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A review by read_with_laura
Ignite on Contact by Jaci Burton
3.0
Romance pet peeve: completely manufactured conflicts for the sake of plot.
Over the past few years, I've become a fan of all kinds of romance, from the classics (shout out to queen Nora) to the diverse and boundary-breaking novels emerging lately (Casey McQuiston, Jasmine Guillory, Alisha Rai, etc). All that to say I have no problem with conventional romances, and I've enjoyed Jaci Burton's stuff in the past. IGNITE ON CONTACT was just not that great.
The novel had a promising start: two mature adults, with satisfying careers and deep ties to their community, wonder if their neighborly flirtation is worth pursuing. Rafe and Carmen have been neighbors for years, but Rafe just likes to have fun and Carmen is hesitant after a messy divorce. Once they decide to date, they become serious and honestly have no issue balancing their relationship and other commitments. Except for a fairly unrealistic freak-out by Carmen in the last 20 pages, there was very very little conflict these characters had to work through.
Romance as a genre thrives on conflict and tension throughout the plot since the ending is never a mystery. While fun and steamy, IGNITE ON CONTACT felt more like the author really wanted these characters to have their own story but didn't know what to do with them. So much more out there that's better than this!
Over the past few years, I've become a fan of all kinds of romance, from the classics (shout out to queen Nora) to the diverse and boundary-breaking novels emerging lately (Casey McQuiston, Jasmine Guillory, Alisha Rai, etc). All that to say I have no problem with conventional romances, and I've enjoyed Jaci Burton's stuff in the past. IGNITE ON CONTACT was just not that great.
The novel had a promising start: two mature adults, with satisfying careers and deep ties to their community, wonder if their neighborly flirtation is worth pursuing. Rafe and Carmen have been neighbors for years, but Rafe just likes to have fun and Carmen is hesitant after a messy divorce. Once they decide to date, they become serious and honestly have no issue balancing their relationship and other commitments. Except for a fairly unrealistic freak-out by Carmen in the last 20 pages, there was very very little conflict these characters had to work through.
Romance as a genre thrives on conflict and tension throughout the plot since the ending is never a mystery. While fun and steamy, IGNITE ON CONTACT felt more like the author really wanted these characters to have their own story but didn't know what to do with them. So much more out there that's better than this!