Under the Boardwalk Reviews

• A fun beach read

  
  By AX54G5AL870Q8 on 2004-06-11
  Under the Boardwalk by Carly Philips

  Courtesy of WWW.Loveromances.Com

  Here's a great beach read to pass the time away on a long lazy summer afternoon: Carly Phillip's UNDER THE BOARDWALK. It's the story of an identical twin that returns home after years of living apart from her family, to find her twin sister that has gone missing. The novel is funny with a little bit of intrigue and adventure and some romance as well, as Ariana Costas, the main character, does her best to find her sister.

  Ari has never felt that she belonged with her crazy family. Her parents, cousins, aunts and uncles are all a bunch of crazy Greeks who enjoy a good con job to make some instant cash. They don't see their actions as doing anything wrong. They are just trying to earn a living the only way they know how. In addition, as the reader gets involved with the hi-jinks of the Costas family, it is not difficult to fall in love with this zany family. However, Ari always felt she had to be straight-laced and clean, and could not stand living with them. She was embarrassed to be a part of this family. Years ago, she had made a decision to be different from the rest of them, and left home to become a professor at a college in Vermont. Her only reason to return home to New Jersey was because of her sister. Although the two were not as close as they once where, blood is thicker than water.

  Upon her arrival back in town, Ari runs into a good looking man that thinks Ari is her sister Zoe, and although there is some confusion at first, Quinn Donovan realizes it has to be the other twin. Their meeting occurs while Ari becomes a target as live bullets are firing upon her. Quinn saves her life and makes his introduction. Ari finds out that Zoe and Quinn worked together at the local Casino, and Ari feels that the casino holds the clues to her missing sister. While Quinn tells Ari to go home, because she is putting herself in danger by staying, Ari does the opposite and gets herself a job at the casino. She soon finds her life on the line, as she gets closer to the truth about Zoe.

  In the mean time, there are sparks flying between Ari and Quinn, but Ari thinks it's because she has dressed herself up to look more like Zoe, who was always been the more glamorous of the two. Quinn, who unknown to Ari is an undercover detective, finds himself drawn to Ari. There are a number of steamy scenes between the two, amidst the action at the casino. The book ends with a climactic scene at the casino, Ari learns the truth about her sister and as with all romances, there is a happy ending.

  This reviewer enjoyed UNDER THE BOARDWALK for what it was, a beach read. While it wasn't the perfect book, as a casual read it fit the bill. The mix between the mystery behind Zoe's disappearance, the adventures in the casino and the romance between Ari and Quinn did not work well for this reviewer. The book may have been better if there was more emphasis on comedy, especially the Costas family (including their silly little monkey) and less emphasis on the serious themes, such as the subplot of the young foster child that gets involved with the Costas. Although the story was touching, and it helped show off Quinn's personality, this reviewer felt it might have been better to make that story a separate book. Despite these negative points, there were plenty of positives in UNDER THE BOARDWALK, and as a beach read, it's a recommended read. This reviewer gives the book 3 and a half stars.
  
  

• exciting police procedural romance

  
  By AFVQZQ8PW0L on 2004-05-26
  When Vermont based psychology college professor Ariana Costas learns that her twin Zoe is missing and probably dead, she takes a leave of absence and returns to her family home in Ocean Isle, New Jersey. She does not believe Zoe is dead because she has a certain affinity for her sister though they have been estranged for five years since Ariana fled her family of con artists.

  Quinn Donovan is stunned to see Zoe's sister walking on the beach as Zoe promised that Ariana would never come home. Someone fires a shot at Ariana, but Quinn reacts and knocks her down. After he reluctantly gets off her, they talk. He tells her he worked with her mother and her sister at Damon's Casino, but hides his instant attraction to her and that Special Agent Zoe is safe. Ariana informs him she will stay until Zoe comes home. Quinn worries she will destroy his undercover work at the casino trying to prove illegal happenings. As Ariana and Quinn fall in love, he breaks the rules of undercover work for her while worrying about her safety and their future together.

