Review: A Good Story Both Mystery and Romance
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 07 11, 2011
This group of stories was sold as 4 separate books all in one Kindle file.Each book did not really end... except for the last book of the four. No story line was completed in all the writing until the 4th book.The story simply flows from one book to another. The beginning of each "book" has information from the previous book... but it isn't presented in as complete a form as is necessary to catch the reader up with the story if the first book or two hasn't been read.It really is one long book and I don't think there is enough material to actually make 4 stand alone books, maybe two books of decent length if some story line could be completed within each book.After the first book which was slow and stilted in the beginning... the story got better and better.There are good details, a mystery and plenty of romance. Also, good, caring family with thoughtfulness and laughter. The mother of a large Irish brood is the fount of practicality and wisdom to her grown children. There is a wedding and an older family friend dies, along with the mystery of three deaths.The first mystery has now been solved at the end of the 4th book and the story ends with a family crisis affecting the newly married couple and their son. That's why I feel this file was really one long book.I enjoyed the story. Unfortunately, because this was advertised as four books... not four novelettes, and because the books don't stand alone,  I don't feel that there is enough meat for four books. Not enough meat and some of the writing in was called the first book was heavy going.I can only give this 3 stars. I'm tempted to give it 4 stars because the story is good, but I honestly can't. I hope the next "book" is of longer length and continues the higher quality of writing by this author and also contains a complete story within its pages so that it can be considered a stand alone book.Both the author and the story is improving with the length of the story.I'd advise looking at the length of the next book... to see if it is worth purchasing as a stand-alone book... and also browse the description... to see if there is another mystery brewing in addition to all the great family interaction. There are so many great characters that several good, full length books could be in this family saga... if the author can come up with a complete story from start to finish for each book.