Review: Shows promise but NEEDS AN EDITOR
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 10 11, 2013
I am only partway through, but I want to note several things.  This author can imagine a story, really shows promise but desperately needs an editor.  If nothing else, she could grab an English major from a nearby college who vows to be objective.  And then pay attention to their red pencilling!!!  I agree with fellow 2-star reviewer Kryss Jackson when she said 'When self-publishing there is little excuse for not taking the time to work and rework the book.'  How True!I strongly recommend several books for her.  Stephen King's 'On Writing,' 'Dangerous Men, Adventurous Women' compiled by Jayne Ann Krentz, and if she can find it, "How to Write a Romance and Get it Published'  by Katherine Falk.  It might be an oldie, but it is a goodie and most of the rules she notes still apply, in my opinion.  Years ago I noticed something about romances that critics ignore.  There is a strong underlying morality to them and that is, once you have given your heart, you 'forsake all others.'  That means in particular that you do not sleep with the town drunken womanizer!  I wondered how much more powerful this book would have been if Rhea had refused to have anything to do with the cad.  Most of the story could have remained, Duke could still have been as obnoxious, but the distasteful slutty part would be gone.SPOILER ALERT:  I noticed from other reviews that Chad & Rhea's romance does not finish in this book.  Suzanne Brockmann is renowned for writing books that make an enormous story arch, but she always finishes at least one relationship per book.  Another relationship may start, but one always finishes.I believe this book could have been something really good, and it is worth the author's time and effort to become familiar with the art and craft of writing.  She has enough promise to make the effort worthwhile.