Review: Frustrating
Rating: 1 out of 5
Date: 07 29, 2013
Well, contrary to what other reviewers have said, I wouldn't recommend this book.Aside from the usual typos and editing errors, there were a LOT of ambiguous pronouns. Details seemed to have been repeated unnecessarily, but we got almost no background on Connor. A couple errors were really glaring: we are introduced to Connor Easton in the first chapter, but in the next chapter, he is Connor Jordan. A character makes an appointment for 6:30, but then we're told that he has to get going for his 6:00 appointment. It was like seeing the frayed edges where the two authors didn't mesh completely.My biggest difficulty with the book was the handling of Nicholas's emotional issues; you just can't fix other people. But Connor's whole shtick was that he knew Nicholas was a closet submissive, and if he'd just admit it and let Connor take care of him, everything would be all better. Connor justifies his actions by saying that Nicholas could use his safe word if he wanted Connor to stop, but Nicholas seems too messed up to know what he wants or doesn't want.And, while I realize that Nicholas's treatment was in crisis mode, therapists don't work that way. They don't start off with "Tell me about your childhood," or urge the patient to confess their most traumatic issues to their lover and friends, especially after one or two sessions. They don't just randomly prescribe meds (which could have just been omitted, since we never see Nicholas taking anything anyways), and they don't advocate the BDSM lifestyle as a form of treatment, even - especially - if they're in the lifestyle too.I could have accepted BDSM being part of the solution if Nicholas's real problem was that submission seemed too much like being a victim, as he had been as a teenager. That he couldn't reconcile mental health with submission.But other than his masochism, we're given no reason to think Nicholas is submissive, so the later scenes where he's being all meek and happy about it just aren't believable for me. I found myself so annoyed by the abrupt turnaround that I skimmed the last couple chapters, determined to see how things ended.Finally, this wasn't even a very good romance. The characters are declaring their love for each other practically before a week is up, and we haven't been shown any reason why they would be SO drawn to each other. They struggle constantly. And, there isn't even very much sex in the book.In the end, the whole dynamic of Nicholas and Connor wasn't sexy for me; it made me uncomfortable. Scene after scene of Connor telling Nicholas what to do, where to go, what to eat. And Nicholas being angry and resentful of it and complaining that he's not a child, even though Connor is treating him like one, and Nicholas is letting him. But in the end, it's all tied up in a neat bow because they love each other. One of the last scenes in the hospital has the feel of a sitcom ending: everyone important is there for no particular reason, they've all learned their lesson, and it's all gonna be okay because they have each other. I almost heard the laugh track.