  This exciting police procedural romance works on several levels but readers will especially feel the attraction between the two lead protagonists as well as that of a secondary couple. The vast cast adds depth as Ariana learns what family means through the reactions of a street teen to her likable con artist kin though her constant insistence that she does not belong amongst loved ones becomes irritating. Romantic suspense readers will take immense pleasure with this fine suspense laden tale starring a lovable You Can't take It With You cast.

  Harriet Klausner
  
  

• Would rank it ZERO STARS if I could!

  
  By A1L4Z9PN3WNBVN on 2004-06-30
  I don't understand what the other reviewers saw in this book. It was simply awful. Carly Phillips makes Greek people seem completely nuts. This family as she portrays them, should be locked up. The story about Ari and her sister is boring and contrived. This is Ms. Phillips worst book yet!
  
  

• Awful

  
  By A3AYJYM5R36IFM on 2004-08-09
  This book could have been 100 pages. All Phillips did was reiterate the same psycho bullcrap over and over. I would give it a negative rating if I could.
  
  

• A Fun, Light Romp and a Great Beach Read

  
  By A2F6N60Z96CAJI on 2004-06-21
  Carly Phillips's latest novel, UNDER THE BOARDWALK, takes the reader to New Jersey and inside the world of casinos, the Mafia, and a crazy Greek family not unlike that from the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding. A great beach read, this book has it all --- comedy, danger and, of course, romance --- the perfect book to take with you on vacation or read on a lazy summer afternoon.

  Ariana Costas left New Jersey years ago to escape her crazy Greek family. She grew up being embarrassed by this insane group of con artists, and she did her best to be everything they weren't: conservative, proper and stable. She left behind parents, grandparents, cousins and her twin sister, all of whom seemed destined to live out their lives tied to one another by family loyalty and, quite possibly, by a jail cell. Her family was quite proud that they were all very good at making money the unconventional way. For the Costas family, there was no shame in pickpocketing or conning someone out of their money. It was all in a day's work!

  When Ari returns home to try to find her missing twin sister, she accidentally runs into a very good-looking man who thinks she's her twin, Zoë. Ari finds it hard to believe that anyone can confuse her with Zoë, because Zoë is as unconventional as the rest of the family. Zoë is known as the exciting sexy sister, while Ari is the very conventional, boring one. It doesn't take too long for Quinn Donovan, undercover detective, to figure out who Ari really is. According to Quinn, Zoë is nowhere to be found, but Ari has a feeling that he knows how to help her find her sister.

  Quinn and Ari's first meeting happens to occur while someone is taking a shot at Ari out on the beach, and Quinn saves her life. Once Quinn figures out who she is, he tells Ari to go home. What he doesn't tell her is that she is endangering a secret undercover surveillance, and her actions could very well get her killed if the wrong people saw her, which they already have. But Ari still does not understand why her sister is missing. All she knows is that Quinn and Zoë worked together at the Casino, and now Zoë has disappeared.

  When Ari lies to Quinn and says she is returning home to Vermont and her teaching job at the University, she reappears vamped-up and hot-to-trot, and gets a job at the casino so she can do some detective work of her own to find her missing sister. In the meantime, Quinn and Ari find themselves attracted to each other, which makes matters worse. Ari thinks he is attracted to her because she is starting to dress and behave like her sister, and Quinn is worried that Ari's life is in danger. He knows that if Ari is not careful, her life could be on the line.

  While their adventures at the casino is a major plot line, the action surrounding the Costas family would make a great book on its own. They are constantly up to no good. Add a pet monkey named Spank into the mix, and one has a regular circus. The subplot involving a young teenage foster child named Sam, who Quinn has always looked out for, rounds out the book.

  UNDER THE BOARDWALK is the perfect book to be read during the lazy summer months. A typical beach read, the story is an escape from reality, with plenty of outlandish characters as well as a romance thrown in. The story line involving the casino and the missing sister is told in light comedy fashion, despite the heavy undertones. Anyone expecting literary fiction may want to skip this one, but for a fun and light romp, UNDER THE BOARDWALK is a sure thing.

