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This book should be used as an example in writing classes on HOW TO jump the shark (if for some reason an author were so inclined) If you have not followed the series you may enjoy this book but for those of us who have been waiting for the past 5 years for a resolution to the story arc it's pretty brutal.
Characters have been completely re-written and in some cases are nothing like the previous books. Nash and Dave who have barely exchanged more then a few sentences are suddenly great friends! Same with Decker and Tracey, apparently there was an animalistic attraction between the two of them for years now! Surprise!!! Dave, who in past books has been described as geeky, needy and insecure is suddenly an Alpha hero who's tough as nails and of course saves the day. AND could be a SEAL with one hand tied behind his back. Gimme a break.
Tracey, sweet ditzy Tracey who was introduced to us in ITS as not smart enough to work a phone system, clothes obsessed and sexually inexperienced (2 previous partners not including one night stand Izzy) is suddenly the smartest character in the book, quickly putting all the pieces together and is sexually confident enough to order Decker around and act out his BSDM fantasies. The thing about character growth is we actually need to see it - Brockmann just makes drastic changes to their personalities and we are supposed to believe that it's just peeling back the layers, we just didn't see those aspects in them before. And if you believe that I have a bridge to sell you in Alaska. Of course I'm more of 'show me, don't tell me' kind of reader and Brockmann seems to have lost her ability for subtlety.
For those who were devastated that Decker and Sophia would not find their HEA together (despite all the signs in prior books and lets not forget those misleading polls that Brockmann has on her website indicating their couple status) this book doesn't make you feel better. Prior to the release spoilers indicated we would find out exactly WHY Sophia and Decker would never work out - and the reason why? Decker apparently is a closet BSDM wannabe. I read that and thought, seriously??!! Does the author really believe her readers are that naive?? We would simply say, oh it's ok they aren't together because Decker wants to be tied up, covered with a hood and whipped! That's a good reason to suddenly pair her with Dave. I feel the author had to come up SOME reason since she changed her mind halfway through the arc and thought this might do it. Paging JR Ward!!! The one conversation that Decker and Sophia have about their past is disappointing and anti-climatic.
The plot is beyond unbelievable and I was laughing out loud at parts that were not intended to be funny.
Now onto the couples. Dave and Sophia were nauseating as expected. Granted I would have been a tough sell in order to find them believable as a couple and unfortunately Brockmann failed to convince me. I still don't believe that Sophia is IN love with Dave but rather loves him, their baby and the life they will have together. The basic premise of her realizing that she loves Dave, her best friend is when he is in danger and is almost killed in the parking lot....so it's OMG you almost died, I do love you after all!!! And right near the end of the book she tells Decker she's a bit jealous of his and Tracey's happiness, but at the same time she's not. So she's slightly jealous? She obviously still has feelings for Decker then. Not exactly an HEA worthy of a romance novel, more like real life where the girl settles for 2nd choice, but has kids and a house and joins the PTA and is very content.
Tracey and Decker were the best part of the book (their character issues aside) and I would have liked to have seen more of them, particularly at the end which felt very rushed. Again, I'm not really convinced of a very happy HEA....they seemed a bit more in lust then in love.
Very happy to have Tess and Nash wrapped up and happy.
Near the end of the novel Sophia is talking about Dave and Decker and how the two of them are not interchangeable. Which is the exact complain many fans have with Brockmann at this time. For years she builds up Sophia and Decker and then in one very anticlimactic novel she switches it all around so she could have her surprise ending. I guess we are supposed to celebrate her edginess??? Praise her for pushing the boundaries??? Sorry, but when you create a 5 year story arc and then have it end in such a cluttered book she should be prepared for the backlash she is now experiencing. Maybe this won't effect her sales, maybe this book will be a hit for her but I'm tired of being manipulated.
This series has been on the decline for some time now and this was the final nail in the coffin for this reader. I'm sad to say that I think Brockmann is going to places that I just don't care to follow. I think her style has changed and perhaps mine has as well........I just don't like to read romance novels that are more like far fetched soap operas....or perhaps more like 90210 considering the lingo of most of the characters. It really wouldn't surprise me at this point to have characters come back from the dead, like Bobby Ewing in Dallas.
Some of you, particularly Dave fans, may enjoy this book but for me it was a wall banger.
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