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Eclipse Bay #3
Summer in Eclipse Bay
Return to small-town Eclipse Bay, Oregon -- where scandalous passions and decades-old resentments swirl with the relentless fury of a summer storm...
Word gets around fast in Eclipse Bay. Nick Harte should know--his family's legendary feud with the Madisons fueled the local gossip mill for years before finally cooling off. But people are still talking--and rumor has it Nick's involved with someone new...
Art gallery owner Octavia Brightwell doesn't take chances--especially on handsome, charming men. But that's only part of the reason why she turned Nick down six times before--finally--agreeing to a date. Octavia's related to the woman who sparked the long-running family feud--and fears that falling hard for Nick would only ignite the flames again. Octavia knows her family's past is best kept hidden. But her secret isn't safe in Eclipse Bay--and neither is her heart...
Word gets around fast in Eclipse Bay. Nick Harte should know--his family's legendary feud with the Madisons fueled the local gossip mill for years before finally cooling off. But people are still talking--and rumor has it Nick's involved with someone new...
Art gallery owner Octavia Brightwell doesn't take chances--especially on handsome, charming men. But that's only part of the reason why she turned Nick down six times before--finally--agreeing to a date. Octavia's related to the woman who sparked the long-running family feud--and fears that falling hard for Nick would only ignite the flames again. Octavia knows her family's past is best kept hidden. But her secret isn't safe in Eclipse Bay--and neither is her heart...
330 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
342 people are currently reading
1056 people want to read
About the author
Jayne Ann Krentz
401 books7,127 followersThe author of over 50 consecutive New York Times bestsellers, JAYNE ANN KRENTZ writes romantic-suspense in three different worlds: Contemporary (as Jayne Ann Krentz), historical (as Amanda Quick) and futuristic (as Jayne Castle). There are over 30 million copies of her books in print.
She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries.
She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
December 29, 2012
plot spoilers*
I hated that he had a kid. That can ruin a book for me. I don’t see the appeal of getting with a man whose already created a family with someone else. And the intellectual 5 yr old was annoying and ridiculous. The whole he’s-smarter than-his-years thing and showing business tactics was ridiculous.
She had worn a pale, fluttery dress that fell to her ankles and a pair of dainty, strappy little heels that had emphasized her elegantly arched feet.
Her elegantly arched feet?
Am I to believe that a man made the observation that a woman had elegantly arched feet?
Wow, that’s laughable.
I did not care to hear about his affairs since his wife died.
It was kind of funny when Nick is looking at his kid’s drawings and could barely tell what they were. I’m surprised the author didn’t have him drawing masterpieces because this kid’s supposedly this little Einstein.
Of course, there had to be problems with his marriage with Amelia. How predictable. Amelia didn’t like to come to Eclipse Bay and didn’t think he’d be successful at writing books.
Octavia’s wearing another long skirt that’s “swirling around her shapely calves.” I guess just saying calves would have been a crime, it has to be noticed that she has shapely calves. I don’t even know who makes such an observation or what shapely calves look like vs just plain calves.
I really didn’t like that his reputation with women was so widely known and Octavia knew about and didn’t seem to care. The short-term string of affairs and him leaving before the morning and not wanting anything serious.
She introduced so many characters and dumped out their life story, along with the names of their businesses and it was overwhelming. It was hard to keep track of who everyone was and what they did.
And that little comment about him and his friends learning a lot from Playboy magazines was sick. I don’t care to hear about those kinds of things at all. It isn’t cute; it isn’t funny; it’s distasteful.
The big reason she didn’t want to go out with Nick and turned him down time after time is because she’s Claudia’s niece? I was like seriously? That’s the reason you turned him down?
And the whole conflict about keeping her identity because she was related to the woman who caused problems was so lame.
People kept making references to the feud but she wouldn’t come out and tell us what happened. Strange, considering she dumped out more information that I could possibly hope to remember about characters and their hopes and dreams and the business they ran and the organizations they were a part of and what they hoped to do in the future as well as what they might have done in the past.
I don’t know what’s up with this lady and long skirts.
“No.” He stole a glance at her gently swinging ankle. “Not bad.”
He’s judging her ankle? Wtf?
And then he’s marveling at her ability to run in “sexy little slides:”
He was amazed that she could actually run in the sexy little slides.
What guy calls a woman’s shoes sexy, slides especially? Heels I could understand, but not slides.
They have sex together and she ends up falling asleep. When she wakes up it’s to find him dressed and about to leave. She’s hurt and angry and asks him if she’s going to get The Talk, the talk he gives every woman saying he doesn’t want anything serious. I applauded her for that, and the fact that she was cool and distant towards him afterward.
He drove out of the marina parking lot, leaving her standing there in her bright purple jumper and ridiculously sexy shoes.
Having a guy notice—and like—everything about a woman, like the shoes she’s wearing, has him come off as unrealistic, simply the product of how a woman makes him think and not really the way a man really thinks, or just has him come off as weird, none of which is good.
Mitchell’s protectiveness of Octavia concerning Nick treating her like he does other women was just annoying. The can he was always brandishing was annoying. And then Nick’s sisters have a discussion about it, and then, if that wasn’t enough, Mitch gets Nick’s grandpa in on it. The funny thing was that most of them were thinking that Nick was serious about Octavia and that she was different from all the others when there was really no explanation on Nick’s part as to why she was different. He just called her 7 times before he even knew her, because she looked ethereal& like a fairy queen. So am to believe she’s special, because she looks and acts a little different? That’s not good enough for me. Of course, he cud be going after her for her sexy shoes, shapely calves and elegantly arched feet…
Nick didn’t come off as the strongest of men. When it came to confrontations with people it was almost laughable how he couldn’t stand up to someone. He goes to see Eugene and Dwayne in the bar and they’re saying all these crude things about Octavia and he just lets them. A real man wud have punched them or cussed them out or threatened them or something. But he just lets the comments slide on by. The only thing he does is very lightly blackmail them with the knowledge that he knows about the time 2 gay guys beat them up and can spread it around.
And then this high standing lady in town spreads rumors that Octavia stole the painting and Nick makes 1 good comment and then after it he completely loses it. It was so lame.
Nick and Jeremy are at the tavern playing pool and Eugene and Dwayne come in saying more crude things about Octavia and I’m like, finally, he’s gonna defend her honor and beat the crap out of them. But instead he just spends the time dodging blows and the two hits he got in had no effect. He punches Eugene in the stomach, which didn’t hurt the guy at all. And the other punch was at some other guy and he punched him in the chest. Who punches someone in the chest, esp when they’ve said something crass about your girlfriend? You punch them in the face.
Her elegantly curved breasts..
Uhh…ok.
I guess it was good that his wife had cheated on him and they didn’t have a perfect marriage, because it’s better than having him mourn his lovely wife. But I hated that he had a kid with someone else, and that he said she was a good mother and that that counted for a lot. It seemed kind of tragic to have a kid with someone that you didn’t work out with.
“I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation.” Octavia jerked her own cart to a halt a short distance away and blocked the aisle with it. “And I am very curious to find out exactly what word you had for women like me back in high school, Sandra.”
Sandra Finley turned an unpleasant shade of red. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. You must have misunderstood.”
“She’s right,” Megan said quickly. “You didn’t hear her correctly.” She looked triumphant. “It never does to eavesdrop, you know.”
“Hard to avoid hearing you two, since you insist upon discussing me in the middle of a grocery store aisle.”
“You’ll have to excuse me.” Megan glanced at her watch. “I’ve got a committee meeting at three.”
“So do I,” Sandra said. She tightened her grip on the card handle.
Octavia did not shift her shopping cart out of their path. “You know, speaking of names that we used back in high school, I remember one that fits both of you perfectly. Rhymes with rich.”
Sandra got her jaw back into place. “Did you just call me a bitch?”
“I really don’t have time for this,” Megan said.
Having concluded that she could not go forward, she swung her shopping cart into a tight U-turn.
And promptly banged into Sandra’s cart. The baskets jammed together. The wheels snagged, making it impossible for either woman to maneuver out of the aisle.
Octavia surveyed her captive audience. “Now, then, I have a suggestion. Since the two of you are obviously going to spend the rest of the day spreading gossip, what do you say we take a few minutes to get one particular fact straight?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Sandra said stiffly.
Octavia ignored that. “For the record, Nick Harte did not leave my cottage at eight o’clock this morning. That is a flat-out lie.”
Megan and Sandra looked at her, suddenly rapt. Neither said a word.
“He left at precisely seven thirty-five,” Octavia said coolly. “I remember, because we had just finished breakfast together and I turned on the radio to catch the morning news.”
