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Snow Job
When lawyer Elyce Anderson threatens to sue her estranged husband to stop construction on a environmentally fragile inlet, he proposes a deal. If Elyce attends his family’s annual Christmas vacation—playing the role of dutiful wife—he’ll save the inlet from development.
Elyce may not trust Karl, but when his efforts to woo her back take a surprisingly forceful turn, her mind loses the battle with her body again and again. It’s her every secret erotic fantasy come to life. In bed, up against the wall, in the bathroom—she’s shocked by Karl’s demands, but greedy for more. She almost manages to convince herself that’s only the result of a tension buildup from going a year without sex. Almost.
The frosty wonderland and long, hot winter nights rock Elyce’s world, but it’s all familiar at the same time. Elyce remembers what she and Karl once had, and she’s willing to be convinced. If they can iron out their differences, they just might fall in love all over again for Christmas.
Elyce may not trust Karl, but when his efforts to woo her back take a surprisingly forceful turn, her mind loses the battle with her body again and again. It’s her every secret erotic fantasy come to life. In bed, up against the wall, in the bathroom—she’s shocked by Karl’s demands, but greedy for more. She almost manages to convince herself that’s only the result of a tension buildup from going a year without sex. Almost.
The frosty wonderland and long, hot winter nights rock Elyce’s world, but it’s all familiar at the same time. Elyce remembers what she and Karl once had, and she’s willing to be convinced. If they can iron out their differences, they just might fall in love all over again for Christmas.
188 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2008
2 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Delphine Dryden
38 books369 followersI write contemporary and erotic romance, and sometimes steampunk romance! To contact me, go to my website or find me on social media.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 18, 2016
http://bookslifewine.com/r-snow-job/
1.5 stars rounded down to 1 star!
I've been a fan of Delphine Dryden for some time. I've only read a handful of her books but I've mostly enjoyed what I've read thus far. I'd forgotten about a lot of the books I own by Ms Dryden due to the...issues I had while attempting to read Gossamer Wing . Since I've recently cleared up my Gossamer Wing issue...I think I'll be reading more Delphine Dryden in the future. I still need to finish the Science of Temptation and the Truth and Lies series.
So.
Snow Job.
I hated this book.
Well, that's not 100% true. I hated the heroine, Elyce, with the passion of a thousand fiery suns. As a married woman, the thought of leaving my husband only over his flipping job makes me rage inside.
RAGE.
WTF. The hero, Karl, spends 99% of the book trying his best to move hell and high water to get his wife back. Let's just be honest - most people would not jump through the hoops Karl jumped through to get back someone who treated them the way Elyce treated Karl.
The things Elyce would say and/or do just...disgusted me. She even started DATING someone before they divorced. Disgusted.
Eventually I started skipping chapters after Elyce called the children in Karl's family "robber barons in training" or something like that. As if she had the right to look down on Karl and his family's money. Elyce is from a LOT of money and I'm pretty sure her family didn't get that money with rainbows and butterflies. *snort*
Disgusted. I was so disgusted by Elyce and her pretentious attitude. She was MARRIED, not dating.
I can't even.
1.5 stars rounded down to 1 star!
I've been a fan of Delphine Dryden for some time. I've only read a handful of her books but I've mostly enjoyed what I've read thus far. I'd forgotten about a lot of the books I own by Ms Dryden due to the...issues I had while attempting to read Gossamer Wing . Since I've recently cleared up my Gossamer Wing issue...I think I'll be reading more Delphine Dryden in the future. I still need to finish the Science of Temptation and the Truth and Lies series.
So.
Snow Job.
I hated this book.
Well, that's not 100% true. I hated the heroine, Elyce, with the passion of a thousand fiery suns. As a married woman, the thought of leaving my husband only over his flipping job makes me rage inside.
RAGE.
WTF. The hero, Karl, spends 99% of the book trying his best to move hell and high water to get his wife back. Let's just be honest - most people would not jump through the hoops Karl jumped through to get back someone who treated them the way Elyce treated Karl.
