Review: Hard to rate..Felt disjointed. Loved Shepard. Love the calm sweet moments. A bit contrived. Good sexual tension.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 10 23, 2013
Violet is a research assistant (then later she gets her PhD) and is a brilliant scientist. She is working on some gene therapy (or something like that - I glossed over that part). She is put in a situation where she FINALLY 'hooks up' with her very adorable, sweet, sexy, and 6 years younger - neighbor.The descriptions of their steamy sex together melted my Kindle.It's not raunchy, but it's so sensual and a tiny bit kinky. Super hot. I had very high hopes for the book at this time. There is definitely a plot in the works, but you do not have any idea what it is. There is a note with instructions left for Violet. Then we do not hear much about it for a long time.The neighbor. Oh, (*heavy sigh*), la la. Shepard is not an alpha-male. But he is a quiet, good looking, super kind and caring young man. But in bed, he gets a bit more aggressive and controlling. (is it getting hot in here??)Again, the author writes these scenes with amazing passion and emotions.Violet reminds me of a rabbit. One minutes she is calming talking with someone, or having sex with someone, or riding in a car with someone -- then SUDDENLY something happens and she totally freaks out. She may end up crying, running away or yelling at the person to leave. She runs hot and freaked out. I think she passes out three times in the book from a panic attack or something akin to it.Okay, I have to say it. Violet doesn't deserve Shepard. The guy is almost perfect. No - he is perfect. He anticipates needs, he is sexy, smart, way mature for his age, introspective, talks about his emotions, dresses well, cooks, drives a kick a** car.... (dude's not gay, really!)Violet doesn't come off 'broken', she comes off as skittish and a bit crazy. We are supposed to feel sorry for her, that someone really hurt her in another life. Yes - what happened what horrible and heart-wrenching. It was also a long time ago. She is pretty confident when she first meets Shepard.I like independent, sexy, sassy, non-skittish Violet. Then something happens and the poor girl goes through one BIG life changing event after another.It's surreal. It's like one moment we are on a beach relaxing, and the next second, a tsunami hits! Then immediately after, we are relaxing on a now wet beach, but at least it's sunny and there is a bit of sand stuck in our bottom bikini, but we can deal...then BAM! Another tsunami hits. It's like this over and over again. But while we are on the beach, we don't get a chance to enjoy it at all before the next disaster hits.Geesh. Does my analogy bite the big one.What I am trying to say, is that there are few calm, sweet, enjoyable moments better each of Violet's problems that pop up. I felt tense throughout this book. Felt jumpy myself. She is almost frenetic in how she reacts to problems. Crying. Running away. Jumping to conclusions. Freaking out. passing out.This book could have been really amazing if the writing of the plot was more even and fluid. I love the male characters. Even the dude that 'did her wrong'. He was well written. But his 'mess up' happened so quickly. was like the author had to move things along really quickly. Felt really rushed.I think the book was supposed to have a big suspenseful ending. But it felt rushed and like there was a hodgepodge of plot twist throw together. I think it was supposed to be surprising to the reader to have been 'fooled'; like a master plan of intrigue; but it felt really like a schtick to me.I think if the book was about 200 pages longer, OR she took out a few plot twists, it would have been better for me. I bought this book right away after I read Rotten b/c I liked that book. But this really fell short for me....I would have given this book 2 stars, but Shepard was worth a full star all by himself....So -HEA.No Cliffhanger.Not a series (if it is - I don't care. Can read this alone by itself)Steamy sex scenes.Some big action - but it didn't seem to fit the overall plot. A bit strange.Love the male lead.didn't like the female lead.Ending wrapped up a bit quickly, but had a nice epilogue. Again, tried to jam too much in the epilogue. Felt like I was putting 80 different items on a plate for dinner. (sorry, another bad analogy?) can enjoy my meal if there is too much - Too many distractions! (hah! see how I did that!?!?)Will probably not read this book again.