Review: good short gone bad
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 03 21, 2011
Short stories are frustrating--not enough story, not enough character development, flimsy plots, slippery endings. This was technically a very good short story, except for unfortunate plot focus and language choices. There were essentially two nicely drawn characters, each with a problem to solve.  The story focuses on how they help each other solve their problems. In so doing they neatly become the solution.  The ending is predictable, but this is romance, not suspense.  Showing how they reach their happy ending is how this writer entertains.The plot is well pieced, but the characters are jarringly confusing.  Likeable and sensitive, the hero is a preacher's son grown up.  He and the heroine toss hells and damns all over the dialogue.  They don't appear to be particularly angry, so such language doesn't fit with these characters.This story strings 3 or 4 sex scenes in a short chain, meant to showcase the characters' problems, which get 'solved' with mutually acceptable sex.  It's dressed up as more 'romantic' than 'usual' sex.  This technically good story should have gotten at least 4 stars, but a lot of good work was spoiled by poor choices in focus and dialogue. I gave it 3 stars.