Jude Gilliam (Jude Deveraux) produced High Tide with soul not only for being entertained but required people to think and understanding on what more to come along in completing the book. There is no doubt why Jude Deveraux is one of New York Times bestseller. High Tide is a romantic suspense category offer reader a suspense romance with logical mysteries and a lot of sense added into it. It is a story about Deveraux’s heroine, Fiona Burkenhalter a dedicated creator and designer of Kimberly, a Barbie-like fashion doll at Davidson Toys in New York who have twist romance with Ace Montgomery after her boss force her to go for a negotiation deal for a potential client in the Florida Everglades. In her trip, she found new love, new friendship and unravel her father’s past.

Heroine of High Tide, Fiona Burkenhalter takes a turn in her life, a designer of Kimberly, fashion-doll at Davidson Toys in New York has. She is frustrated when her boss forces her to leave as a potential client, Roy Hudson request a three day fishing trip to Florida. Not knowing what coming, poor Fiona had misfortune when she mistakenly thought a giant alligator attack a man and she springs into action, launching a pink bowling ball case which explodes. It turns out that giant alligator is a mechanical contraption owned by Ace Montgomery and she was arrested for the incident. Her path with Ace Montgomery comes cross again as he turns out to be the same man to be her guide in her fishing trip. Her nightmares begin when Fiona wakes on the fishing boat with her potential client’s dead body on top of her. Before she even knows what's happening, she and Ace as her presume accomplice run from the police and become the prime suspects in the murder. The plot getting interesting when suddenly, Ace and Fiona learn that they have inherited the murder victim's fortune and their journeys were joined by their partner, Lisa and Jeremy. Toward the end of the book, the author gives good ending with Fiona getting pregnant and soon to move to Florida together with Ace.

Of course I found High Tide is not Jude Deveraux’s masterpiece but it stands out as some of the earlier Montgomery books are more interesting, though. Her books have repetitive characters which from the Montgomery and Taggert families which consist of 26 books of which she was famous of. Deveraux described as a popular historical romance author, her works mostly set in nineteenth century but her latest work has contemporary setting. It’s quite exciting how she manage to mix adventure romance with mystery and suspense as High Tide is her first murder caper and as always, she still maintaining female character as her protagonist character.

High Tide was given positive and also negative review but I must say the strongest element in High Tide is the storyline and main character which keep my heart pounding. It is quite obvious of the plot made me lost towards the middle of the book because I couldn't figure out what was going on as secondary characters were making sudden appearances which making the plot seemed confused. What keeping my interest to finish reading the book although the plots were disintegrated is it surrounds with more than one genre which encompasses thrilling adventure, mystery and delightful romance. I feel irritated when the writer makes a mystery of the identity of Kimberly from early to the middle of plot, when it was clear it was a fashion-doll figure. Nevertheless, it was overshadowed by the plot of analytical mystery unravel of Fiona’s father’s death.

I notice High Tide plot technique using unseen character Russell, the antagonist character. However, I find the plot technique easily makes me lost as I can’t find out what is actually happened but after Russell appearance, all mystery is solved. Other than unseen character, plot twist also was

used to make the story more dramatic when Fiona wakes up and holding a knife in her hand hide by Ace. There was no clue given before the author creates the plot twist. Flashbacks with Fiona’s father also used in order to solve the map which is the only way for Fiona to unlock the mystery. I hope the author could give more hint about what could possibly come. The author intensifies the story conflict uses a scene of dialogue to create tension and disliking between Ace and Fiona before their romance started. Dialogue of Ace and Fiona were also meant to create and set the story mood which is the driven factor for me to finish the book although it’s confusing.

I’m not a fan of romantic book but I reckon for Jude Deveraux’s fans who like to read a more low thrilling adventure, goofy humour and sassy love story to try The Blessing. I would suggest to Jude Deveraux to try publishing a future romantic love story where all the robots and gadgets comes in. It would do a great change in attempt to break the monotonous time setting for more compelling reading. Her book is enjoyable but required a lot of thinking process in guessing and finding clues. All I can say is High Tide is worth a read and a must if you are keen on adventure and romantic books.