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grannytj's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
shelleyrae's review against another edition
3.0
Declan's Cross is the third suspense novel featuring FBI Agents Emma Sharpe and Colin Donovan. Set primarily in Ireland, in a village with surprising links to Rock Point, Maine, this mystery involves theft, betrayal, blackmail and murder.
There are two primary story arcs in Declan's Cross that eventually intersect - a murder and an art theft. Emma and Colin's romantic getaway is interrupted by the death of a young woman in the Irish village of Declan's Cross. The possibility of a link to a decades old art theft intrigues Emma while the dead woman's connection to Julianne Maroney, a marine biologist from Colin's hometown in Maine, and his brother's ex girlfriend, has Colin on guard.
There is history between Emma and Colin that I am not privy to given I haven't read either the first or second installment though Neggers provides some details of the couple's past adventures. Their romance is new and Ireland is a chance for both to spend some time together away from the pressures of their job. Emma and Colin's relationship is just one of the three romantic subplots that are part of this story - Julianne has recently had her heart broken by Andy Donovan, while Irish farmer/garda, Sean, and O'Byrne House Hotel owner, Kitty, have a long history of love/hate.
The plot isn't terribly complicated though it does seem so at times given the the large cast of characters, their various relationships, and the shifts of setting between Ireland and Maine. The only real issue I had with the story is the pacing. It seems to take a long time for anything to actually happen, and there is some repetitiveness to elements of the story. Distracted by the elusive art thief that continues to taunt her grandfather, it is a while before Emma and Colin, with the the help of local man Sean, piece together the motive for Lindsey's murder, resulting in Julianne being vulnerable to the killer.
As a personal aside, Ireland is one of the few places I would one day like to visit and Neggers makes the prospect even more inviting with lovely descriptions of the country's rolling green farmland, rugged coasts and quaint villages steeped in history.
A quick and entertaining read, I think fans of the Sharpe and Donovan series will particularly enjoy Declan's Cross for its romantic resolutions, but the mysteries should hold the interest of those unfamiliar with the characters.
gwynt's review against another edition
3.0
I wasn't huge on this book, very mediocre. I think you do really need to read the first two in order to know what's going on (despite others in the comments section stating it could be read as a stand-alone)
Writing wasn't bad, but I just didn't give a shit about any of the characters.....
Writing wasn't bad, but I just didn't give a shit about any of the characters.....
ssejig's review against another edition
3.0
STOP! Do NOT read this book if you haven't read the other two in this series. You will not understand most of what is happening. You might still get some enjoyment but really, not as much has having the more extensive background of earlier books in the series.
Julianne is one such character we met in Saint's Gate and Heron's Cove. She dated Colin's brother Andy for awhile before he inevitably broke her heart. When offered a chance to study marine life in Ireland, Julianne jumps at the offer, even though she just met Lindsey. One problem, Lindsey isn't there to pick her up. Well, Julianne is a big girl who can get herself up to the cottage where she's staying. But Lindsey never shows up. At least, not alive.
Luckily, Emma and Colin are in Ireland and on their way down. Not to check up on Julianne, at least not ostensibly, but it is quite the coincidence that she ended up in the same small village where a spectacular art theft (a running theme in the books) took place decades earlier.
Like the other Sharpe and Donovan (and really, any of Neggers' books) series, this book is a tangled series of intersecting stories. I sometimes have to put these books down and just think for a little bit and read something less complicated. But don't put it down for too long or you'll have to start back at the beginning.
I probably would really rate this at a two and a half but bonus points for the grand descriptions of Ireland. There are too many rehashings in this books, not just from the other two books but from this story as well (Andy's love her/don't love her, Father Finn's past) and also some story leaps (Lindsey's father might be connected to the art theft?) that just strech a little too much.
Will I stop reading this series? Probably not. I loved the first book too much and hope that I can find that level of enjoyment again.
Julianne is one such character we met in Saint's Gate and Heron's Cove. She dated Colin's brother Andy for awhile before he inevitably broke her heart. When offered a chance to study marine life in Ireland, Julianne jumps at the offer, even though she just met Lindsey. One problem, Lindsey isn't there to pick her up. Well, Julianne is a big girl who can get herself up to the cottage where she's staying. But Lindsey never shows up. At least, not alive.
Luckily, Emma and Colin are in Ireland and on their way down. Not to check up on Julianne, at least not ostensibly, but it is quite the coincidence that she ended up in the same small village where a spectacular art theft (a running theme in the books) took place decades earlier.