Megan and Sandra blinked. Octavia smiled. “Hey, you know what? I’ll bet that women like you are the sort who will appreciate a few of the more intimate details about my relationship with Nick. I’m sure there are probably all kinds of stories going around about us and the techniques I used to break the curse.”
Megan and Sandra’s jaws dropped.
Octavia leaned forward, bracing her arms on the handle of her cart, and assumed a confidential air. “I imagine you’d like to hear just how I did it, wouldn’t you? Are you ready for this? I made poached eggs and toast for Nick’s breakfast.”
A thunderous hush fell on the adjoining aisles. It seemed to Octavia that the whole of Fulton’s had suddenly gone silent.
“My secret is a little Dijon mustard on the toast under the eggs.” She winked. “Trust me, it really adds some zip. You should have seen Nick’s face when I put that plate down in front of him. Talk about a man who looks like he thinks he’d died and gone to heaven.”
Megan and Sandra were no longer watching her. Their gazes were riveted on a point just beyond her shoulder.
I’m getting an audience, Octavia thought. Terrific. Another little scene, the details of which would be all over town by sundown. The really interesting thing was that she did not give a damn. Not right now at any rate. Right now she was on a roll.
“If you think that thing with the mustard is kinky, wait until I tell you how Nick got his coffee this morning,” she said in a gossipy tone. “Talk about getting down to the good stuff. So, there we were, sitting at the breakfast table and I can tell that he’s ready for a second cup, you know? I mean, he’s really, really ready for it. Wow. This man is hot for another cup, if you get my drift.”
“Might be a good idea to give everyone some time to cool off before you tell them about the coffee thing,” Nick said behind her. He sounded amused, but there was the barest hint of a warning in his voice. “I’m not sure if Eclipse Bay is ready for the details of my second cup of coffee.”
She spun around. Reality came back with a jarring thud.
“I think it might be a good idea to check out now,” he said.
She wondered just how big a fool she had made of herself. He was right. This was a very, very good time to check out.
“Okay.” She whipped the cart around and headed for the checkout counter, leaving Sandra and Megan sill tangled up in Canned Veg & Beans.
“I hope you don’t mind me interrupting back there,” Nick said, falling into step behind her. “It’s just that some things are personal, you know? That stuff about the second cup of coffee? That’s special to a sensitive guy like me.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Nick. You didn’t even have a second cup of coffee this morning and you know it.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course I’m sure. Can’t you remember what you had for breakfast?”
“It’s all a blur after the eggs and mustard.”
That scene was great and really funny. It would be better if the writing was consistently funny instead of just in a few places.
It was nice when he said, “You want to know why I didn’t give you The Talk at the beginning of this affair?” and he said it’s because he forgot about it.
The whole thing with Gail hinting about what really started the fight in the bar was completely annoying the way she drew it out. It lasted 8 and a half pages. Finally, finally, after throwing out little hints and getting sidetracked with Jeremy’s and then Nick’s appearance, after 8 ½ pages Octavia was informed that Eugene made lewd comments about her and that’s what caused the fight. Having it last that long ruined the whole moment where she found out he fought for her.
Another thing the author drug out was the Harte-Madison feud. She made many references to it, and on page 279 she makes yet another hint about it. You don’t create a feud that’s supposed to be the heart of the whole plot, the reason why she was hesitant to get with him, the reason why the townsfolk talked about her, and the reason why she was framed for stealing the painting. If something is that important you give us all the details in the beginning. You don’t make a few hints and dag it out across 300 pages.
He gracefully rounded arms wrapped around her knees.
Good god, what body part won’t this author tack the world graceful onto?
We didn’t even find out what Claudia had done until pg 319.
&it was so annoying and disappointing when Octavia lets Edith off the hook by bringing the painting she stole into her shop and pretending it had never been stolen. She came off as too nice&forgiving and it’s annoying.
The ending was good, I just wish we would have left off with Octavia and Nick and not Mitchell and Sullivan.
I guess she wanted it to be a surprise when we finally found the culprit out, but you just don’t drag the little mystery out for over 300 pages. It makes for very frustrating reading.
Her writing is generally enjoyable. This is the 4th book of hers I’ve read. There were quite a number of humorous lines, situations and descriptions that were funny, as there usually are in her books. There’s nothing overly great about the writing, it’s just good.
I hated that he had a kid. That can ruin a book for me. I don’t see the appeal of getting with a man whose already created a family with someone else. And the intellectual 5 yr old was annoying and ridiculous. The whole he’s-smarter than-his-years thing and showing business tactics was ridiculous.
She had worn a pale, fluttery dress that fell to her ankles and a pair of dainty, strappy little heels that had emphasized her elegantly arched feet.
Her elegantly arched feet?
Am I to believe that a man made the observation that a woman had elegantly arched feet?
Wow, that’s laughable.
I did not care to hear about his affairs since his wife died.
It was kind of funny when Nick is looking at his kid’s drawings and could barely tell what they were. I’m surprised the author didn’t have him drawing masterpieces because this kid’s supposedly this little Einstein.
Of course, there had to be problems with his marriage with Amelia. How predictable. Amelia didn’t like to come to Eclipse Bay and didn’t think he’d be successful at writing books.
Octavia’s wearing another long skirt that’s “swirling around her shapely calves.” I guess just saying calves would have been a crime, it has to be noticed that she has shapely calves. I don’t even know who makes such an observation or what shapely calves look like vs just plain calves.
I really didn’t like that his reputation with women was so widely known and Octavia knew about and didn’t seem to care. The short-term string of affairs and him leaving before the morning and not wanting anything serious.
She introduced so many characters and dumped out their life story, along with the names of their businesses and it was overwhelming. It was hard to keep track of who everyone was and what they did.
And that little comment about him and his friends learning a lot from Playboy magazines was sick. I don’t care to hear about those kinds of things at all. It isn’t cute; it isn’t funny; it’s distasteful.
The big reason she didn’t want to go out with Nick and turned him down time after time is because she’s Claudia’s niece? I was like seriously? That’s the reason you turned him down?
And the whole conflict about keeping her identity because she was related to the woman who caused problems was so lame.
People kept making references to the feud but she wouldn’t come out and tell us what happened. Strange, considering she dumped out more information that I could possibly hope to remember about characters and their hopes and dreams and the business they ran and the organizations they were a part of and what they hoped to do in the future as well as what they might have done in the past.
I don’t know what’s up with this lady and long skirts.
“No.” He stole a glance at her gently swinging ankle. “Not bad.”
He’s judging her ankle? Wtf?
And then he’s marveling at her ability to run in “sexy little slides:”
He was amazed that she could actually run in the sexy little slides.
What guy calls a woman’s shoes sexy, slides especially? Heels I could understand, but not slides.
They have sex together and she ends up falling asleep. When she wakes up it’s to find him dressed and about to leave. She’s hurt and angry and asks him if she’s going to get The Talk, the talk he gives every woman saying he doesn’t want anything serious. I applauded her for that, and the fact that she was cool and distant towards him afterward.
He drove out of the marina parking lot, leaving her standing there in her bright purple jumper and ridiculously sexy shoes.
Having a guy notice—and like—everything about a woman, like the shoes she’s wearing, has him come off as unrealistic, simply the product of how a woman makes him think and not really the way a man really thinks, or just has him come off as weird, none of which is good.
Mitchell’s protectiveness of Octavia concerning Nick treating her like he does other women was just annoying. The can he was always brandishing was annoying. And then Nick’s sisters have a discussion about it, and then, if that wasn’t enough, Mitch gets Nick’s grandpa in on it. The funny thing was that most of them were thinking that Nick was serious about Octavia and that she was different from all the others when there was really no explanation on Nick’s part as to why she was different. He just called her 7 times before he even knew her, because she looked ethereal& like a fairy queen. So am to believe she’s special, because she looks and acts a little different? That’s not good enough for me. Of course, he cud be going after her for her sexy shoes, shapely calves and elegantly arched feet…
Nick didn’t come off as the strongest of men. When it came to confrontations with people it was almost laughable how he couldn’t stand up to someone. He goes to see Eugene and Dwayne in the bar and they’re saying all these crude things about Octavia and he just lets them. A real man wud have punched them or cussed them out or threatened them or something. But he just lets the comments slide on by. The only thing he does is very lightly blackmail them with the knowledge that he knows about the time 2 gay guys beat them up and can spread it around.
And then this high standing lady in town spreads rumors that Octavia stole the painting and Nick makes 1 good comment and then after it he completely loses it. It was so lame.
