Stella Cameron
Author of Kiss Them Goodbye
About the Author
Stella Cameron was born and raised on the southern coast of England where she met her American husband at a party in London. After their marriage, she left England and went with husband Jerry to Washington State to make a home and raise a family. Like many authors, Stella began her literary career show more as a reader. As a young girl, Stella was a self-professed reading "addict", devouring all types of literature. She learned very early to retreat from the demands of others into a gentler world -- her own. As a child and a young adult, books saved her because they helped free her while they entertained her. Her love of reading always went side-by-side with her love of writing. Nineteenth-century author Jane Austen was a particular favorite, and Stella admits that she particularly enjoys reading and writing books set in the 1800s, as well as contemporary novels. In 1980, Stella decided she wanted to write professionally. She attended writing classes and wrote short literary fiction for a year. It was during this period that Stella discovered how well-written and intense romantic fiction could be. Using her newly acquired writing skills, she began to write contemporary romantic fiction for Harlequin Americans and Intrigues. After several years, she moved up to Harlequin SuperRomances. In 1992, she made the switch to single titles with her first historical, Only By Your Touch. She has also authored a series entitled Rossmara Quartet along with several other romance titles. Stella Cameron sees herself as an entertainer and historian who adds her perspective to contemporary values through writing. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Disambiguation Notice:
Stella Cameron also writes as Jane Worth Abbott with Virginia Myers and as Alicia Brandon with Linda Rice.
Series
Works by Stella Cameron
To Love and to Honor (Bargain Bride / Bride of the Wildcat Purchase / Store-Bought Woman / High Sheriff of Huntingdon) (1993) 49 copies
SUMMER LOVE : Early in the morning — Contributor — 2 copies
Dead End 2 copies
On the Edge (A Coral Kiss / French Quarter / Blue Rules) — Contributor — 1 copy
We Do! 1 copy
Associated Works
Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women: Romance Writers on the Appeal of the Romance (1992) — Contributor — 239 copies, 2 reviews
Summer Love (Straight from the Heart / Summer Fantasy / Early in the Morning / Sultry) (1997) — Contributor — 57 copies, 1 review
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Other names
- Abbott, Jane Worth (with Virginia Myers)
Brandon, Alicia (with Linda Rice) - Birthdate
- 1943-12-05
- Gender
- female
- Short biography
- Stella Cameron was born on December 5, 1943 on the southern coast of England. As a young girl, she was a self-professed reading "addict", devouring all types of literature. Stella met her American husband at a party in London. After their marriage, she left England and went with husband Jerry to Washington State to make a home and raise a family. They live near Seattle, and have three children, one married. Her pets, a dog named Spike and a cat named Raven, are her constant buddies.
In 1980, Stella decided she wanted to write professionally. She attended writing classes and wrote short literary fiction for a year. It was during this period that Stella discovered how well-written and intense romantic fiction could be. Using her newly acquired writing skills, she began to write contemporary romantic fiction for Harlequin since 1985. She collaborated with Linda Rice as Alicia Brandon and with Virginia Myers as Jane Worth Abbott. Now, she is the New York Times, USA Today, and Washington Post bestselling, award-winning author of more than 50 historical and contemporary romantic suspense novels and novellas. Stella has won numerous awards and accolades. - Nationality
- UK
USA - Birthplace
- England, UK
- Places of residence
- England, UK (birth)
Seattle, Washington, USA - Disambiguation notice
- Stella Cameron also writes as Jane Worth Abbott with Virginia Myers and as Alicia Brandon with Linda Rice.
- Associated Place (for map)
- Seattle, Washington, USA
Members
Reviews
I picked this one up, thinking it would be a fast, easy read. Which it is. It is, however, of the genre "romantic suspense", as best as I can make out. Which means there is a mystery here and danger, but much of the story is about the two perfect 30-something people who find each other and fall in love. Several times I waded through pages of the leadup to sex and the actual sex (or not), and it was, to me, not titillating but rather annoying.
