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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
This book did not hold my attention very well.
I also had a few issues with it.
First, the book is half sex, and the kid is conveniently not there every time the two main characters get hot and heavy, despite the fact that he was mentioned as being part of the scene before sexy times started. That was annoying.
Second, the author made it the female protagonist’s job to save and change and fix the male protagonist. She literally wrote “then I reckon it’s your job to get him over his past” said from a minor character to the female protagonist. I’m so grossed out by that. The man had zero responsibility for fixing himself. It was all on the woman. No thank you.
I’ve read other books by Adair, and this is not my favorite.
I also had a few issues with it.
First, the book is half sex, and the kid is conveniently not there every time the two main characters get hot and heavy, despite the fact that he was mentioned as being part of the scene before sexy times started. That was annoying.
Second, the author made it the female protagonist’s job to save and change and fix the male protagonist. She literally wrote “then I reckon it’s your job to get him over his past” said from a minor character to the female protagonist. I’m so grossed out by that. The man had zero responsibility for fixing himself. It was all on the woman. No thank you.
I’ve read other books by Adair, and this is not my favorite.
Do not read the St Helena books and then this one. It's awful. The main characters don't communicate, thus reinforcing a plot of never ending stupidity. I couldn't continue.
On the bright side, this (I think) was the authors first book, and she's clearly improved her writing style since. I enjoyed the St Helena series.
Merged review:
Do not read the St Helena books and then this one. It's awful. The main characters don't communicate, thus reinforcing a plot of never ending stupidity. I couldn't continue.
On the bright side, this (I think) was the authors first book, and she's clearly improved her writing style since. I enjoyed the St Helena series.
On the bright side, this (I think) was the authors first book, and she's clearly improved her writing style since. I enjoyed the St Helena series.
Merged review:
Do not read the St Helena books and then this one. It's awful. The main characters don't communicate, thus reinforcing a plot of never ending stupidity. I couldn't continue.
On the bright side, this (I think) was the authors first book, and she's clearly improved her writing style since. I enjoyed the St Helena series.
3.5 stars. Tucker’s Crossing by Marina Adair is a sweet reunited lovers romance. To read my review in its entirety, please visit http://www.bookreviewsandmorebykathy.com/2012/08/14/tuckers-crossing/
The premise of this story is one of my favorites. Reunited lovers. Yum. While in theory this should have worked, I'm afraid it didn't come together well here.
The secret-baby plot works for me here, because Shelby thought Cody knew about the baby. Just thought I'd put that out there.
It was easy to fall into the story. The first chapter really had me hooked. Sadly, it started to fall apart shortly thereafter. The writing was choppy, which made for some confusing reading. Plus, both Shelby and Cody blew hot and cold. One minute they hated each other, the next they'd never gotten over each other. Cody wanted Shelby, then he didn't. Shelby wanted Cody to be part of her son's life, then she didn't. All the back-and-forthing made my head hurt.
I did enjoy a few parts here and there. The son was cute and I liked seeing him and Cody find their way together. Sadly, that wasn't enough to save the story for me.
The secret-baby plot works for me here, because Shelby thought Cody knew about the baby. Just thought I'd put that out there.
It was easy to fall into the story. The first chapter really had me hooked. Sadly, it started to fall apart shortly thereafter. The writing was choppy, which made for some confusing reading. Plus, both Shelby and Cody blew hot and cold. One minute they hated each other, the next they'd never gotten over each other. Cody wanted Shelby, then he didn't. Shelby wanted Cody to be part of her son's life, then she didn't. All the back-and-forthing made my head hurt.
I did enjoy a few parts here and there. The son was cute and I liked seeing him and Cody find their way together. Sadly, that wasn't enough to save the story for me.
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book has been on my TBR for many, many years. I’m a huge fan of this author and, at one point, I was all caught up with her books other than this one. Last year I read a holiday compilation that included a novella that seemed to be a book 2 (or 1.5?) to this series and I loved that story. It was Blame It on the Mistletoe, which was included in the book Christmas Kisses with My Cowboy. I already had a copy of this book waiting, and yet it took me anther year to get around to reading the darn thing.
From what I can tell, this may be the author’s first published books. Or, at the very least, one of the first. I hate to say that I could tell. Now, that doesn’t mean the story was bad. It just wasn’t up to the standards I have in my mind for a Marina Adair story. There was quite a bit of repetition and definitely some issues with the flow of the story. I found myself skimming a lot.
Shelby and Cody have great chemistry. I don’t think I’m giving anything away, especially since it comes out really early on in the story, by saying this is a secret baby book. Not at all close to being a favorite trope of mine. In fact, I generally dislike this trope more than any other. While I don’t think I’ll ever be okay with this trope, there are times the author handles the particulars in way that I can at least understand how a mother came to keep a child’s existence from its father. The author gives a good enough reason here that I didn’t come away hating Shelby. Yet, the more I learn about Shelby’s ex and her own feelings about the man, the more I question her reasoning skills when it came to Cody and her pregnancy.
It’s hard for me to reconcile Silas, Cody’s dad, with Silas, Jacob’s grandpa. There are a lot of story holes in my mind with respect to Silas. Why he did and didn’t do certain things. I understand alcoholism and addiction. That’s not where my issues lie. I just felt there was something not fully fleshed out and/or explained when it came to this man that started it all.
All in all, I’m glad I read this story. I would have always wondered. And while it’s not her best work, it’s not a bad book either. It’s interesting for me to see how much she’s grown as a writer since these earlier days.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Kidnapping
Minor: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse
Great introductory novel by Marina Adair. I LOVED this story! Sweet Plains, TX sounds like a fantastic place to live as long as the Tucker brothers are around. :) The pace of the story and the character development was perfect. I was captivated by the renewed romance between Cody and Shelby Lynn. I can't wait for more stories from Sweet Plains, TX and Marina Adair.