Nick and Jeremy are at the tavern playing pool and Eugene and Dwayne come in saying more crude things about Octavia and I’m like, finally, he’s gonna defend her honor and beat the crap out of them. But instead he just spends the time dodging blows and the two hits he got in had no effect. He punches Eugene in the stomach, which didn’t hurt the guy at all. And the other punch was at some other guy and he punched him in the chest. Who punches someone in the chest, esp when they’ve said something crass about your girlfriend? You punch them in the face.
Her elegantly curved breasts..
Uhh…ok.
I guess it was good that his wife had cheated on him and they didn’t have a perfect marriage, because it’s better than having him mourn his lovely wife. But I hated that he had a kid with someone else, and that he said she was a good mother and that that counted for a lot. It seemed kind of tragic to have a kid with someone that you didn’t work out with.
“I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation.” Octavia jerked her own cart to a halt a short distance away and blocked the aisle with it. “And I am very curious to find out exactly what word you had for women like me back in high school, Sandra.”
Sandra Finley turned an unpleasant shade of red. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. You must have misunderstood.”
“She’s right,” Megan said quickly. “You didn’t hear her correctly.” She looked triumphant. “It never does to eavesdrop, you know.”
“Hard to avoid hearing you two, since you insist upon discussing me in the middle of a grocery store aisle.”
“You’ll have to excuse me.” Megan glanced at her watch. “I’ve got a committee meeting at three.”
“So do I,” Sandra said. She tightened her grip on the card handle.
Octavia did not shift her shopping cart out of their path. “You know, speaking of names that we used back in high school, I remember one that fits both of you perfectly. Rhymes with rich.”
Sandra got her jaw back into place. “Did you just call me a bitch?”
“I really don’t have time for this,” Megan said.
Having concluded that she could not go forward, she swung her shopping cart into a tight U-turn.
And promptly banged into Sandra’s cart. The baskets jammed together. The wheels snagged, making it impossible for either woman to maneuver out of the aisle.
Octavia surveyed her captive audience. “Now, then, I have a suggestion. Since the two of you are obviously going to spend the rest of the day spreading gossip, what do you say we take a few minutes to get one particular fact straight?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Sandra said stiffly.
Octavia ignored that. “For the record, Nick Harte did not leave my cottage at eight o’clock this morning. That is a flat-out lie.”
Megan and Sandra looked at her, suddenly rapt. Neither said a word.
“He left at precisely seven thirty-five,” Octavia said coolly. “I remember, because we had just finished breakfast together and I turned on the radio to catch the morning news.”
Megan and Sandra blinked. Octavia smiled. “Hey, you know what? I’ll bet that women like you are the sort who will appreciate a few of the more intimate details about my relationship with Nick. I’m sure there are probably all kinds of stories going around about us and the techniques I used to break the curse.”
Megan and Sandra’s jaws dropped.
Octavia leaned forward, bracing her arms on the handle of her cart, and assumed a confidential air. “I imagine you’d like to hear just how I did it, wouldn’t you? Are you ready for this? I made poached eggs and toast for Nick’s breakfast.”
A thunderous hush fell on the adjoining aisles. It seemed to Octavia that the whole of Fulton’s had suddenly gone silent.
“My secret is a little Dijon mustard on the toast under the eggs.” She winked. “Trust me, it really adds some zip. You should have seen Nick’s face when I put that plate down in front of him. Talk about a man who looks like he thinks he’d died and gone to heaven.”
Megan and Sandra were no longer watching her. Their gazes were riveted on a point just beyond her shoulder.
I’m getting an audience, Octavia thought. Terrific. Another little scene, the details of which would be all over town by sundown. The really interesting thing was that she did not give a damn. Not right now at any rate. Right now she was on a roll.
“If you think that thing with the mustard is kinky, wait until I tell you how Nick got his coffee this morning,” she said in a gossipy tone. “Talk about getting down to the good stuff. So, there we were, sitting at the breakfast table and I can tell that he’s ready for a second cup, you know? I mean, he’s really, really ready for it. Wow. This man is hot for another cup, if you get my drift.”
“Might be a good idea to give everyone some time to cool off before you tell them about the coffee thing,” Nick said behind her. He sounded amused, but there was the barest hint of a warning in his voice. “I’m not sure if Eclipse Bay is ready for the details of my second cup of coffee.”
She spun around. Reality came back with a jarring thud.
“I think it might be a good idea to check out now,” he said.
She wondered just how big a fool she had made of herself. He was right. This was a very, very good time to check out.
“Okay.” She whipped the cart around and headed for the checkout counter, leaving Sandra and Megan sill tangled up in Canned Veg & Beans.
“I hope you don’t mind me interrupting back there,” Nick said, falling into step behind her. “It’s just that some things are personal, you know? That stuff about the second cup of coffee? That’s special to a sensitive guy like me.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Nick. You didn’t even have a second cup of coffee this morning and you know it.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course I’m sure. Can’t you remember what you had for breakfast?”
“It’s all a blur after the eggs and mustard.”
That scene was great and really funny. It would be better if the writing was consistently funny instead of just in a few places.
It was nice when he said, “You want to know why I didn’t give you The Talk at the beginning of this affair?” and he said it’s because he forgot about it.
The whole thing with Gail hinting about what really started the fight in the bar was completely annoying the way she drew it out. It lasted 8 and a half pages. Finally, finally, after throwing out little hints and getting sidetracked with Jeremy’s and then Nick’s appearance, after 8 ½ pages Octavia was informed that Eugene made lewd comments about her and that’s what caused the fight. Having it last that long ruined the whole moment where she found out he fought for her.
Another thing the author drug out was the Harte-Madison feud. She made many references to it, and on page 279 she makes yet another hint about it. You don’t create a feud that’s supposed to be the heart of the whole plot, the reason why she was hesitant to get with him, the reason why the townsfolk talked about her, and the reason why she was framed for stealing the painting. If something is that important you give us all the details in the beginning. You don’t make a few hints and dag it out across 300 pages.
He gracefully rounded arms wrapped around her knees.
Good god, what body part won’t this author tack the world graceful onto?
We didn’t even find out what Claudia had done until pg 319.
&it was so annoying and disappointing when Octavia lets Edith off the hook by bringing the painting she stole into her shop and pretending it had never been stolen. She came off as too nice&forgiving and it’s annoying.
The ending was good, I just wish we would have left off with Octavia and Nick and not Mitchell and Sullivan.
I guess she wanted it to be a surprise when we finally found the culprit out, but you just don’t drag the little mystery out for over 300 pages. It makes for very frustrating reading.
Her writing is generally enjoyable. This is the 4th book of hers I’ve read. There were quite a number of humorous lines, situations and descriptions that were funny, as there usually are in her books. There’s nothing overly great about the writing, it’s just good.
September 29, 2024
Mostly a good read with an excellent narration for the audiobook
The third romance in this trilogy involves Nick, a mystery writer, who is the 35-year-old, widowed brother of the FMCs of the first two books. Olivia is the 30-year-old grand-niece of the woman responsible for the Harte-Madison feud. Olivia owns a thriving art gallery in Eclipse Bay. Nick has an adorable, extremely precocious 5-year-old son, who is a central character in this story. He adores Olivia.
Similar to the other two books in this trilogy, there is no murder mystery to be solved, as there typically is in the vast majority of books by JAK. Instead, the only mystery is who stole a valuable painting. In addition, there are many moments of light humor sprinkled throughout this novel.
For the most part, the romance between Nick and Olivia is enjoyable. Their emotional connection grows naturally, and their first sex scene is well done. For me personally, however, there is an ick factor in the second sex scene toward the end of the book. Nick has just been involved in a humorously written brawl in a low-life tavern, where he has rolled around on a floor encrusted with decades of grime and which is currently saturated with spilled beer. Within this chapter, continuity is messed up in a major way. The subsequent sex scene is written as if the disgusting crud from the bar fight that's clinging to Nick has magically disappeared. Olivia never once mentions how badly he stinks and how filthy he is. This problem could have easily been fixed by having Nick take a shower in Olivia's home before they have sex and throwing his dirty clothes into her washer.
Other than that, I have no complaints with this novel.
The third romance in this trilogy involves Nick, a mystery writer, who is the 35-year-old, widowed brother of the FMCs of the first two books. Olivia is the 30-year-old grand-niece of the woman responsible for the Harte-Madison feud. Olivia owns a thriving art gallery in Eclipse Bay. Nick has an adorable, extremely precocious 5-year-old son, who is a central character in this story. He adores Olivia.
