Saint's Gate (Sharpe & Donovan)

Great mystery. The descriptions of the locales superb. Religious symbolism in art and life in the covent of joyful sisters described in great detail. Enjoyable overall read. My complaint would be with the romance portion. Hero, read alpha male loner with authority issues, never even said, "I love you." No HEA in this one only an , " I'll be back." I hope so, as I would like to read more of these characters adventures. Maybe the next book could work a little more on character development and romance. I think what made me drop a whole point of the rating was when Colin tells his friend, the priest, we are family (after having doubts about his honesty throughout) but all he could choke out to Emma was I'll be back. Really, this is what the author thought was closure?

I will probably buy the next one but will check the synopsis prior to doing so.

4 STARS
Emma Sharpe is a different Heroin. She is a FBI Agent with a special unit. Her family is known as art detectives, finding stolen art and returning it to right owners. Em ma worked for her family in the Irish office with her grandfather. Before that she was getting ready to be a Nun. I like Emma she is smart, cares about others and determined to find out who killed the nun and why did the nun really call Emma to come to the Convent and look at a picture.
Colin Donovan is on vaction from his undercover job for the FBI. When his friend Father Bracken asks him to look into the murder of Sister Joan. Who's body was found by FBI agent Emma.
The mystery is who killed the Sister Joan and why did she call Emma? Why did she not tell any of the other sisters especially Mother Lindon. Is a painting missing?
I was involved in the story waiting to see who the killer was. What was missing. I am glad their is going to be another book with Emma and
Colin. I want to read it too.
Their seems to be a lot of connections to the Maine coast small towns and Ireland. Father Bracken is on a exchange for a year to Maine while the Father he replaced is over to Ireland for a year. Sharpes has an office in Ireland and main office in Maine. Colin has been on a case to Ireland. Few others had been their too.
I was given this ebook to read in exchange of honest review from Netgalley.

4 STARS
Emma Sharpe is a different Heroin. She is a FBI Agent with a special unit. Her family is known as art detectives, finding stolen art and returning it to right owners. Em ma worked for her family in the Irish office with her grandfather. Before that she was getting ready to be a Nun. I like Emma she is smart, cares about others and determined to find out who killed the nun and why did the nun really call Emma to come to the Convent and look at a picture.
Colin Donovan is on vaction from his undercover job for the FBI. When his friend Father Bracken asks him to look into the murder of Sister Joan. Who's body was found by FBI agent Emma.
The mystery is who killed the Sister Joan and why did she call Emma? Why did she not tell any of the other sisters especially Mother Lindon. Is a painting missing?
I was involved in the story waiting to see who the killer was. What was missing. I am glad their is going to be another book with Emma and
Colin. I want to read it too.
Their seems to be a lot of connections to the Maine coast small towns and Ireland. Father Bracken is on a exchange for a year to Maine while the Father he replaced is over to Ireland for a year. Sharpes has an office in Ireland and main office in Maine. Colin has been on a case to Ireland. Few others had been their too.
I was given this ebook to read in exchange of honest review from Netgalley.

Emma Sharpe's family has always been well known in the field of art criminals and crimes, but she went a slightly different way with her life. Emma is an FBI agent in an elite group where her knowledge of art crimes is a major asset. However, today another part of Emma's past is about to meet up with her present. Emma is answering a call for help from one of the sisters from Sisters of the Joyful Heart, a nunnery that specializes in art restoration and teaching, when death came calling.

Colin Donovan is home on a much needed vacation. Colin is a deep undercover FBI agent who just finished a mission that took a lot out of him. The last thing Colin needed was to be called from his vacation by two different friends about the same matter. One an Irish priest who just heard about a nun who was killed and the other is Emma's boss who is worried about what she might have fallen into. Colin agrees to take a look at the situation and travels to Emma's hometown and the nunnery.

When a sexy so called lobsterman suddenly appears around Emma, she knows he is much more than that. Learning that Colin is also an FBI agent doesn't surprise Emma or the knowledge that he knows her boss. Colin might not know much about art or art crimes but he knows a lot about crimes in general and he knows that there is something strange about this murder. As Colin and Emma come to terms on working this case, as not quite partners, they are also beginning to feel an attraction that neither is sure if they want it at this point in their lives. Following the clues leads Emma and Colin into the past that involves both the nunnery and Emma's family. Answers are being discovered and danger seems to be following the sisters and Emma's family. If that isn't enough, Emma and Colin are also dealing with an intense passion. When the killer is found lives are on the line and it will take all the moves and knowledge that Emma and Colin have to make sure that when morning breaks everyone will be there to see it.