I prefer characters who are less perfect, more show more interesting.
As to the story, Dr. Reb O'Brien lives in the small town of Toussant, Louisiana, and tends to the locals as well as consults as medical examiner as needed. She was on call when a young woman appeared to fall to her death in a church tower. The woman, Bonnie, was drunk so the police theory was that she fell accidentally.
Enter Marc Girard, searching for his sister Amy, who believes Bonnie was actually Amy. He has been living elsewhere and running a successful architectural firm, but he is obsessed with finding his sister, who has not been in his life for a long time.
The two meet, the two find some common ground while examining recent deaths, and then danger enters.
You can figure out generally how it goes. show less
I prefer characters who are less perfect, more show more interesting.
As to the story, Dr. Reb O'Brien lives in the small town of Toussant, Louisiana, and tends to the locals as well as consults as medical examiner as needed. She was on call when a young woman appeared to fall to her death in a church tower. The woman, Bonnie, was drunk so the police theory was that she fell accidentally.
Enter Marc Girard, searching for his sister Amy, who believes Bonnie was actually Amy. He has been living elsewhere and running a successful architectural firm, but he is obsessed with finding his sister, who has not been in his life for a long time.
The two meet, the two find some common ground while examining recent deaths, and then danger enters.
You can figure out generally how it goes. show less
Willow Millet and Ben Fortune are members of prominent paranormal families in New Orleans, but Willow just wants to be "normal." When the supernatural monsters that threatened her sister, Marley, seem to be coming after Willow, she has to begin to accept her "powers" and join forces with Ben to fight them.
It's an interesting premise, and the chemistry between the characters is extremely genuine and compelling. However, the execution is a little confusing. I wasn't always sure what was show more happening and I didn't get a good picture of the "Embran" in my head. I'm sure the author has a clear view in her mind, but I didn't feel like it translated to the page. There were also several times during the steamy parts when what she was describing between the characters didn't seem humanly, physically possible, which was distracting. The worst was the climactic fight scene. I had to read it several times because the first time it didn't make any sense at all. The second time, I kinda got what was happening, but had to revise my idea of spatial relations, in particular the size of the "birdcage", as it seems it's big enough for a full sized human person to fight a monster in. The third time, I think it got it, but it was almost too much happening at one time for a person to wrap their mind around.
Unfortunately, these things really spoiled my enjoyment of the story. I was left feeling like it could have been so much better in the hands of a more skilled author. I've felt this way before about Cameron's work; largely solid plot threads; good, dynamic, genuine characters with great chemistry; but the execution, the writing itself, is off. show less
It's an interesting premise, and the chemistry between the characters is extremely genuine and compelling. However, the execution is a little confusing. I wasn't always sure what was show more happening and I didn't get a good picture of the "Embran" in my head. I'm sure the author has a clear view in her mind, but I didn't feel like it translated to the page. There were also several times during the steamy parts when what she was describing between the characters didn't seem humanly, physically possible, which was distracting. The worst was the climactic fight scene. I had to read it several times because the first time it didn't make any sense at all. The second time, I kinda got what was happening, but had to revise my idea of spatial relations, in particular the size of the "birdcage", as it seems it's big enough for a full sized human person to fight a monster in. The third time, I think it got it, but it was almost too much happening at one time for a person to wrap their mind around.
Unfortunately, these things really spoiled my enjoyment of the story. I was left feeling like it could have been so much better in the hands of a more skilled author. I've felt this way before about Cameron's work; largely solid plot threads; good, dynamic, genuine characters with great chemistry; but the execution, the writing itself, is off. show less
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
In Cold, Stella Cameron introduces amateur sleuth Alex Duggins in what will hopefully be a long series. Alex has returned to Folly-on-Weir, the Cotswold village of her youth, after her high-flying London marriage fell apart. She bought the local pub and a big stone house in the hills. But when she finds a dead body in the snowy woods, her little village doesn't seem quite so cozy.
