"The Search" discussion...Part Two
Now onto Simon...have your opinions changed yet about Simon? I think hes a rough tough cream puff! All tough on the outside but softy down deep. And I think he is really starting to fall in love with Fiona. Real love. In her, in her personality and in her traits. Obviously not her looks becaue he claims he doesn't think she is beautiful...I beg to differ with him! Ha ha... I have to say, I did start to lock the windows after he left the red scarf and killed the one woman so viciously...Erckle is scary...an ordinary man, a teacher to boot, holding all that violence and insanity inside until now...makes you look at people a little differently! But again, the "training" always comes into play in this book...Fiona training the dogs...Perry training Erckle...everyone has the control thing going on! The spa vacation sounded heavenly. I thought the killer was going to track here there. And I don't like the news woman so much so far... Wondering...if you were Fiona, would you ahve gone to a safe house? what would you do differently than she did? I am loving the book, loving how the dog training is actually playing a major part in the book and hate Perry, Erkle and the news woman!!!! |
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| What is spooky is how Fiona is so vulnerable.....due to her own actions! The blog! Sure it has helped her business, but has also allowed a stalker to know where she is. Whopee, she didn't mention the spa visit before hand, but a stalker is patient. Kinda makes you think maybe you ought to change your name after a major trauma such as that......might help keep the media away from you at least. Yeah, it is a book about control: resistance as in Simon and Fiona to fear and well has behavior for the dogs and the bad guys. Also devotion: Simon, the dogs and the evil doer to his master..for awhile. |
| I also think fiona is a little niave. I think she believes her dogs will protect her as well as Jaws and Simon. I'm really liken Simon alot. He is a little rough and gruff but has a heart of gold. But he can't control Fiona and is worried about her. The training is enjoyable but the trainig of the stalker is interesting. Now that he has changed things up by sending the scarf in the mail, how will he deviate? I think that woman reporter is very irresponsibe like much of it is today. I haven't had a chance to get to book 3 yet but hopefully tonight. I REALLY REALLY REALLY HOPE NOTHING HAPPENS TO THE DOGS!!!! |
| I like Simon also, wonder if something happened before he moved to the island that makes him more standoffish. I have not gotten the impression that he is up to no good and I like him very much. I have enjoyed some of the training hints but do know since we tried. that if Butchy jumps up, walking into him didn't stop him. Maybe it's me but it seems like the dogs she's training learn much quicker than mine ever did, maybe different breeds do learn faster and again the trainer probably is the real culprit. |
I think most people who read this book aren't as "picky" with her training methods as we all are  Most of us have done at least a little training with our dogs and are pretty confident nothing was learned completely in one short session! My first OES was almost four years old when we got our CD title - and that was putting in work, training, every single day...What bothers me about Fiona thinking her dogs can save her from a madman is the fact that her fiance's dog got killed ( as did her fiance) by the crazy Perry...what makes her think this Perry prodigy won't kill her dogs to get to her???? Some of this book reminds me of "The Slience of the Lambs" with that crazy Hannibal Lechter. Thast book scared me too!!! |
| Diane, good point and that dog killed was a trained police dog. All you can really hope for is some notice from the dogs....if they aren't harmed first. |
| I enjoyed this book--I have warmed up to Simon and think he is basically a good guy and of course he has fallen in love with Fiona. I did enjoy his perspective on the Spa trip. The search and rescue segments have been interesting to me and I DO think that somehow this will be a factor with the killer in the end. As always the chapters involving the killer give me the creeps. Eckle is particularly creepy and it gives me chills to know that he was a teacher before 'finding himself' and becoming a student of Perry. Ultimately I think he will turn out to be somewhat of an idiot. The media is portrayed rather accurately in my opinion. It is always about the story--not the safety of the people involved. I do think that Fiona is portrayed as somewhat naive especially after what she experienced with Perry--but I guess that gives a little more of a sense of suspense. I have enjoyed the dogs and the training segments however I do agree that it seems a little too smooth and Jaws seems to learn very quickly --the author keeps making the point through the story that he is especially 'quick' and a particularly special dog. I will finish the book tomorrow--looking forward to part 3. I still like my picks for the characters--Angie Harmon and Benjamen Bratt--I think they fit the characters (maybe a little better a few years ago in age  |
