Review: Don't let the cover deceive you - this book has more depth
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 7, 2013
Ash Taylor is a college student that has dropped a great opportunity to play baseball to stay locally so he can be with his family after his father passes away from cancer. (yes - Ash is perfect). He is tall, sexy, sweet, talented, loyal friend, well-liked and a family man. He is a bit of a 'player' with the ladies. (yes, that was basically the only negative aspect of this character).Cara Hayward is a shy hidden beauty that works in the college library.Ash is immediately infatuated by Cara. She is different than the girls that throw themselves at him. And she ignores his attempts to flirt, and that intrigues him even more.What starts as almost a game to Ash, becomes something more serious and meaningful.We realize that Ash is not all fluff, he is hiding his true feelings of fear with a bravado that belies his young age.Cara has great trust issues, since she came from a dysfunctional family. She eventually learns to trust Ash and their relationship and love bloom beautifully in this book.Ash is relentless in his pursuit of Cara - and we are rooting for him every step of the way.Cara is not a tease, nor is she playing a game with Ash. She is more mature than the other girls and is not looking for a fling.This book contains a host of other characters that round out this book that make it a great read. They are characters with depth, not just fluff.This book is not a fluffy book. It deals with some deeper issues but without any histrionics. I hate when there is a misunderstanding and one character spends chapters trying to fix it with the other one, and there is pages of hanging up on each other, unanswered texts, slammed doors, angsty dialogue of self-hate or self-pity. there is a misunderstanding in this book; but I think it was used to show Ash's devotion to Cara and Cara's ability to trust. It didn't drag on -thank goodness; that would have killed the book for me.Both Ash and Cara are likeable. Yes, cara is shy, but it's not chronically so. She blooms under Ash's love. He gives her confidence. She gives him her strength to lean on her.The book is written from Ash's POV which makes the book more interesting. Typically the woman is more perceptive on how everyone is feeling. From Ash's POV, he has to guess or ask how people are feeling - and it's refreshing. The dialogue is good. The love that all the various characters have for each other is well written in their words. Okay, it got a bit much b/w the H&h; telling each other how much they loved each other -but I think since they were both new to those feelings; to verbalize it was a huge leap for both.Summary:Plot - interesting. not big plot twists, but this isn't that kind of book. It's a slow journey of love, pain and healing.Characters - all interesting and have depth; not in a huge way, but enough that you are engrossedDialogue - keeps you engagedEnding - A positive, main characters get their happy ending. Has a good wrap up .Sex scenes - very few -but enough to get you engaged in the depth and sensuality of their relationshipNo cliffhangersEnjoy