Member Reviews
Fern Michaels stories are always fantastic and this one is no exception. Well plotted, great characters, could not ask for more!! Highly recommend to others.
This novel was a tough but worthy read! Some of it was too much too handle with all that the main character goes through but at the same time we get to see beauty form into ashes in it's own unique way. The beginning was a little slow to get to the good stuff but overall I really enjoyed reading this book and the author's writing style.
In Sweet Vengeance, Tessa Jamison not only lost her twin girls and husband but was convicted of their murder. After spending 10 years in jail, she will finally receive a new trial. This is a very interesting book which takes on an unexpected twist. Emotional and cleverly written, Tessa is released from jail on a technicality and while she awaits her new trial she concentrates on exposing the truth to make sure her family’s death is avenged. Thank you to Net Galley for providing an advanced reader’s copy of this book.
After spending ten years in prison for being falsely-accused and convicted of the grisly murders of her husband and twin daughters, Tessa Jamison is now free on a technicality, awaiting a new trial. In fact, based on what has been discovered by the new lawyers hired by the company she owns, Jamison Pharmaceuticals, and the company CEO and old friend, Sam, she may even have the charges dismissed. Once out of prison, Tess, along with the others, sets out to find out what really happened and to find the person she believes is the real killer, her deceased husband’s half-brother, Liam. However, as time goes on, Tess, her lawyers and Sam encounter new twists and turns in the grisly murders that happened years ago, leading everyone to new ideas and conclusions about what really occurred that dreadful day. Finally, throughout the story, Tess is worried she may have to go back to prison if a new witness, her housekeeper/maid/child sitter, Rosa, does not come across as creditable, or if things do not go as she and her crew have planned—all of which cast a shadow on her thoughts and new life style as well as on the story.
This was a welcome departure from the author’s long Sisterhood series. However, the book did not live up to what I had hoped it would. In the first place, the author kept including new sub-plots and twists/actins/events, which ultimately got he book so muddied that it almost became too much for me. In the end, to clear up all these many, different though slightly connected sub-plots, the author rushed in with some clever, and some not-so-clever, tie-ins and resolutions. The ending was interesting, but had too many loose, disconnected endings for me and seemed rather abrupt. I also did not find the ending all that realistic, with little lead-up to it throughout the story, though I did notice that the author did drop many clues, which, I thought, were just not tied in well. In addition, I did not like the main character, Tess, very much. She seemed too ready to pass judgement on people, not ready to face facts and very unrealistic. The best character, in my opinion, was her friend and the company CEO, Sam. I could also see the budding relationship between Tess and Sam, conveniently a widower, which the author kept well hidden behind the scenes. I think having this relationship more out in the open would have helped the book. I also do not think the author developed the Tess character well enough or in a realistic manner. Tess was very much into self-pity for the time she had spent in prison, falsely accused of the murders she had not committed, and this self-pity never came across as well as I think it could have. Finally, the author should have included more on the new team of lawyers, who were working on getting Tess freed from this unbelievable mess, instead of leaving them in the background for most of the story, especially since she did not choose to highlight or develop the Tess and Sam relationship more openly. Fern Michaels may be planning on a new series with this book, where this relationship will play a more prominent role, but this book would have been better with more of it, I think. This will never be my favorite Fern Michaels book, and I have read almost everything else she has written throughout the years, but, to have a respite from the Sisterhood series (or the other series with are like that), was refreshing, as I think the Sisterhood idea/theme has gone well beyond interest or development at this point. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.
The book starts with Tessa learning that after more than 10 years behind prison bars for the thriple murder of her family she is being set free to persue a new trail. Gripping from the start, lagging in the middle, this is still a good way to spend an afternoon will a good book.
Fern Michaels has written another gripping page turner. I applaud her strong character in Tessa who never gave up hope of clearing her name. It was interesting to see how her lawyers were able to find the loop hole to allow her a new trial and as always with Ms. Michaels, the twist at the end was exciting. Right from the start you knew that Tessa was not guilty so you had to keep reading to find out who the person was that committed the crime and was willing to let her rot in jail. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a quick page turning read. As usual Ms. Michaels did not dissapoint.
