Yvonne L. reviewed on + 929 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Sit back, this is a long review.
I skipped a few books in between but I was able to catch up quite quickly. This book was okay. It wasn't here nor there.
I always take points away from writers who reuses characters/themes/plotlines. This was no different. I would have given it a higher rating but this was just like reading on of the Blossom Street books, same characters/themes/plotlines with a different names. In fact as I was reading this I was able to name of their counterparts in her other novels. So that in itself is a disappointment.
I don't think this would be a good standalone book. It's not like you have to read them in order but having read the first book would be helpful. I would imagine it would loose its significance if you didn't know who all the side characters were. Most of the fun in reading this series is visiting the past characters like they were old friends.
Usually Macomber covers three people, but this one was about quite a few people. Also not everyone has a happy ending here and there are some open endings that are left for future books. I'm not sure I liked that part because if I just spent so much time on one couple, I don't want their conclusion in another book. Seems just like a way for the author to milk more money from the readers.
On to the book, my favorite story was probably Seth and Justine. In a way it was most realistic and intriguing. One of Macomber repeated themes is how a couple weather major disasters. This is one of those themes she does a good job of rehashing without it going stale. I sympathized with both characters but I think I identified with Justine more. I think it was easy for her to fall back onto her comfort zone (Warren) when things got really bad especially because she didn't have a lot of friends. Even though Seth was no longer the confident, carefree fisherman I first read about (which was the point) I can see why he was so consume by his anger and rushing to move on. Macomber did a great job of writing about Seth's motivation behind his actions.
Revenge and forgiveness is another one of Macomber's major theme. This one Macomber does not do such a good job of revisiting. It's very redundant and after you have read a few books by her, it can be tiresome.
This brings me to Jon and Maryellen's storyline. Due to being on bedrest for a difficult pregnancy Maryellen needed help from Jon's parents. Jon despised them (as he should) because they purposedly lied and put him in prison for a crime his brother committed. I am going to repeat this: "IN PRISON." So when Maryellen kept hammering on him about forgiveness, I wanted to slap her upside the head and send her to prison for a few years and see how forgiving she becomes. In Macomber's stories, as I said above, she writes a lot about forgiveness especially when it comes to major things that is almost impossible to forgive (like being wrongfully put IN PRISON by your own parents). For the most part, I don't think these people deserve forgiveness. When one of the characters talk about how much the person who wronged has paid, I always throw my hands up and ask "how?" I always end up feeling very sorry for the person who has been wronged because it feels like all his love ones make him out to be a bad guy for learning his lesson and knowing not to trust the people who had hurt him.
Teri and Bobby's story was cute and I wished more time was spent on them. Loved the dialogue between them, especially on Bobby's part. I can't tell if I like Teri or not. She definitely had a huge self-esteem issue and acted really dumb at times, but I also adored her entics.
Now onto Cal and Linette's story. Yes, Linette was overbearing but she was new to relationships and Macomber did such a masterful job of protraying that. She was overbearing but helpful and was quite insecure. I don't like her but I totally could see why she acted so immature. The same went for Cal and he acted like such a jerk. He fell in and out of love so quickly that I would think any women he was into should be a little worried. The scene when they confronted each other was a little too flat for me. Somehow I wanted more, not yelling or dramatics but more substance.
Anson and Allison was a sweet story. Anson was the main susupect in the arson case and the only one who believed his innocence was Allison. I hope I see more of them. I like the way Macomber gave closure to this story even though you know there will be a continuation. I wish she did that with Nate and Rachel.
Not sure why Macomber chose to put Rachel and Nate's story here. It didn't really go anywhere. It ends abruptly and hints at a love triangle in the future. I would have rather if she put the whole story in the next book with an ending.
One of the things Macomber does an awesome job of in this series is protraying the hardships of military couples. My heart totally broke for Cecilia for having made a home only to be uprooted at a moment's notice. I didn't like her when she was first introduced with Ian but after her friendship with Allison I have grown to adore her character. Seriously, it made me in complete awe of all military couples out there and the personal sacrafices they make.
Okay, I know this is a very long winded review. So the book was okay. I didn't hate it or love it. It was mediocre. Read it if you have time or if you are a huge fan, but your life can be complete if you decide to skip it.
