Tribute by Nora Roberts

An alluring novel with dashes of murder, love, and construction. Roberts once again manages to combine several elements of known and unknown and weave together a creative plot line that merges multiple lives and generations.

The story follows former child star, Cilla McGowan, as she escapes from her previous Hollywood life, and mother, to create a new life in Virginia. The house is a family one, ironically from both sides, that she has coerced her mother into selling. Cilla's grandmother, a Hollywood starlet, purchased the house as an escape across the country. The Little Farm originally belonged to the McGowan side, Cilla's father's family, and now is the center of recreation and preservation for both sides of her family.

While Cilla is attempting to salvage and maintain what is left of this historic landmark, she is side-swept by the lanky yet handsome Ford Sawyer, graphic novel artist/creator extraordinaire. He wills into a slow seduction while he is using her face as a model for his latest novel creation. But Cilla is a hard nut to crack and will not give in to Ford's charms easily.

Also, several walls are encountered by the seemingly mindless destruction of her homes by vandals, the constant tirades by an old man over an older grudge, and the discovery of love letters which may prove that her grandmother's suicide may in fact have not even been a self-mutilation.

So the house is full of trouble and so is Cilla's life. She keeps attempt to build a new one, away from Hollywood but somehow still ends up stalking her. Throw in the complications from Ford, her strained relationship with her mother, and the appearance of her ex-husband and things start to become very stirred up.

The story is even paced and dotted with high peaks of action or terror. It was a good, solid read; mystery and love without too much gore or murder. I'd rate it at an even 4 out of 5 stars.