Author: Francis Ray
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: January 2012
Genre: Adult Romance
Series or Stand Alone: Series, Book Five
Synopsis can be found here.
Netgalley Review.
Review:
Dianna Harrington, a successful model for years, has been fired and kickd out of the only lifestyle she has ever known. Her best friend's brother, Alex, always the strong shoulder, takes it upon himself to help her out. Neither can deny their feelings for each other much longer, but is it worth the risk?
I find the problem with jumping into the middle of a romance series is the backstory. Favorite characters from the series, who readers will want to see again, are just mere glimpses when a reader jumps in. A reader like me. And while it may have been four books in the making to see this couple get together, I didn't feel it.
Now, yes on some level it shouldn't matter if you've followed the series from the beginning. A good story is a good story. But I felt like there was a lot lacking. I didn't feel the chemistry between the two characters. All the plot points were there, but for me it fell flat.
Dianna is a fashion model, and I had doubts about her being a sympathetic character. But Ray did a wonderful job with making Dianna more than "The Face". And all of the supporting characters were really interesting. CJ especially I'd love to know more about.
So while I wouldn't rush out to buy this book, I wouldn't be opposed to reading more of Ray. Maybe this couple just wasn't the couple for me.
Rating 4 Not My Cup of Tea
Dianna and Alex are a brand new couple. So, it's not four books in the making.
ReplyDeleteFrancis' books are stand along series and while a character may be mentioned from a previous books, you don't need to locate that book to find the details.
Of course the past characters will be a mere glimpse. When writing a story about a new couple with ties to the previous couple do not need to be re told for the reader's pleasure. If an author wrote that, then it's just a continuation of the previous couples lives and not a new couple added to the series.