Review of Sizzle by Julie Garwood

From Decatur Daily --

Book Review: ‘Sizzle’ turns out to be more of a fizzle --

By: Carolyn Brackin Orr --
2/14/10 --

Sizzle
By Julie Garwood
Ballantine, 320 pages, $26, hardcover

Julie Garwood’s latest novel, “Sizzle,” has all of the key ingredients for an explosive read. The hot stud hero and the sexy damsel in distress heroine running for their lives seem to be essential parts of modern suspense thrillers.

Garwood has penned many best-selling novels, and I have long been numbered as one of her fans. This book, however, may have been better titled, “Fizzle” rather than “Sizzle.”

Damsel in distress Lyra Prescott is a film student completing her graduate assignments and preparing a documentary. She is beautiful, desirable and just a wee bit helpless. Through no fault of her own, she photographs a crime in progress and is targeted by the mob.

Enter Special Agent Sam Kincaid (hero), a Scottish-American FBI agent who is assigned to protect leading lady, Lyra. Muscle bound, intelligent and intimidating, he is a language specialist and acts as an interpreter for the Bureau.

Milo Smith, a minor character in the tale, is a wannabe James Bond. Each assignment that he is given by the boss is botched up in hilarious ways. While attempting to steal items from Lyra, he fancies himself in a relationship with her. Sadly, this romance exists only in Smith’s imagination. His role offers the only bit of humor and freshness found in “Sizzle.”

Other players include: Lyra’s money-loving parents; her aged, but still very alert grandmother; her roommate, Sydney; and fellow students.

Oh yes. Lyra is also filthy rich while Kincaid is heir to a Scottish castle. Writing checks for more than $100,000 seems to be an everyday occurrence in their lives, and I had a hard time absorbing this information. What economic times are they living in?

I have read and enjoyed many Julie Garwood books in the past. But I think that she, like other authors, may be substituting quantity for quality in an effort to keep selections on the bookshelves.

I grow weary of people falling in love and planning a future together in less than three weeks. I know that fiction novels are offered as a means of escape from reality, but readers should demand more than what we are being offered in this book.

This is not Garwood at her best. If you must read it, visit your local library.