- Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
- Publisher: Tor Paranormal Romance; 1 edition (Aug 25 2005)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0765352257
- ISBN-13: 978-0765352255
- Product Dimensions: 17 x 10.7 x 2 cm
- Shipping Weight: 159 g
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,756,933 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
Product Description
TARA COLE SPECIALIZES IN REVENGE
In fact, she's an expert. Lace pillows filled with cat hair-for your least-favorite, most allergic relative; boxer shorts that set off metal detectors-for your cheating spouse; and her best seller at RevengeGifts.com: chocolates for your worst enemy, so you can watch gleefully as she packs on the pounds.
Tara's best friend warns her that all this revenge is damaging her karma, but Tara doesn't care about her next life-she wants to enjoy this one. Besides, her kitchen is full of cranky ghosts. Tara figures she'll be the same one day, when she leaves the mortal plane.
That might happen sooner than she thought, because someone has put a curse on her. A black cat, a black dog, even a black goat, appear, each followed by bizarre, almost-disastrous events. And it all started around the time Howard showed up. Howard says he wants to go into business with Tara, but it seems like he wants to go to bed with her. Unless he's the one who cursed her . . . .
Is this karma coming full circle-or destiny knocking on Tara's door?
In fact, she's an expert. Lace pillows filled with cat hair-for your least-favorite, most allergic relative; boxer shorts that set off metal detectors-for your cheating spouse; and her best seller at RevengeGifts.com: chocolates for your worst enemy, so you can watch gleefully as she packs on the pounds.
Tara's best friend warns her that all this revenge is damaging her karma, but Tara doesn't care about her next life-she wants to enjoy this one. Besides, her kitchen is full of cranky ghosts. Tara figures she'll be the same one day, when she leaves the mortal plane.
That might happen sooner than she thought, because someone has put a curse on her. A black cat, a black dog, even a black goat, appear, each followed by bizarre, almost-disastrous events. And it all started around the time Howard showed up. Howard says he wants to go into business with Tara, but it seems like he wants to go to bed with her. Unless he's the one who cursed her . . . .
Is this karma coming full circle-or destiny knocking on Tara's door?
About the Author
Cindy Cruciger was born on a full moon night in Okeechobee, Florida. A few days later, the doctor who delivered her disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle.
Her first work of fiction won a Romantic Times Book Club contest, and for three years she has been chronicling the strange world of an aspiring author, trying to get published. Her Path to Publishing column appears monthly in RT Book Club Magazine.
She currently lives in the village of Islamorada -- until her neighbors read this book and kick her off the island.
Her first work of fiction won a Romantic Times Book Club contest, and for three years she has been chronicling the strange world of an aspiring author, trying to get published. Her Path to Publishing column appears monthly in RT Book Club Magazine.
She currently lives in the village of Islamorada -- until her neighbors read this book and kick her off the island.
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
An infectiously entertaining and refreshingly unique debut novel,
By Daniel Jolley "darkgenius" (Shelby, North Carolina USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Revenge Gifts (Mass Market Paperback)
No one is ever going to classify me as a reviewer of romance novels, but I do dip a few toes in the pool of romance once every blue moon or so. Technically speaking, Cindy Cruciger's delightful debut novel, Revenge Gifts, is a work of paranormal romance, so I think I'm sort of covered on this one. Ghosts, murder, voodoo, revenge: these are topics I'm quite comfortable with. And as for the romantic element of the story, it's by no means mushy or overly dramatic (despite the frequent use of the moniker "Muffin"). They say this is women's fiction, but I say that guys can enjoy this book just as much as the ladies, as it is wildly entertaining, consistently funny, and delightfully original.
