Review: Needed More Conflict
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 04 22, 2013
Now... that's not often something I say. I actually hate it when authors amp up the characters' reactions and miscommunications in order to perpetuate unnecessary drama, but in this case the conflict seemed rather necessary.Hunky Derek is determined, sexy and perfect. Way, way, way too perfect.  He courts and seduces Kelly with ease (and man do her panties fly off fast even though she keeps insisting that she's not interested in anything to do with men until she gets her business up and running), and when Kelly freaks out about a lost business opportunity and blames it on her involvement with Derek, he continues with his inhuman patience and tries to court her some more with flowers and understanding.  Then a photo of his bare buns starts making their way around town, thanks to the fact that she texted it to her best friend when she took a picture of a stranger's hunky ass (first few pages of the book) only to eventually be caught up in a burgeoning relationship with the guy a few days later.But the photo's doing the rounds while she's not talking to him because of her freak out, and then the local church starts picketing his store.  And when he finally finds out that Kelly's the one who sent the picture, resulting in harrassment from the college girls and older single ladies, as well as the problems at his business and the loss of customers, is he mad? Upset?Nope. It's totally cool, he understands that she didn't mean for it to get around.Dude. W.T.F.Nobody is that freaking perfect. At this point I'd lost a lot of interest in the story because it was obvious that no matter what Kelly pulled, Derek was going to put up with it. And yeah they manage to tie things up at the end and she helps him get his side of the story out, but seriously... the girl has no repercussions to her irresponsible behavior.About the only time Derek really reacts realistically is when he's confronted by Kelly's topless ex in her apartment.This book could have been really great if Derek had just been more realistic and acted... you know... human.  It also would have given some much needed real conflict to the book rather than just the issues that Kelly basically makes up in her head to slow the relationship down. The sex scenes are well written and pretty steamy, but they left me emotionally dissatisfied because I couldn't get over the fact that I really though Derek was too perfect for Kelly (or any woman really) and that they didn't connect well enough before they started going at it like rabbits.