Review: Strange beginning- not believable- story gets better, then abrupt ending
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 10 31, 2013
*** A few spoilers ***"Summer" is lost in the woods with no memory and with a head trauma, with a bullet graze as well.She has obviously been a target of a attack/possibly attempted murder. She is discovered by Steve Garrett, the owner of a large plot of land close to where Summer is found. Summer (as named by steve) has no memory of who she is and is hired by Steve to be a housekeeper and cook.The beginning is strange and not believable because Steve has NO idea who Summer is, but he invites her too live with him, his 18 year old daughter and his grandfather. Who would invite a total stranger to live in their home. If I had a child, I would still be wary of the possibility that the stranger has crazy psychotic tendencies. A father should protect his child, not expose her to strangers. What if the killer was still on the lose and comes to attack Summer again, why would a father risk the safety of his child. Nope. Not believable.The other strange thing is that after living with the family for one day, Steve kisses her on the lips, hugs her from behind, goes from calling her ma'am to 'baby' or 'babe'. I almost thought I skipped a chapter or two. Why would she allow that kind of behavior. What makes him think he's entitled to that physical closeness that is reserved for someone you are dating? So strange. He's been 'alone' without a girlfriend for 15 years and suddenly now he's acting all 'lovey dovey' with this stranger? And she lets him???It's pretty obvious what is going on. what happened to Steve's missing wife (she disappeared 15 years ago) and the missing waitress. But it's still interesting to see it evolve.Steve's daughter, Jessie, becomes caught up in the intrigue because she is too naive to understand that the situation is way over her head and she needs to bring in her father. Yet the author deems her old enough to start a sexual (consensual) affair with an older man (8 years older). She is a high schooler! Why is she involved with an adult?!??! Ew. Didn't like that. I think it was supposed to be romantic and steamy. Just kind icky.yes - there are several steamy sex scenes. Well done.There are a few scenes where Steve gets all 'alpha-male' that didn't sit well with me. Then even though Steve is at fault for being a jerk, Summer is the one attempting to heal their relationship -cooking his favorite foods, trying to be nicer and draw him out...yes - he lost his mother to cancer, yes, his wife disappeared on him - but that doesn't give him the right to be so rude and a bit of a jacka** to Summer. And why does she feel like he can keep being a bit of a jacka** and he gets forgiven so quickly.The storyline is a few holes in it. The villain doesn't really make his interest in his victims hidden, so how is he allowed to roam free. if this town is as small and gossipy as it sounds - they should have figured out what happened to their missing people.Also, when Summer regains her memory -and returns to her old life. She never has to make ANY hard decisions on what to do. EVERYTHING is resolved FOR her. Her relationship ,her job. It was TOOOOO easy. She has no choice but to take the next step for her happiness. Would have been nice for the author to make Summer work for her happiness. She just sat there and things just fell apart around her without her pushing back and being independent. Didn't like that. Wanted her to fight for her love.The the big HEA hits. The H&h; declare their love and then BAM! Story is over. I really hate that. I need at least 3 pages of 'what happens next'. There were a few things unresolved for me.Does Summer end up working in the area?How will Steve support his family when the farm is barely breaking even?What does Summer's future with her talent/hobby hold for her. Hopefully that is a way to help the farm, but with a local job?Will Steve's 'hobby' save the farm?What about Justin - is he going to meet someone and get his HEA?But you get your HEA.Your steamy scenes.No cliff hangers.