Review: Daisy Does….
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 01 5, 2014
2.5 Stars (*Includes Spoilers***)Set in Martha’s Vineyard (apparently a fictional Martha’s Vineyard, not the real one in Massachusetts where it actually gets cold in November and skinny dipping would probably give you hypothermia), 35 year old Belmont Lord, clad in a tank top and still sporting his class ring, seeks out Daisy Blanchard, a 35 year old travel writer, at a cafe after admiring her on the docks the day before. He invites her to his birthday party that night; she’s aloof and tries to ditch him, but they run into each other again at the grocery store and his persistence wears her down, as does all the groceries he picks out and makes her purchase. He gives her a ride back to her overpriced rental, making a pit stop along the way to purchase some kind of mysterious flora.  Daisy surmises that it must be marijuana after he shoves the brown paper bag in the glove compartment, but she is otherwise indifferent. After all, he’s still a hunky stranger driving a BMW.After meeting his brother who gets her loaded on his specialty wine at the party, Daisy sleeps it off in Belmont’s guest room, and the next morning he confesses the pretty blonde in shorts he has been seen with is an ex-girlfriend who he just had sex with two days before. At least he’s honest, but what a turn-off that should be! Apparently not to Daisy though, who after debating her intentions with him, decides to go for him after that admission. Then again maybe full disclosure is the appeal for Daisy; she has just broken up with her boyfriend, a man who never gave her an orgasm or oral sex in a decade but who was, according to her, okay in bed where “there was lots of passion” and he desired her right up to their split—their split where he took up with her best friend, his now fiancé.Daisy is more clueless about sex and her body than virginal Anastasia Steele pre-Christian Grey. “He’s latched on to what I THINK is my clitoris,” says the 35 years old who’s been in a relationship for the last 10 years. She thinks— she doesn't know??? Daisy’s naive ponderings become almost humorous for a woman her age. “Oh goodness gracious, we’re having sex!” she proclaims.  Sex without any protection, which he says he never does even though he just did. They just met 24 hours before, but neither is worried about STDs or pregnancy because apparently sex without a condom means they are girlfriend/ boyfriend. Are these thirty year olds still mentally in tenth grade??? Perhaps so. Belmont has the stamina of a fifteen year old. Their sex scenes (lots of quickies) while plentiful for a while lack build up and anticipation as well as steam.  We’re told they have chemistry together but it’s hard to feel that by the way the plot develops.Daisy’s silly and immature narration and dialogue makes roughly the first half of the book more “comedy” than romance, although I suspect that was not the author’s intent. Later on, the writing shifts a bit and the plot gets stalled and bogged down with too many descriptions, almost as an attempt to delay the pair’s reconciliation and fill space. The couple does seem more in lust than in love, which largely stems from the lack of development of the characters and their relationship early on. Towards the end we meet Daisy’s mother and learn a little more background which does help with Daisy’s character development.  The story isn't really serious; for the most part it’s light-hearted, but also unrealistic. However, it’s not really a fantasy escape because there are just too many things that a girl wouldn't daydream (namely Belmont’s former profession including his prior acquaintance with Maya).Most of the book is told by Daisy in a 1st person POV; however, there are a few chapters that switch to third person narration to tell Belmont’s side.  While I don’t mind alternating POV between the characters, I’m not a fan of switching between 1st and 3rd person, especially when it could be told in the first by both of them.For the most part the pair gets a happy end, although apparently their story continues into a second book in the series featuring other characters (Belmont and Charlie’s cousin for one).  Find Her, Keep Her’s plot has promise and some entertaining scenes, but it largely falls short in delivering an overall engaging story. The characters aren't dislikable, but they aren't ones that are easy to connect with. And what happens with Maya and Adrien is left a bit in the air.As a side note, there is a distinct inclusion of red items (her suitcase, his ring, the towels, red bird, red dress, red shoes, etc.) which was noticeable enough to feel like a tenuous attempt at some kind of symbolism that ultimately goes nowhere.