Review: Love / Hate
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 31, 2014
This book had me hooked from the first sentence.  As a lover of MC novels I had my doubts as to whether or not I would like this but as it turns out, I loved this character study of one brother.  This author has a very easy style of writing.  She keeps her paragraphs short and to the point and does not feel the need to pad them with unnecessary information, nor does she feel the need to use sex as filler every other page.  I did not feel the need to skim over pages.  I thoroughly enjoyed most of this book, but I do have issues with a few things.First I'll get the editing thing out of the way.  Minor blip here but, it really should be redone to eliminate the problem.  This book is too good not to clean it up.*****MAY BE SPOILERS*****  *****MAY BE SPOILERS*****  ****MAY BE SPOILERS*****I loved Beth.  She was a strong, smart, loyal woman who rose above her problem childhood.  She was the silent backbone of her family.  I loved Amy and I enjoyed reading about her growing up and the speed bumps she encounters and overcomes in her life.  I hated Maria.  She was a self-centered, manipulative woman who used her looks and her family to achieve her goals.  I loved/hated Joe.  For as smart as he had to be as the enforcer of his MC, he was just that dumb where Maria was concerned.  He let her lead him around by the nose and he forgave her everything.....even when it was obvious he was suckered.  Beth loved him, helped him and supported him through thick and thin and many years.  Some of the things that he says and does where Beth is concerned should have been dealt with by her in a harsher manner.  He should have suffered like she did for his actions.  I felt, along with her, that she was indeed his second choice.  I could never shake that feeling.  Too easily settled.  All that being said......Amy......  I. Just. Don't. Understand. The. Need. To. Do. This.  Why????  What was the point?  After I finished this book I felt the same way I felt after watching the movie Cold Mountain.  Totally deflated.  In both cases I spent a great many hours becoming totally invested in the characters, watching their struggles and rooting for them, only to be punched in the gut at the end.  Why???I loved Beth and Amy.  Good, strong characters.  I hated Maria and at times....Joe.