| Yep, I now MAKE SURE the door is locked when I am home, almost to the point of obsession. My fear is that one of the dogs will be hurt also. Pointing out that Jaws is a quick study...will he end up saving Fiona? One of the thoughts that crossed my mind...making Fee suffer would be to kidnap one of her close friends. Just something new to think about. I'm trying to read ahead to get this book finished(not that I'm not enjoying it)...I'm starting to get dreams(nightmares)about it  |
| At this juncture of the book, I like Simon. I think Fiona is way too lax about her security. Seems like she'd be scarred from her past and have a paranoia but that doesn't seem to be the case. I'd be more worried that the serial killer would get my dogs. And if she's even close the animal lover most of us are which I think you'd have to be to be a dog trainer? I don't know why she's not more concerned about protecting them, as well as herself. Hate the reporter. I think the author writes good characters so you can form an opinion of a character right away. Would you be writing a blog if you knew someone was stalking you? Unless it was intentional to confuse. I don't really like serial killer stuff, that's my husband's thing........But I think the book is well balanced and doesn't dwell too much on any particular thing so that it's a turnoff. But the whole killer thing is creepy. |
| I'm at work and don't the book with (which I finished a long time ago! )...so I don't want to give anything away accidentally. I do remember the middle section passed by quite quickly and I enjoyed watching the roles of the characters grow. The reporter role is actually quite interesting! On previous discussions about the training and the examples of Fiona teaching Jaws -learning new skills really quickly, like in a few minutes - that part can be so true. I do this every week with my students' dogs...they are rookies, they get frustrated, and I just feel compelled (yep, can't take it anymore) to take their dog and show the human half of the team that it is possible and their dog is not stupid. Weekly I have amazed handlers who can't believe I take their dog and have them doing something in a couple minutes, that they couldn't do after trying all week. It's just a skill...and likely a mix of ability and experience that some of us have. Imagine me going through new beginners, most who never have trained.  They have so much to learn.It actually takes a huge amount of restraint for me to let people work it out themselves...kind of like wanting to finish sentences for people!  But sometimes I just need to intervene and help them out. Timing is important - not too soon or they want you to train their dog for them all the time , but not too late where they are frustrated and give up. |
| I think most of dog training is actually teaching the HUMAN what to do and waht not to do! I'm hoping the killer doesn't snatch one of the dogs - that would be more torture to Fee than anything else...I find Erckle more creepy than Perry. In fact I find Perry and Fee to be somewaht similiar...organized, precise, patient...only Fee is the kind version and Perry the evil. Fee probably figures she is safe on such a remote island - with everyone knowing everyone.Plus its more difficult to escape since you can only get there by boat. But he did manage to sneak in and leave the scarf without notice... Throughout Part One and Two, I loved all the characters and think Roberts did a good job describing each one. I can actually picture them all in my mind...and I can picture Fee's house. The setting is truly lovely! |
Simon's Mom wrote: Yep, I now MAKE SURE the door is locked when I am home, almost to the point of obsession. My fear is that one of the dogs will be hurt also. Pointing out that Jaws is a quick study...will he end up saving Fiona? One of the thoughts that crossed my mind...making Fee suffer would be to kidnap one of her close friends. Just something new to think about. I'm trying to read ahead to get this book finished(not that I'm not enjoying it)...I'm starting to get dreams(nightmares)about it I thought the same about grabbing one of her friends. Either would be a deviation for Mr Creepy. Guess Simon is okay afterall, especially after the flowers. Continuing to find the training tips helpful. Charm can't jump when I walk forward. So good reading and more human training.  A little too much detail and conversation between Simon and Fee in some parts. Three pages of gun talk and then, the argument. This chilling book is my fav kind, so I'm enjoying it immensely. Just started part 3! |
