Review: Oddly told
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 01 22, 2012
I was not fond of the way the story was told. Like I was on the outside looking in. The reader gets told how each character feels. It got tedious for me. The first half of the story wasnt that bad, but somewhere around the 50% mark it started to get really bizzare.Plot: Basically this is a story about 2 people who are wildly attracted to each other each with their own hang ups. She has a fiance out of state whom she "thinks she will grow to love in time." He has a dead fiancee and a sister that dies mid story.  The title made me think I might get porn, while the cover art suggested romance so I gave it a try. The writing- with its God references peppered through out- made me think this might be an "undercover" Christian book. You know the kind where the author is out to prove that a story can be secular, but still clean enough for the prude reader? It wasnt.Characters: Trevor is a 25 year old fashion designer and he's not gay? Panzina is 21 with the life experience of a thirty year old. She has raised her fiances 4 year old son since birth- despite the fact that said fiance seems pretty absent. And when she gives up the son to the biological mother- there is no sadness or loss beyond one paragraph. And if the story is chronological- she doesnt see the son more than once in 6 months after giving him up.I know absolutely nothing about the author, but I am inclined to say that Patterson is quite a few decades past 21 and 25. Her characters have experiences and world views far beyond the typical 20 something. Also her 25 year old millionaire came from a very poor family- he made his fortune pretty fast and he's still pretty grounded. Normally- he would still be in the drugs, alcohol, and models stage if he was a real guy.Writing: there are times when I thought Patterson's first language wasnt english. There were several phrases that no young person would say, we arent raised to be stilted and formal. Ex) "What do you have a taste for?"Her writing is flowery and over the top at times; "It meant that he desired her company, craved it more than the delicious sushi, which he described." Or "She was such a passionate woman that incidents like this could permanently mark her heart." Or "his eyes appraised her figure with admiration." Patterson tells us how her characters feel constantly using the most creative language she can find: "She felt dreary as she walked up the front steps" and "her emotions churned in turmoil."What I mean by bizzare: Panzina is engaged, yet she hardly thinks about Telvin. She has no problems holding hands, kissing and fondling Trevor, yet she plans on being a virgin on her wedding night. Yeah, Patterson over plays the pure, good girl thing. Then in a really weird twist, she gives herself as balm when Trevor's sister dies and her needs "comfort" saying, "She forgot about her fears, reservations and promises made. Trevor had been there for her when she neeeded someone desperately. It was only right to be there for him in his time of need. She wouldnt be a virgin on her wedding night, but at least her first time would be with a man whom she truly loved."Also- Patterson couldnt keep track of her own world. Trevor's "penthouse" has a driveway, patio, and full sized pool. Characters can walk up to the door. Forgive me, but I have always been taught that the penthouse is the top of a highrise or appartment building. And Trevor hates coffee yet he orders it. How do I know he hates coffee? Because Patterson has her characters have a several paragraph conversation about how he wont drink it because it tastes like dirt.But the icing on the cake of bizarre for me is when Panzina has the epiphany, "Trevor might like me if I finally break off my engagement." Yeah, she was a total ditz. I have zero respect for Panzina. She was the kind of woman that I ridicule on a regular basis.Would I recommend it: No, not unless you are super into drama and soap opera style characters are your thing. Personally, I like rational characters that I might befriend if they were a real person.