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Read Blue Smoke And Murder (2008)

Blue Smoke and Murder (2008)

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Rating
3.85 of 5 Votes: 4
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ISBN
0060829850 (ISBN13: 9780060829858)
Language
English
Publisher
william morrow

Blue Smoke And Murder (2008) - Plot & Excerpts

Book #9 of 2013Whenever I drive to Mansfield, we pass this place called Salamanca in NY. It is usually late at night and maybe it is the perfect spot on the highway because we often stop to fill up the gas tank or to grab a road snack. It also happens to have a casino, always lit up just off the highway (and I think is owned by an Indian/Native American tribe?) Anyway, it might be the combination of the casino scenes in this book (where the casino seems to also be in the middle of nowhere) and the fact that I first listened to this book on the way to Mansfield, but whenever I go home and pass Salamanca, I think of this book. So, I finally decided to read it again. It was still a pretty good book. I have a feeling I might pick it up again in another few years.Original 4/12/2009Audio Book #2 of 2009Listened to this on my way to Mansfield and back and I very much enjoyed it. It was more thriller than romance, and that's okay, good even since Ron was listening to it as well. As a matter of fact, we disagree on how exactly the book should be categorized, he doesn't think it's a romance, I say that although the romance may be secondary to the plot, it's still considered a romance. While listening to the book, I got the feeling that there was more to the St. Kilda (the private security firm the MC hires) story than is let on within the book itself, and a glance at the author's website confirms this. There are a few other books in this series before this one, which I'm not interested in reading.Ironically, while perusing the books at Wal Mart in Mansfield (because I clearly NEEDED more books with me in Mansfield...) I saw this on the shelf. I almost wish I would have actually read the book, I think that would have at least helped me figure out the timeline of the plot, each chapter began with a date and place and usually it didn't mean a whole lot to me because it's not like I could go back and check how much time had passed from the previous chapter, but that's only a minor complaint, one inherent to listening rather than reading.Borrowed from the library.

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this novel. It was hard to rate because I'm not quite sure if I would read it again though I would recommend it to some. I guess this was the fourth in a set, not series, but I didn't really noticed. A few things can be assumed about other characters so that it is not important to read the others. I did enjoy the characters though I felt that more attention was given to the story line and explaining the world of art (which was good since I lack in that area) but little was given to explaining why Zach and Jill became so close so quickly. I can get over that though since the action was decent and I felt an insane need to find out what happened to them in the end. I love finding out how people get out of sticky situations or how they survive things. I am a fan of the classic fighting-won't-give-up character. This story has those.Final thoughts: Some parts of the writing were rough. I laughed a few times at some lines in both a good way and a bad way. I found one mistake (I like that. It makes it more real to me somehow.) but it didn't hurt anything. I loved the characters. I'm glad they were smart and believed in the truth instead of only caring about themselves and revenge. It is a romance novel though so keep that in mind if you are on here looking for YA. I really did like it!http://one-chapter-ahead.blogspot.ca/

What do You think about Blue Smoke And Murder (2008)?

There’s just something about listening to a story read aloud. Especially when you find a magic combination between author and performer. And I’ve found that in Elizabeth Lowell’s Blue Smoke & Murder, performed by Carol Monda.I’ve never read Elizabeth Lowell before. I was heading out on a 4 day road trip and I wanted something to listen to. A friend suggested Elizabeth Lowell, so I grabbed the first book on cd I found on the shelf.And off I went – into the high stakes world of Western Art and Art Auctions. Jill Breck is a white water river guide, who was raised in the west in a family full of strong women. When her great aunt dies in a mysterious fire, Jill inherits all that’s left of the family ranch – including 12 mysterious paintings.Paintings she remembers seeing once in childhood – but was told never to ask about or talk about again. Paintings that have been hidden her whole life. Paintings that just might be the works of one of the most famous Western artists who ever lived. But someone wants those paintings to never see the light of day. And they want Jill dead too! Jill calls in a favor and turns to St. Kilda Consulting for help.Zach Balfour is a “consultant” at St. Kilda Consulting. His areas of expertise cover the art world, art auctions, information analysis, fire arms and muscle cars. Acting as a “bullet catcher” is not his favorite assignment – but he’s more than qualified for the job.I don’t know which was better – Lowell’s writing or Monda’s performance. But together they were magic. And since this book is #4 in the Lowell’s series featuring St. Kilda Consulting, I have more new books on my list of must reads!From ICPL Staff Picks Blog
—Iowa City Public Library

I remember liking EL years ago; now I find her tough-guy writing style so annoying I want to throw the book across the room. She uses very short, abrupt sentences to create drama and urgency and a "snappy" delivery for all her one-dimensional characters in the EL world. She's not as witty as she thinks. For example, all her characters used the word "craptastic" at one time or another. Really irritating.And now more than ever, she's got an underlying feminist agenda, attributing the unnamed "she" pronoun to unimportant background characters one would normally think of as a "he", such as a driver or shooter or bodyguard.God, I would hate to be her and have to write the same book over and over again. And have to copy stereotypes from other authors, such as the villain on steroids. If I see one more "young, quirky" computer hacker, I think I'll scream.Is it just political with me? Does the current version of feminism have a place in "romance novels/ women's fiction"? Real feminists don't need feminism to give them a voice and presence. Anyone who thinks so doesn't understand a woman's real weapons...which are humor, intelligence, understanding, will power, and sex appeal.Enough said about a craptastic book.
—Marcie

River guide Jillian Breck was raised in the hot, dry parts of Nevada and Arizona by equally hard women. When her great-aunt Modesty dies in a ranch fire, Jill goes home and discovers a message and 12 paintings. She calls in a favor from the St. Kilda agency when funny things start happening.The entire book takes place in about 9 days with short chapters alternating between characters. Language is terse dialogue - some profanity and a few bedroom scenes.There's a minor sub-plot about polygamous "Mormon" groups in the Arizona strip with references to main stream Mormons that are partially incorrect - surprising that an author of Lowell's stature didn't fact check better. Overall story was well written and kept you reading.
—Debby

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