Elizabeth Lowell

Contemporary

Everybody knows her as "Shannon" the famous top model, but who Holly North is in her free time, is her secret. As Shannon, she is self-confident and self-assured, but in the moments when she is Holly -- she is shy and insecure.

Her work bought Holly back to her home town, Hidden Spring. Once she found her great love here and she can't wait to meet Lincoln McKenzie again. But 6 years can change a lot, most of all people. When they finally meet again Linc doesn't recognize who Shannon Holly is and he shows her all his hate for models.

Then the next day, during a terrible thunderstorm, Holly saves Linc's life. When he sees what "his" Holly did for him, Holly has the hope that he hasn't forgotten her. Then she was sixteen her parents died in a car accident and she had to move to live with her aunt in Manhattan. That was the reason why she never saw Linc again.

Linc was two times in his life hurt real hard by beautiful woman, his own mother and his step-mother. When he finds out that Holly is also Shannon, he thinks she only has played with his feelings.

Can Holly show him how much she loves him and that she never wants to leave him?

I was very disappointed by this book. This was one of Elizabeth Lowell's earlier stories and I have to say I like her historical's more. The heros were two terrible people who never could decide if they loved the other or not.

Rated 3.0
Reviewed 2/25/98 by Sharon

Whenever I find an Elizabeth Lowell book I snatch it up. I am definitely a fan of hers and have enjoyed those I've read. This book is a follow up on a secondary character from "A Woman Without Lies", which I enjoyed very much. "Love Song for A Raven" is what I believe is called a "baggage" book. The hero and heroine both have histories that must be overcome before they can accept their love for each other.

The story begins with Janna battling the elements when she is caught out in a small boat with a savage storm raging around her. She is at first confident that having been raised with four brothers and having spent most of her life around the sea, she can make it back to the safety of the Inlet without mishap. However, fate is against her, and the boat she has borrowed is less than top quality. As the motor fails, she continues to bail and must take up the oars in an effort to keep from being smashed against the rocks. Her arms begin to feel like lead weights attached to her body. The hand holding the plastic bottle she is using to bail begins to cramp. She begins to realize that she cannot keep up the battle indefinitely and the storm just might win.

As Janna is waging her courageous battle, Carlson Raven has secured his powerful boat to wait out the violence of the storm raging around him. He hears the motor of a small boat - hears when it dies and is started again. His instincts tell him that the captain of the small boat is in trouble. Being the type of person that he is, he cannot ignore his instincts that someone is in need, so he casts off and finds what he at first believes to be a teenager battling for his life. As he nears the small boat, he realizes that it is a slender woman. As he barely rescues her from drowning, he admires her courage and stubbornness and the fact that she did not give up under insurmountable odds.

When Janna awakens the next morning, she discovers that she is no longer cold or wet. She also discovers that she is not in bed alone! Of course, the best way to warm someone who is close to hyperthermia is crawl in bed next to them - which is just what Raven did. As Janna and Raven explore their growing attraction for each other, they continue to battle their own demons and past. They discover their pension for having open ended, nonsensical conversations. Until now, Janna has only had such conversations with her brothers - who delighted in tormenting their little sister. Of course, the nonsensical conversations between Raven and Janna most often had sensual undertones which enhanced the heat between them.

Ms. Lowell has a knack for expanding the relationship between her characters and making them realistic. Even though the progression of this story is pretty predictable, I enjoyed it and was rewarded in the end.

Rated 4.0
Copyright 1996
Reviewed 9/30/97 by Isolde Wehr

Elyssa has to fight against the Culpeppers, a family of robbers and murderers. The Culpeppers try to ruin her ranch, but that isn't so easy for them because Elyssa will defend her home till death. And now she has help because she has hired Hunter Maxwell for protection. He is very fast with his gun and also good looking.

Hunter also has a problem. He can't trust women anymore because of the treachery which his wife put him through. How could it ever be - the sparks fly between Elyssa and Hunter. It isn't easy to intimidate the Culpeppers and now Hunter has to protect not only the ranch but also Elyssa's life.

Elizabeth Lowell has created a handsome hero but with a lot of mental problems to overcome and an irresistible heroine with a proper portion of courage.