Review: It's Not Always the Guy's Fault
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 23, 2013
I'm a big fan of the Lucky Harbor series, and it was delightful to go back there for a Christmas Eve wedding in this short (80 pages) novella, BUT... the lead character annoyed me.22 y.o. Mia and (24 y.o.?) Nick have been physically and emotionally involved for six months. Both have in common having been given up for adoption at birth, but Mia had the benefit of having a warm. loving adopted family, and THEN discovering an equally warm extended biological family in Lucky Harbor. Nick bounced around in a series of foster homes, so the idea of a big family gathering is something more triggering than enticing.Despite knowing this about her boyfriend, Mia decides to spring on him, at the last minute, a ticket to go home with her for her aunt's wedding and the holidays. Nick freaks out and reacts badly. When he has a little time to digest it (overnight), he realizes how much Mia means to him; tries calling to tell her so, goes to her place at dawn, and then follows her to Lucky Harbor to win her back.While it makes sense that Mia's people, from her family to her ex-boyfriend Carlos, will take her side and be protective of her, I wanted to shake her for her insensitivity to Nick. IMO, he was not the only one who needed to be making up for past mistakes; the whole fight/breakup occurred because Mia had expectations of how Nick "should" react, when she basically ambushed him. I felt disappointed all the compromises and emotional journeying seemed to be on Nick's side, rather than from Mia as well.It speaks to this author's skill that I got as mad at this character as if she were a real person. Certainly with young love, we do have unreal expectations and heartburnings over small misunderstandings. The descriptions of Lucky Harbor are delightful, the Christmas wedding is sweet and funny. If you enjoy "visiting" Lucky Harbor, it's well worth reading this for a glimpse of your other favorite characters.