The things Elyce would say and/or do just...disgusted me. She even started DATING someone before they divorced. Disgusted.
Eventually I started skipping chapters after Elyce called the children in Karl's family "robber barons in training" or something like that. As if she had the right to look down on Karl and his family's money. Elyce is from a LOT of money and I'm pretty sure her family didn't get that money with rainbows and butterflies. *snort*
Disgusted. I was so disgusted by Elyce and her pretentious attitude. She was MARRIED, not dating.
I can't even.
October 12, 2017
Considering how much I loved Delphine Dryden's Science of Temptation series, I had high hopes for Snow Job...but I was disappointed. While an author's note at the end of the book, explaining that this was an updated/ edited version of her first book explains something about the quality of writing, it doesn't retroactively make the story more enjoyable. I honestly didn't find any of the characters in the story likable--the heroine is supposedly such a hardcore environmentalist that she left her husband over her principles, yet all she seems to think about is getting new clothes. She's also had no problem jetsetting around in the past with the in-laws, and doesn't even bother to read the proposal that so outrages her that it powers the whole story plot. I felt a little bad for her ex husband Karl, who seemed to want her back, but the only semi-consensual nature of the first sex scenes squicked me out. Those scenes take quite awhile to get to, by the way. There's lots of slogging through family Christmas traditions, what kind of beverages and food were being consumed, what clothes were purchased, etc, before the characters have meaningful interactions, much less booty calls. The 'villain' of the story is a one dimensional and weak character, which makes his chances at a relationship with the heroine significantly less believable. The real villain, however, is the heroine (yes, OK, I admit it, I forgot her name already. Blonde rich girl.) and her inability to decide or even to secure the necessary full information to do so.
I also didn't like the way this book felt like an apologetic for rich people. Look, they're people just like us! They can cook and clean too, and they do it voluntarily on holidays! they can't help it that the rest of the year they're just too busy doing rich people things to care for themselves. *gives them the stink eye*
So basically I didn't like this book, and that makes me sad. I was hoping for something better.
I also didn't like the way this book felt like an apologetic for rich people. Look, they're people just like us! They can cook and clean too, and they do it voluntarily on holidays! they can't help it that the rest of the year they're just too busy doing rich people things to care for themselves. *gives them the stink eye*
So basically I didn't like this book, and that makes me sad. I was hoping for something better.
December 30, 2011
Snow Job by Delphine Dryden
I packed in one more holiday story. And I'm so glad I did! Delphine Dryden has some excellent writing chops. How do I know this? I forgot I was reading. I was so immersed in this story, I read the whole thing at once. Honestly, I shouldn't have liked this as much as I did. It was a contemporary w/ a sort of borderline-douchey estranged hubby (didn't like his sexual tactics to get his wife back), a sometimes irritating judgmental wife (can you say "tree-hugger"?), and a pretty mellow storyline (estranged couple thrown together for a "fake" Christmas celebration). Nevertheless, I absolutely loved this book. Dryden's writing is fantastic....smooth and mellow like the finesteggnog whiskey buttery toffee candy. Yeah, that's it! Candy! I really really really really like her writing. And even though some of the sex scenes made me slightly uncomfortable (the little wifey was filled w/ guilt), they were hot! Karl was a fine example of husband-turned-alpha-male-to-get-the-little-wifey back. Although he had some douchey moments, I ended up rooting for him, and hoping Elyce would drop the fig-up-his-ass-tree-hugger-wanna-be-boyfriend faster than some recycled cardboard. And she did! And, as an added bonus....there was some spanky time! Which means that every single holiday erotica I read this year was spanky. Spanky hanky-holiday-panky.
Grade: A-
I packed in one more holiday story. And I'm so glad I did! Delphine Dryden has some excellent writing chops. How do I know this? I forgot I was reading. I was so immersed in this story, I read the whole thing at once. Honestly, I shouldn't have liked this as much as I did. It was a contemporary w/ a sort of borderline-douchey estranged hubby (didn't like his sexual tactics to get his wife back), a sometimes irritating judgmental wife (can you say "tree-hugger"?), and a pretty mellow storyline (estranged couple thrown together for a "fake" Christmas celebration). Nevertheless, I absolutely loved this book. Dryden's writing is fantastic....smooth and mellow like the finest
Grade: A-
Read
July 17, 2018Lots of interesting pieces, but there was zero consistency in tone, and I really, really, really dislike the "family-in-law pressures a woman into staying with a guy" angle.