Similar to the other two books in this trilogy, there is no murder mystery to be solved, as there typically is in the vast majority of books by JAK. Instead, the only mystery is who stole a valuable painting. In addition, there are many moments of light humor sprinkled throughout this novel.
For the most part, the romance between Nick and Olivia is enjoyable. Their emotional connection grows naturally, and their first sex scene is well done. For me personally, however, there is an ick factor in the second sex scene toward the end of the book. Nick has just been involved in a humorously written brawl in a low-life tavern, where he has rolled around on a floor encrusted with decades of grime and which is currently saturated with spilled beer. Within this chapter, continuity is messed up in a major way. The subsequent sex scene is written as if the disgusting crud from the bar fight that's clinging to Nick has magically disappeared. Olivia never once mentions how badly he stinks and how filthy he is. This problem could have easily been fixed by having Nick take a shower in Olivia's home before they have sex and throwing his dirty clothes into her washer.
Other than that, I have no complaints with this novel.
December 21, 2009
I listened to this as an unabridged audiobook and if it weren't for the fact that I was trapped in a car with no other form of entertainment to be found I more than likely would've given up on this one mid-way through. The characters were too blah to hold my attention and their attraction to each other just didn't come alive for me.
It turns out this story is the third in a series but it easily stands alone since its plot isn't exactly complicated. Octavia Brightwell is relatively new to Eclipse Bay and runs a successful art gallery. She arrived in Eclipse Bay to soothe the rift between the Madison & Harte families that her dear departed aunt caused years earlier. Once Octavia realizes the feud has been mended without her help she decides it's time to leave. She's also desperate to get away from gorgeous, heart-breaker Nick Harte who continually pesters her for a date. When she finally makes up her mind to high-tail it out of town she agrees to the date with Nick (don't ask). They soon become romantically entangled and banter back and forth denying their true feelings. Before long the two find themselves partners in the search for a valuable missing painting and, well, I bet you can figure out the rest . . .
These two are very much stock characters. We have Nick who lost the love of his life years earlier and has never allowed himself to fall in love again (and has a reputation for loving 'em and leaving 'em before the night is over) and then we have the "free spirit" Octavia who sort of floats through life and avoids romantic entanglements. Stock characters are all fine and good when they're written with depth and emotion but these two were just flat out bland and their relationship lacked any sort of spark. Nick also has an annoying habit of referring to Octavia as a "fairy queen" that made me cringe every time he uttered the words.
There are also pop-up appearances by characters who I only guess starred in previous books. They add a little to the story but their visits did not convince me that I need to search for the previous books in this series. There are also far too many over the top weird/quirky/culty/odd speaking secondary characters populating this story to be believed.
The few bits of fun banter and Nick's enjoyable little boy Carson are about all that I'll be remembering about "Summer In Eclipse Bay" once I finish writing this review.
It turns out this story is the third in a series but it easily stands alone since its plot isn't exactly complicated. Octavia Brightwell is relatively new to Eclipse Bay and runs a successful art gallery. She arrived in Eclipse Bay to soothe the rift between the Madison & Harte families that her dear departed aunt caused years earlier. Once Octavia realizes the feud has been mended without her help she decides it's time to leave. She's also desperate to get away from gorgeous, heart-breaker Nick Harte who continually pesters her for a date. When she finally makes up her mind to high-tail it out of town she agrees to the date with Nick (don't ask). They soon become romantically entangled and banter back and forth denying their true feelings. Before long the two find themselves partners in the search for a valuable missing painting and, well, I bet you can figure out the rest . . .
These two are very much stock characters. We have Nick who lost the love of his life years earlier and has never allowed himself to fall in love again (and has a reputation for loving 'em and leaving 'em before the night is over) and then we have the "free spirit" Octavia who sort of floats through life and avoids romantic entanglements. Stock characters are all fine and good when they're written with depth and emotion but these two were just flat out bland and their relationship lacked any sort of spark. Nick also has an annoying habit of referring to Octavia as a "fairy queen" that made me cringe every time he uttered the words.
There are also pop-up appearances by characters who I only guess starred in previous books. They add a little to the story but their visits did not convince me that I need to search for the previous books in this series. There are also far too many over the top weird/quirky/culty/odd speaking secondary characters populating this story to be believed.
The few bits of fun banter and Nick's enjoyable little boy Carson are about all that I'll be remembering about "Summer In Eclipse Bay" once I finish writing this review.
January 7, 2020
O vară în Eclipse Bay-Amanda Quick
Spoiler alert!!!
O carte ce se citeste usor,ce m-a încântat, iubirile vechi nu se uita niciodată (citesc acum foarte rar cărți de dragoste..) Este al treilea volum dintr-o serie,se poate citi si separat.
Nick Harte, vaduv, tatăl lui Carson in varsta de 6 ani,simte o atractie puternică fata de posesoarea galeriei Bright Vision, condusa de Octavia . Cu cat aceasta il refuza,cu atât el este mai îndârjit ,dar cum sa nu-l refuze pe Nick-inima-de-piatra cand toate știau că suferă de "blestem"...😂
Atunci când Octavia este bănuită că ea ar fi fost autoarea furtului tabloului ce îl avea în custodie, Nick o sa faca tot posibilul sa afle cine a fost autorul, daca o sa reușească....ramane sa descoperiți.
Citate:
"Viața e mult prea scurta ca sa o irosesti făcând ceva ce urasti"
Spoiler alert!!!
O carte ce se citeste usor,ce m-a încântat, iubirile vechi nu se uita niciodată (citesc acum foarte rar cărți de dragoste..) Este al treilea volum dintr-o serie,se poate citi si separat.
Nick Harte, vaduv, tatăl lui Carson in varsta de 6 ani,simte o atractie puternică fata de posesoarea galeriei Bright Vision, condusa de Octavia . Cu cat aceasta il refuza,cu atât el este mai îndârjit ,dar cum sa nu-l refuze pe Nick-inima-de-piatra cand toate știau că suferă de "blestem"...😂
Atunci când Octavia este bănuită că ea ar fi fost autoarea furtului tabloului ce îl avea în custodie, Nick o sa faca tot posibilul sa afle cine a fost autorul, daca o sa reușească....ramane sa descoperiți.
Citate:
"Viața e mult prea scurta ca sa o irosesti făcând ceva ce urasti"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2024
En la misma línea q las otras dos, una historia muy bien escrita pero sin grandes pretensiones. Esta vez le ha tocado el turno a Nick Harte, hermano de Hannah y Lillian. Su interés amoroso no es otro q Octavia Brightwell, quien resulta ser sobrina nieta de Claudia Banner, responsable de lo q en Eclipse Bay se conoce como "la Gran Riña", la pelea entre Mithchel y Sullivan q originó la enemistad entre los Madison y los Harte y q vino a acabarse gracias a las parejas de los libros anteriores.
Al principio pensé q la presencia de Octavia en Eclipse Bay se debía a la existencia de algún punto sin resolver, cabo suelto o cuenta pendiente q Octavia tenía intención de saldar en memoria de su tía abuela; y ella también pensaba eso, pero resultó q no y todo el tema del paso de Claudia Banner x Eclipse Bay y su parentezco con Octavia quedó en lo puramente anecdótico.
La trama - al igual q en los libros anteriores - se centra en la relación entre Nick&Octavia y las razones q tienen ambos para no involucrarse y luego terminar haciéndolo. De hecho Octavia tiene el dudoso honor de haber puesto fin a la maldición de "Corazóndepiedra Harte" -esto es literal en el libro, no un error mío de tipeo - y todo el barullo va precisamente del cortejo entre ambos protagonistas con la intervención aquí y allá de varios personajes secundarios.
Y aunq puede parecer q es un calco de las dos historias anteriores, resulta q no. Esta tiene su matiz propio y de hecho, cada una de las historias de la trilogía tiene su toque especial q hace q la pareja resulte convincente en su rol de "el uno para la otra".
Lo único q lamento nuevamente es q el suspense no se aprovecha y la trama termina como muy rápido sin q queden atados algunos cabos sueltos, o tal vez q la autora prefirió darles lo q se llama un final abierto, pero sinceramente creo q la cosa podría haber sido aprovechada de otra manera.
Igual, se lee bien y se termina pronto.
Al principio pensé q la presencia de Octavia en Eclipse Bay se debía a la existencia de algún punto sin resolver, cabo suelto o cuenta pendiente q Octavia tenía intención de saldar en memoria de su tía abuela; y ella también pensaba eso, pero resultó q no y todo el tema del paso de Claudia Banner x Eclipse Bay y su parentezco con Octavia quedó en lo puramente anecdótico.
