Review: Wanted to hate how much Mabry hurts Brad- but ended up liking them both a lot
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 4, 2014
Plot in 3 sentences: Both Brad and Mabry grew up in very dysfunctional households and have each dealt with their pain in their own way- Brad sleeps around; Mabry self-inflicts pain. Brad and Mabry end up meeting each other at a law firm and their chemistry cannot be denied. More pain to come with their relationship, but there is a killer HEA - awesome 50 + into the future epilogues.I read this book straight through and felt myself going through highs and lows. The highs were enjoying reading how Brad and Mabry start their relationship with such passion and finally declare their love. How even though they have such painful pasts- how they are so good together, making each other feel hope, love and passion.The lows were when Mabry does end up fleeing the relationship. Throwing one of those, 'I need to leave before I hurt him' or 'I need to leave because it will all end up badly anyhow' even though they are madly in love.... I really hate when the author has one character running away because of either reason--wanted to stop reading. But the leaving didn't drag on too long. And luckily the hero never gave up. Didn't cheat, didn't throw a hissy-fit. Was able to ride the sadness with Mabry and be there for her on the other side.The author flips back and forth (present/past) and (Brad/Mabry). It provides better depth to the story and makes it easier/better for the reader to understand why Mabry feels the way she does. Brad starts off as a pretty selfish person, but quickly redeems himself and is a very strong young man in light of how horrible his parents are. Mabry starts off very strong, then her family life deteriorates for her and she in still stuck in the dark quagmire of her emotional instabilities when Brad comes along. So she has more issues to tackle in the story than Brad.The book has hot steamy sex - so this is not for young readers.Mabry's psychological problems are 'dealt with' in the book. But completely glossed over. She goes away to seek treatment. Then nothing is mentioned again. We went through so much of her emotional sadness that maybe the author wanted to give us a break. That we didn't need to read about how Brad and Mabry had to deal with things when she got out since we know that she would not be all 'fixed' coming out of the treatment center.There is a super long epilogue - so the happy ending is euphorically happy.