Review: Even better than Present Perfect! Plus, I made it through this one without crying. Success!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 15, 2014
Congratulations Alison G. Bailey. I didn't think it was possible, but you have managed to write an even more emotionally devastating book than Present Perfect. I thought I knew what to expect from the only author who's ever made me sob in both sadness and relief, yet her follow-up novel, Past Imperfect, surpassed all my expectations within the first five minutes of reading. From its opening pages, Past Imperfect is undeniably gripping, assaulting you with one extreme emotion after another and serving as a reminder of why exactly I was terrified ( but in a good way) to read this book.While I had no preconceived notions about Mabry's character, I approached Present Perfect with a not-so-favorable impression of Brad, but almost immediately had a change of heart once I witnessed the extent of his transformation. Brad's character is drastically different than the guy we met in Present Perfect and this book chronicles his journey from an immature and selfish guy whose callous treatment of the opposite sex ultimately led to his reformation into the sweet, passionate and devoted lover that occupies much of the "present" narrative. As Mabry discovers, it's impossible to resist Brad's charms and with each chapter, I discovered new attributes to add to the list of why I love his character.While it was difficult to navigate through the combined pain and suffering of two such broken and flawed individuals, the moments of immense happiness shared by Brad and Mabry overpower the lingering feelings of heartache. When they're together, they have this incredible chemistry that drowns out everything and anyone else. Even if this book were a complete failure (but it's not), it would be worth reading for the love scenes alone. Everything about Brad and Mabry's relationship is intense and all-consuming and that extends to the bedroom, where each intimate encounter is steamier than the one before.Present Perfect was one of my top reads of 2013 and Past Imperfect follows suit as a must-read of 2014. I appreciated that Alison G. Bailey switched things up in Past Imperfect, writing the narrative in dual perspectives and alternating between the past and present until the two coincided. The extensive details of their journey to finding one another allowed me form a deeper emotional connection with both Brad and Mabry the better I got to know them. The seamless blend of two different periods of time detailing the lives of protagonists, Brad and Mabry, brilliantly conveyed how their past experiences helped shape their present characters."Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review."