We all have moments when we thirst for revenge against someone else -- an unfaithful lover, a hateful boss, a nosy mother-in-law, etc. Wouldn't it be great if there was a merchant out there who catered to such needs, supplying all sorts of "gifts" designed to make your personal enemy pay for his/her actions? Tara Cole thought so, which is why she started Revenge Gifts from her home in the Florida Keys. This online site features a selection of goodies guaranteed to torment your worst enemies (anonymously, if you choose). Not surprisingly, her business is thriving. Her personal life, on the other hand, could use some work. It has been ten years since her last serious relationship, she is routinely pestered by a number of ghosts in her home, and she is now the recipient of death threats from a local voodoo priestess. Ah, but there is also a new man in her life (the aforementioned "Muffin," also known as Howard), and that makes living with a refrigerator-raiding, knife-throwing ghost and the threat of a voodoo curse (not to mention the bad karma her revenge gift business is calling down upon her head) a little easier to deal with. As I said, I know next to nothing about the romance genre, but from what I have heard and read I get the sense that there is a lot of what I would call "fruit cake fiction" out there, with what is basically the same story turning up in one novel after another. Daring to be different, Revenge Gifts just doesn't fit your standard stereotypical romance. Tara Cole is not the type of girl to swoon, that's for sure, and I don't think there's anything swoon-worthy in play here, anyway. This is not a dramatic love story wherein two lost souls find in each other the mate each one has been searching for all of their lives. Howard's and Tara's relationship is more about the moment; it's sexy, it's fun, and both are really into each other, but that is about as deep as it goes for now. Revenge Gifts is full of great characters and dialogue, with Tara herself really winning me over. She's a fiercely independent, somewhat mischievous, smart and sassy young woman who takes her crazy life in stride without ever losing her sense of humor (sarcastic as it is). To me, she's at her funniest and most charming during her most difficult moments -- it's a good thing, too, because, difficult moments take up most of her time. If you're looking for some kind of sappy, melodramatic romance, you might want to pass this one by. If you're up for some sexy fun, with a little weirdness on the side, though, Revenge Gifts may just have exactly what you're looking for.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.4 out of 5 stars (30 customer reviews) 9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Do NOT miss this one! Enough said.,
By Detra Fitch - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Revenge Gifts (Mass Market Paperback)
Rumor has it that the people who actually choose to live on the Florida Keys are strange. Some are experts in scuba diving [...]. Some are experts in shark repelling suits (chain mail). But Tara Cole is an expert in revenge. [...] People all over the nation must love getting revenge on others, because Tara's business is booming. Tara is even considering accepting Howard Payne's (A.K.A. Muffin) business proposal. Revenge Gifts also gets more than its share of hate mail. Too bad Tara does not have time to read them. She is busy keeping her home's food poltergeist from throwing too many eggs around in the kitchen and her Uncle Lester's ghost from shooing away guests or turning on ALL the lights when she is trying to sleep.
But now someone has put a curse on her. Gris-gris bags, a black cat, a black rooster, even a black goat are showing up. Each is followed by bad events. A voodoo gauntlet has been stuck in the sand and Tara must accept the challenge before she ends up dead. ***** This is one of the most amusing novels I have read this year! Tara has a most unique outlook on life that almost convinced me to join her for a walk on the dark side! This modern contemporary romance adds just enough of the paranormal element to make the characters' lives interesting to those of us forced to live in reality. "Revenge Gifts" will win awards, mark my words. Highly recommended! ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews. 7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Pyschodelic Read,
By Elaine C McTyer "avid reader" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Revenge Gifts (Mass Market Paperback)
I hardly ever like books written in the first person, so I read the first 30 pages expecting to be bored to death. Instead I was tittilated, fasinated, and just stunned by this book. I really didn't know what to think at first. But by the 3rd or 4th chapter I was hooked.
Tara is a non conformist, she is totally self absorbed, and not interested in any romantic efforts by her few friends. But along the way she gets cursed by a voo-doo priest and priestess. Then she gets involved with a man who is lost from Wall Street. To add to the mix she manages a bar for a friend and runs a business called Revenge Gifts on line. The story line has more twists and turns than a snake caught in a headlock. This is not really a romance nor is it a drama, what it is, is just an unbelievable fun read. A Wild, weird, farce with so much humor it knocks you for a loop. Read it with your tonque in your cheek and a mixed drink at your side. 6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is a keeper and I can't wait for more...,
By Debbie B - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Revenge Gifts (Mass Market Paperback)
I loved this book and was stunned to discover that it was a debut; I had assumed that it was from a seasoned author that I had somehow overlooked. It is written in the first person, and in my opinion that style contributes to the success of this book.
Tara Cole lives in the Florida Keys, which she tries to convince us is not the paradise we all believe it to be (probably to keep us from going there). Even better she has a boss from hell and does what each one of us wishes that we could do - she gets revenge. And best of all, she starts a business providing revenge gifts for others, so she no longer has to toil for anyone else. I only had to read a few pages to decide that I wanted to be Tara Cole. Despite a great idea for a story and really interesting characters, this book could have fallen flat if not for the excellent writing. Tara is sharp witted and the dialog (internal & external) is the same. I am glad that my local bookstore decided to prominently display this book because I am not sure that I would have otherwise found it. I would definitely recommend this book and look forward to future offerings from this author - although I would not be surprised if they were published in trade size as "chick lit". |
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