Product Description

Twenty years ago, Peg Ryan was a drunken, womanizing New York attorney who made a terrible mistake. Now 17 years sober, Peg thought she had put the past behind her. But as she is settling in a new position in Chicago, her past comes back to haunt her just as she falls in love with Allison, a real estate broker. Their friend Morgan, a police detective accustomed to one night stands, falls for Laura, the owner of a company on the brink of success. As Peg and Allison are dealing with Peg's past, Morgan and Laura question their future. The very different ways that each woman handles fear, values integrity, and cherishes and protects their loved one are revealed. Will their differences draw the women closer or drive them apart during this time of turmoil? Sometimes Quickly is a fast-paced tale about smart, capable women who don't always know the right thing to do, especially when making the wrong decision can cost them everything.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #268456 in Books
• Published on: 2008-04-13
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 132 pages

Customer Reviews

Sometimes Boring
There is no need to reiterate the plot of this book as the description here is more than adequate. However, this reviewer feels a responsibility to pass a word of caution to other readers. Although Laughlin has been published in compilations, this is her first stand-alone novel. The story itself is pretty good, but it lacks substance. It's as if it were written by an inexperienced writer. In places, the story skips whole scenes - sort of like getting up from the movie to get popcorn and coming back after a lot has happened. For the characters and elements of the plot there is no real closure. Additionally, there is no build-up of romance between the protagonists.

Bottom line - I read a lot and have a lot to compare this to in the genre. This is a borderline first book and I won't recommend it to my partner to read. However, with proper editing and a little direction I think Laughlin could develop into an enjoyable author. It just didn't happen this time.

A good attempt for a first book
Sometimes Quickly is the story of five women, four of them searching for greater meaning in their lives and one who is intent on disrupting them. Peg Ryan is a recovering alcoholic and a prominent attorney, who made a mistake many years ago, but now her life has stabilized and she's ready to share it with someone. She meets Allison Mitchell, the head of a real estate firm, by accident - literally. Peg runs into the rear end of a car being driven by Camille Bardon and Allison is the passenger. The attraction between Peg and Allison is instantaneous, a fact which doesn't please Camille at all. Meanwhile, Peg's best friend Morgan, a police detective, meets Laura, the head of a company that is developing innovative software that will allow the FDA to approve drugs more quickly. Morgan is trying to establish a relationship with Laura who can only focus on the problems her company is having. Camille is the bane of all of them. She stalks Allison, launches a blackmail scheme against Peg and her company, which specializes in industrial espionage, is slowly destroying Laura's chances of receiving approval of its program by the FDA. The mystery is whether the other women will realize who is the root of all of their problems before she has a chance to destroy them.

Sometimes Quickly is an appropriate name for this book because everything happens at a rapid pace, perhaps a little too rapid. The story moves from peak to peak with very little action in between that allows the reader to digest what is happening. The result of this is a book that holds the reader's attention, but has a rushed feel to it. However, at its heart, Sometimes Quickly has a good story with strong personalities. Laughlin has mastered the skill of character development. Now she needs to work on developing her plot more fully. The end of this book indicates that there will be another one, so she should get a chance to correct the weaknesses.

Sometimes Quickly is an excellent fast read. If you're taking it on a trip with you, you're going to need to throw another book in the suitcase, but this one is worth reading.

A First-Rate Woman-Centered Mystery
A mystery novel with erotic intrigue, a sophisticated urban setting, a sympathetic protagonist, and a suspenseful plot all make for an irresistible combination, in my opinion as an avid consumer of mysteries. Anne Laughlin's debut novel had me in its grip from start to finish. Sometimes Quickly is a page-turner and the kind of high-level entertainment I'm partial to. Lesbians with brains, an interior life, and a past to live down are drawn thoughtfully and believably. I won't give away the ending, but there's a hint that one deliciously memorable, not-so-nice character will be coming back; I hope so. I'm excited about the appearance of this novelist and intend to read whatever Anne Laughlin writes in the future.