It takes missing art, nuns, a priest and a killer to bring two FBI agents together in Saint's Gate. While their meeting was a bit unusual, I loved watching Emma and Colin circle each other and work on finding a killer. I could see why both Emma and Colin thought that now just wasn't a good time to begin a relationship, but when fate brings your match sometimes you just have to work with what you have. The suspense was very intriguing and well done from beginning to the end. I didn't figure out the killer until just before their identity was revealed. I enjoyed watching Colin come to terms with Emma's past while falling in love with her just as I loved watching Emma fall for Colin even knowing his job could take him away at any time. While the suspense is the focal point, I could follow loves path as it brought Emma and Colin together. Saint's Gate is a spine tingling suspense with just the right touch of romance to bring a sigh by the last page. I personally will be watching and waiting for the next book that will take Emma and Colin further on their romantic path.

Jo
For Joyfully Reviewed

At the Sisters of the Joyful Heart, Sister Joan Mary Fabriani asks FBI special agent Emma Sharpe to visit her. An art expert and former novice at the monastery, Emma agrees to see her art conservationist mentor.

The Fed drops what she was doing in Jersey and heads to Maine to learn what troubled Sister Joan who wonders if Mother Linden hid an original Rembrandt for forty years. However just after she arrives with a cold greeting by her host, someone kills Sister Joan and the potential masterpiece is stolen. Emma teams up with undercover agent Colin Donovan who was asked by Father Finian Bracken to learn why a Fed was seeing Sister Joan. They soon follow clues involving art theft to Ireland where her grandfather started Sharpe Fine Art Recovery, but an unknown adversary seems to be one step ahead of them.

This is a fast-paced romantic suspense starring two intriguing Feds falling in love at a time neither can afford the distraction as they work the case. Although the past seems over the top of Mt. Katahdin, sub-genre readers will enjoy the investigation as the bantering pair fuss, fight and fall in love. Reader will enjoy Saint's gate and helpfully have further Sharpe romantic mysteries in Maine and Ireland.

Harriet Klausner

Carla does it again! Amazing book! This is a great Romantic Suspense book that has it all in there! I loved the interesting past of Emma and her family. Very intriguing, don't let the word "saint" in the title fool you!

I love to Carla's FBI books, though this is a new one, I hope to see more of Emma and Colin. Mrs. Neggers writes so well about Ireland, she takes you right to the spot and you can imagine yourself right along for the ride while drinking your "Irish Whiskey".

I don't like to put to much of the "Story" in my reviews because I hope others will read the story and give their own review. But this book was a much anticipated book and it held up to the star's I gave it!

Congratulations Carla on another Best Seller in my book!

This story is ridiculous, but I plowed through it. Situations happen that are just dumb (like Ainsley meeting the priest Finian on the street and inviting him to her house immediately or Agent Colin Donovan who is reluctant to keep an eye on Emma and then becomes her shadow instantly- even sleeping in her bed the first night they meet. Inconsistent behavior). It seems like the characters are forced to say and do crazy, far-fetched things to make the weak plot work. I don't know how this book got so many rave reviews.

I won't rehash the plot, because several other reviewers have already done that. I have to say, that I love Carla Neggers. I've read and re-read all of her books. This one may need a re-read because at times it seemed to both jump around and ramble. I ended up feeling like I overlooked something, like are these people minor characters in another book? The heroine was likeable, but I'm still not sure how I felt about the hero. The romance was only lukewarm. Also, the retelling of earlier established information was distracting. I got it - you told me already.
All in all, this is a good read, but not a great one. I was left feeling like I missed something.

This book was included in the Kindle/Special Offers selections of "romance" for $1. As you can tell from earlier reviewers, this is far more than the stereotypical romance fiction. With the colorful descriptions of the Maine coast, the insights into the art restoration and convent worlds, and the intrigue that builds throughout the story - this was an enjoyable read. I'll be looking for more of Neggers work!

Saint's Gate has excitement and adventure on every page you turn. Romance arises amongst a conflict which makes for a bit more enjoyment. Colorful, well-rounded characters keep you guessing the real truth till the very end. Ms. Neggers is a talented author and again does not disappoint the reader.

Matilda
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More

The characters and plot in this book seemed fake to me. I didn't believe for a minute that Emma Sharpe would so quickly fall for Colin Donovan. Nor did I buy the attraction of Ainsley D'Auberville for Father Bracken. And, the speed with which the FBI moved was unbelievable. For me there was virtually no suspense.

Another amazing mystery that kept me guessing to the end. I love the way Carla Neggers weaves such intricate plots, develops characters I fall in love with and vivid scenes that burst to life in my imagination. I particarly enjoyed the connection with Emma's past in this story. Well, well done!

SAINTS GATE is what I expect from Carla Neggers. The plot--old threads pulled into the present, the convent--but most of all the characters--are irresistible. I hope to see much more of the Father:)