Top critical review
3.0 out of 5 starsInteresting plot and likable characters poorly served by OVER-DRAMATIC writing style
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 15, 2016
This book is like that nursery rhyme -- when it was good it was very, very good, and when it was bad it was horrid. Here's what's good -- the bones of the plot were good. This is that type of mistaken identity story where strangers hook up then later discover they know each other IRL and that they hooked up will cause problems. Always a favorite for me. Another good thing -- or two good things -- the H and h. I liked their characters and could understand their unique perspectives. More good stuff -- a touch of mystery at the heart of the story. The mystery element was pretty well done -- didn't overwhelm the romance yet kept percolating in the background enough to be intriguing and draw me through the story to see what was going on. Ok, now for the bad -- the writing. Everything was BIG!!! Melodramatic!!! Overblown!!! When the couple hit a romantic bump in the road they HATE each other. Then on the next page they LOVE each other. Sometimes the only thing that changed was that they walked into a different room. If you are looking for writing that's subtle, nuanced, and doesn't disrupt your suspension of disbelief, THIS IS NOT THE BOOK FOR YOU!! Despite all that, the plot was interesting enough, the characters likable enough, and the mystery engaging enough that I not only finished the book but also found I missed it a little when it ended. The story is the first of a series tho, so I'm sure I'll check my disbelief at the door and buy the next one when it is available. I have read a lot of this author's work and enjoyed some of her other books like the Pleasure Wars Series. Don't know what's up with all the melodrama in this one. Maybe she'll tone it down a bit one of these days, but not too much -- this IS romance, after all!!
