[.ca] Angels Fall (ISBN 0399153721)

An Appealing Heroine, Feisty Characters, Wonderful Sense of Place, Good Suspense and a Nice Romance:
Just when you think there's no new way to tell the story of a knight in shining armor who saves the fair maiden, along comes Nora Roberts to turn that time-tested formula on its head . . . with great results. If you want a great new book for your vacation, get Angels Fall! If you have ever been to Wyoming, you probably came away in awe of the Tetons. Seeing those peaks is in some ways even more moving than the Grand Canyon. And on a hot day in July, it's nice to think about being in Wyoming. The Tetons are a primary spiritual character in this book, helping to inspire the fictional characters to take the right steps. A fragile woman, Reece Gilmore, finds herself stuck in Angel's Fist, Wyoming (not too far from Jackson Hole) after he radiator hose splits. Needing to make a few bucks, she impulsively applies for the cook's job at short-order Angel Food. Clearly, she knows what she's doing. While most people would freak out from the pressure, it's almost a relief to Reece, as it takes her minds off other issues. Gradually, we learn that Reece is on the roam to try to erase very unhappy memories. I won't say more because Ms. Roberts does a nice job of letting the details emerge in the novel. Meeting the people in Angels Fist soon makes Reece think that she might like to stay . . . except for one problem: Reece observes a murder while on her first hike. But no one can find a body . . . or signs of a murder. Is Reece crazy? The incident does have one positive element, it brings Reece into close contact with Jamsion P. Brody (who prefers to be called Brody), a mystery novelist whose posterior is causing much conversation among the younger women in town. Their relationship blossoms in unexpected ways . . . both for the reader and for them. The issue of Reece's sanity becomes clouded by lots of incidents where the unexpected happens. But as Reece points out in the book, "It's not paranoia if they're really after you." The novel is filled with delightful characters you'll long remember . . . and may wish to meet: Joanie: She owns Angel Food and likes to talk tough . . . but may be a little bit softer than that. Lo: Joanie's son whose nickname is short for "Lothario" and who has plans for Reece. Linda-gail: The waitress who wants Lo . . . as a faithful husband. Mac: Loves to help people. Rick: The local sheriff who finds himself unwilling to place too much credence in the views of a newcomer, but has a delightful family. The mystery story is well done. You'll probably be thinking it's one of four characters right up until the last few pages. The most delightful aspect of this well-written story is that Ms. Roberts doesn't rush her story, her characters or your pleasure in enjoying the book. Although I'm far from a big foodie, I loved the many interesting food references in the book. It's like the Goldy Schultz stories in a way . . . but without the recipes. Like Goldy, Reece communicates through food. Read this book and enjoy yourself! It won't hurt to have a nice glass of wine and some tasty snacks nearby while you do.

Very predictable:
This novel is part romance and part thriller, not a great read but not bad either. The plot is very slow at times and overall too long. I found the characters interesting but their drawn out love and bedroom scenes slowed down the suspense too much for me. This novel is very predictable and a bit stale in my view.