J.D. Robb discussion

Roarke's Major Domo, as Eve calls him, but he's basically Roarke's Butler. I think he also cleans and cooks too. He's best known for his constant sparring with Eve, producing some great comic scenes in the series. He is a very complex character, however, as he has an intense history with Roarke and a there's a lot more stuff going on than first appears on the surface.

I love how despite his attitude towards her, he will always go to bat for Eve and/or Roarke when needed. He may seem "cold" but I think he truly has a heart of gold. I like him :)

Reference to Innocent in Death

The pivotal point in his relationship with Eve happened when Summerset compared Magdelena to Eve, saying M would use him and Eve would do nothing less than love him forever, or something to that effect. It was classic Summerset.
Here's the passage:

(view spoiler)["She would be a sparkling accent on his arm. She speaks flawless French and Italian, and has a limitless supply of charm when she wishes to dispense it. And she’ll use him. She’ll take, take more. If it was necessary, or if she simply had the whim, she’d toss him to the wolves to see who’d win.
“You, Lieutenant, are often crude, you are certainly rude, and have very little sense of how to be the wife—in public—of a man in Roarke’s position. And you would do anything, no matter what the personal risk, to keep him from harm. She will never love him. You will never do anything but.” (hide spoiler)]

Jonetta wrote: "***SPOILER ALERT**** reference to Innocent in Death

The pivotal point in his relationship with Eve happened when Summerset compared Magdelena to Eve, saying M would use him and Eve would do nothi..."
When I read that, I actually had to stop reading and sit back and absorb it! It took a minute for the ahhhh to pass so I could keep going

Elizabeth wrote: "Jonetta wrote: "***SPOILER ALERT**** reference to Innocent in Death

The pivotal point in his relationship with Eve happened when Summerset compared Magdelena to Eve, saying M would use him and Ev..."

I know. At first, I didn't even get what he was saying and had to reread it.

I thought another pivotal moment was when Eve saves his life by taking the stunner stream meant for him. That was a very intense scene. That one was from Vengeance in Death.

Vanessa wrote: "I thought another pivotal moment was when Eve saves his life by taking the stunner stream meant for him. That was a very intense scene. That one was from Vengeance in Death."

You are so right. I think that's when he really got who Eve is..the cop and her fearlessness.

I think that's the only time a criminal has ever gotten in the house. Summerset really needs to be more careful, LOL. Mick got in the house, but he was Roarke's friend, so that doesn't count.

I love Summerset and Eve's relationship! Every time Eve heads up the long driveway to the house, I get excited about what hilariously cranky things they'll say to each other! ;)

One of my VERY favorite parts, though.... spoiler for Conspiracy in Death:

(view spoiler)[I love the part where Eve had her badge taken away, then goes on a walk out in the freezing cold without a coat... then when she walks in, Summerset reams her and she's just like, "Sorry..." And Summerset calls up to Roarke and says, "She apologized to me. Something must be done." :) Good times! (hide spoiler)]

Sara ♥ wrote: "I love Summerset and Eve's relationship! Every time Eve heads up the long driveway to the house, I get excited about what hilariously cranky things they'll say to each other! ;)

One of my VERY f..."

I remember this, too. You first start getting that this banter is just that when you read this passage.

That's one of my very favorites as well!!

Sara ♥ wrote: "I love Summerset and Eve's relationship! Every time Eve heads up the long driveway to the house, I get excited about what hilariously cranky things they'll say to each other! ;)

One of my VERY f..."

:DDD

something must be done. lol i remember i chuckled when i read this which says something because i was really depressed

Jonetta wrote: "Reference to Innocent in Death

The pivotal point in his relationship with Eve happened when Summerset compared Magdelena to Eve, saying M would use him and Eve would do nothing less than love h..."

Jonetta, I love that scene. There is that touching moment where he actually tells Eve what he really thinks of her. I think that's the part you mentioned.

What book was it where Summerset picked up Eve's jacket off the newel post and held it up in disgust with two fingers? It must have had blood on it, or maybe it just needed a wash.

Vanessa wrote: "What book was it where Summerset picked up Eve's jacket off the newel post and held it up in disgust with two fingers? It must have had blood on it, or maybe it just needed a wash."

I believe it was the Glory in Death.

Vanessa wrote: "What book was it where Summerset picked up Eve's jacket off the newel post and held it up in disgust with two fingers? It must have had blood on it, or maybe it just needed a wash."

that happens in many many books

Oh, I was specifically remembering the two fingers bit where he he gingerly picks it up that way and makes a face. I thought that usually he just left it there and sometimes made a face or a comment.

I know he's picked up her coat with two fingers at LEAST 4 or 5 times... But I do remember the very first time he did it and it was kinda a big deal. It was before Eve and Roarke got married, back when she was wearing crappy clothes, but after she moved in, so I'm going to go with Jonetta and say late Glory or possibly Immortal.

That sounds right, thanks Sara

Vanessa wrote: "That sounds right, thanks Sara"

It could have even been Naked in Death because it was actually when she was leaving and he was handing her the jacket. I'll do a quick search.

Here's the passage from Naked in Death:

She glanced back, saw with amusement that he continued to hold her jacket between his fingers like a soiled rag. "Sure. What have you got, Mr. -- ?"
"Summerset, lieutenant. Simply Summerset, and I'm sure we can provide you with whatever suits your taste."

Thanks Jonetta!!

WOW! Even earlier than I thought! I remember the first or second time she went to Roarke's, a convo that went something like.

