Review: A romance served with a side of dysfunction
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 10 21, 2013
Disclaimer: I received this ebook as a courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review.Everyone knows that I'm a sucker for a pretty cover.  I found this cover appealing then add to that the synopsis and it captured my attention. I've previously enjoyed stories where sports are mixed in with romance so at first glance this was a win-win.  First Position is a story I've never read before, by that I mean that it's unique and original.  Which is always a good thing. I also liked that the story seemed more realistic than the average romance. It absolutely doesn't follow the typical reunion romance formula and I appreciated that.But did I like the story in itself?...Well, that's hard to say. I thought the story line had great potential, but I didn't like the characters very much. I also didn't care for some of the stereotypes going on, especially concerning the bartender in the hotel.  I won't get into specifics, but not cool.Is it bad when you think the leading man is a douche bag? I think so, and that's what I though about Mason. I felt that Emory could have done much better.  Our "hero" is completely defective. He's insecure, jealous, short tempered, "let me check your phone" suspicious and has a controlling vibe toward Emory. I really wanted to like him, I wanted to root for them as a couple, but I found it difficult.  This isn't a fairy tale. Not by a long shot.Now on to Emory. Overall I liked her more than Mason. She's flawed. but aren't we all! I'm sure more than a few of us have been with guys that weren't the greatest, but yet we're "in love" with them. That's Emory. Lead by her soft heart and physical attraction, not her head. Emory did manage to hold off "rekindling" the physical relationship for a while, which was refreshing.  But on the flip side she's a pot calling the kettle black. She's got just as many personal issues going on as Mason does. Maybe that's why they're perfect for each other!I liked the secondary characters a lot. Emily's roommate Wesley, Mason's brother Stephen and his wife Olivia. They added a little something extra to the story. Not to mention they're all likable and added balance. Beyond that, Mason and Stephen's mother is outrageous! I've never heard a mother refer to herself as a bitch, let alone basically a bigger and badder bitch than her ex daughter in law...woah.I should mention that there are religious moments inserted here and there, which I wasn't sure how to process.  Not that it was overkill, but it just seemed a little out of place with all the dramatics going on. This book is a interesting mix of raunchiness, inappropriateness and yet also manages to be naive and timid at the same time. How is this possible?!In the end, I feel this story could have been better had we gotten more growth from Mason. I accept that he was a hot mess in the beginning, but had he made noticeable strides to become a better person overall, I could understand why Emory would want him. I think the readers really need to like Mason and in my opinion that didn't happen.As far as the writing style goes, it flows smoothly. You know what's going on when and who's saying what.  No issues there.  I recommend this story for those who enjoy reading books where the romance is served with a side of dysfunction.