La trama - al igual q en los libros anteriores - se centra en la relación entre Nick&Octavia y las razones q tienen ambos para no involucrarse y luego terminar haciéndolo. De hecho Octavia tiene el dudoso honor de haber puesto fin a la maldición de "Corazóndepiedra Harte" -esto es literal en el libro, no un error mío de tipeo - y todo el barullo va precisamente del cortejo entre ambos protagonistas con la intervención aquí y allá de varios personajes secundarios.
Y aunq puede parecer q es un calco de las dos historias anteriores, resulta q no. Esta tiene su matiz propio y de hecho, cada una de las historias de la trilogía tiene su toque especial q hace q la pareja resulte convincente en su rol de "el uno para la otra".
Lo único q lamento nuevamente es q el suspense no se aprovecha y la trama termina como muy rápido sin q queden atados algunos cabos sueltos, o tal vez q la autora prefirió darles lo q se llama un final abierto, pero sinceramente creo q la cosa podría haber sido aprovechada de otra manera.
Igual, se lee bien y se termina pronto.
June 29, 2009
This is like a movie; everything ends up happily ever after. It was too perfect. The story was bland. It's not a page-turner and I was very disappointed with the ending. Not recommended. 1/5 stars.
March 22, 2020
3.5 ***.* rating.
Summer in Eclipse Bay is book #3 in JAK’s Eclipse Bay trilogy. Eclipse Bay is #1; Dawn in EB is #2. Each book can be read as a standalone but the story arc follows from #1 through #3. I recommend this series to readers of contemporary romance or romance with lite-suspense, and readers who prefer a HEA. This was a enjoyable reread for me. In addition, for those familiar with JAK’s (much later) contemporary “Arcane” novels, Arizona Snow makes her 1st character appearances in this Eclipse Bay trilogy. :D
The FMC/Olivia is the lovely “spitting image” great niece of an attractive red-haired, unattached and manipulative woman who passed through Eclipse Bay a number of decades ago. The woman, Claudia, caused a lot of trouble and emotional turmoil during the few months of her stay for the residents of EB. Many years later, Olivia cares for Claudia and spends considerably time with her prior to her death. She hears Claudia’s stories and decides to return to EB to discover for herself - Is there anything of value in Eclipse Bay for her?
Nick Harte/MMC is the brother of the female main characters in the 2 previous Eclipse Bay novels. Nick’s family is both wealthy and influential, with roots going deep into the social structure of EBs. Nick, divorced and with a young son, is an established and successful Portland based mystery writer who occasionally returns to EB for visits. Olivia and Nick meet in Olivia’s EB branch art gallery during one of her artist’s showings. Nick is instantly intrigued. Summer in EB is about self discovery, working through past hurts, and finding that special someone for a true HEA. I enjoyed Summer in Eclipse Bay, but not quite as much as bk#1 - thus the 3.5.
The Eclipse Bay trilogy contains several moments of sexual intimacy between the two main characters that is somewhere between sweet and steamy (2.5 or so, on a 0 to 5, sweet to steamy scale). The sexual situations are not the main focus of the story; there is a mystery to be solved as well. Violence is very minimal. Profanity is present but minimal (25+/-words). Readers who would be offended by the aforementioned should be advised.
Summer in Eclipse Bay is book #3 in JAK’s Eclipse Bay trilogy. Eclipse Bay is #1; Dawn in EB is #2. Each book can be read as a standalone but the story arc follows from #1 through #3. I recommend this series to readers of contemporary romance or romance with lite-suspense, and readers who prefer a HEA. This was a enjoyable reread for me. In addition, for those familiar with JAK’s (much later) contemporary “Arcane” novels, Arizona Snow makes her 1st character appearances in this Eclipse Bay trilogy. :D
The FMC/Olivia is the lovely “spitting image” great niece of an attractive red-haired, unattached and manipulative woman who passed through Eclipse Bay a number of decades ago. The woman, Claudia, caused a lot of trouble and emotional turmoil during the few months of her stay for the residents of EB. Many years later, Olivia cares for Claudia and spends considerably time with her prior to her death. She hears Claudia’s stories and decides to return to EB to discover for herself - Is there anything of value in Eclipse Bay for her?
Nick Harte/MMC is the brother of the female main characters in the 2 previous Eclipse Bay novels. Nick’s family is both wealthy and influential, with roots going deep into the social structure of EBs. Nick, divorced and with a young son, is an established and successful Portland based mystery writer who occasionally returns to EB for visits. Olivia and Nick meet in Olivia’s EB branch art gallery during one of her artist’s showings. Nick is instantly intrigued. Summer in EB is about self discovery, working through past hurts, and finding that special someone for a true HEA. I enjoyed Summer in Eclipse Bay, but not quite as much as bk#1 - thus the 3.5.
The Eclipse Bay trilogy contains several moments of sexual intimacy between the two main characters that is somewhere between sweet and steamy (2.5 or so, on a 0 to 5, sweet to steamy scale). The sexual situations are not the main focus of the story; there is a mystery to be solved as well. Violence is very minimal. Profanity is present but minimal (25+/-words). Readers who would be offended by the aforementioned should be advised.
October 9, 2019
With a nickname like Hard-hearted Harte, everyone assumes Nick Harte is playing the field when he starts pursuing Octavia Brightwell, including Octavia. Everybody knows about "The Talk" that Nick gives his potential sexual partners and Octavia doesn't want to hear it. But Nick keeps asking and his adorable son keeps visiting her. Then there's the painting.
This was a charming, though lightweight romance. I truly enjoyed it, especially Octavia. She was a wonderful heroine. It was also good to check in again with the denizens of Eclipse Bay. They are all interesting.
This was a charming, though lightweight romance. I truly enjoyed it, especially Octavia. She was a wonderful heroine. It was also good to check in again with the denizens of Eclipse Bay. They are all interesting.
July 12, 2018
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
January 20, 2019
O poveste frumoasă, o lectură relaxantă 🙂 .
February 5, 2023
I read the first two books in this series, but was disappointed with this one. It was just okay. I love this writer. I did not like the background of the hero, and all his affairs , and talking about them openly. I was disappointed that our heroine didn’t seem to care that he was so cavalier. Octavia had been careful to not get involved with Nick ,then decides to go on a date. There is some stolen art work they look for together, which leads to them forgetting the long fight , by their families. I did adore his little boy. Still didn’t drag me in, and keep my interest. Three stars.
July 19, 2016
Nick's way of putting people in their places and standing up for Octavia was swoon worthy .. he was also kinda of adorable whenever he tried to make Octavia happy by going along with her plans. Octavia was a little bland but her scene with the two gossipers in the supermarket had me giggling uncontrollably *instant like* love a heroine that can stand up for herself and do it with attitude.
I liked Jeremy and enjoyed the little bits and pieces of him with Gail and I liked how he and Nick repaired their friendship , what I didn't like about this book was Carson .. oh he's five pfft could have fooled me .. the kid speaks almost as good as most adults .. his vocabulary and his attitude wasn't childlike at all , I know we were told he was a bit advanced for his age but no matter how advanced a kid could be .. you'd still be able to tell he's a kid but Carson felt like a grownup. I love seeing heroes with their kids there's just something really sweet and tender about it but I never got that in this book .. the relationship between Nick and Carson lacked depth and most importantly lacked any "father and son" kind of feeling to it , Carson didn't feel like a kid and Nick never felt like a father also there wasn't any kind of bonding between Octavia and Carson .. no one seemed to really care about that .. sure Carson liked her but that was it .. Carson didn't seem to serve any purpose in the plot nor affect the characters in any way .. his character was strange and completely wasted. The mystery part was ok but it had a boring conclusion , overall I only enjoyed the romance but the rest was flawed.
I liked Jeremy and enjoyed the little bits and pieces of him with Gail and I liked how he and Nick repaired their friendship , what I didn't like about this book was Carson .. oh he's five pfft could have fooled me .. the kid speaks almost as good as most adults .. his vocabulary and his attitude wasn't childlike at all , I know we were told he was a bit advanced for his age but no matter how advanced a kid could be .. you'd still be able to tell he's a kid but Carson felt like a grownup. I love seeing heroes with their kids there's just something really sweet and tender about it but I never got that in this book .. the relationship between Nick and Carson lacked depth and most importantly lacked any "father and son" kind of feeling to it , Carson didn't feel like a kid and Nick never felt like a father also there wasn't any kind of bonding between Octavia and Carson .. no one seemed to really care about that .. sure Carson liked her but that was it .. Carson didn't seem to serve any purpose in the plot nor affect the characters in any way .. his character was strange and completely wasted. The mystery part was ok but it had a boring conclusion , overall I only enjoyed the romance but the rest was flawed.
