Review: Excellent characterization and setting
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 29, 2013
It was a real pleasure to get to know these characters.  The leads were well fleshed and thoroughly likable.  And the setting, New Zealand, was drawn with enough detail that it was almost as if I'd taken a weekend jaunt to a part of the world I'll likely never be privileged to see. The author has a refreshingly adroit command of the English language, making this story a joy to read.As for cons, well, I confess I was frustrated by the heroine's refusal to tell the hero the truth. Her original reason for withholding the truth was a bit contrived, I thought, but once she was committed,  there really was little choice but to forge on. The first time they made love was beautifully described,  but then the author simply glossed over the other encounters. When done properly,  I find that love scenes are an excellent tool for showing the emotional growth of a relationship. And the resolution of their differences was wrapped up rather hurriedly. This author's prose is enjoyable enough that I could have gladly read another fifty pages if they enriched the story.The bottom line is that I would definitely recommend this book, and will be looking for other stories from this author. My major complaint is that I could sense true greatness just beyond my grasp. This was quite good. It could have been extraordinary.