Willy W. reviewed on 9/9/2011 + 503 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 4

MacGregor's style of writing historical romance is to write as if everything is happening today. The dialogue, save a few "ayes" and "miladys", is contemporary, as well as all notions of age, the language of emotion (how it is discussed or thought about), and general social behavior. While today a sixteen or eighteen year old young man would be considered a child, certainly in the 12th century a male of 16 was considered a man. He would fight in wars, even be married at that age (as were most girls). I sincerely doubt women and men discussed their Feelings to such great degree. I can suspend disbelief for a good romance, but the constant use of very contemporary language and social ideas is distracting from the story. Several scenes felt so out of place and time it was nearly cringe-worthy.
The hero of this book was remarkable in that he was both a virgin and a man who had suffered such terrible mistreatment and torture as a child, with more abuse revealed on almost every page, it is difficult to imagine him being capable of almost any normal human behavior at all. There is a kind of allure to heroes written that way but MacGregor's rather silly approach to his healing romance was off-putting. Sin was a very compelling character but was easily persuaded into silliness that made no sense to the character.
I've read a contemporary romance by Sherrilyn Kenyon (MacGregor's alter ego) and had similar complaints - characters too chipper, dialogue not fitting the people and their station, general silliness that seemed out of place.
Probably my last by this author.

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