Review: Something doesn't ring true
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 09 16, 2012
Something about this book just seems to be off balance.  The story line is interesting and there is plenty of suspense and dramatic twists.  But it just didn't quite gel for me.The main character, Emely, is beautiful and intelligent.  She has a Midas touch with the stock market, and uses every tool at her disposal to achieve even more success.  I suppose the fact that her Mother died when she was born, and she was raised by nuns in an orphanage explains her detached attitude.That her kidnapper, John fell in love is more understandable, as his back story develops.  He obviously had a very troubled life, and was dominated by his older brother.  For the first time in his life, he has someone he controls, and as Emely awaits her chance to escape, she becomes more cooperative so he will let his guard down.  Her total dependence on him, and her submissiveness from a normally strong woman are things he has never had in his life, and it is plausible that he falls in love.But some things in this book just don't dovetail.  Emely is 49 years old, but it seems that there are several men head over heels "in love" with her, almost obsessively.  She is depicted as a beautiful woman who is in good physical shape, thanks to her exercises.  But she seems cold and aloof.  I can accept her being admired and respected, just not the subject of so much unrequited love.  The ending of the book was action packed, and full of twists and surprises, but I would have liked to see more loose ends tied up, especially with so many of the other characters who were key parts of the back-story.  I never did know for sure what country this was supposed to be set in.  Maybe it really doesn't matter, but I felt a further disconnect.  Many things said USA, but other terminology, etc (like frequent use of "banknotes") wasn't common for USA, which probably is due to the author's International background and ties.  And the amount of money earned in such a short time was totally unrealistic.  Wouldn't that kind of activity ring alarm bells at several different regulatory agencies?This is a work of fiction that is supposed to entertain for some hours, so I was able to brush off so many of the things that just seem implausible.  In fiction, anything can happen, after all.  In all this,  I still haven't been able to pinpoint exactly why this book didn't appeal to me more.  I think it is one of those books that appeal to some, but come across as flat to others.  You'll have to decide for yourself.