Review: One word to describe Dominic is “immature”
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 05 13, 2014
3 Cave-Man Dominic StarsOne word to describe Dominic is “immature”I get the reviews and I can see why this book wasn’t a hit. I wouldn’t say Dominic was bad, it just needed a lot of polishing and it does stand out as a debut book.There’s a lot of typical elements, which I am usually okay with, but the dialogue between Branna and Dominic was just so immature and childish, it took away from the story… A LOT.Cute loud mouth Irish girl CheckSexy bad-boy fighter CheckAdorable, but also sexy brothers CheckSexual tension and fighting CheckDead parents, therefore I-push-people-away CheckCrazy past revealed CheckSummaryBranna pushes people away because her parents died and she doesn’t want to get close to anyone and loose them too. Dominic is the American bad-boy student, who makes Branna’s life a little you know what at school. He teases her, calls her names and does everything he can to upset her. No matter how many times Branna tells Dominic to leave her alone, he just doesn’t get the hint.Branna and Dominic DynamicThe Branna and Dominic dynamic didn’t work for me. I don’t think using the B word for your girl as a term of endearment. The Hero can cuss all he wants, but I do not like it when it’s used against the Heroine especially several times. The first 60% of the book is Branna and Dominic fighting, which typically is good because it’s good sexual banter, but the fighting was just so “kiddish” you are rolling your eyes every five seconds and wondering when some good stuff is going to happen.Dominic obviously likes Branna, that is why he teases her and of course Branna doesn’t see this. When Dominic defends Branna does Branna seem grateful? Sure, but does it change her opinion of him? No? WHAT? I get that you don’t like him Branna, I get it, but the guy defended you, put himself out there and you still reject him? Talk about playing hard to get to the extreme.Branna is also too mean. She’s has a bad attitude against everyone. I get you don’t want to be close to anyone, but you don’t have to be mean about it. She wants to be alone, but by screaming at people and calling them names, doesn’t get people to leave you alone. A new student sits in your chair and you scream at him to get up and move? He’s a new student, get over it and sit somewhere else.Additional elementsThe cover was mis-leading and I think that angered a lot of reviewers. When you look at the cover, you are thinking you are going to get a twenty-something Dominic, not an eighteen year old who has a crush on a mean Irish girl.Also, when you read a “fighting” book, typically there’s fighting, at least several scenes of fighting or dialogue around fighting. Dominic only fights two times and both times aren’t really epic.The side characters are adorable and it kind of gives you a glimpse of future books. As much as Dominic disappointed me, I am curious to know how Damien’s (Dominic’s twin brother) will play out (I am assuming his is next). Although I hope the writing gets a little less annoying and a little more polished.Finally the climatic ending, where secrets are revealed and when you find out, you shake your head and your like WHAT? That’s it? You can’t just throw it into the ending of the book. It should have been a part of the book in the beginning and lead up to the pivotal point. I felt like the author just threw it in there for dramatic effect and kind of brushed everything under the rug in the end.I really wanted to like this book because it has a lot of elements that make for a good read, but the writing, storyline, plot development and character development was just so not up to par to what I was expecting. Again, this is a debut novel, so I will not rule out the author just yet.