November 2, 2013
This is the third book in the Eclipse Bay trilogy and I liked it the best.
This book revolves around Nick Harte and Octavia Brightwell.
Nick is Hannah and Lillian's brother. His wife Amelia had died in a plane crash nearly four years ago leaving Nick and his now five year old son, Carson. Nick has developed a reputation for not letting any woman get close to him in a relationship and has acquired the nickname 'Hardhearted Harte'.
Octavia Brightwell is a successful art gallery owner and the niece of the woman who was the cause of the infamous Harte-Madison feud all those years ago - Claudia Banner.
Nick and Claudia are attracted to each other but Claudia tries not to give into her feelings, because of Nick's reputation and because the Hartes and Madison don't know that she is Claudia's niece and she expects they won't be too pleased when they find out.
However the attraction between Nick and Octavia proves too hard to ignore and when Octavia becomes the target of rumours accusing her of stealing a painting from Arizona Snow, Nick is determined to find the real thief and clear Octavia's name.
There was great chemistry between Nick and Octavia with good dialogue and great supporting characters. Nick's son Carson added another dimension to the story and the mystery of the art theft was nicely done. It was also good to revisit Rafe and Hannah in this book.
This series started out quite averagely but it turned out to be pretty good in the end with each book getting better.
This book revolves around Nick Harte and Octavia Brightwell.
Nick is Hannah and Lillian's brother. His wife Amelia had died in a plane crash nearly four years ago leaving Nick and his now five year old son, Carson. Nick has developed a reputation for not letting any woman get close to him in a relationship and has acquired the nickname 'Hardhearted Harte'.
Octavia Brightwell is a successful art gallery owner and the niece of the woman who was the cause of the infamous Harte-Madison feud all those years ago - Claudia Banner.
Nick and Claudia are attracted to each other but Claudia tries not to give into her feelings, because of Nick's reputation and because the Hartes and Madison don't know that she is Claudia's niece and she expects they won't be too pleased when they find out.
However the attraction between Nick and Octavia proves too hard to ignore and when Octavia becomes the target of rumours accusing her of stealing a painting from Arizona Snow, Nick is determined to find the real thief and clear Octavia's name.
There was great chemistry between Nick and Octavia with good dialogue and great supporting characters. Nick's son Carson added another dimension to the story and the mystery of the art theft was nicely done. It was also good to revisit Rafe and Hannah in this book.
This series started out quite averagely but it turned out to be pretty good in the end with each book getting better.
June 19, 2017
One of my least favorite books by her, I've remembered. I probably will not reread again.
March 5, 2018
Summer in Eclipse Bay is the third book in the trilogy about the small town of Eclipse Bay and its most prominent feuding families the Hartes and the Madisons. This book features author and widower Nick Harte and new-in-town gallery owner Octavia Brightwell. Since his wife died several years ago, Nick has avoided serious relationships. Now he has set his sights on Octavia, but Octavia has a secret reason for coming to Eclipse Bay, and she is avoiding Nick's overtures. But when a valuable painting is stolen, Nick and Octavia work together to find it.
This book was published in 2002, but it reads as an even more old-fashioned story. I kept thinking of Peyton Place. The book is narrated from Nick's point of view, and his descriptions of Octavia were cringeworthy. He repeatedly describes her as a "Fairy Queen" and talks about her flowing skirts and the types of sandals she is wearing, and wonders how she can run in them. I have never met a man who could tell (or notice) what kind of shoes I am wearing. It just didn't sound believable. I also never warmed up to Octavia. I never understood why Mitchell Madison felt so compelled to look out for Octavia. I thought there would be some sort of revelation there, but it never happened.
The plot of this book was rather thin and just fell a little flat. I would not recommend this book.
While this book could be read as a stand alone, it is very helpful to have read the previous installments in the series to be able to keep the characters straight and understand the background of the Madison-Harte feud.
This book was published in 2002, but it reads as an even more old-fashioned story. I kept thinking of Peyton Place. The book is narrated from Nick's point of view, and his descriptions of Octavia were cringeworthy. He repeatedly describes her as a "Fairy Queen" and talks about her flowing skirts and the types of sandals she is wearing, and wonders how she can run in them. I have never met a man who could tell (or notice) what kind of shoes I am wearing. It just didn't sound believable. I also never warmed up to Octavia. I never understood why Mitchell Madison felt so compelled to look out for Octavia. I thought there would be some sort of revelation there, but it never happened.
The plot of this book was rather thin and just fell a little flat. I would not recommend this book.
While this book could be read as a stand alone, it is very helpful to have read the previous installments in the series to be able to keep the characters straight and understand the background of the Madison-Harte feud.
November 22, 2023
This is the third book in the trilogy.
Octavia moved to Eclipse Bay with a purpose. To see what she could do to end the feud between the Hartes and Madisons. Things seemed to have mended themselves without her help. Now, all that's left is to sell her shop and move on to the next place. Oh, and find the missing painting and the person that's responsible for taking it and trying to smear her name.
Nick hasn't had a serious relationship since the death of his wife, and some people think it's time he's settled down and give his son a mother again. Except Nick has his own ideas on how his life should be lived, and he won't listen to what others say. He agrees to help Octavia find the painting as it keeps him near her, where he wants to be.
Honestly, this book took me a bit to get into. I didn't feel the connection between Octavia and Nick. It seem superficial to me. I was glad that to see Sullivan Harte telling Mitchell Madison to leave his grandson (Nick) alone and let him deal with his own life. Mitchell was too interfering of a character.
This is not my favorite of series, but I was nice to see the iconic character from the Arcane Society stories (Running Hot, In Too Deep). Love Arizona Snow and her conspiracies.
Octavia moved to Eclipse Bay with a purpose. To see what she could do to end the feud between the Hartes and Madisons. Things seemed to have mended themselves without her help. Now, all that's left is to sell her shop and move on to the next place. Oh, and find the missing painting and the person that's responsible for taking it and trying to smear her name.
Nick hasn't had a serious relationship since the death of his wife, and some people think it's time he's settled down and give his son a mother again. Except Nick has his own ideas on how his life should be lived, and he won't listen to what others say. He agrees to help Octavia find the painting as it keeps him near her, where he wants to be.
Honestly, this book took me a bit to get into. I didn't feel the connection between Octavia and Nick. It seem superficial to me. I was glad that to see Sullivan Harte telling Mitchell Madison to leave his grandson (Nick) alone and let him deal with his own life. Mitchell was too interfering of a character.
This is not my favorite of series, but I was nice to see the iconic character from the Arcane Society stories (Running Hot, In Too Deep). Love Arizona Snow and her conspiracies.
February 24, 2022
Good
This book rounds out the trilogy with the story of Nick Harte and Octavia Brightwell.
Years ago, the Hartes and the Madisons started a feud that lasted decades, and only recently ended with the marriage of Nick’s sister Hannah, to his brother-in-law Rafe Madison.
Now everyone is expecting Nick, a widowed single Dad, to find a wife and settle down himself.
Octavia Brightwell has her own links to the people in Eclipse Bay, but it is Nick who has turned her head, and it is Nick she asks to help when a troubling event leaves her and her art gallery under suspicion.
This final story in the Harte-Madison family, brings it all a full circle. There is romance, a mystery, some action, and a little humour to round it out. We see our favourite side characters- two irascible grandfathers, and a camera toting conspiracy theorist, as well as the other enjoyably painted denizens of Eclipse Bay.
It’s an enjoyable end to the tale, one that Krentz fans and lovers of romantic mystery/suspense will enjoy.
This book rounds out the trilogy with the story of Nick Harte and Octavia Brightwell.
Years ago, the Hartes and the Madisons started a feud that lasted decades, and only recently ended with the marriage of Nick’s sister Hannah, to his brother-in-law Rafe Madison.
Now everyone is expecting Nick, a widowed single Dad, to find a wife and settle down himself.
Octavia Brightwell has her own links to the people in Eclipse Bay, but it is Nick who has turned her head, and it is Nick she asks to help when a troubling event leaves her and her art gallery under suspicion.
This final story in the Harte-Madison family, brings it all a full circle. There is romance, a mystery, some action, and a little humour to round it out. We see our favourite side characters- two irascible grandfathers, and a camera toting conspiracy theorist, as well as the other enjoyably painted denizens of Eclipse Bay.
It’s an enjoyable end to the tale, one that Krentz fans and lovers of romantic mystery/suspense will enjoy.
August 14, 2019
Continuation of the series, but can be read alone.
