Amanda
This is a very good, if not all that new, story.
It is also my first Harlequin Romance. And my first win from the Goodreads giveaways (that means it was free. Is that enough, FTC?).
I have to say that I did enjoy this book. It's nothing deep or earth-shattering. It's not even that dirty — or dirty at all. But the story was entertaining and the characters mostly believable. If you just read for the plot, you won't go wrong.
However, the writing is lackluster at best. The book is riddled with dangling participles and lousy with unnecessary and frankly stupid interjections. Oh, beiber. Holy Elvis Presley. Golly!
It probably wouldn't have been so bad if the interjections actually made sense. Considering this is a book for adults, some mild cursing is okay, even expected in some situations. But of all the random outbursts (of which there was at least on per page) only one was an actual interjection, not one Higgins made up. I don't know if she was trying to make her characters appear quirky, but it really just made them annoying.
And really, when writing a description, make sure it is next to the noun/verb it is describing. It is very confusing to read something, and then the sentence goes someplace else, only to end with a description of the first thing. Stop it. It's an easy mistake (and something the editors should have caught) but it's bad writing.
The whole story follows the basic plot structure of rom-coms everywhere. The ending is expected, but it is very nice. My heart fluttered and broke with the characters.
There are a few plot points that are unnecessary: the letter, the sloppy seconds, the hope for the cousin and possibly the custody battle and definitely the “OCD.” Not only was the OCD plot point unnecessary, but it was hurtful. If Liam was truly suffering, he would need serious help. Simply getting a good girlfriend would not cure him. There are also many plot points that could have been given more sway: the two proms, the motorcycle accident, the marriage falling apart. Expanding on those points would have made the characters more 3 dimensional and the story more engaging.
Overall this book is nothing new, but it is still a fun beach read.
Up next: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
I would recommend this to anyone who loves Buffy, though it is probably helpful to watch the last season before listening. It has been several years since I watched the final season, and I think that made some of the more minor plot points between the two universes confusing.
I love Benson's writing. It is truly a shame that this is my introduction to her as an author. Not because Slayers is bad (I mean, 5 stars... so) but because I wish I knew her as an author away from Tara first. Tara is one of my favorite characters in all of fiction, so it is difficult for me to separate the actress (and author) from the character.
CAWPILE breakdown with FANTASY multipliers below:
Character 8 (x1.2 =9.6)
Atmosphere 8 (x1.3 = 10.4)
Writing 9
Plot 7 (x1.2 = 8.4)
Intrigue 10
Logic 6 (x1.2 = 7.2)
Entertainment 10
Total = 64.6 / 7 = 9.23 - 5 stars
meh... I didn't like this book when I read it in middle school. I still don't like it.