Heart of the World...

[fajrdrako]

I just finished reading the latest Carlotta Carlyle book, Heart of the World by Linda Barnes.

Maybe the best Carlotta Carlyle book yet.

Carlotta Carlyle is a Boston private eye, a tall redhead who plays volleyball and lives in an old Victorian house inherited from her aunt. Recurring characters in the series are her boyfriend Sam, a mobster; her friend Mooney, a cop; her friend Gloria and Roz; and her "Little Sister", Paolina, whose father is... was... a Colombia drug-runner. Who is dead.

Except he isn't dead. When Paolina disappears, Carlotta is desperate to find her. Evidence mounts that Paolina may have been kidnapped by her father. Or maybe it's more complicated than that....

The story really picked up when Carlotta headed to Miami and then to Colombia in search of Paolina. Have any of the Carlotta Carlyle stories previously been anywhere except the Boston area? Not that I recall.

The romantic stakes really pick up: First, Sam Gianelli asks Carlotta to marry him. (As soon as he did, I thought, "He's gong to be killed before the end of the book." I was wrong.)

Second, Carlotta becomes seriously attracted to Roldan, Paolina's father, who may have been a druglord at one time but now is something quite different. The kind of sexy hero that those of who enjoy reading about mysticism and pre-Columbian history and risk-taking, thoughtful, mystical freedom fighters can enjoy. I really, really wished that Carlotta would have sex with Roldan. Poor Sam Gianelli: I've never really liked him, and have always thought Carlotta should dump him for kind, intelligent Mooney. Here, I thought she should dump Sam in favour of the mysterious, powerful and complex Roldan. Even though Sam showed a lot of attractive, heroic qualities - and came through for her and Paolina. Sam was better than ever before, and I still didn't like him much. But now I picture him as looking a little like Armand Assante. Not a bad thing.

Comments

[widget-alley.livejournal.com]

Gah, icon! I thought it was a painting at first. :D

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I find that Doctor Who is a good fandom for delicious icons. Somtimes I have trouble making up my mind which to pick, even though I mostly go for pictures of my favourite three: Nine, Ten, and Captain Jack. Sometimes I pick an icon and love it so much I can't bear to change to something else.