  ---(...)
  
  

• Boring
  By A1AS50CO86MKKJ on 2004-09-12
  When I finished with this book (and that was a struggle), I kept trying to analyze why it was so tedious. The crazy family part of the book was mildly interesting, but the main characters are simply too nice to be believable. There's not a fault in any of them -- other than a little emotional backwardness -- so there's really no dramatic tension at all, although there's plenty of sophomoric psychology 101, which was way, way overdone. Personally, I like characters with a little bit of an edge to their personalities to keep a book interesting. When you couple unintriguing characters with a very thin plot, you have a deadly dull read.
  
  
• Not Much There
  By A1DA6JWP324VGY on 2004-10-21
  Even as light romantic fiction goes this book just doesn't have a lot of juice. The characters are unrealistic and the story line just doesn't work. The author tried to tell too many stories at the same time and didn't satisfy the reader with any of them. I have read this author's previous novels and found them to be exactly what I expected. Light, by-the-pool reading. But this book just didn't gel with me. Unfortunately the story line was boring and extremely predictable, the characters completely unbelievable and the solutions to conflict too easy. I just couldn't buy this one. I like a little mind candy occasionally but this book didn't satisfy my sweet tooth at all.
  
  
• Not her best or steamiest, but not the worst either
  By ANOBZWKE25SBY on 2005-06-28
  Ari Costas has always felt like a fish out of water when it came to her family. After fleeing for sedate Vermont for the last five years, she returns to her Atlantic City roots and quirky Greek family of con artists, as she searches for her missing (and presumed dead) twin sister, Zoe.
  
  Within hours, she is tackled by Quinn Donovan on the beach when someone takes a shot at her, assuming she is Zoe. Quinn recommends that she go back to Vermont. She is not sure what to think of him, but throws caution to the wind, and gets a job at the casino Zoe worked at to investigate her disappearance and get closer to Quinn, though she does not know that he is a cop deep undercover, and her nosiness could destroy two years of work. As he tries to watch over her, they become involved even deeper, threatening his cover. They think that they are too different - she has a loud, Greek family that she is ashamed of, while he spent most of his youth in foster care.
  
  There is so much packed in to make it funny, like a pocket-picking monkey with a penchant to strip, a lonely runaway in need of a good family, and a odd-ball assortment of relatives that would rather con their way into riches (or don "Addams Family" garb and perform) than get 9 to 5 jobs.
  
  While not exactly worthy of a Pulitzer, it will provide plenty of chuckles and is pure escapism.
  
  
• It was good, but....
  By A136E08VHLJLL1 on 2004-08-13
  Was not as good as her other books. Ms. Phillips really showed her writing talents in "The Bachelor", "The Playboy", and "The Heartbreaker", but this book left something to be desired. There were times when I wanted to put it down and move on to reading something else, but I held out til the end. I like Ms. Phillips books and will continue to buy them, and I can't wait to read her next release.
  
  
• A Struggle of Major Proportions
  By A14C921678XZSZ on 2005-07-15
  I've read some of her other books like "The Bachelor" and the others in its series and I thought that this book would be just as great. Boy am I wrong, the main character Ari was so confused about herself that its a miracle that she can function. She distanced herself from her family because of an ex-boyfriend who gave her an ultimatum to choose between him and her family. I mean really, she made the right choice but then she totally negates it by running away from them. Stupid I say. If anyone said anything negative about my family, they'd be lucky to be alive. I definitely don't run away from them.
  
  This book was definitely pushing it with the investigation. It was definitely vague in details. I don't understand why it took two years to bring this guy down. He seemed such a nit-twit. More interested in the "family jewels". It was a struggle to finish this book and by the time I finished, I had a headache. I believe in finishing a book and its a miracle that I did with this. I gave two stars because anyone who can write a book deserves something.
  
