Review: If I Didn't Know Better: Problematic Foreshadowing
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 10 28, 2013
Get the bad out of the way, shall we:1.The main character Lucien, I do not really understand- it as though the author really does not know who he is, which makes it difficult for the reader. Lucien has all the "favorites" as of late- wealth, looks, and a clearly undiagnosed obsessive behavior disorder. There is really no explanation as to why this is. I (maybe wrongly) assume that Lucien is this way because of his lifestyle and his money, which has allowed him certain privileges and relationships. Again, this is an assumption on my part, but his behaviors are not justified, nor are his intense feelings for Evelyn.2.Evelyn/Scout is likeable enough for me to keep reading, I mean she has spunk, but she mainly just angered me. Evelyn spends way too much time complaining/analyzing/thinking about what it means to be in a relationship with Lucien. Either in or out. The author attempted to throw wrenches into their relationship, but it did not strengthen either character or help the reader understand. I do not want to give anything away, but sometimes the flow really slowed and I skipped passages of internal dialogue.3.The biggest problem is what is coming. I know seems strange, but I have read enough to hypothesize about where we are headed and I am worried. Parker and Slade are both problematic characters and as I was reading I can see both of them scheming, plotting and praying for the destruction of the `happy couple'. There is a major twist; regarding Parker, that I did not expect (nor did I believe, but that's irrelevant) and it will definitely impact the next two books in the series. The way the author writes Evelyn I can see her saying `forget you both' and walking away- because I have not seen her emotions really, except her compassion for her mother, other than that she has Parker (friend) and Lucien (who the hell knows).  I see a two-way competition for her affections, which would only further intensify the problems.4.While I know that `nothing is new under the sun' I was slightly annoyed with the similarities I could pick out, some from: Twilight, 50 Shades of Grey, The Blackstone Affair, The Breathless Trilogy, and The Beneath this Man Trilogy. They say write what you know, I guess Lydia Michaels knows romance, but she needs a little push towards innovation.I probably will ready book two- well maybe preview it and wait, because at the end of the day, I liked Lucien and I want to think there is more to him and who does not like a Cinderella story?