Ruth Ann Nordin

I wanted to enjoy this and told myself, "That creeped out feeling is just because it's odd sci-fi." But...

I tried. Really, really tried, but it just turned out to be dadgum-messed-up. I couldn't get past the overall message. It's a dangerous form of rape culture that tries to pass off drugging the heroine for sex as romance. Chris releases the so called sex hormone, MINUTES after he meets her. This puts her into a hormonal craze that she doesn't understand and the author has the nerve to show more call it their marriage/bonding/mating ceremony. Come on people. My dream wedding certainly wasn't in the backseat of a van and it didn't involve sex with a stranger. This guy altered her perception so she couldn't say no and raped her.

Ick!

That is just the tip of the iceberg. After the whole breeding thing and the hormone taking away this woman's choice to decide her future fate, she becomes a complete doormat! This book was just terrible! I could hear my brain cells scream as they died. I was promptly punished by a migraine, which I probably deserve for finishing this thing.

I try to be constructive and kind in "bad" reviews, but this wasn't a case of "I just didn't care for it." I'm not opposed to reading stories that involve rape on occasion, but it better be handled appropriately, with plenty of gall for the offender and sensitivity to the victim. Not dressed up like some twisted fantasy.

I was stunned by how many glowing reviews I read. THINK PEOPLE! There's a time to suspend belief. Would you want your daughter thinking love means being drugged against her will? I think not. This book went too far. It sends a damaging and dangerous message. It is NEVER okay to have your CHOICES taken away in this manner. I don't care how it's dressed up. This heroine was stalked, raped, and eventually lost her right to fall in love with the man of her choice. She should've experienced PTSD and anger issues, but nooooo... She went on with life and called her friends about her instant marriage like she just got a great deal on a pair of shoes.

Save your brain cells and pass on this trainwreck. The author should be ashamed. It upset me so much that I will not read another one of her books. show less

This was shaping up to be a four star read, with delicious conflict and angst and ruffled feathers in need of soothing. There were Regency Regina Georges, overheard insults (well, more unintentional dismissals, but still), all kinds of elements I enjoy. There was a passing reference to the heroine being plain, but that idea just vanishes and randomly she is attractive. The not-insignificant conflict just, like, disappears, I guess to make room for the stepfamily subplot? I dunno. Would have show more liked to see a more satisfying resolution to such a great setup. show less

There was a lot of potential in this short novel, which, alas, was not realised. It features a young widowed 'mail-order' bride in the USA, at the end of the 19th century. She comes across a seriously dehydrated stranger and nurses him back to health. There's a bizarre twist in that he is a time-traveller... which could have led to a very interesting story. Unfortunately, it seemed almost irrelevant. That theme was really not explored at all.

Moreover, although it started well, the novel show more needed a lot of editing. Viewpoints switched constantly, sometimes confusingly, and none of the characters were very well developed despite a great deal of reflection and self-talk. The end of the book featured a strangely explicit love scene which was was totally out of keeping with the rest of the book. It was - for some strange reason - categorised as Christian fiction, possibly because a church is mentioned a couple of times.

I downloaded this book free for my Kindle, so perhaps two and a half stars would be fairer; I would have been very disappointed if I had paid for it.

Really not recommended. show less

I really wanted ot rate this higher because I love a plain/unattractive heroine, and there was soooo much set-up for good angst, but everything just moved too, I dunno, smoothly. It sort of drifted from one plot point to the next with little friction or build-up or climax. I mean, when Dave offhandedly mentions that he is looking forward to announcing they're expecting, I scanned every page back to the beginning looking for the part where Mary told him. Talk about anti-climactic! I guess I show more was just hoping for more angst and drama, where this is just a mild, sweet book. (2.5 stars) show less