An Unlikely Romance Amid Old Grudges
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I picked this book up expecting that suspense would be the book's main element. Instead, Tribute is a pretty standard romance involving reasonably original characters, former child star Cilla McGowan turned general contractor and house-rehabber-for-profit and graphic-novel artist and author, Ford Sawyer. The physical attraction is strong from the beginning, and much of the suspense merely relates to when chemistry will overcome caution. In the background, local people hold strong grudges against Cilla's grandmother, Janet Hardy, a star who died from too many pills and too much booze at 39, but who also never saw an attractive man she didn't want, and Cilla's dead uncle who helped some others to an early grave.
The real heroine of the book is Cilla's grandmother's house that Cilla is "restoring" for her own use. If you love the idea of restoring and living in an old family home, this book will probably have above average appeal. If you aren't into home restoration details and graphic novels, you probably won't like this book as much as I did.
Cilla McGowan makes an unusual and poignant heroine. I hope that Nora Roberts will write about her again. I also liked Ford Sawyer. He offers a lot of potential for future books, as well.
The suspense parts of the book were the weakest. In fact, the threats, violence, and problems seemed artificial and the characters' reactions to those events also didn't ring very true.
But all the world loves a lover, and there's a lot to love in this romance.
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