When you mix a conceited, unlikable lead character, a long build-up to the action, and an ambiguous outcome as the ending, it doesn’t make for the most enjoyable read. The mystery and suspense were good (as was the between-the-sheets action, let’s be honest) and kept me going until the end to get to the conclusion.

Favorite Quotes:

Penelope is one of those rare young things whose obviously natural curves and fawn suede complexion rival anything my pricey plastic surgeon could accomplish. If I had hackles, they’d be bristling.

The woman always could stun me silent. She circles the room again, trailing haughtiness like perfume.

My Review:

There was something about the slow build of this story that kept me on edge while unable and unwilling to put my kindle down. It was not action packed or emotional, yet quite tightly written with lavish and evocative details that formed sharp visuals and prickled my skin. Masterfully crafted and tautly written, I was intrigued and felt as if I was forever several steps behind yet so very close to grasping something just out of reach. The characters were enticing yet untrustworthy, I suspected every single one of them of deceit, and at the top of that list was the enigmatic character of Eli who possessed black belt verbal sparring skills. But that ending – oh my - so completely unexpected, and would have me fuming and stamping my little foot if I didn’t already have the next book locked and loaded. Ellen Hopkins has mad skills.

Before I dive into my review, I want to give a disclaimer. When I go into Ellen Hopkins books, I am excited to read outside the box and read a book made of poetry that is art and content and just awesome. I was sad when I opened this that there is minimal poetry sprinkled within the book. So warning.

From the beginning of the book, the reader is swept into Tara's life. It is a little rough from the start but finally gets into a swing and you go from her being crazy and single to starting to get tied down. After an injury sidelines her and really brings her to her knees, she has to start relying on others and you really see her shift. I liked watching that change in the character. Cavin Lattimore the doctor that walks into her life after her injury was interesting, with the addition of his teenage son, the reader has to pick on each page who to trust and it bounces back and forth. There were times where I was excited that I had to decide who to trust and then there were moments where it got exhausting.

Be warned there is a lot of sexy times and sexy talk in this one. If that puts you off I would maybe stay away. There is enough content and plot that it was ok on the sidelines, but at times it could get distracting. I always like to warn about this content because I know not all readers want this in their reading life.

I did not like the main character in this book at all, and didn't love the writing style either. Unfortunately I just didn't connect with this one. :(

I’m kind of embarrassed to admit how long this book has been sitting on my shelf, patiently waiting for a little bit of attention. For some reason, I let the not so favorable reviews sway me and what a mistake that turned out to be. Just goes to show, no two people ever read the same book. Above all else, for me, Tara’s story was fun. Refreshing. Surprising. And even a tad suspenseful.

Three divorces and some savvy investments later, Tara is forty, well-off, gorgeous and living in a prestigious San Fransisco neighborhood. She’s the first to admit she’s never been in love, despite the three husbands she’s shared her years with. She’s confident, blunt and never shies away from telling the truth . . . well, most of the time. Do lies of omission count? There’s not many people who can say they would rather tell the truth, than waste time lying to make someone feel better. Some people might call that harsh; straddling the line between honesty and being mean, but from Tara’s perspective it was kind of liberating. Forget playing coy or the fear that she was going to push someone away, when Tara wanted answers, she went for it. Is she the most lovable character? Certainly not. Something has to be said for her strength and resilience though.

Just when she least expects to have her heart stollen, Tara meets Cavin. A dreamy doctor with a house in Tahoe, he seems perfect. Add in their intense chemistry, witty banter and his charming nature, and there’s a ton of promise. Naturally, my first thought was - how in the heck is this guy single? My second - ok, what’s wrong with him? Throw Cavin’s semi-estranged seventeen-year old son, Eli, into the mix and things get pretty interesting. Maybe even a tad creepy?

The author manages to weave in a little mystery with the rocky father-son relationship (who should Tara believe?) and the very real possibility that Tara might have a stalker. You have to wonder . . . is there something more sinister going on than meets the eye? Is Tara making a HUGE mistake the one and only time she’s truly given her heart away?

“Can love connect two people indefinitely?”

An epic novel this is not. I found it to be more akin to a guilty pleasure; a read just for the sake of enjoyment and exactly what the doctor ordered after my last disaster of a pick. And that ending . . . ahhhhh. A little open-ended, a tad rushed, but more importantly, riddled with unexpected revelations. I only wish I could get a tiny peek into the future. Looks like I might get that chance next year, with the release of the second book.