Review: Appealing Characters and An Interesting Story Make This Novella A Page Turner
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 9, 2013
Just Passing Through has several things going for it that many of the books in its genre lack these days.  First and foremost, the characters are perfectly developed to where they come to life on the page.  These are not cardboard cutouts that are created to merely advance a plot.  The main characters are living, breathing people with their own past, ambitions, and shortcomings.  This makes reading the story all the more satisfying, as we get to know the characters as if they were real individuals.Another thing that I was impressed with was the pacing of the novella. The author seems to instinctively know when to offer up exposition to the reader and when to move on to something else.  I have found that many self published fiction writers simply don't have a good understanding of when to write about the past and when to advance the plot.  Because of this, stories often become bogged down in back story and simply fail to hold my interest.  Fortunately, that isn't the case here.  Because the story is constantly evolving and moving in directions which readers could have never predicted, tension is maintained throughout, both in terms of the romance and the other thrilling aspects as well.As for the romance, it is thankfully steeped in reality.  Just Passing Through isn't a cheap bodice ripper. While there is enough romance here to keep all fans satisfied, it isn't overdone to the point of being fantastical or excessive.  Raw sexuality takes a backseat to the more emotional side of love, which I think we can all relate to more.  I found it to be just right and favorable to those books that seem to go over the top.The protagonists Ryker and Laura are particularly intriguing due to both their strengths and weaknesses.  We realize when they first meet each other that this isn't going to be the perfect romance.  Both are haunted by pasts from which they seemingly can't escape.  These flaws help to setup the perfect storyline where both of them must learn to trust again and ultimately rely upon each other in order to survive.While Just Passing Through is principally  a romance novella, it also has long sections of action in which ex-Navy SEAL Ryker assembles a team of professionals in order to help Laura escape from a man who is actively stalking her.  I was impressed by how well the action sequences were written.  My eyes were glued to the Kindle screen.  In fact, I read the whole novella over the course of four hours without ever stopping.  It was that good! The romantic and action elements are perfectly balanced throughout the book, which really helps to add more depth and complexity to what would have otherwise been just another love story.  The relationship between Ryker and Laura matures as they undergo various trials and tribulations leading to an emotionally gratifying ending.  If you want to see how novels of this type should be written, then I recommend giving Just Passing Through a chance.  You won't regret it.