Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.
Loading... The Love of My (Other) Life (edition 2013)by Traci L. Slatton
Work InformationThe Love of My (Other) Life by Traci L. Slatton
None Loading...
Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. DNF.. this just wasn't my kind of book. I liked the premise of this book so much, but the execution? Not so good. So it only gets 1.5 from me. I'll start off by saying what I liked about it. The other Brian - he was a great character. I liked that he could actually distinguish between two Tessas, but he was still such a man about it (and desperate, I think.) I loved him with the other Tessa, he was quirky and eccentric in a great way and I can definitely see why she loved him. It wasn't very long, or at least it reads really fast, and that's a blessing in disguise. It's written in dual POV - Tessa's in 1st person, and Brian's in 3rd person. I loved this, it somehow distinguished this from that and it really worked well with the story. And I loved the format of short chapters. Unfortunately, I hated Tessa's character. She is extremely immature for a 33 year old - she gets herself into this ludicrous mess and then acts like it was forced upon her. I just wanted to punch her, repeatedly. She contradicts herself all the time. First she says Brian looks like a homeless person, tries to shake him off every chance possible, then she sleeps with him. Then she's disgusted by sleeping with someone like him, only she does it again. Then she says it will never happen again, except it does. Her whole "my art is more art than your art" speeches were annoying the hell out of me. Let the people create and like what they like. I hate art snobs, but it wasn't just that. She was so self righteous like only she knew what should be called art, it came off as extremely conceited and pretentious. The writing isn't really good. The dialogue had me cringing, a lot. At one point you get to read this gem: "Nice!" Brian ejaculated. I sprayed my drink all over my Kindle when I read that. I need to clarify that they are having a conversation about a painting. They are most definitely not having sex. edit: I was just informed that this is, in fact, a speaking verb, which is so awesome. But I still think it doesn't work in modern literature. I don't even want to think about the whole porn video fiasco. Why that was in this book is beyond me, it was a completely ridiculous subplot that had absolutely nothing to do with the story. There was some physics and art speak that I wasn't familiar with. Well, most of it, really. It felt like an inside joke that I just didn't understand. There are no graphic sex scenes, but there's some talk about sex in the book. The cover is completely inappropriate for what the book is about. Don't think it's erotica, because its not. Overall, I wouldn't say that it was a waste of time because I read the book really fast. And I'm giving the book an extra half a star for the good idea. But I wouldn't read it again, and I don't think I would recommend it, either. **Free copy of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley. I liked the premise of this story; it seemed like a unique plotline that would be a quick and easy read. It was quick, it was easy, I liked most of the plot ideas and the characters, but pieces of the story left a little to be desired. I definitely liked the alternate universe Tessa better than the present universe version. That probably had more to do with their respective life choices than anything else, though. I also think I would have rather read the (other) love story, including more of Bryan’s ways of wooing. (Maybe there should be a companion book??) There was just something about this Tessa’s dialogue and thought processes that I didn’t get, although I can’t quite put my finger on what it was. Bryan was funny and engaging and a much more likeable character overall, in my opinion. There were quite a few good scenes between them and I think they made a great pair. I wish Bryan had been a little more forthcoming on who he was and why he was there from the beginning. This would have allowed them to get the unbelievable-ness and explanations out-of-the-way quicker and the story could have moved on more expediently. I’m glad that even though the alternate universe Bryan had to return to his dimension, that he engineered a way for the present universe Tessa and Bryan to unite and become acquainted. I do wish that their story had continued a little longer or maybe had an epilogue. Rating: 3 HEAT Rating: Mild Reviewed By: Daysie W. Review Courtesy of: My Book Addictions and More The Love Of My (Other) Life by Traci L Slatton. I requested this book from NetGalley as it combines two passions of mine - sci.fi/fantasy and romance. Tessa is a struggling artist who helps out with the elderly care programme at her local church. She should get paid for this, but the church are lacking in funds and Tessa feels very strongly that this is something she should do, regardless of whether she gets paid or not. Brian is a professor from an alternative universe. He has traveled to this universe via a decoherence device that he invented as he wanted to see Tessa. Tessa is his wife in the parallel universe. At first Tessa thinks Brian is a crazy, homeless guy who is stalking her, especially when he he produces a photograph of the two of them on their wedding day. Also in that picture is Tessa's best friend, Offee. Offee is out of the country on a yoga retreat and when Tessa rings him up to ask about Brian he tells her that he knows who she means, claiming he is a crazy professor who had a breakdown after stalking a woman he was obsessed with. This alarms Tessa and she challenges Brian about this. He kisses her and she feels a spark of something between them, so instead of giving him a wide berth she starts a fling with him. Tessa and Brian embark on a whirlwind adventure of art theft, becoming unlikely celebs on youtube, a run in with a very shady criminal which results in Tessa getting arrested. Whislt in custody Tessa meets three prostitutes who have also been arrested and they give her lots of advice, some of which she takes later on. She also negotiates her own release, a new career and a sting operation that captures the shady criminal. Eventually Brian has to leave, by which time Tessa has become very fond of him. She doesn't want him to go but he tells her he must and asks her to live her life. Once he has gone Tessa begins to enjoy her new career and the new life she has craved out for herself. She even plucks up the courage to approach the Brian from her own universe to ask him out. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it. **** 4 stars. I finished this book a few days ago. I really enjoyed it. It was full of quick, witty, humor mostly from the character of Brian. When Tessa meets Brian she somehow feels she knows the homeless looking guy in front of her but she doesn't. In this universe anyway. That's right. Brian knows Tessa from a different universe. They were married in that universe but in this universe they don't know each other. The reason he comes to see her will leave you a little sad but you will understand the love this man has for the woman that he knows (HIS Tessa in HIS universe). Brian made me laugh so many times with his quirkiness. He was why I enjoyed the book so much and made me laugh so many times. And each chapter has a silly title such as Chapter 3, "Of dogs, chocolates, and monkeys flying kites in our universe." This book is silly and though it didn't have the hot sexiness I enjoy in a book I still liked it because it was romantic. Book provided by Netgalley no reviews | add a review
Painter Tessa Barnum is struggling. Her husband left; she's broke, about to be evicted, and has made some serious missteps in her career. When scruffy Brian Tennyson explodes into her life, claiming to be from an alternate universe, Tessa thinks he's a crazy vagabond. Then he informs her that in his world, they're married. No library descriptions found. |
Current DiscussionsNone
Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)813.6Literature English (North America) American fiction 21st CenturyLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
|