Review: excellent beginning, disappointing follow through
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 08 12, 2013
The beginning was excellent, but the follow through was rather disappointing. The device of the letters was cleverly used, but a bit overdone. After a while they became tiresome. James' wit was on point and shone through the letters and the novella started off briskly and was very entertaining. However, James seemed to be stretching the characters too far. One can appreciate a vivacious and strong heroine, but her plan, especially when it was enacted was simply ridiculous. Also, our hero, Gil, is supposed to be a rake. James tries too hard to make it seem that there was more to him than debauchery. When she tired to add depth, I felt lost in who he was really supposed to be. It simply was not well done and the hero ended up sounding not only wooden and unfamiliar, but also unbelievable. Perhaps if James had used fewer of the letters in the opening, she would have had more time to truly make something more of the plot and the characters. How they fell in love is a mystery.