tale. I was completely drawn into the story, being hauled head over heals from the first page. Frankly, this book is perfect. Mrs Wurts grabs the reader by the throat and squeezes. Korendir is an unforgetable character, his will and persistence appaudable. I read this book, over a 1000 pages, in one memorable sitting, I totally forgot about the outside world. Never, in all my years as an avid reader have I been so absorbed and fasinated about one book. I read it 3 times, it was so good. Expertly written, with almost touchable details and talk about character development! Janny Wurts, I believe, is the best Fantasy Adventure writer on God's green Earth and is still highly under-rated. In Lamens term, THE MASTER OF WHITESTORM is the BEST BOOK I'VE EVER READ!! NO EXZAGERATION. I hope more people disvover this magnificent writer. **********.... stars.
Move aside Terry Brooks, Janny Wurts is here! I plan to buy all of her books and read THE MASTER OF WHITESTORM AGAIN!
sincerely, Nian Blanchard
Brilliant ,absolutely Brilliant!!!!.......2001-06-10
A Master of a tale. I was completely drawn into the story, being hauled head over heals from the first page. Frankly, this book is perfect. Mrs Wurts grabs the reader by the throat and squeezes. Korendir is an unforgetable character, his will and persistence appaudable. I read this book, over a 1000 pages, in one memorable sitting, I totally forgot about the outside world. Never, in all my years as an avid reader have I been so absorbed and fasinated about ONE (thats right there is no volume 2)book. I read it 3 times, it was so good. Expertly written, with almost touchable details and man, talk about character development! Korendir will take his firm hold in your mind long after the book is finished. Janny Wurts, I believe, is one of the best Fantasy Adventure writer on God's green Earth and is still highly under-rated. In Laymans term, THE MASTER OF WHITESTORM is the BEST BOOK I'VE EVER READ!! NO EXZAGERATION. I hope more people disvover this magnificent writer. **********.... stars.
I plan to buy all of her books and read THE MASTER OF WHITESTORM AGAIN!
...
Deserves More than 5 Stars.......2000-06-16
So often is the case in mondern fantasy that authors utilize the serial format and I think that the writing suffers because of that. I am more impressed if an author can write a single book of however many pages, and have it be good, and stand alone, than I would be if that same author wrote an 8 book series that accomplished as much in that span of time as the single book did.
This is the case with this book. It isn't often that I read stand alone books, I read so fast that they always leave me looking for more anyway, and so it is usually easier for me to read a series where I know there are going to be more books. This book was a wonderful exception to my rule though.
This was such a great book because of the characters. They were fantasy characters and performed tasks that the average man could not. And it wasn't becaues of magic necessarily in this book, but the will finding a way.
It turns out that the main character is a legacy of some mighty wizard; but he spurns this heritage is forges out into the world on his own bereft of any use of magic. Any accomplishment he does is his own, and this is what makes this a great book. His character is driven and does impossible tasks, but it is not impossible to fall in love and deeply admire this character because of his deeds and his will.
The setting was unique, but I think the shining moment for this author was in creating and developing her character of Korendir.
Read this book. I know it is an older book, and I know that it didn't recieve rave reviews when it came out like a robert jordan, or a terry goodkind, but this author is a very good one and proven, just give this book a chance. You will like it.
Customer Reviews:
a noble but ultimately frustrating failure.......2000-11-30
I discovered Janny Wurts by reading "Keeper of the Keys," the middle volume of the Cycle of Fire, and have since read many of her books. I love her ability to create moving and absorbing characters, an interconnected plot, and wonderful descriptive passages (when she isn't tripping over her own wordiness, that is). So when I found "The Master of White Storm" in a library I thought, "Hey, it's Janny Wurts; even if it's an early work, it must be decent."
Sadly, I was wrong. Korendir's friend is an instantly forgettable whiner; the only reason I remember his existence (though not his name) is that, unfortunately, much of the story is seen through his eyes. To be fair, he also has one brief, moving scene at the end of the book. Korendir could have been interesting, but is never seen clearly enough until the end. And after his motivations are finally somewhat clarified, I found some of his earlier actions even less explicable. Furthermore, the magic is not well thought-out; it is neither mystical enough to be left largely unexplained nor coherent enough to be believable.