August 14, 2018
Based on a recommendation, I went looking for books by Delphine Dryden. So many to choose from I decided to start with Snow Job because while it had a spanking mentioned in the blurb, it wasn't a BDSM book. It is classified as BDSM, but I wouldn't say this is a BDSM book by a long shot. The entire story is told from the heroine's point of view.
We meet Elyce Anderson, environmentalist lawyer, as she storms into her soon to be ex-husbands office to complain about a construction development project his company is proposing. Elyce is very nature aware and doesn't want any development in the area Karl Nash intends to use. Admittedly she never reads the proposal, but immediately starts throwing out that she intends to sue him over use of this land because of a protected shrimp species.
Karl Nash wants Elyce back in his home, bed and life. He makes a deal with Elyce that if she comes on Christmas vacation with him, he won't develop the land that is in the proposal. As soon as they are at the cabin Karl makes his intentions known. He intends to show her a different side of himself while taking her to bed. He takes her in bed, against the wall and in the bathroom. He even throws in a spanking to show her how serious he really is.
But can sex, even hot sex, make them get back together?
Right off, I didn't like Elyce. I not really sure I ever really liked her. Marriage is a serious commitment and while I admire her for sticking to her principles when Karl takes on a new job that goes against her principles, I really think she should have talked more to him. Maybe I am naïve, but the story really never goes deep into the why or how they break up. You only get high level details on the circumstances of the why.
Getting past the small problem of not knowing what happened or how they disagreed, you know there was never a problem with attraction. They didn't really fall out of love. Elyce is still attracted to Karl, but while their divorce is not finalized, she is starting to move on and date. She is dating a client though, which kind of screams unethical. Either way, I didn't like her client/date at all. From the beginning I wanted to remove the broom stuck up his ass. He ends up doing something very nasty to Elyce that just confirms what an asshole he really is.
While at the cabin with Karl and his family ranging from grandparents all the way down to nieces and nephews, you see the passion and love spring forth from the lovers. While Karl initiates sex in an alpha male way, you know that if she really protested he would have stopped. This was his last-ditch effort to win her back by trying new and passionate ways to express that he still loves her. She does get bratty and he spanks her, but it turns into a truly honest, passionate, sultry, sexy scene of love-making. You start to feel they are connecting and remembering why they originally fell in love.
So while there is a spanking, rough sex against a door, and the bed, I wouldn't have classified this as a BDSM book. It wasn't about bondage, discipline, sadism, or masochist. It was a love story of two lovers who got lost along the way and need to find the common ground to get back to each other.
Definitely a must read to renew your faith in love and marriage.
We meet Elyce Anderson, environmentalist lawyer, as she storms into her soon to be ex-husbands office to complain about a construction development project his company is proposing. Elyce is very nature aware and doesn't want any development in the area Karl Nash intends to use. Admittedly she never reads the proposal, but immediately starts throwing out that she intends to sue him over use of this land because of a protected shrimp species.
Karl Nash wants Elyce back in his home, bed and life. He makes a deal with Elyce that if she comes on Christmas vacation with him, he won't develop the land that is in the proposal. As soon as they are at the cabin Karl makes his intentions known. He intends to show her a different side of himself while taking her to bed. He takes her in bed, against the wall and in the bathroom. He even throws in a spanking to show her how serious he really is.
But can sex, even hot sex, make them get back together?
Right off, I didn't like Elyce. I not really sure I ever really liked her. Marriage is a serious commitment and while I admire her for sticking to her principles when Karl takes on a new job that goes against her principles, I really think she should have talked more to him. Maybe I am naïve, but the story really never goes deep into the why or how they break up. You only get high level details on the circumstances of the why.
