Review: Surprise -- I Think This Hero is Bipolar
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 08 24, 2013
This is the story of Wyatt and Natalie.  Like many of Ms. Wards` heroines, Natalie is a virgin who has lusted after an older alpha male for years.  Typically, Wyatt has ignored her all this time.Ms. Ward is a good story-teller.  There are the usual problems with editing, but there is often an interesting plot.  In this book, however, the secondary characters are much more likeable and interesting than the hero and heroine.  There are some funny moments with Wyatt`s brother and his parents.  Natalie`s sister, is a strong character.  I found her much easier to connect with than Natalie.Natalie is all over the place emotionally.  Given her upbringing, it is natural that she would be insecure.  It would be nice if she had developed more of a backbone in her twenty years.  Sadly, even when she speaks her mind, she ends up feeling guilty.  We are told repeatedly that Natalie isn`t stupid.  Then the author has her saying calfs instead of calves.  Sheesh, you don`t have to live in the middle of cattle country to know that one.  Wyatt, of course, is quick to correct her.  That being said, Natalie is not the major irritant in this book.The problem is Wyatt.  After having given Natalie her first very passionate kiss, he is angry that she has confused protectiveness as affection.  Hey, big boy!  If you are just feeling protective, get your tongue out of her mouth and your hand off her butt!Once Wyatt confirms she is a virgin, he ditches her at a rodeo.  "I don`t seduce virgins," he said finally not liking to explain himself.  "They`re too damn needy."  Two hours later, he has her pinned against a wall and seduces her. Mixed messages, anyone?  Natalie is left feeling like she will never see him again.  This is perceptive, since Wyatt considers not calling again.  He spent the night trying to figure out "how to end this nicely."  In fact, if there hadn`t been an urgent family crisis, that one night could have been the end of the whole relationship.A little ambivalence or confusion on the part of either the hero or heroine is fine.  Having Wyatt completely reverse his beliefs every couple of hours makes no sense.  It`s certainly not romantic.  Wyatt blames Natalie for the seduction, saying she was "so damn sexy."  Eeek!  That`s kind of like a rape victim being blamed for wearing a short skirt.  Making Wyatt appear even more in need of psychiatric assistance, he then is upset with Natalie for doubting him.  "I couldn`t have been any clearer than I was with you that night."  "I could NEVER touch you without a commitment."  "You can`t seriously think that I`d just love you and leave you," he said incredulously.  "Never mind that he`d actually thought about it, but it was more for his own self preservation."  What??? The mind boggles!Both Natalie and Wyatt lose brownie points with the reader for being fixated on how she should wear her hair and talking dirty during the major family crisis.Without giving anything away, even at the end of the story, Wyatt leaves Natalie feeling insecure and unloved.  This guy would not be parking his boots under my bed!