"The Master of White Storm" tells the story of Korendir, a man with a mysterious past, who escapes from slavers and becomes a hero-for-hire. He wants to build an impregnable fortress, called, unsuprisingly, White Storm. His badly connected adventures are uniformly depressing, though otherwise dissimilar, and the plot threads involving his heritage and his wife read like a late attempt to add meaning to an essentially lightweight story. The book struggles to meld episodic adventure with deep, philosophical questions about human nature and motivations; it is, perhaps, a noble attempt to humanize an adventurer, but in my opinion, it fails. It doesn't work well as an adventure (too moody and slow) or as a serious novel (too disjointed and vague).
Reading "The Master of White Storm" is a reasonable way to fill an otherwise empty afternoon (unless you have other books available), but nothing more. And don't be surprised if you find yourself wondering just what exactly Janny Wurts was thinking when she wrote it.
Dark Heroic Fantasy.......2000-03-26
The writing style of this work reminded me of the early pulps: Conan the Barbarian, Jirel of Joiry, Tarzan, Warlord of Mars, etc. I normally can't stand that style, so I nearly threw the book down several times. The salvation of this story was that all the different battles and skirmishes added up to a very interesting exploration into the nature of heroism. Why do otherwise intelligent people go out and do things that can get them killed? The hero of this story thinks he wants security. In fact, the murder of his family has left him so screwed up he can't endure tranquility when he finds it. Emotionally, he is stuck as a child wanting to stop the barbarians. He finds a new home and starts a new family, only to drag them into the private hell he can never outgrow.
intense.......1999-11-03
This book is not one to pick up for a light read, it took me a weekend from start to finish. Some of the details are haunting, I wanted to flinch away but this isn't tv, you have to keep your eyes open. I've only started reading books by Janny Wurts but I'm hooked on her style, kind of like Robert Jordan in the detail department but not so long.
A good read.......1999-06-18
The Master of The Whitestorm is well worth reading. It will hold your attention. The hero is interesting in that you aren't quite sure what's making him tick. He's certainly the kind of guy whom you wouldn't want to mess with !
A black sheep in the fantasy genre..........1999-01-17
I read this book at the behest of a good friend of mine. I was very impressed with the book, even though it bore a resemblance to the sword-and-sorcery fantasy fiction such as Conan, which I am not fond of. Ms. Wurts creates an interesting character in Korendir that is so different from the lecherous Conan. This book is well worth the read and I reccomend the book to fantasy fiction readers needing respite from long, dull sagas such as the Wheel of Time
Customer Reviews:
A Wealth of Knowledge.......2007-07-11
This book is an invaluable resource for all college students and parents not just students with autism. A wealth of knowledge, I found myself using multiple color highlighters throughout this book b/c there were so many important things I wanted to remember and use.
An excellent resource!.......2007-06-19
"Realizing the College Dream with Autism or Asperger Syndrome" by Ann Palmer is a 'must read' for any parent whose child is preparing for the transition beyond high school. A step-by-step practical guide to making the college decision and to achieving college success, this book handily addresses the concerns and issues all parents face regardless of a child's need level. As my own son with AS prepares for college in the fall, I am comforted by and look forward to incorporating Mrs. Palmer's tried-and-true methods for both realizing and holding onto the dream throughout his college years.
A must read for parents and professionals.......2006-07-05
Ann Palmer shares the information that she learned on her own journey to enlighten those who venture on this path. The chapter on summer learning sessions and college strategies will assist parents as they plan and prepare their child on the spectrum for college life. Professionals supporting these students will gain a better understanding of the difficulties that these bright students encounter. More than a personal story, Ann uses her knowledge and experience as a professional to mentor parents, professionals and individuals on the spectrum as they enter this new life phase.
Books:
- The Monster Book of Manga: Draw Like the Experts
- The World's Greatest Sex and Scandals
- Understanding Aesthetics for the Merchandising and Design Professional
- Unknown Quantity: A Real And Imaginary History of Algebra
- Waiting for the Barbarians
- Walt's People Volume 1: Talking Disney With The Artists Who Knew Him
- Why a Painting Is Like a Pizza: A Guide to Understanding and Enjoying Modern Art
- Zelda: An Illustrated Life: The Private World of Zelda Fitzgerald
- 3-D Wizardry : Design in Paper Mache, Plaster and Foam
- Admiral Hornblower in the West Indies (Hornblower Saga)
Books Index
Books Home
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The MacGregors: Daniel & Ian: For Now, Forever\In From The Cold (Macgregors)
The MacGregors: Alan & Grant: All The Possibilities\One Man's Art (STP - Mira)
The MacGregors: Serena ~ Caine: Playing The Odds\Tempting Fate (Macgregors)
The MacGregor Brides (Macgregors Series)
Rebellion
