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alliehwilliams's review against another edition
3.0
This was very well-written and I could not put it down until it was done. However, I didn't really believe the love story between the two main characters and that may have been because I found both of them to be unappealing. Danielle was feisty but also sounded so much like a very, very young teen with all her "mistering." I have never met a person who talked like that in real life. Did she even want Eric's advances? I never knew for sure, not even at the ending. I just never "got" her.
Because she sounded so emotionally young and unstable (beyond what I felt was explainable by her past--her speech patterns took me out of the story so many times), I found it pervy and a bit predatory of Eric to be so into her. Hearing about how she smelled "scalpy" was not sexy either. ;) And Eric, though mostly sympathetic, also seemed like the "nice guy" who forces unsolicited acts of service on a woman who is not interested in order to make her feel obligated. I realize that is not what he was doing, in fact he saved her life many times over, but at times he came off that way. It also drove me crazy the way he kept being so ultra-respectful of her dead and horribly abusive husband, even after she revealed how horribly abusive the dead husband was. I thought it was over the top that he was so big on honoring someone he never met and who broke a toilet with his love interest's head. But maybe that is just me.
Ultimately though, I enjoyed the suspense of the story and the unique situation--two very lonely, damaged people pitted against the elements. And the happy ending was nice. I would read this author again.
Because she sounded so emotionally young and unstable (beyond what I felt was explainable by her past--her speech patterns took me out of the story so many times), I found it pervy and a bit predatory of Eric to be so into her. Hearing about how she smelled "scalpy" was not sexy either. ;) And Eric, though mostly sympathetic, also seemed like the "nice guy" who forces unsolicited acts of service on a woman who is not interested in order to make her feel obligated. I realize that is not what he was doing, in fact he saved her life many times over, but at times he came off that way. It also drove me crazy the way he kept being so ultra-respectful of her dead and horribly abusive husband, even after she revealed how horribly abusive the dead husband was. I thought it was over the top that he was so big on honoring someone he never met and who broke a toilet with his love interest's head. But maybe that is just me.
Ultimately though, I enjoyed the suspense of the story and the unique situation--two very lonely, damaged people pitted against the elements. And the happy ending was nice. I would read this author again.
in_and_out_of_the_stash's review against another edition
4.0
Had many scenarios for Danielle but not the one that was revealed - but totally made sense. Full of hope.
emilywv's review against another edition
Interesting premise, but 1/3 of the way in, after sighing aloud for at least the 5th or 6th time, I give up. The story is a male's romantic fantasy, and I just found too many of the lead female character's actions/portrayals unbelievable. I don't read a lot of romance, in general, for this reason. Many readers will still enjoy the fantasy, but I'm off in search of the next great book...
jplassman's review against another edition
3.0
I ended up liking this novel, although I almost put it down several times in the middle because the plot was developing so slowly. I found the protagonists, especially Eric, the lawyer, to be uninteresting. The book turned out to be worth sticking with, though, because I think one of the points of the structure was to slowly reveal the inner workings of characters who seem unsympathetic at first. You need to have patience with a very constricted setting. Most of the "action" takes place inside a very small cabin.
awelsh's review against another edition
3.0
"The Remedy for Love" by Bill Roorbach is a suspenseful survival story, while at the same time an exploration of romance. Two strangers are stranded in a Maine cabin, thanks to a charitable act followed by some really bad luck. Eric, a small town lawyer, helps the mysterious "Danielle-for-now" at the grocery store when she doesn't have enough cash to pay for her groceries. Further acts of kindness to help Danielle (who reacts fiercely to her would-be savior) survive the imminent storm lead to the two damaged souls stuck and isolated in the cabin while the snow builds up around them.
The setting is perfectly rendered through Roorbach's words. The chill in the cabin got into me while reading this story and I was glad to be snuggled under some covers. While at first I found both characters unlikable, they grew on me as secrets were revealed that helped explain some of the behavior I found odd. The forced intimacy that these characters encounter leads to a very complicated relationship. Roorbach's portrayal of the relationship deepening was full of twists and tangles, and ultimately the book left me wanting to know what happens next.
The setting is perfectly rendered through Roorbach's words. The chill in the cabin got into me while reading this story and I was glad to be snuggled under some covers. While at first I found both characters unlikable, they grew on me as secrets were revealed that helped explain some of the behavior I found odd. The forced intimacy that these characters encounter leads to a very complicated relationship. Roorbach's portrayal of the relationship deepening was full of twists and tangles, and ultimately the book left me wanting to know what happens next.
renee_pompeii's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this book!! Roorbach is smart without being pretentious, and this is one of the few books with an introspective/ponderous side that I actually really liked reading! The man has GOT IT folks, and this book has it all: sexy, smart, funny, suspenseful, honest, and beautifully written. One of my top 5 books this year.
asealey925's review against another edition
3.0
Totally not what I expected. I've heard so many great reviews and have seen it on several end-of-year "Best" lists, but I just didn't get the same feeling. Strange with equally unlikeable characters. Not totally believable. And, I completely hate the title. I actually think my husband would enjoy this one, but with this title, it would take some convincing for him to pick up.
resareads's review against another edition
2.0
I’m not sure what novel was read by this book’s endorsers, but it wasn’t the story that ended up getting published. It’s not that this book was “bad” it’s just that I was expecting a lot of flavors and got rather dry toast. Roorbach writes well, but there’s no personality in these characters and for a plot that takes place in a confined space there really wasn't much emphasis placed on character development. The plot leaves room for a lot of possible development...it just remains buried.
Is this a love story? No. The chemistry between these characters is nonexistent. Eric is an uptight small town lawyer and Danielle is slightly crazy and out of money. These characters don’t change and any relationship that blossoms between the two of them is out of necessity, not love. They are surviving together.
The mystery twist ending, which is what really had me interested in this book (and was, at least on my copy of the novel heavily hyped), is really more something you should have inferred from the beginning, and it’s not a “mystery” in the traditional sense. There is no intrigue or action—just fizzle. I blame the endorsements and reviews for this let down though, if I hadn't expected this to be something it wasn't I wouldn't have been so disappointed.
I kept reading just to see when the story would start and while there were some bright spots I finished it feeling let down. Not one I’d recommend.
Is this a love story? No. The chemistry between these characters is nonexistent. Eric is an uptight small town lawyer and Danielle is slightly crazy and out of money. These characters don’t change and any relationship that blossoms between the two of them is out of necessity, not love. They are surviving together.
The mystery twist ending, which is what really had me interested in this book (and was, at least on my copy of the novel heavily hyped), is really more something you should have inferred from the beginning, and it’s not a “mystery” in the traditional sense. There is no intrigue or action—just fizzle. I blame the endorsements and reviews for this let down though, if I hadn't expected this to be something it wasn't I wouldn't have been so disappointed.
I kept reading just to see when the story would start and while there were some bright spots I finished it feeling let down. Not one I’d recommend.