Review: DECENT DEBUT
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 05 3, 2014
This Book was generously provided per author in exchange for an honest review!This is one of those sweet reads that hooked me from the first few pages, set my hopes high and then became something else entirely. I felt this book was a solid/decent read, but I also felt it could have been Fabulous!Quick Synopsis: Wren Riley returns home from Chicago after the passing of her father. She was always bright and determined to get out of small town Birdseye. Home dealing with her father's estate puts her back into a world of bird watching, something she loves and basks in. She literally stumbles upon a local good boy who immediately calls to her libido! This sexy sweet man has her comfortable and swooning fast. Wren is no stranger to making the first move.Lawrence "Laurie" Byrd has had a rough life after experiencing loss during times of war in the army then again in his personal life with the death of his fiancé. Wren and Laurie have a good connection and move fast from friends to lovers but unfortunately they live in two different worlds thus propelling the story as to finding what they truly want as well as what or where they are meant to be.What I Like: I absolutely thought his author did a brilliant job of developing the characters through the personal letters either written to them or by them. I could feel the love and presence of Wren's dad even in his death. Also, Laurie's origami bird letters to Sylvie then to Wren were so special! Laurie himself in my book was equally as special. This man was genuinely good hearted and sweet. He was a true "good guy" and there was no way not to root for him to "get his wren"!My issues: I basically had a problem with Wren! I struggled to connect with her after her initial encounter with Laurie. This woman, to me, was quite selfish. I could understand how people thought she was "too good" for Birdseye. While I appreciate drive and goals, I don't like how she never communicated with Laurie. She basically said she loved him, then never had the actions to back it up! You just put a war vet down by telling him there is more in the city, and you do not just drop an "im moving to NYC" in the middle of a romantic date without even discussing it first!Also, I thought there was a lack of smooth transition from some scenes...from a fight to being away at a fair in love, random visits with nuns?, Laurie singing? then going to NYC for a talent show, just oddities that didn't quite flow into each section. This is where I wish I could have maybe skimmed to get to the heart of the story...were they gonna ever find each other!!!???Overall, this was a good debut by Leslea Tash! It was unique in its plot and had likeable characters, for the most part, lol! The angst is minimal, and the heat factor is more slow and simmering versus a true scorcher. I will say it has a lot of great bird facts that can win you some trivia!!!