Nick Harte met Octavia Brightwell earlier in the year when his sister had an art show in Octavia's gallery. A widower, he's been very hesitant to have a lasting relationship. Hare's are supposed to marry for life and his wife was with another man when she was killed. However, he's majorly attracted to Olivia. Olivia has come to Eclipse Bay to try and do something about the Madison-Harte feud her great aunt started many years ago. She discovers that the fences have been mended already by the marriages of two of the Harte grandchildren to two of the Madison grandchildren in recent months. Someone doesn't want her to feel welcome in Eclipse Bay once they find out she's Claudia Banner's great niece. An expensive painting is stolen from her gallery and she's framed for it. Nick and Octavia do fall in love and work things out after solving the mystery and overcoming their hang-ups.
Nick Harte met Octavia Brightwell earlier in the year when his sister had an art show in Octavia's gallery. A widower, he's been very hesitant to have a lasting relationship. Hare's are supposed to marry for life and his wife was with another man when she was killed. However, he's majorly attracted to Olivia. Olivia has come to Eclipse Bay to try and do something about the Madison-Harte feud her great aunt started many years ago. She discovers that the fences have been mended already by the marriages of two of the Harte grandchildren to two of the Madison grandchildren in recent months. Someone doesn't want her to feel welcome in Eclipse Bay once they find out she's Claudia Banner's great niece. An expensive painting is stolen from her gallery and she's framed for it. Nick and Octavia do fall in love and work things out after solving the mystery and overcoming their hang-ups.
September 24, 2024
Conflictul care izbucnise cu trei generatii in urma se va incheia cu relatia dintre Nick Harte si proprietara unei galerii de arta Octavia Brightwell. Relatia incepe cu dificultate avand in vedere ca faimosul Nick Harte nu isi dorea deloc relatii dupa moartea sotiei ci doar aventuri de o jumatate de noapte. Pe de alta parte Octavia Brightwell este nepoata femeii infame care a inceput conflictul intre bunicul lui Nick si bunicul familiei Madisons. Octavia revenise in oras cu gandul de a repara daunele provocate de matusa ei, dar decide ca nu mai este nevoie de ea, dupa ce s-au format cateva aliante, si este decisa ca la sfarsitul verii sa plece din oras. Atractia puternica dintre ei dar si contributia bunicilor si a celui mai important menbru al familiei lui Nick, Carson, duce la situatii foarte amuzante si in final la un deznodamant foarte apreciat de ambele familii.
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August 8, 2016Octavia Brightwell debated whether or not to tell Mitchell Madison that her great-aunt was Claudia Banner, the cause of the feud between the Harte's and the Madison's. They had become friends and she decided it was only right. She went to see him and told him and found out that both her and Sullivan Harte had already figured it out. She told Mitchell that Claudia had been dead for a year and a half. She then told him that she was going to sell her both her galleries, one in Portland and the other in Eclipse Bay. She was leaving at the end of the summer. He asked her if she was leaving because of Nick Harte's interest in her. She said it wasn't but Mitchell knew that she was avoiding Nick due to guilt over what her great-aunt had done.
Nick's wife had been dead for four years and he had a six year old son named Carson. Carson wanted to enter the local children's art contest and he knew that Nick had been asking Octavia out. Octavia had turned him down six times so far. Since Octavia was heading the art show, Carson asked if Nick would take him to town and let Octavia decide which picture he should put in the show, she did own an art studio after all. Carson told Nick that he would also tell Octavia it was okay to go on a date with Nick so Nick took him to see Octavia. Octavia surprisingly agreed to let Nick take her to Tom Thurgarten's place and then out to dinner.
Tom had died and left his belongings to Virgil Nash, who ran an adult book store just outside the city limits, Arizona Snow, owner of Incandescent Body bakery, and the new age people who worked there. They had asked Octavia to come by and take a look at some pictures they had found in his house. He lived like a hermit and his house was full of items, some junk and some maybe not. Nick told Octavia that she might not find it without help.
Octavia also noted that a young woman and her daughter had come by her gallery. The next day the little girl was hanging around outside and Octavia gave her a box of crayons and a piece of paper so that she could enter the children's art contest too. Gail had parents who lived in town. Her husband had run off with the decorator who redid his office and left both her and her daughter, Anne. They were staying with Gail's parents, Elmore and Betty Johnson who ran the Johnson's Nursery and Garden Supply.
Nick and Octavia had went to Tom's place and there was one of the paintings that appeared to be valuable and Octavia agreed to take it to her studio for safekeeping. They had dinner at her place and she sent him home. Carson was staying with Rafe and Hannah so they knew that it didn't go as well as Nick wanted. Rafe told Nick that Hannah was pregnant.
Nick took Carson to Octavia's the next day and her and Carson framed the picture he chose to put in the art contest. Jeremy Seaton came by as just as Nick came in to pick up Carson. It was obvious that they didn't get along. Jeremy had dated Octavia a few times. He told Octavia that he had heard about the painting and wanted to see it. Octavia showed it to him.
Nick took dinner, prepared by Rafe, to Octavia's that night and they ended up having sex. Octavia was upset when he left around midnight. She was still in a mood when morning came and she went to work. She got there and discovered that the Upsall painting had been stolen.
Octavia talked Nick into investigating the disappearance of the painting and Nick told Octavia that the reason he and Jeremy didn't get along was because Jeremy thought that Nick had slept with Jeremy's ex-wife while they were still married.
Nick reluctantly agreed to ask Jeremy to have a drink with him and they got together at The Total Eclipse bar. There were a couple of guys that hung out there regularly and they made a comment about Octavia sleeping with Nick to keep him distracted from finding the painting because she had stolen it herself. Nick and Jeremy got into a fight with them and others joined in until the bar was messed up. They went to jail and Rafe bailed them out.
Word got back to Olivia and she was upset at first about being the topic of gossip around town but later thought that it was funny that she was responsible for a bar fight. Nick was glad that she had handled the gossip well.
Mitchell and Sullivan prepared a list of people who they thought might have been affected by what her great-aunt, Claudia, had done. They came up with a name.
The children's art show was held and the local construction brothers came. Olivia asked them if they new what a key was for that she had found in her shop. They told her what the key went to.
It turned out that way back, Mrs. Seaton's husband had a part in bankrupting the Harte-Madison company. He was having an affair with Claudia and hid the scam from them. Mrs. Seaton found out about the affair and covered up the association from everyone in town after she left. Mr. Seaton actually believed that Claudia would get in touch with him after the dust settled and that never happened. The key that Olivia had belonged to Edith's shop and Edith had the combination to the lock to Olivia's gallery. Edith had taken the painting to discredit Olivia and cause her to leave town in disgrace to get back at what Claudia had done. She didn't want her husbands part in the bankruptcy to come out.
Olivia agreed to pretend that she found the painting. She said that she found it in back of some other paintings she had in her shop. She did tell Nick the truth along with the fact that she loved him. He had already told her that he loved her. They were married a short time later. Hannah was well pregnant by the time they were married and it was suspected that Lillian was also now pregnant as well.
Nick's wife had been dead for four years and he had a six year old son named Carson. Carson wanted to enter the local children's art contest and he knew that Nick had been asking Octavia out. Octavia had turned him down six times so far. Since Octavia was heading the art show, Carson asked if Nick would take him to town and let Octavia decide which picture he should put in the show, she did own an art studio after all. Carson told Nick that he would also tell Octavia it was okay to go on a date with Nick so Nick took him to see Octavia. Octavia surprisingly agreed to let Nick take her to Tom Thurgarten's place and then out to dinner.
Tom had died and left his belongings to Virgil Nash, who ran an adult book store just outside the city limits, Arizona Snow, owner of Incandescent Body bakery, and the new age people who worked there. They had asked Octavia to come by and take a look at some pictures they had found in his house. He lived like a hermit and his house was full of items, some junk and some maybe not. Nick told Octavia that she might not find it without help.
Octavia also noted that a young woman and her daughter had come by her gallery. The next day the little girl was hanging around outside and Octavia gave her a box of crayons and a piece of paper so that she could enter the children's art contest too. Gail had parents who lived in town. Her husband had run off with the decorator who redid his office and left both her and her daughter, Anne. They were staying with Gail's parents, Elmore and Betty Johnson who ran the Johnson's Nursery and Garden Supply.
Nick and Octavia had went to Tom's place and there was one of the paintings that appeared to be valuable and Octavia agreed to take it to her studio for safekeeping. They had dinner at her place and she sent him home. Carson was staying with Rafe and Hannah so they knew that it didn't go as well as Nick wanted. Rafe told Nick that Hannah was pregnant.
