Review: Woah! This was so close to exceptional...
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 16, 2013
I really liked this story, but I can understand why some readers may not. To be blunt, there is a lot of sex - and I mean S-E-X, not making love. It is graphic and it's hot - scorching hot. Refreshingly, it takes a good, wholesome boy (on the outside, anyway!) and makes him bad (oh, so deliciously bad!), which is quite the opposite of the tattooed-bad-boy-turned-good that you usually read about in this genre. He's still sensitive and caring, but he's a well-concealed alpha who comes into his own in the bedroom. Having his POV was definitely a plus.Unfortunately, for those of us who care, the story isn't particularly romantic. The author has, intentionally or otherwise, somehow skipped conveying the emotional connection the lead characters must be feeling. They're in love because you're told they are, not because you can sense it through their lovemaking. I also missed some of the physical description you like to read when the hero is this hot - Logan's chest was 'firm', his arms were 'defined'. Frankly, I wanted him cut, rippling with muscle and tension, bathed in sweat from the desire he feels for her and vocalising like the 25 year old he's meant to be. He is one very hot, very alpha male, so he should be very clearly drawn that way.The heroine, Rowan, is likeable, but not particularly well portrayed. She is a scholarship-level ballet dancer, yet seems to only attend one private dance lesson a week. At that level, dancing is a daily devotion requiring hours of stretching and practise, yet we didn't read about this, even if it was happening outside the private lesson. Rowan also didn't get much verbal interaction with anyone, not even the hero. You are told about the fun she and Logan have playing poker or cooking in the kitchen - you don't get shown it through their dialogue. This also diminishes the sexual tension that you expect them to be experiencing and undermines the plausibility of their more-than-physical attraction to each other. Rowan has a great relationship with Logan's family members (including his sister who has been her best friend since early childhood), however, again you are told about rather than shown this. Given the experience of this author, I'd really like to see her work on the 'show not tell' aspect of her writing.Having said all this, it was a great read that I couldn't put down (made for a very late night); yet, it could have been exceptional with just a bit more attention to detail. Will definitely hunt down other works by this author.