Carolina Isles by Jude Deveraux

Title: Carolina Isles

Author: Jude Deveraux

Genre: Romance

Summary: A pair of look alike cousins decide to try on each others lives, to see how the other side lives.

The Take-Away: I keep reading Ms Deveraux's books, hoping that they will get better, but they don't. Her historicals beat any recent works I've read. Plot holes and characters who, when presented with a problem, say, "Oh, yes, by the way, here's how to do that. I've known it all along."

For instance, a key point in the story is that money is hidden on an island. It just so happens that it's the island that one character spent some time on as a kid as part of a summer camp. This much was mentioned and built into the story naturally. But a seemingly unconnected essay isn't mentioned until it's a vital clue to unraveling the mystery.

I have to wonder if her writing was always this bad, but re-writes and editing improved it for publication. If so, why doesn't her editor call her on the plot holes? Good dialogue will only carry a story so far.

Recommendation: Don't bother.