Review: 3 star kinda book.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 10 18, 2013
This is Elizabeth James first installment in the boardwalk series, following Tristan, a character from the design series. Tristan moves back home to Care for his dying father and help his mom and brother. In the process, he falls or Kendall, a girl in high school that's been in love with him since the 9th grade without him knowing. I like Elizabeth's style of writing. It's fresh and fast paced. The characters are interesting enough, and so is the plot. The love scenes are lovely; I enjoy a developing relationship and its emphasis, instead of just sex. Elizabeth has this down pat. Halfway through her books however, something goes amiss. It happened before with the last book of hers I read, and it happens here also. The characters emotions and behaviors do not match. Characters are portrayed one way, but then behave completely out of character, and the reader is to take it as face value. It just doesn't make sense to me. while Kendall is portrayed as kind, compassionate, and deeply in love with Tristan, her actions are appalling. She actually witnesses Tristan lose his father. Goes to the memorial, then two days later breaks up with him (upon the bad guy's request because he holds some secret over her head) Via TEXT. Out of the blue, via text, she breaks up with him after being there for him on what is probably the worst experience of his life so far. I expected better from her. As a reader, I waited for Tristan to jump in his car, drive down to her home and pound on her door, or at least, idk, go TALK to her In person?! But no. He just takes her text as face value. Just like that. She broke text me. Okay. I'm sorry but I don't buy it. Tristan's behavior for a guy that just lost his father is odd at best. As I said, setting a mood or personality for a character, then having said character act so completely opposite as I would expect he/she to behave according to the traits and feelings the author attributes to them never sits well for me. I do wanted so much to love this book; I didn't hate it, it was just okay. Therefore 3 stars for me. Not sure if ill check out Ian's story. For me it's not enough to know what is taking place; I need more. I need their actions to make sense, within the context of their situation. Though fun light read; I just have a hard time accepting what takes place at face value.