First, I would like to thank Fern Michaels, Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.
I have been a fan of Fern Michaels work for a long time. However, Sweet Vengeance in my opinion is her best book to date! From the prologue Fern got my undivided attention with her description of what prison life was life for Tessa. One thing that made this book interesting than any other book she has ever written is that it was written in the future. In this case it was written in 2021. So, things were a little different then.
In this book Tessa goes back and gives a little history of who she was before she landed in prison. That person shaped her to the person she was today.
I loved the part of the book on how she mentioned she loved reading her entire life. I can relate to her saying that books protect her sanity. I use books as an escape from reality. As did she. Plus, she got to work in the prison library.
I felt sad for her that her daughters and husband were gone and no other family existed. That she felt alone.
It is really a great read that is Ferns best work.
This one started out a little slow and became a bit predictable, but I still enjoyed the story and characters.
Sweet Vengeance by Fern Michaels. This book was hit out of the ball park for me. I really enjoyed it. The characters and storyline pulled me in from the first page. I've read past books by this author and she has never disappointed me.
I recently discovered this Sisterhood Series of Fern Michaels. It is wonderful! Do not cross these women or the people they love! You will not like the results. I could not put this book down. Now I am working my way through the rest of the series.
Thank you to the author and publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for a honest review. Tessa has been falsely accused of killing her twins and husband. She finally is released from prison and is determined to find the real killer. This book was typical Fern Michaels, enjoyable and well-written. The characters were well-developed and the plot was fast-paced.
Overall Sweet Vengeance is an interesting read. I enjoyed the base of the story of a woman wrongfully convicted of the deaths of her husband and children and the search for the true killer. However, the pace to the book went too fast. I wish it had a more developed and detailed story line.
An intriguing story of a miscarriage of justice with a serious twist at the end.
I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and independent review.
This book started slowly and it was very difficult to get into. But I persisted and the second half was better. It was a good storyline, but there was something missing in terms of tempo and mood. It felt like the facts were told but the emotional side was missing and the narrative appeared quite clinical in places.
Unfortunately I was underwhelmed, as the book had enormous potential in terms of the plot but failed to match up to that.
3 stars
Geez, has this woman had anything happy happen to her?
What did Glen Carter do to her?
Um, Joel sounds fishy.
Holy corrupt police work.
Who is this reporter?!
Can he just change her house like that?
I can't say I blame George and Rosa too much. George was young and depended on his elder for guidance, and Rosa was an undocumented immigrant. Who's to say anyone would have even listened to them before?
If Joel faked his death, I'm going to kill him myself.
The epilogue was the best part.
Fern Michaels strikes again! An easy read, chock full of a great lead character and oh so delightful and charming to read. Totally engrossing from the first word to the last---it will keep the reader wanting more and yet so fulfilled! A must for anyone looking for a "cannot put down" title! Thank you for the opportunity to have read this title prior to publication.
I love a good Fern Michaels book and while my favorites are the Sisterhood series, this one was an awesome stand alone. For awhile I wasn't sure what to think as I found a main character kind of creepy ;) But a few twists and everything comes together nicely.
Good read but the end left me with questions. Good suspense and characters
Sweet Vengeance is an intense novel about a woman convicted of brutally killing her husband and twins and eleven years later finds herself released from prison and possibly facing a new trial. Armed this time with the best lawyer and private investigator plus her husband’s best friend and partner, she becomes engaged in finding the real killer. Everything she has known about her husband and his brother come crashing down as the investigation unfolds and information that was overlooked by the police and DA in the original case comes to light. There are several twists that move the novel along at a fast, absorbing pace to the ultimate resolution.
This is the first book I have read by Fern Michaels, I loved it!,,
It is such a treat to be introduced to such a fantastic author....she has written many books....I have a lot of reading to do.
This novel had me interested from the first page, and it flowed perfectly until the last page. I sort of could see where the book was leading...but it didn’t have any impact on the ending for me or how much I enjoyed the story!
I will definitely read more books from this author!