Payback

I devoured this story immediately after I finished the previous one, which was the first in the series, which is about a group of seven women (aka The Sisterhood) who help one another get revenge on the people that have wronged them and gotten away with it. The first book was Kathryn's story, in which she was able to get revenge on three men who raped her seven years ago while her disabled husband watched helplessly.

This second book tells Julia's revenge story, in which she is able to repay her serially-cheating husband for giving her HIV and destroying her career as a surgeon. I 100% despised Julia's husband while I was reading this and it was delicious to read how the seven women worked together to make him pay for all of the harm he show more had caused their friend.

These Sisterhood books are light and easy to read, which is what I've been craving lately. They're revenge stories that require the suspension of disbelief. But they're so, so fun and so worth it. These women operate fully outside of the law at great cost to their "real" lives and "real" careers. They're completely loyal to one another, which is really refreshing to read. They all feel so deeply for one another because they have the shared experiences of feeling let down when they've had to pay dearly for the actions of other people. It feels like the more I read of these women, the more I like them. I keep buying up the books so I have them on hand when I want a FUN read. They are not perfect and they're a little outdated, but I'm still enjoying them immensely.

Audiobook Notes: I added the audio to my read again and while I enjoyed listening, there were a few things that annoyed me with the narration. I'm still really weirded out about how old the narrator makes some of the characters sound, even though they're only in their 60's. And for some reason, the narrator used a very Southern accent with one of the main characters, which was jarring. This story is set in Virginia, near Washington DC, so I wouldn't expect the characters to sound like me. (I have a deep drawl and twang.) I'm also somewhat enamored at the way the narrator reads the bad-guy Assistant District Attorney Jack-he has a total villain voice and it almost makes me giggle. At any rate, the fun I had with the story overshadowed these minor annoyances and I may even continue listening to the audiobooks as I breeze through this series.

Title: Payback by Fern Michaels
Series: The Sisterhood #2
Narrator: Laural Merlington
Length: 6 hours, 6 minutes, Unabridged
Publisher: Brilliance Audio show less

Even though I'm reading this series of books, I will confess to being mystified with regards to their popularity! This is the second in the series, and so far both books have shown a lack of plot, imagination and writing. The plot of the book is so absurd, it gives almost superhuman powers to aging spies and governments, and endless humanity and kindness to the heroine, the wealthy heiress. The writing is sort of , southern belle meets gentile handsome gentleman, lots of trite romantic phrases. One can almost imagine some of the female characters occasionally waving their pretty hands over their buxom chests, swooning and saying "Well, Ah declare......" Of course the author attempts to present her ladies as strong, tough as nails women show more of today, but the effort just falls sort of flat in the middle of all the ruckus about ball gowns, makeup and jewels. As I said, I don't have a clue why I read this book or why I'll probably read the next in the series. One thing really good about it though, if you're prepping for a colonoscopy and really can't find yourself able to concentrate on anything of substance, this book is the perfect one to take into the bathroom with you. Ridiculous entertainment, but entertainment nonetheless! show less

Title: Payback (Sisterhood #2)
Author: Fern Michaels
Genre: Romance, Suspense
Challenges: To Be Continued…Challenge, 101 Books in 1001 Days Challenge, Book Around the States Challenge (Virginia), 2009 Support Your Local Library, Romance Reading Challenge 2009, 20 Books in 2009, 2009 Second Chances, Pages Read Challenge, States & Countries (OnThePorchSwing)

Rating: 4/5
No. of Pages: 304
Published: 2005
From the back:
Once the hallmark of macho fantasy, payback moves to the heart of modern romance in the spotty second installment of Michaels's Revenge of the Sisterhood series, as the heroines of Weekend Warriors regroup for mission number 2. Revenge is a dish best served with cloth napkins and floral centerpiece, according to the Sisterhood show more members: heiress Myra Rutledge; her adopted daughter, Nikki; Kathryn, the truck driver; Alexis, the African-American broker turned personal shopper; Julia, the plastic surgeon; Isabelle, the psychic; and Yoko, the nursery owner. It's vigilante justice for Julia this time: she's "contracted AIDS from her philandering senator husband." Frail Julia gets strength from her friends and guidance from Myra's lover, Charles, an ex-MI6 British operative and gourmet cook who plays a different kind of Charlie to Myra's Angels. ("Now, girls," says Myra, "let's devour this wonderful luncheon Charles has so wonderfully prepared so we can get to work and do what we do best: going after the scoundrels who have turned your worlds upside down.") Charles arranges invites to an exclusive Washington party where the gorgeous avengers kidnap the senator, but a good-looking assistant district attorney threatens to interfere with their plans (if only he and Nikki weren't out to right past wrongs, they could rekindle their old passion!). Michaels grinds out bestsellers by concocting videogenic plots filled with strong heroines and effortless costume changes. Her fast-paced, sentimental, occasionally silly novel puts poetic justice first; romance must wait for the next installment.

Mine:
What a great series – albeit it is probably better to read in order. I love the way the Sisters manage to get around the red tape. They are using vigilante justice, but no one seems to get hurt. They are just trying to get the justice that is deserved the for the wrong doings of others. Julia’s wonderful Senator husband has fooled around and managed to give her AIDS or at least the HIV virus and it is starting to take it’s toll.

The Sisters are there to get him and put him in his place. show less

Publishers Weekly Review: Once the hallmark of macho fantasy, payback moves to the heart of modern romance in the spotty second installment of Michaels's Revenge of the Sisterhood series, as the heroines of Weekend Warriors regroup for mission number 2. Revenge is a dish best served with cloth napkins and floral centerpiece, according to the Sisterhood members: heiress Myra Rutledge; her adopted daughter, Nikki; Kathryn, the truck driver; Alexis, the African-American broker turned personal shopper; Julia, the plastic surgeon; Isabelle, the psychic; and Yoko, the nursery owner. It's vigilante justice for Julia this time: she's 'contracted AIDS from her philandering senator husband.' Frail Julia gets strength from her friends and guidance show more from Myra's lover, Charles, an ex-MI6 British operative and gourmet cook who plays a different kind of Charlie to Myra's Angels. ('Now, girls,' says Myra, 'let's devour this wonderful luncheon Charles has so wonderfully prepared so we can get to work and do what we do best: going after the scoundrels who have turned your worlds upside down.') Charles arranges invites to an exclusive Washington party where the gorgeous avengers kidnap the senator, but a good-looking assistant district attorney threatens to interfere with their plans (if only he and Nikki weren't out to right past wrongs, they could rekindle their old passion!). Michaels grinds out bestsellers by concocting videogenic plots filled with strong heroines and effortless costume changes. Her fast-paced, sentimental, occasionally silly novel puts poetic justice first; romance must wait for the next installment. show less

This book is the second in the sisterhood series. Julia's case is chosen as the mission. Her husband is a senator who is not on the up and up. Read it to see what happens to senators who lie and cheat on their wives. I thought this book was as good as the first in the series.

This is Fern Michaels second book in her Revenge of the Sisterhood series. Each of the ladies in the group has been unjustly served by the legal system. This is Dr. Julia Webster's story and how she was "used" by her husband, a U.S. senator.

The women pay back the Chinese diplomat's son by skinning and flogging him with banboo. Brutal.