One of the reviews on the cover of my edition of this book says that Jennifer Blake is "a master at romantic fiction", and to that I say yes And no. I was NOT a fan of the romance in this book, if one could really call it that. Lust is what it was, and it made zero sense. Lettie is sexually attracted to our hero, both as the Thorn--whom she thought murdered her brother-- and as poor mentally regressed Ranny--a 12 year old in a grown man's body. Neither of those is acceptable, and I'm glad Lettie castigated herself for both, but I was always so disappointed in that she never learned from the guilt and shame. She's right, she is a morally empty hussy lol. Now Ranny/Thorn/Ransom...I could see how he fell for her, because at least he always knew with certainty who Lettie was. For probably about 85% of the book Lettie has had sex with the Thorn, the outlaw version of Ransom, while also being emotionally, and somewhat sexually (ew) attracted to Ranny, the version of Ransom who pretends to have regressed mentally to that of 12-13 year old boy. Again, Ew. She doesn't actually meet the "real" Ransom Tyler until maybe the last 95% of the book as we reach the climax. She caught glimpses of him via certain interactions with Ranny where Ransom couldn't keep up his act perfectly, and she only briefly interacted with him as his Robin Hood version the Thorn, so to say that she loves Ransom, let alone the other two identities...I just don't buy that.
And no worries, you as the reader know from the beginning who the Thorn is and that "Ranny" is really not simpleminded at all.
And yet! Folks this is what really needs to be taken away from this review: This story was absolutely, wonderfully riveting. Captivating. A little slow-going at first but man once you get into the meat of the story it becomes difficult to put down. I wouldn't argue with Blake being a master at "FICTION", that is the takeaway here. Even though I started this for the romance, was kinda grossed out and disappointed by it, I stayed wholeheartedly for the gripping story and enjoyable characters and I do not regret it. It's weird to say but although I didn't enjoy the romance I did actually enjoy Lettie and Ransom/Ranny/Thorn, just not the specific details of how they came together. Oddly enough though I do believe they were perfect for each other, and even though they're just fictional figments of one person's imagination, I can see their future together as they described it and it makes me happy and a little teary-eyed. That's how REAL these characters felt for me. It didn't feel like I was reading a novel someone made up but rather an accounting of a brief time in the life of the Tyler Family. These characters are so vivid in my mind that it almost feels like I could look them up and find their pictures in some Louisiana family database.
Okay okay, so maybe I did buy into the romance a little : )
An enthralling 4.5 star read, and a total keeper if you ask me...which, if you're reading my review you kind of did ;)
Thank you Jennifer Blake for such a phenomenal read and Happy Reading!