Roarke: "Summerset, get us the blahdy-blah, 15-or-20-year-old wine"
Summerset (appalled): "Sir???!!!???!??"

I remember thinking... "Oooh... I know nothing about wine, but that must be a REALLY nice bottle! And WOW, Roarke must be serious about her if Summerset's freaking out about it!" Maybe I was reading too much into it (or listening too much into it... audiobook), but I swear, Summerset thought Eve had worked some voodoo magic on Roarke, or why on EARTH would he want the fancy-schmancy old wine? She obviously wasn't good enough to deserve it... ;)

And on the other end of the spectrum, I just finished Innocent in Death, and I think it really showed how their relationship has developed... (view spoiler)[Summerset may not think she's elegant or polished enough for Roarke, but he knows that she loves him and would never do anything to hurt him. And we see that for all of Summerset's whining and complaining about Eve, he values that above all the rest. And of course, I loved how after they'd kind of ganged up against Magdalene, Summerset says something to put their relationship back on track... disses her car or whatever. (hide spoiler)] ;)

Sara ♥ wrote: "WOW! Even earlier than I thought! I remember the first or second time she went to Roarke's, a convo that went something like.

Roarke: "Summerset, get us the blahdy-blah, 15-or-20-year-old wine"..."

hahaahahahahah!!

I'm listening to Innocent in Death right now, and I can't find disc 6, and I don't have the mp3. This means I'm either going to have to buy the thing or go to the library tomorrow. Maybe I'll do both. I am so bummed because we have just gotten to the point where Eve sees something about Maggie that bums her out again. Okay, so we're both bummed, LOL. Anyway, on my way to the library tomorrow. I would go today, but there's actually a thunderstorm going on. We almost never get those! I love em, though; great time to read.

Vanessa wrote: "I'm listening to Innocent in Death right now, and I can't find disc 6, and I don't have the mp3. This means I'm either going to have to buy the thing or go to the library tomorrow. Maybe I'll do bo..."

How utterly frustrating. This is one of my favorites.

Grrr! That's so annoying!!

i wouldnt know but i attemt to empathize!

Thanks for the sympathy; Elizabeth, you're so funny, you made me laugh. I also came up with a brilliant temporary solution to my problem. I read the paperback until I got up to disc 7 and now I'm almost to Disc 8, ha ha.

haha well im proud!

I work at a library, and we're allowed to listen to mp3 players while we shelve books and read during other down time, so I listen to the audiobook at home and while shelving, then switch to a print copy during other down time at work... I prefer the audios, because I usually miss something when I'm read-reading.

how do you miss something when youre reading? youre READING! i mean i can understand not hearing something on the mp3 but jeez.

I tend to skim... whereas, if I'm listening, Susan reads me every single word.

oh...well whatever floats your boat i suppose

Sara ♥ wrote: "I tend to skim... whereas, if I'm listening, Susan reads me every single word."

Sara, I get what you are saying. The descriptive stuff usually gets skipped when I read. And sometimes there is important stuff in there....

I tend to skip too, especially if I'm re-reading the book.

I'm listening to Born in Death and Summerset just told Eve something along the line of "job well-done." It caught her off-guard....

Moments like that just give me goosebumps. They are usually at odds with each other, so for kind words to be exchanged...it's just kind of neat. Don't get me wrong, I love their harmless rude interchanges...it totally works in the books!

I LOVE the interactions between Eve and Summerset! Every time Eve's headed home, I get excited to see what rude-yet-clever things they'll say to each other... :)

And she is just soooo disappointed if he's not there waiting for her...cracks me up!

I love when Summerset talks to Galahad like he's a person. "You stay with me, Roarke will see to her" or something like that.

I also like the the interaction between Eve and Summerset. When they have their touching, pivotal moments it makes it all the nicer. Their relationship wouldn't have the punch if they were nice to each other all the time, nor would it if they were always antagonistic.

One of my favorite moments with Eve and Summerset is in Conspiracy in Death when Eve loses her job and she comes in from outside and tracks snow on the tile. Summerset of course pitches a bitch and Eve apologizes. He calls up to Roarke and tells him to fix it.

Another time is in Portrait in Death when Summerset is laid up. He was putting up a a fuss because P.A. Spence wanted him to take a nap. Summerset threated to quit. Eve told everyone to get out and yells at him because Roarke is upset. Then she tells him to hide some alcohol, because he might need it to counteract the bouncy smile and chirpy voice. I also like how she fixed it so Galahad could come and be with him.

That scene in Portrait in Death is one of my favorites.

Dee wrote: "One of my favorite moments with Eve and Summerset is in Conspiracy in Death when Eve loses her job and she comes in from outside and tracks snow on the tile. Summerset of course pitches a bitch an..."

I like that one as well.

Vicci wrote: "I love when Summerset talks to Galahad like he's a person. "You stay with me, Roarke will see to her" or something like that."

I like that also.

Vanessa wrote: "I'm listening to Innocent in Death right now, and I can't find disc 6, and I don't have the mp3. This means I'm either going to have to buy the thing or go to the library tomorrow. Maybe I'll do bo..."

I have had that happen to me and I usually have both the book and the audio. I have several of the audio in cassette form and if for some reason the cassette is screwed up I will read that section so I don't miss anything exciting.

i love that part in Conspiracy! i got teary eyed when she apologized and Summerset right away called Roarke. i was soo touched

I don't like summerset at all

Christine wrote: "I don't like summerset at all"

What don't you like about him? Intesting point of view.

He doesn't talk much and he's always miserable