Getting past the small problem of not knowing what happened or how they disagreed, you know there was never a problem with attraction. They didn't really fall out of love. Elyce is still attracted to Karl, but while their divorce is not finalized, she is starting to move on and date. She is dating a client though, which kind of screams unethical. Either way, I didn't like her client/date at all. From the beginning I wanted to remove the broom stuck up his ass. He ends up doing something very nasty to Elyce that just confirms what an asshole he really is.
While at the cabin with Karl and his family ranging from grandparents all the way down to nieces and nephews, you see the passion and love spring forth from the lovers. While Karl initiates sex in an alpha male way, you know that if she really protested he would have stopped. This was his last-ditch effort to win her back by trying new and passionate ways to express that he still loves her. She does get bratty and he spanks her, but it turns into a truly honest, passionate, sultry, sexy scene of love-making. You start to feel they are connecting and remembering why they originally fell in love.
So while there is a spanking, rough sex against a door, and the bed, I wouldn't have classified this as a BDSM book. It wasn't about bondage, discipline, sadism, or masochist. It was a love story of two lovers who got lost along the way and need to find the common ground to get back to each other.
Definitely a must read to renew your faith in love and marriage.
February 23, 2012
Based on a recommendation, I went looking for books by Delphine Dryden. So many to choose from I decided to start with Snow Job because while it had a spanking mentioned in the blurb, it wasn’t a BDSM book. It is classified as BDSM, but I wouldn’t say this is a BDSM book by a long shot. The entire story is told from the heroine’s point of view.
We meet Elyce Anderson, environmentalist lawyer, as she storms into her soon to be ex-husbands office to complain about a construction development project his company is proposing. Elyce is very nature aware and doesn’t want any development in the area Karl Nash intends to use. Admittedly she never reads the proposal, but immediately starts throwing out that she intends to sue him over use of this land because of a protected shrimp species.
Karl Nash wants Elyce back in his home, bed and life. He makes a deal with Elyce that if she comes on Christmas vacation with him, he won’t develop the land that is in the proposal. As soon as they are at the cabin Karl makes his intentions known. He intends to show her a different side of himself while taking her to bed. He takes her in bed, against the wall and in the bathroom. He even throws in a spanking to show her how serious he really is.
But can sex, even hot sex, make them get back together?
Right off, I didn’t like Elyce. I not really sure I ever really liked her. Marriage is a serious commitment and while I admire her for sticking to her principles when Karl takes on a new job that goes against her principles, I really think she should have talked more to him. Maybe I am naïve, but the story really never goes deep into the why or how they break up. You only get high level details on the circumstances of the why.
Getting past the small problem of not knowing what happened or how they disagreed, you know there was never a problem with attraction. They didn’t really fall out of love. Elyce is still attracted to Karl, but while their divorce is not finalized, she is starting to move on and date. She is dating a client though, which kind of screams unethical. Either way, I didn’t like her client/date at all. From the beginning I wanted to remove the broom stuck up his ass. He ends up doing something very nasty to Elyce that just confirms what an asshole he really is.
While at the cabin with Karl and his family ranging from grandparents all the way down to nieces and nephews, you see the passion and love spring forth from the lovers. While Karl initiates sex in an alpha male way, you know that if she really protested he would have stopped. This was his last-ditch effort to win her back by trying new and passionate ways to express that he still loves her. She does get bratty and he spanks her, but it turns into a truly honest, passionate, sultry, sexy scene of love-making. You start to feel they are connecting and remembering why they originally fell in love.
So while there is a spanking, rough sex against a door, and the bed, I wouldn’t have classified this as a BDSM book. It wasn’t about bondage, discipline, sadism, or masochist. It was a love story of two lovers who got lost along the way and need to find the common ground to get back to each other.
Definitely a must read to renew your faith in love and marriage.
We meet Elyce Anderson, environmentalist lawyer, as she storms into her soon to be ex-husbands office to complain about a construction development project his company is proposing. Elyce is very nature aware and doesn’t want any development in the area Karl Nash intends to use. Admittedly she never reads the proposal, but immediately starts throwing out that she intends to sue him over use of this land because of a protected shrimp species.
