Review: nice afternoon read
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 04 22, 2012
This short and sweet read was a pleasant way to pass a few hours. I was intrigued by the description of the book; after all, I had never read a book set in the West that included belly-dancing...I was definitely ready to see how that all came into play. I was a bit disappointed that there wasn't more of the belly-dancing involved (more on that later), but did appreciate it when it was there.I have to say, though, that I found the main characters Serena and Randolph to be a bit boring and flat. While separated they just seemed so wooden and bland. I liked them more together, which unfortunately didn't happen until the end of the book. I will say that I liked how the author portrayed their love for one another. Each loves the other but is unaware of that love. Serena desperately wants children and is saddened that Randolph has shown her with his actions that he does not When it is revealed why Randolph doesn't want a family, it is both heartbreaking as well as revealing. I was glad for at least this aspect of their relationship because it added another, much needed, dimension to both their characters.For me this story was driven by the secondary characters, who carried far more personality than the hero and heroine. I loved the brothel owner who came to Serena's aid when she found herself stuck in Bandit Creek without any funds. I REALLY loved the old Chinese man who was more wise and crafty than anyone cared to give him credit for. These people made the story what it was and gave Bandit Creek a dose of charm and character. The villain (whose name I won't reveal) was also colorful as well, even if he was a bit cliche.My favorite part was the ending, when the two are reunited. It was sweet and charming and had a happily ever after as all good romances should. And for those who are interested in knowing, this is a pretty clean romance. A passionate encounter is only hinted at, but the author leaves the bulk of it purely up to the reader's imagination. I didn't mind it one way or the other as I didn't feel a love scene would have added much of anything to the ending. I liked it just the way it was.If I could have added anything to this book it would have been a few thousand more words. I would have liked to have a lot more background on the hero and heroine and possibly have delved more into Serena's time in the Middle East and her learning of the exotic belly dance. Overall though, this was a wonderful little book that would be perfect for passing a lazy afternoon.***This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.****