"An Early Frost" by Jenna Brooks

When reading "An Early Frost," I realized I had not read book number one. It didn't impede my understanding of the story. However, I can't find anything more than lack-luster adjectives to describe how I felt when turning the pages. 'It was okay, oh, that was nice.' I can't remember reading a book where a character requested another character "tell me what happened, what you're thinking, how do you feel," so many times. Is he the boyfriend or the therapist? There were interesting elements of the book, but the romance didn't work for me. I found the underlying story more compelling than the main characters.

"Behind the Glass" by Kristen Morgen

Behind The Glass described a woman damaged by the divorce of her parents and the abandonment of her father. A delicate issue, yes, but Rebecca's emotional problems bordered on annoying. Michael and Rebecca's personal restraint while in each other's company was impressive. Their moral fortitude was uncommon and refreshing. I felt sorry for Rebecca, but I was frustrated by the fact that she chose to stay with Brett even though she loved Michael. Scratch my head; she didn't seem to love Brett at all (even though she later claimed she loved both men.) And why did Leo set her up with Brett? He should have known better. The build-up to the sexual relationship took so long. By the time it got to that point, I wasn't even interested in it, and the act of making love seemed to take forever. Get it over with already, I thought. Frequently, I found myself distracted and easily putting the book down. I was bored.

"TEN DAYS IN PARADISE" by Linda Abbott

Paradise? Don't Let the cover fool you. No one is free from worries here....

A beautiful setting. Intricately woven relationships. Some brazenly real family dynamics. Sinners. Yes, sinners(arent' we all?). It seemed nearly every character battled a demon, an ethical dilemma, or a life-changing decision. Interesting and hateable, with their infidelity and secrets, I found it hard to sympathize with the two main characters, and I didn't want to relate to them. I didn't want to believe it's that simple to trip and fall into a moral quagmire. People don't just run off on vacation alone and fall into the arms of a stranger when their marriage is rocky, do they? Men don't fall in love with another woman within days of meeting her while on a family vacation with their wife and children, right? Well, maybe they do. That makes me uncomfortable. You might find it troublesome, too. Sometimes a book brings you out of your comfort zone and makes you ask, 'why?' It's not your everyday love story with the expected happily ever after. The book shows different types of love between father/daughter, brother/sister, and even love of faith and humanity. At certain points, I found myself in tears. It's gritty darkness and flawed characters camouflaged with an island paradise backdrop. It's a tender fifty-year love story enmeshed in the tragedies of its offspring. What is unique about this book is that I was rooting for the main characters NOT to get together the whole time. I wanted a revelation, a change of mind and heart. I wanted them to be better people, but they weren't. They were human. So, even though I couldn't condone their actions or want them to be together, I was still hoping for them to find an acceptable happily ever after in their separate lives. The story left me with a lot of questions. I have to wonder if there is a sequel in the works to sew up lives interrupted and give some closure. I would read it. I want to know if these characters changed, grew, became less selfish, gained internal peace, or found happiness. 

"Will Work for Love" by Amie Denman

When Whitney Oliver arrives at St. Thomas, she expects to enjoy a two-week vacation while tying up loose ends for her best friend, Taylor's wedding to occur at the family estate. She first bumps into Chris Maxwell ( fan yourself with your hand kind of leading man) while trying to get her luggage through a revolving door, and there is a mutual attraction. She discovers her vacation isn't going to be as relaxed as she'd planned, and the heat gets turned up between her and Chris when he volunteers to help her get the place ready for a perfect Christmas Eve destination wedding. But he's left out a few crucial details about his identity, and even though they fall for one another, it's going to be rough sailing. An enjoyable romance; a light, and easy beach read. I enjoyed Whitney and Chris's journey. I would recommend it.

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