Review: 3.5 ☆
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 05 24, 2013
This book had many redeeming qualities.First, let's start off with the fact that there was way more to this book than goo goo eyes, flirting, trying to get laid and casual interaction.  While there were sub-characters that had the carefree lifestyle, they were only a mere backdrop to the two main characters who had more backstory and way more substance.Secondly, the story.  It had twists, turns, rumors, accusations, innuendo, misunderstandings, death, mystery, violence.  All things you can find in a good thriller.  This backstory of the main female character, McKenna Porter, was much more complex than the average love story.  She came with a full set of Samsonite luggage that she continued to try and find ways to keep locked up and out of sight at all times, even though it was the driving force behind her commentary, behavior, poor decisions and my inability to take her seriously most of the time.Third, the backstory of the good guy...the lead male character, Detective Dustin Pearce.  I have to say that it was refreshing to have both a player and an anchored man playing side by side within the pages of this winding road of a story.  Dustin is absolutely the anchored man.  While he, too, suffers a bit with a past that is less than palatable to him, he is not the sort of man who used that past bad history to go slumming.  Instead, he held true to his morals, what he wanted and stayed the course.  He was a man who wanted love...all consuming, not sharing you, you are mine, let me love you because I am a one woman man kind of love.  He was honest, loyal, faithful, genuine and tender at the right time, but firm with a loving hand the other times.  Just what McKenna needed since her life was filled with no love, no real guidance and nothing real to call her own.Fourth...THE SHOCK VALUE.  I enjoyed how easily this story flowed along only to catch you unaware and smack you in the head with the proverbial two by four.  While some of the surprising nuggets had you starting to do your own detective work and figure it out, the author still continued to drop little bread crumbs of shock value to lead you down the same path as the characters until you reached the very end.Which leads me to reason number five...THE ENDING.  I have to say that the subtle ways this author led up to the ending, while somewhat rushed, seemed fitting.  One character craving love subconsciously after such a tragic end to a former love, and another character never giving up on love even though love gave up on him.  Seemed almost inevitable that they may end up being two magnets being pulled in each others direction with only each other to latch on to.The decisions made in the end showed growth, acceptance, overcoming and embracing a new life full of things that are right, uncertain, exciting, unexpected and hopeful.I actually loved the combination of mystery, thriller and romance.  It was a fabulous trio and a winning combination for me.I give it 3.5 ☆...only because I did struggle with some of Mickey's behavior and some of Dustin's reactions.  They did not seem to make sense at the time they happened and may have been better suited later on as things developed.  But, overall, a good read.