Blood Brothers by Nora Roberts
I liked Blood Brothers even though it felt unfinished. The romance came to a good stopping place but the larger story is still going on. This kind of thing really bothered me in C.L. Wilson's Lord of the Fading Lands -- why's it okay here? Two reasons: first, the break in LotFL was unfinished in terms of larger plot and the romance, which irritated; and second, I have read enough of Madame La Nora's trilogies to trust that she'll get the story where it needs to go. I had no such reserve of trust for Wilson.
I do have a couple petty quibbles:
Firstly, the mention of Juno, Alaska. There's Juneau, Alaska and there's Juno Mountain, Alaska. But no Juno, Alaska that I could find.
B: At one point, Ann Hawkins is referred to as the daughter of Richard Hawkins, then later her father is named James Hawkins. Oops.
3: "Caging" =/= "cadging". Different meanings, and I think you meant the latter rather than the former.
I wish copy editors or proof readers had caught those.
But those are outweighed by two cultural touchstones included in the story: duck pin bowling and the Borg. Seriously, dude, Balmer (and Pittsburgh) love their duck pin, which is apparently not well known elsewhere. Shame for all of y'all. And the Borg? The best ST: TNG villain -- hell the best ST villain ever.
ETA: plus, one of the characters gives the best marital advice I've ever read. "Learn to laugh, otherwise, you'll beat them to death with a hammer first chance."
I do have a couple petty quibbles:
Firstly, the mention of Juno, Alaska. There's Juneau, Alaska and there's Juno Mountain, Alaska. But no Juno, Alaska that I could find.
B: At one point, Ann Hawkins is referred to as the daughter of Richard Hawkins, then later her father is named James Hawkins. Oops.
3: "Caging" =/= "cadging". Different meanings, and I think you meant the latter rather than the former.
I wish copy editors or proof readers had caught those.
But those are outweighed by two cultural touchstones included in the story: duck pin bowling and the Borg. Seriously, dude, Balmer (and Pittsburgh) love their duck pin, which is apparently not well known elsewhere. Shame for all of y'all. And the Borg? The best ST: TNG villain -- hell the best ST villain ever.
ETA: plus, one of the characters gives the best marital advice I've ever read. "Learn to laugh, otherwise, you'll beat them to death with a hammer first chance."