I still don't care for Simon.  I know he's supposed to be sweet on the inside, but I think he needs to tell Fee how he really feels. I guess I just don't go for the grouchy types.The spa trip sounded fantastic! I could really go for a manicure and pedicure about now. The strawberries and champagne sound heavenly.  I really hope nothing bad happens to Fiona and her dogs.  |
| I've basically decided this format of book discussion won't work for me.... I belong to a book forum as well and we've always discussed it after we read it. There are separate threads for people who read slower etc and then a main thread for any given book that is for people who have read the whole thing or don't care about spoilers.... I enjoyed the book, hope the rest of you do as well |
| Speaking of the Spa trip, I think it's funny how a luxury spa with manicures and pedicures etc is such a default "women's break/vacation". Because I know Kim would hate a spa trip, she would hate hate pedicures/manicures and all the rest. I sympathize with Kim, I hate my 10 minute twice-annual trips to the barber. Though, drinking champagne with friends around a fire in a cottage would be ok. |
| Yes, I agree with willowsprite. I am finding it difficult to even ask questions about the book as we go along. I'm afraid I may ahve already read the protions ahead of time and may ruin something! I think for the next book we will all read it in total and then discuss it. I agree with willowsprite it is easier that way and more engaging for everyone... |
Baba wrote: Speaking of the Spa trip, I think it's funny how a luxury spa with manicures and pedicures etc is such a default "women's break/vacation". Because I know Kim would hate a spa trip, she would hate hate pedicures/manicures and all the rest. I sympathize with Kim, I hate my 10 minute twice-annual trips to the barber. Though, drinking champagne with friends around a fire in a cottage would be ok. Waiting for Kim to chime in on this.... Personally, manicures and pedi's do nothing for me but, the all over body massage would be Heaven. Then again just a good shoulder massage sounds really good. |
Simon's Mom wrote: Baba wrote: Speaking of the Spa trip, I think it's funny how a luxury spa with manicures and pedicures etc is such a default "women's break/vacation". Because I know Kim would hate a spa trip, she would hate hate pedicures/manicures and all the rest. I sympathize with Kim, I hate my 10 minute twice-annual trips to the barber. Though, drinking champagne with friends around a fire in a cottage would be ok. Waiting for Kim to chime in on this.... Personally, manicures and pedi's do nothing for me but, the all over body massage would be Heaven. Then again just a good shoulder massage sounds really good. David is right (and I don't say that often ), I am not a spa girl. I get my hair done (I turned completely white at 25 and David gets a face on him at the thought of me going natural-he mumbles something about even his mom not having grey hair ) but I don't enjoy the process at all. However massages are different-of course I mean proper, therapeutic, given by a registered massage therapist massages. So I would never turn down the gift of a professional massage!As for the book club, I might join in for the next one but I just can't do romance novels so was going to sit this one out. I know that Nora Roberts is the best in the genre and that her style does vary from the typical romance novel, although she still follows the formula. It is just that I have read so many of these as a teen and young adult and I think that they messed up my thinking in terms of how a good relationship develops. I really did think for a long time, as a young woman, that relationships had to be fraught with peril and angst. So having read hundreds, and I mean hundreds, of this kind of book I just don't think that I can do it anymore. I did try, I got through the first chapters. Brooding, grumpy male lead, perky, skinny (as always, the female leads are always waifs-something I always found annoying, like only skinny women are lovable), some kind of calamity about to happen, etc. etc. But it was the rawhide and tennis balls that got me! Rawhide and tennis balls! So while I am not reading the book, I am still enjoying reading your comments. If I hadn't already read so many of these books, I would have jumped right in! |
| Ha ha, Mady's parents! I join you! I am not a spa girl either! I actualluy HATE anyone touching my feet so pedicaures from a stranger are out...The only hands I like giving me a masage are my husbands. I am too germ phobic for a stranger to touch my body at all!!! But the idea of a spa weekend does sound good...I also like the smell of coffee but hate the taste...so, sometimes things sound fantastic and are just not for me! |
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