Review: Nicely Done!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 28, 2013
REVIEWED FOR: Swept Away By RomanceThere is no doubting the beauty and sheer natural ability of J.L. Brooks' writing.  DISTRACTIONS has a sophistication and flow to the prose which leave me absolutely stunned over this debut author!The author takes us through various periods of Violet Phillips' life, and when we first meet her, a good friend and teacher has gone missing.  This event leads to the beginning of a downfall for Violet.  However, her young, handsome neighbor, Shepard Leone, comes to her rescue...in more ways than one.  When next we see Violet, time has passed, she has re-established herself in a new career, and the past bubbles up, trying to consume her.  We're introduced to Violet's sister and her ex-boyfriend, as well as her back-story.  The one constant seems to be Shepard.  He seems to find a way in when Violet needs him, and he brings her back to life.I want to get my quibble with this book out of the way first.  I mentioned the sophistication, beauty and natural ability of J.L. Brooks' writing, and, because there was such sophistication and obvious talent, it make the one thing I have a very hard time overlooking stand out all the more.  The need for contractions in dialog, in order to make conversation flow and feel authentic, cannot be overstated in my opinion.  I think I understand why it happens.  But, regardless, people, real people, speak in contractions.  When dialog isn't written that way, it comes off as stilted and odd.  On rare occasions it can be overlooked, but, when the rest of the writing is so eloquent...the lack sticks out like a big, red target.Now that I have that out of the way, let me say that I don't know that I have ever been quite so impressed with the ability of a debut author before!!  I cannot overstate, despite my quibble above, the remarkable talent that is J.L. Brooks.  I'm still in awe of her gift with the written word.  Honestly, in my opinion, that is the true star of this book!  This author will wrap you in the most luxurious and well-formed prose.  And, yet, for all that, there is authenticity and reality here, as well, in her descriptions and the internal thoughts of the characters.  Wow.  I cannot imagine where J.L. Brooks will venture next, but I demand to come along for the ride!Violet was an interesting, complex character that came off just slightly cold to me.  I had just a little bit of trouble working up sympathy for her.  But, she did keep me glued to the page!Violet's ex-boyfriend I found thoroughly compelling, thuggish and really sexy ;-)  Mmmm, Mmmm.  I'll take one of him, please!Shepard.  Shepard, Shepard, Shepard.  What a lovely, loving, sexy, sweet, caring, nurturing, beautiful soul.  What. A. Man.Final thoughts?  Wow.  I cannot imagine where J.L. Brooks will venture next, but I demand to come along for the ride!  If you're a lover of words and authors who use them remarkably well, treat yourself to DISTRACTIONS by J.L. Brooks!!