Review: The high school of Mills and Boon..
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 17, 2013
Is where I believe this author graduated as this book hearkens to the once popular (in the 1970's and 80's) style of the trembling, innocent virgin with smelling salts at the ready to revive her from her many swoons especially when kissed or confronted by the swashbuckling, darkly masculine, all-male hero. (**tongue firmly in cheek**)Oh dear. Having said that, this book was not bad at all and if you can suspend your disbelief (and irritation) at a grown 30 year old woman (Kerrigan) shivering and snivelling like a pre-schooler you will actually get to enjoy what was good such as:1. The hero Axel- handsome, alpha male, sexy as heck, single-minded in his pursuit of his woman and dispensing any threats, competition or detractors with a few well chosen words. His prose could be a little too flowery now and then but otherwise he was pretty solid.2. The obligatory best friend Ashley. All I gotta say is- can she be MY best friend? Loyal, funny, honest and very diplomatic in the way she gave advice to our limp heroine Kerrigan because what Kerrigan really needed was a swift, sharp kick up the backside.3. The baddies. The usual flock of naysayers and haters no romance novel would be complete without. The author touched nicely on their shenanigans without descending into melodrama.4. The sex scenes - off the chain hot. Worth the 4th star otherwise it would have been a solid 3.5. Good plot- I liked the dark secrets in Axel's past, they humanised him and really threw light on his behaviour.6. Axel's family- not much to say but they were well written and his brother Ryker was great- funny, mischievous and clever.Annoying bits:1. The 'heroine' Kerrigan. Oh Kerrigan. Incredibly annoying from start to finish; how the heck is that even possible?I tolerated her in the first book and made allowances: 'maybe there are women out there that timid and shy, sure people can have low self-esteem etc'. But then I thought- if she was so lacking in self-love surely she should not be in any kind of relationship till she had figured her issues out? Her character was the weak link in the book and I did wonder at times why Axel persevered. Also the stunt she pulled near the end, abandoning a dear friend who had stood by her, helped her find a job etc was unforgiveable. Kerrigan was a self-absorbed, lame excuse for a woman and ranks up there with my list of most disliked heroines lol.2. Her little 'surprise' - why is it always a surprise to grown women having sex who KNOW they haven't been 100% careful? Really? Also as a plot device it's overused.In summary these are good books and the author is talented and can tell a story. Hopefully her next offering will include a heroine I can actually respect.PS- I am reviewing both book 1 and 2 here.