River Road

Amanda Leigh Cobb gives an alluring performance of this romantic mystery. When Lucy inherits her aunt Sarah's house, a gruesome discovery dredges up memories of an event that occurred there when she was a teenager. In the midst of a wild party one night, Mason, the guy she had a crush on, suddenly insisted that she leave. Now it appears that something bad happened at that party. Cobb maintains the tension in this dramatic story as well as providing a lightness in tone that brings out the flirtatious banter between the two sleuthing protagonists. Cobb's well-tempered pitch modulations and pacing effectively convey the tension and animosity that grow among the townspeople as murders take place and each of them becomes a possible suspect. M.F. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine

November 25, 2013
Summer River is a small town in the middle of Northern California’s wine country. This peaceful, serene spot is tucked away from the hustle and bustle of larger cities. In this return to romantic suspense, bestseller Krentz (Wildest Dreams: Velvet Touch) brings warmth and mystery to the sleepy burg. Lucy Sheridan returns to Summer River after the death of her beloved aunt and finds an old corpse stuffed into the chimney of her aunt’s house. She also encounters Mason Fletcher, the man who made a subtle but permanent impression on her 13 years before. Together, Lucy and Mason must puzzle out who placed the body in the chimney and whether the death of her aunt is somehow connected, while they also contemplate the renewal of an attraction neither was really aware of in their teen years. Krentz has done a solid job of melding the excitement of a thriller with the sweetness of new passion. Agent: Steve Axelrod, Axelrod Agency.

March 15, 2014

Lucy Sheridan suspects that her aunt's fatal accident was planned. A forensic genealogist, Lucy knows how to start her investigation, and she is soon joined by Mason Fletcher, who is not only an investigator of cold cases but was Lucy's first love. Set in scenic northern California among the wealthy wine country set, the book is rife with humor derived from contrasts between the cool sophisticates and the geeky sleuths. Amanda Leigh Cobb performs the female characters with warmth and vivacity. Her pacing adds to the atmosphere of scenes, whether tense or thoughtful. However, sometimes she emphasizes words in ways that don't necessarily ring true for the characters, especially Mason. Her voice is not deep, sharp, or strong enough to embody the "I can handle anything" personas of Mason and his uncle Deke, though these are not major impediments to enjoyment. VERDICT In general this an agreeable listening experience and should be in most public library collections. ["Wonderfully appealing protagonists, a clever, skillfully crafted plot, soul-stirring sensuality, and delicious flashes of humor result in a classic tale of romantic suspense," read the starred review of the Putnam hc, LJVERDICT 12/13.]--Juleigh Muirhead Clark, Colonial Williamsburg Fdn. Lib., VA

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