  
• A relaxing read
  By on 2004-07-04
  "Under the Boardwalk" by Carly Phillips is a lay-back, relaxing read. You WILL NOT lose your sleep over this and it won't put you on the edge of your seat, but none the less, it's a light, enjoyable, beach read that is witty and will make you see how "normal" your family is.
  
  
• I thought the author was just saying blah, blah, blah, blah
  By A1WDUGOXQ0PMS2 on 2005-06-26
  I thought I would try a book from this author and I was sorry
  I did.
  
  This books is about a woman named Ava who comes back to her home down to help find her missing twin sister Zoe. As she is on the boardwalk- someone takes a shot at her. Quinn an invesitgator "saves" her from the bullet. Ava and Quinn start a romance the first day they meet- my questions are: If someone takes a shot at you- aren't you alittle scared, nervous, freaking out!! 2- Your twin sister is missing- they presume she might be dead- you start a sexual relationship with the investigator that is helping the family find her?? Aren't you alittle bit upset? Are you that calous that you don't care?
  3- The family ( who dresses like the Adams family ) really doesn't appear that concerned that their daughter is missing- they appear in the book to be "business as usual".
  
  I put this book down because as I was reading it I had so many questions that it made it hard for me to continue.
  
  I felt the author was just putting words down on paper and putting all the papers together to "write a book". It felt like the book just said "blah, blah, blah".
  
  Sorry for the poor rating- but sometimes I think everyone should just know that some books STINK!
  
  Ellen
  
  
• Another fantastic Carly Phillips story!!!
  By A3DVJAYD1Z3C3N on 2004-06-01
  Under the Boardwalk continues to show off the talent of writer Carly Phillips. Ari Costas and Quinn Donovan, both assuming "undercover" roles, give the book many angles. I thought I was reading 2 books at once sometimes. These characters are extremely well rounded and flawed just like the rest of us. I read this book in a day and a half and enjoyed every word. Thank you, Ms. Phillips for another great story and amazing characters.
  
  
• A light-hearted, quirky romance
  By A2QTG1OWAWEFR4 on 2005-05-14
  Five years ago, Ariana Costas escaped to Vermont from her extremely off-beat extended family. As the years pass by, Ariana works hard at becoming a very staid and respected psychology professor at a local university. However her quiet life is turned upside down, when she rushes home to New Jersey upon hearing the news that her identical twin sister Zoe is missing. Her family is as eccentric as they ever were; constantly involved in devising money-making schemes and cons. No one seems at all concerned about Zoe's disappearance. Ariana is determined to find out what happened and goes to work at the bar where her sister once did. Ari as she is known by her family does not anticipate falling in love with Quinn Donovan, Damon's supposed right-hand man. Quinn is not the man he appears to be. Ari breaks down his walls but he has trouble reaching her. Almost all of her family is over-top and pushes the envelope of being believable and realistic. Nevertheless in the end, her family does not seem so terrible, and Quinn manages to convince her not to run and hide anymore.
  
  
• Undercover Cops, Eccentric Family and a Casino
  By A18FUHNBP90IB4 on 2005-08-02
  `Under the Boardwalk' is a light romance suspense novel. Ariana moves back home when her twin sister goes missing and ends up entwined with a handsome undercover cop. Ariana's eccentric Greek family steals the show with a mix of `A Greek Wedding and the Adam's Family. I am off to find more of Carly Phillips books. I would also suggest Kate Angell's book such as `Crazy for you'.
  
  
• Really awful
  By A1ND417BP991LX on 2005-08-02
  What I hated most about this book is that the heroine beats herself up for distancing herself from a family of con artists. I think she did the right thing -- who wants to associate with people you can't trust, even if they are family? Really, she goes on and on and on about this throughout the book, and it got really old. Also, how does a psychology professor manage to be so emotionally immature? There is also the problem of the heroine's "two sides" -- one the uptight professor, the other, a flirty waitress. Which one is she? She spends so much time whining that at this point I didn't care.
  
