Reviewer: Holly Twisted Creek by Jodi Thomas
Publisher: Penguin, Berkley
Publication Date: April 1st 2008
Point-of-View: Alternating First and Third
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense
Pages: 304
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Bad luck has been biting at Allie Daniel's heels all her life, so when she inherits a café in a small Texas lake community she's sure there's a catch. But Allie decides to move and brings her grandmother along, since the café gives Nana a chance to do what she loves best-cook. As Allie settles in, she soon discovers that she's not alone anymore-and that sometimes, the only cure for bad luck is gaining the courage to love.
Watch a QuickTime trailer for this book.
Lately I’ve been in the mood for straight contemps. No suspense, no paranormal, just straight up contemporary romance. I’d heard a lot of buzz around blogland for this book (Dev and Nath both loved it) and decided to give it a try. I’m happy to report it was just what I was looking for: A sweet contemporary romance set in a small town. I think fans of Robyn Carr’s Virgin River series will really like this one.
This story is written in alternating 1st and 3rd POV. At first I wasn’t sure it would work, but in the end I think the story would have suffered if it hadn’t been written that way.
Life has thrown Allie Daniel’s some curveballs and she’s just about reached the end of her rope. When she’s notified that she’s inherited a house that doubles as a general store and café from her “uncle” Jefferson, she’s skeptical, but figures there’s no harm in checking things out. What she finds is a run down house on an old lake surrounded by odd strangers, including a sexy drifter named Luke.
As she settles in to her new home, she finds herself coming to care for the odd collection of souls that have gathered around the lake. She also finds herself coming to care for Luke. But unbeknownst to her, Luke isn’t just a drifter who landed in town. He’s actually an ATF agent who has taken a leave of absence to investigate the death of Allie’s “uncle”. He grew up around the lake and he’s suspicious of the way things went down with Jefferson.
I really liked Allie. As the story progressed I enjoyed watching her grow and become confident in herself. Though she seems broken in the beginning, it isn’t long before we see the well of inner strength she’s kept hidden. Though it takes her awhile to open up, it isn’t long before she’s the backbone of the community. I enjoyed Luke’s character as well. He was reserved and quiet, afraid to open himself up, but unable to stop it from happening as he spent time with Allie. I love that he was quiet and didn’t say much, but you could still see the attachment forming between him and Allie.
I loved the secondary characters – all the odd little people who make the lake their home. As we came to know them, just like Allie, I began to care for them, to become invested in their lives. I truly felt like I was in Twisted Creek right along with them. Honestly, if I could talk my husband into it, I’d be tempted to head off to Texas in search of a Twisted Creek of my own.
The suspense plot worked really well with the romance and honestly didn’t detract from the overall romance, in my opinion. The story focused on Allie and Luke as they learn to trust each other and open up to one another, the suspense plot was just window dressing to that. Not to say it wasn’t well done, because it was, but it wasn’t the main focus of the story.
Overall I loved it. The characters, the plot, the writing. All of it.
5 out of 5
This book is available from Berkley. You can buy it here or here in e-format.
I’m so glad you liked this one! It’s easily one of my faves and of course is on my keeper shelf so I can revisit it anytime I want to. I just think Jodi Thomas is excellent at world building and I really enjoyed her pacing on this one.
Excellent review!
I have been wanting to read this one since I read The Widows of Wichita County. I also watched a book trailer for it. I guess I’ll be picking this one up soon. Thanks for the review.
It’s about time!
After the release of “Acheron”, it seems everything was about paranormal, blood sucking, blood curling relationships. Though I did enjoy wading into all of that, I find a part of me never got emotional attach to the charactors/stories as I would a good contemparary. ( I started reading some historical but find I just want to throttle the 16 year old heroines, sometimes)
Thank you for the review. I’m definitely going to check it out.
mph
I absolutely loved this book. I read it at a time when I really needed some peace in my life. Twisted Creek is one of the very few books that has actually made me cry–not because it was sad, but because the world Jodi created was just so gorgeous and I really felt a deep emotional connection with Allie and Luke and Nana. The story was set in a part of Texas that is very familiar to me, and Nana was even from my own parents’ and grandparents’ tiny home town in Oklahoma.
Twisted Creek was a keeper for me. I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Holly! I hope Jodi sees this review. 🙂
Wow this sounds really good. I’ll have to check it out. 🙂
This book is really great!!! I’m sooo happy you enjoyed it! I do think this is one of the best book I’ve read this year :)!!
I loved this book, glad you liked it 🙂
Crystal,
Is The Widows of Wichita County good? I just ordered it from Amazon.
Jen,
I totally get you about the peace thing. That’s so how I felt! It was wonderful.
Tracy/MPH,
You really should read it. It’s wonderful.
Holly,
Ok – I just finished the book and can see why you gave it 5 out of 5. It’s simply FULL of those tender and intimate moments you had posted about a few months ago. The relationship between the Allie and her Nana, her and Luke. The brief but cherished relationship between Nana and Red. I am simply overwhelm by them all – excuse me while I go cry now.
*sniff* I still wish the author threw me a sex scene but I cannot fathom how it can fit into such a quiet and poignant story. So, she’s forgiven.
mph
*sniff* I still wish the author threw me a sex scene but I cannot fathom how it can fit into such a quiet and poignant story. So, she’s forgiven.
Honestly, I didn’t notice the lack of sex until I finished the book. I guess because I was so wrapped up in it. You’re right, she’s forgiven. 😉