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annathepiperGiven that I started reading this book on the day I had surgery, and that I've finished it off in bits and pieces during my subsequent recovery, it could be argued that I haven't really given Shannon Butcher's No Control a fair shake. I mean, how coherent a picture can you get of a book when you read it in a Vicodin haze, hey?
That said, I have to admit that this book didn't work for me as well as her debut novel, No Regrets. It's not because the quality of her writing has changed--it hasn't--but rather, it's more because I couldn't buy the reasoning our heroine makes for an initial decision of hers that lays down how the rest of the plot goes. Since I couldn't buy that initial decision, I had trouble buying the rest of the plot.
Even given that, there are aspects of the book I did like. The heroine strikes a good balance between "emotionally devastated" and "able to deal when she needs to", generally. There wasn't anything particularly unusual about the hero; he was an archetype. But he was a likable archetype, nonetheless. And bonus points for mixing self-defense lessons and percolating hormones; whoof. ;) Two and a half stars.
That said, I have to admit that this book didn't work for me as well as her debut novel, No Regrets. It's not because the quality of her writing has changed--it hasn't--but rather, it's more because I couldn't buy the reasoning our heroine makes for an initial decision of hers that lays down how the rest of the plot goes. Since I couldn't buy that initial decision, I had trouble buying the rest of the plot.
Even given that, there are aspects of the book I did like. The heroine strikes a good balance between "emotionally devastated" and "able to deal when she needs to", generally. There wasn't anything particularly unusual about the hero; he was an archetype. But he was a likable archetype, nonetheless. And bonus points for mixing self-defense lessons and percolating hormones; whoof. ;) Two and a half stars.
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Date: 2008-06-15 11:28 pm (UTC)Currently working on Shaman's Crossing, the first in Robin Hobb's newest trilogy. Not far enough into it to even guess at whether it's going to be worth it.
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Date: 2008-06-16 06:07 pm (UTC)I've seen Shaman's Crossing but haven't gotten motivated to check it out. I'll look forward to what you have to say about it.
Me, I'm working right now on a Nora Roberts, since as one might expect lately, I haven't had much brain for reading anything terribly substantial. ;)