  
• Not so bad, really
  By A2VI5VNV3WE71V on 2005-09-13
  Wow, im really surprised about all the negative reviews. Its not the best book Ive read, but I can think of SO many others that were truly bad, horrible, make you cringe they are so bad. Im not sure what everyone was expecting, from the reviews you woulf think a documentary. The title is Under the Boardwalk, that is self explanitory for fun beach read, not serous make you think tank kind of book.
  Ok, Ari. She is a woman who thought she knew herself. She does not agree with her family of cons, thinks she is making the right choices by leaving and starting a new life. She is not over he insecurites, but thinks she is. When her sister turns up missing, she comes home to find out she is even more confused than when she left and now has to find herself. She was worried about her sister, but life still goes on, you know. It that twin bond thing. She knew that if something had happened to her sister, she would feel it. She felt for certain that she was alive, she felt it. So, there is that.
  Quinn was ok. Nothing really stands out about him. He an alpha male, pretty good guy for the most part.
  Honeslty, her family that no one likes is one of my favorite parts. They are funny and there are so many off the wall moments. They love their daughter, no matter that she does nto agree with how they live. No family is perfect and while they do scam, the border it on the line of legal. They love their daughter. So, I did not agree with her leaving and not talking ot them really for 5 years. Immature. But that is part of her growing.
  No this book is not as good as some of the others, it was still ok. It was light and fluffy, good for a relaxing read. It was plenty entertaining, a smooth flowing story that had humerous quarks all over. Slight mystery too.
  So, no it is not a searous book. It is a fun light read and I would still reccomend it reguardless of the other reviews. But then I dont usually care what other people think and I want my own opinion.
  This book does not stink, it wont win any awards, but it will keep you entertined.
  
  
• Fast read
  By A15PMDBDY9GWQ2 on 2005-10-14
  I just finished the book at lunch. I have now read everything written by Carly Phillips. I think she's great. The way that Quinn put Ari feelings about her sister first were heart warming. The electricity that was between these two characters was great. Spank the monkey, I could just see in my head the way she acted when Zoe came home. Too funny.
  
  
• Fun, Excitement, Romance...
  By A2BCDP4UNI99M3 on 2006-04-08
  I read Carly Phillips series with the Chandler brothers and just loved them, so I was excited to read this book too. I'm a fan of quick reads - romance novels with some action mixed in. This story had all of that and was a lot of fun to read.
  
  Ariana Costas returns home when she finds out that her twin sister is missing...and presumably dead. For years Ariana was embarrassed by her family (and their conniving ways), so she moved to Vermont and didn't have a great relationship with her sister or her parents. She didn't understand them and they didn't understand her. But, in the time of crisis, she realizes she needs to go home and help the family.
  
  Quinn Donovan is an undercover cop trying to wrap up his undercover case at Damon's Casino. He comes from foster care and doesn't know what it's like to have a family...let alone a crazy one you'd want to run away from. He helps foster kids feel like they have a friend (in him) in his spare time, and especially tries to help a little girl named Sam find a home.
  
  All these characters come together for an exciting adventure. Ari goes to work at the casino in hopes of finding out answers about her sister's disappearance. Of course she meets Quinn and they have instant attraction. Sam gets involved in their story, along with a monkey named Spank, and the Costas family and all their eccentricities. It's a really fun read!
  
  
• ATTENTION GRABBING
  By ABHW662LEDCVF on 2006-06-15
  This book kept my interest from the first chapter on...no skipping forward or cheating by looking to the back. I liked the inter-woven messages of finding new love, but of family and how important family is to each of us. I also enjoy the underlying message the author put in the story of how we often times don't appreciate our families, or the people in our lives, until something happens. This was a great book...steamy love scenes and attention getting...I can't wait to get the follow up to this one.
  
  

• Summer Lovin' (Costas Sisters)
• Body Heat (The Simply Series, Book 4)
• The Heartbreaker (The Chandler Brothers, Book 3)
• The Playboy (The Chandler Brothers, Book 2)
• Hot Item (Hot Zone, Book 3)