I can hear the very sexy Australian voice of Hugh Jackman as I read this book. Visions of his smile and cocky attitude make Pat Reilly come alive for me. I know very well that Hugh is not the sexy Aussie that Tami Hoag had in her mind as she wrote the book. Hugh would have been, maybe, 10 years old at the time, but he is sure in my mind. Which brings up another point: this book does not show it's age. It is a sweet, humorous, very romantic story. I firmly believe that good romance stands the test of time. This one sure has.Jayne Jordan is a film critic who lost her husband a year ago. Her life with the older Mac was peaceful and loving. When Mac introduced her to his friend, Pat Reilly, her peace was shattered. Jayne was assaulted by feelings she should only have for her husband. She kept a great deal of distance from Reilly after that. After Mac died, Reilly promised Jayne he would return in one year and they would find out exactly what is was between them.Pat Reilly is an Australian action superstar. He is mobbed by adoring female fans wherever he goes. When he shows up in Anastasia, CA, Jayne's peaceful, serene life is blown to bits, like a special effect in one of Reilly's movies. The lust meter is off the scale with these two and it doesn't take long for Jayne to give in. For a short book there is a lot of character development and depth. You understand both H/h and what makes them tick. My only complaint is that the ending was so abrupt.
DNF at 27%.I know this was written in the 80s or early 90s, but earlier one woman called a man a "perv" for nothing more than wearing make-up and another character just referred to "that fag guy that comes to read the meter." I know the 80s were a different time for homosexuality, but I'm a lot more... intolerant of intolerance than I used to be (call me a hypocrite for that if you want -- a single fuck will not be given that day). I was kind of into the story but not enough to put up with slurs. Plus, I'm listening to the audio book and the narrator's Australian accent is horrifying -- worse than Dick Van Dyke doing a Cockney accent. At least I knew what accent he was supposed to be doing. This sounds like some sort of mash-up of Australian, Irish, Cockney, and possibly a little bit of Southern and even, once, Jamaican. I will admit I haven't hung around too many Australians but in no Hugh Jackman or Heath Ledger movie have I ever heard an Australian sound like this.
What do You think about Reilly's Return (2003)?
Reilly’s Return is the third novel in the Rainbow Chasers series by American author, Tami Hoag. Jayne Jordan, widow of Joseph MacGregor, is hiding out in the California coastal town of Anastasia with three llamas and a pregnant teen. Zany Jayne is a film writer and director, but is wasting her talent as a scathing film critic. Aussie actor, Pat Reilly was Mac’s best friend, but when he met Jayne, neither could deny a connection. At Mac’s funeral, he vowed to return to her. And now he has. But Jayne is uncertain of his intentions, disappointed in his choice of movies to make and is unconvinced that he can resist the attractions of Hollywood. This fairly early Hoag offering drags somewhat, is occasionally repetitive and the portrayal of Pat Reilly as an Aussie is not well done: most Australians will wince at the dialogue, which is unrealistic and clunky at best. It is a sweet story that would have benefited from some judicious editing.
—Marianne
I've been enjoying most of Tami Hoag's early romance books. This one was not one of my favorites at all. Jayne is a whiny, terrified, crazy woman with no real grip on life. All she wants to do is find spiritual harmony and peace and quiet with no conflict or excitement. And she falls in love with a man she doesn't respect or trust. Reilly is a chauvinist, over-sexed and inconsiderate guy who steamrolls right over Jayne's comfortable, peaceful little life. He pushes her into a relationship, out o
—Maura
An early Hoag. Yoga, meditation-loving widowed writer leaves Hollywood to open community theater in small town.Then hot-shot actor comes to town: he was hubby's best friend and when he and wifey met it was instant attraction, but they never acted on it. After hubby''s death, actor said he'd be back in year.\There's a lot of guilt, angst (and not just about their feelings for each other), but every time the MC mentioned OM, yoga or meditation, it just stopped me in my tracks and totally turned me off.I thought she would be more likeable and it would help the plot if Hoag just cut all that crap out (not that meditation or yoga is bad, but here it is.)
—Andreasoldier
