Review: Over-dramatic
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 01 5, 2013
This is not the first book in the series but I read it first anyway. It's a stand-alone book (the other book,Promise Keptwhich I guess is the first, is about Donovan's sister TJ).The whole story seemed rather over-dramatic. It opens with Donovan discovering a family secret. He overhears an argument -- this is one of the most commonly used plot devices when an author wants his/her characters to discover something they shouldn't. You'd think people would be more discreet when they're discussing secrets, but of course they have to yell at the top of their voices so that others will find out.Donovan's reaction to the secret is to stomp out of the house, cut all contact with his loving family and disappear for a month. Again, the drama. He forgets he has responsibilities. He forgets there are people counting on him. He doesn't even consider that he's causing his family to worry about him. I understand his hurt and that he feels his whole world has changed, but his extreme reaction was not true to his character. A guy like him would have called home after two or three days (giving him some time to wrap his head around the revelation) and told the family that he needs some space, and not to worry. Somehow he lets the secret overshadow all his previous experiences and what he knows in his heart to be real. His dramatic proclamations that he wasn't a part of the family anymore were a bit ridiculous and over-the-top.Phyllis's life is also full of drama. She has a secret of her own: she's running from a killer because her ex-husband got mixed up in something he shouldn't have. The whole thing about her ex-husband was unbelievable. How did he manage to do he did? Can't have been easy, and from all Phyllis says about him, he doesn't sound like the brainiest guy in town. Not nearly smooth or quick enough to pull it off. It doesn't make sense. And Phyllis -- why doesn't she go to the authorities instead of just trying to outrun the killer? Sure, in the beginning she panicked. But later, when she'd had more time to think?(***mild spoiler in the next paragraph***)The drama escalates. There is some suspense. We know who the bad guy is because the author tells us; we just don't know what he's going to do or when he's going to do it. When something does happen, the mystery is solved too quickly, but the author adds more drama by making Phyllis too stupid to live. She goes against FBI advice -- thus putting herself in danger again. Just when you think it's over, it's really not!(***end spoiler***)In the midst of all the drama, Phyllis and Donovan fall in love but are lousy communicators so both of them keep wondering what the other is feeling. Phyllis keeps wondering if she misread Donovan and Donovan thinks she doesn't want to be with him and it is all so stupid! Like high school all over again!I just couldn't take all the over-dramatics and the constant miscommunication between the two main characters. The drama made me roll my eyes and the miscommunication made me frustrated. 3 stars for the writing, which was okay in itself. The book was well-edited with hardly any grammatical or spelling errors.