I skipped a few books in between but I was able to catch up quite quickly. This book was okay. It wasn't here nor there.
I always take points away from writers who reuses characters/themes/plotlines. This was no different. I would have given it a higher rating but this was just like reading on of the Blossom Street books, same characters/themes/plotlines with a different names. In fact as I was reading this I was able to name of their counterparts in her other novels. So that in itself is a disappointment.
I don't think this would be a good standalone book. It's not like you have to read them in order but having read the first book would be helpful. I would imagine it would loose its significance if you didn't know who all the side characters were. Most of the fun in reading this series is visiting the past characters like they were old friends.
Usually Macomber covers three people, but this one was about quite a few people. Also not everyone has a happy ending here and there are some open endings that are left for future books. I'm not sure I liked that part because if I just spent so much time on one couple, I don't want their conclusion in another book. Seems just like a way for the author to milk more money from the readers.
On to the book, my favorite story was probably Seth and Justine. In a way it was most realistic and intriguing. One of Macomber repeated themes is how a couple weather major disasters. This is one of those themes she does a good job of rehashing without it going stale. I sympathized with both characters but I think I identified with Justine more. I think it was easy for her to fall back onto her comfort zone (Warren) when things got really bad especially because she didn't have a lot of friends. Even though Seth was no longer the confident, carefree fisherman I first read about (which was the point) I can see why he was so consume by his anger and rushing to move on. Macomber did a great job of writing about Seth's motivation behind his actions.
Revenge and forgiveness is another one of Macomber's major theme. This one Macomber does not do such a good job of revisiting. It's very redundant and after you have read a few books by her, it can be tiresome.
This brings me to Jon and Maryellen's storyline. Due to being on bedrest for a difficult pregnancy Maryellen needed help from Jon's parents. Jon despised them (as he should) because they purposedly lied and put him in prison for a crime his brother committed. I am going to repeat this: "IN PRISON." So when Maryellen kept hammering on him about forgiveness, I wanted to slap her upside the head and send her to prison for a few years and see how forgiving she becomes. In Macomber's stories, as I said above, she writes a lot about forgiveness especially when it comes to major things that is almost impossible to forgive (like being wrongfully put IN PRISON by your own parents). For the most part, I don't think these people deserve forgiveness. When one of the characters talk about how much the person who wronged has paid, I always throw my hands up and ask "how?" I always end up feeling very sorry for the person who has been wronged because it feels like all his love ones make him out to be a bad guy for learning his lesson and knowing not to trust the people who had hurt him.
Teri and Bobby's story was cute and I wished more time was spent on them. Loved the dialogue between them, especially on Bobby's part. I can't tell if I like Teri or not. She definitely had a huge self-esteem issue and acted really dumb at times, but I also adored her entics.
Now onto Cal and Linette's story. Yes, Linette was overbearing but she was new to relationships and Macomber did such a masterful job of protraying that. She was overbearing but helpful and was quite insecure. I don't like her but I totally could see why she acted so immature. The same went for Cal and he acted like such a jerk. He fell in and out of love so quickly that I would think any women he was into should be a little worried. The scene when they confronted each other was a little too flat for me. Somehow I wanted more, not yelling or dramatics but more substance.
Anson and Allison was a sweet story. Anson was the main susupect in the arson case and the only one who believed his innocence was Allison. I hope I see more of them. I like the way Macomber gave closure to this story even though you know there will be a continuation. I wish she did that with Nate and Rachel.
Not sure why Macomber chose to put Rachel and Nate's story here. It didn't really go anywhere. It ends abruptly and hints at a love triangle in the future. I would have rather if she put the whole story in the next book with an ending.
One of the things Macomber does an awesome job of in this series is protraying the hardships of military couples. My heart totally broke for Cecilia for having made a home only to be uprooted at a moment's notice. I didn't like her when she was first introduced with Ian but after her friendship with Allison I have grown to adore her character. Seriously, it made me in complete awe of all military couples out there and the personal sacrafices they make.
Okay, I know this is a very long winded review. So the book was okay. I didn't hate it or love it. It was mediocre. Read it if you have time or if you are a huge fan, but your life can be complete if you decide to skip it.
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