Review: Writing style ruined it for me
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 10 20, 2011
Who among those of us who were 'tormented' for being different in high school hasn't had the fantasy of returning to their five- or ten-year reunion as THE most successful graduate? There's no high school reunion in D. River's book, but Hunter is certainly on the fast track towards that coveted position. He's rich, successful, doing something he loves, and last but definitely not least by a long shot, no man, straight or gay, can resist him, when he decides to seduce them.Well, I was different in high school. I was tormented. Later in life, I'd love to have had wild monkey sex with people - or the types of people - I'd crushed on but who'd barely acknowledged my existence, when in high school. And I would consider it my god-given right, too. So I was all set to adore Hunter and cheer him on to his HEA, no matter how arrogant, immodest and self-satisfied he might be.Except... D. River decided to write the story in the first person. And I absolutely, positively cannot adore - or even bring myself to like - any person who repeats phrases such as "I smiled impishly" and "I smirked devilishly" and refers to himself as "slender", no matter how many other redeeming qualities he may have (and he does have a few).I have no prejudice against first person narrative, especially when it's well done. And simply substituting "I" for "he" in writing full of florid adverbs and metaphors is generally not well-done first person, and in this case specifically made Hunter sound both pretentious and, on frequent occasion, more school-marmish than I'd expect any guy in his mid-20s, let alone Hunter, to be.So, in conclusion:- Lots of sex, and with enough heart to not read like porn, even if it didn't always advance the story or uncover a facet of the characters in any relevant way- Storyline: A "living well is the best revenge fantasy", plus enough angst and small plot twists to keep me reading through to the end.- Narrative style: Tooth-grittingly annoying, which the above two points couldn't compensate for.