Review: Very sweet and romantic story
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 17, 2012
Sweeeeet!If you read this book expecting the gut-wrenching intensity of Special Forces, this book is a whole different beast - it's more like your house pet - but if you're looking for a pick-me-up contemporary romance, which makes you want to strip the next man in a suit you meet, it's for you AND you'll get to see a mature Vadim that you'd love to tend to like that poor waiter in the book.The story is in the point-of-view of Nikolai and while we got to see his side of the story and know his motivations, learning how a sane, loyal and good guy he is, his love/lust interest, Henri LeBeau, remained a bit out of reach. I really wanted to find a connection with him and I couldn't, but still I liked him. He was a man with something to prove, but also a man probably dissatisfied with his life. I saw a sort of desperation in his seduction - maybe desperation is too strong a word, maybe resignation, and it appealed to me a lot and I guess it appealed to Nicolai's decent chore. I think it was what prompted that incredible tenderness Nicolai couldn't help feeling and that gave emotions to their sexual encounters.Nikolai was a bit too perfect, I think, he did all the right things, especially when compared to his sister and her vengeful email. Now I don't know at which point this becomes a spoiler. Maybe in the context of this book if you haven't read Special Forces everything is, so let's tag it.***spoiler***The most important personal event for Nikolai in this book is learning that he's not Vadim's son. I was a bit taken aback that it was Vadim who quite abruptly revealed it to him when they were together in New Zealand while Nikolai was tip-toeing around the issue. Maybe I would have preferred for Nikolai to tell Vadim he knew, but probably Nikolai would never be so straightforward. It's a part of the story I wished were longer.***end spoiler***There are a lot of feelings that were hinted at, but not really explored, and really, what's a romance-romance without a bit of drama?!The corporate setting was interesting and it was done very well. I loved the contrast between Nikolai's more blue-collar origins and the corporate environment he was thrown in, this contrast between appearances and substance.A very quick and sweetly romantic read.