Nick took Carson to Octavia's the next day and her and Carson framed the picture he chose to put in the art contest. Jeremy Seaton came by as just as Nick came in to pick up Carson. It was obvious that they didn't get along. Jeremy had dated Octavia a few times. He told Octavia that he had heard about the painting and wanted to see it. Octavia showed it to him.
Nick took dinner, prepared by Rafe, to Octavia's that night and they ended up having sex. Octavia was upset when he left around midnight. She was still in a mood when morning came and she went to work. She got there and discovered that the Upsall painting had been stolen.
Octavia talked Nick into investigating the disappearance of the painting and Nick told Octavia that the reason he and Jeremy didn't get along was because Jeremy thought that Nick had slept with Jeremy's ex-wife while they were still married.
Nick reluctantly agreed to ask Jeremy to have a drink with him and they got together at The Total Eclipse bar. There were a couple of guys that hung out there regularly and they made a comment about Octavia sleeping with Nick to keep him distracted from finding the painting because she had stolen it herself. Nick and Jeremy got into a fight with them and others joined in until the bar was messed up. They went to jail and Rafe bailed them out.
Word got back to Olivia and she was upset at first about being the topic of gossip around town but later thought that it was funny that she was responsible for a bar fight. Nick was glad that she had handled the gossip well.
Mitchell and Sullivan prepared a list of people who they thought might have been affected by what her great-aunt, Claudia, had done. They came up with a name.
The children's art show was held and the local construction brothers came. Olivia asked them if they new what a key was for that she had found in her shop. They told her what the key went to.
It turned out that way back, Mrs. Seaton's husband had a part in bankrupting the Harte-Madison company. He was having an affair with Claudia and hid the scam from them. Mrs. Seaton found out about the affair and covered up the association from everyone in town after she left. Mr. Seaton actually believed that Claudia would get in touch with him after the dust settled and that never happened. The key that Olivia had belonged to Edith's shop and Edith had the combination to the lock to Olivia's gallery. Edith had taken the painting to discredit Olivia and cause her to leave town in disgrace to get back at what Claudia had done. She didn't want her husbands part in the bankruptcy to come out.
Olivia agreed to pretend that she found the painting. She said that she found it in back of some other paintings she had in her shop. She did tell Nick the truth along with the fact that she loved him. He had already told her that he loved her. They were married a short time later. Hannah was well pregnant by the time they were married and it was suspected that Lillian was also now pregnant as well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2020
This was the third in the series and really only read it to satisfy my compulsion for completion. However of the three books this is the best in the series. Nick writes detective fiction. He hit it off with Olivia Brightwell the gallery owner in Eclipse Bay in a previous book but now we find he has been asking her out but she's finding excuses not to go. As the story develops there is a painting found and lost, personal grudges born in the past and coming to the surface now. The pacing, the dialogue, and the story are all better than first two books and the feud is mentioned less.
My favourite characters are still the slightly odd ones. Arizona Snow, Virgil etc.
Not a great book but a pleasant way to while away a couple of hours or so.
My favourite characters are still the slightly odd ones. Arizona Snow, Virgil etc.
Not a great book but a pleasant way to while away a couple of hours or so.
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June 14, 2023Loved this one!!
Nick Harte is the oldest of the three Harte siblings. He's a widower with a small son. He meets Octavia Brightwell when she opens a gallery in Eclipse Bay and has a showing of his sister, Lillian's work. His reaction to her is visceral, and it takes him several tries to get her to agree to a date.
Jayne Ann Krentz always has such interesting subplots and interesting characters in her books, and they are all here to watch the relationship bloom between these two. It was a great way to close this trilogy. Now maybe, she can bring some of these back for another 3 books? Please??
Nick Harte is the oldest of the three Harte siblings. He's a widower with a small son. He meets Octavia Brightwell when she opens a gallery in Eclipse Bay and has a showing of his sister, Lillian's work. His reaction to her is visceral, and it takes him several tries to get her to agree to a date.
Jayne Ann Krentz always has such interesting subplots and interesting characters in her books, and they are all here to watch the relationship bloom between these two. It was a great way to close this trilogy. Now maybe, she can bring some of these back for another 3 books? Please??
July 30, 2023
I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. The basic plot - rake unable to commit - is not a favorite, plus I didn't enjoy the second book in the series, so I figured I was burned out on JAK. But I ended up liking this one just fine.
The hero is not the selfish doofus I expected, and the "Heartless Harte" moniker was more of a joke than a pertinent plot point. An on-going joke -- townspeople mentioning his latest book and explaining why they hadn't read it -- was amusing, and the pay off was terrific. Liked the secondary romance as well. The mystery made a certain sort of sense but she's done better on that front.
Not brilliant but not bad.
The hero is not the selfish doofus I expected, and the "Heartless Harte" moniker was more of a joke than a pertinent plot point. An on-going joke -- townspeople mentioning his latest book and explaining why they hadn't read it -- was amusing, and the pay off was terrific. Liked the secondary romance as well. The mystery made a certain sort of sense but she's done better on that front.
Not brilliant but not bad.
September 3, 2019
There are a couple things that i could nitpick at i suppose but i already did that in my review of book 2. Overall, book 3 made me feel good and i liked seeing the familiar characters. And toward the end there were some pretty funny situations that I quite enjoyed. One scene in particular made me laugh right out loud while my husband happened to be on a business call. If you are going to read this book, i recommend reading the other 2 first.
January 26, 2022
Talk of the Curse...
Eclipse3; 4.5 ⭐️
The Harte-Madison focus ends with this story. Sorry to see the irascible grampas finish their conniving.
Nick Harte has been unsuccessful in his pursuit of Octavia Brightwell, since he spied her at his sister, Lillian’s gallery show. Octavia has kept a social distance from Nick, but her heart has opened for Nick’s son Carson.
And Carson has a plan, if his father can keep from mucking it up...
Charming!
Eclipse3; 4.5 ⭐️
The Harte-Madison focus ends with this story. Sorry to see the irascible grampas finish their conniving.
Nick Harte has been unsuccessful in his pursuit of Octavia Brightwell, since he spied her at his sister, Lillian’s gallery show. Octavia has kept a social distance from Nick, but her heart has opened for Nick’s son Carson.
And Carson has a plan, if his father can keep from mucking it up...
Charming!
October 30, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed the final book in this series. Nick and Octavia seemed to hit it off so well at their first meeting. But when he asks her out, she turns him down. Six times! A guy can only take so much rejection. If not for his precocious son (who adds so much comic relief) he'd have given up. Seventh time is a charm. Loved the characters and the mystery that plays out. Another great romantic suspense.
May 31, 2017
Dala bych 3,5 hvězdy. Tak jsem to rozdělila, tady 3, Databáze knih 4. Léto bylo z celé série nejslabším článkem. Přesto celý příběh pěkně ukončilo. Čtení bylo pohlazením po duši a odpočinkem. Jedná se oddechovou a ne úplně naivní romantiku s detektivní zápletkou v každém díle. A já vám ji doporučuji k přečtení celou. Více v mé recenzi na http://www.channach.com/amanda-quick-...
August 14, 2018
Summer in Eclipse Bay (Eclipse Bay Trilogy, # 3)
by Jayne Ann Krentz (Goodreads Author)
Finally! Finally finished this book. It wasn't one of JAK's best but it was pretty good.
I'm never a fan of people that take on responsibility for other people's problems (that they had nothing to do with) and try to "fix" things. So Octavia annoyed me quite a bit.
by Jayne Ann Krentz (Goodreads Author)
Finally! Finally finished this book. It wasn't one of JAK's best but it was pretty good.
I'm never a fan of people that take on responsibility for other people's problems (that they had nothing to do with) and try to "fix" things. So Octavia annoyed me quite a bit.
October 21, 2019
This is my second Jane Ann Krentz book. It was mediocre to say the least. I read "Smoke in Mirrors" and really enjoyed it. Not only was this book a "chix flix" writing, the characters were very definitely fairy tale characters, and the story was pretty worse than a "B" movie. On to Simone St. James' "The Broken Girls."
June 3, 2022
Jayne Ann Krentz always delivers
Generations supply viewpoints from their perspective. Two elderly grandfathers have made it their mission to bring together couples they have deemed right for each other. A missing piece of valuable piece of art and an art show for children all combine to make a fun read.
Generations supply viewpoints from their perspective. Two elderly grandfathers have made it their mission to bring together couples they have deemed right for each other. A missing piece of valuable piece of art and an art show for children all combine to make a fun read.
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