Okay. Well, There is a lot of ups and downs going on here. First of all, I like the subject matter, and the multi dynamics going on in the plot (s). But-so poorly written and so many points left out and scenes left unexplored, that it was a barely one star read (for me).
Addison Greyer's (the main character) initial meeting and romance with Patrick (soon to be husband) was so fairy tale, so explosive, and ideal, it is very hard to follow it down the muddy, ugly trail it soon becomes. Just not planned out well, and the same scenario with her lover, Richard was written in. Same hot explosive chemistry between them both. It was like a carbon copy meeting, romance, etc. Too much of a good thing. Just unbelievable, and needed some contrast to develop the two story lines.
So Addison has the first baby, Connor. This theme is well developed, and the baby's first year explained well, the colic, the screaming, the changes in their lifestyle a new baby brings. Then the next pregnancy. It just kind of -happens. Nothing about the babies, (twins). I watched in expectation for their names to be reveled. They were nameless until the end of the book when the name - Hunter, pops up. Apparently this was one of the babies names. It was on the very last page of the book I saw both names! Hunter and James. This was a very odd and vague way to write about the main character's children.
The 'elevator scene'. It was so unrealistic and contrived it made the whole story line lose credibility. It could have been a powerful intro into how the book developed, Addison's encounter with Patrick and the following new part time job of dominatrix. Addison's own intense sexuality being rekindled by a total stranger. But we go from - in bed with her loving husband-to a sudden, 'heck yeah', to abrupt sex with a handsome man in an elevator. Not entertaining in a believable sense, it lost the drama and powerful intensity it could, and should of had. The start out intro of Addison meeting Patrick and their romance leading to marriage was very deep and full of loving description, the stuff that Happily Ever After is made of; so this was a very lame unbelievable segue to her romp with Richard.
The editing was horrific, with many, MANY typo's, double words, if's, and's and they's, mixed up and punctuation problems. I felt I must be reading a draft copy.
The distinct feel of Fifty Shades was a disappointment here also, and felt very 'copy cat'. The emailed flirty messages between both Patrick and Addison, he is Mr. Corporate America personified, the security available all the time, the penthouse, the endless stream of available funds, gifts- etc.
After she launches into more than a one time elevator sex with Richard, there is no explanation of their relationship, it just kind of is understood she is having an affair with him. Okay. Why? Toward the end, the book states that she is trying to 'keep some distance' between herself and Richard as she really loves her husband and wants her family back. Within the same few pages, she is having an afternoon delight of her own whim with Richard at a new location. Okay. No credibility here at all.
All this being what it is-'Why did I keep reading'? There were redeeming features. Unlike some other reviewers, I did like the main character Addison, and appreciate that real life love and affairs are never textbook. And I also liked the part time job idea she got into as a Dom, although it could have been explored so much more than it was, a reading of the hand book was about the deepest exploration offered into this subject.
The whole book had a -hurry up and write this thing-, feel to it, so much was left out, yet some parts elaborated on, the first kid, the marriage, etc. filled with detail, then the mother in law, the China trip, Patrick's mistress, and so many other themes were cut short.
Lets see how Ms. King does with the sequel.
I think it could have been done much smoother, more detail where needed and less Fifty Shades. All in all, as it took me a night or two to read the book, it was manageable.