Karl Nash wants Elyce back in his home, bed and life. He makes a deal with Elyce that if she comes on Christmas vacation with him, he won’t develop the land that is in the proposal. As soon as they are at the cabin Karl makes his intentions known. He intends to show her a different side of himself while taking her to bed. He takes her in bed, against the wall and in the bathroom. He even throws in a spanking to show her how serious he really is.
But can sex, even hot sex, make them get back together?
Right off, I didn’t like Elyce. I not really sure I ever really liked her. Marriage is a serious commitment and while I admire her for sticking to her principles when Karl takes on a new job that goes against her principles, I really think she should have talked more to him. Maybe I am naïve, but the story really never goes deep into the why or how they break up. You only get high level details on the circumstances of the why.
Getting past the small problem of not knowing what happened or how they disagreed, you know there was never a problem with attraction. They didn’t really fall out of love. Elyce is still attracted to Karl, but while their divorce is not finalized, she is starting to move on and date. She is dating a client though, which kind of screams unethical. Either way, I didn’t like her client/date at all. From the beginning I wanted to remove the broom stuck up his ass. He ends up doing something very nasty to Elyce that just confirms what an asshole he really is.
While at the cabin with Karl and his family ranging from grandparents all the way down to nieces and nephews, you see the passion and love spring forth from the lovers. While Karl initiates sex in an alpha male way, you know that if she really protested he would have stopped. This was his last-ditch effort to win her back by trying new and passionate ways to express that he still loves her. She does get bratty and he spanks her, but it turns into a truly honest, passionate, sultry, sexy scene of love-making. You start to feel they are connecting and remembering why they originally fell in love.
So while there is a spanking, rough sex against a door, and the bed, I wouldn’t have classified this as a BDSM book. It wasn’t about bondage, discipline, sadism, or masochist. It was a love story of two lovers who got lost along the way and need to find the common ground to get back to each other.
Definitely a must read to renew your faith in love and marriage.
August 26, 2016
Dryden writes well enough that I kept going. But! So much was problematic.
1. The hero was totally inscrutable. I don't remember if the novel was first person (and I just finished it!), but it might as well have been. I have no idea why he did any of the things he did. And the heroine (Elyse) didn't seem to, either.
2. This is the classic example of "novel that never would have happened if people would TALK to each other."
3. It straddled a very weird line between Harlequin SuperRomance and erotica. Everything is all talky talk, secondary character development, look a cute dog!, and then she throws in the c word.
So Elyse and whatshisname had a perfect marriage until he took a job at the family business, which she took as a total betrayal because until then they were both super liberal tree-hugging environmental lawyers.
So she divorced him. Cause that's how you handle stuff like that! Never mind that her family also seems to be disgustingly rich (not revealed until later, but apparently her mom is a Junior Leaguer), and never mind that she still loves his whole family--enough to fake that the marriage is still ok over the family Christmas vacation to a private ski lodge, where she and ex-hubby have to share a bed...just never mind talking about anything, really.
Then they find out, to their mutual surprise, that they both like it when he's bossy in bed. Never came up before!
Just opaque and messy and implausible on so many levels...and yet many of the other secondary characters were interesting, and the pacing was fantastic. Scenes were exactly as long as they should be, and she skipped over exactly what she should...so much potential with (I'm guessing) a better editor.
So...no more Dryden backlist for me. I'll keep an eye on her upcoming books, though.
1. The hero was totally inscrutable. I don't remember if the novel was first person (and I just finished it!), but it might as well have been. I have no idea why he did any of the things he did. And the heroine (Elyse) didn't seem to, either.
2. This is the classic example of "novel that never would have happened if people would TALK to each other."
3. It straddled a very weird line between Harlequin SuperRomance and erotica. Everything is all talky talk, secondary character development, look a cute dog!, and then she throws in the c word.
So Elyse and whatshisname had a perfect marriage until he took a job at the family business, which she took as a total betrayal because until then they were both super liberal tree-hugging environmental lawyers.
