Review: Good but still disappointed
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 03 4, 2014
I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book was probably the hardest book I’ve ever reviewed because I have so many mixed feelings about it. Unlike other who rate a book based on grammatical errors I base mine on content. To warrant a five or four star the writer must capture me from the start and hold my interest throughout the book. The characters must be well developed and the storyline believable. While I did enjoy the book I found it was not only easy to put down but I would not return to it for a day or two.The story is told completely from the males POV and while it has been done before I felt there was something missing this time. The story starts with the end of Paxton’s marriage then it jumps a year into the future. Paxton is separated from his wife, she is playing house with her lover and they share joint custody of their four year old son. His wife refuses to sign the divorce papers and Paxton has allowed her to keep his life in limbo. Over the course of the year he has carried on a relationship online with Alisa. It started as one writer complimenting another, blossomed into friendship and when she finally flies out to see him for the first time the relationship jumps right into sex.So here are the downfalls. While the sex scenes were well written I felt the author depended too much on them to carry the reader through. She could have used less sex and developed the relationship between Alisa and Paxton. I felt cheated out of the beginning of the relationship. It was as if there was no base to start from and I never really felt the connection with the love story. The other issue I have is the ex-wife. She has repeatedly refused to sign his divorce papers. She was unfaithful in the marriage and leaves Paxton for her lover. She moves in, has her life but refused to let Paxton go. She is the type of woman who clings to what she believes is hers even when she doesn’t want it anymore. That became evident when she first meets Alisa at Paxton’s home and when he is forced to take her to court to get the divorce final. A woman like that doesn’t do 180 degree turn around like she did in the book. First she encourages Paxton to send for Alisa when their son becomes ill. She turns on the woman when she tries to save her son’s life and then asks her to plan her wedding. In the real world this doesn’t happen.Overall while I liked the story I think the writer missed the mark which is why I only gave the story three stars. I wish she would have spent more time developing Paxton’s relationship with Alisa so that I felt connected to their romance.