June Read-No Commitment Required by Seressia Glass-Chapters 11-25

[PT]

This is the thread for those you who have finished the book. Please add your opinions of the book as a whole. I will add some questions once I have completed the book.

[PT]

Darnit. I knew I shouldn't have started the book so early because now I am done.
Of course, that makes it easier for me to come up with questions. So, it's kind of a win-lose situation. I will, however, reserve my full opinion of the story until there are at least a few more posts in under the first section.

Now, for questions(and a few spoilers):
1. What was your story impression of the novel? Good, bad, mediocre? Sequel worthy or stand alone only?
2. Do you enjoy the hero and heroine as a couple, why or why not? Do you feel that their respective baggage made them more suited as a couple?
3. What are your feelings regarding keeping their relationship a secret? How did you feel about them having both a business and a sexual relationship?
4. How did you feel regarding Yvonne's breakdown at Poppy's funeral? Do you feel it was appropriate for Grace to reveal Yvonne's past to Michael?
5. What did you think about Dinah, Yvonne's aunt? Is she just a grieving widow or bitter and spiteful?
6. How did you feel about the families' and friends' reaction to the discovery of the relationship? What about Jeff in particular?
7. In what ways do you think they grew as individuals and as a couple?
8. Did you find Michael's decision to leave Yvonne, after the fight with Jeff, to be noble or stupid?
9. How sweet was it that she walked unescorted down the aisle with a photo of her family on her bouquet? (OK, not exactly a question, but poignant nonetheless)

Goodness, I could go on forever, but I think I'll stop with those for now. Feel free to any, all, or none of those in voicing your overall opinion of the novel.

[CaliGirlRae, Mod Squad]

Hehe, is it me or is this book kinda like that really good movie you enjoy. It just flies by in no time? :-)

Will give my thoughts a little later once I catch up a bit. I had planned to do some heavy-duty-no-turning-on-the-computer-this-weekend kindof reading this weekend but...that didn't quite happen lol. Will try to catch up though! (Great q's btw!)

[Tori]

OK. This is going to be long but I wanted to comment while the story is still fresh in my mind. I just finished last night.
1. What was your story impression of the novel? Good, bad, mediocre? Sequel worthy or stand alone only?
I thought the story was good. I am big fan of characterization and I felt the author dispensed the background on the characters very well. At first I wasn't so sure about MIchael but as I read on I began to care about him. What I also liked was not being able to predict the story. Sometimes in romance you can tell what's going to happen and with this little loaded details surprised me. (SPOILER ALERT: one detail that surprised me was that Yvonne was a virgin.)

2. Do you enjoy the hero and heroine as a couple, why or why not? Do you feel that their respective baggage made them more suited as a couple?
Yes, I did. The first meeting I felt truly illustrated that Yvonne and MIchael were a good match. As their layers began to peel away their respective baggage made me believe the relationship even more. I also liked how Michael's vulnerability was shown. Very good of the author to show his pain without being too emotional.
3. What are your feelings regarding keeping their relationship a secret? How did you feel about them having both a business and a sexual relationship?
I felt it was fine especially since Jeff was very protective of Yvonne and also it fit with her personality about keeping parts of her life bottled up.
4. How did you feel regarding Yvonne's breakdown at Poppy's funeral? Do you feel it was appropriate for Grace to reveal Yvonne's past to Michael?
Yes. There was no way that information would have been revealed by Yvonne. Plus, I think it prepared Michael and gave him better understanding of her and of his own pain.
5. What did you think about Dinah, Yvonne's aunt? Is she just a grieving widow or bitter and spiteful?
She came off as more bitter and spiteful. I'd wish we got to see Dinah apologize or try to make amends. The author gave us scene belittling Yvonne I think we, the reader, deserved a scene with Dinah's apology.
6. How did you feel about the families' and friends' reaction to the discovery of the relationship? What about Jeff in particular?
I feel that Jeff's anticipated reaction was one of the driving forces of the book. His reaction and admission to loving Yvonne seemed a bit over the top. What do others think? As for Michael's parents I thought there reaction was good. The mom seeing the change Yvonne has brought in her son and the father cautious about his son not being used again.
7. In what ways do you think they grew as individuals and as a couple?
With Michael I feel as if the relationship helped him heal his relationships with women. Yvonne was a good match in showing that financial gain was not her motive and that giving himself emotionally was all that was needed. For Yvonne, the relationship helped her broaden her horizons and to stop blaming herself for her family's deaths. The two forces of their personalities complimented, motivated, and challenged them as a couple.
8. Did you find Michael's decision to leave Yvonne, after the fight with Jeff, to be noble or stupid?
Noble. He had his doubts and he figured out Jeff's intentions before the fight. I think as a reader it could be seen as stupid since the book is in third person but if you isolate Michael's perspective you can see that the reassurance he needed from Yvonne was not there. Her happiness was his priority even if it meant that she could find it with someone else.
9. How sweet was it that she walked unescorted down the aisle with a photo of her family on her bouquet? (OK, not exactly a question, but poignant nonetheless)
Very sweet.

[PT]

Tori wrote: "OK. This is going to be long but I wanted to comment while the story is still fresh in my mind. I just finished last night.
1. What was your story impression of the novel? Good, bad, mediocre? Seq..."

Good insight, Tori, I totally agree with your assessment of the book. I'll add more elaboration later.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

Now, for questions(and a few spoilers): Caveat, it's been a while since I read this book. It's at home, and I'm not, so I'm going from what I remember.

1. What was your story impression of the novel? Good, bad, mediocre? Sequel worthy or stand alone only?

--I loved it. I'd like to see how they are doing in the future, but I don't need a sequel. I hope she'll write more books in this universe. I didn't read Jeff's book b/c it wasn't IR. I'm horrible, aren't I?

2. Do you enjoy the hero and heroine as a couple, why or why not? Do you feel that their respective baggage made them more suited as a couple?

I loved them as a couple. I thought their baggage was realistic, and when it came down to it, they worked it out. I loved the scene when Michael rescues Yvonne from the car. Sigh!!!

3. What are your feelings regarding keeping their relationship a secret? How did you feel about them having both a business and a sexual relationship?

I could see them wanting to keep their business private. Personally I don't believe in dating co-workers. Just me thought.

4. How did you feel regarding Yvonne's breakdown at Poppy's funeral? Do you feel it was appropriate for Grace to reveal Yvonne's past to Michael?

--I don't remember this part too well.

5. What did you think about Dinah, Yvonne's aunt? Is she just a grieving widow or bitter and spiteful?

--From what I remember I don't like her Aunt at all.

6. How did you feel about the families' and friends' reaction to the discovery of the relationship? What about Jeff in particular?

--Jeff was tripping big time. He needed a slap upside his big head. As a friend, I would try to support my friends in their relationships, unless they were dating someone really bad for them. I have a friend who finally decided to date interracially and I am trying to support her and encourage her because I think it's something she needed to do, to open her options. She was dating this loser for 9 years (partially because of her wanting a Black man only.)


7. In what ways do you think they grew as individuals and as a couple?

They supported each other and were there when they needed each other.

8. Did you find Michael's decision to leave Yvonne, after the fight with Jeff, to be noble or stupid?

--He thought he was being noble.
9. How sweet was it that she walked unescorted down the aisle with a photo of her family on her bouquet? (OK, not exactly a question, but poignant nonetheless)

--I just loved that scene!!! I'd like to see them happy in the future.

Thanks for leading the discussion.