So she divorced him. Cause that's how you handle stuff like that! Never mind that her family also seems to be disgustingly rich (not revealed until later, but apparently her mom is a Junior Leaguer), and never mind that she still loves his whole family--enough to fake that the marriage is still ok over the family Christmas vacation to a private ski lodge, where she and ex-hubby have to share a bed...just never mind talking about anything, really.
Then they find out, to their mutual surprise, that they both like it when he's bossy in bed. Never came up before!
Just opaque and messy and implausible on so many levels...and yet many of the other secondary characters were interesting, and the pacing was fantastic. Scenes were exactly as long as they should be, and she skipped over exactly what she should...so much potential with (I'm guessing) a better editor.
So...no more Dryden backlist for me. I'll keep an eye on her upcoming books, though.
May 15, 2016
Man loved the cover and even what I read of the blurb eons ago when I first came across this book. But the author's approach to BDSM elements was in no way appealing at all. And even if the heroine was feeling hot and bothered by how things went down and didn't feel violated. I felt violated for her! And the "hero's " approach to getting her back after being separated for a year was very much akin to rape to me. I mean he as very controlling and taking over and just all kinds of out of the blue.
And might I add the other dude was kind of raked over the coals just for the most simplistic thing. So the heroine would go back to her ex. Which is beyond unreal. I mean I don't know how long he and the heroine were dating for. But seriously if it has not been that long. I don't think it is mandatory to get you something for Christmas. Not to mention if you are a heroine that doesn't bother to do her "homework" for her own job. She has no right to accuse others of lying about things, that even SHE doesn't know anything about in the first place.
And also when you are already doing exactly what someone has assumed you are doing. Then isn't it no longer an assumption? And more like reality happening?
And might I add the other dude was kind of raked over the coals just for the most simplistic thing. So the heroine would go back to her ex. Which is beyond unreal. I mean I don't know how long he and the heroine were dating for. But seriously if it has not been that long. I don't think it is mandatory to get you something for Christmas. Not to mention if you are a heroine that doesn't bother to do her "homework" for her own job. She has no right to accuse others of lying about things, that even SHE doesn't know anything about in the first place.
And also when you are already doing exactly what someone has assumed you are doing. Then isn't it no longer an assumption? And more like reality happening?
June 25, 2015
This is the type of book you take on vacation with you. Pretty safe to read around people who might sneak a peak, except during the hot smut scenes. Expected the smut to be harlequin novel worthy, but it was hot. I think I just needed a fuller ending for it to be pushed up to 4 stars. The main female characters rambling and indecision was a bit annoying though. Her reasons for leaving her husband seems somewhat frivolous. Don't get me wrong, leaving someone because of a change of beliefs is valid but when u don't even have a discussion or compromise it comes across as the author grappling at a reason to explain the separation with not a lot of thought behind it.
As a romance novel it was sweet and a good read especially on a cold night when you could relate to their environment. Reasoning needs work but the smut's good. The male lead makes up for his at times irritating wife.
As a romance novel it was sweet and a good read especially on a cold night when you could relate to their environment. Reasoning needs work but the smut's good. The male lead makes up for his at times irritating wife.
December 20, 2013
This was one of those books that was just, bland. There was nothing wrong with it per say the writing was fine and all but the characters just weren't engaging.
The heroine was fine but her actions towards the hero and their whole relationship break up just felt too contrived and easily fixed and all it was easily solved by just thinking for five minutes to compromise. The hero was just bland and a bit manipulative.
And everyone else just seemed cliche, his family was all too perfect and the 'bad guy' was just way too obvious.
Its not like it was bad it was just so bland easy fix predictable.
If you just want something to read that has sex and characters but you don't really want to be challenged in reading it this is a book for you.
The heroine was fine but her actions towards the hero and their whole relationship break up just felt too contrived and easily fixed and all it was easily solved by just thinking for five minutes to compromise. The hero was just bland and a bit manipulative.
