Genres: Contemporary Romance
Published by Harlequin
Released on March 1, 2015
Pages: 109
Format: eBook
Gena Showalter is branching out into a new genre of romance: Contemporary. While I believe she can knock this genre on it’s ass, I can’t say it will happen with this novella. Quirky, depressing and just not believable, I found myself not really liking these characters.
Kenna Starr is trying to make a living and life in small town Oklahoma, where everyone knows you name, your business and your indiscretions. Trying to clear up her name after having it muddied by her adulterous mother and then her own sexual assault resulting in a pregnancy, Kenna is just trying to survive and improve her life. Her daughter is her world and she doesn’t really date much for the slander her name garners around town. Living with two of her friends, she is just barely making ends meet while going to school to become a teacher.
Dane Michaelson doesn’t do commitment after watching his father cheat on his mother with Kenna’s mother. Friends during childhood, Dane and Kenna have a really bad argument. Moving on, Dane takes over the family business, but never wants to give his heart to anyone.
Now that Dane and Kenna’s parents are marrying, they are thrown together in a small town that has perfect memory. Dane is unreasonably attracted to Kenna, but doesn’t want to commit. Kenna is attracted to Dane, but won’t jeopardize her reputation. The two have to fight the town, their family and their own feelings to get to the insta-love that we have to buy into. Oh, and they are future step siblings as well.
The overall problem I had with this was the whole town being so nosey. I live in a small town and I still don’t know everybody nor care who is sleeping with who. And we are as conservative as I am liberal. Dane has all the money and power, while Kenna is young and immature struggling daily. I just couldn’t buy they liked each other, let along fell in love.
Even after Dane realizes all of his mistakes, he just isn’t interesting. He doesn’t do anything I would see as worthwhile. He isn’t athletic, particularly smart or have a hobby I could relate too. He was in essence, boring.
I am still trying to figure out if I want to continue onward with this series. I am hopeful of the main characters this series will follow and with a longer amount of time, just maybe, we can find characters to care about.
Grab it before it’s not free any longer!
Literary Pickers: Kiss
About Gena Showalter
Gena Showalter is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author whose books have appeared in Cosmopolitan and Seventeen magazines, as well as Entertainment Weekly. Her novel Red Handed has been optioned by Sony Television. Critics have called her books “sizzling page-turners” and “utterly spellbinding stories,” while Showalter herself has been called “a star on the rise.” Her mix of humor, danger and wickedly hot sex provides wildly sensual page-turners sure to enthrall.
Shari
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Ah, bummer that if fizzled out for you. I grabbed this one and plan to read the first book, but I’ll keep the expectations a little lower. I live in a small town too and I avoid certain places if I don’t want to hear the dirt on folk. Unfortunately, the building where I work employs a few of the worst of that type so the best I can do is stay off their radar and stay busy Yeesh!
OH I am sorry to hear that it didn’t live up to expectations. I do enjoy this author, but this sometimes will happen when authors change genres.
That’s not the first time I read moderate reviews about that book – on one hand, bummer – on the other hand, yay, another book I won’t have to add to my list ! Let’s be optimistic and see the good side of things 😉
Eesh. Sucks that you didn’t enjoy this one. I had no idea the author was going contemporary but just off the synopsis this book doesn’t sound like it’s for me.
Kristin @ Book Sniffers Anonymous
sounds like a messy tv show, lols. Eh, folks love ridiculous drama…me I’ll pass.
I have this one too! Free is fabulous. I have not read it yet though. I probably will get very very annoyed with the nosy town too, which sucks. Glad you kind of enjoyed this one, Sophia 😀
Great review!
Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!
sounds like a messy tv show, lols. Eh, folks love ridiculous drama…me I’ll pass.
I have this one too! Free is fabulous. I have not read it yet though. I probably will get very very annoyed with the nosy town too, which sucks. Glad you kind of enjoyed this one, Sophia 😀
Great review!
Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!