Review: Unlikable Characters
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 09 13, 2013
Romance stories are commonly based on characters that secretly plot and withhold information.  I enjoy the suspense of the characters uncovering each other's untold stories.  However, in this story Susanna repeatedly out and out lies to Adam.  Not about her background, but about her intentions toward him.  She needs Adams help to keep her newly acquired plantation running, so she agrees, to his face, to marry him, while secretly planning to break the betrothal after she picks someone worthy, who can then take over management of the plantation.  He begrudgingly agrees to keep it secret, so she can enjoy a little romantic, secret, suspense.  He even asks her at one point about the feelings of her other suitors, when they find out she was just toying with them, & she asks whose interests he cares about, "hers" or "theirs".  The fact that all ends well, doesn't negate the fact that she's a conniving, manipulative, deceitful, user.  I REALLY didn't like her & couldn't get into the book.The idea behind the story .. the death & switch had a lot of potential, but dislike of the characters overpowered that.There were comments about too much sex.  I didn't get that at all.  By the middle of the book, I was looking for a good sex scene to break the monotony.  There was nothing but a few kisses in the first half.  The 2nd half did have several scenes, but I didn't find them overly detailed.  What I didn't enjoy was that they started out with one of the characters angry with the other and ended, at best, with distrust.  The sex scenes were all about slating needs, not emotional connection.I finished it, but it drug on endlessly & I was glad when it was over.On the positive side, the writing style was above average.  I might try reading something else from this author.