Bloodlines

Ms. McCall/Sala is a very talented suspense author that normally offers readers an edge of your seat read. Perhaps this is why this read fell a little flat. Although this read did offer a very good "suspense" storyline...it fell short on delivery.

Twenty-five years earlier Olivia Sealy had been kidnapped, and her parent murdered. Olivia was later returned to her family (left in a shopping mall) but has no recollection of the kidnapping. Fast forward several years later...the discovery of a suitcase holding the skeletal remains of a two year old girl, killed twenty-five years earlier is found. Questions start being asked and Olivia suddenly finds herself becoming a target for murder. As if this isn't enough for her to balance...she has to deal with the detective that's investigating the case...her childhood sweetheart that her grandfather made her give up.

Trey Bonney thought he got on with his life but when the old bones lead to the doorstep of the only woman he's ever loved he's about to realize that he's not as put together as he thought he was. Trey and Olivia need to put the past to rest but those feelings aren't going away and in fact are growing in intensity. They're not children playing at love anymore, their adults with deep feeling. Will Trey be able to solve the old murder and keep his Livvie alive or will the past finally get it's revenge?

There were equal parts right and wrong with this read. The twenty-five year old murder with the players all coming together once the body was found had a whole lot of pontential for becoming a great vehicle for this story. It fell flat though with the unbelievable guile of Olivia where her grandfather was concerned. She let her "grampy" have way to much control over her. This was probably suppose to read as a deep and caring relationship...but instead it seemed too manipulative. Olivia and Trey again had the foundation for having a real good romantic storyline, but again Ms. McCall seemed to fail on the delivery there. The ending was not a surprise and this reader really has to admit to begining not to care one way or another if there was going to indeed be a happy ending. Overall this is not a read to avoid, but one that the reader should be cautioned about as far as storyline and execution of plot.

Official Reviewer for Romance Designs

The basic plot idea itself was good but it fizzled fast.

Olivia had to be one of the wimpiest characters ever. She did whatever "Grampy" wanted her to do. Supposedly she was madly in love with Trey 11 years ago but her "Grampy" made her dump Trey because he wasn't from a good enough family. "Grampy" was an arrogant, controlling snob. The romance was completely unbelievable because why would Trey love her when she was nothing but cardboard and extremely boring at that?

We never found out anything about her parents except that the father was a jerk. Nor did we hear much about Olivia's life when she was growing up or after her break up with Trey.

And what did Olivia do??
No husband, no kids, no family other than "Grampy".
Didn't have her own place, didn't decorate the mausoleum she lived in.
Didn't cook, bake, plan the meals, or maintain the household.
Didn't garden, didn't have any hobbies. Didn't do needlework or crafts.
I don't even know where their money came from, doubt she did either, but Olivia had nothing to do with working.
Wasn't into sports, watching, supporting or contributing.
Didn't jog, ride horses or have a pet.
No friends, no boyfriend, didn't date.
Didn't do charity works or even belong to any board that did.
Didn't read, watch TV, or use a computer or even shop.
Didn't plan dinner parties or social events or attend any
Didn't volunteer at the library or the hospital.

Oh wait she took vacation pictures when she and "Grampy" were on their latest trip to Europe. Apparently she and "Grampy" took their vacations together, just the two of them and he planned them. Basically her life revolved around what "Grampy" wanted and she never once stood up for herself. In one incident she cut what she was doing short so she could be there for lunch because "Grampy" was going to be there. Turned out he didn't show up so she sat there and ate food she didn't care for because the housekeeper wanted her to.

I love Dinah McCall's/Sharon Sala's books but I recommend passing on this one. Tallchief, Jackson Rule, The Return and Missing are very good; pick those up instead.

I was amazed when I read this book that anyone would have even considered publishing it. Yes, I did finish it, but rather than pass it on to friends, it went in the trash. The dialog, storyline, unbelievable coincidences ... all were like a grade B soap opera. The premise of the book sounded fascinating, but the follow-through was a huge disappointment.

Kidnapped when she was two, Olivia Sealy has no memory of her captivity or the murder of her parents. Raised by her grandfather, her entire life has been devoted to catering to him, occasionally at the risk of her own happiness. When the skeletal remains of a 2 year old girl is found in a wall and has a third thumb like other members of the Sealy family, Olivia is forced to question whether or not the right child was returned to the Sealy family. Heading the investigation is Dallas Detective Trey Bonney, Olivia's first love whom she dumped to appease her grandfather since Trey was from the wrong side of the tracks.

But who is the child in the wall, and what is her relationship to Olivia? Only a DNA test will shed light on the convoluted situation. When attempts are made on Olivia's life, it is Trey who steps in to protect her, providing the opportunity both need to reconnect.

While the plot was intriguing, McCall's execution was below average. The dialogue was pretty hokey - Olivia is nearly 30, yet talks like woman twice her age (with the exception of calling her grandfather "grampy"). The big mystery of the kidnapper's identity is pretty easy to guess, and ultimately plot points introduced were never fully developed or concluded. However, the romance is written well, the main protagonists have obvious chemistry. McCall has written better (check out "Perfect Lie").

Another great one by Sharon Sala. She never disappoints with her books. I don't try to tell you about the story as her books are ones you have to read for yourself. Try one!

Not one of my favorites. I will pass it along. Reminds me that when she writes as Dinah McCall it is sometimes too graphic or disturbing for my taste.

I so wanted to like this book. The plot and storyline seemed to have excellent potential and I found the hero to be "heroic", but the leading lady, Olivia, was a simpering, whiny excuse for a female, right from the git-go.

Enjoyed this read.

wonderful book i totaly could relate with the charecters. i rooted for them the entire way. i love the way they got the couple together. it was not way to rushed. very good

In this one, a woman, Olivia Sealy, was kidnapped as a 2yr. old child, but returned. However in the process the kidnappers killed her parents, so she is raised by her grandfather who she's very close to, very devoted to.

25yrs. after the kidnapping a body is found. A child's body, inside a suitcase. The child appears to have a strange anomaly, a third thumb. And because Olivia's family also has this strange 3rd thumb when they are born(removed later) The baby is immediately linked to Olivia and the wealthy Sealy family. Also, to make things even stranger, the baby appears to have been killed 25yrs ago. Now the question seems to be, is the baby really the kidnapped Olivia Sealy, and the Olivia that has been reared under the watchful eye of her grandfather really a fake that the kidnappers claimed to be Olivia...? Or is the baby some other, perhaps an illigetimate baby of the Sealy clan...?

Questions abound, and Trey, the detective on the case, is determined to get the answers. What no one knows however, is that Olivia and Trey once had a hot and heavy relationship back in high school. They were sweethearts once, and Olivia broke his heart when she was told by her grandfather to stop seeing Trey or else. She did as she was told, but she broke her own heart as well as Trey's when she walked out of his life...

Now, he has to keep her safe, find the answers to the puzzle of Olivia's identity, and try and keep his hands to himself in the process-- which is damned hard, because Olivia as a young teen was pretty, but Olivia as a woman, is sexy as hell...

See what I mean about this woman's writing?!

Tami'sStories