Review: Complex and Beautiful, These Characters Ring Emotionally True
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 20, 2014
I’ve read four books from the Coded for Love series, and while I enjoyed and would recommend all of them, Desperate Match is my favorite so far. In the other novels, the matched couples are genetically programmed to be hot for each other from the moment they meet, although there is no insta-love. That is all a fun part of the series’ premise. But in Desperate Match, Silver takes this reader expectation and turns it upside down. Her female lead, Jill, is the victim of domestic abuse, so the novel is by necessity a more character-centered story about growth and change. The male lead, Rowan, himself a person in need of emotional healing, must first treat her with the respect and patience she needs before any romance can blossom. Silver accomplishes this beautifully, and with respect for women who have been victims of abuse.I’ll admit in the beginning of the book I was concerned that Jill’s plan for salvation from her desperate life situation involved seeking the protection of other men. I understand this was necessary to bring her to Rowan and the Program and advance the plot, but part of me expected her to be the stock-type female character who finds her own inner-strength/revenge without seeking any male help. However, the more I read, the more I realized that this part of Jill’s psychology was just right. When she first made the decision to leave her abusive relationship, she was not changed enough to do this on her own. Years of being controlled by a man made her think that seeking the protection of another man was her only way out. How Jill evolves from there and becomes a new person is a fascinating layer to the story. If you enjoy contemporary romance peopled with complex and thought-provoking characters, as well as steamy sex, then you must read this book.