Scan barcode
A review by kimberly_b
The Summer Garden by Paullina Simons
2.0
I was so disappointed with The Summer Garden. I wasn't expecting it to be another The Bronze Horseman, but I was at least expecting a compelling story. Instead, Simons not only rehashes the past (which I expected), she even recycles the main plot from Tatiana and Alexander by sending Alexander to rescue Anthony! The flashback "Interludes" as they were called were a complete waste of print. In the end, the only purpose they served was to exemplify two silly morals that Tatiana learned as a teen. Again, as I've said in both my TBH and T&A reviews, WHERE WAS THE EDITOR?!
Also, I have to say that if Alexander smokes 2 to 3 packs of cigarettes per day, how in the heck does he have beautiful white teeth as Simons repeatedly mentions? Tatiana's breasts/nipples are also referred to so many times it became OTT. Nearly every sex/intimate scene (of which there are several in most chapters) mentions them again...and again...and again. I've heard people complain about breast references in the Outlander series, but that's nothing compared to TSG.
In the end, I really wish that Simons had edited out some of the redundancies in TBH and then added a bit to the end to give us a nice HEA in that book. Instead, I think she drags down her characters and their romance by her less than stellar writing in T&A and way more so in TSG. The indiscretions and abuse in TSG were just plain sad.
After writing this review, I'm left contemplating what I even liked in TSG and I really can't come up with much. I thought the very last couple pages were sweet...I'm happy Tatiana and Alexander finally found happiness...that's about it. I can't believe it, but I'm rating this 2 stars. It was just 'ok' for me.
Also, I have to say that if Alexander smokes 2 to 3 packs of cigarettes per day, how in the heck does he have beautiful white teeth as Simons repeatedly mentions? Tatiana's breasts/nipples are also referred to so many times it became OTT. Nearly every sex/intimate scene (of which there are several in most chapters) mentions them again...and again...and again. I've heard people complain about breast references in the Outlander series, but that's nothing compared to TSG.
In the end, I really wish that Simons had edited out some of the redundancies in TBH and then added a bit to the end to give us a nice HEA in that book. Instead, I think she drags down her characters and their romance by her less than stellar writing in T&A and way more so in TSG. The indiscretions and abuse in TSG were just plain sad.
After writing this review, I'm left contemplating what I even liked in TSG and I really can't come up with much. I thought the very last couple pages were sweet...I'm happy Tatiana and Alexander finally found happiness...that's about it. I can't believe it, but I'm rating this 2 stars. It was just 'ok' for me.