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Secrets in the Stone
by Radclyffe
| List Price: |
$16.95 |
| Price: |
$10.70 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. |
| You Save: |
$6.25 (36%) |
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Paperback
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
ISBN13: 9781602820838
Condition: NEW
Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Rooke Tyler lives a solitary life in a small western Pennsylvania town, making a living by carving intricate headstones in an exclusive cemetery for the county's wealthy families. At night she sculpts stone, pouring her dreams and desires into the figures she chisels. Then two women enter life, one offering her passion, the other fame. Rooke's choice may expose her secrets and change her life...if she follows her heart.
| Customer Reviews: |
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| Too Harlequin-like for me |
| Customer Rating: 2 out of 5 |
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I usually am riveted by Radclyffe's writing - the Ptowns are one of my favorite series. Unfortunately, I don't find this book to be anywhere near the quality of writing I've read in that series or any of the other books and stories of Rad's that I've read.
As others have said, I was left wondering what I'd missed in this novel. Why was Ardian so resistent to Rooke? What was up with the dreams? What was Melinda's deal? What the heck was Rooke's deal? And the paranormal intimations never moved beyond the hints and sequences - was that the secret, maybe? Nah.
The novel had the feel of an old time Harlequin Romance (hey, I grew up with them!), only with Lesbians. The powerless feelings of attraction, the naming conventions (I mean, come on - Rooke?!), the actions of Melinda and friends, the undercurrent of something going on between characters, but the reader never really knowing what that current is - all way too Harlequin Romancey for me. I felt vaguely squicky during the whole novel.
Since it was Rad and I adore her, I read the whole thing. The ending did pick up, but not enough to redeem the story. It really needs to go back to the editing room. Or, Rad, just write a new, better novel and leave this one be.
I hate to recommend a person not purchase a book, since we need all the sales we can get for this genre, but if you're on the fence, go with the other choice.
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| A Step Back |
| Customer Rating: 2 out of 5 |
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In general I am a fan of Radclyffe's work, and have purchased quite a number of them. However I was rather disappointed with this attempt. It felt like a short story that was stretched into a novel while not adding any depth. The characters never developed and the relationship didn't evolve. I've found compelling characters to be one of Radclyffe's strengths, however these were flat and one dimensional.
I enjoy paranormal stories, however it wasn't really explored here, only hinted at. This means that nothing was explained to the reader and it just left me wondering what the point was. It wasn't believable and was hard to get through.
I hate to say it, but I couldn't recommend this book to anyone. Instead, I'd be more than happy to recommend other works by her like Love's Masquerade, Shadowland, or Love's Melody Lost.
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| Great Characters |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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I had read some snoozers in this genre lately and I enjoyed this book a lot more than many I've read. The main characters were very believable and likeable and the eroticism was simmering below the surface even though it took a long time to become fact. I agree that the "psychic" undercurrent never did get fully developed and things were hinted that really were red herrings, which is annoying. Nevertheless I liked it, so if this is one of Radclyffe's weaker works, I'll have to read the rest of hers. I liked this one better than Night Call.
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| Confused |
| Customer Rating: 3 out of 5 |
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This one left me confused. Weird for a romance novel, I know, usually they're pretty straight forward. Either you like it or you don't.
This one had two 'rivaling' components that I can't quite get together. On the one hand the two main characters, very strong, independent women. Liked them immediately, and saw the attraction.
The second component is certain paranormal 'activity', that is just there and not further explained and manifests itself in an additional character. Now, I get that you can't necessarily explain paranormal activity, in this case hearing other people's thoughts, I guess you can describe it as. I don't really see how it enhances the story and think the story would have been just as good without it, maybe even better, but that's just cause paranormal apparently is just not my thing. Or if the paranormal part of the book would have been explored more fully. Now it just seems to hang there, open to interpretation. Not that interpretation is a bad thing, but this left the door so wide open that speculation seems kind of useless.
Other than that I like the setting, a small town in New York, and the mood that is set by the storm at the beginning of the book.
I did finish it in the span of 24 hours and really couldn't it put it down towards the end. So that's a good thing, but the ending left me feeling unsatisfied.
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| Disappointing |
| Customer Rating: 2 out of 5 |
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I have all of Radclyfee's novels and I am sure I will continue to purchase her works. However, I found this one very disappointing. I found myself skipping paragraphs to find out where this was going. She has written so many wonderful stories so I'll just chalk this up as a "bad day".
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