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elvang's review against another edition
2.0
I was drawn to this novel by the book blurb. Abby Hargrove is a tough as nails lieutenant who tries in her spare time to help the victims of her bad cop grandfather and shady brother. Both tarnished the badge and her family name with their corrupt behaviour.
Kira is a passionate environmentalist attempting to prevent urbanization of her beloved wetlands. She is reeling from a failed relationship with a dominant and controlling woman. Meeting Abby brings reminders of her past with Dale. Can these two tortured souls find love and look past their personal challenges?
The book starts out with a lot of promise. The writing is first rate and I found myself highlighting several memorable passages. The story moves along at a nice pace. The scenes at the Washington State Fair with Kira's daughter Julie and her 4-H riding competition are endearing. Tension builds and the intrigue portion of this Romantic Intrigue novel had the potential to keep a reader turning pages to find out what will happen next.
So why the 2.5 star rating?
Abby carries the guilt of her family's transgressions like a wet blanket around her shoulders. I am all for angst but her constant dour self is all the reader sees. One dimension and it's a downer.
Kira is determined to never again be with an authoritative and controlling woman. Fine. She tells us this repeatedly. She tells Abby this when Abby tries to help or protect her. One of my biggest issues with this novel is that there is more telling than showing. It gets annoying.
With Kira constantly on the defensive and Abby in her protective guilt-filled cocoon I struggled to see a great connection or chemistry between these two.
I lost all belief in the story when the author, trying to build some sympathy for her cold and unreachable Abby, commits what for this reader was the ultimate in fanfiction boo boos.
I struggled to finish the novel and was grateful the ending was rushed.
2.5 stars
*ARC received from publisher via NetGalley for review.
Kira is a passionate environmentalist attempting to prevent urbanization of her beloved wetlands. She is reeling from a failed relationship with a dominant and controlling woman. Meeting Abby brings reminders of her past with Dale. Can these two tortured souls find love and look past their personal challenges?
The book starts out with a lot of promise. The writing is first rate and I found myself highlighting several memorable passages. The story moves along at a nice pace. The scenes at the Washington State Fair with Kira's daughter Julie and her 4-H riding competition are endearing. Tension builds and the intrigue portion of this Romantic Intrigue novel had the potential to keep a reader turning pages to find out what will happen next.
So why the 2.5 star rating?
Abby carries the guilt of her family's transgressions like a wet blanket around her shoulders. I am all for angst but her constant dour self is all the reader sees. One dimension and it's a downer.
Kira is determined to never again be with an authoritative and controlling woman. Fine. She tells us this repeatedly. She tells Abby this when Abby tries to help or protect her. One of my biggest issues with this novel is that there is more telling than showing. It gets annoying.
With Kira constantly on the defensive and Abby in her protective guilt-filled cocoon I struggled to see a great connection or chemistry between these two.
Spoiler
When the first and hottest sex scene in the book takes place between two secondary characters you know your main couple is in trouble.I lost all belief in the story when the author, trying to build some sympathy for her cold and unreachable Abby, commits what for this reader was the ultimate in fanfiction boo boos.
Spoiler
Abby is injured while riding her horse in the midway. Her wrist is so badly damaged she requires surgery and a plate to stabilize the area. Less than forty eight hours after she is released from the hospital, in a moment of courting fun, she suggests she and Kira ride a rollercoaster. With a broken wrist. Sigh.I struggled to finish the novel and was grateful the ending was rushed.
2.5 stars
*ARC received from publisher via NetGalley for review.
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