Cameron knows how to spin a tale, with an authentic setting and plenty of village characters, including a pair of show more bookish spinster sisters with a tea shop, a handsome childhood buddy now all grown up, horsey rich manor owners, wandering monks, and a pub-full of possible suspects. Add a blizzard, a sharp-eyed detective, and a galloping plot and Cold is a great way to spend a winter weekend. show less
Cameron knows how to spin a tale, with an authentic setting and plenty of village characters, including a pair of show more bookish spinster sisters with a tea shop, a handsome childhood buddy now all grown up, horsey rich manor owners, wandering monks, and a pub-full of possible suspects. Add a blizzard, a sharp-eyed detective, and a galloping plot and Cold is a great way to spend a winter weekend. show less
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced reading copy of this book. The views expressed are my own.
The story begins with Alex Duggins rescuing a man from a burning construction trailer. Inside however, there is a dead body and police begin their investigation. Soon a second body is found, a person somehow related to the first one and the actions heats up to find whether there is a connection. The police seem suspicious of Alex, thinking she knows more than she show more is telling them.
This is the fifth in a series of mystery novels featuring Ms. Duggins. She owns and successfully operates a country inn, pub and restaurant in southwest England. Her mother, Lily, and Hugh Rhys help out. Tony, a local veterinarian is her romantic interest, hoping to get a commitment to more than friendship from Alex. ) There's an assortment of other characters apparently carried over from earlier books in the series. Everyone seems to have a dog or two, which fits in well with the rural England atmosphere.
While the murder investigation is going on, Alex's mother Lily is going through a crisis in her life, which also affects Alex. Lily raised Alex as a single mother and never told Alex the identity of her father The death of Lily's own mother, from who she was estranged, brings things to a head, albeit with plenty of melodrama.
From the beginning the story is woven with a sense of dread, A reader can sense that bad things are going on and things are going to get worse before getting better.. Alex is threatened by the son of the man she saved from the fire while his wife cozies up to her. Gladys, a long time friend of Alex and her mother starts acting strangely and mysteriously disappears for short periods of time without explanation. When Gladys's closest friend is killed, things seem to spiral out of control.
While this can be read as a standalone, the characters will likely mean more to a reader who has read the previous books in the series.
Recommended for its complex mystery, interesting characters and strong atmosphere. show less
The story begins with Alex Duggins rescuing a man from a burning construction trailer. Inside however, there is a dead body and police begin their investigation. Soon a second body is found, a person somehow related to the first one and the actions heats up to find whether there is a connection. The police seem suspicious of Alex, thinking she knows more than she show more is telling them.
This is the fifth in a series of mystery novels featuring Ms. Duggins. She owns and successfully operates a country inn, pub and restaurant in southwest England. Her mother, Lily, and Hugh Rhys help out. Tony, a local veterinarian is her romantic interest, hoping to get a commitment to more than friendship from Alex. ) There's an assortment of other characters apparently carried over from earlier books in the series. Everyone seems to have a dog or two, which fits in well with the rural England atmosphere.
While the murder investigation is going on, Alex's mother Lily is going through a crisis in her life, which also affects Alex. Lily raised Alex as a single mother and never told Alex the identity of her father The death of Lily's own mother, from who she was estranged, brings things to a head, albeit with plenty of melodrama.
From the beginning the story is woven with a sense of dread, A reader can sense that bad things are going on and things are going to get worse before getting better.. Alex is threatened by the son of the man she saved from the fire while his wife cozies up to her. Gladys, a long time friend of Alex and her mother starts acting strangely and mysteriously disappears for short periods of time without explanation. When Gladys's closest friend is killed, things seem to spiral out of control.
While this can be read as a standalone, the characters will likely mean more to a reader who has read the previous books in the series.
Recommended for its complex mystery, interesting characters and strong atmosphere. show less
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