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2.0 out of 5 stars
I would like to see Ms. Moning write without plot devices, Jan 10 2006
By A Customer
I think Ms. Moning has potential to be a great writer.
But this book left me wanting. Other reviewers have done a good job of summarizing plot and strong points and weak points. I will simply add my own.
This book is not very romantic. Adrienne tries to protect herself, rather stupidly for stupid reasons. The revelations on her past don't give us enough insight and are not made in a timely manner. At the beginning, we understand why Adrienne, a self reliant 20th century woman would reject «Hawk»'s high handedness. In fact, I could never fall for the jerk myself.
But it gets to the point where we know in advance Adrienne is going to feign attraction to another character in order to push «Hawk» away. She does it a minimum of five times. It's tedious!
As for «Hawk», would romance writers please get over themselves! Could you please not name your male characters like F-16 pilots? It's VERY anachronical. Hawk is a very stereotypical male. In fact, he's probably cookie cutter highlander material, that is in women's fiction. Too late the author tries to add depth, but while I felt for «Hawk», it just boggled the mind that while having to go through what he did, he could not sympathize or understand that the only one way to win someone is to let them free.
The falconry image is supposed to make us feel elated over the symbolism and such. It failed to do me in. In fact I thought it was fairly revolting that I was supposed to fall in love with a man who considers and treats his "wife" like an animal to be caught, hooded and broken. Please, I don't expect men to just sit down a brood, but that's too much. And how are we supposed to believe that Adrienne, self reliant modern woman, finds this attractive? (Although I guess Ms. Moning, modern woman as she is does).
The whole falcon-hawk theme was way too blunt. We understood all right that only the falcon was a match for the hawk, but please don't hit me over the head with it. I understand (and I like ) romance novels. They aren't meant to be nobel prize winning litterature. But credit the readers with more smarts.
Ultimately, I realise Hawk suffers from a bi-polar disorder. One day he's Mr. Smoochie and the next he's the Terminator. It's hard for me to like the Terminator, although Mr. Smoochie was promising enough for me to want more of him.
As for the villain of this book, he's far more interesting than both protagonist. Adam feels more like the misunderstood party in this, at least until the very end where Ms. Moning kind of paints him into a corner, for very little reason other than wrapping up her book, and suddenly he changes into this sniveling, pathetic creature. Adam is only convincing as a villain if he is superior to Hawk. Unfortunately, instead of pitting Hawk and Adrienne together, outmatched against Adam, Ms. Moning wants us to believe Hawk is able to handle everything on his own. Yet another way this romance fails to deliver. There's a fine line between conjuring the «alpha male» and going overboard. I think in this book we're going overboard.
The book brought a few laughs and some characters, notably Grimm and Adam, were fun and interesting. The writing is good, which is why I would love to read a book of Ms. Moning that is not quite so plagued with plot devices, stereotypes, etc... etc.. I guess I will wait to buy another book by her that she outgrows the «highlander» theme.
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by Karen Marie Moning
by Karen Marie Moning
by Karen Marie Moning
by Karen Marie Moning
by Karen Marie Moning