And everyone else just seemed cliche, his family was all too perfect and the 'bad guy' was just way too obvious.
Its not like it was bad it was just so bland easy fix predictable.
If you just want something to read that has sex and characters but you don't really want to be challenged in reading it this is a book for you.
September 28, 2011
The marriage-in-trouble plot could have used slightly more development -- the justification for why the heroine walked out on her husband feels thin -- but the naughty sex scenes are so much fun, I didn't really care, and I bought the reconciliation.
July 29, 2012
For the most part, I enjoyed this story, but found Elyce's reason for leaving Karl fairly weak. As a result, I didn't really warm to Elyce and occasionally felt that Karl deserved better, especially when he tried so frequently to get her to return to him. Otherwise, it was an entertaining read.
January 1, 2017
So so good! The perfect holiday read. I'm sad now that it's probably the last Christmastime read for another 11 months!
I really enjoyed the premise of the story: a separated couple and the hero's desire to reconcile by any means necessary. Very hot...
I really enjoyed the premise of the story: a separated couple and the hero's desire to reconcile by any means necessary. Very hot...
September 26, 2010
trade paperback
May 16, 2013
2.5 stars. Rounding down because I've read better from this author.
Meh. Not bad, just forgettable.
Meh. Not bad, just forgettable.
January 12, 2015
DNF at 86%. It isn't a good sign if I'm so close to the end and just can't be bothered, is it?
January 12, 2016
Force seductions is just not a cup of my tea.
Give up at about 70% reads.
Give up at about 70% reads.
December 30, 2017
I'm very torn on this one. In one respect, I like a second chance romance when handled right, and this was very closely done to my very picky standards. I like it when both the characters have valid grievances, sure one of them in this book is hurt a bit more than the other, but both of them were at fault here. And I absolutely see Elyce's stubborn POV, since the man she loved and married believed a certain thing, then to find out he could turn his back on that belief that was central to their relationship is a tough blow. And her stubborness and pride were in place to make sure she didn't feel that pain again. Of course Karl was justifiably hurt as well thinking the woman he loved had his back no matter what. So these two both had a lot of room for growth and understanding and plenty of angst to deal with. And I liked how that was handled for them.
In another respect though, I didn't actually like the characters all that much. Karl didn't seem like he was all that in love with Elyce. I love a hero who pines for his heroine, and Karl supposedly does, but he doesn't really show it. The excuse for his sexual humiliation of her was that he was desperate and needed to try something different to lure her back....and of course that she liked it. But in the end, after all that pleasure, she didn't like it - the physical side yes, but not the shame and regret afterwards. So I didn't really like the way he treated her there. I guess it could be said that it was his way of punishing her, but I found myself wanting Elyce to have a chance at winning against him. I don't care for power imbalance in romance. I also think Elyce was pretty shitty to Andrew, who hadn't really done anything to deserve the shaft he received (up til the end anyway). So, a great second chance with characters I still am not sure I liked all that much. Also, if infidelity is a trigger, you may not appreciate this one - Elyce technically is still married to Karl while she's dating and making out with Andrew. And she's technically still dating Andrew while she's having sex with Karl.
In another respect though, I didn't actually like the characters all that much. Karl didn't seem like he was all that in love with Elyce. I love a hero who pines for his heroine, and Karl supposedly does, but he doesn't really show it. The excuse for his sexual humiliation of her was that he was desperate and needed to try something different to lure her back....and of course that she liked it. But in the end, after all that pleasure, she didn't like it - the physical side yes, but not the shame and regret afterwards. So I didn't really like the way he treated her there. I guess it could be said that it was his way of punishing her, but I found myself wanting Elyce to have a chance at winning against him. I don't care for power imbalance in romance. I also think Elyce was pretty shitty to Andrew, who hadn't really done anything to deserve the shaft he received (up til the end anyway). So, a great second chance with characters I still am not sure I liked all that much. Also, if infidelity is a trigger, you may not appreciate this one - Elyce technically is still married to Karl while she's dating and making out with Andrew. And she's technically still dating Andrew while she's having sex with Karl.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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