Like the other Sharpe and Donovan (and really, any of Neggers' books) series, this book is a tangled series of intersecting stories. I sometimes have to put these books down and just think for a little bit and read something less complicated. But don't put it down for too long or you'll have to start back at the beginning.
I probably would really rate this at a two and a half but bonus points for the grand descriptions of Ireland. There are too many rehashings in this books, not just from the other two books but from this story as well (Andy's love her/don't love her, Father Finn's past) and also some story leaps (Lindsey's father might be connected to the art theft?) that just strech a little too much.
Will I stop reading this series? Probably not. I loved the first book too much and hope that I can find that level of enjoyment again.
booksuperpower's review against another edition
4.0
Declan's Cross by Carla Neggers is a Harlequin MIRA publication due for release in August 2013.
This is the third installment of the Donovan/Sharpe series.
Set in Ireland, Colin and Emma are still looking into a decade old art theft, while being on a vacation of sorts.
Julianne and Andy Donovan, Colin's brother, went through a bad break-up. Now, Julianne is off to Ireland to Declan's Cross as well. She was to meet up with a new friend of hers named Lindsey, a fellow marine biologist enthusiast. But, when Julianne arrives in Ireland, Lindsey is MIA.
When Lindsey's body is found after what looked like a fall from a cliff, Julianne's plans are disrupted. Colin and Emma are there to help Julianne deal with the death of her friend, thank goodness, since it turns out that Lindsey may have been pushed off the cliff.
When Lindsey's father shows up, it's discovered that he may have had a connection to the stolen art that Colin and Emma are investigating.
Could Lindsey's death have a connection to the stolen art?
Meanwhile, there are several romantic entanglements going on. Colin and Emma are still trying to sort out the occupational roadblocks in their relationship, Julianne is suffering terribly from a broken heart, and Andy still loves her even if he thinks they are on two separate paths in life.
The owner of the Inn in Declan's cross, Kitty , and Sean, a local policeman and sheep farmer have a history together and may at last have found a way to be together.
I have enjoyed this series so far. This is one of Carla's better efforts. I love Ireland and the descriptions of area has me daydreaming of a romantic getaway.
Mysteries involving stolen art is also a favorite of mine, and so I was intrigued from the beginning of this one. The story moves at a good pace, no boring lulls. You may have the killer figured out, but you won't put the whole story together. The romance was more about healing broken relationships and making them work than about sexual content. There was a really nice HEA for everyone and the promise of more adventures in the future for the characters in this series. Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin for the DRC of this novel.
Overall a B+
This is the third installment of the Donovan/Sharpe series.
Set in Ireland, Colin and Emma are still looking into a decade old art theft, while being on a vacation of sorts.
Julianne and Andy Donovan, Colin's brother, went through a bad break-up. Now, Julianne is off to Ireland to Declan's Cross as well. She was to meet up with a new friend of hers named Lindsey, a fellow marine biologist enthusiast. But, when Julianne arrives in Ireland, Lindsey is MIA.
When Lindsey's body is found after what looked like a fall from a cliff, Julianne's plans are disrupted. Colin and Emma are there to help Julianne deal with the death of her friend, thank goodness, since it turns out that Lindsey may have been pushed off the cliff.
When Lindsey's father shows up, it's discovered that he may have had a connection to the stolen art that Colin and Emma are investigating.
Could Lindsey's death have a connection to the stolen art?
Meanwhile, there are several romantic entanglements going on. Colin and Emma are still trying to sort out the occupational roadblocks in their relationship, Julianne is suffering terribly from a broken heart, and Andy still loves her even if he thinks they are on two separate paths in life.
The owner of the Inn in Declan's cross, Kitty , and Sean, a local policeman and sheep farmer have a history together and may at last have found a way to be together.
I have enjoyed this series so far. This is one of Carla's better efforts. I love Ireland and the descriptions of area has me daydreaming of a romantic getaway.
Mysteries involving stolen art is also a favorite of mine, and so I was intrigued from the beginning of this one. The story moves at a good pace, no boring lulls. You may have the killer figured out, but you won't put the whole story together. The romance was more about healing broken relationships and making them work than about sexual content. There was a really nice HEA for everyone and the promise of more adventures in the future for the characters in this series. Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin for the DRC of this novel.
Overall a B+
irishcontessa's review
3.0
Still not as great as the first one but I liked it more than book 2. I loved the setting and I liked getting more of some of the secondary characters.
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