Review: 3.5 stars for a hot hero but a heroine who will drive you nuts
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 06 28, 2014
Sarah is not always an easy character to like. She frequently behaves like a 21-year-old as opposed to a 31-year-old. She’s silly, immature, and self-absorbed.But how much of that is of her own accord? How much is because she has been allowed to behave that way?Yes, she suffers a romantic debacle. As she recalls her relationship with Steve, she casts herself as his caregiver, always quick to sacrifice her own goals and self for Steve’s demands and desires. Yet that in itself is selfish. She believes that she is the center of his life, that only she can properly take care of him. Everything about her is about her.Sarah’s relationship with her roommate Stacey is equally selfish, albeit with different motivations. Stacey comes from a wealthy family that bankrolls her and, by extension, Sarah. The couture house clothes and shoes, the tony apartment, the access – all of that makes Sarah a bit delirious. It’s only a matter of time until the clock strikes midnight.Hollyfield doesn’t immediately reveal what happened the day Sarah’s life fell into a rut; she parses it out, bit by bit. By the time we have a full understanding, we like Sarah a little more, making Hollyfield’s pacing a worthy decision.When Sarah comes home, she continues with her self-absorption until she is forced to consider her life and actions from the perspectives of other people, namely Jack. Upon their first meeting, he is so appalled by her that he tosses her top-of-the-line cell phone into the street. This one gesture seems to put the exclamation point on Sarah’s rut, but in fact it turns out to be the first step in her rehabilitation. No longer tethered to her old life (save through some clothes and shoes), she is free to be the person she could be … and should be.Once I got over my dislike of Sarah, I got hooked on this story. Yes, it is predictable. Yes, you see what’s going to happen long before you read it. But you know what? It’s still a fun read. Once Sarah pulls herself together, she is charming. And Jack … well, Jack is pretty fabulous. So fabulous, in fact, that you will need to strap on your vibrators, girls, because Jack delivers in the hot headboard rockin’.This makes for a fun summer read, perfect for the poolside or on the beach.Published on Carpe Libros@carpelibros