Review: Loved the hero, but barely liked the heroine
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 04 22, 2014
I absolutely loved the hero in this book. He's truly special, raw and beautiful, sweet and romantic. And you might ask how a man serving time could be any of those things, given the violent act that got him there in the first place, but this is the kind of man who does what he believes to be right, according to his own honor code and moral compass; the kind of man with a strong belief in duty and loyalty; the kind of man who would protect a loved one with his life, even at the risk of his own freedom. A real Gary Cooper kind of hero.My problem with this romance isn't the story or hero; my lack of love is with the heroine. It wasn't until the very, very end of the book that I began to feel some tiny bit of like for Annie. I don't think she deserves this hero. He's so damn heartbreakingly romantic, so wanting to be whatever it is that a woman like Annie would need or want, to be someone that she deserves to be with, and all the while, I felt that SHE was the one lucky to have this noble man, con or not. At times, I felt she manipulated him, even somewhat used him, and deep down, I felt she wanted to change him, make him over, to suit her own expectations, or conditions.Some of what she wanted, I could see the logic in, but how can you want to change a man's basic character, the true heart of a man, when that man is made like this one, all loyal and true and ready to love you? Annie was the one in need of redemption, at least in my eyes. She didn't seem strong enough for a hero like Eric, and I just don't think he got a love worthy of him. I ended the book with a sad feeling that Annie would always, somehow, want to change Eric in some way. Loved this hero all the way, but Annie left a more bitter than sweet taste in my mouth.