Review: Fantastic Read
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 24, 2012
I apparently need a steady diet of Ms. Shortland's books. In between reading them, I tend to forget the depth of character and insight into their personalities. I especially forget how devious and evil her villains can be. This makes their presence even more subversive and menacing. The truly ingenious aspect of her villains are the way they could be someone we, the reader, know and have experience with in our own lives. I especially enjoyed Fergus. He comes off a creepy and a little sick throughout the entire story, but the climax of the story truly reveals his personality. The potential reality of his character is what makes the story frightening.But, I stray from the most important aspect of the novel - the romance! While perhaps "unbelievable", the connection between Ellis and Kieran can resonate with the reader, and help them remember or imagine that grand passion one can feel when with the right person. I'm not sure I could walk up and down a street and locate my beloved based on said connection, but oh-so-many of us have felt that electric "spark across the room".This reader could definitely sense the love Ms. Shortland has for her main characters . . . Kieran can not possibly have been playing for that long and have achieved those chops and not have a healthy dose of self-absorption and elevated self-worth. The reader could probably blame it on his responsibilities with running his own business and caring for his sister, but truly, our author's love of this character is shining through in his honesty, caring and generosity.I believe most women reading this story will resonate with at least one aspect of Ellis' personality. Whether the reader has been a victim of the "sleep with the boss to get ahead or else" situation, or on the receiving end of a careless lover who imparts the poor body image and deflated self-worth, we can all identify with part of her. This makes the eventual connection with Kieran that much sweeter! Our author's delight in the countryside and its' people are evident in her descriptive passages throughout the book. However, none tickled the senses quite as much as her extended description of the tea cakes and the delight both Kieran and Ellis experienced while eating them.This book will engross the reader fully.  You will not want to put the book down. This means it will be over far too quickly! The good news is, as soon as you finish it, you get to read it again!Originally posted at LAS Romance Reviews