Jenna Howard

On the Edge of Depressing, but You See the Light, the Hope, the Entire Time

I volunteered to read this book for a review. While I am glad to have been given the opportunity, this isn't a smell the roses, see the puffy clouds in a blue sky, puppy tales story. There is a satisfying HEA, but the prevailing mood is dark and uncertain until the secrets and demons of the past four years (of both the H and the h) are revealed.

In an economically depressed small Canadian town, Twenty-four year old bartender heroine and black sheep of the family is having a hard time resisting come-again, go-again, twenty-six year old photojournalist Hero who has been absent for 4 years. He's made a habit of coming into town and staying with her for sex and comfort and leaving without any communication until he comes back again, leaving her broken for not knowing whether he will even return to her again.

Both were abused by their fathers; she primarily physically, he primarily psychologically. As a result, they both protect themselves by bottling their emotional selves to maintain control over their hurts. It doesn't help the H when his profession takes him to horrific events to photograph people in devastation, pain and loss.

Though a novella in length, this story is full-length in terms of content, character development, and resolution. The Heroine battles addiction to alcohol and drugs while managing a way to survive her dysfunctional relationship with Hero, and her abusive relationships with her sister and her father. The Hero battle the trauma of his work as a photojournalist and the dysfunction of his family - though he is fortunate to have supportive brothers, one of whom also saves our heroine. Layer on top of these challenges the double-standard town gossip revolving around H & h's relationship and we have a complete, emotionally complex story.

Without qualification, I recommend this book.… (altro)

I don't have a ton to say about this book. Generally I avoid erotic romance because I think it combines the worst parts of erotica and romance into a porny romp lacking a substantial plot. However, a couple of the Dear Author bloggers liked this one, and it features a NHL player, so I figured I'd give it a go.

Long story short, it failed to challenge my opinion of erotic romance. The first half is the sex Olympics, the second half the crying game, and then the book just ends abruptly, like her laptop ran out of juice. Thank heavens for the "THE END" written on the last page or I'd have thought I had an incomplete file. There's barely any character development, way too much sex in extremely inappropriate situations (outside a glass patio door at a family barbecue? impromptu buttsecks in her work office?) and a scatterbrained plot. Editing also left a bit to be desired, as there were a number of continuity errors that threw me out of the story.

If you just want a one-handed read, the first half has some pretty hot sex. If you want a complete story, however, this one's sorely lacking.… (altro)