The Book Gourmet

This came completely out of the left field for me. The story simply didn't suck me in as Ms. Quick's novels usually do.

Let's start with the title—The Mystery Woman. That was supposed to be the heroine. To me, she was no mystery. I would've preferred her secrets to be revealed more slowly, not giving it all up front (to the reader, that is). She was also the usual Quick-heroine that often annoy me with their behavior, notions and convictions.

The hero also wasn't of much help to make me enjoy the story. Though he was (at least in appearance) the usual Quick-hero, the rest simply fizzled. Though the new approach Ms. Quick chose with him not believing in the paranormal was indeed refreshing, it quickly turned annoying.

Also, I didn't feel the connection between them, not the attraction, not the affection, not the love, not the sex. Nothing. It just didn't work.

The suspense part of the story was also incomparable with Ms. Quick's other novels. Maybe it was the fact the main reason the villain wanted to kidnap Beatrice (the heroine) was utterly out there—yes, the guy was completely nuts, but still. Maybe it was the fact I didn't much care what happens to the heroine (or hero), but I had a really hard time getting though the book. Kudos for the other villain, yet it took me way too long to finish this one.

Still, the writing was good, the plot also (despite everything I've listed), so I decided to give it three stars. I'm quite disappointed, though. I expected more.