Review: TANGLED MESS
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 04 1, 2011
NO SPOILERS or plot summaries. I do refer to some events that occur, but nothing I would call a spoiler. Recommendations for alternative reading included.HIGH LEVEL: This shining example of a train-wreck plot is either a standalone book or potentially the beginning of a new series from the talented Ms. Arend. More erotic than her other books, this paranormal romance is full of hot encounters in unlikely places. Unfortunately, while it has its fun moments, this is a real mess of a story and very far away from the level of her other work. Atmosphere is light and very playful and some of the erotica well done, but the storyline is convoluted and forced and the characters are wooden.PLOT: Awkward and stilted- these two characters are thrown together under bizarre circumstances that make no sense whatsoever- even to them. Supposedly both are competent law enforcement officers of some kind, but seem to lack skill in actually solving their own mystery. Very strange connections are made between characters and then abandoned. The criminal investigation that exists as a subplot to the romance is never clarified and ends up getting resolved in a flash of confusion.Random events occur here and there that serve no purpose at all- El's parents' inexplicable living situation wherein they suddenly live in a mansion (not kidding- it sprang up out of nowhere while El was busy avoiding home for no reason), the arrival of high profile guests at her parents' home when they are supposed to be just your average furry Americans, El having to give up her beloved motorcycle to an ex-beau... I was left wondering WHY many of the scenes were written.CHARACTERS: Shallow and undeveloped. Kyle's entire character summed up in one word: SEX. In fact, for the first third of the book I don't think he has a single non-sex related thought. Don't get me wrong- I LOVE erotica, but he just seemed to be a caricature instead of a character. When he finally showed interest in his work the only investigating he undertook was on the internet. El was a little better, but she was confusing. She represses her "cat side" to fit in at work, but the book opens with her seducing Kyle in a public changing room? Supposedly there was some tension between herself and her family, but it never materialized in the story- there was just no reason for her to not have stayed in touch with her family and they never fought, no tension, nothing. She has issues with marriage for no apparent reason. No other characters even make an impact on the story, really.ROMANCE: No thrill in the chase here, guys. No playing hard to get and no real deepening of emotion either. The second half of the book was better than the first, as there seemed to be some genuine affection between the two, but by that point it was clear to me that this was just a silly trip down the yellow brick road. There was precious little development along the romance side of things. They went from 60 to zero back to 60 overnight and stayed there. Essentially: seduction, capture, refusal to have sex, mindless capitulation and then bunnies all over the place. I mean really- just because they were forced to stay in the same room they had NO CHOICE but to sleep in the same bed? Even that silly Sandra Bullock/Ryan Reynolds movie was able to work around that issue. There was no compelling reason, not even a SEXY reason, for them to have to give in to their attraction. The end didn't find them escalating their relationship any more than they already had. It was a sweet ending, but honestly anti-climactic and since so much of the rest of the story had not been explained it was a little like exchanging gifts in a burning building.BOTTOM LINE: Don't bother with this one. Terrible example of Ms. Arend's work. Her characters are usually sweet and sexy and here they were just crude and flat.  No real thought went into this story- it was just a complete mess. The romance was unromantic, the mystery wasn't mysterious, the larger world  had potential but any tendril of plot that had potential to paint a bigger picture faded into nothing.RECOMMENDATIONS:1. Vivian Arend'sWolf Signs: Granite Lake Wolves, Book 1fun, light were-romance series2. Vivian Arend'sTidal Wave: Forces of Nature, Book 1- a light, lusty read with frolicking dolphins3. R.G. Alexander's steamy vampire/were/witch romance series:Regina in the Sun (Children of the Goddess)4. Dana Marie Bell'sDare to Believe (The Gray Court)- sexy, humorous para-romance with all manner of fae: Sidhe, dragons, leprechauns, vampires and more.5. Dana Marie Bell'sThe Wallflower: A Hunting Love story, Halle Puma Series Book 1.- sweet, light para-romance series with a sense of humor & whimsy6. Kresley Cole's adventurous  and intricate magical romance series (never mind the ridiculous title):A Hunger Like No Other (Immortals After Dark, Book 1)7. Jacquelyn Frank'sJacob (The Nightwalkers, Book 1)- demons, were, vamps and other fae finding their better halves in races that should be the enemy8. Marie Harte'sRachel's Totem- lighter, less developed para-erotica featuring a variety of shifters in a quirky little town.9. Renee Michaels' sexually adventurous, but basic werewolf romanceHer Chosen Wolf: The Were Chronicles, Book 1(more erotic than this)10. Moira Rogers' basic werewolf romance series:Cry Sanctuary: Book 1 of Red Rock Pass series11. Moira Rogers' magically diverse romance series Crux: Southern Arcana, Book 112. Sydney Somers' gargoyle spin on romance: Primal Hunger: Pendragon Gargoyles, Book 1